International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept. “Arab Republic of Egypt: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Requests for Waivers of Nonobservance and Modification of Performance Criteria and Request for an Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Egypt”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 186 (2025), accessed July 15, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014700.002
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept. “Arab Republic of Egypt: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Requests for Waivers of Nonobservance and Modification of Performance Criteria and Request for an Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Egypt”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 186 (2025), accessed July 15, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014700.002
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept. “Arab Republic of Egypt: 2025 Article IV Consultation, Fourth Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility, Requests for Waivers of Nonobservance and Modification of Performance Criteria and Request for an Arrangement Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Egypt”, IMF Staff Country Reports 2025, 186 (2025), accessed July 15, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229014700.002
Headline: Apple expands U.S. supply chain with $500 million commitment
UPDATEJuly 15, 2025
In the first-of-its-kind deal, Apple and MP Materials will launch an all-new recycling facility for processing recycled rare earth elements
Today Apple announced a new commitment of $500 million with MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States. With this multiyear deal, Apple is committed to buying American-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials’ flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The two companies will also work together to establish a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California, and develop novel magnet materials and innovative processing technologies to enhance magnet performance. The commitment is part of Apple’s pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, and builds on the company’s long history of investment in American innovation, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation recycling technologies.
“American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the U.S. economy,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of American manufacturing, and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of the American people.”
Apple and MP Materials will build out the state-of-the-art Texas factory with a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. The new equipment and technical capacity will allow MP Materials to significantly boost its overall production. Once built, the American-made magnets will be shipped across the country and all over the world, helping to meet increasing global demand for the material. The increased production will support dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D. The two companies will provide extensive training to develop the workforce, building an entirely new pool of U.S. talent and expertise in magnet manufacturing.
When complete, the new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California will enable MP Materials to take in recycled rare earth feedstock — including material from used electronics and post-industrial scrap — and reprocess it for use in Apple products. For nearly five years, Apple and MP Materials have been piloting advanced recycling technology that enables recycled rare earth magnets to be processed into material that meets Apple’s exacting standards for performance and design. The companies will continue to innovate together to improve magnet production, as well as end-of-life recovery.
Apple pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, first introducing them in the Taptic Engine of iPhone 11 in 2019. Today, nearly all magnets across Apple devices are made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. The collaboration with MP Materials will help secure domestic supply of this critical material, strengthen the U.S. rare earth industry’s capabilities to capture more raw material, and advance environmental progress with innovative recycling methods.
Headline: Apple expands U.S. supply chain with $500 million commitment
UPDATEJuly 15, 2025
In the first-of-its-kind deal, Apple and MP Materials will launch an all-new recycling facility for processing recycled rare earth elements
Today Apple announced a new commitment of $500 million with MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States. With this multiyear deal, Apple is committed to buying American-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials’ flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The two companies will also work together to establish a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California, and develop novel magnet materials and innovative processing technologies to enhance magnet performance. The commitment is part of Apple’s pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, and builds on the company’s long history of investment in American innovation, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation recycling technologies.
“American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the U.S. economy,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of American manufacturing, and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of the American people.”
Apple and MP Materials will build out the state-of-the-art Texas factory with a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. The new equipment and technical capacity will allow MP Materials to significantly boost its overall production. Once built, the American-made magnets will be shipped across the country and all over the world, helping to meet increasing global demand for the material. The increased production will support dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D. The two companies will provide extensive training to develop the workforce, building an entirely new pool of U.S. talent and expertise in magnet manufacturing.
When complete, the new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California will enable MP Materials to take in recycled rare earth feedstock — including material from used electronics and post-industrial scrap — and reprocess it for use in Apple products. For nearly five years, Apple and MP Materials have been piloting advanced recycling technology that enables recycled rare earth magnets to be processed into material that meets Apple’s exacting standards for performance and design. The companies will continue to innovate together to improve magnet production, as well as end-of-life recovery.
Apple pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, first introducing them in the Taptic Engine of iPhone 11 in 2019. Today, nearly all magnets across Apple devices are made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. The collaboration with MP Materials will help secure domestic supply of this critical material, strengthen the U.S. rare earth industry’s capabilities to capture more raw material, and advance environmental progress with innovative recycling methods.
Headline: Apple expands U.S. supply chain with $500 million commitment
UPDATEJuly 15, 2025
In the first-of-its-kind deal, Apple and MP Materials will launch an all-new recycling facility for processing recycled rare earth elements
Today Apple announced a new commitment of $500 million with MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States. With this multiyear deal, Apple is committed to buying American-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials’ flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The two companies will also work together to establish a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California, and develop novel magnet materials and innovative processing technologies to enhance magnet performance. The commitment is part of Apple’s pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, and builds on the company’s long history of investment in American innovation, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation recycling technologies.
“American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the U.S. economy,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of American manufacturing, and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of the American people.”
Apple and MP Materials will build out the state-of-the-art Texas factory with a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. The new equipment and technical capacity will allow MP Materials to significantly boost its overall production. Once built, the American-made magnets will be shipped across the country and all over the world, helping to meet increasing global demand for the material. The increased production will support dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D. The two companies will provide extensive training to develop the workforce, building an entirely new pool of U.S. talent and expertise in magnet manufacturing.
