Source: Airbus
Headline: Nigerian Ibom Air purchases ten Airbus A220 aircraft
Akwa Ibom state government owned airline in Nigeria, Ibom Air has signed a firm order for ten (10) A220s at the Dubai Airshow. The signing was done by Mfon Udom, the chief Executive Officer of Ibom Air, and Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International in the presence of the Akwa Ibom state Governor, Mr. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.
Source: Microsoft
Headline: How the Microsoft Secure Future Initiative brings Zero Trust to life
In this blog, you’ll learn more about how the Microsoft Secure Future Initiative (SFI)—a real-world case study on Zero Trust—aligns with Zero Trust strategies. We’ll share key updates from the April 2025 SFI progress report and practical Zero Trust guidance to help you strengthen your organization’s security posture. Whether you’re looking to enhance protection, reduce risk, or future-proof your environment, this blog offers actionable insights to support your journey toward a more secure future.
The Zero Trust security model offers longstanding, proven benefits. Zero Trust minimizes the attack surface and makes it significantly harder for cyberattackers to gain illicit access, whether from outside or inside an organization’s network. Zero Trust is also great at securing hybrid and remote work environments, helping to facilitate secure modernization efforts. Microsoft strongly believes in these benefits and works diligently to share resources, insights, and tools like Zero Trust workshops with customers. As Microsoft innovates in the Zero Trust space, it shares insights with the technology industry and its customers.
In November of 2023, we launched the Secure Future Initiative—a multiyear effort to revolutionize the way we design, build, test, and operate our products and services in order to achieve the highest security standards. In May 2024, Microsoft expanded the Secure Future Initiative to include six engineering pillars and 28 aligned objectives. Engineering owners were assigned to each pillar and established an initial body of work to advance each objective, articulated as standards and measured as key results. In many cases, these objectives and standards are stringent applications of Zero Trust for Microsoft’s unique requirements as a leading hyper-scale cloud operator, provider of cloud services and products, and as a major enterprise target for bad actors.
A comprehensive technical guide to help customers and partners adopt a Zero Trust strategy and deploy security solutions end-to-end to secure their organizations. Learn more.
Zero Trust assumes cyberattackers can come from anywhere—inside or outside your network. This means that you must “never trust, always verify.” In practice, it also means every access request must be authenticated, authorized, and continuously validated—giving you greater confidence that only the right people and devices can connect to your resources.
With this comprehensive approach from Microsoft, customers don’t just learn the principles—they gain the ability to apply them across their environment to help reduce risk, simplify operations, and accelerate secure modernization.
Microsoft processes more than 84 trillion security signals every day—from devices and endpoints to cloud services and applications—giving us robust visibility into emerging cyberthreats and attack patterns.1 By integrating data and insights with a “never trust, always verify” approach, the Secure Future Initiative at Microsoft builds on established Zero Trust strategies—turning architecture into practical implementation. Insights from this experience can enable you to expedite your Zero Trust implementations.
The journey Microsoft has gone on while implementing the Secure Future Initiative surfaced these practical lessons: use them to accelerate your own security improvements.
Based on our priorities, we developed six pillars and 28 objectives to help us focus on what truly matters. You can do likewise: analyze your top risks, then group them into a set of measurable objectives. This gives your team a clear roadmap and helps prioritize efforts that move the needle.
We learned that tools alone don’t stick—people do. The Secure Future Initiative’s emphasis on culture, clear security objectives, ongoing training, and individual performance goals creates accountability. Translate this by embedding security accountability into every role and offering continuous, role-based training.
With SFI, integrating Deputy CISOs from key product and functional areas into the Governance Council has advanced security as a core part of development. That makes it more than just a checkpoint, enabling earlier risk mitigation and improved resilience at scale. You can evolve your approach to governance in step with your growth and key functional areas to ensure visibility and accountability. This will help you accelerate Zero Trust maturity and stay ahead of emerging cyberthreats.
With the Secure Future Initiative, currently, more than 99% of network devices are logged in a central repository for full lifecycle management. These devices use centralized authentication and audit trails, are configured with Access Control Lists (ACLs) for IPv4/v6 to restrict lateral movement and have safeguards in place to prevent key compromise or abuse. Apply this by developing an inventory of your own environment and implementing isolation, monitoring and secure operations.
The Secure Future Initiative is a living case study—sharing progress, learnings, and best practices through reports and blogs. You can also adopt a similar mindset: document what works, share internally and externally (where appropriate), and continuously refine your Zero Trust journey based on your own real-world experiences.
The Secure Future Initiative embeds three foundational principles into everything we do, and you can too:
Download our Secure by design: A UX toolkit to integrate these checklists into your development pipelines today.
You can learn more about the progress we have made improving our security posture in the April 2025 progress report.
Below are learnings from that report, and examples of how you can improve your security posture by applying the Zero Trust framework and principles.
Validate controls with attack simulations: Use red team exercises or breach-and-attack-simulation tools to test your identity protections (multifactor authentication, conditional access, just-in-time privilege). Identify gaps, then tune policies and workflows to close them.
Map and limit lateral paths: Graph your environment’s trust relationships (subscriptions, resource groups, service connections). Pinpoint where a cyberattacker could “hop,” then apply micro-segmentation, just-in-time network access, or privileged identity management to contain any breach.
Inventory, monitor, and segment: Ensure every device, virtual machine, and service is inventoried and sending telemetry. Lock down network flows with Zero Trust network policies and micro-segmentation. Use continuous monitoring to detect misconfigurations before they become vulnerabilities.
Enforce secure build pipelines: Assign clear code-ownership and integrate security gates into your continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. Adopt infrastructure-as-code templates with embedded guardrails and automatically remediate any drift from your security baseline.
Test your detection end-to-end: Regularly run realistic cyberattack simulations (for example, breach-and-attack-simulation, purple team exercises) across all clouds and on-premises environments. Validate that alerts fire correctly and that your security operations center (SOC) workflows drive timely investigation and response.
Automate patching at scale: Implement automated operating system (OS) and application updates (Microsoft has deployed automated operating system upgrades to 86% of our first-party Virtual Machine Scale Sets (VMSS)-based services, resulting in more than 91 million upgrades in 2024). Shift left on vulnerability management: integrate scanning and patch-orchestration into your DevOps pipelines.
By adopting these practices, you can harden your Zero Trust posture, reduce risk, and accelerate secure modernization—no matter where you are on your journey.
Get started on your Zero Trust journey: Visit the Microsoft Zero Trust webpage, access the Zero Trust Adoption Framework in the Microsoft Zero Trust guidance center, and download the self-serve Zero Trust Workshop Assessment today.
Read the April 2025 report from the Secure Future Initiative and visit the Microsoft Secure Future Initiative page for more information and resources.
Talk to our experts: Connect through your Microsoft account team or submit a request on the Microsoft Security contact page.
Work with a trusted partner: Use the Microsoft Solution Partner directory to find specialists who can help you deploy and optimize your strategy.
Join the community: Get direct access to engineers and early insights via the Security Tech Community and Customer Connection Program.
To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.
1Microsoft unveils Microsoft Security Copilot agents and new protections for AI, March 24, 2025.
Source: WTO
Headline: Sustainability discussions focus on trade policy considerations and practices
Richard Tarasofsky of Canada, a co-convener of TESSD, together with Costa Rica, thanked the facilitators of the working groups for advancing the outcome documents. “I encourage all of you to engage actively, (as) we are now less than one year away from MC14 ,” he said.
The four TESSD working groups held technical discussions on their respective topics and exchanged views on the first drafts of possible outcome documents in line with guidance provided by the high-level plenary meeting on 4 December 2024.
In the Working Group on Subsidies, members explored the role of trade policy and international cooperation in decarbonizing maritime transport. They focused in particular on subsidies and other policy incentives for sustainable marine fuels, port infrastructure and green corridors, as well as on the role of financing and technical assistance to support developing economies in this regard.
Setting the scene, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced the new IMO Net-Zero Framework with mandatory emission limits. The European Union presented its policies and measures to support sustainable marine fuels, while DNV, a Norwegian private company, and the Global Maritime Forum (GMF), a not-for-profit organization, introduced their work in supporting the establishment of green shipping corridors. MSC Group presented the actions being taken to decarbonize their global fleet and the necessity for regulatory certainty and clarity for private sector investments related to decarbonization. Regarding a possible working group outcome, members considered key design elements in subsidies, including considerations for effective subsidy design and related practices among members.
The Working Group on Circular Economy – Circularity heard about technical assistance projects offering insights into trade and circular economy, including from the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Mauritius on trade policy and regional cooperation in recycling lithium-ion batteries of electronic vehicles. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) also shared perspectives on trade-related aspects of circular economy in developing economies, highlighting opportunities for technology transfer for water treatment and textile circularity. In terms of a possible working group outcome, members focused on trade-related practices in priority sectors, such as textiles, batteries, electronics and renewable energy.
In the Working Group on Environmental Goods and Services (EGS), members shared experiences of identifying and facilitating trade in EGS. Jaime Coghi Arias from Costa Rica, Chair of the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, highlighted the link between good regulatory practices and environmental services. Switzerland introduced approaches used for identifying EGS under the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) undertaken by Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland. The United Kingdom shared insights into EGS for climate adaptation in the water sector, and Argentina outlined its work in relation to sustainable agriculture. Members also reviewed suggestions on the working group’s draft outcome document.
In the Working Group on Trade-Related Climate Measures (TrCMs), members heard presentations on border carbon adjustments (BCAs), with a focus on carbon standards and measurement methodologies. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) introduced its work on interoperability in its “Global Stakeholder Dialogues”. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlighted the importance of cross-border data-sharing through digitalization and customs cooperation. With regard to the first draft for an outcome, members brainstormed on how to compile policies in relation to climate objectives.
Concluding the two-day meetings, Ana Lizano of Costa Rica, co-convenor of TESSD, said: “It was very encouraging to see the participation of the private sector and the sharing of experiences by developing economies across all four groups, even from non-co-sponsors. Looking ahead, we have made significant progress on the outcome documents, reflecting members’ inputs. We look forward to your collective support in refining the documents to ensure they are fit for purpose.”
Presentations and documents related to the working group meetings are available here.
