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Category: Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: cortAIx SG: Thales Accelerates Trusted AI Innovation in Singapore with Strategic Partnerships

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: cortAIx SG: Thales Accelerates Trusted AI Innovation in Singapore with Strategic Partnerships

    • Thales’s global acceleration in trusted AI extends to Asia for the first time with the launch of cortAIx SG. Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), cortAIx SG aims to drive the ethical and effective adoption of AI in Singapore, in alignment with Singapore’s National AI strategy. The Group’s global expansion of cortAIx to Singapore has the dual purpose of serving the needs of both the civil and defence ecosystems.
    • Thales is strengthening its strategic partnerships in Singapore by launching joint initiatives with CAAS1, DSTA2, and HTX3across Aviation, Defence, and Public Safety and Security. These enhanced collaborations include an expanded innovation partnership with HTX focused on AI, border security, quantum, and cybersecurity technologies, as well as the creation of a joint Avionics Lab with CAAS—supported by Changi Airport Group, ICAI4, SATS, and Singapore Airlines—to drive next-generation avionics solutions.
    • With these partnerships, cortAIx SG will become an integral part of the Group’s global cortAIx network of 800 highly-skilled AI and data experts, supported by local talent with deep expertise in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data science.

    On 30th May, Thales and EDB signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the launch of cortAIx SG to extend the Group’s global AI programme to Asia, and further accelerate on AI research and industrialisation. With more than 100 products integrating AI, Thales already develops and deploys trusted AI-powered systems in the most complex and challenging environments. Building on this strong foundation, cortAIx SG will serve as an important accelerator, identifying critical challenges and developing high-impact AI solutions for Thales’ business units across Singapore and the broader Asia region. The centre will play a key role in driving the development and implementation of trusted AI systems in complex and mission-critical environments, thereby strengthening Thales’ R&D capabilities and long-term innovation footprint in Singapore.

    cortAIx SG positions Thales Singapore as a hub for AI leadership and joint innovation, aligned with the nation’s ambitions under the National AI Strategy. The centre will be driven by several key initiatives: including projects that enhance utilisation of knowledge and sensor suites to aid planning and decision support; increase operational efficiency; and drive human-autonomy teaming. Thales will work with the Singaporean government and ecosystem to grow domain and technology capabilities in Singapore, bringing together cutting-edge technology, talent and research to AI solutions that are ethical, transparent, explainable, and operationally effective.

    The announcement was made on the occasion of French President Mr. Emmanuel Macron’s State Visit to Singapore, with multiple agreements signed on 29th May and during the France–Singapore Frontier Technologies Forum on 30th May.

    1.Expansion of Strategic Partnership with HTX (Home Team Science & Technology Agency)

    Thales and HTX first signed a Master Agreement for Strategic Partnership for Innovation in 2020.  Today, they expanded the scope of this partnership, extending it for another three years to:

    1. Establish a joint-lab focused on AI-enabled technologies, local capability development and the formation of best practices for trustworthy AI within the local context;  
    2. Enable technology insertion through agile collaboration, testing and technology experimentation aligned to HTX’s evolving needs. Thales will support HTX in translating early-stage technical solutions into concrete systems that can be integrated into HTX’s homeland security programmes to drive rapid innovation and early adoption;
    3. Jointly develop a shared Research and Development (R&D) strategy and future technology roadmap relevant to public safety and security, bringing together HTX, Thales, academia and startups, across five critical technology frontiers: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), Cybersecurity, Quantum Technologies and Space.

    2.Joint Avionics Lab with Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to innovate avionics-oriented solutions

    CAAS, Changi Airport Group (CAG), the International Centre for Aviation Innovation (ICAI), SATS Ltd. (SATS), Singapore Airlines (SIA) and Thales signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 29th May 2025 to foster greater innovation and collaboration at the aviation ecosystem level.

    Under this MOU, the partners will work together to identify key challenges to solve and undertake joint innovation projects to develop solutions, which could include the following:

    1. Air traffic optimisation, by combining airlines’ flight operations and cockpit data with air traffic management information. AI-enabled algorithms can detect and predict holding patterns within a particular radius around Changi Airport, helping manage congestion and leading to reduced flight delays.
    2. Digitalising and optimising the data shared between airlines, air traffic management and airports. Data from sensors in the aircraft, like cameras or inflight entertainment systems, can provide real-time, automated data to complement current data streams like video content from ground infrastructures. Enhancing these with AI models can help airlines, air traffic managements and airport operators improve collaborative decision making.

    The Avionics Lab in Singapore, the first of its kind for Thales outside France, represents a significant milestone in deepening Thales’ avionics capabilities in Singapore and the region.   The Avionics Lab complements the AIR Lab (jointly set up by CAAS and Thales in 2019 to work on cutting-edge Air Traffic Management solutions) to optimise air transport operations in the region. 

    The Avionics Lab will serve as a vital platform for collaborative innovation, between the world leading aviation eco-system in Singapore and Thales, to co-develop and test cutting edge concepts grounded in real-world operational scenarios, strengthening Singapore’s position as a hub for aviation technologies.

    3.AI in critical systems for Defence through DSTA – Thales co-lab

    Announced in April this year, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and Thales have set up a joint lab for AI-enabled technologies, which can augment combat systems currently in use by the Singapore Armed Forces to efficiently handle drone threats. The lab will work on joint projects, the first of which is related to Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) and advanced sensors.

    Thales is also providing a cyber-secured and AI-powered autonomous mine countermeasures system to the Republic of Singapore Navy, in partnership with ST Engineering. The sonars and mission management system are accompanied by data analysis tools reinforced with AI, in order ​ to facilitate target detection and identification that ease the workload of operators.

    These initiatives form the core of Thales’s AI strategy in Singapore and touch on key sectors aligned with the National AI Strategy 2.0. These collective partnerships will see Thales grow its pool of AI experts in Singapore to over several dozen in the next three years, adding to the Group’s global cortAIx network of 800 highly-skilled AI and data specialists.

    “The launch of cortAIx SG by Thales will add new capabilities to Singapore’s growing AI and innovation ecosystems, and builds on Thales’s longstanding presence in Singapore. We look forward to the impactful AI-enabled solutions cortAIx SG will develop in partnership with our ecosystem for Singapore and the region,” said Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President, EDB.

    “Thales is honoured to be working with our strategic partners in Singapore to bring new technologies to the fore, whether in aviation, in public security or to help reinforce national defence and sovereignty. Being able to announce the launch of cortAIx SG this week, in the presence of Ms Clara Chappaz, French Minister Delegate for AI and Digital Affairs and Ms Josephine Teo, Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity, is a true recognition of our role as a technology leader, notably as France and Singapore celebrate 60 years of bilateral cooperation. cortAIx SG will be a valuable asset to help our customers and partners embrace the vast opportunities AI has to offer, deploying it as a force for good, in support of Singapore’s National AI Strategy. We are excited at the prospect of bringing our leading technology, talent and research to deliver AI solutions that are ethical, transparent, explainable and effective.” said Philippe Keryer, Senior Executive Vice President, Strategy, Research and Technology, Thales.

    Thales in Singapore

    Thales has been present in Singapore since 1973, where it has grown from a small avionics presence into a major hub with 2,000 employees across aerospace, defence, cybersecurity, and digital identity (CDI). The country now hosts Thales’s largest CDI manufacturing centre, avionics manufacturing and MRO centre, and cutting-edge R&D labs, including the AIR Lab with CAAS, a joint lab with HTX and the CINTRA research unit with NTU and CNRS. Recent investments include the Thales Singapore Defence Hub, a Co-Lab with DSTA, and Centres of Excellence in Air Traffic Management and Public Security.

    About Thales

    Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

    The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

    1Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

    2Defence Science and Technology Agency

    3Home Team Science & Technology Agency

    4International Centre for Aviation Innovation

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Verizon dominates Indy 500 Data connectivity

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Verizon dominates Indy 500 Data connectivity

    INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The 2025 Indianapolis 500 race set a new milestone for data usage and connection at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the Verizon network. In just one day, inside the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a total of 172 terabytes (TB) of data was used on the Verizon network, more than we’ve ever seen on the network at this race and one of the highest data usage events Verizon has ever recorded.

    “Connecting a city’s worth of fans at the Indy 500, with more unique users than the Super Bowl had attendees, is a massive undertaking, putting unprecedented demand on wireless networks. We had more data running on our network than any previous NFL draft, and nearly twice the data of any Super Bowl in recorded history. The work and skill that goes into setting up a network to keep hundreds of thousands of people connected in one place is an incredible achievement. It’s the dedication from our teams that ensures our customers don’t have to worry about their phones during this event, no matter the scope,” said Andy Brady, President of Verizon Great Lakes.

    “The unprecedented data usage we witnessed during the 2025 Indy 500 highlights the incredible passion and engagement of our fans,” said Doug Boles, President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “The ability for fans to share their experiences in real-time through Verizon’s robust network significantly enhances the event’s atmosphere and global reach. This level of connectivity is crucial for modern sports experiences, and we’re thrilled to partner with Verizon to deliver it.”

    The data doesn’t just speak for itself; it shouts. Verizon’s network experienced an extraordinary surge at the 2025 Indy 500, with 5G Ultrawideband (UW) playing a dominant role. To put 172 TB into context, that’s equivalent to more than 57 million digital photos (3 MB average). Here are the amazing results:

    • Explosive 5G Growth: A staggering 74.6% leap in 5G UW volume of 61 TB inside the track over last year’s race (43 TB), revealing how fans are embracing the speed and capacity of 5G.
    • Surging Overall Traffic: A massive 48.5% increase in total combined 4G and 5G UW data volume inside IMS, proving the network’s capability to handle the intense demand.
    • High fan engagement: 15 TB of the 61 TB used inside the track was uploaded data, highlighting the high levels of fans sharing in real time.
    • Surrounding Network Impact: Outside the track, more than 111 TB of data volume was used on the network, showing the event’s broader impact.
    • Combined Volume Growth: The combined data volume inside and outside the venue was nearly 172 TB – a 35% increase from last year’s race day, demonstrating substantial year-over-year growth.

    The key driver behind this data explosion was this year’s commercial activation of 5G Standalone at the IMS, allowing fans to easily upload videos and share their experiences in real time, further enhancing the fan experience. “This record breaking amount of traffic really highlights the rapid growth of 5G and how it’s truly built to handle massive events like the Indy 500. The data capacity of the Verizon network is unmatched,” said Brady.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities of PPPs in Health Care

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    A public–private partnership (PPP) is a long-term contract between a private entity and a government entity, for providing a public asset or service. It has emerged as a strategic approach in health care, enabling governments to deliver quality medical services efficiently by leveraging private sector expertise, financial resources, and technological advancements. The public partner is typically responsible for project development and planning, providing access to land and utilities, ensuring regulatory compliance, and conducting contract monitoring. On the other hand, the private partner is typically responsible for design, construction, and infrastructure development, bringing in investment and operational expertise, and driving innovation to enhance service efficiency and quality.