When complete, the new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California will enable MP Materials to take in recycled rare earth feedstock — including material from used electronics and post-industrial scrap — and reprocess it for use in Apple products. For nearly five years, Apple and MP Materials have been piloting advanced recycling technology that enables recycled rare earth magnets to be processed into material that meets Apple’s exacting standards for performance and design. The companies will continue to innovate together to improve magnet production, as well as end-of-life recovery.
Apple pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, first introducing them in the Taptic Engine of iPhone 11 in 2019. Today, nearly all magnets across Apple devices are made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. The collaboration with MP Materials will help secure domestic supply of this critical material, strengthen the U.S. rare earth industry’s capabilities to capture more raw material, and advance environmental progress with innovative recycling methods.
Headline: Apple expands U.S. supply chain with $500 million commitment
UPDATEJuly 15, 2025
In the first-of-its-kind deal, Apple and MP Materials will launch an all-new recycling facility for processing recycled rare earth elements
Today Apple announced a new commitment of $500 million with MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States. With this multiyear deal, Apple is committed to buying American-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials’ flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The two companies will also work together to establish a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California, and develop novel magnet materials and innovative processing technologies to enhance magnet performance. The commitment is part of Apple’s pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, and builds on the company’s long history of investment in American innovation, advanced manufacturing, and next-generation recycling technologies.
“American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the U.S. economy,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States. We couldn’t be more excited about the future of American manufacturing, and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of the American people.”
Apple and MP Materials will build out the state-of-the-art Texas factory with a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. The new equipment and technical capacity will allow MP Materials to significantly boost its overall production. Once built, the American-made magnets will be shipped across the country and all over the world, helping to meet increasing global demand for the material. The increased production will support dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D. The two companies will provide extensive training to develop the workforce, building an entirely new pool of U.S. talent and expertise in magnet manufacturing.
When complete, the new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California will enable MP Materials to take in recycled rare earth feedstock — including material from used electronics and post-industrial scrap — and reprocess it for use in Apple products. For nearly five years, Apple and MP Materials have been piloting advanced recycling technology that enables recycled rare earth magnets to be processed into material that meets Apple’s exacting standards for performance and design. The companies will continue to innovate together to improve magnet production, as well as end-of-life recovery.
Apple pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, first introducing them in the Taptic Engine of iPhone 11 in 2019. Today, nearly all magnets across Apple devices are made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. The collaboration with MP Materials will help secure domestic supply of this critical material, strengthen the U.S. rare earth industry’s capabilities to capture more raw material, and advance environmental progress with innovative recycling methods.
Manama, Bahrain –15th July 2025 – This week’s BD 100 million issue of Government Treasury Bills has been fully subscribed by 100%.
The bills, carrying a maturity of 12 months, are issued by the CBB, on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The issue date of the bills is 17th July 2025, and the maturity date is 16th July 2026.
The weighted average rate of interest is 5.39% compared to 5.28% of the previous issue on 19th June 2025.
The approximate average price for the issue was 94.833% with the lowest accepted price being 94.732%.
This is issue No. 130 (ISIN BH0007179565) of Government Treasury Bills. With this, the total outstanding value of Government Treasury Bills is BD 2.110 billion.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Secretary General of AIPA, H.E. Ar. Siti Rozaimeriyanty Dato Haji Abdul Rahman, on the margins of the 16th AIPA Caucus in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. During the meeting, SG Dr. Kao commended the Secretary General of AIPA for her active role and highlighted the vital role of ASEAN Parliamentarians in implementing the recently launched ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.
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Priyantha Wijayatunga, ADB’s Senior Director of the Energy Sector Office, explains the key principles of ADB’s energy agenda, the role and future of its Energy Policy, and provides examples from the field showing real-world progress toward net-zero.
Priyantha Wijayatunga, ADB’s Senior Director of the Energy Sector Office, explains the key principles of ADB’s energy agenda, the role and future of its Energy Policy, and provides examples from the field showing real-world progress toward net-zero.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today delivered keynote remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 16th AIPA Caucus, which is held under the theme “Peace Through Dialogue: The Parliamentary Path Forward,” in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In his keynote remarks, SG Dr. Kao underscored the importance of parliamentary collaboration in achieving and maintaining peace in the region. SG Dr. Kao further encouraged AIPA to deepen its engagement with ASEAN institutions, relevant organs, bodies, entities and mechanisms, particularly by supporting the implementation of key ASEAN declarations that promote inclusive and sustainable development.
Download the full remarks here
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Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the Heads or Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Parliaments from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and AIPA Observer Parliaments, in a courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of the 16th AIPA Caucus. They discussed ways to enhance AIPA’s role in the ASEAN Community building process, particularly following the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans by the ASEAN Leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN pays courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the Heads or Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Parliaments from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and AIPA Observer Parliaments, in a courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of the 16th AIPA Caucus. They discussed ways to enhance AIPA’s role in the ASEAN Community building process, particularly following the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans by the ASEAN Leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN pays courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the Heads or Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Parliaments from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and AIPA Observer Parliaments, in a courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of the 16th AIPA Caucus. They discussed ways to enhance AIPA’s role in the ASEAN Community building process, particularly following the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans by the ASEAN Leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN pays courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today joined the Heads or Representatives of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Parliaments from ASEAN Member States, Timor-Leste and AIPA Observer Parliaments, in a courtesy call on the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as part of the 16th AIPA Caucus. They discussed ways to enhance AIPA’s role in the ASEAN Community building process, particularly following the adoption of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans by the ASEAN Leaders at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
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Headline: Panasonic Washing and Drying Machine “ALPHA Set” wins “Best of the Best” at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025
Essen, Germany – The Panasonic Washing and Drying Machine “ALPHA Set” was awarded the “Best of the Best”—the top honor at the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2025. Twelve other Panasonic products also received Red Dot Awards.