Guided by their 2021 Ministerial Statement, TESSD seeks to complement the work of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment and advance discussions at the intersection of trade and environmental sustainability towards identifying concrete actions that members could take individually or collectively. The initiative, which is open to all WTO members, is currently co-sponsored by 78 members representing all regions and all levels of development.
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Source: World Trade Organization
Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard spoke at an event prior to the start of the meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the CMA. Her remarks were followed by a panel discussion that included remarks from former chairs of the CMA.
“Market access is one of the cornerstones of the multilateral trading system, and it lies at the heart of what the WTO seeks to achieve: enabling trade to flow as smoothly, predictably and transparently as possible through agreed rules,” DDG Ellard said.
“This is why the work of the Committee on Market Access is not merely technical; it is foundational to the integrity and effectiveness of the entire WTO framework,” she continued. “Even amid widespread uncertainty these days surrounding tariff levels, this Committee provides stability for governments and traders on a wide variety of nuts-and-bolts issues, such as tariff classification, trade restrictions, and information sharing through databases and other means by operationalizing a durable system of rules and a mechanism to address concerns.”
Achievements of the CMA include enabling members to make their commitments more accessible and ensuring the legal clarity and comparability of concessions across time and among members through the transposition of commitments into updated versions of the Harmonized System used to classify traded goods. Other achievements include strengthening the transparency around applied tariffs and import data through initiatives such as the Integrated Database and, more recently, the new Tariff and Trade Data platform.
Linked with this event, a special exhibition was set up at the WTO headquarters to mark the 30th anniversary. The exhibition highlights key historical milestones of the Committee’s work. In particular, it looks at how technology has shaped the preparation of members’ goods schedules, the development of trade and tariff databases, and the broader work of the WTO Secretariat in making trade information accessible to WTO members and the public.
The interim Chair of the CMA, Nicola Waterfield (Canada), welcomed the progress made in the joint effort by the World Customs Organization (WCO), World Health Organization (WHO) and the WTO to establish new tariff headings for vaccines under the Harmonized System (HS).
“The new HS codes, which will be adopted by the WCO Council in June for implementation on 1 January 2028, help better identify and classify goods vital for responding to health crises and support coherence between trade policies and public health objectives, including ensuring global equitable access to vaccines,” the Chair said.
Gael Grooby, Acting Director of the Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate of the WCO, said the aim of the exercise is to make the covered goods more visible within trade so that they can be tracked and appropriate measures put into place as needed. She emphasized that the work between the CMA and the WCO on this matter “has been unprecedented”.
The Chair proposed that the CMA invite representatives from the three organizations to discuss the insights gained from this experience and to collectively reflect on the key elements that facilitated such a successful example of collaboration.
The CMA adopted a report on supply chain resilience, the outcome of a series of thematic sessions on the topic held between 2023 and 2025. Specifically, the report defines supply chain resilience, identifies supply chain vulnerabilities, and describes how members measure and monitor global supply chains and what measures support supply chain resilience. The report also examines the role of international and regional cooperation, and the role of the CMA.
The Chair observed that the CMA has created a unique approach to thematic sessions, where members have a space to exchange information, learn from each other and produce concrete results that can be used for future reference.
Canada, the European Union and Norway introduced an agenda item addressing fragmentation of global trade through tariffs and the associated global costs. They voiced concerns about the impact of recent tariff measures and the resulting uncertainty on global trade for businesses, consumers and workers. They also underlined the importance of the rules-based multilateral trading system. Ten other members took the floor on this item, with most echoing these concerns. Several also underlined the importance of WTO reform and improvement of its functions so that it remains a central pillar of the global trading system.
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru introduced a joint communication regarding the European Union’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free Supply Chains (EUDR). The four members contend the regulation is a quantitative restriction (QR) on imports and therefore should be notified to the CMA as such. They reiterated their belief that the regulation imposes cumbersome obligations and will virtually ban from the EU market the importation of beef, wood, palm oil, soya, coffee, cocoa and rubber that do not comply with the regulation’s requirements. The EU said the EUDR is not a market access measure but rather an internal regulation measure designed in line with WTO rules.
Members discussed 33 trade concerns, eight of which were raised for the first time. New concerns dealt with exports of coffee beans and macadamia nuts to China, proposed export restrictions on raw minerals by the Philippines and measures equivalent to quantitative restrictions on the import of wooden boards and viscose staple fibre in India. Other new concerns covered market access issues for agricultural commodities and food products as well as market access issues faced by the pharmaceutical sector in Thailand, and import restrictions on pocket lighters in India.
New concerns were also raised in relation to reciprocal tariffs and other tariff measures in the United States and the treatment of like products under the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) concluded by Costa Rica, Iceland, New Zealand and Switzerland.
The list of specific trade concerns discussed during the meeting is available here.
The interim Chair drew members’ attention to a new WTO Secretariat report, “Notification Status of Regular/Period and One-Time Only Notifications in the Goods Area (1995-2024)” (G/C/W/859 ). While the document found that there has been an overall submission rate of 68.9% for regular or periodic notifications, compliance with quantitative restrictions notifications, pursuant to the 2012 Decision on Notification Procedure for Quantitative Restrictions, was the lowest at just over 26%.
The Chair said she was aware that various initiatives have been undertaken over time by members and the WTO Secretariat to improve the overall compliance record but members still struggle to comply with certain notification requirements. As a result, she invited members to consider what barriers impact compliance and what possible steps could be taken to improve the submission rate and the quality of such notifications. The Committee agreed to hold such discussions at its next informal meeting scheduled in June.
The next formal meeting of the Committee on Market Access will take place on 15-16 October.
Source: European Central Bank
Washington, D.C., 16 May 2025
In my remarks today I will focus on how the ECB communicates its monetary policy decisions, with a particular emphasis on the integration of risks and uncertainty into the monetary policy decision-making process.[1][2]
Monetary policy meetings take place over two days. On Wednesday afternoon, there are presentations by ECB Executive Board members: Isabel Schnabel reports on the latest financial market developments and I review the global environment and the latest economic, monetary and financial developments in the euro area. This is followed by a general discussion of these topics by Governing Council members. On Thursday morning, I present a proposal for the monetary policy decision, which is then discussed by the Governing Council. After the monetary policy decision is made (typically by consensus), the monetary policy statement is finalised by the Governing Council, concluding the Thursday morning session.
In the afternoon, a press release announcing the decision is published at 2:15 p.m. While this press release was quite succinct in the past, a summary explanation for the decision is now included, and — for the quarterly meetings — the main elements of the staff macroeconomic projections are reported.
At the opening of the press conference at 2:45 p.m., President Lagarde reads out the monetary policy statement. The opening section matches the press release, while further sections go into more detail on economic activity, inflation, the risk assessment and monetary and financial developments. This is followed by a question-and-answer session. After the press conference, the quarterly forecast meetings also see the publication of a staff article that explains the new set of macroeconomic projections. About two weeks later, the Economic Bulletin is published, containing summaries of the preparatory analysis that was made available to the Governing Council prior to the meeting. An account of the meeting is published about a month after the meeting.
The aim of the monetary policy statement is not only to explain the immediate decision but also to update the underlying narrative in terms of the overall orientation of the monetary stance, the main forces shaping the dynamics of the economy and the inflation process, the evolving risk assessment and monetary and financial developments. The discipline of limiting the length of the monetary policy statement (it was about 1,500 words in April) puts a premium on identifying the main issues that the Governing Council wishes to emphasise. At the same time, this length offers room for a sufficiently broad survey of these themes to underpin the monetary policy decision. Naturally, at the quarterly meetings, there is also considerable external interest in the details of the new staff macroeconomic projections: it makes sense to publish the staff article after the press conference. In that way, the initial focus in the monetary policy statement and the press conference is on the Governing Council’s overall assessment of the situation, whereas the technical details of the staff work follow thereafter.
The publication of the meeting account summarises the presentations by Isabel and myself and the ensuing discussions among the members of the Governing Council. The account includes a section entitled “Monetary policy considerations and policy options” that provides the main features of the monetary policy proposal that I presented at the meeting. This typically includes considerations of how risk factors were taken into account in the proposal.[3] Especially since the Governing Council’s monetary policy decisions are typically consensual, the summary of the discussion provides valuable insights into the range of views expressed at the meeting.
Taken together, the press release, the MPS, the press conference, the staff macroeconomic projections article, the Economic Bulletin and the meeting accounts provide a phased sequence of public information releases that helps external audiences to understand how we make our monetary policy decisions. In addition, in pursuing a multi-layered approach to public communication, a visual monetary policy statement is also released, which explains the monetary policy decision in short and easy-to-understand language, accompanied by a set of infographics to illustrate the main messages.[4]
These decision materials are complemented by speeches and interviews by Executive Board and Governing Council members. The publication of an array of analytical contributions by staff (through the Economic Bulletin, the ECB Blog, working papers and occasional papers) also helps improve understanding of monetary policy formation, including in relation to the staff projections, which form a key analytical input into monetary policy meetings.
In view of this rich information set, would it be a game changer if the Governing Council additionally published its conditional assessment of the most likely future rate path, as practised by some other central banks? Putting aside the logistical challenge of forming a consensus on the conditional future rate path among the twenty-six members of the Governing Council, it is my view that such an exercise would create unwarranted expectations about the future rate path. Moreover, it would distort the monetary policy decision-making process in view of the potential reputational costs associated with deviations of actual decisions from the previously-flagged path.[5] Procedurally, publishing a conditional rate path would also be awkward in the context of a staff-led projections exercise that is based on the market rate path.