    PPPs help address challenges facing health care systems, such as inadequate infrastructure, workforce shortages, financial constraints, and service delivery gaps, by bridging critical gaps in infrastructure, service delivery, and management.

    Different countries have tailored PPP models to address their unique health care needs. The impact of PPPs is particularly significant in addressing the challenges faced by low- and middle-income countries, where health care access and quality are constrained by financial and human resource limitations. For instance, India has demonstrated significant progress in PPP-based health care service delivery, particularly in areas like super specialty hospital development, dialysis services, diagnostic networks, telemedicine initiatives, and medical institutes. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is actively exploring PPP models to strengthen its health care infrastructure and service provision, with growing emphasis on leveraging private sector participation in tertiary care, diagnostics, and hospital management. The following case studies highlight key lessons from health care PPPs in India and Uzbekistan, showcasing successful models and practical insights for effective implementation

    Upgradation of district hospitals to medical college and hospitals, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Uttar Pradesh, the most populus state of India, faced a critical shortage of medical professionals and tertiary care facilities, particularly in underserved districts. Of the 39 districts lacking medical colleges, 23 were established with state funding. To further bridge the gap, the government launched the “One District, One Medical College” initiative that involves the upgrading of district hospitals to 16 new medical colleges under a PPP model. Of these facilities, four medical colleges are being developed under state incentive schemes, while the development of three medical colleges (based on Design-Build-Finance-Operate and Transfer PPP Model) is supported through Viability Gap Funding.

    Figure 1: Project Structure Using the Design-Build-Finance-Operate and Transfer Model

    Source: Compiled by the Author Team based on NITI Aayog, Government of India. Public Private Partnership in Medical Education Concession Agreement – Guiding Principles. Guidelines for Financial Support to Public Private Partnerships in Infrastructure Viability Gap Funding Scheme, Project Tender Documents. 
    DH = District Hospital, NMC = National Medical Commission, VGF = Viability Gap Funding.

    Over the next 5 years, the project is expected to

    • improve access to medical education, addressing the shortage of trained professionals; 

    • expand tertiary care services in underserved regions;
    • enhance healthcare infrastructure by adding 6,700 beds;
    • enhance workforce availability by adding 1,600 doctors and more than 10,000 clinical workforce; and
    • provide affordable care by providing free inpatient department beds for underserved patients, free essential medicines for government-supported patients, and free outpatient department-related diagnostics; and ensured affordable rates for other patients.

    NephroPlus Dialysis Project in Uzbekistan

    Uzbekistan faced a severe shortage of dialysis centers, leading to high patient mortality and limited access to treatment, especially in remote areas. Existing facilities were overburdened and patients often had to travel long distances for care. To address this, dialysis services are being implemented through a PPP model across three regions in Uzbekistan (Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, and Tashkent), ensuring high-quality care, advanced technology, and cost-effective treatment for patients with renal diseases. The project follows a Build-Operate-Transfer model with a concession period of 10 years.

    From 2021 to 2025, the project achieved the following:

    • provided over 300,000 treatments across three regions;

    • reduced patient mortality by 40% since May 2021;

    • trained and recruited more than 300 clinical nurses and doctors through the NephroPlus Academy;

    • enabled a total savings of $9.8 million for the government; and

    • reduced by 15% country-level Hepatitis C patient count.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Toyota Submits Third Progress Report on Measures to Prevent Recurrence

    Source: Toyota

    Headline: Toyota Submits Third Progress Report on Measures to Prevent Recurrence

    Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has announced that it has submitted a progress report on recurrence prevention of model certification application issues to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) today in light of the correction order issued by the ministry on July 31. This report, summarizing actions taken to date, is the third of a series of quarterly reports.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Airbus to acquire DSI Datensicherheit, a leading European provider of Cryptography systems for space applications

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: Airbus to acquire DSI Datensicherheit, a leading European provider of Cryptography systems for space applications

    Airbus Defence and Space has announced the acquisition of DSI Datensicherheit GmbH (DSI DS), a German-based company that provides cryptography and communication systems for Space, Airborne and Naval & Ground that is certified by the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). The acquisition follows a longstanding partnership between the two companies. DSI DS will be fully owned by the Airbus Defence and Space GmbH and operate under a new name, Aerospace Data Security GmbH. This will further strengthen Airbus’ cryptography capabilities and enhance the development of end-to-end secured systems.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: BOC Aviation orders 80 A320neo Family aircraft

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: BOC Aviation orders 80 A320neo Family aircraft

    Global aircraft operating lessor BOC Aviation (HKEx code: 2588) has signed a firm order for 80 A320neo family aircraft comprising 10 A321XLR, 50 A321neo and 20 A320neo. The latest agreement takes BOC Aviation’s total direct orders with Airbus to 453 aircraft from the single aisle A320 Family to the A330 and A350 widebodies.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Air France-KLM confirms order for four A350F

    Source: Airbus

    Headline: Air France-KLM confirms order for four A350F

    Air France-KLM has finalised its order with Airbus for four new generation A350F freighters, following the earlier commitment announced in December 2021. The freighters are destined to increase Air France’s cargo capacity with the most efficient and sustainable cargo aircraft available in the market.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: French politicians in New Caledonia to stir the political melting pot

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    French national politicians have been in New Caledonia as the territory’s future remains undecided.

    Leaders from both right-wing Les Républicains (LR) and Rassemblement National (RN), — vice-president François-Xavier Bellamy and Marine Le Pen respectively — have been in the French Pacific territory this week.

    They expressed their views about New Caledonia’s political, economic and social status one year after riots broke out in May 2024.

    Since then, latest attempts to hold political talks between all stakeholders and France have been met with fluctuating responses, but the latest round of discussions earlier this month ended in a stalemate.

    This was because hardline pro-France parties regarded the project of “sovereignty with France” offered by French Overseas Minister Manuel Valls was not acceptable. They consider that three self-determination referendums held in 2018, 2020 and 2021 rejected independence.

    However, the last referendum, in December 2021, was largely boycotted by the pro-independence movement and its followers due to indigenous Kanak cultural concerns around the covid-19 pandemic.

    The pro-France camp is accusing Valls of siding with the pro-independence FLNKS bloc and other more moderate parties such as PALIKA (Kanak Liberation Party) and UPM (Union Progressiste en Mélanésie), who want independence from France.

    Transferring key powers
    Valls is considering transferring key French powers to New Caledonia, introducing a double French/New Caledonian citizenship, and an international standing.

    The pro-France camp is adamant that this ignores the three no referendum votes.

    Speaking to a crowd of several hundred supporters in Nouméa on Tuesday evening, Bellamy said he now favoured going ahead with modifying conditions of eligibility for voters at local provincial elections.

    The same attempts to change the locked local electoral roll — which is restricted to people residing in New Caledonia from before November 1998 — was widely perceived as the main cause for the May 2024 riots, which left 14 dead.

    Bellamy said giving in to violence that erupted last year was out of the question because it was “an attempt to topple a democratic process”.

    Les Républicains, to which the Rassemblement-LR local party is affiliated, is one of the major parties in the French Parliament.

    Its newly-elected president Bruno Retailleau is the Minister for Home Affairs in French President Emmanuel Macron’s coalition government.

    Nouméa Accord ‘now over’
    Bellamy told a crowd of supporters in Nouméa that in his view the decolonisation process prescribed by the 1998 Nouméa Accord “is now over”.

    “New Caledonians have democratically decided, three times, that they belong to France. And this should be respected,” he told a crowd during a political rally.

    In Nouméa, Bellamy said if the three referendum results were ignored as part of a future political agreement, then LR could go as far as pulling out of the French government.

    Marine Le Pen, this week also expressed her views on New Caledonia’s situation, saying instead of focusing on the territory’s institutional future, the priority should be placed on its economy, which is still reeling from the devastation caused during the 2024 riots.

    The efforts included diversifying the economy.

    A Paris court convicted Le Pen and two dozen (RN) party members of embezzling European Union funds last month, and imposed a sentence that will prevent her from standing in France’s 2027 presidential election unless she can get the ruling overturned within 18 months.

    The high-profile visits to New Caledonia from mainland French leaders come within two years of France’s scheduled presidential elections.

    And it looks like New Caledonia could become a significant issue in the pre-poll debates and campaign.

    LFI (La France Insoumise), a major party in the French Parliament, and its caucus leader Mathilde Panot also visited New Caledonia from May 9-17, this time mainly focusing on supporting the pro-independence camp’s views.

    Macron invites all parties for fresh talks in Paris
     On Tuesday, May 27, the French President’s office issued a brief statement indicating that it had decided to convene “all stakeholders” for fresh talks in Paris in mid-June.

    The talks would aim at “clarifying” New Caledonia’s economic, political and institutional situation with a view to reaching “a shared agreement”.

    Depending on New Caledonia’s often opposing political camps, Macron’s announcement is perceived either as a dismissal of Valls’ approach or a mere continuation of the overseas minister’s efforts, but at a higher level.

    New Caledonia’s pro-France parties are adamant that Macron’s proposal is entirely new and that it signifies Valls’ approach has been disavowed at the highest level.

    Valls himself wrote to New Caledonia’s political stakeholders last weekend, insisting on the need to pursue talks through a so-called “follow-up committee”.

    It is not clear whether the “follow-up committee” format is what Macron has in mind.

    But at the weekend, Valls made statements on several French national media outlets, stressing that he was still the one in charge of New Caledonia’s case.

    “The one who is taking care of New Caledonia’s case, at the request of French Prime Minister François Bayrou, that’s me and no one else,” Valls told French national news channel LCI on May 25.

    “I’m not being disavowed by anyone.”

    Local parties still willing to talk
     Most parties have since reacted swiftly to Macron’s call, saying they were ready to take part in further discussions.

    Rassemblement-LR leader Virginie Ruffenach said this was “necessary to clarify the French state’s position”.

    She said the clarification was needed, since Valls, during his last visit, “offered an independence solution that goes way beyond what the pro-independence camp was even asking”.

    Local pro-France figure and New Caledonia’s elected MP at the French National Assembly, Nicolas Metzdorf, met Macron in Paris last Friday.

    He said at the time that an “initiative” from the French president was to be expected.

    Pro-independence bloc FLNKS said Valls’ proposal was now “the foundation stone”.

    Spokesman Dominique Fochi said the invitation was scheduled to be discussed at a special FLNKS convention this weekend.

    Valls’ ‘independence-association’ solution worries other French territories
     Because of the signals it sends, New Caledonia’s proposed political future plans are also causing concern in other French overseas territories, including their elected MPs in Paris.

    In the French Senate on Wednesday, French Polynesia’s MP Lana Tetuanui, who is pro-France, asked during question time for French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot to explain what France was doing in the Pacific region in the face of growing influence from major powers such as China.

    She told the minister she still had doubts, “unless of course France is considering sinking its own aircraft carrier ships named New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna”.

    French president Emmanuel Macron has been on a southeast Asian tour this week to Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore, where he will be the keynote speaker of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue.

    He delivers his speech today to mark the opening of the 22nd edition of the Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence summit.

    The event brings together defence ministers, military leaders and senior defence officials, as well as business leaders and security experts, from across the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America and beyond to discuss critical security and geopolitical challenges.