The award-winning products are as follows:
Red Dot Award: Best of the Best
Red Dot Award
Panasonic Corporation, Living Appliances and Solutions Company
Panasonic Corporation, Heating & Ventilation A/C Company
Panasonic Corporation, China & Northeast Asia Company
Panasonic Corporation, Technics Brand Business Promotion Office
Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Co., Ltd.
The Red Dot Award, founded in 1955, is a globally recognized design competition spanning over 60 years. In the Product Design Category, approximately forty experts rigorously evaluated all entries against nine criteria, including quality, ergonomics, and product life.
In the global mobile communications industry, standards are much more than just technical specifications — they are key drivers of the global market’s direction and technological leadership. As the world moves beyond 5G and accelerates toward 6G, attention is once again turning to the technological leadership behind global standardization.
Since 2020, Samsung Electronics has played a pioneering role in advancing next-generation communication technologies through active participation in international standardization efforts. This includes the publication of its 6G white papers and securing of key positions in major organizations such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). At the May 2025 3GPP elections, Samsung secured additional leadership positions, reaffirming its distinct standing at the forefront of the industry.
To shine a light on this progress, Samsung Newsroom is launching an interview series with the leaders of the company’s communications business, which will introduce the current state of next-generation communications technology research and global standardization efforts. In part one of the Communications Leadership Interview series, the Newsroom sat down with Jin-Kyu Han, Vice President of the Tech Standards Research Team at Samsung Research, to discuss the current landscape and future outlook of 6G standardization, as well as Samsung’s strategies and vision.
▲ Jin-Kyu Han, Vice President of the Tech Standards Research Team at Samsung Research
International Standards for Seamless Communication Across Borders
Today, using our own smartphones to access roaming services while traveling abroad is something we often take for granted. This is a convenience that has only become truly seamless through the invisible promise of international standards — born from the collaboration of countless companies and experts around the world.
“Common protocols are essential for products and services from different companies to work together seamlessly,” explained Han. “In the mobile communications industry, where a diverse range of players — including smartphone manufacturers, network equipment vendors, telecom operators and semiconductor companies — are involved, standardization is an indispensable element. It plays a key role in uniting the world into a single market.”
Standardization serves as the backbone that drives the global communications industry toward a unified direction. “At technological inflection points like the transition to 6G, the importance of industry-wide discussions and consensus on standards becomes even greater,” Han emphasized.
Global Collaboration Driving 6G Standardization
How does global standardization actually function? Unlike initiatives driven by a single entity, global telecommunications standardization is built on a clear, step-by-step framework of collaboration. Two key players in this process are the International Telecommunication Union (ITU1) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP2).
“The ITU sets the direction for each new generation of communication technology, and based on that blueprint, the 3GPP works with global companies to define the technical details and carry out the standardization process,” explained Han.
▲ Overview of ITU and 3GPP
Global 6G standardization has now entered its launch phase. Following preliminary discussions on 6G technology directions that began in 2021, ITU-R officially announced the recommended framework for 6G standardization in November 2023. With the goal of finalizing 6G technical specifications by 2030, 3GPP plans to develop and propose a range of candidate technologies.
“3GPP took its first step toward 6G standardization by hosting a workshop in Korea this March,” explained Han. “6G study items were approved during its plenary meeting in June, and starting in the second half of this year, detailed technical discussions will begin within its Working Groups (WGs).”
▲ Key milestones and objectives of the ITU and 3GPP by year
The standardization of 6G is a shared journey in which the world works together toward a common goal. As standardization efforts gain momentum, companies worldwide are moving quickly to position their technologies within this framework, ensuring interoperability while developing solutions that meet market demands.
Samsung’s 6G Leadership: Driving Consensus Amid Fierce Competition
Countries and companies around the world are participating in discussions on next-generation communications standardization, each taking on specific roles. This process demands forward-looking leadership capable of both steering technological development and harmonizing diverse viewpoints—a role where Samsung Electronics has emerged as a central figure, simultaneously advancing innovation while building industry consensus.
Standardization is a continuous process marked by fierce competition among countless global stakeholders that aim to secure a lead in standards by having their own technologies incorporated. In this complex landscape, Samsung has consistently been elected to leadership positions within groups, earning recognition for its neutrality, credibility and coordination capabilities
“Samsung chaired the ITU-R’s 6G Vision Group, helping to establish the initial global vision for 6G and contributing to the design of its early roadmap,” explained Han. “We’re also leading discussions within 3GPP by serving as chairs and vice-chairs across various technical groups, steering the direction of standardization.”
Currently, Samsung Electronics holds a total of eight chair and vice-chair positions across 3GPP’s key Technical Specification Groups (TSGs). Han added, “In particular, the Radio Access Network (RAN) and System Architecture (SA) WG2 groups, where Samsung serves as chair, are central to shaping the structure and direction of 6G technologies. These groups are at the core of industry-wide technical discussions and the fact that Samsung chairs them is a testament to our influence.”