More fundamentally, publishing a conditional baseline for the future rate path would not well capture the sensitivity of future rate decisions to the evolving macroeconomic environment and shifts in the risk assessment. As part of the meeting preparations, the staff analyse a family of plausible future rate paths and it would convey excessive confidence if any one candidate rate path were to be singled out. In particular, staff simulation exercises show the sensitivity of rate paths to both the point-in-time macroeconomic projections and various underlying assumptions that underpin model-based optimal rate paths as well as “robust” rate paths that seek to minimise the risk of a policy error across a range of plausible scenarios. Importantly, all such rate path analyses are sensitive to the assumptions made about the preferences of policymakers.[6] Even if the rate path simulation exercises are highly valuable inputs into the internal development of the monetary policy proposal, it is preferable to take a meeting-by-meeting approach and focus the public communication on the immediate decision.[7]
At the same time, to improve external understanding of how we make decisions, it is helpful set out the criteria guiding the reaction function to the main risk factors prevailing at any point in time.[8] This provides “reaction function” guidance in terms of the key inputs driving monetary policy decisions.[9] For instance, during the disinflation process over the last two years, the Governing Council has highlighted that measures of underlying inflation and the incoming evidence on the strength of monetary policy transmission were especially important in guiding decisions, in addition to the “standard” role of the inflation outlook (comprising both the baseline and the risks around it). The prominence of these specific risk proxies reflected the high uncertainty about the intrinsic persistence of the inflation surge (such that measures of underlying inflation provided important insights into the persistent component of inflation) and, similarly, the high uncertainty about the impact of the exceptionally fast pace of the cumulative rate hiking over 2022-2023 (such that monitoring the evidence on the strength of monetary transmission was crucial). Since both inflation persistence and the strength of monetary transmission are first order influences on the calibration of the rate path, the prominence given to these factors in our public communication have helped market participants to understand that the incoming information along these dimensions is central to our data-dependent monetary policy decisions. Looking to the future, the exact articulation of reaction function guidance should be periodically updated in line with the evolving risk environment: there is unlikely to be a fixed, timeless list of risk proxies.
The risk assessment section of the monetary policy statement provides additional signals regarding the factors that might shape future rate decisions. The meeting-by-meeting list of upside and downside risks to growth and inflation help to shape market pricing of future rate decisions: as the evolution of these risks become more or less prominent between meetings, market participants can revise their views. Naturally, this risk assessment is informed by considerable staff analysis that identifies and calibrates material threats to the growth and inflation projections.
Finally, alternative scenarios have been included in the staff macroeconomic projections exercise in the context of specific risk constellations. These include the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, the unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russia in early 2022 and the elevation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East in autumn 2023. In the near term, the ongoing uncertainty about US tariff policies means that alternative scenarios will also be included in the June macroeconomic projections exercise. These staff exercises are valuable in conveying the scale of revisions to the projected inflation and output paths that would be triggered under the realisation of the alternative scenarios.[10]
In providing the risk assessment in the monetary policy statement and by staff publishing alternative macroeconomic projection scenarios in the context of specific risk constellations, there is extensive communication on how different risk factors might shape future decisions. Some might wish that the Governing Council lays out specific policy responses to these various risk profiles in order to “fill out” the distribution of future rate paths. However, as outlined above, the rich information set that is attached to each monetary policy decision together with reaction function guidance provides a sufficient foundation for market participants to assess how the realisation of various risks could affect the future rate path.
An additional potential application of scenario analysis is to construct a limited set of specific “curated” alternative scenarios by combining selected alternative calibrations of the primary economic and financial judgements underpinning the baseline projections. Publishing such alternative scenarios can be helpful in conveying the difficult choices embedded in making forecasts and in capturing possible differences in policy preferences across policymakers. From a communications perspective, this can be particularly helpful in systems where policymakers have a collective responsibility to endorse the published forecast but retain individual responsibility in casting votes.
Since the ECB relies on a staff-led projections exercise and has a strong preference for consensual decisions, the set of considerations in publishing such curated scenario analyses is different. In making sure monetary policy decisions are robust to non-baseline realisations, it is also not clear whether such a curated approach would be superior to a “many scenario” internal staff analysis (possibly augmented by machine learning algorithms) that explores robustness across the many combinations of shocks and modelling choices that are considered at each meeting. In addition, if the aim is to capture the main risk concerns of policymakers, selecting a limited set of curated alternative scenarios (out of very many possible scenarios) for each meeting would be logistically taxing for a twenty-six member Governing Council. A basic concern is that the selected curated scenarios might turn out to have shined the spotlight on risk factors that proved to be immaterial and might give the impression that the risk analysis was too narrow in scope.
In any event, the specific methods used to convey how risks and uncertainty are incorporated into the monetary policy decision-making process are less important than the underlying commitment to articulate that policy decisions not only take into account the baseline but also the surrounding risk environment. Moreover, there is an active research agenda in academia and policy organisations on how best to incorporate uncertainty into monetary policy decisions and monetary policy communications: as this research bears fruit over time, central banks should adapt their practices.[11]
In these remarks, I have focused on how we currently communicate our monetary policy decisions and the associated decision-making framework. How best to integrate risk and uncertainty into our monetary policy decisions and our communication is a key topic for our ongoing assessment of our monetary policy strategy.[12] We will publish our updated strategy in the second half of the year.
Source: Microsoft
Headline: The CEO’s guide to building a Frontier Firm
Illustration by Alex Robbins
Imagine stepping onto a steamship along the Hudson River in 1900, setting off on a transatlantic journey that will take a full week. You turn to a fellow passenger and say, “In just a few decades, this same trip will take seven hours—and we’ll do it in the sky.” You’d likely be met with polite disbelief, maybe even a chuckle. The idea would sound more like fantasy than foresight. And yet, that’s exactly what happened. What once seemed impossible quickly became the new normal.
And that’s about to happen with AI and business, but with once unimaginable progress compressed into a few years instead of decades. Many organizations are in the initial phase of AI transformation, with humans tapping AI as an assistant. Some have already reached the second phase, forming teams of humans and agents working together toward common goals.
But phase three, the Frontier Firm, where humans empower AI to become the operational engine of business—and agents become the primary producers of work—is harder to envision. It’s “imagining the impossible” territory. And the main barrier to getting there is not the limits of technology; it’s the challenge of imagining a totally new way to work and structure organizations, then figuring out how to execute that transformation.
The three phases of AI transformation
As we said last month in the 2025 Work Trend Index Annual Report, we see organizations moving through three phases on their way to becoming entirely new businesses, powered by intelligence on demand. Knowledge workers will no longer handle all knowledge work, with agents executing more and more of it. Human roles will refocus around vision, strategy, relationship building, and managing agents.
At Microsoft, we’re not just talking about this transformation—we’re living it. Our sales organization is actively navigating all three phases at once. By testing and scaling new tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Sales Chat, and our autonomous Sales Agent, we’re learning what works, where the friction points are, and how to evolve both our technology and our ways of working. These internal experiences are helping us refine the path forward—not just for ourselves, but for every organization on this journey.
“The core of what makes a good seller hasn’t changed,” says Pam Maynard, our Chief AI Transformation Officer for Microsoft Commercial. “They deeply understand the customer’s context, priorities, and pain points, and then map our solutions to those needs.” Increasingly, that will come from hybrid teams of humans + agents.
Phase 1: Human with assistant
Every employee uses AI as a personal assistant to work better and faster—writing, analyzing data, generating code. This is about productivity on a personal level rather than team or organizational. At scale, the impact means organizations working in the same way, using the same processes but more efficiently. In phase one, humans still drive the work.
For our sales organization, this step has focused on high-volume tasks: the administrative work that sellers often repeat dozens of times a day, like updating CRM records or taking meeting notes. “Copilot tackles the administrative minutiae so sellers can spend more time connecting with customers,” Maynard says.
The results? One sales team of nearly 700 people has already reported 9.4% higher revenue per person and 20% more deals closed compared to their peers with lower Copilot usage1—concrete gains that show how AI is driving real business outcomes.
Phase 2: Human-agent teams
Agents join the team as digital colleagues, taking on specific tasks at human direction—triaging support tickets, handling project management, facilitating meetings, contributing to brainstorming sessions. Agents boost efficiency and productivity at the team level, augment employees with new skills, and free them up to take on new, more valuable tasks.
At Microsoft, this shift is embodied in Sales Chat, an extension of Copilot that brings rich CRM and sales context directly into the seller’s workflow. Instead of toggling between dozens of tools to prepare for a customer meeting, sellers can now get instant access to detailed account and opportunity information, including licensing details, renewal timelines, and key decision-makers. It also surfaces high-level account summaries and revenue breakdowns, gives real-time coaching, and provides predictive insights to forecast deal outcomes and suggest next steps. “Before Sales Chat, sellers had to swivel between 20 different tools just to get the full picture,” Maynard says. “Now they can simply ask, ‘What do I need to know before my meeting with this customer?’ and get everything in one place. It points them straight to the highest-value action they can take.”
Phase 3: Human-led, agent-operated
Humans define strategy and assign goals to agents. These agents work mostly with other agents to perform complex operations, escalating issues to humans for guidance when necessary. Agents will design workflows and even evaluate one another. Humans will monitor their progress through dashboards that summarize agentic activities, intervening only for critical decisions. We’ll see the emergence of a new career opportunity for humans in the AI age: agent manager, charged with building, delegating to, and supervising digital colleagues.
Progress through these phases won’t necessarily be linear—many companies will find themselves in more than one at the same time—and there will be a “jagged frontier” of AI transformation as you roll out phase three approaches across projects and teams. That’s part of progress, after all—people crossed the Atlantic via steamship well beyond the dawn of the aviation age.
The phase 3 frontier
Letting go of a more hands-on human role in day-to-day operations will feel daunting—especially in these early days. And being the first mover will always feel risky, but granting machines such unprecedented autonomy requires a new level of trust in our tools, and an understanding of what they can and cannot do well.
But with a little imagination you can move forward boldly and with manageable risk by taking a step-by-step approach: experimenting on low-stakes projects, verifying that they’re working well, documenting your learnings, and then scaling them.
For example, many companies hire sales development representatives to do the necessary but repetitive work of prospecting potential customers. An agent can take on that entry-level job in a territory where you weren’t planning to hire a human anyway. It’s the difference between hiring a digital worker—and finding value in an otherwise uncovered market—or no worker at all.
Our sales team uses our new Sales Agent to handle exactly that type of work. It can research leads, set up meetings, and email customers. A human seller takes over when it’s time to close the deal, just like they would with any early-in-career sales development rep. (Eventually, the agent will be able to close the deal itself.)
