Category: Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales celebrates American Airlines 1st 787-9 aircraft flying with AVANT Up Inflight Entertainment System

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales celebrates American Airlines 1st 787-9 aircraft flying with AVANT Up Inflight Entertainment System

    On 5 June 2025, American’s premium Boeing 787-9 aircraft, equipped with Thales’ AVANT Up inflight entertainment (IFE) system, made its debut on its inaugural flight from Chicago O’Hare to Los Angeles followed by its inaugural Flagship Suite® service from Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow. American Airlines, the first oneworld alliance member to introduce this IFE system, expects a total of 30 of these premium aircraft to join its fleet by 2029.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon, America’s Most Reliable 5G Network, Launches Industry-Leading, AI Powered Customer Experience Innovations

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon, America’s Most Reliable 5G Network, Launches Industry-Leading, AI Powered Customer Experience Innovations

    NEW YORK – Verizon today announced its most significant customer experience transformation, designed to empower customers with easier, more personalized support. This evolution, a key component of Verizon’s multi-year consumer strategy, introduces immediate and ongoing enhancements across customer care, digital services, and retail, leading the industry across every service dimension, built on America’s largest, fastest and most reliable 5G network at home and on the go.

    “Today marks another significant step in our ongoing consumer business transformation journey that began two years ago,” said Hans Vestberg, Verizon Chairman and CEO. “We are setting a new standard for customer innovation by focusing on both people and technology, using the most advanced AI to make the customer experience simpler, faster, and more rewarding. We have created unprecedented value in mobile and home connectivity, and we are now redefining what our customers can expect from us, helping build loyalty, improve retention and drive long-term shareholder value.”

    “Our customers rely on us for the fastest and most reliable 5G at home and on the go, and for choice and predictability with myHome, myPlan and the Verizon Best Value Guarantee,” said Sowmyanarayan Sampath, Verizon Consumer CEO. “We’ve set these standards in what our customers have come to expect from us and today, we’re raising the bar for how we support them because we know they rely on us to power how they live, work and play, everyday.”

    This transformation represents Verizon’s commitment to earning and maintaining customer trust and loyalty. Key components of Verizon’s customer-first approach include:

    • First and only personalized customer service: The only carrier who provides a dedicated expert for complex issues, leveraging Google Cloud’s AI, including Google’s Gemini models. A new Customer Champion will ensure full resolution and keep the customer updated however they choose – via the My Verizon app, text messages or call backs. The goal: customers only need to call once, and we take it from there.
    • New 24/7 live support: Verizon is first to expand customer support call hours with live agents and introduce new 24/7 live chat support, catering to diverse customer schedules and preferences.
    • New, most technologically advanced app with cutting-edge AI. The new My Verizon app is the only telecom app designed to help customers maximize efficiency and value, complete with a new cutting-edge AI-powered Verizon Assistant and Savings Boost. The new, personalized experience provides greater transparency and control, giving consumers the ability to easily become a customer, manage upgrades, add new lines, ask billing questions, take advantage of savings and more.
    • The most stores for your community. Verizon now has the largest retail postpaid fleet in the industry and added close to 400 stores in the U.S. over the last two years. With 93% of the population now within 30 minutes of a Verizon store, Verizon is ensuring customers have ongoing, convenient access to in-person support.

    To kick off a summer of savings and rewards for its customers, Verizon is dropping 35,000 free prizes via Verizon Access, Verizon’s rewards platform available to all mobility and mobile broadband customers. Starting today, customers can score free tickets to some of the hottest concerts and events everyone is talking about like Beyonce, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga; plus premium giveaways, gift cards and merchandise from brands like Amazon, Disney and Starz. And, stop by any Verizon location across the country for more freebies available in store through June 30.

    Verizon’s customer transformation is built on the foundation of America’s fastest and most reliable 5G network at home and on the go. Customers enjoy choice and exclusive savings with myPlan and myHome, and have peace of mind on all in-market plans with a three-year price lock guarantee. Today, Verizon once again pushes the industry forward with major enhancements across stores, support and digital services designed with flexibility, transparency and service on the customers’ terms.

    Learn more here: verizon.com/wegotyou.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon launches new military benefit, providing even more flexibility

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon launches new military benefit, providing even more flexibility

    NEW YORK, N.Y. – Building on its commitment to the military community, Verizon has introduced a new short-term military suspension option designed to meet the unique needs of service members. Alongside exclusive discounts and benefits across mobile and home, Verizon is substantially improving flexibility, choice and value to those who serve.

    Military customers deployed for less than 90 days, even within Verizon’s coverage area, can now take advantage of Verizon’s new Military Short Term Suspend option. During deployment, the customer’s line will be temporarily suspended and charged $10/month or their monthly service price, whichever is lower.

    Additionally, long-term suspension options remain available for eligible customers on deployment from 90 days to 3 years, allowing them to avoid charges for services and features on the suspended line, including device payment installments, for the entire duration of the service suspension. For disconnection, customers have two options: they can either pay off the remaining balance or return their device in good working order to have the remaining installment balance waived. To learn more and check your eligibility, please visit verizon.com/support/military-veterans-faqs/

    These enhanced benefits are a part of Verizon’s customer experience transformation, announced earlier today, which aims to empower customers with simpler, more personalized support. This evolution, a key component of Verizon’s multi-year consumer plan, brings immediate and ongoing improvements to customer care, digital services, and retail, setting a new industry standard across every aspect of service.

    “We have set standards in network reliability, choice and innovation on behalf of customers, and are committed to continuously raising the bar on how we support their individual needs – which means reliability and flexibility so they can stay connected, on their terms,” said Sowmyanarayan Sampath, Verizon Consumer CEO. “Our military personnel in training or those on short-term domestic assignments deserve an option tailored to their needs.”

    Exclusive Offers and Benefits for Those Who Serve

    Eligible military customers can enjoy 4 lines starting at $25/line per month on Unlimited Welcome1 (plus taxes and fees) and Fios Home Internet from just $45/month with Auto Pay. By bundling mobile and home services, customers with the military discount can unlock an additional $15 in savings on Fios Home Internet for as low as $30/mo with Auto Pay2, while retaining myPlan benefits such as Verizon’s 3-year price lock guarantee (applicable to base monthly rate only), depending on the choice of plan.

    Verizon also provides career opportunities, competitive savings and exclusive benefits for military members, veterans and their families. These include:

    • 25% off accessories online and 10% off in-store
    • Dedicated parking at select Verizon retail locations
    • Premium phone setup experience at select locations
    • Extensive career tools and resources

    To learn more about these benefits, resources and Verizon’s investment in those who serve, please visit verizon.com/military.

    Special Pricing For Military Personnel With Tracfone

    Tracfone, a leading prepaid brand powered by Verizon’s award-winning network, is paving the way in the no-contract industry by honoring those who serve. Tracfone is proud to support veterans and active-duty personnel customers with 10% off all $20/mo or higher Unlimited Talk and Text Plans, providing even more value for those who serve. Veterans and active-duty personnel can easily verify their eligibility through secure ID.me, making it simple to start saving. For more information, visit Tracfone.com/deals/military-discount.


    1 For eligible military; approved verification documents req’d. Unlimited Welcome: $30/line/mo for 4 lines, less $20 account discount. Auto Pay and paper-free billing req’d. Unlimited 5G / 4G LTE: For Unlimited Welcome plan, in times of congestion, your data may be temporarily slower than other traffic. Domestic data roaming at 2G speeds.

    2 For eligible military. Approved verification documents req’d. One offer per account. New Fios 300 Mbps customers receive a $5/mo. discount. Auto Pay: $10/mo. discount with Auto Pay & paper-free billing. Mobile + Home Discount: Enrollment req’d. for $15/mo discount. For existing postpaid mobile customers with a Verizon mobile plan (excludes prepaid, business and data-only plans) and Fios home internet. Fios 300 Mbps: $99 setup and other terms may apply. Availability varies. Subj. to credit approval. Wired and wireless speeds vary due to device limits, multiple users, network & other factors. See verizon.com/yourspeed for more info.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AI Data Drop: What happens when you give 20,000 people Copilot

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: AI Data Drop: What happens when you give 20,000 people Copilot

    This story is featured in the WorkLab newsletter. Sign up for it here.

    Every leader wants to know: how do you turn AI into real results at scale?  

    In a first-of-its-kind study, the UK government gave Microsoft 365 Copilot to 20,000 employees for three months. The findings, based on participant feedback and usage data, offer a rare look at how AI performs at scale in a complex public sector environment. While the results reflect self-reported experiences, they suggest that with the right support, AI can help even the largest organizations operate more like Frontier Firms. 
     
    What they did
    The UK’s Government Digital Services office gave Copilot to participants across 12 departments—including the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. Employees received onboarding support in the form of FAQs, tip sheets, videos, community sessions, and workshops. To evaluate the impact, government researchers collected both usage data and direct feedback from employees.

    Government workers report saving time with Copilot

    In a UK user perception study, 20,000 government workers who used Copilot for three months reported saving time across all roles.

    What they found
    On average, employees who took part in the user perception study reported saving more than 25 minutes a day using Copilot—nearly two weeks per year. Over 70% said Copilot helped them spend less time on routine tasks and more time on strategic work.

    Beyond productivity, the study surfaced strong positive sentiment: More than 80% said they wouldn’t want to give up Copilot. And many didn’t have to—nine of the 12 departments opted to continue their licenses, and the UK government has since expanded to 31,000 Copilot seats. 

    These results were realized in just three months, in keeping with our previous research that shows it can take up to 11 weeks to start building the AI habit. The UK government’s report also notes that “there was strong positive feedback surrounding Microsoft 365 Copilot agents, with many departments eager to explore the tool further.” 

    What it means 
    The UK government’s study shows that large-scale AI adoption doesn’t have to be slow-going. With careful planning and thoughtful guidance, organizations can unlock meaningful impact in just a few months. The reported time savings are equivalent to giving 1,130 civil servants a full year back—every year—to focus on higher-value work.  

    For leaders, the message is clear: AI can deliver measurable ROI, fast. But success depends on more than just access—it requires intentional rollout and a culture ready to embrace change. The UK government’s approach offers a blueprint for how large, complex organizations can move toward becoming Frontier Firms. 

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Iceland: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Iceland

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    International Monetary Fund. European Dept. “Iceland: 2025 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report and Statement by the Executive Director for Iceland”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 141 (2025), accessed June 24, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014298.002

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Iceland: Selected Issues

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Subject: Central bank policy rate, Consumer price indexes, Exchange rates, Financial services, Foreign exchange, Housing, Housing prices, Inflation, Inflation targeting, Monetary policy, National accounts, Output gap, Prices, Production, Real exchange rates, Real interest rates

    Keywords: Asset prices, Central bank policy rate, Consumer price indexes, Exchange rate devaluation, Exchange rates, Housing, Housing prices, Inflation, Inflation targeting, Output gap, Real exchange rates, Real interest rates

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How AI is helping build new solutions for government social services 

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How AI is helping build new solutions for government social services 

    An indigenous elder suffering chronic health conditions in a remote village needs help traveling to receive medical care. A single mother in in a crowded city loses her job and seeks unemployment and childcare benefits. A young worker in a multilingual country cannot access housing assistance because he doesn’t speak the official language. 

    These are just a few of the incredibly broad range of scenarios in which people around the world look to government social services entities for help and support. In fact, more than half the world’s population (52.4%) are covered by at least one social protection benefit.1 As these services expand, dedicated public organizations and agencies strive to administer benefits programs, enhance access to healthcare, and protect vulnerable populations—even as they face growing pressure to do more with less. 