Samsung is also laying a solid technological foundation for standardization discussions through its pioneering research activities across various core 6G technologies. Since standardization only holds real value when it is backed by concrete technologies and practical feasibility, Samsung’s technological competitiveness contributes to making these discussions more effective.
“3GPP chairs are responsible for guiding discussions according to the timeline, while mediating and resolving various conflicts that arise during the standardization process,” Han explained. “Holding a significant number of chair positions is a clear sign that the mobile communications industry recognizes our technological capabilities and leadership.”
Key Focus Areas for Next-Generation 6G Research
As technical discussions within 3GPP begin in earnest this year, Samsung is concentrating its research on the core technologies necessary for 6G commercialization. At the heart of these discussions are three key phrases: AI integration, enhanced energy efficiency, and strengthened security.
“6G should deliver user-perceivable improvements, not just faster speeds or higher quality,” noted Han. “By applying AI technologies to network operations, we can automate complex processes while simultaneously reducing operational costs and improving service quality.”
“From the increasingly critical perspective of security and privacy, Samsung is also focusing on building safer communication systems while increasing system flexibility to easily and rapidly incorporate new services,” he added.
As we approach the 6G era — where technologies and services will connect seamlessly across national borders — international cooperation and coordination are more important than ever. In this evolving landscape, Samsung Electronics continues to play a leading role in shaping the global conversation on next-generation connectivity.
In part two of this series, Samsung Newsroom will explore the 6G standardization roadmap, key focus technologies and Samsung’s role as chair of the 3GPP TSG RAN, providing a closer look at the forefront of next-generation communications discussions.
1 Short for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a United Nations specialized agency dedicated to advancing information and communication technologies (ICT) and networks. Its work includes allocating radio frequencies, establishing technical standards, and supporting developing countries, while playing a vital role in fostering international cooperation in the global ICT sector.
2 Short for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, an international collaborative initiative established to develop standards for mobile communication technologies. It primarily develops globally applicable specifications for mobile communication systems, including radio access networks, services and systems, core networks, and mobile devices.
Source: African Development Bank Group In the green hills of Rumphi, northern Malawi, the hum of progress can be heard at the newly established Rumphi Technical College. With its modern buildings, new equipment, and a sense of optimism, the college has quickly become a symbol of opportunity.
The African Development Bank will launch a new report, Increasing Business Opportunities and Access to Credit for Women in Renewable Energy in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda.
The report, developed under the Climate Investment Funds (CIF)-supported Scaling Up Renewable Energy Program in collaboration with the African Development Bank, sheds light on the challenges and immense untapped potential of women entrepreneurs driving growth in the region’s dynamic renewable energy sector.
While women comprise over 50% of the population in Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda, they lead less than 20% of renewable energy businesses in these nations. A significant barrier remains access to finance, with women entrepreneurs in renewable energy accessing only 7% of available commercial capital. This disparity highlights a critical need for targeted interventions to unlock their full economic potential and accelerate the sustainable energy transition in East Africa.
Report Highlights
Barriers to Accessing Business Opportunities and Finance: The study identifies structural, and gender-specific barriers that hinder women entrepreneurs from securing business opportunities and financing.
Untapped Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs: Beyond traditional roles, the report underscores vast opportunities for women to expand their engagement across entire renewable energy value chains.
Existing Interventions and Critical Gaps: The report reviews current financing mechanisms, capacity-building programs, technical assistance, and policy interventions designed to support women entrepreneurs in renewable energy.
Actionable Recommendations: The report provides concrete recommendations for policymakers, financial institutions, development partners, and large private and public sector companies.
Join the Conversation
Engage with key findings, learn from shared stakeholder experiences, and collaborate on practical steps to empower women in renewable energy.
Source: African Development Bank Group In the early morning, the fields stretch as far as the eye can see, bathed in the soft light of the rising sun. In Kwilu, Kasai, and Tshopo provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), rural communities are reclaiming their land with renewed energy. Here, every furrow in the earth tells a story of resilience…
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: Eliza Drake’s Story
The following is part of IADC’s 85th anniversary campaign, “Many Stories, One Voice,” which aims to showcase the real human stories behind the drilling industry.
Eliza Drake –IADC Young Professionals Committee Networking/Social Subcommittee Chair; Marketing Representative for Caterpillar Oil & Gas
Eliza (center) with fellow attendees at a 2024 IADC Young Professionals Committee networking event
My journey with IADC started back in 2017, during my freshman year at Missouri S&T. From a young age, I knew I wanted to work in the oil and gas industry. I was always fascinated by what happens so far below the Earth’s surface, and I was drawn to being a part of an industry that’s often villainized. I saw it as a chance to change people’s opinions and show them how vital fossil fuels truly are. However, being from Missouri, I didn’t have many chances to connect with the industry directly. It was pure coincidence that I bumped into the IADC Student Chapter President during the first week of my freshman year and joined the group.
While S&T’s petroleum engineering program might be small, it is mighty, largely due to the support of alumni and organizations like IADC. That support opened doors I didn’t even know existed. IADC gave me not only exposure to the industry and my first international trip, but also the job opportunity that started my career.