We’ve started in our small-to-medium business segment, where the scale of opportunity far exceeds what human sellers can cover. “There is absolutely zero chance we could effectively cover that opportunity with humans,” Maynard says. “It’s not about replacing sellers—it’s about unlocking value that was previously out of reach.” Many of these customers are already using Microsoft products but haven’t had a direct relationship with a seller. Sales Agent changes that, proactively identifying needs, offering tailored solutions, and improving the customer experience in a way that’s both scalable and cost-effective. In just the past three months, the agent has reached out to 36,000 prospects to generate sales leads, converting 10.4% into sales opportunities.2
Phase three is still early days for us. Even so, the shift is already giving rise to a new concept: the AI territory. “In a traditional territory, you assign a seller. In an AI territory, you assign an agent that can operate independently and deliver value,” Maynard says. “It’s a new business model for scale.”
A new perspective on AI and trust
It’s well established that we readily accept the risks that come with human mistakes while holding machines to a much higher standard (self-driving cars, for example). In the context of business, we worry AI might say or do the wrong thing, though we tolerate these same flaws in people every day. This asymmetric risk tolerance deserves examination, especially since AI systems can already do much more than we let them.
Consider how OpenAI o3’s ability to reason has brought breathtaking progress on key intelligence benchmarks. With AI developing so rapidly, is it more of a risk to take a leap or to keep waiting? Remember: companies have countless systems in place to mitigate risk caused by humans, and they can and will develop them for AI as well.
What’s more, no company is traveling the path to becoming a Frontier Firm for its own sake. Phase three–style transformation won’t just impact organizational structures; it will also drive growth. As you progress through this journey, the cost of human labor will decrease while digital labor costs rise, albeit marginally. Over time, new revenue streams will emerge, leading to an overall increase in profit margins.
Phase three means moving from directing people to designing systems. Leadership, meanwhile, shifts beyond managing people to orchestrating performance. To get started, test a new approach: choose one process in an area of low risk and strong potential, and try making it agent-led.
Worrying about the unknown is understandable. But the real risk here is inaction. The groundbreaking Frontier Firms that will reimagine knowledge work and dominate their industries in the coming decade are already pulling ahead.
Source: GlobalData
ICON retains lead as most active CRO in Q1 2025, reveals GlobalData
Posted in Pharma
ICON maintains its place as the most active contract research organization (CRO) for Q1 2025 and Russia keeps its spot with the most clinical trials initiated in Europe despite the ongoing war with Ukraine, according to a report by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest report “Q1 2025 Clinical Trials: CRO, Sponsor & Country Winners,” reveals that France moved up its position from fourth place in Q1 2024 to second in the region.
Kathryn Kinch, Pharma Product Manager at GlobalData, comments: “AstraZeneca led among large- and mega-cap sponsors of drug trials. Oncology trials dominated the landscape, making up the largest share of new trials, with solid tumors as the most studied indication and pain leading in central nervous system research.”
The report also identifies the top 10 trial sites in North America, Europe, and the rest of the world based on the number of trials initiated. On a global scale, oncology was the leading therapeutic area of focus. 1,513 oncology-related clinical trials were either launched or scheduled to commence in Q1 2025. Following closely behind, central nervous system (CNS) diseases accounted for 1,421 trials, reflecting a robust commitment to addressing complex neurological challenges.
However, the quarter did see a slight dip in both oncology and CNS trials compared to the previous year, where 1,573 and 1,438 trials were recorded, respectively. Within oncology, solid tumors dominated the landscape with 1,194 trials, while pain management emerged as the most studied indication in the CNS category, boasting 671 trials.
The CRO Activity and Intel report is published on a quarterly basis. The data presented in this report reflects the database as of April 10, 2025.
Source: GlobalData
GlobalData highlights potential impact of US tariffs on medical tourism
Posted in Medical Devices
US trade policy has seen notable changes recently, particularly with regard to import tariffs on countries such as China. Though these policies are usually justified by economic and geopolitical considerations, they also impact other areas, including the medical device industry and, more specifically, medical tourism. One growing outcome is how these tariffs are affecting medical tourism—the practice of traveling to another country to receive healthcare services. As medical expenses continue to climb in the US, a growing number of patients are looking overseas for more cost-effective treatment options, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The US has imposed steep tariffs on a range of medical products imported from China, including syringes and needles, rubber medical and surgical gloves, and facemasks. These items are integral to a wide variety of medical procedures and daily healthcare operations. The imposition of tariffs on such goods has disrupted supply chains, constrained hospital procurement strategies, and driven up the cost of healthcare delivery across the US.
In response to these rising costs, a growing number of Americans are turning to medical tourism. Popular destinations include Mexico, India, Thailand, and Costa Rica, which offer competitive pricing and internationally accredited healthcare facilities. For example, the average cost of a knee replacement surgery in the US can exceed $50,000, but the same procedure in India or Mexico can be performed for $8000-$12,000. As US healthcare providers face increased operational costs due to tariffs – especially on imported surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, and protective gear – the price gap between domestic and international care continues to widen, creating a financial incentive for patients to consider treatment overseas.
Alexandra Murdoch, Senior Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “While the intended impact of tariffs may not have been to effect healthcare, they do shape patient behavior. The rise in the cost of medical devices ultimately leads to more out-of-pocket expenses for patients.”
US tariffs on medical imports are reshaping not only international trade relationships but also domestic healthcare economics. The direct result is an increase in the cost of medical care, which disproportionately affects uninsured and underinsured populations. One of the most notable responses to these price pressures has been a rise in outbound medical tourism. Patients are seeking high-quality, affordable care in countries that are not impacted by these tariffs — a trend that is likely to continue if current trade and healthcare cost trajectories remain unchanged.
Murdoch concludes: “This dynamic highlights a deeper connection between global trade policy and patient access to care. As the US continues to adjust its economic strategy, it will be important for policymakers and healthcare leaders to consider the downstream impacts on medical accessibility, affordability, and patient behavior.”
For further information on trade and tariff developments, GlobalData’s Strategic Intelligence platform offers comprehensive insights.
Source: GlobalData
Coinbase’s S&P 500 inclusion sparks optimism among influencers about cryptocurrency future, reveals GlobalData
Posted in Business Fundamentals
Coinbase Global Inc. has garnered significant attention among social media influencers in the middle of May 2025, following the announcement of its upcoming inclusion in the S&P 500 index, marking the first instance of a cryptocurrency company being represented in this widely followed market benchmark. The shift from niche status to institutional recognition reflects a broader trend of digital assets gaining traction within established financial frameworks. Influencers widely regard this development as a pivotal endorsement of the cryptocurrency sector’s legitimacy and its progressive integration into mainstream financial markets, reveals the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Shreyasee Majumder, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The overall sentiment remains notably optimistic, with influencers expressing strong confidence in Coinbase’s strategic positioning and long-term potential. Several influencers interpret Coinbase’s milestone as indicative of the broader technological disruption reshaping traditional finance.”
Below are a few popular influencer opinions captured by GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform:
“Coinbase is now the first crypto company in the S&P. My favorite line: “Since going public… Coinbase has become a bigger part of the U.S. financial system” It makes me happy knowing that starting Monday, even people who despise crypto will now own a piece of the industry.”
“Coinbase now in the S&P 500 stacking ETH with its L2. Robinhood acquired an L2 that hasn’t launched yet. Every serious dev and company thinking about app chains. Now watch the VC chains all pivot to an L2 strategy.”
“Let’s unpack what this actually means:1. Institutional adoption just hit warp speed Every S&P 500 index fund must now buy Coinbase shares. Vanguard, BlackRock, Fidelity all buy crypto exposure through the index.”
“Coinbase joining the S&P 500 will spur a new wave of interest in crypto and they’re all going to see that Coinbase is building the future of their business on Ethereum, and hold ETH as a substantial treasury asset but it’s probably nothing…”
Source: APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
Trade ministers from the 21 APEC member economies met in Jeju, Republic of Korea, for the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, chaired by Korean Minister of Trade Cheong Inkyo.
The meeting concluded with the issuance of a joint statement, reaffirming the commitment to addressing economic challenges facing the region and to creating a more resilient and prosperous Asia-Pacific through strengthened economic cooperation.
The joint statement underscores APEC’s recognition of the importance of the World Trade Organization (WTO), commitment to advancing digital transformation and promotion of the prosperity through sustainable trade.
Ministers emphasized the importance of APEC as the premier forum for regional economic cooperation and recognized its role in bringing economies together to address the economic challenges facing the region. They also recognized the importance of the WTO and the need for meaningful, necessary and comprehensive reform to improve all its functions.
Ministers also discussed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in trade facilitation, opportunities for deeper economic integration including through the work on Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) agenda and the importance of sustainable supply chains.
The meeting in Jeju reflects APEC’s ongoing efforts to respond to global uncertainties with practical cooperation and forward-looking policy coordination.
Read the 2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement
Also read the 2025 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Statement of the Chair
Source: Samsung
Solve for Tomorrow 2025: Nudging young minds to see problems as opportunities and innovation as a way of life
A quiet revolution is underway. With Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Season 4 in full swing, India’s youth is rising to the challenge with ideas that aim to transform lives, communities, and the country.
After a successful launch earlier this year, the programme has now entered a dynamic phase: Design Thinking Workshops for school students and Open House sessions for college innovators. These events are not just about learning, they are about sparking a mindset shift, nudging young minds to see problems as opportunities and innovation as a way of life.
With roadshows already underway in nine cities – New Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ranchi and Sonepat, the excitement is palpable. Thousands of students from 20 schools and colleges have participated so far. And this is just the beginning. Samsung plans to take this initiative to every corner of India, including the North East.
“Solve for Tomorrow is important because it gives students the tools and mindset to identify real problems around them and create practical, innovative solutions, something traditional classrooms often miss,” said Dr. Ashish Dwivedi, a faculty member at O.P. Jindal Global University, which recently hosted a Design Thinking Open House.
At the university, curious students spent the day immersed in the design thinking process. The energy in the room was electric. Ideas were born, problems dissected, and visions shared. The students emerged inspired, transformed, and ready to take on the world.
“It helped turn a vague idea into a clearer, actionable solution,” said Aditya Naresh, a student at O.P. Jindal Global University.
Similarly, another student, Riddhima Sharma said that she learnt how to work in a team and listen to different perspectives while solving a problem.