    More specifically on the Pacific region, Macron also said one of France’s future challenges included speeding up efforts to “build a new strategy in New Caledonia and French Polynesia”.

    As part of Macron’s Indo-Pacific doctrine, developed since 2017, France earlier this year deployed significant forces in the region, including its naval and air strike group and its only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.

    The multinational exercise, called Clémenceau 25, involved joint exercises with allied forces from Australia, Japan and the United States.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Canada needs a bold electricity plan—now.

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Canada needs a bold electricity plan—now.

    Electricity Alliance Canada proposes a new federal playbook to secure this country’s economic future.

    Op-ed by Electricity Alliance Canada: Vittoria Bellissimo (President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association), Francis Bradley (President and CEO, Canadian Electricity Association), Michelle Branigan (CEO, Electricity Human Resources Canada), George Christidis (President and CEO, Canadian Nuclear Association), Elisa Obermann (Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada) and Lorena Patterson (President and CEO, WaterPower Canada) 

    As Canada welcomes a new federal government, the electricity sector stands at a pivotal juncture. With climate change accelerating, global energy dynamics shifting, the need for electricity increasing, and potential US tariffs waiting in the wings, we cannot afford to lose our national advantage.

    Canadians expect affordable, reliable, and secure power—and we, Canada’s electricity industry, intend to deliver it.

    Canada’s economy was built on affordable, reliable and abundant power. Today, this country is predominantly powered by clean-energy sources, with hydroelectricity accounting for more than 60 per cent of electricity generation. Renewable energy, such as wind and solar, is growing steadily, alongside energy storage solutions. Nuclear power plays a significant role, especially in Ontario and New Brunswick, with opportunities for expansion in other provinces. 

    But our current supply won’t be enough. Canada produces around 630 TWh of electricity per year, yet every province and territory is forecasting a much greater need. As we electrify our industries, bring manufacturing back home, and digitize our economy, the pressure on electricity systems will grow. To meet this demand, we must make substantial investments in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, which will bolster employment opportunities across this country.

    That’s why we are calling on the new federal government to work with the electricity sector on five urgent priorities.

    First and foremost, the electricity industry needs greater clarity so we can move forward at speed. Slow and uncertain approval processes can stymie investment in major projects, leading to delays, cancellations or higher costs. We need an efficient approval process for major electricity projects, and we need to finalize the Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits (ITCs). Further, given the stated intention to proceed with industrial carbon pricing, we recommend a flexible approach to drive environmental gains while promoting innovation and competitiveness without causing regional or sectoral disadvantages.

    Secondly, Canada cannot move forward on clean energy without Indigenous communities. From coast to coast to coast, Indigenous-led or co-owned projects have been at the forefront of clean-energy initiatives. The federal government should ensure Indigenous voices are central to decision-making processes, and expand funding tools like the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Indigenous Loan Guarantee program to enable Indigenous partners to participate fully and on their own terms, promoting Reconciliation.

    Thirdly, Canada has talked for years about energy corridors and grid connections across provinces. Now is the time to turn this talk into action. Canada’s provinces and territories offer diverse energy jurisdictions can benefit from supporting each other. We need collaboration between the federal government, provinces, crown corporations and utilities to support interprovincial energy trade and infrastructure projects, along with interpovincial labour mobility in regulated occupations.

    Supply chains are also critical to our success. To build the grid of the future and support Canada’s growth, we need secure and proven supply chains. Globalized supply chains—on which our electricity projects depend—have faced significant challenges over the past year, including international tariffs, increased regulatory requirements and ongoing trade tensions with the US. The federal government needs to help manage risk and secure the electricity sector’s supply chains.

    Finally, we need a strong system to train and produce skilled workers. Canada’s growing electricity sector relies on a workforce of well-trained tradespeople and engineers to fill new, high-quality job opportunities. This workforce will build and operate a stable, reliable and resilient system that supports Canada’s economic and environmental goals and provides a good quality of life for Canadians. We appreciate the federal government’s past support, now calling on them to continue to invest in long-term training programs to develop an expanded, world-class workforce.

    Affordable, reliable, clean electricity is a strategic Canadian advantage, and the electricity sector is the backbone of our economy. We’ve increased supply while lowering emissions, and we will continue to do so. As we welcome the new federal government, we’re ready to get to work building a strong and resilient electricity system that will meet Canada’s rising demand and secure our economic future. And for this work to succeed, Canada needs a bold electricity plan, now.
    The post Canada needs a bold electricity plan—now. appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft Edge Game Assist is now available

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Edge Game Assist is now available

    Today, we’re thrilled to announce that Microsoft Edge Game Assist is now available to everyone on Windows 11. We announced the preview of this in-game browser built for PC gaming last November and since then have received valuable feedback to make it even better. Only available with Microsoft Edge, Game Assist is here to help keep you in the game, unlocking a smarter way to game and browse.

    Let’s jump in.

    Built for a seamless, immersive gameplay experience

    We know that staying focused on your game is important, yet you also need to look up game guides, connect with friends, or even listen to music if you want while you play. Alt-Tabbing from the game to the desktop is common practice, but it takes you out of your immersive experience. Depending on the game, it can also be quite slow or may even cause issues with the game. Today, we’re excited to announce that Microsoft Edge Game Assist is available worldwide1, allowing you to quickly access the web without leaving your game. Say goodbye to Alt-Tab and simply press Win+G to open Game Bar and start using Microsoft Edge for a more seamless and immersive experience.

    Game Assist is the first in-game browser built specifically with PC players in mind, featuring tips and guides for many of the top PC games, easy access to essential sites like Discord, Spotify, and Twitch, and more — all right in your game. Everything you need is on one screen so you can stay focused on the action without interruption. You can also pin Game Assist above your game to reference guides or watch videos while you play. And because it’s connected to your Edge browser, you’ll have instant access to your favorites, passwords, history, and more – ensuring everything you need is always within reach.

    Get help navigating a challenging level

    We’ve all been there. You’re deep into a game and suddenly stuck on a tough level. Rather than leaving your game and Alt-Tabbing to find a game guide, simply press Win+G to launch Microsoft Edge Game Assist to find what you need. Game Assist is also game-aware and will suggest tips and guides when you play enhanced games2, helping you make the most of every session. Quickly glance at the guide and then dismiss Game Bar to continue with your game or pin the walkthrough above the game so you can follow along while you play. Game Assist also makes it easier to search the web (or a site) by automatically filling in the name of your game when you hit Ctrl+G or select Paste game title in the right-click menu.

    What you need in one place

    Microsoft Edge Game Assist is about more than just guides. Multitasking while you play is incredibly common, whether you’re chatting with friends, listening to a podcast, watching a TV show, pulling up your quest notes, or just looking something up while you wait to respawn. With Microsoft Edge Game Assist, we’re bringing the full web into your game. Access your favorite sites like Discord or Twitch, watch a live stream in picture-in-picture, or get in the zone with the perfect Spotify playlist. Everything is designed to help you stay in your game, multitask with ease, and access the web when you need it.

    Your feedback helps us get to the next level

    Your feedback during the preview phase was invaluable. We’ve read your suggestions, followed up on bug reports, and replied whenever we could. With your help, we improved the look and feel of Game Assist, streamlining the interface to put more of a focus on the webpage. We’ve enhanced Game Assist for over 80 games, added keyboard shortcuts including the aforementioned Paste Game Title, and added easy access to favorites, history, and even extensions. We believe this progress has leveled up the experience, and we ask that you keep sending us feedback to help us improve it even more.

    We hope you’re just as excited about Game Assist – and saying goodbye to Alt-Tab – as we are. Simply press Win+G to open Game Bar and start using Microsoft Edge Game Assist or learn more. Whether you’ve been an Edge fan for a while (thank you!) or this is your first experience with our browser, be sure to explore everything AI-powered Microsoft Edge has to offer to help you get more out of your online experience.

    Game Assist is available where Edge is available. Enhanced game content is available English-only at this time. Game Assist experience may also vary depending on game and geography.
    Enhanced games list

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Walmart Family Mobile introduces most affordable plans yet with new features to support families during economic challenges

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: Walmart Family Mobile introduces most affordable plans yet with new features to support families during economic challenges

    NEW YORK – Walmart Family Mobile, a leading prepaid brand powered by Verizon’s award-winning network and available exclusively at Walmart, is proud to introduce its most affordable plans yet, designed to help families stay connected without compromising their budget. With inflation continuing to impact household finances across the country, Walmart Family Mobile helps families save money during times of financial uncertainty.

    New Plans and Features:

    • New $19.88 Plan: Introducing a more affordable entry-level option with 4GB of data, making it easier for families to choose the right plan for their needs–with family plans starting as low as $19.88/month per line. 
    • New $34.88 Plan: A high-value option with 20 GB of high-speed data, giving customers plenty of data to stay connected while staying on budget.
    • Enhanced $24.88/8GB Plan: Offering more data at a competitive price, providing better value for money. 
    • Improved Family Line Pricing: Reduced the price to add a line from $24.88 to $19.88 for customers adding a line on the new plans. Available to new and existing customers.
    • Introducing Family Mobile Peace of Mind For All Plans: Helping families in tough times to stay connected, with up to six (6) times per year of unlimited talk and incoming text messages for just $1/mo plus taxes and fees.
    • Employee Discount: Walmart employees get 33% off all Walmart Family Mobile plans, starting as low as $13.32/month per line.

    Lifeline Value for Families in Need

    Walmart Family Mobile’s Lifeline discount program lowers monthly phone service costs for eligible low-income customers, providing critical and affordable mobile connectivity for families in need. Qualified customers can access plans for as low as $5.88/month in California and $9.88/month in other states, helping ease financial burdens without sacrificing connectivity they can rely on. To further support enrollment and outreach, Walmart Family Mobile will also award grants to community partners to help eligible customers enroll in Lifeline.

    Family Mobile Peace of Mind

    When unexpected challenges arise, Family Mobile Peace of Mind is there to keep families connected to what matters most. The Family Mobile Peace of Mind feature provides up to six months of unlimited talk and incoming text messages for $1/month plus taxes and fees, helping customers stay in touch with loved ones and employers in case of emergency. This feature is available for all customers who have been with Walmart Family Mobile for 90 days or longer.

    “Walmart Family Mobile’s new plans and features underscore our unwavering commitment to supporting families through economic hardships,” said Nancy Clark, President of Verizon Value Brands. “In these challenging times, connectivity is not just a convenience—it’s a necessity. Through these offers and partnerships, we want to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most by providing affordable and reliable mobile services.”

    United Way Worldwide and Goodwill Industries International Partnerships

    As part of the brand’s commitment to supporting families, Walmart Family Mobile is also partnering with United Way Worldwide and Goodwill Industries International (GII) to provide resources that connect families to basic needs.

    Walmart Family Mobile will be supporting United Way’s work with 211, a free, 24/7 service that connects individuals to critical local resources, such as Lifeline, with professional Community Resource Specialists handling over 42,000 calls daily in more than 180 languages.