I owe a lot of where I am today to IADC. As a student, I attended several Annual General Meetings (AGM), where I got to connect with influential people in the business and different companies across all aspects of drilling. While I was the Student Chapter President, I attended the AGM in Austin. As a senior without a job lined up, I knew this conference was my chance. I was determined to network and make something happen. Walking into lunch at the event, I was nervous, uncertain and, honestly, desperate for an opportunity. I spotted a table with one seat left, and found myself sitting among group of Caterpillar leaders and dealers. We hit it off immediately, and I had a job offer within two months. As they say, the rest is history.
Eliza (left) with IADC Young Professionals Committee Co-Chairs Bill Pickering and Liana Carnes at a networking event co-hosted with the American Association of Drilling Engineer’s NEXT group in 2023
IADC has also given me the opportunity to be a leader, not only as a student but also as a young professional. I have had the opportunity to serve as Student Chapter President and as the Events Chairman for the Young Professionals Committee. Both were invaluable experiences with chances to expand my network. Planning events for others in the drilling space has been so fulfilling. It’s been a great way to connect with like-minded people, share ideas and spark great conversations in a fun setting.
IADC has made me feel like I’m a part of something much bigger than just a job. It’s made me feel like I’m part of an industry that, while often misunderstood, plays such an important role in powering the world. I’m beyond grateful, and I know I’ll be a lifelong member of this incredible organization.
Source: Independent Petroleum Association of America
Headline: 2025 House Transportation Joint Trades Maritime Workforce Letter
Jul 11, 2025 2025 House Transportation Joint Trades Maritime Workforce Letter
Dear Chair Graves and Ranking Member Larsen:
PresidentTrump’sdirectivethattheU.S.government“unleashAmericanenergy”(ExecutiveOrder 14154) has helped set the country on a course of global energy dominance. Congress plays a significant role in advancing this important agenda, and the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) is a critical component in this energy dominance strategy. Approximately 1 of every 6 barrels produced domestically comes from the OCS, along with more than 300,000 jobs for American workers, and billions of dollars in state and federal taxes and royalty revenues. Offshore energy development is an irreplaceable strategic asset for America’s national security, which is why it is so important that U.S. policy supports growing access to, and production of, oil and natural gas in the Gulf of America.
As the Committee prepares to consider the HR 4275, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, we want to caution against the inclusion of language that could hinder the goal of energy dominance, specifically in the Gulf of America. In the last several Coast Guard reauthorization bills, the House of Representatives has included language from a bill introduced in past Congresses called The AmericanOffshore Worker FairnessAct, which would place stifling and unreasonable restrictions on the limited number of highly specialized vessels needed for exploration, to construct new and expanding Gulf of America oil and natural gas projects and to effectively maintain existing production. The language wouldeffectivelyeliminatetheabilitytousethesevesselsandthewell-trainedandhighlyexperiencedcrew that accompany them because they are foreign-owned and foreign-flagged. …
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: Bill Pickering’s Story
The following is part of IADC’s 85th anniversary campaign, “Many Stories, One Voice,” which aims to showcase the real human stories behind the drilling industry.
Bill Pickering –IADC Young Professionals Committee Co-Chair; Manager at Precision Drilling
Bill standing in front of a Precision Drilling rig around 2018
My career in drilling started in May 2012; my story, however, started in 1991. My story is my dad’s story, and our story is the same story as many in this industry: Men and women making a sacrifice, putting in long hours and giving their family something more.
Ask Ross Pickering today, and he’ll gladly show you the scar on his right hand from 1991. His satellite phone rang with the news his wife was in labor, and he was a 10-hour drive away in Beaverlodge, Alberta. That drive, a set of missing keys, a smashed window, and a hot-wired truck were the only things between Dad and his laboring wife. Of course, we are no strangers to rapidly changing environments or tall orders in short time frames – Dad made it to the hospital with a few hours to spare.
When I tell you that rigs were always a part of my life, I mean it. Our living room hosted fewer Easters, Christmases and birthdays than the couch of my Dad’s shack on site. My mom is always fond of the time Dad had to tell a bed truck to unhook from his shack so his son could finish hunting for Easter Eggs.
Any young boy who gets to work with his dad, running drilling rigs and farm equipment, is a pretty happy kid. So, you’ll understand why I thought my dad had the most important and most cool job in the world. You’ll also understand that, although I considered a number of careers, drilling rigs were always the goal.
Bill as a child riding his first motorbike in the rig yard with his father, Ross, next to him
In 2012, I got my first opportunity to join the oilfield, building rigs in Calgary. I elected to return to college and complete my undergraduate degree, only to be rewarded with a list of salary offers that, modestly, were half of what I could earn roughnecking. Simple math made an easy decision easier, and I was back with Precision Drilling to finish building the rig we would soon take to the field.
Years later, I elected to pursue a graduate degree in the US, with the goal of rejoining the industry. Five years later, I’m thrilled to have a rewarding 10 years of experience under my belt. What I’ve seen in these 10 years is an industry that champions and rewards hard work and merit over pedigree – something less and less common. Why I love this industry is because every single day somebody like my dad proves that a strong back and a sharp mind can take a person to the top. Why I’ll stay in this industry is the passion and pride we foster, and if you don’t believe me, you need to get out of the office and go talk to a rig hand.