    Helping government agencies and organizations explore the potential of AI and build new solutions that deliver both near-term impact and long-term transformation is central to our work at Microsoft for Government. We cultivate longstanding partnerships with government organizations of all types to help innovate and deliver secure, trustworthy services that promote safety, health, and prosperity. 

    Discover solutions with Microsoft for Government

    How generative AI is opening new avenues of impact 

    Fueled by a convergence of modern challenges, AI has quickly emerged as a uniquely transformative solution in delivering social services. Budgetary and workforce pressures, the proliferation of data, and constituents’ demands for services that mirror private sector offerings all add to the pressure. And that’s not to mention escalating cyberthreats and the complexity of business and technology.  

    Generative AI—with its unique abilities to synthesize data, understand natural language, retain contextual information, summarize content, and write documents and code—is uniquely suited to help answer these challenges. With powerful solutions like Microsoft 365 Copilot, custom-developed agents and chatbots, and other innovations that integrate AI into regular workflows and processes, governments have the opportunity to not just fix the old but invent the new.  

    Around the world, agencies and organizations have had remarkable success in early AI use cases designed to help improve efficiency, streamline service delivery, and gain powerful insights from data and predictive analytics. Here are three examples of critical impact we’ve seen in the past year:  

    1. Enhance constituent experiences with easier access to information 

    As expectations for fast, personalized digital services grow, many governments are seeing immediate impact with AI-powered chatbots or other virtual assistants to handle ranges of inquiries and assistance.  

    These innovations are available at any hour of the day and are well equipped to handle large volumes of requests for help with things like licensing, transit, taxation, and more. They let people engage on the channel of their choice—such as phone calls, digital chat, and social media—and use different languages to rapidly get the right information, apply for benefits, receive updates, and report incidents. 

    A great example is a chatbot called Boti, which the government of the City of Buenos Aires recently revamped using Microsoft Azure OpenAI services to revolutionize public interactions. Trained on an extensive government database, the chatbot uses natural language interaction to handle 2 million queries per month, helping citizens find services—everything from basic services like driver’s license renewals to public health information and personalized information for tourists. Along the way, it has lowered the operational burden by 50%. 

    The beauty of these kinds of solutions is that they ease the burden of finding and getting the best possible service, even when people have little idea of who or what agency to contact. AI makes it easier for a constituent to explore their options. And then, when they do engage, they only need to provide their critical information one time.

    Not forcing someone to continually supply the same information as they move through the system is a huge consideration in cases where people have experienced traumatic, emotional, or embarrassing events. Participation is strained when a person is forced to re-explain and re-live unpleasant experiences. So, AI’s ability to retain essential details through a case management process and retain context from queries helps ensure an experience that is not only more efficient but also more dignified.  

    AI also plays a role in helping constituents when they are unhappy with their services. An AI-powered contact center, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center, can provide new levels of support that can enhance human decision-making. For example, an AI-powered contact center can trigger an escalation to a customer service representative when sentiment analysis detects a person getting frustrated or upset. Using intelligent routing, it can connect the constituent to the best representative based on context and need, and assist the representative by summarizing the person’s situation, suggesting optimal solutions, and even drafting response recommendations. 

    2. Boost the efficiency and effectiveness of staff 

    One of the most vital advances in the digital evolution of government is the shift away from cumbersome tasks involving antiquated websites, electronic forms, even paper-based processes, to automated, intelligent systems that not only ease data collection but also interpret data, learn from it, and even act on it.  

    With AI acting as an intelligent, ever-present assistant, social services case workers and caregivers are able to focus more on helping people and spend less time on tedious tasks than before. These new tools give workers instant access to relevant information from across data silos—including unstructured data such as content in PDFs, files, websites, and even digitized hand-written documents—all of which had largely been unavailable to analysis before. 

    For example, the Torfaen County Borough Council in Wales, United Kingdom, saw gains in productivity after they adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot, which integrates generative AI into everyday applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook. The process of taking and recording notes, for example, has been dramatically simplified, which is freeing workers to spend more time engaging with residents and providing personalized services. 

    With the help of AI assistance, a case worker can serve constituents far more effectively. Client meetings, for example, can be completely transformed. Meeting preparation can be done faster and far more comprehensively, with insights and recommendations gleaned from information across the enterprise, including from files that were previously inaccessible, restricted, or difficult to extract meaningful insights from. The meeting can be recorded and automatically transcribed, which enables the case worker to focus on their client versus note-taking. Afterwords, Microsoft Teams can transcribe and summarize the meeting, with details and action items imported directly into case management systems. 

    3. Enhance processes and outcomes with advanced analytics 

    Perhaps the most transformative aspect of AI is the power of advanced analytics. This refers to AI’s unique ability to turn raw data into actionable insights by identifying patterns, making connections, and even predicting outcomes. In health and social services, this can translate into a variety of useful benefits. 

    For instance, AI can help turn the often-cumbersome process of evaluating applications for benefits or other social services into a faster, more precise, and user-friendly process. It can analyze information against policy rules, interpret regulations to help ensure criteria are met, and cross-check submitted data with official records. This means fewer errors that might lead to incorrect approvals or denials, and greater client satisfaction. 

    Collectively, these abilities can transform important social services initiatives. For example, they play a crucial role in a new digital platform built by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in South Australia to modernize how high-risk domestic violence cases are managed. Previously, agencies relied on physical documents and semi-structured Excel spreadsheets to track cases, which hindered information sharing, decision making, and coordination across agencies. The new Family Safety Portal, integrating AI with Microsoft Power BI, transformed DHS’s domestic violence response into a proactive, highly adaptive, and evidence-based system. Referrals that once took days are now done in real-time, and 10 agencies now share data in a centralized system that is highly secure.  

    In terms of improving public health and wellbeing, AI and analytic tools can collect, analyze, and report on public health or program data to gain a holistic view of individuals receiving services to improve care. A case worker, for example, can use AI to see beyond isolated data points and gain a far more complete view of a person’s situation, needs, and history. With less administrative burden, this provides critical context to ensure that the constituent receives precisely the right support and enhance care coordination and interventions.  

    The other essential benefit provided by analytics is in the realm of fraud, waste, and abuse. By analyzing vast amounts of information in real time and leveraging data from past records and experiences, AI can spot patterns, identify irregularities, and flag suspicious behaviors far more effectively and faster than traditional methods. This can help organizations proactively detect and mitigate fraud risks—for example, by evaluating submissions as they arrive instead of through audits, automating verification in seconds by cross-checking IDs and application details, or comparing an applicant’s behavior with previous submissions to ensure they are legitimate. 

    Move forward in your AI journey 

    Virtually any government agency can derive immediate benefits from generative AI. However, to unlock the full power of modern analytics and advanced AI, an organization needs to modernize their cloud environment and ensure an AI-ready data estate.  

    Every organization’s journey is unique, and it’s important to build a long-term strategy with trusted technology partners. To help your government organization take the next step, contact your local Microsoft representative or certified Microsoft technology partner. They can help explore options, identify use cases, and transform your ideas into meaningful solutions.  

    Discover more

    Microsoft for Government

    Create opportunities innovative technologies


    1 International Labour Organization, “World Social Protection Report 2024,” September 2024.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How AI is helping build new solutions for government social services 

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How AI is helping build new solutions for government social services 

    An indigenous elder suffering chronic health conditions in a remote village needs help traveling to receive medical care. A single mother in in a crowded city loses her job and seeks unemployment and childcare benefits. A young worker in a multilingual country cannot access housing assistance because he doesn’t speak the official language. 

    These are just a few of the incredibly broad range of scenarios in which people around the world look to government social services entities for help and support. In fact, more than half the world’s population (52.4%) are covered by at least one social protection benefit.1 As these services expand, dedicated public organizations and agencies strive to administer benefits programs, enhance access to healthcare, and protect vulnerable populations—even as they face growing pressure to do more with less. 

    Helping government agencies and organizations explore the potential of AI and build new solutions that deliver both near-term impact and long-term transformation is central to our work at Microsoft for Government. We cultivate longstanding partnerships with government organizations of all types to help innovate and deliver secure, trustworthy services that promote safety, health, and prosperity. 

    Discover solutions with Microsoft for Government

    How generative AI is opening new avenues of impact 

    Fueled by a convergence of modern challenges, AI has quickly emerged as a uniquely transformative solution in delivering social services. Budgetary and workforce pressures, the proliferation of data, and constituents’ demands for services that mirror private sector offerings all add to the pressure. And that’s not to mention escalating cyberthreats and the complexity of business and technology.  

    Generative AI—with its unique abilities to synthesize data, understand natural language, retain contextual information, summarize content, and write documents and code—is uniquely suited to help answer these challenges. With powerful solutions like Microsoft 365 Copilot, custom-developed agents and chatbots, and other innovations that integrate AI into regular workflows and processes, governments have the opportunity to not just fix the old but invent the new.  

    Around the world, agencies and organizations have had remarkable success in early AI use cases designed to help improve efficiency, streamline service delivery, and gain powerful insights from data and predictive analytics. Here are three examples of critical impact we’ve seen in the past year:  

    1. Enhance constituent experiences with easier access to information 

    As expectations for fast, personalized digital services grow, many governments are seeing immediate impact with AI-powered chatbots or other virtual assistants to handle ranges of inquiries and assistance.  

    These innovations are available at any hour of the day and are well equipped to handle large volumes of requests for help with things like licensing, transit, taxation, and more. They let people engage on the channel of their choice—such as phone calls, digital chat, and social media—and use different languages to rapidly get the right information, apply for benefits, receive updates, and report incidents. 

    A great example is a chatbot called Boti, which the government of the City of Buenos Aires recently revamped using Microsoft Azure OpenAI services to revolutionize public interactions. Trained on an extensive government database, the chatbot uses natural language interaction to handle 2 million queries per month, helping citizens find services—everything from basic services like driver’s license renewals to public health information and personalized information for tourists. Along the way, it has lowered the operational burden by 50%. 

    The beauty of these kinds of solutions is that they ease the burden of finding and getting the best possible service, even when people have little idea of who or what agency to contact. AI makes it easier for a constituent to explore their options. And then, when they do engage, they only need to provide their critical information one time.

    Not forcing someone to continually supply the same information as they move through the system is a huge consideration in cases where people have experienced traumatic, emotional, or embarrassing events. Participation is strained when a person is forced to re-explain and re-live unpleasant experiences. So, AI’s ability to retain essential details through a case management process and retain context from queries helps ensure an experience that is not only more efficient but also more dignified.  

    AI also plays a role in helping constituents when they are unhappy with their services. An AI-powered contact center, like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center, can provide new levels of support that can enhance human decision-making. For example, an AI-powered contact center can trigger an escalation to a customer service representative when sentiment analysis detects a person getting frustrated or upset. Using intelligent routing, it can connect the constituent to the best representative based on context and need, and assist the representative by summarizing the person’s situation, suggesting optimal solutions, and even drafting response recommendations. 

    2. Boost the efficiency and effectiveness of staff 

    One of the most vital advances in the digital evolution of government is the shift away from cumbersome tasks involving antiquated websites, electronic forms, even paper-based processes, to automated, intelligent systems that not only ease data collection but also interpret data, learn from it, and even act on it.  

    With AI acting as an intelligent, ever-present assistant, social services case workers and caregivers are able to focus more on helping people and spend less time on tedious tasks than before. These new tools give workers instant access to relevant information from across data silos—including unstructured data such as content in PDFs, files, websites, and even digitized hand-written documents—all of which had largely been unavailable to analysis before. 