    The brand is also working with GII at both the national and local level:

    • As a keynote sponsor of Goodwill’s Mission Optimization Learning Event, Walmart Family Mobile will equip event attendees with training and resources to benefit over 2,500 Career Navigators across the Goodwill network.
    • Walmart Family Mobile will also provide dedicated funding and support to local Goodwill organizations who serve Atlanta and Los Angeles.
    • To celebrate these new partnerships and reinforce the brand’s commitment to ensuring working families can stay connected, Walmart Family Mobile will also identify two families within the Goodwill network in need of a lifeline and provide them with new devices and 12 months of service at no cost.

    Walmart Family Mobile remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting families through economic challenges by offering affordable and reliable mobile services, because staying connected shouldn’t come at a high cost, especially when it matters most. For more information on Walmart Family Mobile, visit www.myfamilymobile.com.

    About Walmart Family Mobile 

    Walmart Family Mobile provides quality no-contract wireless solutions to value-conscious consumers and is available exclusively at Walmart and Walmart.com. Walmart Family Mobile is part of the Verizon Value portfolio of prepaid brands, which includes Total Wireless, Visible, Tracfone, Simple Mobile, SafeLink, Straight Talk, and Verizon Prepaid. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Microsoft reaches key milestones of its 2030 sustainability goals

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft reaches key milestones of its 2030 sustainability goals

    Today, Microsoft published its 2025 Environmental Sustainability Report. This report covers our fiscal year 2024, and measures progress against our 2020 baseline. You can read the foreword below and explore the report in its entirety here.

    As Microsoft continues to grow and innovate, our commitment to environmental sustainability remains a core value. This year, we reflect on our progress towards our ambitious 2030 goals: to be carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste, while protecting ecosystems. As we enter the second half of the decade, Microsoft remains steadfast in our dedication to achieving the company’s 2030 environmental sustainability commitments.

    Since we announced our goals in 2020, we have made meaningful progress while seeing major changes in both the technology sector and in our understanding of what it will take to meet our goals. We are learning as we go, and we are proactively working to address sustainability challenges and accelerate solutions. We remain resolute in our commitment not only to meeting our climate goals but also to empowering others with the technology they need to build a more sustainable future.

    At the heart of our approach is an understanding that sustainability is not simply a set of isolated initiatives, but a fundamental principle that must be integrated into every aspect of our business. Our cross-company Climate Council brings together leaders from across Microsoft to drive innovation, accelerate progress, and identify ways to build sustainability into our operations, products, and partnerships.

    We remain pragmatically optimistic because of the promise of new sustainability technologies, innovations in AI, and market solutions that are emerging which can accelerate progress across challenging sectors like steel, concrete, and energy transitions. This annual report is our opportunity to share our learnings to help accelerate these markets, be transparent about our progress, and explore how we can ultimately scale solutions across our value chain.

    We are sharing details about the progress made in each of our core commitment areas: carbon negative, water positive, zero waste, and protecting ecosystems. Our report also highlights a number of our breakthrough innovations, drawing insights from the leading edge of climate innovation.

    Our progress

    In 2020, Microsoft made bold sustainability commitments. At this halfway point to our 2030 goals, we are reaching key milestones and making progress that includes:

    • Ecosystems. In 2022, we met our target of protecting more land than we use by 2025, a target we’ve since exceeded by more than 30%. AI innovation is now driving biodiversity conservation through research efforts led by the AI for Good Lab and tools like the Microsoft Planetary Computer.
    • Zero waste. We exceeded our annual target to divert 75% of construction and demolition waste six years early by diverting 85% of this waste in FY24. We have also surpassed our target for our reuse and recycling rate for servers and components, reaching 90.9%. The Surface Copilot+ PCs now feature our most sustainable packaging design yet. Packaging from over 30,000 server racks was processed through recycling programs in FY24—diverting over 2,500 metric tons of waste from landfills.
    • Water positive. We met our target to provide more than 1.5 million people with clean water and sanitation solutions. We are also on track to replenish more water than we consume across global operations and improve datacenter water use efficiency, including through a new innovative datacenter design that optimizes AI workloads and consumes zero water for cooling to avoid the use of an estimated 125,000 cubic meters annually per facility.
    • Carbon negative. To date, we have contracted 34 gigawatts (GW) of carbon-free electricity (CFE) across 24 countries, about an eighteenfold increase since 2020. We have also entered long-term agreements to procure nearly 30 million metric tons of carbon removal since the start of this program.

    Carbon negative: a marathon, not a sprint

    As we remain focused on sustained progress towards our 2030 goals, it has become clear that our journey towards being carbon negative is a marathon, not a sprint. While our total emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3) have increased by 23.4% compared to our 2020 baseline due to growth-related factors such as AI and cloud expansion, we are encouraged by the fact that this increase has been modest compared to the 168% increase in energy use and 71% revenue growth that has taken place over the same period.

    For Microsoft to be carbon negative by 2030, we will need to reduce our value chain emissions. Starting with our direct operational emissions, as we shared earlier this year, since 2012 our carbon strategy has included a combination of procuring environmental attributes leveraging our corporate carbon fee and overall carbon emissions reduction efforts. This enabled us to decrease our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 29.9% from our 2020 baseline in FY24. At the same time, as we shift away from procuring non-additional environmental attribute certificates, we recognize that we must also bring more carbon-free electricity onto the grids where we operate.

    We are also implementing strategies to reduce our Scope 3 emissions by 2030, which increased in FY24 by 26% from our 2020 baseline. We are prioritizing addressing these emissions through supplier engagement programs including establishing standards via our Supplier Code of Conduct. Through the latter, select large-scale Microsoft suppliers are required to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity for their delivered goods and services as well as forthcoming guidance, launching in July, to target usage of sustainable aviation fuel, where possible, for Microsoft business-related air travel by 2030. We also remain committed to developing and supporting innovative solutions to reduce emissions from key datacenter and operational inputs including building materials, chips, and fuels, focusing on long-term solutions over short-term stopgaps. To do this, we have been adapting our strategies to use new sustainability technologies and address the challenges of expanding energy demand.

    We see significant progress in several key areas, demonstrating potential for global impact:

    Powering operations with carbon-free electricity (CFE):

    In 2024, Microsoft contracted 19 GW of new renewable energy across 16 countries through power purchase agreements (PPAs), which are central to our carbon reduction strategy, driving down our Scope 2 emissions. Microsoft has taken a first-mover approach to making long-term investments to bring more CFE online.

    We continue to advocate for expanding clean energy solutions globally to support not only our power needs but also those of our supply chain. We are addressing challenges with permitting, interconnection delays, and fluctuating interest rates by innovating through circularity and contracting. For example, we signed groundbreaking PPAs with Engie requiring that 100% of photovoltaic modules will be reused or recycled.

    Transforming datacenters and campuses:

    In FY24, we launched our first datacenters constructed with mass timber, a strong, ultra-lightweight wood in a hybrid construction model. This approach is projected to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of these new datacenters by up to 65% compared to typical precast concrete. We also doubled our rate of power savings and are transitioning from traditional air-cooled datacenters to chip-level liquid cooling designs at all owned datacenters. As the World Economic Forum highlighted in Innovation and Adaptation in the Climate Crisis, “Data-driven and digital technologies are uniquely suited to build adaptive capacity.”

    We believe technology can be a powerful tool to address some of society’s toughest challenges, including environmental sustainability. As demand for AI and cloud services grows, we are advancing how we design, build, and operate our datacenters and campuses. Decarbonizing the built environment is a crucial element in this process.

    Accelerating carbon removal initiatives:

    In FY24, Microsoft signed long-term agreements to procure more carbon removal than all previous years combined, achieving nearly 22 million metric tons in contracts for carbon removal. We are committed to helping build the markets we buy from, translating leading science into commercial innovation and regularly updating our Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Dioxide Removal. We also know we cannot accelerate this market alone, which is why we co-founded the Symbiosis Coalition with industry partners. The Symbiosis Coalition is targeting up to 20 million metric tons of high-quality, nature-based carbon removal credits by 2030.

    Improving operational efficiency and logistics:

    In FY24, among facilities that manufacture devices for Microsoft, we saw a tenfold increase over the previous year in transitions to 100% CFE. This was accomplished, in part, by partnering with 3Degrees to launch the Supplier REach portal to support suppliers making their CFE transition. Our drive to reduce datacenter emissions extends to transforming the logistics operations of these facilities.

    Through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives, Microsoft continues to reduce emissions across transportation, warehousing, and the broader logistics supply chain, setting new benchmarks for operational efficiency and environmental impact. We adopted alternative fuels and electric vehicles to reduce emissions, collaborating with several leading logistics service providers (LSPs).

    Renewable diesel is now in use in our road freight operations in Europe and California, cutting emissions by 50% for these shipments while keeping existing equipment in use. We also have partnered with airlines and shipping lines to expand the use of sustainable aviation and marine fuels. These efforts have reduced emissions by over 17,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, comparable to avoiding the combustion of nearly 40,000 barrels of oil.[1]

    Accelerating global solutions

    At Microsoft, we understand that driving meaningful sustainability progress goes beyond our own practices and requires global collaboration, investment, and innovation. Across our operations, we are working to empower customers, build impactful partnerships, and invest in breakthrough solutions that drive progress worldwide.

    • Investing in innovation: A hallmark of this effort has been our Climate Innovation Fund (CIF)—our $1 billion commitment set in 2020 to advance innovation beyond Microsoft’s four walls. To date, CIF has made significant investments in innovative climate technologies including commercial direct air capture technologies, sustainable aviation fuel, industrial decarbonization, and more. CIF has invested over $793 million in capital in new climate technologies, expanding to 63 investments across CFE, sustainable fuels, carbon removal, and advanced building materials.
    • Empowering customers: We help customers and organizations centralize, analyze, and act on their data with AI-powered platforms for advanced analytics and reporting insights. For example, the Howden Resilience Laboratory supported by Microsoft and our Planetary Computer uses technology and data platforms to help investors understand climate risks to critical infrastructure, improve resilience, and contribute to better-informed investment decisions.
    • Partnering for impact: Partnering to scale our impact is a critical component of our sustainability efforts. Today GitHub fosters a thriving community that is home to over 150 million developers and 60,000 climate-focused open-source projects, advancing climate technology, greener software, and device sustainability. Xbox has made significant investments not only to reduce the environmental footprint associated with the production of our devices, accessories, and console packaging, but also to reduce the energy usage of the console itself. For example, Xbox became the first console to release a dedicated energy consumption and carbon emissions measurement tool designed for game creators.
    • Accelerating AI for sustainability: Our AI for Good Lab, sustainability science, and research teams collaborate globally to accelerate solutions and develop climate resilience with AI. For example, we have partnered with the United Nations to apply AI to climate challenges through programs like the Early Warnings for All initiative, which seeks to better understand which populations may be at risk of extreme weather events and other threats. By sharing our progress, tools, and learnings with the world, we aim to accelerate the pace of innovation, improve overall operational efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and find new solutions with long-term results.

    Sustained momentum and future impact

    There is no issue today that connects everyone on the planet more than climate change. As we strive to build a more sustainable future, we remain inspired by the dedication of our employees and partners and committed to transparency, accountability, and collaboration.

    While the road to a sustainable future is challenging and not linear, we are encouraged by the progress we have made in FY24. By strategically focusing on CFE, carbon removal, water stewardship, waste reduction, and ecosystem protection, we are building an efficient, sustainable engine that drives us closer to our commitments.

    We encourage you to read further to learn more about our progress and learnings across all of these areas, and we look forward to engaging in continued dialogue as we learn and develop new ways to help us meet our goals. We will continue to adapt our strategies, utilize emerging sustainability markets, and scale innovative technologies for even greater impact.

    We recognize that achieving our ambitious goals requires sustained momentum, and we are dedicated to driving that momentum forward.

    [1] This estimate is calculated based on the EPA estimate of the typical passenger vehicle emitting 4.6 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

    Tags: Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability Report, Microsoft Sustainability Manager, sustainability

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live

    “I’ve got half my garage covered (with solar panels) because that’s the south-facing roof, and then a third of my main roof covered, that’s my southwest-facing side of the building. That’s what captures the most amount of sun, so you get the most bang for your buck,” said Phil McKay at CanREA. Read more!
    The post Are solar panels worth the investment? Yes — usually — but it depends where you live appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: App Store in the U.S. facilitated $406B in developer billings and sales in 2024

    Source: Apple

    Headline: App Store in the U.S. facilitated $406B in developer billings and sales in 2024

    May 29, 2025

    UPDATE

    App Store in the U.S. facilitated over $400 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024

    For more than 90 percent of billings and sales facilitated by the App Store, developers did not pay any commission to Apple

    Earnings of U.S. developers more than doubled in the last five years

    Apple today announced the App Store ecosystem in the U.S. facilitated $406 billion in developer billings and sales in 2024, according to a study conducted by Professor Andrey Fradkin from Boston University Questrom School of Business and economist Dr. Jessica Burley from Analysis Group. Importantly, for more than 90 percent of the billings and sales facilitated by the App Store, developers did not pay any commission to Apple.

    Over the last five years, the size of the App Store ecosystem has nearly tripled from $142 billion in 2019 to $406 billion last year, and earnings for U.S.-based developers also more than doubled. Small developers in particular have done exceptionally well as their earnings increased by 76 percent between 2021 and 2024.

    “For more than 15 years, the App Store has created incredible opportunity for app developers, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “That includes the many U.S. developers who are innovating, building their businesses, and finding exceptional success on the App Store. We’ll continue to invest in powerful tools, technology, and resources to help developers in the U.S. and around the world take their apps to new heights and create transformative experiences for users.”

    Strong Growth Across App Categories

    Since its launch in 2008, the App Store has been a great business opportunity for developers. The new study estimates that in 2024 the App Store ecosystem facilitated $277 billion in total billings and sales from physical goods and services, $75 billion from in-app advertising, and $53 billion from digital goods and services. Key drivers included growth in food and grocery delivery, entertainment, and enterprise apps. And the App Store continues to be a global launchpad for innovation, with AI-powered apps increasingly shaping users’ daily lives.

    Since 2019, spending on physical goods and services has more than tripled, while in-app spending on digital goods and services and in-app advertising more than doubled. In the physical goods and services category, general retail spending and grocery delivery increased more than fourfold. By 2024, spending on travel and food delivery and pickup both surpassed ride hailing, with users increasingly turning to apps to book travel, and restaurants increasingly offering delivery options through apps. U.S. developers also saw their earnings grow across top categories like productivity, education, and business, with the games category seeing the highest earnings in 2024.

    Global Reach for U.S. Developers

    U.S. developers have also found tremendous success globally, with the ability to list their apps on storefronts in 175 countries and regions. The support of the App Store’s seamless payment and commerce system has made it easy for these developers to monetize their apps in the U.S. and around the world. Many apps from U.S. developers have also appeared on the most-downloaded app charts in storefronts outside of the U.S. and ranked among the Top 5 most-downloaded apps in 170 out of 175 App Store storefronts.

    The App Store remains a safe and trusted marketplace for users, thanks to Apple’s rigorous App Review process and robust privacy and security protections. In a recent report, Apple found that the App Store prevented more than $9 billion in fraudulent transactions over the last five years, and it also rejected 1.9 million app submissions in 2024 for failing to meet Apple’s standards for security, reliability, and user experience.

    Developers in the U.S. Have an Increasing Number of Incredible Resources Available from Apple

    Apple continues to invest in App Store features that make it easier for developers to distribute their apps and games and get discovered across the storefront. This includes continued investments to App Store Connect, which provides developers with tools and technologies to track app performance and engagement through App Analytics, enhancements to StoreKit, custom product pages, and new features like App Store Accessibility Nutrition Labels, available to developers later this year.

    Designed to accelerate innovation and help propel app businesses forward, initiatives like the App Store Small Business Program support the next generation of groundbreaking apps by small developers like Slopes. Originally launched as a passion project by a solo developer, Slopes has now achieved international success and is trusted by over 5 million skiers and snowboarders. This app is designed for winter sports enthusiasts, enabling them to track and record their personal stats, locate friends on the mountain, and explore interactive resort maps. The team behind Slopes has integrated with many Apple technologies, including HealthKit, Live Activities, and ARKit, as well as expanding to Apple Watch.

    Apple also offers developers a variety of online and in-person programs to support them in elevating their apps, including Meet with Apple. The Apple Developer Center in Cupertino also serves as home to year-round activities, and offers a supportive environment for developers to improve their apps through more than 250,000 APIs including as part of frameworks such as HealthKit, Metal, Core ML, MapKit, and SwiftUI. Resources like Pathways and Apple Developer Forums are available to better connect developers within the community and help them easily access tools, documentation, and videos to create their best products on Apple’s platforms.

    Apple launched its first U.S.-based Apple Developer Academy in Detroit in 2021 in collaboration with Michigan State University to help students build foundational skills in coding, AI, design, and marketing. Since its launch, the academy has trained over 1,200 students. Separately, more than 900 students have also participated in the Apple Foundation Program, an intensive four-week course that teaches students the fundamentals of app development at the academy and Henry Ford College.

    Apple supports more than 2.9 million jobs across the U.S. through direct employment, work with U.S.-based suppliers and manufacturers, and developer jobs in the thriving iOS app economy.

    Press Contacts

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: India VC funding activity sees significant YoY growth during January-April 2025, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    India VC funding activity sees significant YoY growth during January-April 2025, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    India has demonstrated a good performance in venture capital (VC) funding activity in early 2025, recording a significant increase in both deal volume and value. The total number of VC deals announced in India surged by approximately 19% during January-April 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year, while the total funding value of these deals experienced a year-on-year (YoY) growth of around 20%, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The growth is particularly noteworthy, given the challenges faced by other major markets. Interestingly, this positive trajectory stands in contrast to the trends observed in several key markets where either the total VC funding deal volume or the deal value has seen a decline, while some markets even experienced a decline in both.”

    For instance, the US and the UK registered growth in VC funding value but a fall in deal volume during January-April 2025 compared to January-April 2024. Meanwhile, China experienced a decline in both VC deal volume and value during the same period.

    It is also noteworthy that India continues to be a key global market for VC funding activity and remained among the top five countries in terms of both deal volume and value during the first four months of 2025.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that India accounted for more than 8% of the total number of VC deals announced globally during January-April 2025, while its share of the corresponding funding value was more than 3%.

    Bose concludes: “The increase in VC deal volume and value is a testament to the confidence investors have in the Indian market. As startups continue to innovate and scale, we can expect this trend to gain momentum, further enhancing India’s position as a global VC hub.”

    Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Malaysia payment card market to surpass $177 billion in 2025 as POS overtakes ATM withdrawals, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Malaysia payment card market to surpass $177 billion in 2025 as POS overtakes ATM withdrawals, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Banking

    The Malaysian payment card market (including at POS and ATM cash withdrawals) is expected to grow by 4.0% to reach MYR814.1 billion ($177.9 billion) in 2025e, driven by a clear shift from cash to digital payments. Contactless cards and wider card acceptance are playing a key role, with card payments at POS now set to overtake ATM cash withdrawals for the first time, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Payment Card Analytics reveals that payment cards value in Malaysia registered a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% between 2020 and 2024 to reach MYR783 billion ($171.1 billion) in 2024. On the other hand, card usage for ATM cash withdrawals is reducing with total ATM withdrawals registering low CAGR of 1.1% during the same period.

    Shivani Gupta, Lead Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although cash remains prevalent in Malaysia, it is gradually losing ground to electronic payments. There has been significant progress in the adoption of card-based payments, which recorded a CAGR of 20.4% between 2020 and 2024 in terms of transaction volume. This growth is primarily supported by the government’s financial inclusion initiatives, such as capping interchange fees, issuing licenses for digital-only banks, and developing payment infrastructure in the country.”

    While cash has traditionally been the preferred payment method in Malaysia, its share is steadily declining as digital payments gain traction, with payment cards and digital wallets emerging as the main beneficiaries. The share of ATM cash withdrawals now represents 49.8% in 2025, much lower compared to 63.3% in 2021.

    Card payments at POS terminals, on the other hand, are steadily increasing, with its share is estimated to reach 50.2% in 2025. This growth can be attributed to the rising consumer awareness, growing POS terminalization, and the introduction of contactless debit cards by banks. The capping of interchange fees for domestic and international debit cards at 0.10% and 0.27%, respectively, and at 0.6% for credit cards, also contributed to this as this encouraged more merchants to accept card payments.

    The growing popularity of contactless payment has also driven the overall card usage at POS, gradually displacing cash for day-to-day transactions. Backed by most banks and financial institutions in the country, contactless payments have become increasingly prevalent and are also widely accepted by most retailers.

    According to GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey*, over 63% of the respondents in Malaysia indicated having access to a contactless card and used it for payments.

    The increasing use of contactless payments for public transport payments is also contributing to the growth of card payments. For example, in March 2024, the highway operator PLUS Malaysia introduced contactless credit and debit card payment capabilities at the toll plaza on the Penang Bridge. Commuters can simply tap their cards on the MyDebit-Visa-Mastercard device to complete toll payments, with the toll fee deducted directly from their card balance. These advancements indicate a growing trend towards the normalization of cashless and contactless payment methods in Malaysia.

    Despite the increasing popularity of electronic payments, cash remains widely used in Malaysia due to consumer cultural preferences and the perceived convenience and security it offers. Consequently, Malaysia’s transition to a less-cash society is expected to be a gradual process.

    Gupta concludes: “Looking ahead, Malaysia’s payment card landscape is poised for steady growth over the next five years, driven by the increasing adoption of payment cards amid a boarder digital transformation. Government initiatives, rising consumer preference for digital payments, and developing card acceptance infrastructure are expected to further drive/support this growth. Subsequently, the payment cards value is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2025 and 2029 to reach MYR969.9 billion ($211.9 billion) in 2029.”

    *GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey was carried out in Q2 2024. Approximately 67,292 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed across 41 countries.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Deforestation now poses material risk as EUDR enforces strict supply chain accountability, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Deforestation now poses material risk as EUDR enforces strict supply chain accountability, says GlobalData

    Posted in Strategic Intelligence

    Deforestation is no longer just a reputational concern, it is now a material risk with regulatory teeth. With the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) taking effect in December 2025, companies across sectors must prove their supply chains are deforestation-free or face severe penalties. The shift demands urgent action on traceability, supplier engagement, and sustainability strategy to preserve access to critical markets, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    The upcoming EUDR is a commodity-based regulation requires companies importing deforestation-intensive commodities (cattle, palm oil, soy, coffee, cocoa, rubber, or wood) to the EU to provide evidence that these products’ supply chains are deforestation-free. Companies that fail to comply could face a fine of up to 4% of their EU revenue or a temporary suspension from the EU market.

    GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “Deforestation Risk,” includes analysis of the economic and environmental impacts of deforestation, an overview of the global regulatory landscape, and deforestation risk profiles for 12 industries

    Aoife McGurk, Strategic Intelligence Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “For many years now, certain companies have faced operational regulatory risk if their operations directly contribute to deforestation. The introduction of the EUDR from December 2025 means far more companies will need to mitigate the supply chain regulatory risk they face.”

    To help companies analyze this expanded regulatory risk, alongside the physical, reputational, and financing risk that deforestation generates, GlobalData has developed a brand new Deforestation Risk Framework.

    When analyzed through this framework, the agriculture sector faces the highest level of risk across the board. The sector’s intensive use of commodities targeted by the EUDR exposes it to elevated regulatory risk, and its reliance on ecosystem services, like pollinators and the water cycle, means it faces significant physical risk.

    The second most exposed sector is consumer. While it directly contributes to very little deforestation, the consumer sector’s supply chains involve vast amounts of high-risk commodities—palm oil, in particular.

    Companies in every sector face an underlying low level of financing risk. As financial institutions realize the risk to which deforestation and the ensuing loss of natural capital expose them, they will restrict their provision of financial services to companies that do not contribute to forest loss. Barclays has already launched a policy to this effect.

    McGurk continues: “Every company needs a strategy to mitigate deforestation risk in its many forms. GlobalData has five key recommendations companies should follow when implementing such a strategy.”

    Companies should set a robust no-deforestation target to signal to consumers and regulators that they are serious about their forestry efforts. They should engage with suppliers throughout the value chain to strengthen accountability and explicitly integrate deforestation risk into their business strategies. Companies should try to substitute any high-risk commodities they use wherever possible.

    Using natural or synthetic alternatives, changing suppliers, and economizing on the volume of each commodity can help reduce deforestation risk. Finally, investing in supply chain traceability and anti-deforestation technology will help with EUDR compliance.

    McGurk concludes: “One of the biggest challenges for EUDR compliance is ensuring that supply chains are fully transparent. Artificial intelligence (AI) can support anti-deforestation efforts by monitoring forests and using predictive analytics to predict where deforestation will occur, allowing stakeholders to prevent it. Internet of Things (IoT) technology helps monitor deforestation by combining many inputs from different sensors to detect changes in forests, analyze this data, and communicate potential deforestation to the relevant authorities. Dedicated supply chain traceability platforms combine these technologies to help companies mitigate their deforestation risk.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Global renewable power installed capacity to surge to 11.2TW by 2035, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Global renewable power installed capacity to surge to 11.2TW by 2035, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Power

    The power sector is experiencing a notable growth in renewable energy sources, propelled by an array of factors such as technological progress, policy incentives, and a heightened awareness of the imperative for sustainable energy solutions. Consequently, renewable resources, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy, are gaining a larger share in the energy portfolio. Driven primarily by declining costs and strong policy support, particularly for solar PV and wind energy, the global renewable power installed capacity is estimated to surge from 3.42TW in 2024 to 11.2TW by 2035, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report, “Renewable Energy: Strategic Intelligence”,  reveals that the global renewables market expanded from a cumulative installed capacity of 0.93TW in 2015 to 3.42TW by the end of 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16%. The total cumulative installed capacity is projected to record a CAGR of 11% during the period 2024-35.

    Solar PV and wind power were significant contributors to the renewable energy sector, accounting for 56% and 33% of the total installed capacity in 2024, respectively.  The Asia Pacific (APAC) region has emerged as the largest market for solar PV and wind installed capacity, boasting 1.18TW and 0.67TW in 2024, respectively.

    Rehaan Shiledar, Power Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “As the costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind technologies continue to decline, these renewable energy sources are increasingly appealing to investors. Also, energy transition strategies, coupled with a rising demand for electricity—partly fueled by the emergence of hydrogen energy and the advent of artificial intelligence—will propel the market growth for renewable energy sources.”

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the renewable energy sector by enhancing generation optimization, advancing grid management, and increasing efficiency across multiple systems. AI algorithms possess the capability to forecast renewable energy production, oversee grid operations in real-time, and refine energy storage strategies. These advancements contribute to heightened reliability and efficiency, thereby rendering renewable energy more effective and economical.

    Leading offshore wind developers such as TotalEnergies, Corio Generation, EnBW, RWE, and Statkraft are leveraging digital platforms to enhance the efficiency of wind farm project development. Similarly, solar power developers such as NextEra Energy, EDF and ENGIE are employing machine learning models to enhance the efficiency of solar PV facilities.

    Shiledar continues: “The renewable energy sector stands on the cusp of substantial growth, with the solar PV and wind power industries at the forefront. Moreover, the worldwide pledge to curtail carbon emissions has cultivated a regulatory landscape conducive to investments in these sustainable energy alternatives.”

    Solar PV systems are poised to spearhead new investments, outpacing both onshore and offshore wind sectors. In 2024, solar PV garnered $329.1 billion in investments. In contrast, onshore wind investments stood at $151.2 billion, while offshore wind investments reached $69.6 billion by the end of 2024. Looking ahead, the onshore wind sector is forecasted to grow to $186.9 billion and the offshore wind sector to $150.4 billion by 2030. These figures correspond to a CAGR of 4% for onshore wind and an impressive 14% for offshore wind, signaling robust growth trajectories for these renewable energy sources.”

    Shiledar concludes: “Solar and wind power stand at the vanguard of the renewable segment, rapidly becoming cost-competitive with traditional fossil fuels. They are anticipated to dominate electricity generation in the near future. While the global community is committing to the expansion of renewable energy sources, the US appears to be slowing the pace of renewables growth in favor of prioritizing fossil fuels.

    “Tariffs and offshore wind lease restrictions policy by the Trump administration are significantly impacting the renewable energy industry. Nonetheless, the global commitment to reduce carbon emissions, technological advancements, and demand for cleaner energy solutions will accelerate the adoption of renewable energy across the globe.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Directions under Section 35 A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – The YASHWANT CO-OPERATIVE BANK Ltd., Phaltan, Taluka Phaltan, District Satara, Maharashtra

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    It is hereby notified for information of the public that in exercise of powers vested in it under sub section (1) of Section 35 A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide Directive Ref. No. CO.DOS.SED.No. S1580/12-22-321/2025-2026 dated May 28, 2025, has issued certain Directions to The YASHWANT CO-OPERATIVE BANK Ltd., Phaltan, (“the bank”), whereby, as from the close of business on May 29, 2025, the bank shall not, without prior approval of RBI in writing, grant or renew any loans and advances, make any investment, incur any liability including borrowal of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangement and sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets except as notified in the RBI Direction dated May 28, 2025, a copy of which has been directed to be displayed on the bank’s website / premises for perusal by interested members of the public. Considering the bank’s present liquidity position, the bank has been directed not to allow withdrawal of any amount from savings bank or current accounts or any other account of a depositor but is allowed to set off loans against deposits subject to the conditions stated in the above RBI Directions. The bank may incur expenditure in respect of certain essential items such as salaries of employees, rent, electricity bills, etc., as specified in the said Directions.

    2. RBI has in the recent past engaged with the Board and Senior Management of the bank for improvement in its functioning. However, lack of concrete efforts taken by the bank to address the supervisory concerns and to protect the interest of depositors of the bank, necessitated issuance of these Directions.

    3. The eligible depositors would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of their deposits upto a monetary ceiling of ₹5,00,000/- (Rupees five lakh only) in the same capacity and in the same right, from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC), as applicable under the provisions of the DICGC Act, 1961, based on submission of willingness by the depositors concerned and after due verification. The depositors may contact the bank officials for further information. Details may also be accessed on the DICGC website: www.dicgc.org.in.

    4. The issue of the above Directions by the RBI should not per se be construed as cancellation of the banking license by RBI. The bank will continue to undertake banking business subject to restrictions specified in the said Directions till its financial position improves. The RBI continues to monitor the position of the bank and will take necessary actions including modifications of these Directions, as warranted, depending upon circumstances and in the interest of the depositors.

    5. These Directions shall remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business on May 29, 2025 and are subject to review.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/432

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Clean Energy Pipeline Grows to $328 Billion, with 184 GW Primed for Deployment

    Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

    Headline: Clean Energy Pipeline Grows to $328 Billion, with 184 GW Primed for Deployment

    Top Ten States for Clean Power Installations in Q1 2025

    • Q1 clean power deployment totaled 7.4 GW in 2025, representing $10 billion in domestic investment
    • Battery storage achieves record Q1 installations, surpassing 30 GW total capacity and strengthening grid reliability for growing power demands
    • Project pipeline climbs to record levels, signaling robust future growth
    WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29, 2025 – The American Clean Power Association (ACP) today released its Q1 2025 Clean Power Quarterly Market Report, showing continued strong private sector investment in domestic energy production. U.S. developers installed 7.4 gigawatts (GW) of utility-scale solar, wind, and storage capacity in the first quarter, marking the second-strongest start to a year on record and demonstrating strong market-driven demand for reliable, affordable domestic energy resources. 
    The industry’s growth is particularly strong in Republican-leaning states, where domestic manufacturing and energy production has created nearly 650,000 direct and indirect jobs and generates $3.4 billion in annual tax revenue and payments to landowners in rural communities. 
    “Clean power is shovel-ready at scale. With unprecedented demand growth for electricity, we must send consistent investment signals across the energy sector,” said ACP CEO Jason Grumet. “We have the technology, investment capital, and workforce required to build the $300+ billion of clean energy projects in our development pipeline. The greatest threat to a reliable energy system is an unreliable political system.”   
    Key Highlights 

    Total Installed Capacity: U.S. clean power capacity reached 320+ GW in Q1 2025, enough to power nearly 80 million American homes. 

    Strong Q1 Installations: 7.4 GW of new capacity came online, making it the second-strongest Q1 on record. The 115 project phases that came online in Q1 total $10 billion of private investment into the U.S. energy infrastructure.  

    Record-Breaking Storage Growth: Battery storage capacity surpassed 30 GW nationwide, representing a 65% increase year-over-year, with Q1 2025 setting a new first-quarter record at 1,602 MW. 

    Robust Project Pipeline: The development pipeline grew 12% year-over-year to reach 184,418 MW, with storage and wind pipelines growing 57% and 24% respectively. This represents $328 billion in project investment if everything in the pipeline is built. (Projects under construction or in advance stages of development (pipeline) are typically fully permitted projects. The growth of the pipeline does not signal any advances in the volume of projects receiving permits.)   

    Technology Mix: Q1 additions included 4,459 MW of utility-scale solar, 1,602 MW of storage, and 1,327 MW of land-based wind. 

    Leading States:  

    Eight of the top ten states for Q1 clean power additions voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election. 

    Texas leads the nation in clean power, with a portfolio reaching 80+ GW—a 20% increase from Q1 2024—and ranks first in utility-scale solar (28 GW) and land-based wind (43 GW) capacity. 

    Indiana quadrupled its energy storage capacity in just one quarter, while adding 435 MW of new solar capacity. 

    Powering America’s Economic Growth 
    With utility-scale clean power now exceeding 320 GW nationwide—enough to power nearly 80 million American homes—the data shows how rapidly private companies are responding to increasing power demands from manufacturing expansion, data centers, and AI development. 
    Texas, the nation’s energy leader, saw its clean power portfolio grow more than 20% since Q1 2024 to surpass 80 GW. The massive investment into clean power in the Lone Star State generates $1.3 billion annually in local tax revenue and land-lease payments and helps fuel the 125,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs created by the industry for Texans. 
    Strengthening Grid Reliability 
    Battery storage achieved its strongest Q1 on record with 1.6 GW installed, pushing total U.S. storage capacity above 30 GW—a 65% increase from Q1 2024. This rapid deployment of energy storage strengthens grid reliability, providing critical backup power for American businesses and homes.  
    Growing Pipeline Signals Confidence 
    The clean power development pipeline grew 12% year-over-year to reach 184 GW, signaling continued job creation and private investment across America. The year-over-year increase was driven primarily by storage and wind: the storage pipeline grew 57% year-over-year to near 50 GW, and the land-based wind pipeline increased by 24% to 28 GW. These market-driven investments reflect growing demand for reliable, affordable domestic energy from utilities and major American companies. 
    A public version of the report is available on the ACP website, with the full report and underlying datasets available exclusively to ACP members. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: “The African Development Bank has one of the most democratic processes in electing the President of The Bank.”

    Source: African Development Bank Group
    This year’s Annual Meetings have the extra dynamic of the election of a new President to take over the helm of the institution after ten years under Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. Can you walk us through the key electoral processes and steps until the new President takes office?

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: AI-Powered and Asia-Made: Leading the Way with Chip Design and Supply Chain Resilience

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Asia’s dominance in semiconductor manufacturing is fueling a surge in AI-related exports, underpinned by growing investments in infrastructure and design. While risks from global trade tensions loom, strategic action on domestic innovation and regional cooperation offers a pathway to sustained growth.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Partial Amendments of the Articles of Incorporation

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: Partial Amendments of the Articles of Incorporation

    The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 29, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 3,335
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 3,335
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/426

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Pre-Recorded VIP Address at the ATxSummit Singapore

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, earlier this morning delivered a Pre-Recorded VIP Address on the second day of the ATxSummit, held in Singapore. Under the theme of “Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Future,” the event brings together talented young minds, industry leaders, and key stakeholders dedicated to advancing digital economy and innovation in the region. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao shared ASEAN’s key initiatives to build a secure, trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem, to propel the region’s economic growth. Download the text version of the remarks here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on May 28, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,93,184.29 5.71 3.01-6.00
         I. Call Money 15,980.96 5.80 4.85-5.85
         II. Triparty Repo 4,02,610.35 5.71 5.65-5.85
         III. Market Repo 1,73,035.98 5.71 3.01-5.90
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,557.00 5.89 5.85-6.00
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 198.08 5.69 5.25-5.85
         II. Term Money@@ 997.00 – 5.80-6.15
         III. Triparty Repo 9,241.00 5.84 5.76-5.90
         IV. Market Repo 0.00 – –
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Wed, 28/05/2025 1 Thu, 29/05/2025 3,843.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 28/05/2025 1 Thu, 29/05/2025 606.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 28/05/2025 1 Thu, 29/05/2025 2,29,136.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,24,687.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,622.73  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     33,353.73  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,91,333.27  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 28, 2025 9,32,078.85  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 30, 2025 9,48,817.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 28, 2025 3,843.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 02, 2025 2,34,873.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/425

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media release: Pioneering marine turtle conservation project takes out top prize at energy industry awards – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media release: Pioneering marine turtle conservation project takes out top prize at energy industry awards – Australian Energy Producers

    A decade-long environmental initiative led by Queensland’s LNG operators has taken out the top honour at the 2025 Australian Energy Producers Excellence Awards, held last night as part of the annual Conference and Exhibition in Brisbane.

    The joint initiative from ConocoPhillips APLNG, Shell QGC, and Santos GLNG received the prestigious Chair’s Award for the Gladstone Long Term Turtle Management Plan – Pioneering Marine Turtle Conservation: A Decade of Industry Collaboration and Environmental Excellence.

    The project, which exceeded regulatory requirements and achieved transformative outcomes, was recognised for setting a new benchmark in industry-led environmental stewardship.

    It significantly advanced scientific understanding of marine turtle ecology and showcased exceptional collaboration between energy producers and environmental scientists.

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the Chair’s Award recognises the best of the best, and the awards judges agreed this year’s winner exemplified long-term leadership, collaboration and innovation.

    “This initiative not only protected vulnerable marine species but built lasting scientific partnerships that will benefit environmental research for years to come,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “The winner of this year’s Chair’s Award demonstrated initiative, collaboration and positive outcomes that stood out among such a quality field on finalists.

    “On behalf of our industry, I congratulate all the finalists and award recipients recognised tonight, who are showcasing just some of the extraordinary work our industry is doing around Australia,” Ms McCulloch said.

    The annual awards celebrate outstanding achievements in environmental management, workplace safety, community engagement and workforce development. Winners in each category demonstrated excellence and innovation that is shaping the future of Australia’s energy industry.

    Award Winners 

    Environment Project Excellence Award

    ConocoPhillips Australia (on behalf of ConocoPhillips APLNG, Shell QGC, and Santos GLNG): Gladstone Long Term Turtle Management Plan

    Awarded for its ground-breaking, collaborative approach to environmental research that set a new industry standard and significantly enhanced understanding of marine turtle ecology.

    Safety Project Excellence Award

    Amplitude Energy: BMG Decommissioning Campaign – Delivering Safety Excellence

    Recognised for achieving zero significant safety incidents across 360,000+ work hours on a complex offshore decommissioning project through strong safety culture and team engagement.

    Community Development Excellence Award

    Woodside Energy: Roebourne Pathways Program

    Awarded for its innovative, community-led early childhood development program in Roebourne, which increased Aboriginal employment and parental engagement in a culturally sensitive framework.

    Workforce Development Excellence Award

    Santos: Real Thrives Here Program

    Recognised for transforming the employee experience through a company-wide initiative designed to energise its workforce in tackling the challenges of the energy transition.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AI in process manufacturing: From operational gains to strategic advantage

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: AI in process manufacturing: From operational gains to strategic advantage

    80% of manufacturers are exploring AI.1 Here’s how leaders are moving from pilots to measurable impact.

    We see tremendous AI adoption across process manufacturing industries. The focus is shifting from experimenting with pilots to implementing AI in a way that delivers real business value. Leaders are now focused on how to get started and how to ensure a clear return on investment. Artificial Intelligence in Process Manufacturing: Preparing for an AI Future, a new manufacturing signals industry report published by Microsoft with research by IoT Analytics, presents insights into how manufacturers in process industries prioritize technology today and where AI fits into the picture. The report provides valuable insights for navigating the implementation of AI.

    Get the Artificial Intelligence in Process Manufacturing report

    AI adoption is accelerating and entering a new phase

    AI is gaining real traction in process manufacturing. Building on investments in Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and advanced process controls, manufacturers are focused on how AI can drive enterprise-wide decision-making and long-term value. This shift is no longer about if AI is worth pursuing—it’s about how to start effectively and drive measurable impact. As manufacturers move from pilot programs to broader deployment, the opportunity extends beyond task-level automation. AI is enabling predictive, real-time decision making across operations, research and development (R&D), and the supply chain—unlocking value that legacy systems can’t deliver alone. From my conversations with customers, the biggest barrier to generative AI isn’t the technology, it’s getting the data right.

    This next phase of AI adoption depends on strong data foundations, grounded in enterprise data and context, with clear business alignment, and an organization-wide readiness to operationalize insights. Manufacturers that get this right are already seeing the results.

    AI is supporting real business priorities

    AI is helping manufacturers tackle two of their top business priorities: improving operational efficiency and driving revenue growth. By reducing waste, minimizing downtime, and optimizing output, AI-powered insights enable targeted operational improvements. The same data intelligence also fuels research and development (R&D), accelerates time-to-market, and uncovers opportunities for market expansion and business differentiation. One global chemical company reported that AI helped reduce the time-to-market for molecular enhancements from six months to just six to eight weeks1—a powerful example of how operational innovation translates into business acceleration. 

    The signals report also explores how industrial AI drives benefits beyond cost and throughput, from better data integration to improved customer satisfaction—ultimately enabling smarter, faster decisions across the value chain.

    AI use cases with measurable business impact

    The signals report surfaces real-world use cases where AI is delivering measurable results—not just technical improvements, but business transformation. From reducing downtime to accelerating product development, industrial leaders are applying AI in areas such as: 

    • Process optimization
    • Sustainability, energy efficiency, and waste reduction
    • Research and development
    • Predictive maintenance and analytics

    Adoption is scaling fast: 80% of manufacturers surveyed are either using or planning to adopt generative AI. These solutions are driving change across every level of the organization—from frontline operations to management decision-making. 

    A rubber and plastics manufacturer reported significant improvements to plastic design for more efficient production. A chemical company achieved a 90% reduction in demand forecasting costs and dramatically accelerated knowledge retrieval—enabling users to access answers in seconds instead of days.1 And in the words of one life sciences organization: “Our employees have more power to support farmers, help cure diseases and see consumers healthier.”1

    These examples offer a compelling view into how industrial AI is already reshaping core operations, creating value well beyond the pilot stage.

    Addressing security and complexity head-on

    As more manufacturers embrace AI, leading organizations are not just navigating challenges—they’re building the strategies to overcome them. The signals report highlights two areas that require thoughtful planning: security and system complexity. 

    Security remains a key consideration. Nearly half of respondents say concerns around data protection—from IP theft to regulatory compliance—impact their AI adoption decisions. In industries where uptime, safety, and proprietary processes are critical, protecting sensitive data is non-negotiable. 

    Fortunately, security and AI aren’t mutually exclusive. Companies are investing in responsible AI practices, secure architectures, and governance models that enable innovation without compromising protection. 

    Complexity is the other major hurdle. Legacy systems often lack interoperability, and introducing AI may require adapting long-standing workflows. But many manufacturers are proving that modernization is possible—and that the payoff is worth it. 

    The signals report offers guidance on how to approach these challenges with the right foundation, so AI becomes a source of advantage, not friction.

    Laying the foundation

    Successful AI adoption requires a strong governance framework—it’s not about experimenting endlessly with every possible AI use case but rather focusing on the most strategic use cases that will deliver business value. Building this framework requires the right foundation to scale impact over time. Leading manufacturers are taking a structured approach: aligning AI investments to business goals, modernizing infrastructure, and investing in the skills needed to sustain innovation. 

    The signals report outlines four practical steps manufacturers are taking to move from isolated pilots to enterprise-wide transformation: 

    • Identify business needs
    • Embrace structural flexibility
    • Get the data in order
    • Use AI to develop workforce capabilities 

    These are more than recommendations—they reflect what real manufacturers are doing to turn AI into a competitive advantage. And for many, AI is no longer optional, but essential to unlocking the next wave of efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. The signals report brings each step to life with examples from the field. 

    Download the full report on Artificial Intelligence in Process Manufacturing to explore the research, benchmark your readiness, and take your next step toward AI-powered transformation. 

    Preparing for an AI future

    Artificial Intelligence in Process Manufacturing

    1 Artificial Intelligence in Process Manufacturing

    Yury Gomez

    Global Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer, Process Manufacturing Industry, Microsoft

    Yury is the Global Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer for Process Manufacturing at Microsoft. With over 20 years of industry experience, she leads the GTM strategy and execution to help Fortune 500 manufacturers innovate at scale with AI and digital tech, driving end-to-end transformation and overcoming adoption hurdles to accelerate industry impact.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: One Year In: How the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo Is Changing the Way People Do Laundry

    Source: Samsung

    Since debuting in February 2024, Samsung Electronics’ Bespoke AI Laundry Combo1 has sold more than 100,000 units in Korea and won 21 major awards,2 building a strong presence in the all-in-one washer-dryer market.
     
    Designed to boost convenience and make smarter use of time and space, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo is reshaping daily life. Samsung Newsroom took an inside look at how that transformation is taking place and why.
     
     
    Wash and Dry in One Go — A Simpler Routine for Better Living
    According to a Samsung survey3 of 206 buyers in Korea who purchased all-in-one washer-dryers released in 2024, respondents cited the following top reasons for their purchase — no laundry transfer needed (23%), saving space (21%), single installation for both washing and drying (12%), and one-step operation from wash to dry (11%).
     

     
    As laundry becomes simpler and more convenient, how and when people do it is evolving. Compared to before purchasing all-in-one models, people are washing their clothes more frequently. Dual-income households, in particular, are increasingly doing their laundry on weeknights after work.
     

     

     
    As washing and drying are completed in a single automated cycle, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo allows users to simply load their clothes, press start and walk away. There’s no need to wait around or manually move wet clothes to a separate dryer. Furthermore, the Auto Open Door feature even opens the door automatically once drying is complete, releasing moisture quickly and enhancing hygiene and convenience.
     
     
    Simple Setup, Smarter Use of Space and AI-Optimized Cycles
    The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo also offers improved space efficiency and greater flexibility in installation. Unlike conventional setups that require separate space for both washer and dryer units, the all-in-one unit reduces spatial demand by around 40%,4 with no need to stack two machines or place them side-by-side. Its lower height also allows for extra shelving in laundry or utility rooms.
     
    ▲ The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo reduces spatial demand by around 40% compared to conventional washer and dryer setups.
     
    In addition, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo’s AI-powered features significantly boost efficiency. AI Wash & Dry5 automatically selects the best wash and dry settings based on weight, fabric type and soil level, removing the need for manual configuration.
     
    In the survey, customers in Korea expressed high satisfaction6 with features like the Flex Auto Dispense System7 (91%) and AI Energy Mode8 (89%). The Flex Auto Dispense System adjusts the detergent amount to suit the load of laundry when detergent is pre-filled in the compartment, reducing maintenance hassle and preventing overuse or underuse of detergent, which is a common issue with conventional washing machines.
     
    Energy efficiency has also improved, as the 2025 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo consumes 45% less electricity per kilogram than the minimum required for top-rated front-load washers in Korea.9 With AI Energy Mode, users can reduce energy consumption by up to 60% without compromising performance.10
     
    Samsung continues to drive the popularization of all-in-one washer-dryers by introducing products with industry-leading drying capacity.11 The 2025 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo increases capacity by 3kg to a total of 18kg, while reducing drying time by 20 minutes to complete a full wash-and-dry cycle in as little as 79 minutes.12
     
    “We are committed to introducing more products like the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo that bring meaningful changes to users’ daily lives,” said Jong-Hun Sung, Vice President and Head of Clothing Care R&D Group at Digital Appliances (DA) Business, Samsung Electronics. “With our innovative technology and focus on personalized user experiences, we aim to open a new chapter in home appliances.”
     
    As laundry becomes an increasingly seamless experience, Samsung will continue to enable a smarter, more convenient way of living, one cycle at a time.
     
     
    1 All information regarding the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo in this article is based on products launched in South Korea. Product specifications may vary by country and region of release. For accurate information, please refer to the official sales outlet or the manufacturer’s website in your country.
    2 Recognitions include Winner of the iF Design Award (2024, 2025), Finalist of the IDEA Design Award (2024), Bronze for the Good Design Award by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (2024), Winner of the Korea Innovation Frontier Award by the Korean Standards Association (2024), Honoree at the CES Innovation Awards (2024), Winner of the Ergonomic Design Award by the Ergonomics Society of Korea (2024), Korea Green Product of the Year by the Korea Green Purchasing Network (2024), Winner of the Jang Young-Shil Award by Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (2024), Winner of the Korea Electronics Show Innovation Award (2024), No.1 in INNO STAR and GREEN STAR by Korea Management Registrar Inc. (2024, 2025), No.1 in Home Appliance A/S in the KS-SQI and KSQI by the Korean Standards Association and Korea Management Association Consultants respectively (2024), No.1 in the Washer-Dryer Category in the KS-QEI by the Korean Standards Association (2024), Winner of the Korea Brand Hall of Fame by the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies (2025), Winner of the Canstar Blue Most Innovative Award in Australia (2025), and No.1 in the Washer-Dryer Category by Consumer Reports in the United States (2024, 2025).
    3 Based on an online survey conducted on 206 buyers of all-in-one washer-dryers in Korea, including 154 who purchased Samsung’s Bespoke AI Laundry Combo. Participants included purchase decision-makers, primary users and buyers of models released in 2024.
    4 When installing the Bespoke AI Washer (25kg) and Dryer (22kg) in a stacked configuration, the required height is 1,890mm. In a side-by-side configuration, the required width is 980mm. In comparison, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo has a height of 1,110mm and width of 686mm.
    5 Detects fabric type under AI Wash & Dry mode for loads up to 3kg. Detects soil level under the same mode for loads up to 9kg. Detects a total of five fabric types — normal, towels, delicates, denim and outdoor — and when multiple fabric types are mixed, identifies them as either “normal” or the type that most closely matches.
    6 Research Methodology: Satisfaction levels for each of the 2024 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo’s 14 features were measured using a 7-point scale. The results reflect the proportion of respondents who selected the top two ratings: “Very satisfied” and “Satisfied.”
    7 Based on a 5kg laundry load using the standard wash cycle, with the detergent amount set to “normal” and concentration set to “regular.” Results are based on internal testing and may vary depending on actual usage conditions. When filling the main and optional compartments with regular detergent, the auto-dispense system can operate for up to 13 weeks per refill under a usage rate of three cycles per week.
    8 AI Energy Mode activates immediately when “Maximum Saving” is selected as the monthly usage target within the SmartThings Energy service. When “Progressive tier” or “Custom” settings are selected, operation time and energy savings may vary depending on the user-defined conditions. To manage energy use based on tiered electricity pricing, a separate smart meter may be required depending on the user environment. AI Energy Mode is available exclusively via SmartThings, which may have limitations depending on the supported environment and usage conditions.
    9 Based on data for front-load (or electric) washing machines listed on the Korea Energy Agency website. The minimum standard for Grade 1 energy efficiency is 45.8 Wh/kg. The 2025 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo’s energy efficiency rate is 24.9 Wh/kg.
    10 Conducted using 3kg of standardized test fabric in accordance with KS C IEC 60456, with the fabric type identified as “normal” and the water temperature set to 20°C. Power consumption was compared with AI Energy Mode (set to “Maximum Saving”) turned on and off. Test model: WD25DB8995BZ; Reference model: WD90F25***.
    11 As of March 5, 2025, the 2025 Bespoke AI Laundry Combo’s 25kg washing capacity is the largest among household washing machines registered with the Korea Energy Agency. Its 18kg drying capacity is the largest among front-load models as of March 10, 2025.
    12 Based on DOE standard test fabric composed of 50% cotton and 50% polyester, using the Quick Cycle. Actual results may vary depending on fabric type, moisture content, characteristics, and laundry load in real-world usage conditions.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Right Fit: Galaxy S25 Edge, Designed to Fit Your Lifestyle

    Source: Samsung

    Galaxy S25 Edge was unveiled earlier this month — showcasing an incredibly light, durable, and powerful design, crafted to keep up with you. Now, Samsung is teaming up with Top Dawg Entertainment’s Doechii, to offer an inside look at how Galaxy S25 Edge can fit into your day.
    As a champion for those who don’t always conform to the status quo, Doechii exemplifies the same forward-looking spirit that Samsung is known for. The latest example, Galaxy S25 Edge, creates a unique experience for users while retaining the style, creative features, and powerful performance that users expect from the Galaxy S series.
    With ultra-light and thin Galaxy S25 Edge at your side — in your pocket, waistband, or wherever you want to carry it — you can always stay connected to what you need with a device that’s packed with features, and light on your fit. It effortlessly integrates into any dynamic lifestyle without compromising your look.

    Galaxy S25 Edge is crafted to be your companion all day and night. It’s packed with the powerful Galaxy AI experience that users rave about, in the lightest and thinnest form factor ever sported by a Galaxy S series device. It includes fan-favorite tools like Audio Eraser1 and Drawing Assist,2 along with the same ProVisual Engine optimized for the Galaxy S25 series. Users can combine these powerful tools with Galaxy S25 Edge’s 200MP camera, so you can capture your stylish fits or snap a picture of your favorite animal friend in breathtaking detail.
    Doechii is joined in the spots by her favorite alligator, Coconut, who was featured on the iconic cover to her award-winning hit mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal.

    “Music and fashion are some of my favorite creative outlets because they let me push boundaries and express myself in a way that feels authentic” said Doechii. “With this partnership, I want to encourage people to have fun, try something new, and know that the creative voice inside them is valid and something to lean into.”

    The spots also help set the stage for Samsung Galaxy’s VIP event at Edge NYC in Hudson Yards celebrating the launch of Galaxy S25 Edge. The event includes an exclusive private performance by Doechii. Fans can catch the livestream of her performance at Edge NYC here on May 30 at 8 p.m. ET.
    For more information on Galaxy S25 Edge, visit Samsung.com.

    MIL OSI Economics –