My story isn’t unique, because it’s all of our story. It’s passion, it’s legacy, it’s purpose. We’re the modern miracle that enables our lifestyle. We lift people out of poverty. We innovate at breakneck speed, and we dislike when we get looked down upon, but like good roughnecks, we understand the job will always need to get done. So we do it, we do it well and we do it with passion and pride.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: Bill Pickering’s Story
The following is part of IADC’s 85th anniversary campaign, “Many Stories, One Voice,” which aims to showcase the real human stories behind the drilling industry.
Bill Pickering –IADC Young Professionals Committee Co-Chair; Manager at Precision Drilling
Bill standing in front of a Precision Drilling rig around 2018
My career in drilling started in May 2012; my story, however, started in 1991. My story is my dad’s story, and our story is the same story as many in this industry: Men and women making a sacrifice, putting in long hours and giving their family something more.
Ask Ross Pickering today, and he’ll gladly show you the scar on his right hand from 1991. His satellite phone rang with the news his wife was in labor, and he was a 10-hour drive away in Beaverlodge, Alberta. That drive, a set of missing keys, a smashed window, and a hot-wired truck were the only things between Dad and his laboring wife. Of course, we are no strangers to rapidly changing environments or tall orders in short time frames – Dad made it to the hospital with a few hours to spare.
When I tell you that rigs were always a part of my life, I mean it. Our living room hosted fewer Easters, Christmases and birthdays than the couch of my Dad’s shack on site. My mom is always fond of the time Dad had to tell a bed truck to unhook from his shack so his son could finish hunting for Easter Eggs.
Any young boy who gets to work with his dad, running drilling rigs and farm equipment, is a pretty happy kid. So, you’ll understand why I thought my dad had the most important and most cool job in the world. You’ll also understand that, although I considered a number of careers, drilling rigs were always the goal.
Bill as a child riding his first motorbike in the rig yard with his father, Ross, next to him
In 2012, I got my first opportunity to join the oilfield, building rigs in Calgary. I elected to return to college and complete my undergraduate degree, only to be rewarded with a list of salary offers that, modestly, were half of what I could earn roughnecking. Simple math made an easy decision easier, and I was back with Precision Drilling to finish building the rig we would soon take to the field.
Years later, I elected to pursue a graduate degree in the US, with the goal of rejoining the industry. Five years later, I’m thrilled to have a rewarding 10 years of experience under my belt. What I’ve seen in these 10 years is an industry that champions and rewards hard work and merit over pedigree – something less and less common. Why I love this industry is because every single day somebody like my dad proves that a strong back and a sharp mind can take a person to the top. Why I’ll stay in this industry is the passion and pride we foster, and if you don’t believe me, you need to get out of the office and go talk to a rig hand.
My story isn’t unique, because it’s all of our story. It’s passion, it’s legacy, it’s purpose. We’re the modern miracle that enables our lifestyle. We lift people out of poverty. We innovate at breakneck speed, and we dislike when we get looked down upon, but like good roughnecks, we understand the job will always need to get done. So we do it, we do it well and we do it with passion and pride.
Introductory statement by Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament
Brussels, 14 July 2025
Thank you for inviting me to take part in this exchange of views. I would like to talk about why we need the digital euro – and the cost of not pursuing it.
My message is simple. The main reason for issuing a digital euro is to preserve the benefits of cash in the digital era. To do so, we need to complement physical cash with a digital form of cash.
The inability to use physical cash in online transactions or for digital payments at the point of sale deprives us of a key payment option, reducing resilience, competition, sovereignty and, ultimately, consumers’ freedom to choose how to pay.
This increases the risks that European consumers, merchants and policymakers face. For a growing number of their transactions, Europeans lack access to central bank money – the money that is backed by the sovereign and has legal tender status, underpinning our monetary union because it is accepted everywhere in the euro area.
Monetary sovereignty and people’s freedom to pay with legal tender: two sides of the same coin
The Eurosystem is committed to cash and will continue to issue it.[1] But people’s habits are shifting towards digital payments.
As the role of online payments has grown, the role of cash in day-to-day transactions has been declining at pace: between 2019 and 2024 its share fell from 68% to 40% in volume terms and from 40% to 24% in value terms.[2]
This has two important implications.
First, the role of cash will be significantly reduced if we do not provide a digital equivalent. If we fail to act, we will fail to fulfil our responsibility as a central bank towards the people we serve.
Second, our monetary sovereignty is eroding. People’s ability to pay across the euro area with sovereign money – cash – and frequently choosing to do so, is a key pillar of monetary sovereignty. A digital form of cash would protect our sovereignty and ensure our monetary union is also a digital monetary union.
What’s particularly concerning in Europe is that the gap left by declining cash use is being filled by non-European payment solutions. For card payments, only seven out of the 20 euro area countries have a national card scheme. These card schemes cannot be used in other euro area countries and are also losing market share domestically. For e-commerce, European-owned solutions are prevalent in only three euro area countries.[3]
Strengthening our legal tender to stop the erosion of our monetary sovereignty
To address this situation, the Single Currency Package protects the rights of those who want to continue to pay with cash, while complementing physical cash with a digital form of the legal tender: the digital euro.