In schools, the Design Thinking Workshops from Samsung left an equally indelible mark.
Young minds at work during a Design Thinking Workshop at a school
“The workshop conducted by Samsung and FITT-IIT Delhi has been really insightful,” said Surbhi, a teacher at ITL Public School, Delhi. “Many students from the first batch have already approached me for help with the application process.”
At Mother’s Mary School in Delhi, the girls of Classes 9 and 10 are dreaming big.
Aanya, for instance, wants to build an AI-powered app to help design sustainable homes, while Kritika is working on an eco-friendly Kindle to replace school textbooks. Interestingly, Kriti, a Class 12 student, is exploring safer menstrual products to prevent cervical cancer, all under Solve for Tomorrow’s key themes.
The passion to solve and lead, is just about as fierce among college students.
“There are many problems in the world but very few solvers,” said R. Deepika, a Business Analytics student at University of Hyderabad. “This workshop made me want to be one of them.”
“It’s helped me figure out how to build a startup and chalk out my ideas better,” said Sawan Kesari from the BA programme at University of Hyderabad. “I want to improve diagnostic services in rural India through telemedicine.”
With roadshows already underway in nine cities, the excitement is palpable as students queue up to apply for Solve for Tomorrow 2025
The clarity and purpose with which these students are identifying community problems is nothing short of inspiring. Whether it’s Aditya’s mission to make clean drinking water accessible in rural areas, Riddhima’s drive to tackle plastic waste, Prerna’s dream of assistive devices for visually impaired students, every idea echoes the larger purpose of Solve for Tomorrow, to empower the next generation of changemakers.
“Our students are eager to connect with mentors and experts through Solve for Tomorrow to bring their ideas to life.” said Poonam Verma, Principal of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.
The application window for the initiative will be open till June 30, 2025.
After the initial application phase, the top 100 teams will be chosen, with 25 teams selected from each of the themes. At this stage, participants will undergo online training led by thematic experts, followed by a video pitch round where 40 teams will be shortlisted – 10 teams from each theme.
With thousands of students now engaged and more joining each week, Solve for Tomorrow is no longer just a competition, it’s a national innovation movement.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated May 13, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹50 lakh (Rupees Fifty Lakh only) on Deutsche Bank AG, India (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Creation of a Central Repository of Large Common Exposures-Across Banks’ read with ‘Central Repository of lnformation on Large Credits (CRlLC) – Revision in Reporting’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2024) of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty: The bank did not report credit information of certain borrowers to Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC). The action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2025-2026/356 |
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated May 16, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹29,60,000 (Rupees Twenty-Nine Lakh Sixty Thousand only) on Yes Bank Limited (the bank) for non-compliance with certain directions issued by RBI on ‘Financial Statements Presentation and Disclosures’. This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE 2024) of the bank was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024. Based on supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the said directions. After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty: The bank did not disclose correct and complete information about customer complaints in its Annual Financial Statements for the financial year 2023-24. The action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2025-2026/355 |
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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The Reserve Bank of India had issued Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Co-operative Bank Ltd., Nashik, Maharashtra vide Directive No. DCBS.CO.BSD-I/D-7/12.22.395/2017-18 dated May 18, 2018 for a period of six months up to the close of business on November 18, 2018. The same were modified from time to time and were last extended up to the close of business on May 17, 2025. 2. After reviewing the financial position of the bank, the Reserve Bank of India on being satisfied that in the public interest it is necessary to do so and in exercise of the powers vested in it under sub-section (2) of Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 hereby withdraws the Directions issued to Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Co-operative Bank Ltd., Nashik, Maharashtra with effect from the close of business on May 16, 2025. (Puneet Pancholy) Press Release: 2025-2026/349 |
Source: Bank of Botswana
Headline inflation decreased from 2.8 percent in March to 2.3 percent in April 2025, remaining below the lower bound of the medium-term objective range of 3 – 6 percent, and was lower than the 3.1 percent recorded in April 2024. The decrease in inflation between March and April 2025 was mainly on account of the deceleration in the rate of annual price changes of the transport category, emanating from the base effects associated with the increase in domestic fuel prices in April 2024, which increased headline inflation by 0.48 percentage points. Price movements were broadly stable for most categories of goods and services. Similarly, the 16 percent trimmed mean inflation decreased from 2.5 percent to 2.3 percent while inflation excluding administered prices increased marginally from 4 percent to 4.1 percent, between March and April 2025.
Inflation for domestic tradeables remained constant at 4.9 percent between March and April 2025. On the other hand, inflation for imported tradeables decreased significantly from 2.4 percent to 1.2 percent over the same period, mainly on account of base effects associated with the increase in domestic fuel prices in April 2024. Consequently, all tradeables inflation fell from 3 percent to 2.2 percent between March and April 2025. Meanwhile, inflation for non-tradeables remained constant at 2.5 percent in the same period
Source: Reserve Bank of India
RBI/2025-2026/37
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 05/2025-26
May 16, 2025
All Category – I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam/Sir
Exim Bank’s GOI-supported Line of Credit (LOC) for USD 700 million
to the Govt. of Mongolia (GO-MNG), for financing construction of
Crude Oil Refinery Plant in Mongolia
Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has entered into an agreement dated January 16, 2025, with the Government of Mongolia (GO-MNG), for making available to the latter, Government of India supported Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 700 Mn(USD Seven Hundred Million only) for financing construction of Crude Oil Refinery Plant in Mongolia.
2. The export of eligible goods and services from India, as defined under the agreement, would be allowed, subject to their eligibility under the Foreign Trade Policy of the Government of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank under this agreement.
3. The Agreement under the LoC is effective from May 06, 2025. Under the LoC, the last date for disbursement will be 48 months after scheduled completion date of the contract.
4. Shipments under the LoC shall be declared in Export Declaration Form/Shipping Bill as per instructions issued by the Reserve Bank from time to time.
5. No agency commission is payable for export under the above LoC. However, if required, the exporter may use his own resources or utilize balances in his Exchange Earners’ Foreign Currency Account for payment of commission in any foreign currency. Authorised Dealer (AD) Category-I banks may allow such remittance after realization of full eligible value of export, subject to compliance with the extant instructions for payment of agency commission.
6. AD Category – I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their exporter constituents and advise them to obtain complete details of the LoC from the Exim Bank’s office at Centre One, Floor 21, World Trade Centre Complex, Cuffe Parade, Mumbai 400 005 or from their website www.eximbankindia.in.
7. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under section 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions/ approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully
(N Senthil Kumar)
Chief General Manager
Source: Huawei
Headline: World’s First Fleet of 100 5G-A Autonomous Electric Mining Trucks Launched at Yimin Mine
[Hulunbuir, China, May 15, 2025] A fleet of 100 Huaneng Ruichi autonomous electric mining trucks, the first of its kind in the world, has officially entered operation at the Yimin open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia, China.
Powered by a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, the mine became the world’s first open-pit mine to achieve large-scale vehicle-cloud-network synergy, which has greatly improved production safety and set a new benchmark for intelligent mining.
As coal is China’s primary energy source and key to its energy strategy, the country has been driving the transition towards a high-end, intelligent, and green coal industry. To this end, China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. (China Huaneng) has partnered with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles Co., Ltd. on a joint innovation project to develop the world’s first zero-carbon, autonomous, and intelligent open-pit mine transportation system, which pioneers high-quality industry development.
Dignitaries at the launch event of the fleet of 100 Huaneng Ruichi autonomous electric mining trucks
Li Shuxue, Chairman of Huaneng Inner Mongolia Eastern Energy Co., Ltd., stated at a launch event in Hulunbuir (Inner Mongolia) on May 15th that the company is actively working to drive an energy transition in mining transportation. As a key part of these efforts, it is replacing fuel vehicles with electric ones to build safe, intelligent, and green mines.
Li Shuxue, Chairman of Huaneng Inner Mongolia Eastern Energy Co., Ltd., speaking at the launch event
Supported by technological innovations, the Huaneng Ruichi autonomous electric mining trucks are industry-leading in several areas: Each truck can carry a load of 90 metric tons and operate continually in extreme cold of –40°C, while delivering 120% of the comprehensive operational efficiency of a manually-driven truck. In addition, Huawei Cloud provides the Commercial Vehicle Autonomous Driving Cloud Service (CVADCS) that uses a crowdsourced map for real-time operational location updates. This enables fast route optimization, reduces waiting times, and improves operational efficiency, maximizing the strengths of collaborative truck fleet operations.
Furthermore, as the first autonomous mining truck in China without a driver’s cabin, Huaneng Ruichi places personnel safety above all else, keeping them away from equipment hazards and harsh environments to greatly reduce related risks. It is a paramount challenge to safeguard personnel and equipment safety while improving productivity in extreme working conditions such as freezing temperatures at high altitudes, and heavy rain, snow, and dust. Addressing such challenges places high requirements on data processing and system collaboration capabilities.
Zhang Ping’an, Executive Director of Huawei and CEO of Huawei’s Cloud Computing Business Unit, noted that Huawei has provided AI algorithms for open-pit mining. These algorithms enable precise sensing for autonomous vehicles and efficient collaboration on the cloud, which is uniquely suited to accelerating the coal mining industry’s transition from manual to intelligent operations. This success case is an example of how digital and intelligent technologies can drive the high-quality development of the coal mining industry. It is not only a lighthouse project that demonstrates China’s innovative integration of 5G, cloud, AI, and new energy technologies, but an exploration into how AI can be used to tackle pressing challenges in specific industry scenarios.
Zhang Ping’an, Executive Director of Huawei and CEO of Huawei’s Cloud Computing Business Unit, speaking at the launch event
The 5G-A network is deployed in the Yimin mining area to provide precise network coverage for autonomous driving routes, achieving smooth vehicle-cloud synergy. It is the world’s first open-pit mine powered by 5G-A, featuring 500 Mbps uplink and 20 ms latency, and providing solid network support for HD video backhaul and cloud-based dispatching of autonomous mining trucks. In the future, 5G-A coverage will support 24/7 operations of more than 300 autonomous mining trucks in the mining area, further improving safety and efficiency.
Onsite operations of the autonomous electric mining trucks at the Yimin open-pit mine
Moving forward, Huawei will work alongside partners like China Huaneng, XCMG, and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles Co., Ltd. to transform and upgrade mine-transportation equipment, and build safe, efficient, green, and zero-carbon intelligent mines. Together, they will continue to draw on the successful experience of the Yimin mine to facilitate digital and intelligent transformation of the global energy industry.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
BANGKOK, 16 May 2025 – Senior officials of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the 29th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue held today in Bangkok.
The Meeting acknowledged the positive momentum of ASEAN-ROK cooperation following the establishment of the CSP in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of Dialogue Relations in 2024. Substantive progress has been achieved across a wide range of areas of cooperation under the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (POA) 2021-2025, including political and security cooperation, trade and investment, digital transformation, tourism, energy, environment, disaster management, education, culture, youth and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides looked forward to the finalisation of the successor POA for the term 2026–2030, which is expected to be adopted by the Foreign Ministers of both sides in July 2025 during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the ROK.
The ROK expressed its support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and priorities this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. The ROK also affirmed its continued support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN Centrality, including the implementation of the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future that will be adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit.
ASEAN and the ROK renewed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under the CSP. Focus will be placed on key areas such as trade and investment, including through the upgrade of the ASEAN-ROK Free Trade Are (AKFTA), digital transformation, cybersecurity, clean energy, ASEAN Power Grid, smart cities, climate change and environmental, education and youth empowerment, and narrowing the development gap. ASEAN welcomed the ROK’s implementation of various initiatives under the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) to further enhance cooperation.
Both sides also agreed to continue advancing practical cooperation in the four priority areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), in accordance with the Joint Statement on Cooperation on the AOIP adopted at the 24th ASEAN-ROK Summit in 2023.
The Meeting exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the situations on the Korean Peninsula, in South China Sea, in Myanmar, in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation amidst the ongoing global uncertainties, including the need to uphold multilateralism and the open and free trading system.
The 29th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SOM Leader of Thailand, Eksiri Pintaruchi, and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, SOM Leader of the ROK, Chung Byung-won. It was attended by Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
The post ASEAN, Republic of Korea pledged to enhance comprehensive strategic partnership appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2025-2026/341 |
Source: – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Canadian industry urges Carney cabinet to drive transition with ‘ambition and action
Fernando Melo, federal director of policy and government affairs at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, which represents almost 350 companies in the wind, solar and energy storage sectors, said the government must first ensure the clean economy tax credit is “finalized and improved.” Read more.
The post Canadian industry urges Carney cabinet to drive transition with ‘ambition and action appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
Source: – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: Pipelines? CCS? Clean Energy? All of the Above? Carney Statements Fuel Anxiety, Optimism
Fernando Melo, federal director – policy and government affairs at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association, agreed that “if you look at the Liberal Party platform, there were quite a few mentions of renewable electricity and electricity storage in there—including in the proposal to make Canada an ‘energy superpower’. Not being mentioned in every media interview doesn’t worry me or CanREA’s members.” Read more.
The post Pipelines? CCS? Clean Energy? All of the Above? Carney Statements Fuel Anxiety, Optimism appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
Source: – Press Release/Statement:
Headline: NEWS RELEASE: Net-Zero Quebec Summit gains momentum
Second annual CanREA Summit a major event for Quebec’s energy transition.
Montréal, May 15, 2025 – Drawing more than 220 attendees, the second edition of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) Net-Zero Quebec Summit, presented by Desjardins, was a great success in Montréal today.
“The CanREA Net-Zero Quebec Summit is a major opportunity for Quebec’s renewable energy industry, serving as a hub for discussions about the energy transition needed for the province to achieve net zero by 2050,” said Jean Habel, Senior Director, Québec and Atlantic Canada, CanREA. “Harnessing this energy will allow Quebecers to be more self-sufficient, greener and more prosperous.”
The day centred around in-depth discussions on the economic realities of the energy transition, including supply chain pressures, greater competition and the economic impact of decarbonization.
Discussions also focused on renewable energy projects in Quebec, particularly challenges and best practices for optimizing the rollout of energy transition projects in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Desjardins is proud to support Net-Zero Quebec, a key event for Quebec’s energy transition. This Summit presents a unique platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities relevant to the energy transition. We are determined to play an active role in providing innovative financial services and supporting initiatives that promote autonomy, prosperity and sustainability. Together, we can build a greener and more resilient Quebec,” said Mathieu Talbot, Vice President, Business Services Group and Corporate Banking, Desjardins.
The event opened with “Indigenous Communities: Essential Actors in the Energy Transition.” This inclusive panel focused on how the renewable energy and energy storage industries must commit to continuously improving their approaches to ensure that their plans align with the priorities of Indigenous communities. CanREA was thrilled to hear from panellists Chief Paul Rice from the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:kes, Jean Roy, Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Kruger, and Grand Chief Jacques Tremblay of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, who took part in the insightful conversation.
This was a special opportunity to enrich the conversation and educate participants about how best to work together toward implementing renewable energy across Quebec.
Later, CanREA was pleased to welcome Dave Rhéaume, Executive Vice President – Commercial Activities and Chief Customer Officer at Hydro-Québec, for a discussion on solar energy development in Quebec. The discussion was moderated by Jean-Hugues Lapointe, Partner and Project Director, Energy and Resources, Power System Studies at CIMA+.
Other highlights included an enlightening discussion on Quebec’s energy advantage and a vision for the future with Philippe Dunsky, President of Dunsky Energy + Climate, moderated by Eva Lotta Schmidt, Head of Global Sustainability at ENERCON.
An inspiring discussion was also held with Stéphane Labrie, President, Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec (CPTAQ), moderated by Étienne Chabot, General Manager, Electricity for the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie.
“The panels and discussions at the Summit sparked vital conversations and broadened the knowledge of everyone who attended, which will help to accelerate Quebec’s energy transition,” says Habel.
CanREA would like to thank all of the participants, moderators and speakers who helped make the Summit a success. It would also like to extend a special thanks to its presenting sponsor, Desjardins, and to all of the sponsors for this event, including Amazon Web Services and EDF Renewables.
Photos
PHOTO: Net Zero Quebec 2025’s opening panel, “Indigenous communities: Essential actors in the energy transition,” examined how Quebec’s renewable energy and energy storage industries can align their plans with the priorities of Indigenous communities. From left to right: Moderator Émilie Sénéchal (Hydro Quebec), Jean Roy (Kruger Energy), Chief Paul Rice (Mohawk Council of Kahnawá:ke), Grand Chef Jacques Tremblay (Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation).
Quotes
“The CanREA Net-Zero Quebec Summit is a major opportunity for Quebec’s renewable energy industry, serving as a hub for discussions about the energy transition needed for the province to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Harnessing this energy will allow Quebecers to be more self-sufficient, greener and more prosperous. The panels and discussions at the Summit sparked vital conversations and broadened the knowledge of everyone who attended, which will help to accelerate Quebec’s energy transition.”
—Jean Habel, Senior Director, Québec and Atlantic Canada, CanREA
“Desjardins is proud to support Net-Zero Quebec, a key event for Quebec’s energy transition. This Summit presents a unique platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities relevant to the energy transition. We are determined to play an active role in providing innovative financial services and supporting initiatives that promote autonomy, prosperity and sustainability. Together, we can build a greener and more resilient Quebec.”
—Mathieu Talbot, Vice President, Business Services Group and Corporate Banking, Desjardins
For media interviews, please contact:
Bridget Wayland, Senior Director of CommunicationsCanadian Renewable Energy Association communications@renewablesassociation.ca
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. For more information on how Canada can use wind energy, solar energy and energy storage to help achieve its net-zero commitments, consult “Powering Canada’s Journey to Net-Zero: CanREA’s 2050 Vision.” Follow us on Bluesky and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter here. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.
The post NEWS RELEASE: Net-Zero Quebec Summit gains momentum appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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Source: ASEAN
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community, Satvinder Singh, attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Jeju, South Korea, under the theme: “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.”
Representing the ASEAN Secretariat as an official observer, DSG Satvinder highlighted ASEAN’s initiatives in digital transformation, AI governance, and sustainable trade, among others. He reaffirmed ASEAN’s support for a rules-based multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core. Looking ahead, he underscored ASEAN’s commitment to deepening cooperation with APEC to advance supply chain resilience and advocate for an inclusive and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific.
Earlier this week, ASEAN Secretariat officials also participated in the Second Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2). ASEAN’s active engagement reflects its commitment to deepening regional cooperation with APEC on shared priorities such as supply chain resilience, sustainable trade, and inclusive economic growth.
Photo Credit: ASEAN Secretariat
The post Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community Highlights AI, Sustainable Trade in APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Reserve Bank of India
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In the underwriting auction conducted on May 16, 2025, for Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) of the undernoted Government securities, the Reserve Bank of India has set the cut-off rates for underwriting commission payable to Primary Dealers as given below:
Ajit Prasad Press Release: 2025-2026/340 |
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Source: African Development Bank Group
Climate change has made water stress increasingly acute on the African continent in recent decades. The situation is particularly challenging in North Africa, where several strategic sectors, including tourism, depend on a steady supply of water to survive and develop. Water resources will surely be a recurrent theme at the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank, which are to be held in Abidjan from 26 to 30 May 2025 under the banner, “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development”.
Tourism is a vital economic resource for the ancient town of Zagora, dramatically positioned at the gateway to the desert. But tourism depends on a natural resource –water, without which there would be no hotels, no lush gardens nestled in the courtyards of the riads (traditional urban houses), no artisans, and none of the amenities and attractions that bring thousands of visitors to the town each year in search of exotic relaxation.
Water stress has been a growing concern for Zagora’s people and businesses. As Saïd Elberkaoui, who has managed the town’s Riad Lamane hotel for the last five years, explained: “Water is a treasure but two years ago it grew scarce. If the situation had continued and intensified, it could have affected tourism.”
Nestled in the heart of a palm grove, Riad Lamane offers high-quality services and must ensure that all of its amenities, from rooms to garden to restaurant, are perfectly maintained to satisfy its customers. Scarcity of water was a clear threat to the smooth operation and even the existence of the hotel: “I was fearful that tourists would stop coming and my employees would lose their jobs,” Saïd Elberkaoui says.
Investments that are changing the game
Recognising the scale of the problem, the Moroccan government has taken timely action. accelerating investments in infrastructure to secure and reinforce drinking water supplies throughout the Kingdom.
In the province of Zagora, the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) has completed the construction of a water treatment plant and a 127-kilometre drinking water supply system. The project, with total cost of over €55 million, was financed by a loan from the African Development Bank. Combined with water conservation and optimization measures, this forward-looking policy has benefited nearly 300,000 people. The towns of Zagora, Agdez, and the surrounding villages now have adequate supplies of this most precious resource.
For Firdaous Allouli, a cook at Riad Lamane, a secure water supply means fewer problems in her day-to-day work. “My kitchen runs better, we are more efficient, and we can respond better to customer requests. We can do more,” she says happily.
Water security promises a secure future for the tourism industry and gives it the potential to grow. As Saïd Elberkaoui says: “It is an extra reason to develop the riad and perhaps to recruit staff.”
However, the improvements in the province of Zagora do not resolve the problem for Morocco as a whole, which continues to suffer from declining water resources. The public authorities are addressing the issue through the National Programme for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI 2020-2027), which brings together and unites the capacities of all stakeholders who can help to resolve this complex equation.
The African Development Bank has been working in partnership with ONEE since the late 1970s. The Bank has contributed to major infrastructure projects to strengthen and secure access to water, which have improved water systems in nearly 30 Moroccan cities, providing for the water needs of more than 15 million people.
The Kingdom has invested more than €1.2 billion to ensure adequate supplies of water. Achraf Hassan Tarsim, Country Manager for Morocco at the African Development Bank, expects further joint work to address remaining challenges. “The urgent need today is to take action where water is starting to run out. We have been, are and will continue to stand alongside Morocco, meeting the water challenge together with our long-standing partner, the National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water,” Mr Tarsim said.
Source: African Development Bank Group
Under the glow of solar streetlights, Aichatou Alkassoum marvels at the Djibo Bakary Bridge in Farié, Niger. “At night, it’s like a modern Niamey street,” she says, her voice bright with pride. A leader in Delewa’s School Management Committee, she calls it “the Bridge of Renewal.”
Previously, crossing the Niger River here meant hours waiting for a shaky ferry under a blazing sun. Since January 2021, this 640-meter bridge, part of the African Development Bank’s Trans-Saharan Road Project-TSRP, has cut travel time, linking Kourthèye and Gothèye with three km of paved roads and 180 solar lamps. Funded with $23 million from the Bank’s $125 million TSRP commitment, it’s a lifeline for trade across an enormous 9,022 km of land connecting the three countries of Niger to Algeria and Nigeria.
The African Development Bank’s $1.2 billion project in Niger fuels this change. In Maradi, Hachimou Abou Moussam a farmerm once planned to move to Niamey to flee a constant struggle. Then the Water Mobilization Project for Food Security – PMERSA-MTZ ($13 million since 2011) gave him two wells, pumps, and irrigation pipes. “I grow niébé year-round now,” he says. Across Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder, PMERSA-MTZ built 47 dams, 74 wells, and 273 km of rural tracks, irrigating 18,000 hectares. Crop yields jumped 94 percent, and Hachimou’s income rose by $680 yearly, rooting him home.
In Diffa, Arzika Assoumane, director of Kalmaharo Vocational School, credits the Vocational and Technical Education Support Project– PADEFPT, ($47 million since 2010). “We went from 300 students to over 1,000,” he beams. With 474 classrooms built nationwide, 21,000 students trained, and girls’ enrolment up from 2.2 percent to 8.4 percent by 2020, PADEFPT bridges skills to jobs. “The African Development Bank changed our lives,” Arzika says.
Imagine the transformative power of light. The Niger Rural, Peri-Urban, and Urban Electrification Project ($68 million since 2017) project, did not only expand the Gorou Banda power plant to 100 MW, a 25% increase in available capacity, but also forging connections to 68,400 families, exceeding the ambitious targets by 150%. Now, with the Desert to Power-Project for the Development of Solar Power Plants and Improvement of Access to Electricity ($131 million, since in 2022), Niger is taking a leap towards sustainable energy, adding 30 MW of renewable capacity and bringing the life-changing power of electricity to 800,000 people.
The Kandadji Ecosystems Program– PA-KRESMIN ($126 million since 2019) irrigates fields and powers 630,000 people. Together, these efforts, backed by $740 million disbursed, turn Niger’s land and people into strength. As Chief Amadou Boubacar notes, TSRP’s 16 classrooms and wells in Farié echo this: “Our market and health centre boost incomes.”
The Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Project – TSB in Niger (43 million EUR since 2016) is laying over 1,000 km of high-speed fiber optic network linking Niger with Algeria, Nigeria, Tchad, Benin, and Burkina Faso. In Agadez, where high-speed connectivity was once a luxury, young entrepreneurs will be able to run online businesses from their smartphones.
It seems an age ago now when the internet was too slow to send a photo. Soon, farmers, small businesses, and artists from Arlit will take orders from Niamey, or even better, Algiers or Lagos. The project is transforming access to education, government services, and markets for thousands in previously disconnected regions. Beyond a cable, it is a pathway to opportunity, inclusion, and innovation in one of Africa’s growing economies.
Yet, with a $402 billion continental gap, more is needed. Aichatou dreams of wider bridges, literally and figuratively. The African Development Bank’s smart cash builds resilience, one bridge, one harvest, one optic fiber, and one classroom at a time.
Source: African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank Group is pleased to announce its upcoming Business Opportunities Seminar (BOS), taking place on 29 May 2025 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on the sidelines of its Annual Meetings. The event will be livestreamed on the Bank’s YouTube and LinkedIn channels.
Source: Verizon
Headline: Verizon’s Red Hot Deal Days are back with the season’s biggest sale: phones, watches, tablets and more, on us
NEW YORK – Verizon just announced its hottest deals of the season with “Red Hot Deal Days,” from May 15 through May 28. As the first and only provider in the industry offering all new and existing myPlan and myHome customers a three-year price lock guarantee, Verizon is committed to providing its customers peace of mind and big savings.
“We’re providing our best deals and value as a thank you for our customers,” said Sowmyanaran Sampath, Verizon Consumer CEO. “Price, value and savings are top of mind for people today – every dollar counts. That’s why we’re proud to offer these deals as an added benefit alongside our three year price lock. We’re not just meeting expectations; we’re setting a new standard for what customers should expect from their mobile and home internet provider.”
This year for Red Hot Deal Days, new and existing mobile customers can score a smartphone, watch, and tablet with ANY myPlan, on us, plus Ray Ban Meta glasses with select Unlimited plans. So, whether you want the iPhone 16 Pro, the Samsung Galaxy S25+ or the Google Pixel 9 Pro – there’s a deal for you, ALL ON US! AND new home internet customers can get a $400 credit on select Samsung home tech at Best Buy and more. This special event has something for everyone, featuring incredible deals on the latest tech accessories, from Father’s Day gifts to graduation gifts, to travel essentials for vacation and more. It’s the perfect lead-up to summer!
Verizon mobile customers who upgrade or add a line on ANY myPlan can enjoy one of three mobile bundles with select phone trade-in and service plan for watch and tablet, plus Ray-Ban Meta Glasses (Up to $299, for those who add a new line on Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plans):
New Verizon Home Internet customers who sign up for select plans can enjoy:
And for a limited time, save even more by getting 25% cash back as a statement credit when you use your Verizon Visa® Card on eligible electronic and accessory purchases at Verizon.
Stay up to date and explore all the latest deals from Verizon by visiting your local Verizon retail store or verizon.com/deals/.
Samsung Home Tech: Offer valid thru 5.28.25 for a $400 credit via promo code to be used toward the single item purchase of select Samsung home tech (eligible TVs, appliances, laptops, tablets, monitors, and speakers) with a minimum retail price of $800. Product selection may vary. Offer not valid on Samsung smartphones. For new home internet customers who install eligible Verizon Home Internet services and redeem w/in 30 days thereafter, or by no later than 7.27.25, whichever is first. Promo code must be redeemed online at bestbuy.com/verizonsamsungpromotion. Verizon reserves the right to charge back the value of the Samsung credit if eligible service is canceled w/in 180 days. One offer per eligible Verizon account, while supplies last. Samsung and related trademarks are owned by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Verizon is not affiliated with Best Buy. Purchase, delivery, installation, and other charges are the subject to Best Buy’s terms & conditions.
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses: Mobile: Offer valid through 5.28.25 for select Ray-Ban Meta glasses, with retail value up to $299, w/ purchase of eligible smartphone on device payment w/new smartphone line on postpaid Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plan. Must maintain eligible services for 30 days and redeem offer w/in 60 days thereafter, or by no later than 09.25.25, whichever is first. Glasses redeemed on Meta.com. Verizon reserves the right to charge back the value of the Ray-Ban Meta promotional device(s) if eligible service is canceled w/in 180 days or eligibility req’s are no longer met. Limit 1 offer per Verizon account. While supplies last. Home: Offer valid through 5.28.25 for select Ray-Ban Meta glasses, with retail value up to $299. For new home internet customers who activate/install and maintain eligible 5G Home Plus, LTE Home Plus, Fios 2 Gig or Fios 1 Gig internet services in good standing for 65 days and redeem offer w/in 60 days thereafter, or by no later than 10.30.25, whichever is first. Glasses redeemed on Meta.com. Verizon reserves the right to charge back the value of the Ray-Ban Meta promotional device(s) if eligible service is canceled w/in 180 days. Limit 1 offer per Verizon account. While supplies last.
(Apple) Phone: $999.99 (128 GB only) device payment purchase w/new or upgrade smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate, postpaid Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan (min. $65/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d. Less $1,000 trade-in/promo credit applied over 36 mos.; 0% APR. For upgrades, trade-in phone must be active on account for 60 days prior to new device purchase. Trade-in must be from Apple, Google, Motorola or Samsung; trade-in terms apply. Apple Intelligence requires iOS 18.1 or later. Apple Watch/iPad: Up to $499.99 device payment purchase w/new line on eligible plan (min. $20/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d per Apple Watch/iPad. Less up to $500 promo credit per device applied over 36 mos; 0% APR. All promo credits for iPhone/Apple Watch/iPad offers end if eligibility req’s per device are no longer met.
(Google) Phone: $999.99 (128 GB only) device payment purchase w/new or upgrade smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate, postpaid Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan (min. $65/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d. Less $1,000 trade-in/promo credit applied over 36 mos.; 0% APR. For upgrades, trade-in phone must be active on account for 60 days prior to new device purchase. Trade-in must be from Google, Apple, Motorola or Samsung; trade-in terms apply. Tablet/Watch: Up to $599.99 device payment purchase w/new line on eligible plan (min. $20/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d per Tablet/Watch. Less up to $600 promo credit per device applied over 36 mos; 0% APR. All promo credits for Phone/Watch/Tablet offers end if eligibility req’s per device are no longer met.
(Samsung) Phone: $999.99 (256 GB only) device payment purchase w/new or upgrade smartphone line on Unlimited Ultimate, postpaid Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan (min. $65/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d. Less $1,000 trade-in/promo credit applied over 36 mos.; 0% APR. For upgrades, trade-in phone must be active on account for 60 days prior to new device purchase. Trade-in must be from Samsung, Apple, Google or Motorola; trade-in terms apply. Tablet/Watch: Up to $649.99 device payment purchase w/new line on eligible plan (min. $20/mo w/Auto Pay (+taxes/fees) for 36 mos) req’d per Tablet/Watch. Less up to $650 promo credit per device applied over 36 mos; 0% APR. All promo credits for Phone/Watch/Tablet offers end if eligibility req’s per device are no longer met.
Price Guarantee: myPlan: Applies to the then-current base monthly rate charged by Verizon for your talk, text, and data; excludes taxes, fees, surcharges, additional plan discounts or promotions, and third-party services. Price guarantee is void if any of the lines are canceled or moved to an ineligible plan. Plan perks, taxes, fees, and surcharges are subject to change.
myHome: Price guarantee for 3-5 years, depending on internet plan, for new and existing myHome customers. Applies only to the then-current base monthly rate exclusive of any other setup and additional equipment charges, discounts or promotions, plan perk and any other third-party services.
YouTube Premium: Offer valid thru 5.28.25. Requires an eligible Verizon Home Internet (“VHI”) plan. $10/mo perk credit ends after 6 mos or if perk is canceled or line is moved to an ineligible plan during the 6-mo promo period. After 6 mos, perk bills as $10/mo unless perk is canceled or unregistered. Must be 18 years of age or older to enroll. After enrolling in the YouTube Premium perk, you will need to complete account setup to use the service. Enrolling in the YouTube Premium perk may affect existing subscriptions to YouTube Premium. Managing subscriptions may be required to avoid multiple subscriptions and corresponding charges. One offer per eligible VHI account. Subject to YouTube Terms of Service & YouTube Premium and Music Premium Terms of Use.
Gizmo Watch: $149.99 purchase on service plan req’d. Less $75 promo credit applied over 36 mos.; promo credit ends if eligibility req’s are no longer met; 0% APR.
Verizon Visa Card: Purchases subject to credit approval. Offer available 5/15/25 at 3 AM ET – 5/29/25 at 3 AM ET. Excludes phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops and gift cards. Offer is based on purchase price, excluding taxes and shipping and other fees. Offer is not combinable with the Accessories Financing Offer. Maximum purchase total of $1,000 on eligible accessories & electronics purchases at Verizon. $250 maximum statement credit during offer period. Statement credit will be applied to your Verizon Visa Card account within 1-2 billing cycles from offer end date. Verizon Visa Card account needs to be in good standing at time statement credit is applied to qualify. Statement credit cannot be used to satisfy the required monthly payment on your credit card account and may not be redeemed for cash or cash equivalent. The Verizon Visa Signature® Card is issued by Synchrony Bank, pursuant to a license from VISA USA Inc.
Source: Microsoft
Headline: Making learning more accessible with Microsoft Education
For GAAD 2025, explore how Microsoft accessibility tools enhance education, creating inclusive and engaging classrooms where every student can thrive.
Accessibility tools for learning play a significant role in student success, helping all students fully engage with what’s happening in class and beyond. By providing access to content that might otherwise be difficult to access, these tools help to create a more inclusive classroom where everyone can feel understood, valued, and supported for their unique strengths. Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2025, celebrated on May 15, reminds us that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive.
Every student—whether they have a permanent disability, a temporary challenge like a broken hand, a situational disability such as difficulty reading in bright sunlight, or simply needs extra support with reading or writing—can benefit from greater accessibility to digital tools to support their learning experience. At Microsoft, we believe accessibility isn’t just a feature—it’s a foundation for empowering all students and educators to reach their full potential. Built-in accessibility features across Microsoft software and hardware can amplify everyone’s success, regardless of learning differences or physical abilities. Explore Microsoft accessibility tools and see how you can make learning more inclusive, engaging, and equitable for your school community.
Every student’s learning needs are unique. Some may have a disability, while others might be learning English, recovering from an injury, or trying to focus in a noisy home environment. Microsoft accessibility tools are designed to empower every student to engage independently and confidently in their learning. These tools come with built-in accessibility features, eliminating the need for extra downloads or stigmatizing third-party applications. Students get the help they need, right when they need it.
Get started with Microsoft accessibility tools today and learn how to create a more inclusive classroom experience with professional learning from Microsoft Learn.
Available in Microsoft products like Reading Coach and Microsoft Edge, Immersive Reader can help students improve reading comprehension, while also supporting learning differences. Students can use line focus to concentrate on one part of the text at a time. They can break words into syllables, adjust font size, and increase line, word, and letter spacing to reduce visual crowding to improve readability. For educators in Kent School District in Washington, US, using Immersive Reader helps make sure that all students are empowered to share their voices and participate.
I think when we’ve got kids that need different support mechanisms to learn, the Microsoft assisted learning tools become really, really vital. Last year, I had a student that had dysgraphia and dyslexia and so being able to listen to the audio was necessary and the Immersive Reader was essential for the success of this student.
Amber Raftery, sixth-grade teacher, Kent School District, US
As teacher-librarian and technology integration specialist Amber Gonzalez shares, the power of Microsoft 365 is that accessibility and assistive learning features like Immersive Reader are just one click away—helping to make it easy for every student to get the support they need, when they need it.
Reading Coach is a free, standalone Learning Accelerator that uses AI-powered stories and personalized practice to help students improve their reading fluency. Used by half a million learners in over 190 countries worldwide, Reading Coach can help make reading more engaging and accessible with built-in tools like Immersive Reader, providing an opportunity for students to boost their potential and confidence. Educators can also suggest reading practices and track student progress with new educator features in Reading Coach.
After three weeks of Reading Coach, we saw students gain one reading level—sometimes even one and a half. Some jumped two levels in just six weeks. And nearly half the class reached their expected reading level.
Kris Vande Moortel, former teacher and Microsoft education advisor, Belgium
Reading Coach with AI-powered stories helps students take charge of their learning and push themselves further by providing individualized support. Some teachers are seeing remarkable progress in a fraction of the time—giving them more opportunities for one-on-one attention where it’s needed.
Translator offers real-time translation of text and speech in over 60 languages, helping to make communication easier for students, parents, and caregivers who speak different languages. For educators in Texas City Independent School District, the embedded support of Translator in Word and mobile devices helps ensure that multilingual students have assistance when they encounter an unfamiliar word.
We found that Microsoft Translator is key to enabling English as a second language (ESL) students to keep up and to learn along with the rest of the class. When they are hung up on a word or a phrase or want to learn how to say something in English, they can transition back to their native language and use Translator to quickly contextualize in English.
Hope Smalley-Jackson, business teacher, Texas City Independent School District, US
Students can use Translator at school, home, or whenever they need language support. It can help bridge communication gaps, supporting accessible classroom learning with cross-language understanding and even multilingual casual conversations to help students and families.
If typing is tough—whether due to learning challenges, a temporary issue like a broken arm, or even fatigue—students can use dictation to turn speech into text effortlessly. Tools like live captions also help by converting speech to text or translating languages in PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams meetings, providing support for people with hearing disabilities, auditory processing disorders, or language needs. Plus, live captions fully supports multiple languages, making content accessible for multilingual speakers, too.
Additionally, AI-powered tools can help you address specific student needs. For instance, a 2024 study commissioned by Microsoft from professional services firm EY highlights how AI can help address the specific challenges faced by employees who are neurodivergent or living with a disability. The study found that Microsoft 365 Copilot helped:
While the study focused on workplace settings, the insights can be applied to educational environments. Just as AI tools can support diverse employee needs, they can also be instrumental in addressing diverse learning needs. Copilot helps educators personalize instruction, making it easier to tailor lessons to individual student requirements. Educators in Northern Ireland saw this firsthand when the Education Authority of Northern Ireland (EANI) adopted Copilot.
EANI initially rolled out AI-powered learning tools on a small scale, selecting key innovative educators to pilot the free version of Copilot Chat in their classrooms. They also introduced training sessions focused on effective prompt writing, showcasing Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities. Educators quickly discovered the practical benefits of upgrading to Microsoft 365 Copilot for tasks like creating PowerPoint presentations, generating questions in Microsoft Forms, and developing differentiated classroom resources. The substantial time savings and enhanced ability to meet diverse student needs drove widespread staff adoption and growing enthusiasm.
Make your classroom more inclusive by using AI to differentiate materials for students. Try using the dedicated IEP assistant tool in Khanmigo for Teachers or use Copilot Chat and your own prompts and files to help you draft parts of an individualized education program (IEP).
For Copilot Chat, be sure to sign in with your school’s Microsoft account to ensure your data is protected, then copy and paste this prompt:
You are a special education teacher drafting an IEP for a [grade level] student who [describe student’s needs]. Write a goal for [area/topic] that is specific, measurable, attainable, reasonable, and time bound.
Whether you’re exploring AI, excited to try Reading Coach, or looking to make your classroom more inclusive with tools like Immersive Reader and Translator, GAAD 2025 is the perfect time to dive in. Get started and explore Microsoft accessibility tools to help every student thrive.