    For example, the Torfaen County Borough Council in Wales, United Kingdom, saw gains in productivity after they adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot, which integrates generative AI into everyday applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook. The process of taking and recording notes, for example, has been dramatically simplified, which is freeing workers to spend more time engaging with residents and providing personalized services. 

    With the help of AI assistance, a case worker can serve constituents far more effectively. Client meetings, for example, can be completely transformed. Meeting preparation can be done faster and far more comprehensively, with insights and recommendations gleaned from information across the enterprise, including from files that were previously inaccessible, restricted, or difficult to extract meaningful insights from. The meeting can be recorded and automatically transcribed, which enables the case worker to focus on their client versus note-taking. Afterwords, Microsoft Teams can transcribe and summarize the meeting, with details and action items imported directly into case management systems. 

    3. Enhance processes and outcomes with advanced analytics 

    Perhaps the most transformative aspect of AI is the power of advanced analytics. This refers to AI’s unique ability to turn raw data into actionable insights by identifying patterns, making connections, and even predicting outcomes. In health and social services, this can translate into a variety of useful benefits. 

    For instance, AI can help turn the often-cumbersome process of evaluating applications for benefits or other social services into a faster, more precise, and user-friendly process. It can analyze information against policy rules, interpret regulations to help ensure criteria are met, and cross-check submitted data with official records. This means fewer errors that might lead to incorrect approvals or denials, and greater client satisfaction. 

    Collectively, these abilities can transform important social services initiatives. For example, they play a crucial role in a new digital platform built by the Department of Human Services (DHS) in South Australia to modernize how high-risk domestic violence cases are managed. Previously, agencies relied on physical documents and semi-structured Excel spreadsheets to track cases, which hindered information sharing, decision making, and coordination across agencies. The new Family Safety Portal, integrating AI with Microsoft Power BI, transformed DHS’s domestic violence response into a proactive, highly adaptive, and evidence-based system. Referrals that once took days are now done in real-time, and 10 agencies now share data in a centralized system that is highly secure.  

    In terms of improving public health and wellbeing, AI and analytic tools can collect, analyze, and report on public health or program data to gain a holistic view of individuals receiving services to improve care. A case worker, for example, can use AI to see beyond isolated data points and gain a far more complete view of a person’s situation, needs, and history. With less administrative burden, this provides critical context to ensure that the constituent receives precisely the right support and enhance care coordination and interventions.  

    The other essential benefit provided by analytics is in the realm of fraud, waste, and abuse. By analyzing vast amounts of information in real time and leveraging data from past records and experiences, AI can spot patterns, identify irregularities, and flag suspicious behaviors far more effectively and faster than traditional methods. This can help organizations proactively detect and mitigate fraud risks—for example, by evaluating submissions as they arrive instead of through audits, automating verification in seconds by cross-checking IDs and application details, or comparing an applicant’s behavior with previous submissions to ensure they are legitimate. 

    Move forward in your AI journey 

    Virtually any government agency can derive immediate benefits from generative AI. However, to unlock the full power of modern analytics and advanced AI, an organization needs to modernize their cloud environment and ensure an AI-ready data estate.  

    Every organization’s journey is unique, and it’s important to build a long-term strategy with trusted technology partners. To help your government organization take the next step, contact your local Microsoft representative or certified Microsoft technology partner. They can help explore options, identify use cases, and transform your ideas into meaningful solutions.  

    Discover more

    Microsoft for Government

    Create opportunities innovative technologies


    1 International Labour Organization, “World Social Protection Report 2024,” September 2024.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Nominations now open for the first-ever CanREA Awards

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Nominations now open for the first-ever CanREA Awards

    The inaugural CanREA Awards will be presented at Electricity Transformation Canada on October 8 in Toronto.    

    Ottawa, June 24, 2025—As part of its fifth anniversary celebrations, the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is launching a new Awards program recognizing excellence in Canada’s wind, solar and energy storage industry.

    CanREA members are invited to nominate themselves, or colleagues within the Canadian renewables and energy storage industries, until August 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

    “The CanREA Awards program is a new initiative that aims to celebrate exceptional wind, solar, behind-the-meter, and energy storage projects demonstrating innovation, leadership and commitment in Canada, as well as Indigenous organizations driving our energy transition,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA’s President and CEO.

    There are three Award categories:

    Innovative Canadian Clean Energy Project of the Year, recognizing groundbreaking advancements in renewable energy & energy storage solutions.

    Indigenous Clean Energy Company of the Year, honouring Indigenous-owned organizations driving Canada’s energy transition.

    Canadian On-Site (BTM) Project of the Year, recognizing excellence in behind-the-meter (BTM) solar and/or storage solutions.

    Each Award has specific criteria and eligibility guidelines, which can be accessed on the CanREA member portal, along with a detailed description of each category. Projects and/or organizations must be operating within Canada to be considered. For questions or more information, please contact CanREA at awards@renewablesassociation.ca.

    All nominations will be evaluated by an impartial committee composed of stakeholders from across Canada’s renewable energy and energy storage sectors, based on the criteria outlined on the member portal. To ensure a fair and balanced review process, any organization submitting a nomination is not permitted to participate on the selection committee.

    The award-winners will be announced at our Electricity Transformation Canada conference in Toronto on October 8, 2025.  

    We look forward to celebrating our outstanding industry members together!

    Quotes

    “The CanREA Awards program is a new initiative that aims to celebrate exceptional wind, solar, behind-the-meter, and energy storage projects demonstrating innovation, leadership and commitment in Canada, as well as Indigenous organizations driving our energy transition.”
    —Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact: 

    Communications Canadian Renewable Energy Association communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

    About CanREA 

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. 

    The post Nominations now open for the first-ever CanREA Awards appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Pre-Order Now: Experience AI-Powered Intelligence with Samsung’s 2025 Smart Monitor Lineup

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung Electronics America today announced its highly anticipated 2025 Smart Monitor lineup is now available for pre-order, bringing next-gen AI capabilities and premium 4K QD-OLED technology to users who work, play, and stream all from a single screen. Starting today, consumers can pre-order Smart Monitors at Samsung.com/Monitor-Pre-Order and enjoy up to a $300 Samsung Credit.
    “The Smart Monitor series continues to evolve based on how people work, watch, and play,” said David Phelps, Head of Display at Samsung Electronics America. “We’re thrilled to offer consumers early access to our QD-OLED and AI-powered versatile display through our pre-order program, which includes up to a $300 Samsung credit, making this the ideal time to upgrade your setup.”
    This year’s portfolio introduces the most intelligent Smart Monitors yet, with industry-first features like AI Picture Optimizer built directly into the display. These monitors are designed to adapt to users’ needs, through real-time visual optimization, all without the need for a separate PC.
    Smart Monitor M90SF
    Unveiled at CES 2025, the 32” Smart Monitor M9 is Samsung’s most advanced do-it-all display yet. With 4K QD-OLED technology, AI-powered image upscaling, and features like 4K AI Upscaling Pro and AI Picture Optimizer, this monitor transforms passive watching into immersive viewing. Measuring just 9.9mm thick, the M9 is built with real metal and proprietary heat pipe technology for sleek design and top-tier performance.

    Smart Monitor M80F
    The 32” Smart Monitor M8, powered by the new NQM AI Processor, delivers a smarter experience for streamers, gamers, and multitaskers. Enjoy 4K UHD resolution, AI Picture Optimizer, and Active Voice Amplifier Pro for immersive visuals and crisp audio.
    Smart Monitor M70F
    Available in 32” and 43” sizes, the M7 delivers AI-powered enhancements across the board. From instant access to Smart TV Apps and Samsung TV Plus to a 3D Map View of your smart home through SmartThings, the M7 adapts to how you work, relax, and stay connected all on a stunning 4K UHD display.
    Pre-order now to be among the first to unlock Samsung’s next evolution in intelligent display technology. Visit Samsung.com/Monitor-Pre-Order  to learn more.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Unveils HU8000F Hotel TV Series at HITEC 2025

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung recently announced the upcoming global launch of the HU8000F series, its 2025 Hospitality TV. Available in six sizes — 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″ and 85″ — the HU8000F empowers hotel owners with powerful management tools to elevate guest stays while providing visitors with effortless streaming and connectivity options through Google Cast. Samsung unveiled the HU8000F series at HITEC 2025, the world’s largest and longest-running hospitality technology event, which took place between June 16-19 in Indianapolis, USA.
     
    “Samsung’s HU8000F Hospitality TV series delivers a new level of in-room experience, combining brilliant 4K picture, advanced streaming and easy management,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. “With Google Cast support, an AirSlim design, and integrated cloud capabilities, we are redefining what’s possible for hotel entertainment worldwide.”
     
    Premium Picture Quality, AirSlim Design and Effortless Streaming
     

     
    The HU8000F is powered by Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K and features HDR10+ and Dynamic Crystal Color, immersing hotel guests in one billion shades of color with lifelike clarity and detail. Additionally, its sleek AirSlim design creates an elegant, nearly bezel-free look that complements any hotel space.
    The new model has expanded content options for guests by adding Prime Video to its portfolio — along with Netflix and Samsung TV Plus — which are all accessible from the Tizen OS Home. For an enhanced viewing experience, the HU8000F also includes adaptive sound technology, providing real-time audio scene analysis and quality optimisation to any news program, sports game, musical performance, TV show or movie.
     
    Hotel-Ready Features and Integrated Hospitality Solutions
     

     
    For centralised remote management and actionable business insights for hotel managers, Samsung LYNK Cloud streamlines global hospitality operations while helping drive incremental revenue through targeted promotions. With SmartThings Pro and a multi-code remote, hotel staff can offer personalized in-room experiences and ensure interference-free control, enhancing both convenience and guest satisfaction.
     
    As Google Cast is integrated directly into Samsung’s hotel TV series, guests can easily access their favorite content from 5,000 Cast-enabled apps by mirroring their Android and iOS devices on the TV, without the need for additional dongles or login requirements. Embedding Cast also reduces costs for hotels and system integrators by removing the need to buy and maintain extra hub-type devices, avoiding the risk of theft for those types of devices and freeing up an HDMI port.
     
    For hotels currently using the HBU8000, a software update will soon be available to enable Google Cast without interrupting service.[1] This upgrade has already been successfully deployed in Indonesia at The Apurva Kempinski Bali and Swissôtel Living Jakarta Mega Kuningan through simultaneous software updates, demonstrating the scalability and reliability of the solution.
     
    With Google Cast and over-the-top (OTT) integration, the HU8000F ensures seamless viewing options and an optimised solution that enhances viewing experiences.
     
    Samsung’s hospitality display series is also built to include practical features tailored for hotel environments, including RJ12 connectors, bathroom speaker support and LAN output ports. Powered by the intuitive and secure Tizen platform, the HU8000F offers smooth navigation, enterprise-grade protection with Samsung Knox and flexible connectivity through multiple HDMI and USB ports.
     
    Samsung’s HU8000F will be available in the UK from October 2025. For more information about Samsung’s hospitality solutions, please visit www.samsung.com.
     

     
    [1] The Google Cast update schedule for HBU8000 may vary by region.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Unveils HU8000F Hotel TV Series at HITEC 2025

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung recently announced the upcoming global launch of the HU8000F series, its 2025 Hospitality TV. Available in six sizes — 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″ and 85″ — the HU8000F empowers hotel owners with powerful management tools to elevate guest stays while providing visitors with effortless streaming and connectivity options through Google Cast. Samsung unveiled the HU8000F series at HITEC 2025, the world’s largest and longest-running hospitality technology event, which took place between June 16-19 in Indianapolis, USA.
     
    “Samsung’s HU8000F Hospitality TV series delivers a new level of in-room experience, combining brilliant 4K picture, advanced streaming and easy management,” said Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. “With Google Cast support, an AirSlim design, and integrated cloud capabilities, we are redefining what’s possible for hotel entertainment worldwide.”
     
    Premium Picture Quality, AirSlim Design and Effortless Streaming
     

     
    The HU8000F is powered by Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K and features HDR10+ and Dynamic Crystal Color, immersing hotel guests in one billion shades of color with lifelike clarity and detail. Additionally, its sleek AirSlim design creates an elegant, nearly bezel-free look that complements any hotel space.
    The new model has expanded content options for guests by adding Prime Video to its portfolio — along with Netflix and Samsung TV Plus — which are all accessible from the Tizen OS Home. For an enhanced viewing experience, the HU8000F also includes adaptive sound technology, providing real-time audio scene analysis and quality optimisation to any news program, sports game, musical performance, TV show or movie.
     
    Hotel-Ready Features and Integrated Hospitality Solutions
     

     
    For centralised remote management and actionable business insights for hotel managers, Samsung LYNK Cloud streamlines global hospitality operations while helping drive incremental revenue through targeted promotions. With SmartThings Pro and a multi-code remote, hotel staff can offer personalized in-room experiences and ensure interference-free control, enhancing both convenience and guest satisfaction.
     
    As Google Cast is integrated directly into Samsung’s hotel TV series, guests can easily access their favorite content from 5,000 Cast-enabled apps by mirroring their Android and iOS devices on the TV, without the need for additional dongles or login requirements. Embedding Cast also reduces costs for hotels and system integrators by removing the need to buy and maintain extra hub-type devices, avoiding the risk of theft for those types of devices and freeing up an HDMI port.
     
    For hotels currently using the HBU8000, a software update will soon be available to enable Google Cast without interrupting service.[1] This upgrade has already been successfully deployed in Indonesia at The Apurva Kempinski Bali and Swissôtel Living Jakarta Mega Kuningan through simultaneous software updates, demonstrating the scalability and reliability of the solution.
     
    With Google Cast and over-the-top (OTT) integration, the HU8000F ensures seamless viewing options and an optimised solution that enhances viewing experiences.
     
    Samsung’s hospitality display series is also built to include practical features tailored for hotel environments, including RJ12 connectors, bathroom speaker support and LAN output ports. Powered by the intuitive and secure Tizen platform, the HU8000F offers smooth navigation, enterprise-grade protection with Samsung Knox and flexible connectivity through multiple HDMI and USB ports.
     
    Samsung’s HU8000F will be available in the UK from October 2025. For more information about Samsung’s hospitality solutions, please visit www.samsung.com.
     

     
    [1] The Google Cast update schedule for HBU8000 may vary by region.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Elevate Your Viewing Experience and Be Rewarded with Samsung’s #YouMake TV Redemption Promotion

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung South Africa is excited to announce the #YouMake TV Redemption Promotion. Running currently until 30 June 2025, this promotion offers South Africans more than just innovative televisions — it’s a chance to tailor your tech experience and receive a complimentary gift with every qualifying TV purchase.
     
    Samsung’s #YouMake initiative focuses on giving consumers more control over how their technology integrates into their daily lives. From customisable design to seamless connectivity, the campaign is a bold step toward a world where technology adapts to the user, and not the other way around.
     
    Buy a TV, Get Rewarded
    During the campaign, customers who purchase a qualifying Samsung TV, either online or from select retailers, will receive a complimentary gift ranging from smartphones to tablets, tailored to the specific TV model purchased. Participating retailers include Game, Takealot, Iser, Hirsch’s, House & Home, as well as Samsung’s branded stores and online store.
     
    This is the list of qualifying TVs (including product codes);

    Participating Retailer
    Model Code
    Product Name
    Gift

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA85Q60DAKXXA
    85-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy Tab S10FE Wi-Fi

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA75Q60DAKXXA
    75-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A26 5G

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA65Q60DAKXXA
    65-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A16

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA55Q60DAKXXA
    55-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A16

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA85DU7000KXXA
    85-Inch DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy Tab S10FE Wi-Fi

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA75DU7000KXXA
    75-Inch DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy Tab A9+ Wi-Fi

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA65DU7000KXXA
    65-Inch DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy A16

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA65QN85DBKXXA
    65-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN85D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A26 5G

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA55QN85DBKXXA
    55-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN85D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A26 5G

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA75DU8000KXXA
    75-Inch DU8000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy Tab A9+ Wi-Fi

     
    How to Redeem Your Gift
    Step 1: Buy a participating product on or before 30 June 2025.
    Step 2: Scan the QR Code or visit TV Offer Redemption and complete the redemption form, upload all required documents, then click submit.
    Step 3: An email will be shared once the completed redemption form has been submitted and evaluation of the redemption has been successful.
    Step 4: Once the redemption is approved, the complimentary gift(s) will be delivered within 21-30 days.
     
    Each purchase of a qualifying TV unlocks a gift, so there’s no limit to how many times you can redeem, as long as each purchase meets the campaign criteria.
     
    Make It Yours with #YouMake
    Samsung’s #YouMake campaign redefines personalisation and connectivity, allowing you to tailor your technology to suit your space, your preferences, and your life. Now, with every qualifying TV purchase, that experience comes with even more value.
     
    For more details, terms and conditions, visit: Samsung Offers

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Elevate Your Viewing Experience and Be Rewarded with Samsung’s #YouMake TV Redemption Promotion

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung South Africa is excited to announce the #YouMake TV Redemption Promotion. Running currently until 30 June 2025, this promotion offers South Africans more than just innovative televisions — it’s a chance to tailor your tech experience and receive a complimentary gift with every qualifying TV purchase.
     
    Samsung’s #YouMake initiative focuses on giving consumers more control over how their technology integrates into their daily lives. From customisable design to seamless connectivity, the campaign is a bold step toward a world where technology adapts to the user, and not the other way around.
     
    Buy a TV, Get Rewarded
    During the campaign, customers who purchase a qualifying Samsung TV, either online or from select retailers, will receive a complimentary gift ranging from smartphones to tablets, tailored to the specific TV model purchased. Participating retailers include Game, Takealot, Iser, Hirsch’s, House & Home, as well as Samsung’s branded stores and online store.
     
    This is the list of qualifying TVs (including product codes);

    Participating Retailer
    Model Code
    Product Name
    Gift

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA85Q60DAKXXA
    85-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy Tab S10FE Wi-Fi

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA75Q60DAKXXA
    75-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A26 5G

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA65Q60DAKXXA
    65-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A16

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA55Q60DAKXXA
    55-Inch QLED 4K Q60D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A16

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA85DU7000KXXA
    85-Inch DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy Tab S10FE Wi-Fi

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA75DU7000KXXA
    75-Inch DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy Tab A9+ Wi-Fi

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA65DU7000KXXA
    65-Inch DU7000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy A16

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA65QN85DBKXXA
    65-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN85D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A26 5G

    Samsung Brand Store
    QA55QN85DBKXXA
    55-Inch Neo QLED 4K QN85D Tizen OS Smart TV (2024)
    Galaxy A26 5G

    Samsung Brand Store
    UA75DU8000KXXA
    75-Inch DU8000 Crystal UHD 4K HDR Smart TV
    Galaxy Tab A9+ Wi-Fi

     
    How to Redeem Your Gift
    Step 1: Buy a participating product on or before 30 June 2025.
    Step 2: Scan the QR Code or visit TV Offer Redemption and complete the redemption form, upload all required documents, then click submit.
    Step 3: An email will be shared once the completed redemption form has been submitted and evaluation of the redemption has been successful.
    Step 4: Once the redemption is approved, the complimentary gift(s) will be delivered within 21-30 days.
     
    Each purchase of a qualifying TV unlocks a gift, so there’s no limit to how many times you can redeem, as long as each purchase meets the campaign criteria.
     
    Make It Yours with #YouMake
    Samsung’s #YouMake campaign redefines personalisation and connectivity, allowing you to tailor your technology to suit your space, your preferences, and your life. Now, with every qualifying TV purchase, that experience comes with even more value.
     
    For more details, terms and conditions, visit: Samsung Offers

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Next-generation monetary and financial system takes shape, based on a tokenised unified ledger: BIS

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    • Building on the proposal for a unified ledger, the “trilogy” of tokenised central bank reserves, commercial bank money and government bonds is the next logical step to deliver profound change for the financial system.
    • Tokenisation can enhance efficiency and open new possibilities in cross-border payments, securities markets and beyond, while maintaining the key principles of sound money: singleness, elasticity and integrity.
    • Stablecoins as a form of sound money fall short, and without regulation pose a risk to financial stability and monetary sovereignty.

    A tokenised unified ledger incorporating central bank money, commercial bank deposits and government bonds will lay the foundations of a tokenised monetary and financial system based on the time-tested principles of sound money, the Bank for International Settlements said today, as it called on central banks and public authorities to pave the way for this next phase.

    A special chapter of the BIS’s Annual Economic Report 2025 builds on the principles of the unified ledger by laying out a more detailed blueprint for how this concept can combine the “trilogy” of tokenised central bank reserves, tokenised commercial bank money and tokenised government bonds, while maintaining the core elements of a sound monetary system based on trust in central bank money.

    Tokenisation – the digital representation of assets on programmable platforms – integrates messaging, reconciliation and settlement into a single seamless operation, and can transform cross-border payments and securities markets, ushering in a new era for the financial system.

    Tokenisation of deposits and central bank money means that both the primary means of payment as well as the settlement function of central bank money can be integrated seamlessly on the same programmable platform. It has the potential to transform securities markets and its application to correspondent banking is especially promising.

    Hyun Song Shin, Economic Adviser and Head of the Monetary and Economic Department

    While stablecoins may eventually play a subsidiary role in the hinterland of the financial system if adequately regulated, they do not deliver singleness of money (acceptance for payment at par), elasticity (timely discharge of obligations, preventing gridlock) and integrity (safeguarding against financial crime). Therefore, besides acting as a gateway to the crypto ecosystem, their future role is unclear.

    The next-generation monetary and financial system combines the time-tested principles of trust in money underpinned by central banks with the functionality unlocked by tokenisation. This system is poised to deliver substantial improvements to current practices and to enable entirely new economic arrangements. Realising the full potential of the system requires bold actions by central banks, which need to work in partnership with the private sector and other public authorities.

    Agustín Carstens, General Manager

    The BIS and central banks are already driving this vision with Project Agorá, a collaboration led by the BIS with seven central banks and 43 private sector institutions.

    The BIS is not just theorising, it is working with central banks to test and develop tokenisation as the backbone of the future monetary and financial system. The BIS Innovation Hub’s Project Agorá harnesses tokenisation to improve cross-border payments in the banking system and make them seamless, more efficient and cost-effective. Project Pine explores how central banks can implement monetary policy operations in a tokenised world.

    Andréa M Maechler, Deputy General Manager and Acting Head of the BIS Innovation Hub

    Note to editors:

    • The full BIS Annual Economic Report 2025 and the BIS Annual Report 2024/25 will be published on 29 June.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Do bank insiders impede equity issuances? | Discussion paper 17/2025: Martin Goetz, Luc Laeven, Ross Levine

    Source: Bundesbank

    Policymakers require banks to maintain sufficient capital to ensure their stability. However, they largely ignore who provides that capital, which could also shape bank risk-taking. Understanding how the ownership structure of banks influences their behaviour could enhance financial regulation and supervision, ultimately making the financial system more resilient.

    The supervisory and regulatory rules banks need to comply with have changed dramatically over the last twenty years. Recent turmoil in financial markets, however, shows that banks are not necessarily safer these days. Are these new regulations and supervisory tools missing some important factors? What would help to improve the stability of the banking system?

    The financial crisis of 2008 – 2009 and the subsequent economic slowdown put bankers’ actions in the crosshairs of the public. Policymakers reacted and overhauled existing regulation, introducing new supervisory powers and expanding the set of capital and liquidity regulations.

    These updated rules were intended to improve bank’s balance sheets and help them better weather a potential future financial crisis. Narratives of the Great Financial Crisis (GFC), however, argue that weak corporate governance measures also played an important role in the severity of the financial crisis. Researchers produced a bulk of empirical evidence examining how different aspects of bank governance shape bank stability. Aside from executive compensation and board structure, researchers now also have a better understanding of shareholders’ role in shaping bank risk, and shareholders play an important role in bank stability. First, they provide banks with high quality capital in the form of common stock that serves as a hard capital buffer against potential losses. Second, they control banks, as they are owners and thus set banks’ courses of action. When evaluating the impact of shareholders on bank behaviour, researchers typically distinguish between “insider” and “outsider” shareholders. “Insiders” are shareholders that have a relationship with the bank beyond their investment, for instance, because they are also executive officers or directors of a bank. “Outsiders”, on the other hand, do not have any relationship with the bank except their investment. While all shareholders vote on a bank’s course of action and thus control a bank, “insiders” are thought to also enjoy “private” benefits of control. For instance, an “insider” may benefit from more favourable loan rates when applying for credit. This may give rise to a conflict of interest for “insiders”: to ensure their private benefits, “insiders” may have little incentive to dilute their ownership stake by issuing new common stock. This may be especially problematic in times of crisis when the issuance of common stock may be particularly important in strengthening a bank’s capital level.

    In our paper, we collect novel data on the ownership structure of large US banks and find that banks with a larger share of “insider” ownership issue less common stock in the aftermath of the GFC. The effect is also quite large and we show that the gap in bank’s dependence on common stock between high and low insider ownership banks grows by almost a quarter in the aftermath of the financial crisis. To provide further evidence, we separately examine banks where “insiders” are thought to enjoy larger private benefits of control. Specifically, we consider banks where (a) “insiders” have larger loans, or banks that are (b) relatively more opaque to provide greater benefits of control to “insiders”. We find that the effect is especially strong for these banks and our results are consistent with the idea that insiders’ dilution reluctance hampers the build-up of hard capital via the issuance of common stock.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales Launches File Activity Monitoring (FAM) to Strengthen Real-Time Visibility and Control Over Unstructured Data

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales Launches File Activity Monitoring (FAM) to Strengthen Real-Time Visibility and Control Over Unstructured Data

    Thales today announced the launch of Thales File Activity Monitoring, a powerful new capability within the Thales CipherTrust Data Security Platform that enhances enterprise visibility and control over unstructured data, enabling organizations to monitor file activity in real time, detect misuse, and ensure regulatory compliance across their entire data estate. As the only integrated platform provider that secures structured and unstructured data, Thales provides comprehensive monitoring and auditability for data types that were previously difficult to track.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Imperva Application Security Integrates API Detection and Response, Setting A New Standard in API Security

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Imperva Application Security Integrates API Detection and Response, Setting A New Standard in API Security

    Thales today announced new detection and response capabilities in the Imperva Application Security platform to protect against business logic attacks, such as Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA) – the leading threat in the OWASP API Security Top 10. By integrating real-time detection with automated mitigation of risky APIs, BOLA attacks, unauthenticated APIs, and deprecated APIs, Imperva Application Security platform delivers comprehensive protection against unauthorized data exposure and other complex business logic vulnerabilities across cloud and on-premises environments.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lufthansa Group and ITA Airways harmonize benefits for status customers from 1 July 2025

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    The Lufthansa Group has reached an important milestone in the harmonization of status benefits: Frequent Travelers will be able to use the ITA Airways lounges from July 1, 2025 and thus benefit from an even more comprehensive lounge network. This will significantly expand the lounge network, especially for travel to and via Italy. Lufthansa Group customers will enjoy an even more seamless premium experience when traveling with the Group’s various airlines. Senators and HON Circle Members had already gained access to the ITA Airways lounges in March.

     

    Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group, said:
    “The harmonization of our Frequent Traveler status benefits across the Lufthansa Group marks a significant step for our most loyal guests. It underlines our commitment to a first-class and seamless travel experience. By expanding lounge access and introducing additional privileges for Lufthansa Group status customers, we are offering more convenience and flexibility.”

    Marcus Frank, Vice President Loyalty at Lufthansa Group, adds:
    “The new benefits for our guests are part of our ongoing efforts to further improve our loyalty program and offer added value to our status customers.”

    The new benefits at a glance

    Extended lounge access: All status customers can relax in the lounges of Lufthansa Group Airlines and in the ITA Airways lounges in Milan, Rome and Catania. This significantly expands their available lounge network, especially at Italian airports.

    Further status benefits: Additional privileges for Frequent Travelers, Senators and HON Circle Members are offered on ITA Airways flights to ensure an even more seamless travel experience.

    All Lufthansa Group status passengers flying with ITA Airways benefit from priority check-in, additional baggage allowance and waiting list priority.

    Senators and HON Circle Members also enjoy priority boarding, fast lane access, accelerated baggage handling and free seat reservations.

     

    Benefits already implemented for passengers

    Since ITA Airways became the Lufthansa Group’s fifth network airline, the travel experience for the Group’s passengers has already been improved in several ways. Since February 2025, Miles & More members have been able to earn and redeem miles on all ITA Airways flights and earn Points, Qualifying Points and, in Business Class, HON Circle Points.

    In March, ITA Airways moved into Terminal 1 in Frankfurt and Terminal 2 in Munich, meaning that all Lufthansa Group network carriers now operate “under one roof” at all Lufthansa Group hubs. Since the 2025 summer timetable, customers have also benefited from a codeshare partnership with over 100 new connections within Europe. The new codeshare offers for long-haul flights from ITA Airways will be available from July 1, 2025. The planned entry of ITA Airways into the Star Alliance at the beginning of 2026 will mark another important milestone.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics: 2024

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: ICC Dispute Resolution Statistics: 2024

    2024 key statistics 

    +29000

    arbitrations since 1923

    2392

    parties

    136

    jurisdictions

    US$354billion

    in total caseload value, marking the highest ever total value of cases pending at year end. 

    831

    new arbitration cases under ICC Arbitration Rules, with 1,789 arbitration cases pending at year end 

    577

    draft awards approved in 11 languages

    The full 2024 statistical report reflects ICC’s standing as the preferred institution for international commercial and investment dispute resolution. 

    The amount in dispute in cases registered in 2024 varied from just below US$10,000 to US$53 billion, with over a third of the cases not exceeding US$3 million.

    Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration and Director of ICC Dispute Resolution services said:

    “ICC Arbitration remains a preferred dispute resolution method globally, attracting high-value, high-impact disputes as well as lower-value disputes. The 2024 statistical report reflects the trust placed in our services, from businesses and states in need of fair, efficient and forward-looking dispute resolution.” 

    Distribution of parties by region

    Place of arbitration 

    ICC arbitrations were seated in 107 cities across 62 countries or independent territories.

    Representation of arbitrators 

    In addition to a wide geographic reach, diversity and inclusion are at the core of our service. 

    1,427 confirmations/ appointments of 1,020 arbitrators from 91 jurisdictions

    In 2024, 577 draft awards were approved in Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Arabic, Italian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Turkish. and bilingually in Chinese/English, demonstrating the adaptability of ICC Dispute Resolution Services in tailoring arbitration services to assist businesses and state entities worldwide.

    Sectors and industries 

    Cases filed in 2024 covered a wide range of sectors. Top 10 sectors included construction/ engineering; energy; transportation; financing and insurance; telecoms and specialised technologies; health, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics; business services; general trade and distribution; leisure and entertainment and industrial equipment and services. 

    Mediation and other forms of amicable dispute settlement 

    The ICC International Centre for ADR administered 61 new cases in 2024 across its range of services which include mediation, expert proceedings, dispute boards and DOCDEX cases relating to trade finance instruments.  

    37

    requests for mediation 

    93

    parties

    33

    countries

    Expert proceedings accounted for 20 new filings, with the majority of proceedings from the construction and energy sectors. Parties and neutrals represented a broad geographic span including Africa, the Middle East, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific, reflecting the continuing adoption globally of ICC’s ADR services. 

    For an ICC DRS data overview, download our one-pager in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese and Spanish. 

    Access statistical reports from previous years via the ICC Dispute Resolution Library.  

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: [Invitation] Galaxy Unpacked July 2025: The Ultra Experience Is Ready To Unfold

    Source: Samsung

    For years, Samsung Electronics has designed its devices around what people truly need, such as better performance, sharper cameras and smarter ways to stay connected. And, with Galaxy AI, it goes beyond what devices can do — it’s about how people interact with them.
     
    As AI rapidly becomes the new user interface, it’s redefining our relationship with technology. No longer just a collection of apps and tools, the smartphone is evolving into a smart companion that understands user intent and responds in real time. This transformation moves us from reaction to anticipation — where, as AI becomes the UI, intent becomes instant.
     
    The next-generation Galaxy devices are being reimagined around a new AI-powered interface, supported by breakthrough hardware built to unlock their full potential. This future is already unfolding, and the best of Galaxy AI and Samsung craftsmanship is about to be unveiled.
     
    On July 9, Samsung Electronics will host Unpacked in Brooklyn, New York — a borough with an extraordinary spirit and a distinctive history. Brooklyn is where visionary thinking and bold ideas shape the future, so it’s only fitting that Samsung unveils the latest and greatest additions to the Galaxy portfolio in a place known for its culture, creativity and collaboration. The event will be streamed live on Samsung.com, Samsung Newsroom India, and Samsung India’s YouTube channel beginning at 07:30 pm IST.
     
    Stay tuned and make sure to visit news.samsung.com/in for all upcoming teasers, trailers and updates ahead of Unpacked 2025.
     
    

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Existing Home Sales Forecast Revised Lower in Latest Outlook

    Source: Fannie Mae

    WASHINGTON, DC – Existing single-family home sales are forecast at 4.14 million units for 2025, down slightly from last month’s forecast of 4.24 million units, according to the June 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook from the Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. Revisions to the home sales forecast were driven in part by the ESR Group’s higher expectations for mortgage rates, which are now predicted to end 2025 and 2026 at 6.5% and 6.1%, respectively. The latest outlook also projects real gross domestic product growing at 1.4% in 2025 and 2.2% in 2026 on a Q4/Q4 basis.

    Visit the Economic and Strategic Research site at fanniemae.com to read the full June 2025 Economic and Housing Outlook, including the Economic Developments Commentary, Economic Forecast, and Housing Forecast. To receive email updates with other housing market research from Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, please click here.

    Opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views of Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group included in these materials should not be construed as indicating Fannie Mae’s business prospects or expected results, are based on a number of assumptions, and are subject to change without notice. How this information affects Fannie Mae will depend on many factors. Although the ESR Group bases its opinions, analyses, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views on information it considers reliable, it does not guarantee that the information provided in these materials is accurate, current, or suitable for any particular purpose. Changes in the assumptions or the information underlying these views could produce materially different results. The analyses, opinions, estimates, forecasts, beliefs, and other views published by the ESR Group represent the views of that group as of the date indicated and do not necessarily represent the views of Fannie Mae or its management.

    About the ESR Group
    Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, led by Chief Economist Mark Palim, studies current data, analyzes historical and emerging trends, and conducts surveys of consumer and mortgage lenders to inform forecasts and analyses on the economy, housing, and mortgage markets.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: An energy solution made in Saskatchewan

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: An energy solution made in Saskatchewan

    Saskatchewan should recommit to its plan to procure 3,000 MW of abundant, affordable wind and solar energy by 2035.

    Regina, June 23, 2025—The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is concerned that the Government of Saskatchewan’s plans to extend the lifecycle of their coal-generation plants, as signalled on June 18, will have an impact on future renewable energy plans in the province.

    CanREA encourages the government, in its effort to protect Saskatchewan jobs and utilize Saskatchewan resources, to recommit to its 2022 commitments to procure 3,000 MW of wind and solar by 2035, as part of an energy vision that leverages wind energy, solar energy and energy storage technologies.

    “Saskatchewan has world-class wind and solar resources—among the best in Canada—and it makes sense to tap into these abundant, affordable, renewable sources of energy,” said Kelly Hall, CanREA’s Director for Saskatchewan and Indigenous Engagement.

    The 3,000 MW target will support five key priorities: affordability, Indigenous Reconciliation, economic development, effective project siting and engagement, and long-term energy security. These priorities have been cited to justify extending coal power production, but they’re even stronger reasons to accelerate the shift to renewables.

    Affordability

    Renewables with storage are the most cost-effective and rapidly deployable new energy sources, according to financial services firm Lazard.

    For example, on May 1, 2025, SaskPower announced long-term (25-30 year) PPAs for the 200 MW Rose Valley Wind Project, east of Assiniboia, and the 100 MW Southern Springs Solar Project, south of Coronach. While contract prices remain confidential, SaskPower President Rupen Pandya disclosed average bid prices of $64/MWh for wind and $90/MWh for solar—both well below SaskPower’s current retail rate of $150/MWh.

    These prices align with 2018 results, when Potentia Renewables won a PPA for the Golden South Wind facility at $42/MWh for 29 wind bids. Now operational, that project delivers affordable electricity to the grid, as do all Saskatchewan’s 920 MW of wind and solar projects.

    Renewables help keep costs low for all ratepayers, and Saskatchewan deserves more success stories like these.

    Indigenous Reconciliation

    Wind and solar are well suited to Indigenous equity partnerships, which will advance economic reconciliation in Saskatchewan. Equity partnerships benefit Indigenous communities, ratepayers and the electricity system.

    For example, SaskPower recently selected renewable energy projects jointly owned by Potentia Renewables, Meadow Lake Tribal Council and Mistawasis Nehiyawak. These majority Indigenous-owned ventures continue Saskatchewan’s tradition of Indigenous leadership in renewables.

    With a commitment to Indigenous equity in all future RFPs, the 3,000 MW renewables plan can expand on past success.

    Economic development & job opportunities 

    Renewables bring billions in investment and create jobs. At the May 1 SaskPower announcement, Potentia Renewables said the Rose Valley Wind Project will cost nearly $450 million; the solar project, about $185 million.

    Based on current projects, a typical 200 MW wind project creates 200 to 300 construction jobs, invests more than $400 million locally, and generates more than $1 million annually in property taxes and landowner payments.

    Saskatchewan’s 3,000 MW renewables plan could mean 4,500 to 6,000 jobs, $5 to 6 billion in rural investment, and tens of millions annually for local landowners and municipalities. Investing in renewables is investing in rural Saskatchewan.

    Project siting and community engagement

    Communities across the province expect thoughtful project siting and responsive public engagement. Fortunately, new wind and solar projects require local landowner agreements, are designed to co-exist with agriculture and deliver direct benefits to host municipalities. 

    Responsible development is already a standard practice in the renewables sector and among CanREA members.

    Energy security

    In uncertain times, energy security is a valid concern. Saskatchewan can count on its outstanding wind and solar resources to reduce its reliance on imported fuels and protect itself from cross-border risks.

    New wind and solar projects can give Saskatchewan control over its grid, without worrying that another jurisdiction might turn off the tap.

    It makes sense for the province to invest in its own abundant, affordable resources. Recommitting to the plan of 3,000 MW of renewable energy by 2035 will support energy security, protect local jobs, maintain affordability, and promote Indigenous Reconciliation, all in harmony with landowner and community needs.

    “It’s an energy solution that’s made in Saskatchewan,” said Hall.

    Quote

    “Saskatchewan has world-class wind and solar resources—among the best in Canada—and it makes sense to tap into these abundant, affordable, renewable sources of energy. It’s an energy solution that’s made in Saskatchewan.”
     —Kelly Hall, Director for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, and for Indigenous Engagement, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)

    For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact: 

    Communications Canadian Renewable Energy Association communications@renewablesassociation.ca 

    About CanREA

    The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca. 
    The post An energy solution made in Saskatchewan appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Panels established to review Canadian surtaxes, Chinese duties on farm and fish products

    Source: World Trade Organization

    DS627: Canada — Measures on Certain Products of Chinese Origin

    China submitted its second request for the establishment of a dispute panel with respect to the surtax measures imposed by Canada on certain products of Chinese origin, including electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products. Canada had said it was not ready to accept China’s first request for the panel at a DSB meeting on 23 May.

    China said it considers Canada’s measures inconsistent with provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It added that it was open to constructive discussions and remains committed to resolving the dispute.

    It is unfortunate that China has included in its panel request claims related to certain solar products, critical minerals, semiconductors, permanent magnets and natural graphite imported from China, Canada said, noting that there are no Canadian surtax measures on these products. China has therefore failed to identify the specific measures at issue as required under the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), Canada said.

    Canada said its surtax measures on electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products are justified under the GATT and that it was fully prepared to defend these measures. Canada remains committed to maintaining constructive dialogue with China even as the dispute moves to the panel stage, it added.

    The United States said that China responded to the surtaxes by imposing countermeasures in the form of additional duties on Canadian agricultural and fishery products.

    The DSB agreed to the establishment of the panel. 

    Australia, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Norway, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, Ukraine and the United States reserved their third-party rights to participate in the proceedings.

    DS636: China — Additional Import Duties on Certain Agricultural and Fishery Products from Canada

    Canada submitted its second request for the establishment of a dispute panel with respect to the additional import duties imposed by China on certain Canadian agricultural and fisheries products. China had said it was not ready to accept Canada’s first request for the panel at a special DSB meeting on 5 June.

    Canada said the import duties imposed by China represented a unilateral determination and trade countermeasures contrary to WTO rules. Canada moreover said that as the dispute concerns perishable goods, the case should be treated as urgent as provided by the DSU. Canada remains committed to maintaining constructive dialogue with China even as the dispute moves to the panel stage, it added.

    China replied that it regretted Canada’s decision to seek the establishment of a panel and opposed Canada’s claim that DSU provisions on urgency apply to this case. China said it will defend itself in the proceedings and is confident that its measures will be found consistent with WTO rules. It added that it remained open to engagement with Canada.

    The United States reiterated that the measures at issue are countermeasures imposed by China in response to Canadian measures China is challenging in DS627.

    The DSB agreed to the establishment of the panel. 

    Australia, the European Union, India, Japan, Norway, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States and Viet Nam reserved their third-party rights to participate in the proceedings.

    Appellate Body appointments

    Colombia, speaking on behalf of 130 members, introduced for the 88th time the group’s proposal to start the selection processes for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body. The extensive number of members submitting the proposal reflects a common interest in the functioning of the Appellate Body and, more generally, in the functioning of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, Colombia said.

    The United States said it does not support the proposed decision and noted its longstanding concerns with WTO dispute settlement that have persisted across US administrations. The United States emphasized that the dispute settlement process was meant to help members resolve specific disputes without creating new rules that alter rights and obligations under the covered WTO agreements. The US reiterated that fundamental reform of WTO dispute settlement is needed and that it will reflect on the extent to which it is possible to achieve such a reformed WTO dispute settlement system.

    More than 20 members took the floor to comment, one speaking on behalf of a group of members. Several members urged others to consider joining the Multi-party interim appeal arrangement (MPIA), a contingent measure to safeguard the right to appeal in the absence of a functioning Appellate Body. 

    Colombia, on behalf of the 130 members, said it regretted that for the 88th occasion members have not been able to launch the selection processes. Ongoing conversations about reform of the dispute settlement system should not prevent the Appellate Body from continuing to operate fully, and members shall comply with their obligation under the Dispute Settlement Understanding to fill the vacancies as they arise, Colombia said for the group.

    Dispute settlement reform

    The DSB Chair, Ambassador Clare Kelly (New Zealand), said that the General Council (GC) Chair Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) had informed members in a 6 June communication that, regarding dispute settlement reform, his consultations have confirmed readiness to preserve and build on the progress already made, and to advance only when the time is ripe to make meaningful progress on key unresolved issues with the engagement of all delegations.

    The GC Chair also indicated that both the DSB Chair and the GC Chair will be closely monitoring the situation and will revert to members at the appropriate time. The DSB chair added that her door is open to delegations wishing to further discuss the matter.

    Surveillance of implementation

    The United States presented status reports with regard to DS184, “US — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Products from Japan”,  DS160, “United States — Section 110(5) of US Copyright Act”, DS464, “United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Large Residential Washers from Korea”, and DS471, “United States — Certain Methodologies and their Application to Anti-Dumping Proceedings Involving China.”

    The European Union presented a status report with regard to DS291, “EC — Measures Affecting the Approval and Marketing of Biotech Products.”

    Indonesia presented its status reports in DS477 and DS478, “Indonesia — Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal Products.” 

    Next meeting

    The next regular DSB meeting will take place on 25 July 2025.

    Share

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon announces final results of its private exchange offers for 10 series of notes and related tender offers

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon announces final results of its private exchange offers for 10 series of notes and related tender offers

    NEW YORK, N.Y. –  Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today announced the final results of its Exchange Offers (as defined below) and its Cash Offers (as defined below).

    Exchange Offers

    The first transaction consists of 10 separate private offers to exchange (the “Exchange Offers”) any and all of the outstanding series of notes listed in the table below (as used in the context of the Exchange Offers and the Cash Offers (as defined below), collectively the “Old Notes”) in exchange for newly issued 5.401% Notes due 2037 of Verizon (the “New Notes”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum dated June 12, 2025 (the “Offering Memorandum”), the eligibility letter (the “Eligibility Letter”) and the accompanying exchange offer notice of guaranteed delivery (the “Exchange Offer Notice of Guaranteed Delivery” which, together with the Offering Memorandum and the Eligibility Letter, constitute the “Exchange Offer Documents”).

    The Exchange Offers expired at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on June 18, 2025 (the “Exchange Offer Expiration Date”). The “Exchange Offer Settlement Date” with respect to the Exchange Offers will be promptly following the Exchange Offer Expiration Date and is expected to be June 25, 2025. In addition to the applicable Total Exchange Price (as defined in the Offering Memorandum), Exchange Offer Eligible Holders (as defined below) whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange will receive a cash payment equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on such Old Notes from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date for such Old Notes to, but excluding, the Exchange Offer Settlement Date. Interest will cease to accrue on the Exchange Offer Settlement Date for all Old Notes accepted, including those tendered through the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures (as defined in the Offering Memorandum).

    Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used under the heading Exchange Offers have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Exchange Offer Documents.

    The table below indicates, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of each series of Old Notes that Verizon is accepting in connection with Verizon’s offer to exchange any and all of its outstanding notes listed below for New Notes:

    Acceptance Priority Level(1)

    Title of Security

    CUSIP
    Number(s)

    Principal Amount Outstanding

    Principal Amount Tendered for Exchange by the Expiration Date and Accepted(2)

    1

    1.450% Notes due 2026

    92343VGG3

    $838,579,000

    $1,689,000

    2

    Floating Rate Notes due 2026

    92343VGE8

    $212,932,000

    $4,987,000

    3

    4.125% Notes due 2027

    92343VDY7

    $2,903,541,000

    $316,360,000

    4

    3.000% Notes due 2027

    92343VFF6

    $569,992,000

    $66,073,000

    5

    4.329% Notes due 2028

    92343VER1/

    92343VEQ3/

    U9221ABK3

    $3,640,515,000

    $722,436,000

    6

    2.100% Notes due 2028

    92343VGH1

    $2,139,693,000

    7

    4.016% Notes due 2029

    92343VEU4/

    92343VET7/

    U9221ABL1

    $4,000,000,000

    $523,460,000

    8

    3.150% Notes due 2030

    92343VFE9

    $1,464,080,000

    $266,808,000

    9

    1.680% Notes due 2030

    92343VFX7/

    92343VFN9/

    U9221ABS6

    $1,098,195,000

    $270,138,000

    10

    7.750% Notes due 2030

    92344GAM8/

    92344GAC0

    $562,561,000

    $30,303,000

    (1) Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the Exchange Offers described in the Offering Memorandum, if the New Notes Capacity Condition (as defined if the Offering Memorandum) and/or the corresponding Cash Offer Completion Condition (as defined if the Offering Memorandum) is not satisfied with respect to every series of Old Notes, Verizon will accept Old Notes for exchange in the order of their respective Acceptance Priority Level specified in the table above (as used in the context of the Exchange Offers and the Cash Offers, each an “Acceptance Priority Level,” with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 10 being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level). It is possible that a series of Old Notes with a particular Acceptance Priority Level will not be accepted for exchange even if one or more series with a higher or lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted for purchase.

    (2) The principal amounts accepted as reflected in the table above are subject to change due to Old Notes that may be validly tendered pursuant to Guaranteed Delivery Procedures and not validly withdrawn prior to the guaranteed delivery date and accepted for exchange.

    Verizon is offering to accept for exchange validly tendered Old Notes using a “waterfall” methodology under which such Old Notes of different series will be accepted in the order of their respective Acceptance Priority Levels as listed in the table above, subject to a $2.5 billion cap on the maximum aggregate principal amount of New Notes that Verizon will issue in all of the Exchange Offers (the “New Notes Maximum Amount”). However, subject to applicable law, Verizon, in its sole discretion, has the option to waive or increase the New Notes Maximum Amount at any time.

    On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum, including the Cash Offer Completion Condition, Verizon is accepting for exchange all of the Old Notes validly tendered, including Old Notes for which Verizon received an Exchange Offer Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and that are delivered on or prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Date, of each series of Old Notes with Acceptance Priority Levels 1 through 5 and 7 through 10 (as used in the context of the Exchange Offers and the Cash Offers, the “Covered Notes”).  As described further below in relation to the Cash Offers, the purchase of all Old Notes of the series with Acceptance Priority Level 6 (as used in the context of the Exchange Offers and the Cash Offers, the “Non-Covered Notes”) tendered for purchase would cause Verizon to breach the Maximum Total Consideration Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase, and as increased as described below), and, accordingly, Verizon is rejecting the Non-Covered Notes from the applicable Cash Offer and the Cash Offer Completion Condition with respect to the Non-Covered Notes will not be satisfied. Because the Cash Offer Completion Condition will not be satisfied, Verizon is rejecting exchanges of Non-Covered Notes, including Non-Covered Notes for which Verizon received an Exchange Offers Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Non-Covered Notes will be returned or credited without expense to the holders’ accounts promptly after the Expiration Date. The aggregate principal amount of Covered Notes that will be exchanged by Verizon on the Settlement Date is subject to change based on deliveries of Covered Notes pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures described in the Offering Memorandum.

    On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum, Verizon expects to issue approximately $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of New Notes due 2037 and, as such, Verizon considers the Minimum Issue Requirement (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) satisfied. Verizon will not receive any cash proceeds from the Exchange Offers. The actual aggregate principal amount of New Notes that will be issued on the Exchange Offer Settlement Date is subject to change, based on the amount of Old Notes delivered pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures and satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Offering Memorandum, including the Cash Offer Completion Condition.

    Verizon today announced that the New Notes Capacity Condition, as well as certain customary conditions to the Exchange Offers, including the absence of certain adverse legal and market developments, have been satisfied with respect to each series of Old Notes, and the Cash Offer Completion Condition (as defined in the Offering Memorandum) has been satisfied for each series of Covered Notes.

    If and when issued, the New Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the New Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Verizon will enter into a registration rights agreement with respect to the New Notes.

    Only a holder who had duly completed and returned an Eligibility Letter certifying that it was either (1) a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)); or (2) a person located outside the United States who is (i) not a “U.S. person” (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act), (ii) not acting for the account or benefit of a U.S. person and (iii) a “Non-U.S. qualified offeree” (as defined below), was authorized to receive the Offering Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offers (such holders, “Exchange Offer Eligible Holders”).

    Global Bondholder Services Corporation is acting as the Information Agent and the Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offers. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Exchange Offers or for additional copies of the Exchange Offer Documents may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (212) 430-3774.You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offers. The Exchange Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: https://gbsc-usa.com/eligibility/verizon.

    Cash Offers

    The second transaction consists of 10 separate offers to purchase for cash (the “Cash Offers”) any and all of each series of Old Notes, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated June 12, 2025 (the “Offer to Purchase”), the certification instructions letter (the “Certification Instructions Letter”) and the accompanying cash offer notice of guaranteed delivery (the “Cash Offer Notice of Guaranteed Delivery” which, together with the Offer to Purchase and the Certification Instructions Letter, constitute the “Tender Offer Documents”).

    The Cash Offers expired at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on June 18, 2025 (the “Cash Offer Expiration Date”). The “Cash Offer Settlement Date” with respect to the Cash Offers will be promptly following the Cash Offer Expiration Date and is expected to be June 25, 2025.

    Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used under the heading Cash Offers have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Tender Offer Documents.

    The table below indicates, among other things, the aggregate principal amount of each series of Old Notes that Verizon is accepting in connection with Verizon’s offer to purchase any and all of its outstanding notes listed below:

    Acceptance Priority Level(1)

    Title of Security

    CUSIP
    Number(s)

    Principal Amount Outstanding

    Principal Amount Tendered for Purchase by the Expiration Date and Accepted(2)

    1

    1.450% Notes due 2026

    92343VGG3

    $838,579,000

    $11,059,000

    2

    Floating Rate Notes due 2026

    92343VGE8

    $212,932,000

    $2,287,000

    3

    4.125% Notes due 2027

    92343VDY7

    $2,903,541,000

    $160,011,000

    4

    3.000% Notes due 2027

    92343VFF6

    $569,992,000

    $25,913,000

    5

    4.329% Notes due 2028

    92343VER1/

    92343VEQ3/

    U9221ABK3

    $3,640,515,000

    $126,677,000

    6

    2.100% Notes due 2028

    92343VGH1

    $2,139,693,000

    7

    4.016% Notes due 2029

    92343VEU4/

    92343VET7/

    U9221ABL1

    $4,000,000,000

    $106,476,000

    8

    3.150% Notes due 2030

    92343VFE9

    $1,464,080,000

    $42,536,000

    9

    1.680% Notes due 2030

    92343VFX7/

    92343VFN9/

    U9221ABS6

    $1,098,195,000

    $24,930,000

    10

    7.750% Notes due 2030

    92344GAM8/

    92344GAC0

    $562,561,000

    $2,818,000

    (1) Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the Cash Offers described in the Offer to Purchase, including if the Maximum Total Consideration Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is not satisfied with respect to every series of Old Notes, Verizon will accept Notes for purchase in the order of their respective Acceptance Priority Level specified in the table above. It is possible that a series of Old Notes with a particular Acceptance Priority Level will not be accepted for purchase even if one or more series with a higher or lower Acceptance Priority Level are accepted for purchase.

    (2) The principal amounts accepted as reflected in the table above are subject to change due to Old Notes that may be validly tendered pursuant to Guaranteed Delivery Procedures and not validly withdrawn prior to the guaranteed delivery date and accepted for purchase.

    Verizon is offering to purchase validly tendered Old Notes using a “waterfall” methodology under which such Old Notes of different series will be accepted in the order of their respective Acceptance Priority Levels as listed in the table above, subject to the Maximum Total Consideration Condition and the Exchange Offer Completion Condition (each as defined in the Offer to Purchase). However, subject to applicable law, Verizon, in its sole discretion, has the option to waive or increase the Maximum Total Consideration Condition at any time.

    Verizon has increased the Maximum Total Consideration Condition to the Cash Offers and, accordingly, the maximum aggregate amount of cash that Verizon will use to purchase all validly tendered, and not validly withdrawn, Old Notes in the Cash Offers (the “Maximum Total Consideration Amount,” as described in the Offer to Purchase) will be increased from $300 million to $500 million, which is an amount sufficient to allow Verizon to purchase all Covered Notes validly tendered, and not validly withdrawn, at or prior to the Cash Offer Expiration Date.

    On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, Verizon is accepting for purchase all of the Old Notes validly tendered, including Old Notes for which Verizon received a Cash Offer Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and that are delivered on or prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Date, for each series of Covered Notes. Because the purchase of all Non-Covered Notes validly tendered in the Cash Offer would cause Verizon to breach the Maximum Total Consideration Condition (as increased as described above), Verizon is rejecting tenders of Non-Covered Notes, including Old Notes for which Verizon received a Cash Offer Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Non-Covered Notes will be returned or credited without expense to the holders’ accounts promptly after the Expiration Date. The aggregate principal amount of Covered Notes that will be purchased by Verizon on the Settlement Date is subject to change based on deliveries of Covered Notes pursuant to the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures described in the Offer to Purchase.

    In addition to the applicable Total Consideration (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), Cash Offer Eligible Holders (as defined below) whose Old Notes are accepted for purchase will be paid accrued and unpaid interest on such Old Notes from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date for such Old Notes to, but excluding, the Cash Offer Settlement Date. Interest will cease to accrue on the Cash Offer Settlement Date for all Old Notes accepted in the Cash Offers, including those Old Notes tendered through the Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.

    Verizon today announced that the Exchange Offer Completion Condition has been satisfied for each series of Covered Notes and, except as noted in this release, all other conditions to the Cash Offers described in the Offer to Purchase, including the absence of certain adverse legal and market developments, have been satisfied with respect to each series of Old Notes.

    Only holders who were not Exchange Offer Eligible Holders (“Cash Offer Eligible Holders”) were eligible to participate in the Cash Offers. Holders of Old Notes participating in the Cash Offers were required to complete the Certification Instructions Letter and certify that they are Cash Offer Eligible Holders.

    Global Bondholder Services Corporation is acting as the Information Agent and the Tender Agent for the Cash Offers. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Cash Offers or for additional copies of the Tender Offer Documents may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (212) 430-3774. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Cash Offers. The Tender Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/verizon.

    Verizon refers to the Exchange Offers and the Cash Offers, collectively, as the “Offers.”

    Verizon retained Barclays Capital Inc, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC to act as lead dealer managers for the Offers and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., Truist Securities, Inc. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. to act as co-dealer managers for the Offers.

    This announcement is for informational purposes only. This announcement is not an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any Old Notes. The Exchange Offers are being made solely pursuant to the Offering Memorandum and related documents and the Cash Offers are being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related documents. The Offers are not being made to holders of Old Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of Verizon by the dealer managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

    This communication and any other documents or materials relating to the Exchange Offers have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, this announcement is not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, persons within the United Kingdom save in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. Accordingly, this communication is only addressed to and directed at persons who are outside the United Kingdom and (i) persons falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), or (ii) within Article 43 of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iii) high net worth companies and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (iv) to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (such persons together being “relevant persons”). The New Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such New Notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on any document relating to the Exchange Offers or any of their contents.

    This communication and any other documents or materials relating to the Exchange Offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in member states of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), who are “Qualified Investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129. The New Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such New Notes, will be engaged in only with, Qualified Investors. The Exchange Offer is only available to Qualified Investors. None of the information in the Offering Memorandum and any other documents and materials relating to the Exchange Offer should be acted upon or relied upon in any member state of the EEA by persons who are not Qualified Investors.

    “Non-U.S. qualified offeree” means:

    (i)       in relation to any investor in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended or superseded) that is not a retail investor. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (a) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (b) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II;

    (ii)      in relation to any investor in the United Kingdom, a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 that is not a retail investor and that (a) has professional experience in matters relating to investments and qualifies as an investment professional within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (b) is a person falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (c) is a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (x) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”); or (y) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the FSMA and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or

    (iii)      any entity outside the U.S., the EEA and the United Kingdom to whom the Exchange Offer may be made in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of any applicable jurisdiction without registration of the Exchange Offer or any related filing or approval.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    In this communication Verizon has made forward-looking statements, including regarding the conduct and completion of the Offers. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but only predictions and generally can be identified by use of statements that include phrases such as “will,” “may,” “should,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “appear,” “project,” “estimate,” “hope,” “intend,” “target,” “forecast,” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, including those discussed in the Offering Memorandum and Offer to Purchase under the heading “Risk Factors” and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum and Offer to Purchase. Holders are urged to consider these risks and uncertainties carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and Verizon undertakes no obligation to update publicly these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events might or might not occur. Verizon cannot assure you that projected results or events will be achieved.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Targeted regulatory reforms offer opportunity to boost climate finance flows 

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: Targeted regulatory reforms offer opportunity to boost climate finance flows 

    Private climate finance to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) is falling, despite these countries representing 25% of global GDP and requiring an additional US$450–US$550 billion annually in external climate investment by 2030. 

    Basel III rules, as currently interpreted, unintentionally discourage EMDE lending, including by unnecessarily limiting recognition of robust credit enhancement tools.  

    Project finance is treated highly conservatively under Basel capital calculation approaches, despite strong data showing lower-than-expected default rates and high recovery rates over time. 

    Country risk ceilings often overstate risk for EMDE exposures, limiting bank participation even in high-quality, co-financed projects – thus driving up the cost of capital. 

    Targeted clarifications and reforms to the Basel Framework could unlock significant volumes of private investment in high-impact, climate-aligned EMDE projects – without compromising financial stability. 

    Emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) are on the frontline of the global climate crisis – both in terms of exposure to its impacts and in their indispensable role in driving the transition to a net-zero future. Yet, these economies face a stark shortfall in the climate finance needed to achieve this transformation. 

    Despite accounting for roughly 25% of global GDP, emerging markets and developing economies – with the exception of China – attract just 14% of total international climate finance. To stay on a net-zero path, they require an additional US$450–$550 billion annually in external investment by 2030, a 15- to 18-fold increase from current private flows which sit at just US$30 billion. 

    Mobilising this scale of investment requires us to take a critical look at existing financial structures, particularly those where well-intentioned rules may inadvertently hinder the very transitions we most urgently need. Elements of the Basel III Framework exemplify this challenge. Designed in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 crisis and intended to safeguard financial stability, current interpretations unintentionally discourage lending to emerging markets and developing economies.  

    Targeted clarifications and reforms to the Basel Framework could unlock significant volumes of private investment in high-impact, climate-aligned projects in emerging markets and developing economies, while ensuring the continued soundness of the global financial system. 

    What are the barriers to climate finance in emerging markets and developing economies? 

    Basel III rules, as currently interpreted, unintentionally discourage EMDE lending. This includes unnecessarily limiting the recognition of public risk mitigation tools (such as credit guarantees and co-lending structures) that reduce lending risks of multilateral development banks and development finance institutions. For example, unconditionality and timeliness requirements often render guarantees ineligible to lower the capital buffers held by banks — despite their demonstrated effectiveness in reducing real-world credit risk. In addition, current rules do not recognise the risk-reducing benefits of blended finance structures, and the Basel framework’s list of multilateral development banks eligible for favourable risk weights is static, excluding newer institutions with strong credit ratings and climate finance aligned mandates. 

    Conservative risk weights of project finance to climate and infrastructure investment further undercut global climate finance flows to EMDEs. This is despite data demonstrating that project finance in EMDEs outperforms corporate loans, with higher recovery rates and default rates comparable to investment-grade corporates after five years. In addition, the Basel III rules do not recognise borrower-level mitigants (such as FX hedging and purchase agreements) and the internal ratings-based (IRB) maturity adjustment assumes linear risk growth over time when, in practice, project finance exhibits decreasing risk as projects stabilise and generate revenue.  

    What is the impact of country risk calculations? 

    While the Basel Framework does not explicitly assign capital charges based on country risk, it does so indirectly. This happens through country risk ceilings (the maximum credit rating that any entity within a country can receive) and risk-weight floors (a minimum percentage risk weight that regulators require banks to apply) for corporates or projects in lower-rated jurisdictions.  

    Illustrative example:

    A commercial bank considers lending to a solar energy project in a Sub-Saharan African country rated B- despite having:

    • A long-term power purchase agreement with a multilateral-backed utility,
    • Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency political risk insurance against currency inconvertibility and breach of contract, and
    • Co-financing from a multilateral development bank (A-loan).

    The exposure still attracts a 100%+ capital charge due to the country’s sovereign rating. This undermines the effect of risk mitigants and disincentivises the bank’s participation.

    ICC recommendations: what reforms should take place? 

    Given the urgency of the financing challenge faced by many EMDEs we encourage policymakers to consider a two-step approach to macroprudential reform – starting with low-hanging fruits that could yield an immediate boost to climate finance flows, before considering broader structural reforms.  

    Step 1: Technical adjustments and clarifications 

    Small, targeted adjustments to the Basel Framework could unlock substantial additional investment – either by way of new guidance from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision or, failing that, through coordinated action from national regulators.  

    Such steps could include:  

    1. Updating credit risk mitigation guidance to accommodate the real-world mechanics of MDB/DFI and private credit enhancement tools, including PRI. At a minimum, such guidance should allow guarantees or insurance to qualify if exclusions are: standard market practice (e.g. nuclear or war clauses); and statistically remote or immaterial to the exposure in question. 
    1. Clarifying time limits for credit risk mitigants by recognising that contracts with defined arbitration periods (e.g. under 180 days) or subject to the established claims procedures of MDBs/DFIs can provide functionally timely payouts and should qualify for capital relief. 
    1. Allowing the application of blended risk weights to exposures covered by partial guarantees to reflect the real risk reduction offered by these tools.  
    1. Allowing for automatic recognition of credit enhancements provided by all MDBs/DFIs with credit ratings at or above AA-.  
    1. Providing clear guidance on the treatment of borrower-level risk mitigants in project finance transactions (both during pre-operation and operational phases) – including interest rate or currency hedging, purchase agreements, reserve accounts and performance bonds.  

    Step 2: Structural reforms  

    Building on these initial measures, we recommend that Basel Committee is mandated to establish new work programmes to:   

    1. Refine the treatment of project finance to reflect its proven performance based on available market data; introduce dynamic risk weights that adjust over a project’s lifecycle (particularly between pre-operation and operational phases); and consider recognising project finance as a distinct asset class within the prudential framework. 
    1. Review Basel’s approach to country risk to better differentiate between sovereign and project-level risk. This should permit risk weight adjustments where exposures are highly secure or mitigated by credible guarantees/involve MDB participation.  
    1. Consider the potential introduction of a scaling factor for high-quality, climate-related investments in EMDEs – similar to the existing Supporting Factor for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises under Basel III or the Infrastructure Supporting Factor within the European Union’s Capital Requirements Regulation.  
    1. Review potential modalities to recognise well-structured blended finance arrangements – notably those with public or concessional first-loss tranches – as eligible credit risk mitigation where they provide transparent and reliable risk absorption. 

    ICC calls on governments and financial standard-setters to initiate a structured dialogue under the Baku to Belem Roadmap at COP30, with the engagement of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, and to explore targeted prudential adjustments that can be implemented in the near term.  

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: OEUK news Homegrown energy must power the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy 23 June 2025

    Source: Offshore Energy UK

    Headline: OEUK news

    Homegrown energy must power the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy

    23 June 2025

    Accessibility Statement

    • oeuk.org.uk
    • 23 June 2025

    Compliance status

    We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of circumstance and ability.

    To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level. These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.

    This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.

    Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML, adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.

    If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email [email protected]

    Screen-reader and keyboard navigation

    Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements, alongside console screenshots of code examples:

    1. Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website. In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels; descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups), and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology. To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on as soon as they enter the website.

      These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.

    2. Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.

      Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Disability profiles supported in our website

    • Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
    • Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
    • Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
    • ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
    • Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
    • Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.

    Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments

    1. Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
    2. Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
    3. Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
    4. Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
    5. Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
    6. Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
    7. Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.

    Browser and assistive technology compatibility

    We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).

    Notes, comments, and feedback

    Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to [email protected]

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Central African Republic: Third and Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for a Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurance Review

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    International Monetary Fund. African Dept. “Central African Republic: Third and Fourth Review Under the Extended Credit Facility, Requests for a Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria, and Financing Assurance Review”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 140 (2025), accessed June 23, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229013970.002

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Frank Elderson: Europe at a crossroads – it is high time to complete the single market

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Thank you for your kind invitation. It is a pleasure to join you this morning to discuss the key obstacles to completing the single European market from the ECB’s perspective.

    40 years ago Jacques Delors presented a now-famous “White Paper”, outlining a bold and comprehensive vision for completing the single European market. This historic document identified 279 obstacles, many of them legal in nature, that stood in the way of the free movement of goods, people, capital and services across Europe.

    Delors’ White Paper did not come out of nowhere – it was conceived as a solution to tackle the challenges plaguing Europe in 1985: eurosclerosis, competitiveness crisis, paralysing political tensions. These issues dominated the headlines of the time.

    Policymakers overcame these obstacles with the Single European Act building on a clear and actionable timeline. And the rest, as they say, is history.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Bank regulation and supervision: from local to global to local

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    My lecture today will review the evolution of regulation and supervision and the role of the Basel Committee. I will start with a recap of why we regulate and supervise banks, and the role of capital and liquidity. I will then explain why the Basel Committee was set up, and the role it serves in promoting global financial stability. I will then conclude by discussing some of the lessons learned from recent bank failures and stress events.

    In preparing this presentation with my colleagues, we realised that to cover all these topics in detail would require a whole course, rather than one lecture. So, my plan is to touch the surface on most issues and occasionally drill a little deeper.

    So, let’s start with the basics.

    MIL OSI Economics