I believe we are being presented with a false choice: a private pan-euro area payment solution or a public one. First, it is not just about payments; it is about the evolution of the money. And second, it is a historical fact that state-issued money and money issued by private parties have typically coexisted, reinforcing each other.[4]
The cost of inaction
Since the start of the euro, we have recognised the need for an integrated retail payments market. This prompted the development of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to harmonise bank transfers. However, SEPA does not cover key use cases such as payments at the point of sale.
Over the years, private firms have made several attempts to create a pan-European payment solution, but difficulties in coordinating among market participants prevented those firms from delivering a scalable and unified system.[5] Some 25 years after the launch of the euro, we still have no European payment solution that allows people to pay digitally throughout the euro area in stores, for e‑commerce goods and services and from person to person.
Let us take a leap of faith. Imagine things would be different this time and that banks would manage to work together to rapidly provide a pan-European private payment solution. Would it still make sense to have the digital euro? The answer is yes.
First, the digital euro would help preserve money as a public good that is easily accessible to everyone and universally accepted across the euro area. By contrast, private money belongs to the competitive space, so we cannot guarantee its acceptance by all merchants.
Second, the digital euro would enhance resilience. We would have a reliable fallback in times of crisis, complementing cash. An especially important feature is that the digital euro would also function offline, providing a secure payment method even without an internet connection.[6] Moreover, as is the case with cash, we would be sure that all components of the digital euro remain in European hands.
Third, the digital euro would prevent market concentration. The availability of legal tender and its wide adoption would put merchants in a stronger position to negotiate fees. In addition, the digital euro would create open standards with a wide acceptance network, making it easier for payment service providers to scale up their solutions. This would result in greater competition and innovation at European level.[7]
Conclusion
Let me conclude.
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union entrusts you, the co-legislators, to “lay down the measures necessary for the use of the euro as the single currency.”
We can together ensure that our currency is fit for the digital age by complementing physical cash and private payment initiatives with digital cash. Indeed, the digital euro is key to preserving the benefits of cash in the digital era.
Headline: Security Copilot capabilities in Microsoft Intune and Entra now generally available
When Microsoft introduced Microsoft Security Copilot last year, our vision was to empower organizations with generative AI that helps security and IT teams simplify operations and respond faster. Since then, we’ve continuously innovated and learned alongside our customers. They consistently tell us that practitioners love it when Copilot is built directly into the tools they use every day.
That’s why we’re focused on delivering deeply integrated, scenario-based experiences that align with Zero Trust principles, making it easier for IT and security professionals to ask questions, take action, and gain insights directly within their existing workflows. These experiences not only reduce friction but also help IT teams stay in flow, making smarter decisions faster and with greater confidence. And the impact is real: organizations using Security Copilot have seen a 54% reduction in time to resolve device policy conflicts, and a 22.8% drop in alerts per incident within three months of adoption, freeing up teams to focus on more strategic work.
Get started with Microsoft Security Copilot
We’re excited to announce the Security Copilot capabilities in Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra have moved from preview to general availability. This milestone reflects the critical role Intune and Entra play in modern security strategies, serving as the foundation for implementing a Zero Trust model. Intune enforces device compliance, app protection, and endpoint privilege management, while Entra governs identity access with Conditional Access policies and granular authentication controls. Together, they create a unified security posture that aligns with Zero Trust principles across devices, users, applications, and even agents. Security Copilot amplifies this foundation by providing AI-assisted guidance, autonomous agents, and insights accessible through natural language, helping IT teams scale operations, accelerate skilling, and proactively remediate threats at machine speed.
Reimagining IT workflows with Security Copilot in Intune
IT administrators often face a daily flood of data, alerts, and configuration details, making it difficult to quickly find the right information and act with confidence. AI is changing how people work, and Copilot in Intune is evolving how IT admins interact with and act on their endpoint management data. The Security Copilot in Intune general availability release introduces a brand new, Copilot-assisted data exploration capability. IT admins now have a dedicated page in the Intune admin center to ask Copilot for the data they need, take action, and complete endpoint management tasks, all without leaving their workflow. This capability allows admins to extract insights across Intune domains—devices, apps, security policies, users, compliance data, app configurations, and more—and act on it using its deep integration into the Intune functionality they are familiar with. It represents the first step in a foundational shift from traditional reporting and queries to Copilot-powered investigation and IT-empowered action.
This new Security Copilot capability is designed to simplify the most time-consuming IT workflows, like assessing security posture, managing updates, troubleshooting issues, and generating custom reports. Whether it’s identifying non-compliant devices, tracking patch failures, previewing policy impact, or automating remediation, Copilot brings together the data and actions IT needs in one place.
Admins can ask natural language questions like, “Show me devices that are not on the latest version of Windows and Office,” or “Which of my Endpoint Privilege Management rules are in conflict and what are the source profiles?” and take action instantly, without switching context.
Figure 1. New experience to explore your Intune data with Copilot assistanceacross workloads.
The new Explorer experience also includes support for Windows 365 Cloud PCs, giving IT administrators a consistent way to view and act on device details across both cloud and physical endpoints. We are excited to share that in the coming weeks, we’ll introduce additional AI capabilities in Intune with Copilot assistance for Windows 365, offering insights into Cloud PC connectivity and connection quality, licensing optimization, and performance issues tied to compute resources. These capabilities build on the momentum of virtual computing and the ability to stream Windows from the Cloud, enhancing the IT experience and delivering even more endpoint management value—especially for Windows-based environments.
The general availability release of Security Copilot in Intune also provides chat-based contextual assistance and includes integration with core and Microsoft Intune Suite solutions. Intune Advanced Analytics multiple device query (MDQ), and Copilot help admins write detailed Kusto Query Language (KQL) queries and Endpoint Privilege Management with Copilot assesses app risks for admins to make informed decisions before approving Windows users’ elevation requests. And with the Surface Management Portal in Intune, Copilot provides unified visibility and controls for IT across Surface devices, further strengthening security posture and streamlining operations.
Microsoft Intune: Empower IT. Protect endpoints. Optimize with AI.
Just as Security Copilot is transforming endpoint management in Intune, it’s also reshaping how identity is managed in Microsoft Entra.
Security Copilot in Entra brings clarity and speed to identity security
Identity environments evolve daily—new user, apps, and permissions are constantly introduced, making it difficult for IT and identity admins to keep policies up to date and user access properly governed. Manual investigations done the traditional way can be very time-consuming and reactive, giving cyberattackers more time to exploit gaps. With more than 600 million identity-based attacks happening daily, organizations can’t afford slow, manual investigations or infrequent policy reviews.1
Security Copilot in Microsoft Entra, now generally available, brings AI-assisted reasoning, natural language prompts, and real-time insights across your identity and access estate, all within the Microsoft Entra admin center. We’ve made major enhancements to improve performance, scalability, and accuracy, enabling Security Copilot to better understand user intent, handle more complex questions, and deliver clearer answers.
We’ve also expanded coverage to support a broader set of real-world identity scenarios. Copilot in Entra now helps admins investigate users, troubleshoot sign-ins, manage access reviews and entitlements, monitor tenant health and service-level agreement (SLAs), optimize license usage, and analyze role assignments and recommendations—all grounded in Microsoft Graph data.
Admins can now ask natural language questions like, “Which enterprise applications have credentials about to expire?” and “What role does the user have?” to quickly surface insights and take action. Whether it’s reviewing access packages, identifying risky apps, or checking license availability, Security Copilot in Entra helps teams move faster, stay ahead of cyberthreats, and focus on what matters most.
Microsoft Entra: Comprehensive identity and network access solutions
Purpose-built agents for real-world IT challenges
At Microsoft Secure 2025, as part of our vision to deliver an AI-first, end-to-end security platform, Microsoft announced 11 AI-powered Security Copilot agents that are seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Security and partner solutions. These agents autonomously handle high-volume, high-value tasks, learn from feedback, adapt to workflows, and operate securely, reflecting our commitment to helping organizations achieve what was previously impossible—at machine speed.
Today marks a meaningful milestone in our journey toward an AI-first, end-to-end security platform: we’re announcing the general availability of the Conditional Access Optimization Agent in Microsoft Entra. This launch brings AI-powered automation to IT and security operations, helping teams bring proactive protection directly into identity workflows.
The Conditional Access Optimization Agent runs autonomously, scanning your environment for gaps, overlaps, and outdated policy assignments. It then recommends precise, one-click remediations to help close the gaps fast, turning reactive cleanup into proactive defense.
The Conditional Access Optimization Agent provides:
Autonomous protection, every day—Automatically detects newly created users or apps not covered by Conditional Access policies, reducing risk between manual audits.
Real-time, explainable decisions—Every recommendation includes a plain-language summary and visual activity map showing how the agent reached its conclusion.
Continuous adaptability to your organization’s needs—Support for custom business rules, the agent can learn based on your natural-language feedback (for example, excluding break-glass accounts).
Full auditability—Agent actions like install, enable and disable, and recommendations are recorded in the audit log for compliance and operational transparency.
With the Conditional Access Optimization Agent, policy coverage becomes continuous. You gain daily protection, policy clarity, and built-in expertise without the manual lift. As one security leader put it:
“The Conditional Access Optimization Agent is like having a security analyst on call 24/7. It proactively identifies gaps in our Conditional Access policies and ensures every user is protected from day one, and with report-only mode and AI-driven recommendations, we can test and refine access policies without disruption. It’s a secure path to innovation that every chief information security officer can trust.”
—Julian Rasmussen, Senior consultant and Partner, Point Taken, Microsoft MVP
Step into the future of IT with Security Copilot
We’re in a new era of AI that has implications for IT operations and security. Now with Microsoft Security Copilot in Intune and Entra, you can make your organization future-ready with AI solutions that help organizations transform IT and security at machine speed.
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the embedded experience of Security Copilot across Microsoft Security products, we’re excited to introduce a new in-portal capacity calculator available in the Security Copilot standalone experience (Azure account required). This tool allows organizations to estimate the number of Security Compute Units (SCUs) they may need based on the number of Security Copilot users in each Microsoft Security product. Users can generate a quick estimate, providing a practical starting point for capacity planning. SCU allocations can be adjusted at any time as real-world usage patterns emerge. Learn more.
Explore more use cases for IT and identity admins in the Security Copilot adoption hub. Explore Copilot in Intune and Entra and take these steps to learn more:
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 Digital Defense Report 2024.
The data, insights, and events in this report represent July 2023 through June 2024 (Microsoft fiscal year 2024), unless otherwise noted.
On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on July 15, 2025, Tuesday, as under:
On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on July 15, 2025, Tuesday, as under:
On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on July 15, 2025, Tuesday, as under: