NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rough sleeping to be decriminalised after 200 years 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Rough sleeping to be decriminalised after 200 years 

    The Government has confirmed it will repeal the outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 by Spring next year, to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence.

    • Government scraps 200-year-old law making rough sleeping a criminal offence in England and Wales.  

    • The outdated Vagrancy Act 1824 will be axed for good, reflecting modern attitudes, increased financial support for the homeless and the government’s mission to get to its root causes. 

    • New legislation will target real crimes instead such as organised begging by gangs and trespassing—protecting communities without penalising vulnerable people. 

    After 200 years, rough sleeping will no longer be a crime as the Government confirms it will formally scrap the Vagrancy Act by Spring next year. 

    The Act was introduced in 1824 – towards the end of the Georgian era – to deal with rising homelessness which increased after the Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution.  

    While use of the Act against rough sleeping has significantly declined over the years in line with modern attitudes and greater understanding around the causes of homelessness, it remains enforceable in law. 

    The Government will be repealing the Act to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence, as it concentrates its efforts on getting to the root causes of homelessness, backed by major funding. 

    The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has boosted funding for homelessness services by an extra £233 million this financial year, bringing total investment for 2025-26 to nearly £1 billion. This ambitious support will prevent more families from entering temporary accommodation and tackle rough sleeping head-on.    

    The Deputy Prime Minister is also developing a new homelessness strategy with other government departments and mayors and councils who all play an important role in prevention and frontline support. This strategy will be published later this year.

    The Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:     

    “We are drawing a line under nearly two centuries of injustice towards some of the most vulnerable in society, who deserve dignity and support. 

    “No one should ever be criminalised simply for sleeping rough and by scrapping this cruel and outdated law, we are making sure that can never happen again.”    

    The Minister for Homelessness Rushanara Ali said:    

    “Today marks a historic shift in how we’re responding to the rough sleeping crisis, by repealing an archaic Act that is neither just nor fit for purpose.

    “Scrapping the Vagrancy Act for good is another step forward in our mission to tackle homelessness in all its forms, by focusing our efforts on its root causes.”

    Government amendments to the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill will focus on real crime and not rough sleeping, with no replacement of previous legislation that criminalised people for simply sleeping rough. 

    New targeted measures will ensure police have the powers they need to keep communities safe – filling the gap left over by removing previous powers. 

    This will include a new offence of facilitating begging for gain and an offence of trespassing with the intention of committing a crime, both of which were previously included under the 1824 Act.   

    Organised begging, which is often facilitated by criminal gangs, exploits vulnerable individuals, and can undermine the public’s sense of safety. This offence makes it unlawful for anyone to organise others to beg, like driving people to places for them to beg. It will allow the police to crack down on the organised crime gangs that exploit vulnerable people to obtain cash for illicit activity. 

    Through our Plan for Change and commitment to the Safe Streets Mission, this announcement demonstrates we are taking decisive action to ensure communities are protected and our town centres are no longer exposed to such harm.

    ENDS 

    Chief Executive of Crisis Matt Downie said: 

    “This is a landmark moment that will change lives and prevent thousands of people from being pushed into the shadows, away from safety. 

    “For 200 years the Vagrancy Act has meant that people who are homeless are treated as criminals and second class citizens. It has punished people for trying to stay safe and done nothing to address why people become homeless in the first place.  

    “Ending the use of the Vagrancy Act recognises a shameful history of persecuting people for poverty and destitution, something that figures like William Wilberforce and Winston Churchill warned against in their opposition to the Act.  

    “It is of great credit to the UK Government that they have shown such principled leadership in scrapping this pernicious Act. We hope this signals a completely different approach to helping people forced onto the streets and clears the way for a positive agenda that is about supporting people who desperately want to move on in life and fulfil their potential. We look forward to assisting the UK Government with their forthcoming homelessness strategy to do exactly that.”

    St Mungo’s CEO Emma Haddad said:

    “The repeal of the Vagrancy Act, which criminalises rough sleeping, cannot come soon enough. 

    “Right now, we are supporting thousands of people who are rough sleeping; everyone facing this issue has their own heartbreaking story to tell of how they ended up on the streets – from complex mental and physical health issues to an increasingly unaffordable housing market. 

    “The answer is not to criminalise people for living on the streets but instead to focus on tackling the health, housing and wider societal issues that are causing homelessness in the first place.”

    Notes to editors:    

    • Repealing the Vagrancy Act was first announced in 2022 but it was not formally confirmed when it would be removed from law. This Government has now taken the decisive action to complete it within one year, by Spring 2026.    

    • Read more on MHCLG’s funding to tackle homelessness: Largest ever cash boost to turn the tide on homelessness – GOV.UK
    • Police forces across England and Wales use the powers in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to effectively tackle antisocial behaviour in the context of begging and rough sleeping, for example where an individual may be harassing members of the public. The Home Office will be updating the statutory guidance to ensure it is clear to agencies how antisocial behaviour powers could be used in this context if an individual’s behaviour reaches that threshold. Government amendments to the Home Office’s Crime and Policing Bill will also be published shortly.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU expert shapes proposals for economic growth

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Professor Aled Jones, Director of ARU’s Global Sustainability Institute

    Professor Aled Jones of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) has played a key role in a publication that sets out bold recommendations to help boost the UK economy.

    The British Academy’s Economic Strategy Programme aims to unlock long-term economic growth and prosperity in the UK and the newly-published policy insights released by the Programme are the result of collaboration between British Academy Fellows, leading academics and economic policymakers.

    The project, which began in 2023, has focused on four critical policy areas: International Trade and Geopolitics; Research & Development (R&D) and Innovation; Skills; and Sustainability and Social Value.

    Professor Jones, Director of ARU’s Global Sustainability Institute, was invited to join the Sustainability and Social Value Working Group, which has concentrated on improving social outcomes through investment in the UK economy.

    An overarching theme across the four policy areas is that a sustainable economic strategy should be underpinned by investment in the institutional, human and physical capital that in turn makes a place ‘investible’ for the private sector.

    Among the recommendations of the Sustainability and Social Value Working Group are the need to consider aspects of people’s lives beyond paid work – as these are fundamental to citizens’ wellbeing and a prosperous, well-functioning society – and the importance of incorporating social investment into a whole-systems approach to the economy, highlighting the interconnected nature of the challenges faced.

    The policy insight sets out how investment in health, education, wellbeing and social cohesion can provide a foundation to improve economic performance, while also strengthening societal resilience and capacity for change. The experts believe these investments can deliver economic gains through improved productivity in the long run.

    “It is great to see the final report being published, highlighting the importance of social investment in health, education, social security and social cohesion to underpin economic resilience.

    “Without recognising that good work and social infrastructure is interwoven with solutions to climate change and environmental degradation, the government will not be able to unlock a transformation of the UK economy that delivers prosperity for all.

    “A true systems approach, that measures and values what people care about, and care for, can deliver tangible outcomes for communities right across the UK.”

    Professor Aled Jones, Director of ARU’s Global Sustainability Institute

    The importance of social investment for UK economic strategy is available at https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/5761/The_importance_of_social_investment_for_UK_economic_strategy.pdf

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Consultation launched on modifications to Local Plan

    Source: City of Leicester

    RESIDENTS are being invited to have their say on modifications to Leicester’s Local Plan.

    A consultation is giving people the chance to comment on the recommendations planning inspectors have made on the Local Plan.

    In September 2023, Leicester City Council submitted its Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for independent examination. Public examination hearings were held late last year, led by Government-appointed planning inspectors.

    Following these hearings, inspectors have now agreed a number of amendments – known as ‘main modifications’ – to make the plan sound.

    These modifications are detailed, and cover a wide range of topics, such as sustainability, climate change, the use of brownfield sites, transport and the local economy.

    The modifications build on policies, regulations and supporting documents that inform the Local Plan and make recommendations on how they should be applied in the future.

    City mayor Peter Soulsby said: “This is the next stage of our Local Plan, and it’s important to note that residents are only able to comment on main modifications to the Plan at this stage. This is because the development of a Local Plan follows a strict process, which is set nationally, and prescribes what we can consult on at each stage.

    “We have already held several consultations on the Local Plan, and the comments and representations we previously received have already been considered and included in our evidence.

    “Once the responses from this latest consultation have been considered, we should be getting close to being able to adopt a new Local Plan for Leicester.

    “A robust Local Plan is a vital tool that helps us to shape housing, our local economy, community facilities and infrastructure for our city. It will set out our strategy for growth up until 2036, as well as helping us to conserve and enhance our natural and historic environment.”

    The consultation runs until 21 July and is available to fill in online at consultations.leicester.gov.uk

    Once the consultation is complete, comments are sent back to the Government planning inspectors for consideration. They will then determine whether the Local Plan is ‘sound’ and produce a written report outlining their final recommendations.

    For full details, please see the Local Plan webpage: https://www.leicester.gov.uk/content/leicester-local-plan-examination/

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Housing Growth Programme is building homes and changing lives

    Source: City of Leeds

    A new report has set out the impressive results being achieved by Leeds’s Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP) – and the plans that mean the city is perfectly placed to keep building on that success.

    The report shows that a total of 788 affordable homes – all for rent by council tenants – have been built or acquired through the CHGP over the last five years.

    A further 284 affordable homes – which are again being delivered by the CHGP for rent by council tenants – are currently under construction or in the process of being acquired, with Armley, Gipton and Swinnow among the communities where major new-build schemes are taking shape.

    Another 156 homes have been identified for delivery as part of the programme’s five-year first phase but have yet to commence construction.

    The report – due to be considered by Leeds City Council’s executive board at a meeting next Wednesday (June 18) – also details a number of sites that have been provisionally earmarked for the development of new housing during the second phase of the CHGP, which runs from 2026 to 2031.

    The sites include the derelict Kingsdale Court flats in Seacroft, land at Acre Mount in Middleton and the former Osmondthorpe One Stop Centre.

    Subject to the necessary feasibility, funding and planning approvals, schemes at these three locations alone could deliver more than 100 council homes.

    Other places lined up for new housing as part of phase two of the programme include Ramshead Approach in Seacroft, Cartmell Drive in Halton Moor and land formerly occupied by the demolished Highways tower blocks in Killingbeck.

    The vast majority of the funding for the completed CHGP homes – many of which are for social rent, the most affordable tenure – has been provided by the council’s housing service via Right to Buy receipts and borrowing.

    Other key points contained in the report include:

    • More than 400 of the 788 homes delivered by the programme to date were newly-built properties;
    • The council’s new-build homes use low-carbon heating and other energy efficiency measures to support Leeds’s net zero ambitions while also helping tenants with the cost of living;
    • CHGP schemes are, where appropriate, delivered through local contractors and supply chains, generating training and employment opportunities for people in Leeds.

    The council has additionally, through the use of its land and ‘commuted sums’ funding resources, facilitated the building of around 400 homes by registered affordable housing providers such as housing associations.

    This means that around 1,600 homes have either been completed, acquired, identified for delivery, facilitated or had construction begin during phase one of the CHGP.

    The number of affordable homes delivered in Leeds over the last five years by all providers, meanwhile, is over 2,900 – more than in any other large city in the country outside London.

    That same combination of council, registered provider and private sector activity is projected to deliver an average of 780 affordable homes in the city over each of the next three years.

    The results achieved to date by the council’s CHGP, notes the report, have come in spite of the challenging conditions faced by the construction market in recent times.

    The report also acknowledges that “significant resource and investment” from central government and other partners will be required if the current momentum is to be maintained.

    Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said:

    “As a council, we are determined to use every tool at our disposal to ensure that people across Leeds are living in the kind of safe, warm and welcoming homes where they can flourish and feel secure.

    “Key to this work is our Council Housing Growth Programme and the hundreds of affordable homes it has delivered – and is continuing to deliver – for the city.

    “These homes are more than just numbers, they represent lives changed for the better and I’m proud of the success we have achieved to date. I’m also really pleased that, by making many of the homes available for social rent, we’ve been able to give a helping hand to those on lower incomes.

    “We know there is still much to do, however, with the city continuing to face significant housing needs at a time when affordable homes are in particular demand.

    “Our plans for phase two of the programme underline our commitment to meeting those needs by providing good-quality, energy-efficient and affordable housing that will in turn help build thriving, inclusive communities.”

    Locations where new housing has recently been delivered by the CHGP include Barncroft Close in Seacroft and Scott Hall Drive in Chapel Allerton as well as a site in Middleton formerly occupied by Throstle Recreation Ground and Middleton Skills Centre.

    In a sign of the council’s determination to ensure its schemes meet a range of needs, the Middleton development includes Gascoigne House – a 60-apartment extra care facility – as well as 100 family homes and 16 wheelchair-accessible bungalows.

    The report being considered at next week’s executive board meeting is entitled ‘Council Housing Growth Programme Update and Phase 2 Proposals’ and can be found in full here.

    Notes to editors:

    The term ‘affordable housing’ refers to homes that are available for rent at below market value or low-cost ownership. When affordable housing is made available for rent, potential tenures include ‘affordable’ and ‘social’. Affordable rent is discounted by at least 20 per cent from the prevailing local market rate. Social rent is lower than affordable rent and set by a formula tied to local incomes, property size and property value.

    The council’s commuted sums funding stream supports affordable housing delivery using pooled financial contributions paid by developers as part of planning agreements.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Don’t think it as conflict between India and Pakistan, it is India vs ‘Terroristan’: EAM Jaishankar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Reiterating that India will not give in to any kind of nuclear blackmail, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Tuesday reaffirmed that the country strongly believes in zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

    “This is not a conflict between two states per se. This is actually a response to the threat and to the practice of terrorism. So, I would urge you to don’t think of it as India-Pakistan, think of it as India and ‘Terroristan’, you would then appreciate,” Jaishankar said while addressing a joint press conference with European Union High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas in Brussels.

    Asserting that terrorism is a shared and interconnected challenge for the global community, the EAM mentioned that it is imperative that there must be strong international cooperation and understanding on the matter.

    EAM Jaishankar and Kallas were addressing the media after holding the first strategic dialogue between India and the European Union where both sides held an open and productive meeting with discussions focused on defence and security – including maritime, cyber and space.

    “Nuclear threats cannot pay off. This is a mutual concern. We see different actors in the world using it. In this global changing world, we need more partners, and therefore we are working to intensify our cooperation regarding security and defence,” Kallas stated.

    EAM Jaishankar highlighted that both sides exchanged views on global order, including the situation in Europe, the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Indo-Pacific.

    “My visit to Brussels is taking place three months after that of the EU College of Commissioners to India. Even in that time, it was apparent that the world order was in the midst of a profound change. These trends have intensified in many ways. We have entered an era of multipolarity and strategic autonomy, which are two important forces for India and the EU to forge deeper ties. Working towards that goal requires intensified cooperation in many domains,” he stated

    “There will be situations when our perspectives will not be entirely identical and which is understandable. But what is important is that we expand common ground and understanding and enhance levels of trust,” he added.

    Jaishankar also mentioned that India aims to conclude the ambitious India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of the year.

    “Stabilising and de-risking the international economy today is a strategic priority for us. This has many dimensions, including more resilient and reliable supply chains as well as increasing trust and transparency in digital interactions. Creating stronger economic and technology partnerships between major players acquires greater value. It is with that perspective that we support the goal of concluding an ambitious and balanced India-EU FTA by the end of this year,” the EAM remarked.

    (IANS)

  • India’s security apparatus transformed under Modi government: Rajnath Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday addressing a dialogue on “National Security & Terrorism” in Dehradun, asserted that the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fundamentally transformed the nation’s security approach over the past 11 years. Citing Operation Sindoor as a watershed moment, Singh described it as the biggest counter-terror operation in India’s history, conducted in retaliation to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir.

    Calling the Pahalgam incident a direct assault on India’s social unity, Singh said the government responded decisively by eliminating terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). “Post the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu & Kashmir has entered an era of peace and development. Our adversaries could not digest this progress and resorted to terrorism,” he said. The Defence Minister further added that the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line symbolizes this developmental push, confidently asserting, “Soon, PoK will say, ‘I too am Bharat’.”

    In a strong message to the global community, Singh urged nations to exert strategic, diplomatic, and economic pressure on Pakistan, which he labelled the “Father of Global Terrorism.” “Pakistan has become a nursery for terrorists, training and sheltering them while seeking to justify terrorism on ideological or religious grounds,” he stated. He criticized the recent United Nations Security Council decision to name Pakistan as Vice-Chair of its Counter-Terrorism Panel, describing it as “shocking and contradictory,” especially given Pakistan’s track record of harbouring terrorists like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar.

    “Funding Pakistan is akin to funding terror,” Singh declared, calling for a halt to international financial aid that could be misused for nurturing terrorism.

    Highlighting the indigenous strength of India’s military, Singh noted that Made-in-India weapons and platforms were used in Operation Sindoor. “India is no longer solely dependent on foreign defence equipment,” he said, crediting the government’s focus on indigenisation. The Defence Minister revealed that India’s defence production has surged from ₹40,000 crore in 2014 to ₹1.3 lakh crore in 2024-25, with exports reaching a record ₹23,622 crore. Targets for this year have been set at ₹1.75 lakh crore in production and ₹30,000 crore in exports, with an ambitious long-term goal of ₹3 lakh crore production and ₹50,000 crore in exports by 2029.

    He also highlighted the issuance of 10 Positive Indigenisation Lists, containing over 5,500 items aimed at promoting domestic defence manufacturing.

    Singh warned of the growing threat posed by information warfare, citing Pakistan’s attempts to disrupt Indian morale through fake news and manipulated content** during Operation Sindoor. He urged citizens to become “social soldiers” by combating misinformation and being vigilant in cyberspace. “Cybersecurity is not just a government concern—it’s a national responsibility,” he said.

    He also called on the media to prioritize accuracy over speed, noting that journalism has a crucial role in national security. “In today’s age, journalism is not just a profession but a national duty,” Singh remarked, encouraging responsible and fact-based reporting.

    Rajnath Singh appealed the international community and global organisations, including the United Nations, to take terrorism seriously and act decisively. “Only when the world is free from terrorism can we truly move toward global peace, prosperity, and progress,” he said.

     

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden, Warren Seek Answers from Contractor that Stands to Profit as Millions Lose Health Care Coverage

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    June 10, 2025
    Maximus, which has spent millions lobbying federal lawmakers on safety net programs like Medicaid, has a history of raking in profits by ejecting millions of Americans off of their health insurance
    Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.,  said today they have written to Maximus, the largest contractor for Medicaid eligibility determinations, regarding the company’s potential profiteering under a Republican plan to cut Medicaid.
    In a warning of what could come if so-called “work requirements” pass into law, the senators pressed Maximus on its business strategy of kicking millions of low-income Americans off  their Medicaid coverage—even when they meet all the program’s eligibility requirements—to earn more profit.
    “As the largest contractor for Medicaid eligibility determinations, your company would likely assess whether individuals meet the requirements outlined in the Republican bill, giving you extraordinary power over Americans’ access to health care,” the senators wrote. “But your company has an abysmal track record, with reports of egregious backlogs and service delays and several reported instances of fraud.”
    Medicaid is a crucial health insurance program for millions of low- and middle-income Americans, covering about one in three Oregonians enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan. Trump and congressional Republicans are pushing to make the largest cuts to Medicaid in the program’s history, including nearly $350 billion in cuts from implementing so-called “work requirements.” The independent, non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will rip away health insurance coverage from more than 10 million Americans and that work requirements alone will result in almost 5 million people losing Medicaid. 
    In addition to its troubling track record in Medicaid, Maximus has also:
    Required Americans to submit intrusive personal information to complete eligibility checks, which was subsequently stolen in massive data breaches.
    Raked in profits for cycling some of America’s poorest individuals in and out of short-term, low-paying jobs rather than placing them in stable, long-term employment.
    Spent millions in recent years on lobbying and campaign contributions to federal, state, and local campaigns to persuade political leaders to implement stricter eligibility requirements for programs like Medicaid—knowing that its shareholders and bottom line would benefit when vulnerable Americans faced more red tape.
    “Maximus profited not from promoting work—the stated goal of Republican policymakers—but instead from trapping low-income Americans in a cycle of poverty, with individuals falling into and out of employment and eligibility for benefits in part due to the perverse incentives in your state contracts,” the senators wrote.
    Maximus’ stock has climbed as Trump and Republicans raced to pass legislation that would impose red tape requirements on Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. With $100 million set aside in Republicans’ new bill to implement Medicaid red tape requirements just in fiscal year 2026, Maximus potentially stands to gain tens of millions worth of contracts in the coming years, representing a more than 30x return on its lobbying expenditures.
    Maximus has even made clear to investors that the “Big Beautiful Bill” creates numerous pathways to profit, stating that “changes that require customer engagement … increase our activity volume” and that “a reduction in Medicaid recipients may not necessarily decrease consumer engagement, especially if eligibility verification or activity reporting requirements become more frequent than today.”
    “All of this raises serious questions about your ability to effectively administer Medicaid eligibility determinations and avoid the perverse incentives that allow you to benefit from kicking even more Americans off of Medicaid if Donald Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ becomes law,” the senators continued. “With millions of dollars spent on lobbyists in Washington and around the nation, you have worked to enact the largest Medicaid cuts in the program’s history—and ensure that your company and you personally will financially benefit.”
    The senators are pressing Maximus for information on its lobbying efforts and concerning track record of implementing so-called “work requirements” in other federal programs.
    The full text of the letter is here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin On Republicans’ Reconciliation Bill: It’s A Big, Beautiful Betrayal Against American Families

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    June 09, 2025
    In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin slammed the Republican reconciliation plan that will kick 16 million Americans off their health care coverage, close rural hospitals, and raise prices for American families in order to pay for tax cuts to billionaires
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor, making clear that Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will only raise prices and slash Medicaid and Medicare coverage for working Americans in order to pay for significant tax breaks for billionaires.  Durbin reiterated in his remarks that the legislation will harm Americans as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an estimate showing that 16 million Americans will lose their health insurance under the Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
    “They [congressional Republicans] are considering a tax bill that will eliminate health insurance coverage for 16 million Americans.  More people and families will lose health insurance coverage by virtue of this ‘big, beautiful bill’ than any legislation we passed in modern memory,” Durbin began.
    Durbin explained how unpopular it would be to cut health insurance coverage for Americans, which has prompted a small number of Republicans to express their discontent with $800 billion in proposed cuts to Medicaid.
    “Some Republican Senators, like Josh Hawley in my neighboring state of Missouri, have criticized this because he realizes how many people he represents count on Medicaid, the basic health insurance program.  Senator Hawley says even as a Republican, he can’t support that provision,” Durbin said.  “No one should support that provision.  If you ever lived at a moment in your life with a seriously sick child and no health insurance, you’ll never forget it.  I know.  I’ve been there.”
    “With this analysis from the Congressional Budget Office, we have new estimates on how this bill impacts each and every state.  210,000 people in my neighboring state of Missouri, Senator Hawley’s state, could lose their health insurance coverage.  In Iowa, nearly 100,000 people could lose their health plans, and for our neighbor in Indiana, 250,000 Hoosiers could lose the peace of mind that comes with having health insurance,” Durbin said.
    “What is it that is so compelling that the Republicans feel they can stand up and tell 16 million people in America, ‘you’ll lose your health insurance.’  What will they use that money for?  What will they take it to the bank for?  For something very basic.  Tax cuts for the wealthiest people in America,” Durbin continued.
    Durbin spoke about his recent visit to a children’s hospital in Chicago, emphasizing that patients, including his constituent Layoni, rely on Medicaid in order to receive life-saving care.
    “Friday, I visited a hospital in Chicago… It’s La Rabida, a children’s hospital… Ninety percent of the families that bring their children to La Rabida Hospital qualify for Medicaid.  These are families of limited means, and they turn to a highly professional hospital which has a reputation of caring for the poorest kids, as well as the richest kids. They treat them all the same, and they treat them well,” Durbin said.
    “When I visited the hospital, they told me the story of one of their patients.  Her name is Layoni. She was born prematurely at 26 weeks.  When she was born she was only the size of the palm of your hand.  She was given just days to survive.  She needed a ventilator, tracheotomy tube, central line, an IV-like device that brought medicine to her heart, and much, much more.  Today, Layoni is four years old.  It’s a miracle. Thanks to want incredible cared provided by La Rabida and the love of so many people, she’s there,” Durbin continued.  “Layoni’s family was covered by Medicaid, the most highly targeted program for cuts in this ‘big, beautiful bill.’”
    Durbin explained the impact the Republicans’ reconciliation bill will have on hospitals across the country, many of which rely on Medicaid reimbursements to stay open.  If critical Medicaid funding is cut, hospitals across the country, especially those in rural areas, will be at serious risk of closure.  According to America’s Essential Hospitals, uncompensated care costs for hospitals will increase by $42 billion in a single year under this Republican proposal.  For rural hospitals that are already struggling financially, this bill could lead to them permanently closing their doors.
    “They [20 hospital administrators from downstate and urban Illinois] came out to see me three weeks ago…  On their own, they wanted to tell me the story, that the bill that passed the House of Representatives… will be devastating to these hospitals.  Some of them won’t survive,” Durbin said.
    “What does it mean to a small or medium-size city that’s lucky enough to have a good hospital and lose it?  Well, the obvious. If you need emergency medical care, it’s a longer drive.  If that baby is about to be born, it’s a longer drive. When it comes down to treatment, these hospitals provide the first in urgent care.  And if that hospital closes, what happens?  It takes longer to get that care, but in addition to that, it also means a major part of the local economy is gone,” Durbin said.  “How will you attract a business or keep a business when you lose your hospital? That’s what’s at stake here because it cuts into the Medicaid program.”
    Despite Republican claims that the reconciliation bill will not impact Medicare, the bill also includes a $500 billion cut to Medicare.
    “The Trump ‘big, beautiful bill’ is designed to cut the program that these hospitals rely on most, the Medicaid program.  Now it turns out because they add trillions of dollars to the deficit for this tax cut, you’re also facing the possibility of something called sequestration, what that means is there will be less coverage for Medicare,” Durbin said.  “This would be devastating to many people who count on it. It’s not just La Rabida that would face consequences.  Red and blue states would suffer.”
    Durbin continued on, stressing that this legislation will also increase the cost of living for Americans while billionaires will enjoy an additional $400,000 in tax cuts. 
    “As if an increase in the health care premiums isn’t enough, the costs of basic goods will skyrocket under this Republican plan.  The ‘big, beautiful betrayal’ will raise energy bills up to $400 a year for families and ten percent for businesses,” Durbin said.
    “If housing wasn’t already expensive enough, many Americans will see their mortgages increase by $600 a year.  Want to follow your passion and start a business?  Small business loans are estimated to increase under the ‘big, beautiful bill’ by $1,000 a year.  Tariffs are estimated to raise costs for American households by around $2,500,” Durbin said.  “If this last election was about the cost of living and giving families a fighting chance to survive paycheck to paycheck, this bill is devastating for those who aren’t the wealthiest in America.”
    Durbin concluded his remarks by calling on his Republican colleagues to push back against this legislation that will eliminate health care for 16 million Americans and raise prices even further.
    “This year, for the Fourth of July, the most American thing we can do is, on a bipartisan basis, stop this disaster.  What does it take to say, ‘Pause, stop.  We don’t want to cut Medicaid.  We don’t want to take health insurance away from 16 million people.  We don’t want to see the expenses of families going up.’  What will it take? Four Republican Senators who will step up and say this is a mistake,” Durbin said.
    “Donald Trump is trying to rush us into something which is not good for American families. [The bill is] good for billionaires… but for ordinary families struggling with their regular bills that they have to pay, the ‘big, beautiful bill’ is a big, beautiful betrayal,” Durbin concluded.
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: No Limit Casinos That Are Making Waves in the 2025 Gambling Scene- By All iGaming Experts!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The online gambling industry is evolving with the rise of no limit casinos, offering high rollers and players flexibility to deposit, withdraw, and bet without restrictions. These platforms, also known as no limit casinos or no limit casino online platforms, provide unparalleled control over your gaming experience. However, with great freedom comes the need for caution—choosing the right platform is crucial to avoid risks like unfair practices. 

    >> Check Out The Full List Of No Limit Casinos, As Rated By All iGaming

    All iGaming, a trusted authority in online gambling reviews, offers expert evaluations to help players find the best no limit casinos, including highroller and no withdrawal limit casinos. This guide explores what sets no limit casinos apart and how to choose a safe and rewarding platform in 2025.

    ➡️ Why Choose All iGaming For No Limit Casino Reviews

    All iGaming has earned its reputation as a trusted resource by prioritizing player needs above all else. Unlike generic review sites that may rely on flashy promotions, All iGaming conducts thorough, objective assessments of every no limit casino to ensure it meets stringent standards for safety, fairness, and performance. Their evaluations focus on what matters most to players: secure transactions, diverse game offerings, transparent bonuses, and responsive support.

    By highlighting both the strengths and potential drawbacks of each no limit casino online, All iGaming empowers players to make choices that align with their preferences. Whether you’re a high roller looking for a platform with no betting limits or a player seeking anonymity through minimal KYC requirements, All iGaming’s detailed reviews provide the clarity you need. Their commitment to transparency makes them an invaluable partner in navigating the exciting yet complex world of no limit gambling.

    >>Get the Full Breakdown of No Limit Casinos You Can Trust

    ➡️How All iGaming Ranks The Top No Limit Casinos

    All iGaming employs a meticulous, player-centric evaluation process to identify the best no limit casinos. Each platform is assessed across several critical factors that define a superior gaming experience. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key criteria:

    Criteria Description
    Licensing and Compliance Casinos must hold valid licenses from reputable authorities like Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao eGaming to ensure regulatory compliance and player protection.
    Transaction Flexibility Platforms should offer unrestricted deposits and withdrawals, supporting fast and secure payment methods like cryptocurrencies, e-wallets, and credit cards.
    Game Variety A diverse library with high-stakes options, including slots, table games, and live dealer games, is essential for a no limit casino.
    Bonus Structures Bonuses should have clear terms, low or no wagering requirements, and no caps on winnings to benefit both high rollers and casual players.
    Customer Support 24/7 support through live chat, email, or platforms like Discord ensures prompt assistance, especially for large transactions.
    Privacy and Security Robust measures like SSL encryption and 2FA, along with no or low KYC options, balance player privacy with regulatory compliance.

    ✔️Licensing and Compliance

    A valid license from a trusted authority, such as the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao eGaming, is non-negotiable. All iGaming verifies licensing details to ensure that every no limit casino adheres to strict regulatory standards, protecting players from rogue operators and fostering a secure gaming environment.

    ✔️Transaction Flexibility

    The hallmark of a no limit deposit casino or no withdrawal limit casino is the ability to manage funds without restrictions. All iGaming tests the speed and security of deposit and withdrawal processes, ensuring support for popular payment methods like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and traditional options such as e-wallets and credit cards.

    Cryptocurrencies are particularly valued for their near-instant transactions and lack of limits, making them ideal for high rollers seeking a seamless experience.

    ✔️Game Variety and High Stakes Options

    The best no limit casinos offer a rich selection of games, including slots, poker, blackjack, and live dealer options, all without betting caps. All iGaming evaluates game libraries from top providers like Betsoft, Playtech, and Microgaming, ensuring competitive Return to Player (RTP) rates and high-stakes options that cater to players seeking a highroller online casino experience.

    >>See Which No Limit Casinos Made the Cut for 2025

    ✔️Bonus Structures Suitable for High Rollers

    Bonuses can significantly enhance the gaming experience, but unclear terms can lead to frustration. All iGaming carefully examines wagering requirements, bonus caps, and eligibility criteria to recommend casinos with transparent, player-friendly offers.

    These may include deposit matches, cashback, or free spins designed to appeal to both high rollers and casual players.

    ✔️Customer Support

    Responsive customer support is critical, especially for players handling large transactions in a no limit casino. All iGaming assesses the availability and quality of support channels, such as 24/7 live chat, email, or platforms like Discord, ensuring players receive prompt and professional assistance when needed.

    ✔️Privacy and Security

    For players who prioritize anonymity, All iGaming highlights no limit casinos with minimal or no KYC requirements, ensuring privacy without compromising regulatory compliance. Robust security measures, including SSL encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA), protect player data and funds, creating a safe gaming environment.

    ➡️The Importance Of Selecting A Trusted No Limit Casino

    The freedom offered by no limit casinos is undeniably appealing, but it comes with risks. Unscrupulous operators may exploit players with unfair practices, delayed payouts, or inadequate security.

    All iGaming’s rigorous reviews help players avoid these pitfalls by recommending only legal and reputable no limit casinos that prioritize transparency, fairness, and player safety. By choosing a trusted platform, you can focus on the excitement of unrestricted gaming without worrying about hidden risks.

    All iGaming’s commitment to player protection ensures that you can enjoy the thrill of a no limit casino online with confidence. Their recommendations are based on thorough evaluations, giving you peace of mind as you explore high-stakes gaming opportunities.

    >>Browse Our Exclusive Guide to No Limit Casinos

    ➡️Resources From All iGaming

    All iGaming goes beyond simple rankings, offering a wealth of educational resources to enhance your gambling journey:

    • Guides on Bonuses: Learn how to evaluate casino bonuses and avoid common pitfalls, such as hidden wagering requirements.
    • Understanding No Limit Casinos: Detailed explanations of how no limit casinos operate and what to look for in a platform.
    • Transaction Safety: Tips for securely managing large transactions, particularly in a no limit deposit casino.
    • Risks of Unlicensed Platforms: Insights into the dangers of unregulated casinos and how to avoid them.
    • Emerging Trends: Updates on innovations in no limit gambling, such as blockchain technology and AI integration.
    • Responsible Gambling Strategies: Tools like budgeting tips, time limits, and self-exclusion options to promote safe play.

    These resources empower players, from seasoned high rollers to newcomers, to make informed decisions and enjoy a rewarding experience in no limit casino online platforms.

    ➡️Navigating Regulations With All iGaming

    The legal landscape of online gambling, especially for no limit casinos, can be complex and varies by region. All iGaming simplifies this process by ensuring that every recommended casino operates under reputable licenses and adheres to strict regulatory standards. Key compliance measures include:

    • Robust Data Security: SSL encryption and secure account protocols safeguard player information.
    • Transparent Game Fairness: Many no limit casinos use provably fair systems, allowing players to independently verify game outcomes.
    • Clear Transaction Policies: Transparent rules for deposits, withdrawals, and bonuses ensure clarity and fairness.
    • Responsible Gambling Tools: Features like self-exclusion and deposit limits promote safe play, even in a no limit environment.
    • Independent Audits: Regular third-party audits ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory standards.

    All iGaming also provides clear guides on KYC requirements, tax obligations, and regional regulations, helping players understand the legal aspects of their chosen no limit casino and ensuring compliance with local laws.

    >>Check Out the Top No Limit Casino Rankings by iGaming Professionals

    ➡️ Trends In No Limit Casinos For 2025

    The no limit casino industry is evolving rapidly, and All iGaming keeps players informed about the latest developments shaping the future of gaming. Key trends for 2025 include:

    • Decentralized Casinos and Web3 Integration: Built on blockchain protocols like Ethereum or Solana, decentralized casinos offer enhanced transparency and player control through smart contracts. These platforms are ideal for no limit casino online experiences, providing verifiable fairness and automated payouts.
    • NFT and Play-to-Earn Integration: Some no limit casinos are introducing NFT-based rewards and play-to-earn models, allowing players to earn unique digital assets or tokens as part of their gaming experience.
    • AI-Powered Gaming Experiences: Artificial intelligence is transforming casinos with personalized game recommendations, dynamic bonuses, and improved customer support, creating a tailored highroller – online casino experience.

    All iGaming evaluates these innovations to ensure they deliver genuine value while maintaining high standards of security and fairness, keeping players at the forefront of the no limit gambling revolution.

    ➡️Tips For Selecting A No Limit Casino

    Choosing the right no limit casino requires careful consideration. All iGaming offers the following practical tips to optimize your gaming experience:

    • Confirm Licensing: Select casinos licensed by trusted authorities like the Malta Gaming Authority or Curaçao eGaming to ensure safety and fairness.
    • Prioritize Fairness: Choose platforms with provably fair games or regular third-party audits to guarantee unbiased outcomes.
    • Scrutinize Bonuses: Look for bonuses with clear terms, low or no wagering requirements, and no caps on winnings to maximize value.
    • Test Support: Ensure the casino offers 24/7 customer support through multiple channels, such as live chat or email, for quick issue resolution.
    • Focus on Security: Opt for platforms with robust encryption, two-factor authentication, and other security measures to protect your data and funds.
    • Value Privacy: If anonymity is a priority, explore no limit casinos with no KYC or low KYC requirements, ensuring compliance with regulations.

    By following these tips, you can enjoy a seamless and secure gaming experience in a no limit casino online.

    Final Verdict On Best No Limit Casinos

    No limit casinos are reshaping online gambling by offering players the freedom to play without restrictions. With unlimited deposits, withdrawals, and high-stakes betting opportunities, these platforms cater to those seeking a highroller – online casino experience. However, this freedom comes with the need for caution, as unregulated platforms and unfair practices pose risks. Choosing a reputable no limit casino is essential for a safe and enjoyable gaming experience.

    All iGaming is your trusted guide, providing expert reviews, resources, and tools to help you navigate the complexities of no limit gambling. Their commitment to transparency ensures you can focus on the excitement of gaming while staying protected from potential risks.

    Responsible gambling is equally important in a no limit environment. All iGaming offers valuable tools like budgeting tips and self-exclusion options to help players maintain control and ensure gaming remains fun and rewarding. Whether you’re a high roller or a newcomer, All iGaming is here to guide you toward a safe, informed, and thrilling no limit casino experience.

    >>FIND THE PERFECT NO LIMIT CASINO FROM TOP CHOICES HANDPICKED BY ALL IGAMING!

    ➡️About All iGaming

    All iGaming is a trusted, independent source for online gambling reviews, providing impartial evaluations of top casinos based on thorough, player-centered assessments. The platform is dedicated to promoting responsible gambling by offering valuable educational resources, self-assessment tools, and expert guidance to encourage healthy and balanced gaming habits.

    FAQs

    • Are no limit casinos safe to use?

    Yes, provided they are licensed by reputable authorities. All iGaming recommends only casinos that adhere to strict regulations, including SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and independent audits to ensure player safety.

    • What are provably fair games?

    Provably fair games use cryptographic algorithms, often blockchain-based, to allow players to verify the fairness of game outcomes. This transparency ensures that games are not manipulated, building trust in no limit casinos.

    • What payment methods are supported by no limit casinos?

    Top no limit casinos support a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Cryptocurrencies are favored for their speed and lack of transaction limits, ideal for no limit deposit casinos and no withdrawal limit casinos.

    • Can I play at no limit casinos anonymously?

    Many no limit casinos offer no KYC or low KYC options, allowing for anonymous play. All iGaming highlights platforms that balance privacy with regulatory compliance to ensure a secure experience.

    • How do I stay safe while gambling at no limit casinos?

    Use secure payment methods, enable two-factor authentication, verify casino licenses, and set personal gambling limits. All iGaming provides guides on safe gambling practices to protect players.

    • What are the benefits of choosing a no limit casino?

    No limit casinos offer unmatched flexibility in deposits, withdrawals, and betting amounts, making them ideal for high rollers. They also provide diverse game libraries and high-stakes options for a thrilling gaming experience.

    Disclaimer

    The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and relevance of the content, we do not endorse or guarantee the legitimacy of any listed casinos. Online gambling involves financial risk and may be subject to legal restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Please ensure compliance with local laws before engaging in any gambling activities. We encourage responsible gaming and recommend that players exercise caution when participating in online gambling. Always verify the details of any casino and consult legal advisors before making decisions.

    Email:support@alligaming.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Emergency Loans Online for Low Credit & Bad Credit Borrowers – A New Initiative by Wizzay

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In times of unexpected economic turmoil, individuals will tend to look for emergency loans as a potential means of respite. Emergency loans are typically designed to provide speedy access to funds for urgent expenditures such as medical bills, emergency work, or unavoidable travel. With the surge of online lending sites, the term “emergency loans online guaranteed approval” has gained much more visibility.

    Wizzay Loan is an online platform in the nature of a loan referral network that brings together borrowers and lenders who might provide financial support regardless of credit issues. Wizzay Loan does not lend funds directly but provides access to a pool of third-party lenders.

     <<>>

    Wizzay Loan – Now Offering Emergency Loans Online With Guaranteed Approval

    Emergency loans are temporary borrowing options that are meant to help pay for surprise or immediate expenses like medical charges, car repairs, or utility bills. When made available online, they offer a guarantee of convenience and speed when applying and being approved.

    The word “guaranteed approval” is often placed in advertisements but needs to be interpreted cautiously. Practically, no serious lender can guarantee approval without reviewing important eligibility factors like income, identification, and credit worthiness. Rather, sites that employ this terminology often tend to offer loan matching services or platforms in which approval chances are more feasible because there are various lenders available.

    Emergency loans online generally range from moderate to small sizes with short loan terms. Interest rates and charges are quite diverse, based on lender type and borrower credit profile. Borrowers need to use caution with guaranteed approval promises and ask for full disclosure of loan terms prior to commitment.

    Why Wizzay Loan Stands Out in a Crowded Direct Lender Marketplace

    Wizzay Loan is mostly a loan matching website, allowing clients to get access to a network of lenders that have expertise in personal and emergency loans. It does not directly offer loans like direct lenders but makes connections based on the information of the applicants.

    The site addresses people who might find it challenging to get credit from conventional financial institutions, such as individuals with poor or limited credit scores. Through the use of various lender relationships, Wizzay Loan provides users the potential of loan matches that can accommodate diverse financial circumstances.

    Its prominence in the online lending market stems from the volume of lender partners and the streamlined application process it provides. While it markets itself as offering “guaranteed approval,” this claim refers more to the broad reach of its lender network rather than an unconditional loan guarantee.

     <<>>

    How Wizzay Loan Helps Access Personal Loans Without Delay

    The urgency of emergency expenses requires fast access to funds. Wizzay Loan aims to expedite the loan search and application process by centralizing borrower information and submitting it to multiple lenders simultaneously.

    Key aspects of its approach include:

    • Single Application Process: Borrowers complete one form, reducing repetitive submissions.
    • Network Matching: Information is sent to several lenders within the network to identify potential matches quickly.
    • Speed of Decision: Numerous lenders who participate use automated underwriting, allowing quick decisions, even in minutes.
    • Diverse Loan Options: The platform offers different types of loans, such as payday loans, installment loans, and other short-term credit offerings.

    But applicants should realize that though the platform makes the search easier, actual loan approval periods and funding are subject to the policies of individual lenders and borrower eligibility.

    Finding Instant Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval Through Wizzay Loan

    Online payday loans guaranteed approval instantly are often marketed as a quick and convenient financial answer. Payday loans are short-term, usually small-dollar loans that are to be repaid at the borrower’s next payday.

    While a few lenders offer quick approval and same-day funding, the term guaranteed approval needs to be carefully examined. Legitimate lenders need to consider risk factors before approving credit, so not all applicants are approved instantly or without stipulation.

    Criteria that influence immediate approval are:

    • Income and Employment Verification: Income proof is usually necessary.
    • Identity Verification: To avoid fraud and meet regulations.
    • Debt-to-Income Ratio: To assess ability to pay back.
    • Credit History: While there are payday lenders who advance cash to those with poor credit, very negative histories or recent bankruptcies could restrict the possibility of approval.

    Payday Loans Online via Wizzay Loan – Risks, Terms, and Availability

    Payday loans online are easily accessible via lender networks and referral services, such as platforms like Wizzay Loan. The loans are defined by brief repayment terms (typically two to four weeks) and comparatively high interest rates versus conventional loans.

    The following are key things to consider:

    • High Cost of Borrowing: Rates and charges can be extremely high, reaching more than 300% annual percentage rate (APR).
    • Short Repayment Period: Repayment is usually due in one lump sum on the next paycheck of the borrower, which can be stressful on finances.
    • Risk of Debt Cycle: Borrowers who cannot repay soon might roll over or renew loans, causing debt accumulation.
    • Availability: Payday loans are governed differently by state or nation; they are restricted or banned in some jurisdictions, impacting availability.

    Borrowers must consider these factors thoughtfully and use alternative forms of finance whenever possible.

     <<>>

    Getting Quick Cash Loans Through Wizzay Loan’s Lender Network

    Lender networks make it easier to get different quick cash loan products by sending borrower applications to a network of lenders. Networks help to bring approval opportunities, especially for borrowers with less-than-perfect credit.

    Different Types of Loans: Networks could offer payday loans, installment loans, title loans, and personal loans.

    Multiple Lending Criteria: Different lenders have different criteria for approval.

    • Data Sharing: Personal and financial details are shared with several parties, which brings privacy issues to the fore.
    • Potential Multiple Offers: Candidates may be offered several loans to shop around.
    • Fees and Terms: Both very different between lenders, stressing the importance of careful examination.

    Knowledge of these factors may assist borrowers in making well-informed choices regarding which type of loan best meets their requirements.

    Navigating the Credit Check Landscape with Wizzay Loan

    Credit checks are an integral part of most loan determinations. Sites such as Wizzay Loan work around credit checks by providing loan choices along a range of credit profiles.

    Credit check types include:

    1. Soft Credit Checks: Do not impact credit scores and tend to be employed in prequalification processes.
    2. Hard Credit Checks: Conducted by lenders to evaluate risk in a formal manner; will temporarily impact credit scores.

    Wizzay Loan’s network can consist of lenders who would be prepared to deal with borrowers who have:

    • Low credit scores.
    • Poor credit histories.
    • Recent financial problems.

    Applicants need to note that even though there might be some lenders providing “no credit check” loans, these normally come at a higher price or with tighter conditions.

     <<>>

    Wizzay Loan Facilitates Same Day and Instant Approval for Emergency Lending

    Same day or immediate approval conditions describe quick underwriting decisions and quick funding practices. It can be imperative for emergency loans where speed is most important.

    The main influencers of speed are:

    • Automated Underwriting Systems: Technology is used by many lenders to quickly assess applications.
    • Prequalification Processes: Soft inquiries and initial reviews accelerate decisions.
    • Funding Methods: Electronic fund transfers and direct deposit enable quick disbursement.
    • Verification Requirements: Extra documentation requests can slow funding.

    While some borrowers receive approval and funds on the same day, others may experience delays depending on lender procedures and individual circumstances.

    Wizzay Loan Eligibility: Who Qualifies for Emergency Loans with Bad Credit?

    Eligibility for emergency loans with bad credit varies by lender but generally depends on several factors beyond credit scores:

    • Minimum age of 18
    • Proof of income or employment
    • U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
    • Valid bank account

    Subprime borrowers with poor credit need to thoroughly examine lender requirements and the cost of subprime emergency loans.

    The Application Process at Wizzay Loan

    Getting emergency loans from Wizzay Loan consists of a few stages meant to make borrowing easy:

    • Single Online Application Completion: The applicant supplies personal, financial, and employment data.
    • Review of Information: Submitted information is reviewed for completeness by the platform.
    • Submission to Lender Network: The application is submitted to several lending partners.
    • Loan Matches and Offers: Borrowers receive possible loan offers based on qualification.
    • Selection and Finalization: Applicants select a loan offer and fulfill lender-specific requirements, including identity confirmation and agreement signing.

    This streamlined process seeks to simplify application complexity while enhancing access to loan alternatives.

     <<>>

    Wizzay Loan Maintains Transparency and Compliance Standards in Emergency Lending

    Transparency and regulatory compliance are paramount in the emergency lending industry given the susceptibility of the borrowers and predatory behavior potentials.

    Regulatory aspects encompass:

    • Disclosure of Terms: Interest rates, charges, payment terms, and penalties shall be clearly disclosed by lenders.
    • Consumer Protections: Such regulations frequently involve caps on interest rates, amounts to be loaned, and rollover practices.
    • Privacy Policies: Safeguarding personal information according to legal requirements.
    • Licensing Requirements: Lenders and referral services must comply with applicable state or national licensing laws.

    Platforms like Wizzay Loan are subject to these regulatory frameworks, and borrowers are encouraged to review terms carefully and verify lender credentials.

    Wizzay Loan Expands Access to Alternative Lending Options for Bad Credit Borrowers

    Beyond payday and emergency loans, several alternative financing options exist for consumers facing urgent financial needs:

    • Credit Union Loans: Often offer lower rates and more flexible terms.
    • Installment Loans: Longer terms with regular monthly payments.
    • Peer-to-Peer Lending: Individual investors finance loans through online sites.
    • Credit Card Advances: Ready money through credit cards but at exorbitant interest charges.
    • Employer Pay Advances: Paycheck advances are provided by some employers as an employee benefit.

    All alternatives have unique strengths and weaknesses, stressing the need to compare several alternatives before taking a loan.

    Wizzay Loan Helps Borrowers Cover Emergency Expenses Beyond Traditional Credit

    For those who cannot or will not go through traditional credit, alternative strategies can cover emergency costs:

    • Personal Savings: Employing emergency savings targeted for unexpected expenses.
    • Assistance Programs: Government or non-profit organizations can provide grants or assistance.
    • Negotiating Payment Plans: Working with creditors or service providers to make payments in the future.
    • Borrowing from Friends or Family: Unofficial loans without interest, but with personal factors.

    These methods sometimes reduce the necessity of high-cost emergency loans.

     <<>>

    Wizzay Loan’s Referral Network Model Connects Borrowers with Multiple Direct Lenders

    Direct lenders and loan referral networks play different roles in the online lending economy:

    • Direct Lenders: Banks or institutions that give loans and handle the entire loan process.
    • Loan Referral Networks: Sites that gather borrower data and match borrowers with several lenders without directly funding loans.

    Referral networks increase access to loan options but entail sharing information with multiple entities. Direct lenders create a more immediate relationship but could have more stringent eligibility requirements.

    Knowing these distinctions assists borrowers in making effective choices.

    What Makes Wizzay Loan’s Network Unique Among Online Lenders

    Wizzay Loan is unique in providing access to a wide array of lenders for different credit profiles. Its efficient application process and extensive network of lender relationships offer a convenient platform for consumers who need funds immediately.

    Key features are:

    • Single application to several lenders at the same time.
    • Access to lenders who provide subprime and no-credit-check loans.
    • Multiple loan products such as payday and installment loans available.
    • Rapid matching and initial approvals enabled by technology.

    This model differs from single-lender sites by maximizing potential loan matches without the need for numerous individual applications.

     <<>>

    Final Thoughts: When Wizzay Loan Emergency Loans Are Your Best Option

    Emergency loans online with guaranteed approval promises may provide relief for unexpected financial needs, particularly among borrowers with credit issues. Nonetheless, borrowers should proceed with such loans with extreme caution considering terms, charges, and options.

    It is important to understand the terms of loan referral websites such as Wizzay Loan, realities of approval procedures, and consequences of borrowing. Responsible borrowing with knowledge about consumer safeguards and other available choices can assist individuals in managing emergency financial crises in a better way.

    The above press release has tried to provide a balanced overview to help readers make knowledgeable choices regarding emergency loans and other allied financial products.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Chicken Road Game Online In India – Download, Play & Win Real Money

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Gurugram, Haryana, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Chicken Road is a fun arcade-style casino game made by InOut Games in 2024. In this exciting adventure, you help a brave little chicken walk across dangerous paths to grab a golden egg. But be careful there are hidden dangers along the way! 

    >>> Play Chicken Road Game Online >>>

    With a high return-to-player (RTP) rate of 98% and bets starting at just INR 90, Chicken Road is perfect for both new and experienced players.

    This page will tell you everything you need to know about the Chicken Road game online, along with smart tips to help you win more. Ready to play? Let’s go!

    >>> Play Chicken Road Game Online >>>

    What Is Chicken Road?

    Chicken Road is a simple yet thrilling game where you guide a chicken across a line of manholes. Some manholes are safe, while others hide dangerous fires. If the chicken steps on a safe manhole, your prize gets bigger. But if it hits a fire trap, the game ends and you lose your bet.

    >>> Play Chicken Road Game Online >>>

    You get to decide when to stop and cash out your winnings. That’s what makes the game fun—you’re in control! The farther your chicken walks, the higher your reward. But the risk also grows with each step.

    How to Play Chicken Road Game In India

    In India, the game is easy to learn and quick to play. Here’s how it works:

    1. Click the green “Go” button to start.
    2. Your chicken walks forward. If the first step is safe, you earn a multiplier.
    3. Each safe step earns you more money.
    4. If your chicken lands on a fire trap, you lose your bet, and the game ends.
    5. You can press the yellow “Cash Out” button at any time to take your winnings.

    You can keep going to try for bigger rewards, but remember, one wrong step and it’s game over.

    Why Chicken Road Game Is So Popular In India

    1. Easy Controls

    The game screen is easy to understand. You don’t need to read long rules or guides to start playing. Everything is simple and clear.

    2. Choose Your Difficulty

    You can pick from four levels depending on how risky you want to play:

    • Easy: 24 steps. Best for beginners who want small, steady wins.
    • Medium: 22 steps. A balanced level with good rewards and some risk.
    • Hard: 20 steps. For more experienced players who want higher multipliers.
    • Hardcore: 15 steps. Very risky but comes with the biggest prizes.

    You can change the level anytime between rounds.

    3. High RTP and Risk Options

    Chicken Road has an overall RTP of 98%, which means it’s designed to be fair to players. But your chance of winning on each step depends on the difficulty:

    • In Easy mode, each step has about a 96% chance of success.
    • In Hardcore mode, the risk is much higher. The RTP here can drop to 60%, but the rewards are also much bigger.

    Choose the level that fits your playing style.

    4. Bet Your Way

    Chicken Road works for all kinds of players. You may wager anything from INR 90 to INR 19,000 in a single round of play. It’s your choice to play with safety in mind or take more risky moves. A few players, in the beginning, make low bets and then increase their wagers as they get used to playing. Others wait for a winning streak before raising their bet.

    The Cash Out Feature

    One of the best parts of Chicken Road is the Cash Out option. At any point in the game, you can click this button and take home your winnings. You don’t have to finish the full path. This gives you control over how much risk you want to take.

    Try the Chicken Road Game Demo

    If you are new to Chicken Road, don’t worry. You can try the demo version of the game first. It works just like the real version but uses fake money. This is a great way to learn without taking any risks.

    Why Try the Demo?

    • No money needed
    • Learn the game rules
    • See how betting works
    • Practice using the Cash Out feature
    • Get familiar with the game layout

    The demo includes all the same features as the full game, so you get the full experience before betting real money.

    How to Sign Up to Play Chicken Road Game

    To play Chicken Road Game for real money, you need to register at an online casino that offers the game. Here’s how to do it:

    1. Choose a trusted online casino.
    2. Visit their website and click the “Register” button.
    3. Fill in your details, like your name, email, phone number, and address.
    4. Enter the verification code sent to your phone or email.
    5. Once you’re done, your account will be ready. You can now deposit money and start playing.

    Can I Play Chicken Road on My Phone?

    Yes! Let’s see how to get started:

    1. Pick a casino that offers the Chicken Road game.
    2. Go to their website on your phone.
    3. Find the Apps section and choose your device type.
    4. Download and install the casino app.
    5. Log in and start playing Chicken Road anytime, anywhere.

    How to Start Betting on Chicken Road

    Want to place your first real-money bet? Here’s a simple guide:

    1. Log in to your casino account (or create one if you haven’t yet).
    2. Click the “Deposit” button and add funds to your account.
    3. Open the Chicken Road game from the casino menu.
    4. Enter the amount you want to bet.
    5. Click the “Start” button to begin the game.
    6. Watch your chicken walk the path. Decide when to Cash Out based on your winnings.

    Your final prize depends on how far the chicken goes and the multiplier at the time you cash out.

    Best Strategies for Chicken Road

    You place a bet, help the chicken move forward, and decide when to cash out. But if you want to win more often, you need a plan.

    Many players use smart strategies to improve their chances. Below, you will find the most popular ones that can help you stay in the game longer and possibly earn bigger rewards.

    1. Safe Multiplier Strategy

    If you like playing it safe, this strategy is for you. It’s simple—cash out early, usually when the multiplier hits between 1.5x and 3x. Your wins won’t be huge, but you will win more often. Over time, these small wins can really add up, and you will lose less.

    2. Martingale Strategy

    This one is for players who don’t mind taking a little more risk. If you lose a round, you double your next bet. The idea is that when you finally win, you will cover all your past losses and still make a profit. But be careful—this strategy needs a good-sized balance and a bit of patience.

    3. Balanced Risk Strategy

    With this method, you adjust your bet size based on the difficulty level you choose. If you are playing on a harder level, place lower bets because the risk is higher. On easier levels, you can bet more since the chances of winning are better. This keeps your gameplay steady and balanced.

    4. The Lagom Approach – Balanced Play Style

    Inspired by the Swedish word “lagom,” which means “not too much, not too little,” this betting style helps you stay in control.

    Here’s how the Lagom Strategy works:

    • Start with a ₹500 bet.
    • If you win, lower your next bet to ₹300. This locks in some profit.
    • If you lose, raise your next bet slightly to ₹700 to try and recover.
    • Keep your bets in a safe range so you don’t risk too much.

    This approach keeps the game exciting but helps avoid the stress of big losses. It’s a great choice for players who want to stay consistent and in control.

    Download the Chicken Road Game App (APK)

    Want to play Chicken Road on your phone? It’s easy. It’s made to be quick, easy to use, and free from lag on every smartphone and tablet.

    Since the APK file is only 26.2 MB, your device will download it fast, and you won’t experience any further slowdown. You can enjoy Vampire Diaries: Struggle for Blood on your mobile browser, but its app has better controls and speed.

    How to Download the APK

    • Go to the official website or a trusted casino partner.
    • Tap on the download link for the Chicken Road APK.
    • Open the file and install it on your Android phone.
    • Once installed, just log in or sign up, and you’re ready to play.

    The game runs smoothly on Android and works great even on older phones. For iPhone users, many casinos also offer mobile apps that include Chicken Road.

    Chicken Road RTP and Winning Chances

    InOut Games is open about how Chicken Road works. The game is based on Provably Fair technology, meaning the results are created using a secure random system that players can trust.

    The RTP (Return to Player) for Chicken Road is 98%, which means most of the money bet by players is returned in winnings over time. Only a small 2% margin is used to support game development.

    Let’s break it down simply:

    • If you go for a 1.68x multiplier, your chance of winning is about 58%.
    • Going for a 2.80x multiplier gives you about a 35% chance.
    • A big win like 9.08x has around a 10% chance.
    • Going for something huge like 34.67x gives you a 2.8% chance.
    • The x1000 jackpot? Your chance is close to 0.1%—super rare, but possible.

    These numbers show that InOut Games keeps things fair, with only a small difference between the theoretical and actual win rates. Also, keep in mind that each round is random. Just because you won or lost before doesn’t affect what happens next.

    Is Chicken Road Real or Fake?

    Chicken Road is 100% real and fair. It’s created by a trusted company called InOut Games, and the game uses Provably Fair technology. This means that the game results are made using a secure system called cryptography. You can even check the fairness of every round.

    If you play Chicken Road at a licensed online casino, you’re in good hands. These casinos follow international gaming rules, so your gameplay is safe and your money is protected.

    Who Made Chicken Road?

    InOut Games is the company behind Chicken Road. They are known for making cool, easy-to-play mini-games that keep players coming back. Their games have:

    • High return-to-player (RTP) percentages
    • Simple and fun mechanics
    • Great design for both mobile and desktop

    Chicken Road is one of their most loved games. It’s fun, fast, and lets you use real strategies to win.

    Conclusion

    Chicken Road is a fast-paced, exciting game where your choices matter. Whether you’re someone who likes safe bets or wants to go all in for big wins, the game gives you options.

    You can play it your way:

    • Try safe steps and cash out early
    • Use smart betting strategies to stay ahead
    • Switch between easy and hard levels depending on your mood

    And with a high RTP and fun gameplay, you are always just one step away from a big win.

    Ready to take your chicken on a winning run? Start playing Chicken Road today and enjoy the thrill of every step!

    FAQs

    1. Can I play Chicken Road for free?

    Yes, many online casinos offer a demo version. You can play it without spending real money and learn how the game works.

    2. Where can I play Chicken Road?

    You can find Chicken Road on trusted online casinos that offer games from InOut Games.

    3. How does the game work?

    You place a bet and help the chicken move forward. Each step earns you more money, but you must choose the right time to cash out—before stepping into a trap.

    4. Are there any bonuses for Chicken Road?

    Yes. Many casinos offer free bets, deposit bonuses, cashback, and special promos for new and regular players.

    5. Is Chicken Road legal in India?

    Yes, as long as you’re playing on a licensed and legal online casino, Chicken Road is safe and legal in India.

    Media Details

    • Company Name – Chicken Road
    • Address – 673, JMD Building, Gurugram, Haryana
    • Company Website: https://chicken-roadd.com/
    • Email: sumit@chicken-roadd.com
    • Phone: +91-2049157035
    • Contact Person Name: Sumit

    Disclaimer
    This information is for general and entertainment purposes only—not legal, financial, or gambling advice. Always verify details and follow your local laws. Gambling carries risks; wager responsibly and only what you can afford to lose, and seek help if you feel out of control. Some links may be affiliate links at no extra cost to you, and wild may be unavailable or restricted in certain regions.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Amid cost pressures, US employers are shifting their benefit strategy, WTW survey finds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As U.S. employers grapple with heightened economic uncertainty and greater financial pressures on budgets, steering the right course on benefit strategy is more challenging than ever. This is according to a survey by WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company. As a result, companies are turning to smarter spending, sharper focus and using benefits as a strategic tool to drive engagement, retention and purpose.

    The 2025 Benefits Trends Survey found rising benefit costs to be the top issue (90%) influencing U.S. employers’ benefit strategies in 2025, up from 67% in 2023. Other top concerns include competition for talent (52%), expectations for an enhanced employee experience (43%), cost of living (39%) and rising mental health issues (32%).

    “After a long period of high benefits inflation and in the face of a possibly weakening economy, employers are taking a step back and looking to focus on what drives real value for employees and the business. That means targeting support and spending on the benefits that matter most, enabling personalization and helping employees make better decisions,” said Jeff Levin-Scherz, Population Health Leader, North America, Health & Benefits.

    As the cost of medical care continues to show double digit growth in the U.S., employers face greater challenges in delivering their strategy in key areas such as health benefits (44%), wellbeing programs (44%), and leave benefits (36%).

    To address these concerns, employers are shifting their strategy. Few are expanding their benefit portfolio, choosing to instead focus on extracting value from their current offerings and improve financing, employee experience, analytics and administration.

    Compared to just 8% in the past year, 63% of employers plan to reallocate or rebalance spend in the next three years. A majority (73%) plan to tackle high costs by enhancing value or switch to better-value vendors across health, retirement and risk benefits. Just under half (44%) plan to tackle high-cost medical conditions and 37% plan to adopt a network of preferred medical providers.

    Eager to address employee pressure points, companies are also looking to improve the following priority areas over the next three years: maximizing value, mental health, health benefits, financial wellbeing and family support. Many plan to increase their use of communication and use nudges and navigation solutions to influence behaviors and enhance the employee experience. Regularly reviewing vendor performance, including employee feedback, is also a key action employers are taking.

    “Organizations are facing more pressure than ever to deliver the right benefits strategy. Finding innovative solutions for old and new challenges and reallocating spend on benefits that deliver true value is a good start. There is still a long way to go to address these pressure points, but employers are headed in the right direction by focusing on what matters most to their employees,” said Levin-Scherz.

    About the survey

    The 2025 Benefit Trends Survey was conducted from early March to mid-April. Respondents include 696 U.S. employers, representing a broad range of industries in both the private and public sector.

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    Media contact
    Ileana Feoli: +1 212 309 5504
    Ileana.feoli@wtwco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale: shares & voting rights as of 31 May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NUMBER OF SHARES COMPOSING CURRENT SHARE CAPITAL AND TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTING RIGHTS AS OF 31 MAY 2025

    Regulated Information

    Paris, 10 June 2025

    Information about the total number of voting rights and shares pursuant to Article L.233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the AMF General Regulations.

    Date Number of shares composing current share capital Total number of
    voting rights
    31 May 2025 800,316,777

    Gross: 887,657,909

    Press contacts:

    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com
    Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

    Societe Generale

    Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective – to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders.

    The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients:

    • French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance, with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank.
    • Global Banking and Investor Solutions, a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG.
    • Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities.

    Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe).

    For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Completes 2025 Article IV Mission to Turkmenistan

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 10, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    • Growth slowed in 2024 due to weak hydrocarbon exports. The main economic challenge is to translate hydrocarbon wealth into more diversified, sustainable, and inclusive growth.
    • A more market-based strategy, reforms to the monetary and exchange rate frameworks, increased public spending efficiency, and enhanced governance and transparency would support the transition to a more diversified and robust economy.
    • Further improvements in the availability, quality, and reliability of economic statistics would help inform policy makers and increase transparency and credibility.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Ms. Anna Bordon visited Ashgabat during May 21-June 3, 2025. The purpose of the visit was to review the country’s economic landscape, including its financial developments, economic outlook, risks, and policies aimed at promoting diverse, inclusive, and sustainable growth. The mission met with senior government officials, representatives of the private and financial sectors, and the diplomatic community. At the end of the visit, Ms. Bordon issued the following statement: 

    “Economic activity moderated in 2024, and inflation softened in recent months. IMF staff estimate that growth slowed to 3.0 percent in 2024 from 4.5 percent in 2023, owing to weak hydrocarbon exports. Inflation decelerated from 3.8 percent at end 2024 to 1.1 percent in March 2025 owing to a sharp slowdown in food inflation combined with deflation in non-food items and low inflation in services. Credit growth and monetary conditions have been tighter since the second half of 2023, while the parallel market exchange rate has remained broadly stable. The current account surplus narrowed from 5.9 percent of GDP in 2023 to 4.4 percent in 2024.

    “Looking ahead the economy is expected to expand at around 2.3 percent in 2025 and over the medium term. Hydrocarbon exports growth is expected to be negative in 2025, but to gradually pick up to around 2 percent over the medium term while non-hydrocarbon growth is expected to remain subdued, given the challenging business environment, investment inefficiencies, significant real exchange rate overvaluation, and protectionism. Inflation is projected to pick up gradually over the medium term due to looser monetary conditions, returning to its recent historical average of 8 percent, which is primarily fueled by the long-standing policy of increasing public sector wages and pensions by 10 percent annually. The external position is projected to gradually deteriorate, shifting from a surplus to a deficit, driven by lower hydrocarbon prices, declining oil exports, and an overvalued currency. Rising wages are also expected to fuel import demand, further weakening the trade balance. Risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside.

    “The nonhydrocarbon primary balance improved in 2024, with higher revenues more than offsetting an increase in capital spending. Looking ahead, the deficit is anticipated to narrow further over the medium term, with capital spending expected to moderate. To leverage this positive trajectory, it is crucial for Turkmenistan to focus its spending on enhancing physical and human capital. This will require improving spending efficiency and public investment management, transitioning towards performance-based public wage increases, and reforming state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

    “Strengthening fiscal reporting and public financial management (PFM) should be a top priority. Turkmenistan should expedite the implementation of medium-term budgeting, establishment of a single treasury account, and the expansion of fiscal reporting coverage. Reforming SOEs is also pivotal in managing fiscal risks, enhancing fiscal transparency, and fostering private sector development by reducing the state footprint.

    “The Central Bank of Turkmenistan (CBT) should focus on price and financial stability. Until recently, the CBT had typically kept monetary policy loose to support the government’s long-term development objectives. Since the second half of 2023, however, CBT net lending to banks has slowed considerably, owing to SOE repayments. Going forward, commercial bank lending for development purposes, if needed, should be supported by the state budget, and not by the CBT. The CBT should also modernize its central bank operations and accelerate its efforts to strengthen financial regulation, supervision, and crisis management.

    “Unifying the exchange rates would support Turkmenistan’s diversification objectives and reduce economic distortions and governance vulnerabilities. Turkmenistan should consider a significant upfront adjustment of the official exchange rate combined with sufficiently tight macroeconomic policies, a clear communication strategy, and enhanced social benefits to protect the most vulnerable. Post-adjustment, the devalued official exchange rate can remain the monetary anchor, with the CBT ready to provide FX to meet demand. Exchange restrictions on current international transactions should also be eliminated, to create a level-playing field, improve efficiency, and alleviate FX shortages. The adjustment measures and supporting reforms need to be sequenced carefully, while recognizing inherent uncertainties.

    “Turkmenistan is adequately prioritizing economic diversification. A pre-requisite for diversification is macroeconomic stability, including as a core element the unification of the exchange rates and elimination of exchange restrictions. Moving away from a centrally planned economy will require continued efforts to liberalize prices and reduce the state footprint to allocate resources more efficiently. A more market-oriented economy will also require improving governance, skills, infrastructure, digitalization, and logistics while accelerating the efforts toward WTO accession.

    “Further improvements in the availability, quality, and reliability of economic statistics would help inform policy makers and increase transparency and credibility.   

    “The IMF team is grateful to the authorities and other stakeholders for their warm hospitality and insightful and candid discussions.”

    Turkmenistan: Selected Economic and Financial Indicators, 2022–26

    		  
       

     

     

     

     

     

     

    		    
     

    Est.

    Est.

    Est.

    Proj.

    Proj.

    		    

     

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    		    
       

     

    Output and prices

    (Annual percentage change)

    		    

    Real GDP 1/

    3.0

    4.5

    3.0

    2.3

    2.3

    		    

    Real hydrocarbon GDP

    -6.4

    -0.6

    -10.6

    -2.6

    1.8

    		    

    Real nonhydrocarbon GDP

    5.2

    5.6

    5.7

    3.0

    2.3

    		    

    Consumer prices (end of period)

    3.0

    1.4

    3.8

    4.0

    6.0

    		    

    Consumer prices (period average)

    11.2

    -1.6

    4.6

    3.9

    5.0

    		    
     

    Investment and savings

    (In percent of GDP)

    		    

    Gross investment

    18.2

    17.0

    16.0

    13.0

    12.9

    		    

             Of which: State budget

    0.5

    0.9

    1.6

    0.7

    0.7

    		    

    Gross savings

    27.9

    22.9

    20.4

    15.1

    13.3

    		    
     

    Fiscal sector

    (In percent of GDP)

    		    

    Overall fiscal balance 2/

    3.4

    0.1

    -0.1

    0.3

    -0.3

    		    

          Revenue

    16.4

    13.8

    14.4

    14.1

    13.7

    		    

          Expenditure

    13.0

    13.7

    14.5

    13.8

    14.1

    		    

    Total public debt 3/

    7.9

    5.8

    3.6

    3.3

    3.1

    		    
     

    Monetary sector

    (12-month percent change, unless otherwise indicated)

    		    

    Credit to the economy 4/

    8.2

    0.3

    2.2

    5.4

    5.9

    		    

    Credit to GDP ratio

    58.6

    53.1

    49.6

    49.9

    49.6

    		    

        Broad money, incl. foreign currency deposits at CBT

    -2.6

    -2.5

    10.1

    5.3

    6.7

    		    
     

    External sector

    (In percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)

    		    

    Exports of goods (In millions of US$)

    14,727

    12,963

    12,168

    11,218

    11,068

    		    

    Imports of goods (In millions of US$)

    7,188

    7,401

    7,665

    8,407

    9,085

    		    

    Current account balance

    9.7

    5.9

    4.4

    2.1

    0.4

    		    

    Foreign direct investment

    2.0

    0.9

    0.4

    0.0

    0.0

    		    

    Total public sector external debt

    7.9

    5.8

    3.6

    3.3

    3.1

    		    
             

    Memorandum items:

    		          

    Nominal GDP (in millions of manat)

    198,371

    219,848

    240,363

    251,884

    268,110

    		    

    Nominal GDP (in millions of US$)

    56,677

    62,814

    68,675

    71,967

    76,603

    		    
       
       

    Sources: Turkmen authorities; and Fund staff estimates and projections.

    		        

    1/ Staff uses its own GDP estimates given that the narrative underlying the official GDP growth estimates is hard to reconcile with other available data. In particular, official GDP growth is extremely stable, despite shocks, including the pandemic.

    		                    

    2/ Excluding receipts from government bond issuance and privatization proceeds.

    		                  

    3/ Includes domestic state government debt and external public and publicly guaranteed debt.

    		                

    4/ Including credit to SOEs.

     

     

     

    		                      
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Mayada Ghazala

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/10/pr-25190-turkmenistan-imf-completes-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The political opportunism behind Reform UK’s support for abolition of the two-child limit on benefits

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chris Grover, Professor in Social Policy, Lancaster University

    The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, recently announced that if in government, his party would abolish the two-child limit on benefits. This social security policy restricts the payment of means-tested benefits to the first two children of a family.

    Farage explained the announcement as being pro-natalist – intended to encourage a higher birth rate – as well as being “pro-worker”. Farage said that the abolition of the two-child limit “makes having children just a little bit easier” for “lower paid workers”.

    He noted that Reform wanted “to encourage people to have children”. Such arguments are familiar in the European political right, although the UK’s Conservative opposition criticised Reform’s proposal.

    To be in government, Reform has two possible routes: to build a coalition of voters for it, or to split left-leaning voters. Its proposal to abolish the two-child limit may be aimed at both.

    On the one hand, it might be supported by left-leaning voters who are able to accept Reform’s broader policy agenda. On the other hand, it might be aimed at encouraging left-leaning voters who find Reform’s agenda problematic to move to parties (such as the Greens and Liberal Democrats) who are less equivocal in their commitment to abolishing the two-child limit than the Labour government.

    Social security policies winning votes

    Social security policies have long been used as part of political strategising. The situation with the two-child limit is complicated, though, because both anti- and pro-natalist views of social security (and it predecessors) have been popular at particular moments.

    Political and popular arguments have long been made that supporting the poorest families leads to them having too many children. This, so the argument goes, reproduces, rather than addresses, the poverty they face. Examples can be found, for instance, in the 1834 poor law commission report in relation to “bastardy” and large families, Sir Keith Joseph’s 1970s focus upon the “cycle of deprivation”, as well as “underclass” arguments in the 1980s and 1990s.

    The two-child limit was announced in the 2015 budget and introduced in 2017 with the reasoning that “those in receipt of tax credits should face the same financial choices about having children as those supporting themselves solely through work.”

    The two-child limit on benefits restricts welfare payments for children to the first two children in a family.
    Len44ik/Shutterstock

    In contrast, the architect of the British welfare state, William Beveridge, noted in 1942 that children’s allowances (now child benefit) would help “housewives as mothers” in their “vital work in ensuring the adequate continuance of the British race and of British ideals in the world.” The 1945 Labour election victory in support of the welfare state suggests pro-natalist policies can contribute to electoral success.

    The expansion of tax credits in the 1990s and 2000s were partly explained in pro-natalist terms. Tony Blair, for instance, noted: “The working tax credit enables half a million mothers to choose to stay at home.” That, in other words, tax credits enabled women to choose having and raising children over paid work.

    Recent polling, however, suggests that the anti-natalist two-child limit polls well among voters, especially Reform voters. In 2024, for example, YouGov found 60% of Britons thought the two-child limit should be kept. The figure was 84% for Reform voters.

    Targeting voters

    The abolition of the two-child limit may have been adopted to increase Reform’s appeal to left-leaning voters. Providing additional support for families through social security may be attractive to voters concerned with social injustice. The two-child limit increases child poverty. Affected families are unable to provide even the most basic needs, such as food, clothing and heating.

    Nevertheless, Reform’s proposal is also embedded in caveats and would be paid for through means appealing to its existing voters. So, for example, Farage emphasised that the abolition of the two-child limit would be restricted to only British families. It would not be extended to families “who come into the country and suddenly decide to have a lot of children”.

    By keeping the two-child limit for migrant families, Reform’s proposals are consistent with existing immigration and asylum policies. It has been observed in an inquiry by All Party Parliamentary Groups on poverty and on migration that policies like this are, at least in part, “designed to push people into poverty in the hope that it will deter others from moving to the UK.” And, therefore, the abolition of the two-child limit can be seen as part of Reform’s pledge to severely curtail immigration.

    Farage also argued that the abolition of the two-child limit would be paid for by other policies that are central to Reform’s electoral agenda. These include stopping asylum seekers being housed in hotels and the abolition of net zero policies. It is also consistent with Reform’s view that jobs in Britain should be filled by British people. This, it believes, will help reduce reliance on migrant labour from overseas.

    There is little evidence that the introduction of the two-child limit had the desired impact on lowering poorer households’ birth rates. And it is unclear whether the proposed abolition of the two-child limit rooted in a British-only, pro-natalist agenda is enough to attract left-leaning voters.

    These voters might, for example, be more concerned with Reform’s position on immigration and asylum seeking, as well as the social injustice of the undoubted poverty in which families subjected to the two child limit on benefits live.

    Reform’s strategy then may be to further encourage those voters to turn from its closest rival – the Labour party – to other political parties. Whichever is the case, the situation will undoubtedly shift if the Labour government does take the step of abolishing the two-child limit.

    Chris Grover does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The political opportunism behind Reform UK’s support for abolition of the two-child limit on benefits – https://theconversation.com/the-political-opportunism-behind-reform-uks-support-for-abolition-of-the-two-child-limit-on-benefits-258042

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Spending review: Rachel Reeves is about to make a £600 billion gamble on growth

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Steve Schifferes, Honorary Research Fellow, City Political Economy Research Centre, City St George’s, University of London

    UK chancellor Rachel Reeves faces her biggest test with the government’s departmental spending plans for the three years from next April until the general election. With nearly £600 billion a year to spend, her decisions will impact on every aspect of public life and shape the political weather for years to come.

    She believes the key to reviving Labour’s fortunes as its poll ratings tumble lies in boosting economic growth.

    So the government has promised that its policies will increase the UK’s anaemic growth rate and enhance productivity. Reeves is looking to capital spending on big projects that will boost the economy, such as the £14.2 billion government investment in a new nuclear power plant at Sizewell in Suffolk.

    Last year she revised the government’s fiscal rules to give herself the space to borrow an extra £113 billion over three years to transform Britain’s ageing infrastructure. She has already made it clear that she wants to boost transport investment outside of London, as well as invest in research and development, including green energy.

    But there are challenges ahead. In the first place, the effect of infrastructure investment takes a long time to feed through. This is partly because of the lag between planning the projects and when they come on-stream.

    It will take time before the full effect will be felt on productivity, which has been growing more slowly than expected. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggested in March that the latest government plans for planning reform might increase productivity by just 0.2% in the longer term.

    There are also some real trade-offs as to where the increased capital investment will go – and which sectors will benefit most. The chancellor has emphasised her commitment to putting more money into projects outside London and south-east England that have had less public investment in the past.

    But London and the south-east is where productivity is highest and where further investment might have a bigger effect on economic growth.

    It appears that there may be less funding for social housing, which may threaten the government’s ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes over the parliament. There may also be less available to repair schools and hospitals.

    And the plans to boost defence spending on expensive military equipment – such as frigates and fighter planes – will also count as capital spending. As such, it could further reduce the amount available for infrastructure investment.

    The departmental trade-offs

    Despite the relative abundance of cash for infrastructure, the tighter fiscal rules on day-to-day spending mean that many departments are facing a squeeze on their budgets. The government plans to allow total day-to-day departmental spending on average to rise by just 1.2% per year in real terms during the next three years. This probably spells a real-terms cut for some “unprotected” departments.

    This is because the money will not be distributed equally. The Department of Health and Social Care gets 40% of all departmental spending and is likely to be the big winner.

    It has already received a big increase in the last spending round, with an 11% increase in capital spending is likely to get even more to realise an ambitious ten-year plan for improving services in the NHS in England.

    If health spending were to go up by 2.5% (well under its historic average), this could mean very little increase for many other government departments. And if it is increased by 3.5% this will imply real-terms cuts for other areas.

    The situation is made more difficult by the government’s decision to prioritise two other areas: defence and schools. For defence, it is committed to raising spending to 2.5% by 2027 and to 3% in the next parliament.

    And for education, Reeves has pledged an extra £4.5 billion per year for more teachers, childcare places and free school meals. The decisions have a strong political dimension, as health and education tend to be the most popular spending priorities among the public.

    Boosting the education spend tends to play well with the UK public.
    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    The spending review, however, only covers half of total government spending. The more unpredictable part is annually managed expenditure, mainly on benefits and interest payments on government debt.

    The Treasury sets an overall target (known as the spending envelope) on how much will be spent in these areas. But it now faces a crunch point over the unpopular decisions to cut disability benefits and keep the two-child benefit cap.

    Reeves’ partial U-turn on the winter fuel payment, which will now be paid to 9 million pensioners, will cost an additional £1.25 billion a year but may have been a political necessity.

    But a full U-turn on the two other issues will be much more expensive. Taken together, such a change might breach the fiscal rules, which give only £10 billion of “headroom” in a total government budget of more than £1.2 trillion. So while there will be some rowing back, the finances suggest any more major U-turns are unlikely.

    To make matters worse, these spending plans are based on an economic forecast made by the OBR in March. This did not include the effect of US president Donald Trump’s tariff plans. Since then, both the IMF and the OECD downgraded their UK growth forecasts for both 2025 and 2026, and despite a recent small upgrade by the IMF, growth is still significantly lower than previously expected.

    Even though Britain seems to have secured a deal with the US, the effect of tariffs on global growth will still damage the UK’s prospects as a trading nation.

    This will make it harder for the government to meet its fiscal targets in the autumn budget while sticking to the departmental spending plans. The chancellor will then have three options. She can look for more cuts in benefits spending.

    She could try to find other sources of tax revenue, for example by tweaking the rules on taxing pensions or extending the freeze on upgrading tax bands. Or, more radically, she could modify the fiscal rules to give herself more flexibility – for example by having only one economic forecast a year, as the IMF has suggested.

    Ultimately Labour’s electoral prospects will depend on whether it has succeeded in boosting living standards. While the productivity drive could work, the UK economy remains at the mercy of wider global economic forces.

    Steve Schifferes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Spending review: Rachel Reeves is about to make a £600 billion gamble on growth – https://theconversation.com/spending-review-rachel-reeves-is-about-to-make-a-600-billion-gamble-on-growth-258526

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Rosebank oilfield: why more UK oil means more global emissions

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fergus Green, Associate Professor in Political Theory and Public Policy, UCL

    Frode Koppang / shutterstock

    The UK government will soon face a momentous decision over whether to approve production in the Rosebank oilfield off the coast of Shetland.

    Rosebank is the UK’s biggest undeveloped field. Its proponents – the largest of which is Norwegian state-owned petroleum company, Equinor – estimate that it will produce the equivalent of up to 500 million barrels of oil between 2026 and 2051. When burned, this oil will generate up to 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is more than the combined annual emissions of 28 low-income countries.

    Thanks to recent court cases, the climate effects of those “combustion emissions” will need to be taken into account by the government when it decides whether to approve production at Rosebank. In a new report, two colleagues and I reviewed the evidence concerning the implications of new oil and gas fields in the UK.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    There is a rapidly dwindling global carbon budget for holding temperature increases to below 1.5°C of warming (the more conservative end of the Paris agreement’s temperature goal).

    Globally, the emissions from burning the fossil fuels in oil and gas fields and coalmines that are already operating or under development far exceed that budget. In this context, Rosebank’s combustion emissions are highly significant, as they add considerably to that excess.

    We also found that the projected production from existing fields is sufficient to meet or exceed global oil and gas demand in modelled economic scenarios in which climate warming is restrained to within 1.5°C. This is further evidence that new fields are not consistent with achieving globally agreed temperature goals.

    However, it is often asserted by supporters of new fields that keeping UK oil in the ground won’t reduce global emissions, because another producer will supply the demand and reap the benefits. This is a gross and dangerous oversimplification which, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, “defies basic economics of supply and demand”.

    Allowing a new field like Rosebank would increase the supply of oil globally, resulting in a fall in its price which, though small, would cause more oil to be consumed. As UK government advisers at the Climate Change Committee have acknowledged, new petroleum projects “support a larger global market overall” for petroleum. Stopping Rosebank would have the opposite effect, and lead to less oil consumed.

    Rosebank is found about 80 miles west of Shetland and its puffins.
    Philippe Clement / shutterstock

    The oil industry likes to trumpet the UK’s relatively low upstream emissions – that is, from the process of extracting oil – compared with those of competitors overseas. But this is a distraction from the bigger issue: the additional greenhouse gases emitted from consuming the extra oil that new fields produce.

    A recent peer-reviewed study by economists and experts in the emissions-intensity of oil and gas production concluded that limiting oil supply will almost always lead to lower overall emissions, regardless of the intensity of upstream emissions from different fields. It is highly likely that leaving Rosebank’s oil in the ground will result in lower global greenhouse gases than would occur if the field were developed.

    However, this focus on Rosebank’s aggregate emissions ignores two further reasons the field’s development consent should be refused on climate grounds.

    A litmus test of climate leadership

    First, exploiting new sources of oil supply like Rosebank locks in future oil and gas production, ultimately making it economically, politically and legally harder to wind the industry down.

    Second, as the Climate Change Committee also stated, decisions by the UK government concerning petroleum production have an important “signalling effect” internationally and at home.

    Internationally, the UK government has rightly acknowledged that climate action “must be accelerated drastically” to keep the average global temperature rise “below 1.5°C”.

    The UK has a proud reputation for climate leadership. It was the first country to enact a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it rapidly phased out coal-fired power generation, and in 2019 it became the first country to adopt a net zero emissions target.

    Building on this legacy, the foreign secretary David Lammy has vowed to “push for the ambition needed to keep 1.5 degrees alive”. But approving Rosebank would signal to the world that the UK government is not sincere about keeping the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C goal “alive”, after all.

    Some might think that aspirations to climate leadership are futile given the Trump administration’s “drill, baby, drill” approach to fossil fuels. But Trump’s recklessness at a critical time for global climate efforts makes UK climate leadership more important than ever.

    The UK already chairs a suite of international energy transition alliances focused on the international phase-out of coal-fired power, the scale-up of renewables, and the financing of these transitions. It could plug a gap in its influence by rejecting Rosebank and joining the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, a “club” of (currently) 25 national and sub-national governments that are working to phase-out oil and gas production and persuade other countries to follow suit.

    And it could deepen cooperation with the EU to drive down oil and gas demand and scale up clean energy throughout the region, yielding benefits that will outlive the Trump administration.

    Domestically, rejecting Rosebank would send a powerful signal to investors about the sincerity of the government’s commitment to achieve economic growth by becoming a “clean energy superpower”, as the governing Labour party pledged to do at the last election.

    But the benefits of clean prosperity must extend to the people and communities caught up in the transition, too. The UK’s North Sea oil and gas reserves, along with the jobs their production supports, are in terminal decline.

    Oil and gas workers and the communities in which they are based already face a volatile future. New fields like Rosebank would create some additional jobs in this declining industry. But they cannot arrest its long-term decline.

    The government recognises that this transition is already taking place and will continue. With targeted regional and industrial investment, support for workers and their families, and careful planning that meaningfully involves affected communities, the UK has an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how to achieve a just transition away from oil and gas.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Fergus Green has received consulting fees from and provided expert evidence on behalf of an environmental nongovernmental organisation engaged in climate-related litigation against a fossil fuel company. He informally consults with a number of environmental nongovernmental organisations in relation to fossil fuel production issues in the UK and elsewhere. He is a member of the Just Transition Expert Group of the Powering Past Coal Alliance (the role is unremunerated).

    – ref. Rosebank oilfield: why more UK oil means more global emissions – https://theconversation.com/rosebank-oilfield-why-more-uk-oil-means-more-global-emissions-253055

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the salmon on your plate contains less omega-3 than it used to – and how the industry can address that

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Newton, Lecturer in Aquaculture, University of Stirling

    Maria_Usp/Shutterstock

    Farmed Atlantic salmon has become one of the most highly traded food commodities in the world, enjoyed for its versatility as much as for its health benefits. It has long been known that eating oily fish such as salmon is the best way to consume long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential for brain development, mental health and cognition.

    In salmon, omega-3 fatty acids must come from the fish’s diet. For farmed fish, this means fishmeal and fish oil – so–called “marine ingredients” made from ground-up wild fish such as anchovy and fish by-products.

    But the global supply of omega-3s is severely limited, whether from farmed or wild seafood. Many of the key fisheries supplying marine ingredients reached full exploitation in the mid-1990s. Since the growth of salmon aquaculture, increasing volumes of the limited marine ingredients supply have been taken up by fish farming.

    This has raised concerns over sustainability and inflated the cost of these ingredients. The result has been a steady decline in the proportion of fish oil in farmed salmon diets, which has been replaced by plant oils. But these oils do not contain long-chain omega-3s.

    In turn, the amount of omega-3s in a portion of salmon halved between 2006 and 2015. However, the salmon industry increasingly uses omega-3 as a key selling point for its product – two portions of farmed Scottish salmon per week would meet the recommended intake for an adult at current levels.

    If the salmon industry is to continue to grow and maintain the omega-3 targets, it must be more efficient. And the seafood industry as a whole must do more to prevent omega-3 losses through its value chains. Part of the efficiency journey has been to produce more fish oil.

    This can be done by harnessing the value of fishery and aquaculture byproducts such as trimmings, skins and heads, so that more omega-3s are kept in the food (and feed) system.

    There is a growing incentive to use the whole fish – consequently there has been good progress in improving the use of byproducts. It is now estimated that around half of global fish oil supply is sourced from fishery, and particularly aquaculture, processing sources. However, there is still a lot of waste and logistical difficulties in storing and transporting seafood byproducts.

    Much of the industry incentive to use byproducts has been economic, as the global shortage of fish oil pushed prices above US$8,000 (£5,900) per tonne in 2024. Evidence from the past 20 years suggests that overall use of wild fish in the European salmon industry has dropped (replaced by plant ingredients), while production has grown several-fold.

    Despite improvements and reductions in the use of marine ingredients, the industry still comes under huge pressure from NGOs and conservation groups. They are concerned about the use of fish as feed, which may damage public perceptions of the aquaculture industry.

    To assess the use of fish as feed in aquaculture, the “fish in fish out” (Fifo) ratio was conceived, which measures the ratio of fish biomass included in fish feeds to the biomass of fish ultimately produced for consumption. The goal is for more fish to be produced for human consumption than is used as feed, and this would result in a Fifo of less than 1.

    New measure for nutrients

    Certification bodies such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and Best Aquaculture Practices have adopted different forms of the Fifo metric. However, until now, Fifo has not addressed one of the fundamental reasons for including marine ingredients in aquafeeds – providing omega-3s to consumers. It has neither considered the omega-3 content within feed fish, nor in the final product.

    Similarly, studies examining nutrient retention in salmon have only looked at that from feed to the farmed fish. The omega-3 lost in the process of turning the fish raw material in feed is not currently measured. By introducing our new measure, the nutrient Fifo (nFifo), nutrients can be followed from wild fish capture, its separation into meal and oil, and through to the final product sold to consumers.

    Certification bodies like the Aquaculture Stewardship Council could adopt the new metric for nutrition.
    T. Schneider/Shutterstock

    The method used in nFifo favours the use of byproduct resources over virgin raw materials, so that diets containing byproducts receive a lower nFifo. In theory, this should promote circular economy initiatives.

    This is crucial in the marine ingredients industry. Seafood is highly perishable and the byproducts especially so. But they are also some of the richest sources of omega-3s, such as from herring or mackerel.

    However, the cost of retaining, stabilising, storing and transporting byproducts is often prohibitive. This is especially true on board fishing boats, where space is at a premium and byproducts are often dumped at sea.

    Introducing metrics that prevent bioresources being wasted is essential for sustainable food production. Current salmon feed contains around 20% to 25% marine ingredients, but only around 5% is from byproducts. This results in a nFIFO of 2.17.

    Incorporating only marine ingredients sourced from byproducts reduces that nFifo to below 0.5. Crucially, this still provides the same level of omega-3s to the consumer.

    If the seafood industry is serious about sustainable production, it needs to become much more efficient with resources. The nFifo metric links the use of wild fish to omega-3s consumed in farmed salmon for the first time – but it could also be applied to other species and nutrients.

    The methodology is similar to that used for environmental impact indicators for climate change, land or water use. It makes it possible to assess the trade-offs of including and substituting marine ingredients in fish diets at different points of production.

    For example, while marine ingredients may raise concerns around their impact on fisheries, they have comparatively low carbon footprints and almost no land or water footprints compared to plant ingredients. This could potentially lead to more balanced and sustainable approaches to seafood production.

    It is hoped that the nFifo metric and an accessible tool for calculating it (there is one provided on the Blue Food Performance website) will be adopted by certifiers. It could also lead to more complex sustainability indicators becoming mainstream, letting consumers make informed choices about the nutritional and environmental credentials of the products they buy.

    Richard Newton is the Chair of the Climate Action Committe for Best Aquaculture Practice and the Stakeholder Advisory Group for Seafood Watch. He has previously received funding in 2019 and 2013 from the International Fishmeal Fishoil Organisation to map supplies of underutilised by-product resources.

    Dave Little has received funding from various organisations supporting sustainable aquaculture development and has been affiliated to various organisations working to to improve farmed seafood assurance

    – ref. Why the salmon on your plate contains less omega-3 than it used to – and how the industry can address that – https://theconversation.com/why-the-salmon-on-your-plate-contains-less-omega-3-than-it-used-to-and-how-the-industry-can-address-that-258228

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ECB appoints Thomas Vlassopoulos as Director General Market Infrastructure and Payments

    Source: European Central Bank

    10 June 2025

    • Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments oversees and coordinates the operation and development of payment systems and market infrastructure
    • It also leads the digital euro project
    • Mr Vlassopoulos will replace Ulrich Bindseil, who is leaving the ECB

    The Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB) has appointed Thomas Vlassopoulos as Director General Market Infrastructure and Payments. Mr Vlassopoulos will replace Ulrich Bindseil, who is leaving the ECB.

    Thomas Vlassopoulos is currently Deputy Director General Market Operations, a post he has held since May 2021. He previously headed the Monetary Analysis Division and was also Deputy Head of the Financial Stability Surveillance Division. Mr Vlassopoulos joined the ECB’s Directorate General Economics in 2008, from the Bank of Greece. Mr Vlassopoulos holds a master’s degree in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

    The Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments (DG-MIP) coordinates and supports the operation and development of Eurosystem market infrastructures (TARGET Services), conducts oversight of payment, clearing and settlement systems, and acts as a catalyst for innovation in retail payments as well as exploring new technologies for wholesale central bank money settlement. It is also leading the digital euro project. Mr Vlassopoulos will be responsible for the strategic direction and management of DG-MIP, steering innovation, project workstreams and operational activities for TARGET Services, the digital euro project as well as retail and wholesale payments. He will chair a range of committees and high-level fora, maintaining working relationships with market participants and other stakeholders.

    For media queries, please contact Eszter Miltényi-Torstensson, tel.: +49 171 769 5305.

    Notes

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Youth Fund empowers Eastern Cape youth 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has made strides in empowering young entrepreneurs, through the Isiqalo Youth Fund, an initiative that is aimed to support legally registered, youth-owned businesses across the province.

    The fund is part of a broader strategy to foster youth development, promote entrepreneurship, and create sustainable employment opportunities in the province.

    Launched in June 2019, the fund forms part of a broader provincial strategy aimed at fostering youth development, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating sustainable employment opportunities.

    The fund provides both financial and non-financial support to businesses that are still in the early stages of growth.

    To ensure accessibility, the Office of the Premier opens an annual application window, allowing young entrepreneurs to submit their proposals via a dedicated online portal. The call for applications is widely publicised through official websites, social media platforms, and municipal public notice boards across the province.

    According to the provincial government, the initiative has already yielded tangible impact, with a total of 82 youth-owned businesses having been approved for support through the Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme during the previous term.

    Of these, 22 enterprises have received funding, with over R12 million disbursed. The remaining 60 entrepreneurs have been identified in the programme pipeline and are scheduled to receive financial support during the current financial year.

    “In addition to financial support, the initiative will offer business development training, mentorship, and market linkage facilitation to help improve the sustainability and growth potential of the supported enterprises,” the provincial government said.

    Efforts are also underway to strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanism to better track the impact of the fund and enhance accountability.

    Eastern Cape Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, highlighted the province’s commitment to expand the reach and impact of the programme through deeper collaboration with financial institutions and private sector partners.

    He added that public awareness campaigns will be intensified to ensure that more young people are informed about the fund and can benefit from the initiative.

    “Isiqalo Youth Fund is not just about disbursing money, it is about building a new generation of confident, capable entrepreneurs who can transform their communities.

    “Young business owners across the Eastern Cape are urged to stay informed about future application windows, by following updates on official government platforms,” Mabuyane said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Presidential Youth Initiative continues to empower SA’s most excluded youth

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) is not only curbing youth unemployment but reshaping labour market access for South Africa’s most excluded youth, with government now working to elevate the programme to new heights.

    President Cyril Ramaphosa witnessed the impact of the programme on Tuesday when he visited the Sefako Makgatho Primary School in Saulsville, Tshwane, to interact directly with beneficiaries, educators and learners. 

    “I’m glad to be here and to see you all. When I made the announcement a little while ago that we will be having up to 200 000 of you in all our schools, I did expect that you would all be coming through, and now I can see that you are real people, that you exist. 

    “We are so delighted to have you as our teacher assistants, you are assisting in our schools [and] a very important area of our nation’s lives, education. You are the ones who are going to be preparing these young people for the future of our country that we all desire,” the President told the young teacher assistants. 

    The President acknowledged the difficult socio-economic challenges young people face and highlighted government’s efforts to expand opportunities.

    “I’m delighted that it is through you, young people, that we are doing this. Yes, I know that your own situation is not the most ideal. We are working very hard to create more permanent positions for you in many, many ways in the economy. 

    “When government is dealing with these problems, it also initiates programmes like this one. We have up to now brought in almost two million of you as young people into this type of programme. 

    “I am proud to be working with Ministers and Deputy Ministers in departments, who have taken this whole process of creating job opportunities very seriously,” the President said. 

    He told the teacher assistants that what they are doing is very important to the country and government continues to invest money in youth initiatives meant to benefit young South Africans.

    “We devote a lot of money and effort to education, and you are the products of that. We now need to take you to the next level, and we will work very hard to take you to the next level, where you will get more permanent jobs and better livelihoods, so you can support your own families,” the President said. 

    He lauded the BEEI as a phenomenal programme, which has been able to employ more than two million young people since its inception. It is an overarching programme that covers over 25 000 schools across the country. 

    According to President Ramaphosa, the initiative also develops discipline, management, and interpersonal skills among participants. These skills are essential for success in future employment. 

    “That, to me, is hugely empowering for these young people, and we’ve had more than two million of them, and of course, we would want it to be much longer than what it is now. It’s a question of not having sufficient resources to be able to extend it beyond [that]. 

    “But those who participate are then empowered and beyond this, they are then able to get other jobs, get other opportunities. They are now job ready, as it were, and that is a great benefit of what we are doing here. 

    The President added that the programme is becoming a world-renowned programme.

    “Many other countries are looking at what we are doing here and some of them are going to copycat what we are doing… So, we are trailblazers in many ways,” he said. 

    President Ramaphosa praised the integrity of the programme, saying it has been “flawlessly executed” with the dedicated leadership within the Presidency and Departments of Basic Education and Employment and Labour.

    Two young teacher assistants, who are currently benefiting from the programme, shared the same sentiments with the President, confirming that the initiative has made a huge difference in their lives. 

    Joshua Given Machete told SAnews that he was grateful for the opportunity to become part of the labour market through the Basic Education Employment Initiative. 

    “I have benefited by getting employed as a curriculum assistant and I really appreciate the opportunity by our President, as well and the Department of Basic Education for initiating this. 

    “I work in the classroom, doing basic classroom management while the teachers focus on teaching. 

    “This programme contributes to human dignity in a sense that you are now able to look after yourself and buy the things you need. Economically, it has made a difference in my life and I’m going to use some of the stipend to further my studies. 

    “I encourage unemployed young people not to lose hope and keep on applying for programmes such as these. The President has promised that there will be more opportunities,” he said. 

    Valria Ndleve told SAnews that she is employed as an education assistant at WF Nkomo, helping teachers and learners. 

    “My job is to assist the teachers and learners in the classroom. This initiative is going to assist me personally and professionally. I am now financially stable and gaining experience at the same time,” she said.

    The BEEI is a flagship programme of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES), designed to address the dual challenges of youth unemployment and support, for the basic education system by placing young people in roles within public schools as education and general school assistant. 

    The programme is implemented by the Department of Basic Education and administrated by the Industrial Development Corporation.

    This visit is part of President Ramaphosa’s programme to engage with youth beneficiaries of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) and Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES) flagship programmes in Pretoria.

    He began the visit at the Sefako Makgatho Primary School in Saulsville. He then proceeded to South African Creative Industries Incubator (SACCI) in Eersterust and ended at the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) in Pretoria East. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China welcomes more foreign companies to achieve win-win: MFA

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) — China welcomes more foreign enterprises to take root in China and go global, and work together to achieve common goals and win-win outcomes amid China’s development of new productive forces, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Tuesday.

    The diplomat made the remarks at a regular briefing for journalists, commenting on the consistent investment in China by foreign enterprises in recent times.

    “The fact that more and more foreign companies are betting on China shows that foreign public circles attach great importance to the stability of China’s high-quality development and the certainty of its high-level opening up to the outside world,” Lin Jian said, noting that this also clearly demonstrates the powerful impetus provided by China’s new-quality productive forces and scientific and technological innovation ecosystem.

    In order to accelerate its institutional opening-up, China has put forward an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025 and revised and expanded the list of industries encouraged for foreign investment, he said.

    “These new stimulus measures cover sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, the digital economy and other advanced industries. In the first five months of this year, more than 73,000 foreign-invested enterprises imported and exported to China, a five-year high,” the official said.

    “At the same time, China is continuously achieving innovative breakthroughs and there is huge market demand for new industries and business formats, which is complemented by the country’s unique advantages such as a comprehensive industrial and supply chain system, rich human resources and a mature innovation ecosystem,” Lin Jian said, noting that all this encourages foreign businesses to invest in new-quality productive forces at an accelerated rate and integrate into China’s innovation chain.

    In addition, as the official representative noted, an increasing number of foreign companies prefer to carry out scientific research and development in China and export products from there to the world market, thereby creating a favorable circulation of markets, enterprises and resource factors.

    China’s development from a manufacturing outpost to an innovation engine will always be an opportunity for the world, Lin Jian said, adding that China will continue to steadily improve its business environment and provide foreign-invested companies with more policy benefits. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Kehoe Signs SB 81 into Law

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JUNE 10, 2025

    Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill (SB) 81 into law in a significant move to strengthen public safety across Missouri.

    “Public safety remains one of our top priorities, and with this bill, we are reinforcing that with real action,” said Governor Mike Kehoe. “From improving oversight and licensing to supporting law enforcement and victims of childhood abuse, this legislation gives the state the tools it needs to strengthen public safety measures.”

    SB 81 is a comprehensive public safety package that includes a variety of provisions aimed at reinforcing criminal background checks, modernizing fireworks regulations, supporting families of law enforcement officers, continuing funding for emergency response preparedness, and strengthening protections for victims of childhood sexual abuse. SB 81, sponsored by Senator Kurtis Gregory and Representative Tim Taylor, includes the following provisions:

    • License Reciprocity for Law Enforcement Spouses: Adds spouses of law enforcement officers to the list of individuals who receive expedited reciprocity for their occupational licenses.
    • Line of Duty Compensation Sunset Extension: Extends the sunset of the Line of Duty Compensation Act to December 31, 2031. The Line of Duty Compensation Act is for public safety officers who have tragically died in the line of duty. This extension continues to award the family of the fallen safety officer with $25,000, which could be used for any number of financial needs.
    • Expanding Criminal Background Checks: In response to a 2021 FBI policy change, SB 81 gives statutory authority to numerous state board and agencies to allow fingerprint-based criminal background checks. This permits Missouri to continue processing background checks as usual, ensuring that individuals are properly vetted to serve the public.
    • Missouri Emergency Response Commission (MERC) Fee Extension: Reauthorizes vital fee collections to ensure Missouri remains prepared for hazardous material-related emergencies.
    • Modernizing Fireworks Regulations: Updates Missouri’s fireworks laws to match current national safety standards and gives the State Fire Marshal oversight to inspect facilities, enforce compliance, and ensure safe public displays.
    • Trey’s Law: Authorizes that NDAs signed after August 28, 2025, shall no longer be enforceable for childhood sexual abuse actions brought and broadens the list of criminal acts that qualify as “childhood sexual abuse” under civil law.

    For more information on SB 81, click here. To view photos from the bill signing, click this link.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Peru

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 10, 2025

    • After a strong recovery in 2024, growth is expected to moderate in 2025, amid global and election-related uncertainty, and thereafter to remain close to potential. Inflation is expected to remain close to the midpoint of the target band. The financial system is sound. Risks are tilted to the downside given elevated external uncertainty, but Peru has ample buffers to cope with shocks.
    • Meeting the 2025 fiscal deficit target would require additional efforts in a pre-election year. In the medium term, further fiscal consolidation measures should be identified to comply with the fiscal rule deficit targets and debt ceiling. Introducing both spending and revenue measures would make the consolidation more balanced and credible.
    • Structural reforms are urgently required to lift potential growth, including updating the fiscal decentralization framework to help boost investments in the critical mineral sector. Enhanced efforts are needed to curb the low but rising level of insecurity, reform labor and tax regulations that impose excessive costs for formalizing or growing a business, enhance the independence and integrity of judicial bodies and tools to combat corruption impunity, build resilience to natural disasters, and embrace the opportunities of digital technologies and artificial intelligence.

    Washington, DC: On June 5, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2025 Article IV consultation[1] with Peru and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting on a lapse-of-time basis.[2]

    The economy has recovered from consecutive natural disaster shocks and social turmoil. Inflation is firmly within the target band, owing to the central bank’s early and decisive monetary tightening followed by cautious easing. The financial sector remained sound and profitable. The current account surplus further improved, underpinned by strong terms of trade. However, the fiscal position weakened. A relative political stability persists but pre-election tensions are rising. Lingering political uncertainty weighs on economic prospects and dents the appetite for structural reforms to boost potential growth.

    Growth is expected to moderate to 2.8 percent in 2025. A favorable momentum in private consumption and elevated public investment would support continued growth, but pre-election tensions would weigh on the private investment recovery while the impact of the first-round effects of the tariffs and global growth slowdown would be negative, although relatively moderate. Inflation is expected to remain within the target band of 1-3 percent. The current account balance is envisaged to remain in a surplus of 1.7 percent of GDP in 2025, with low external financing and debt rollover risks.

    Evolving risks are dominated by the potential for larger adverse impacts on global growth and commodity prices, due to prolonged trade policy uncertainty and financial market volatility, but Peru has ample buffers to cope with shocks. In the short term, key domestic risks include an intensification of political uncertainty, social unrest over security concerns, and weather-related shocks. Key external risks include trade policy uncertainty, tighter financial conditions, and commodity price volatility. Recent government initiatives to accelerate private sector involvement in public investment projects and streamline burdensome regulations could help revive private investment. Peru’s macroeconomic resilience is reinforced by very strong buffers including low public debt, abundant international reserves, and access to international capital markets on favorable terms.

    Executive Board Assessment

    After a strong recovery, growth is expected to moderate, amid global policy uncertainty and pre-election tensions, and thereafter to remain close to potential. With a closed output gap and firmly anchored inflation expectations, headline inflation would remain within the target band. The current account balance is envisaged to remain in a surplus, only gradually returning to a deficit in the medium term—stabilizing at its norm, of about 1.5 percent of GDP—as private investment recovers and terms of trade normalize. The external position in 2024 was stronger than the level implied by medium-term fundamentals and desirable policies, due to strong terms of trade and a recovery in traditional exports. Risks are tilted to the downside given elevated external uncertainty, but Peru has ample buffers to cope with shocks. Very strong macroeconomic policies and institutional policy frameworks remain in place.

    A broadly neutral monetary policy stance is appropriate. Inflation expectations are approaching 2 percent, and the output gap is closed. However, given heightened external uncertainty, monetary policy should remain data dependent. Continued exchange rate flexibility should be allowed to help cushion the impact of external shocks.

    Meeting the 2025 fiscal deficit target will require additional efforts in a pre-election year. The 2025 budget envisages a deficit of 2.2 percent of GDP, consistent with the revised fiscal rule target. A tax revenue rebound from the economic recovery and one-off factors will help reduce the deficit in 2025, but additional efforts of about 0.4 percent of GDP will be needed to secure fiscal rule compliance. Additional spending control measures would make this year’s consolidation plans more credible and balanced. In May 2025, the authorities announced initiatives to improve spending efficiency, but further efforts will be needed to comply with this year’s target.

    A combination of spending restraint and revenue-raising measures would be needed to comply with the medium-term fiscal targets. To comply with the fiscal rule deficit target of 1 percent of GDP by 2028 and the debt ceiling of 30 percent of GDP by 2035, the authorities’ medium-term consolidation plan envisages a reduction of current spending by about 0.4 percent of GDP per year between 2026 and 2028. Identifying both revenue and spending measures—including efforts to streamline tax expenditures; strengthen tax administration; and control wages, discretionary transfers, and inefficient public investment—would secure a balanced and gradual consolidation. In the absence of measures, public debt would gradually rise over the medium term, while remaining relatively low compared to peers. Legislative initiatives bearing fiscal costs, proposals that erode the tax base, and excessive reliance on private participation schemes would complicate the attainment of fiscal targets. Reforms to significantly reduce Petroperú’s costs and enhance its transparency and governance are also needed to safeguard fiscal credibility.

    Systemic risks are limited, but authorities should continue to proactively contain financial vulnerabilities. Banks are profitable, with ample liquidity and capital buffers. While elevated for small- and medium-sized firms, NPLs are expected to continue improving and would support the growth of credit. The authorities should continue to be vigilant of pockets of vulnerability, particularly in corporate loans.

    Focused macroprudential policies could reduce financial vulnerabilities from remaining dollarized credit. While the aggregate value of unhedged dollar credit is low, unhedged dollar credit tends to be riskier and concentrated in large- and medium-sized companies in the construction, commerce, and manufacturing sectors. The authorities’ regulation to introduce higher risk weighting in 2026 will help alleviate vulnerabilities from unhedged dollar credit. To ensure the stability of dollar funding for financial institutions, the authorities could consider introducing currency-specific NSFR requirements to complement the existing currency-specific LCR limits.

    Policy efforts are needed to revive the domestic capital market. It is critical to maintain the prohibition of future pension withdrawals, as approved in the recent pension reform, to protect the functioning of the domestic capital market, decrease financing costs, and lower the risks of old-age poverty. Measures to broaden the investor base through retail investment products could play a significant role in attracting funds back into the securities market.

    Financial resilience would be strengthened by addressing remaining regulatory gaps. The revised Basel III risk-weight framework and improving the activation criteria for the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) will help enhance the effectiveness of the entire regulatory framework. Completing the evaluation of recovery plans for domestic systemically important banks and expanding to the financial group level and their resolution planning will eliminate uncertainty under potential systemic events by facilitating orderly crisis management.

    Updating the fiscal decentralization framework, along other needed structural reforms, could help boost investments in the critical mineral sector and increase potential growth. A US$64 billion pipeline of mining investment projects has been mostly stalled for many years due to bureaucratic complexity and social conflicts. Unlocking these projects and channeling the additional fiscal revenues could permanently boost potential growth. Updating the fiscal decentralization framework, including redesigning natural resource revenue-sharing formulas, to improve public spending efficiency and generate high-impact public investments could help ensure that mining dividends translate into greater development. Enhanced efforts are also needed to curb the low but rising level of insecurity, reform labor and tax regulations that impose excessive costs for formalizing or growing a business, enhance the independence and integrity of judicial bodies and tools to combat corruption impunity, build resilience to natural disasters, and embrace the opportunities of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The OECD accession process provides a clear roadmap for other critical reforms to boost the business climate, reduce informality, and reform the civil service.

     

    Peru: Selected Economic Indicators

    2020

    2021

    2022

    2023

    2024

    Proj.

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    Social Indicators

    Poverty rate (total) 1/

    30.1

    25.9

    27.5

    29

    27.6

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Unemployment rate for Metropolitan Lima (average)

    13

    10.7

    7.8

    6.8

    6.4

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    (Annual percentage change; unless otherwise indicated)

    Production and Prices

    Real GDP

    -10.9

    13.4

    2.8

    -0.4

    3.3

    2.8

    2.6

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    2.5

    Output gap (percent of potential GDP)

    -5.5

    0.8

    0.7

    -1.3

    -0.4

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Consumer prices (end of period)

    2

    6.4

    8.5

    3.2

    2

    2

    2

    2

    2

    2

    2

    Consumer prices (period average)

    1.8

    4

    7.9

    6.3

    2.4

    1.7

    1.9

    2

    2

    2

    2

    Money and Credit 2/ 3/

    Broad money

    29.2

    2.7

    -0.7

    2.2

    11.6

    1.7

    5.6

    5.6

    5.6

    5.6

    5.6

    Net credit to the private sector

    14

    6.5

    3.3

    0.7

    0.9

    4.7

    5.7

    6

    6

    6

    6

    Credit-to-private-sector/GDP ratio (%)

    52.4

    45.9

    44.4

    41.8

    38.9

    38.9

    39.3

    39.8

    40.4

    40.9

    41.5

    External Sector

    		                    

    Exports

    -10.7

    47.4

    4.8

    2

    12.4

    5.8

    3.1

    1.9

    3.2

    3.2

    2.7

    Imports

    -15.5

    38.2

    16.7

    -11

    4.5

    4.1

    3.1

    4.1

    4.4

    4.6

    4.6

    External current account balance (percent of GDP)

    0.9

    -2.1

    -4.1

    0.7

    2.2

    1.7

    1.3

    0.4

    -0.1

    -0.8

    -1.5

    Gross reserves In billions of U.S. dollars

    74.9

    78.5

    72.2

    71.3

    79.2

    84.2

    88.7

    92.7

    96.4

    100.4

    104.9

      Percent of short-term external debt 4/

    491

    578

    509

    404

    435

    477

    505

    517

    606

    641

    635

      Percent of foreign currency deposits at    banks

    222

    229

    209

    204

    213

    220

    219

    217

    213

    210

    208

    (In percent of GDP; unless otherwise indicated)

    Public Sector

    		                      

    NFPS revenue

    21.8

    25.5

    27

    23.9

    22.7

    23.6

    23.1

    23.1

    23.2

    23.3

    23.4

    NFPS primary expenditure

    29.1

    26.5

    27.1

    25.1

    24.5

    24.4

    23.9

    23.5

    23.3

    23.2

    23.2

    NFPS primary balance

    -7.3

    -1

    -0.1

    -1.2

    -1.8

    -0.7

    -0.8

    -0.4

    -0.1

    0.1

    0.2

    NFPS overall balance

    -8.9

    -2.5

    -1.7

    -2.8

    -3.5

    -2.6

    -2.5

    -2.2

    -2

    -1.8

    -1.7

    NFPS structural balance 5/

    -7

    -3.9

    -2.2

    -2.6

    -3.7

    -2.9

    -2.9

    -2.5

    -2.2

    -1.9

    -1.8

    NFPS structural primary balance 5/

    -5.4

    -2.4

    -0.6

    -0.9

    -1.9

    -1.1

    -1.1

    -0.6

    -0.3

    0

    0.1

    Debt

    		                    

    Total external debt 6/

    43.7

    46.3

    42.7

    40.3

    38.5

    35.7

    33.8

    31.6

    30.1

    28.8

    27.4

    Gross non-financial public sector debt 7/

    34.9

    36.1

    34

    33

    32.8

    33.7

    34.7

    35.5

    35.9

    35.9

    36

    External

    14.8

    19.4

    17.6

    15.8

    15.5

    15.1

    14.8

    13.7

    13

    12.3

    11.3

    Domestic

    20

    16.7

    16.4

    17.1

    17.3

    18.5

    19.9

    21.8

    23

    23.6

    24.6

    Savings and Investment

    		                    

    Gross domestic investment

    18.3

    20.8

    21

    17.7

    18.1

    17.9

    18.1

    18.7

    19.1

    19.5

    19.8

    Public sector (incl. repayment certificates)

    4.3

    4.7

    5

    5

    5.3

    5.2

    4.9

    4.9

    4.9

    4.9

    4.9

    Private sector

    16.7

    20.4

    20.2

    17.9

    17.2

    17.1

    16.9

    16.7

    16.6

    16.5

    16.4

    National savings

    19.2

    18.8

    16.9

    18.4

    20.3

    19.6

    19.4

    19.1

    19

    18.7

    18.3

    Public sector

    -3.9

    2.8

    4.3

    3

    2.4

    3.6

    3.2

    3.5

    3.7

    3.9

    4

    Private sector

    23.2

    15.9

    12.6

    15.4

    17.9

    16

    16.2

    15.6

    15.3

    14.8

    14.3

    Memorandum Items

    		                    

    Nominal GDP (S/. billion)

    722

    878

    937

    1,001

    1,085

    1,136

    1,188

    1,242

    1,299

    1,360

    1,423

    GDP per capita (in US$)

    6,328

    6,849

    7,319

    7,930

    8,485

    8,814

    9,182

    9,505

    9,825

    10,168

    10,529

    Sources: National authorities; UNDP Human Development Indicators; and IMF staff estimates/projections.  

    1/ Defined as the percentage of households with total spending below the cost of a basic consumption basket. 

    2/ Corresponds to depository corporations. 

    3/ Foreign currency stocks are valued at end-of-period exchange rates. 

    4/ Short-term debt is defined on a residual maturity basis and includes amortization of medium and long-term debt. 

    5/ Adjusted by the economic cycle and commodity prices, and for non-structural commodity revenue. The latter uses as equilibrium commodity prices, a moving average estimate that takes 5 years of historical prices and 3 years of forward prices according to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook.  

    6/ Includes local currency debt held by non-residents and excludes global bonds held by residents. 

    7/ Includes repayment certificates and government guaranteed debt. 

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis of discussion by the Executive Board.

    [2] The Executive Board takes decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when the Board agrees that a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Jose De Haro

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/09/pr-25186-peru-imf-concludes-2025-art-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Polis to Lead Colorado Delegation to the 2025 Biennial of the Americas Summit in Vancouver & Lead National Governors Association Education Convening

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Delegation will Represent Colorado at the Americas Summit Agriculture, Workforce, and Clean Tech Innovation, Convene Governors and Education Leaders

    DENVER – To encourage and spur more international cooperation, boost our state’s thriving economy, and discuss best practices in agriculture, workforce, and clean tech innovation, Governor Polis and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) are attending the Americas Summit in Vancouver, Canada. As Chair of the National Governors Association (NGA), Governor Polis will also convene governors and education leaders for the latest in a series of bipartisan events in support of the NGA Chair’s Initiative, Let’s Get Ready: Educating All Americans for Success. 

    “Colorado is a global economic leader, and our strong international relationships with partners like Canada create good-paying jobs for Coloradans, strengthen international markets for made and grown in Colorado products, and boost investment in our state. While Washington pushes our allies away, Colorado will continue to bolster international trade and cooperation that benefits Coloradans, businesses, and our whole economy. The Biennial of the Americas Summit plays an invaluable role in building and strengthening Colorado’s ties with countries throughout the Western Hemisphere, and this Summit is an opportunity for us to show our allies that Colorado is stepping up as a steady partner,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. 

    The Americas Summit brings together influential leaders from across the Americas to explore critical topics such as sustainability, technological advancement, economic growth and cultural exchange. 

    “Canada is a top partner for Colorado in both trade and tourism, accounting for 16% of our state’s exports and bringing more than 176,000 visitors. Now more than ever, we must strengthen this important international relationship to help both of our regions thrive and support the Colorado businesses that depend on these international connections,” said OEDIT’s Executive Director, Eve Lieberman. 

    In addition to attending the Americas Summit, Gov. Polis and OEDIT’s Global Business Development division are hosting additional events to showcase Colorado’s leadership in the advanced industries, the state’s commitment to strong international partnerships, and highlight Colorado’s business strengths: 

    • A roundtable hosted in partnership with the Colorado-headquartered National Science Foundation (NSF) ASCEND Engine to convene stakeholders in the clean energy/climate tech sector and adjacent technology areas that support decarbonization efforts and community resiliency.
    • A convening of Canadian business leaders and Colorado stakeholders to highlight the state’s business advantages, including a nation-leading workforce, central location for global market access and a stable and collaborative ecosystem.
    • A roundtable with leaders of British Columbia to explore the impacts of recent trade policy changes between the U.S. and Canada, and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration at the state and provincial levels. 

    “International missions ensure that Colorado remains at the forefront with our global partners. The relationships made and strengthened at the Americas Summit enhance our state’s reputation as a global leader in innovation and the advanced industries while identifying new opportunities for cross-border collaboration at the state and provincial levels,” said Michelle Hadwiger, Director of Global Business Development for OEDIT. 

    OEDIT staff includes representation from the Colorado Tourism Office, the Colorado Creative Industries Office, and the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. Leadership from the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor and Employment will also be in attendance at the summit. 

    While in Vancouver, Governor Polis will also lead a convening of the National Governors Association to discuss how states can ensure students are prepared with the skills needed to succeed and highlight his chairman’s initiative, “Let’s Get Ready! Educating All Americans For Success”. 

    “Funding education that gives students the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the classroom and grow in the workforce is the largest and most important investment Colorado makes each year. This convening provides the opportunity for state and education leaders to share innovative solutions to strengthen student success and achievement,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. 

    The NGA convening includes a visit to Language Nest, for kids ages 0 to three, and Capilano Little Ones Elementary School, where students learn primarily in Squamish, immersing young students in the language and culture at a young age. During the convening, Governor Polis will also moderate panels with Dr. Oon Seng Tan, the Director of the Singapore Center for Character and Citizenship Education, Dr. Timothy Knowels, the President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Dr. Vicki Phillips the CEO of the National Center on Education and the Economy. 

    About OEDIT’s Global Business Development Division 

    Global Business Development (GBD) is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. GBD supports Colorado businesses and communities by using a data-driven approach to recruit, support, and retain businesses that contribute to a robust and diversified economy. We align our portfolio of programs, services, and incentives with industries that benefit Colorado companies and elevate the state’s national and international competitiveness. GBD also hosts foreign delegations and participates in trade and investment missions around the world to strengthen global awareness of Colorado. With a highly educated and motivated workforce, a thriving innovation economy, and nation-leading entrepreneurial spirit, Colorado is a top market for business development. 

    About Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lamont Celebrates Historic Legislative Session Expanding Access to Early Childhood Education

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    (HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today joined with educators, parents, and advocates at a news conference to celebrate the accomplishments achieved during the recently adjourned legislative session in passing legislation that will implement the largest expansion of access to early childhood education in Connecticut history.

    At the urging of Governor Lamont, the Connecticut General Assembly approved a suite of bills (Senate Bill 1, House Bill 5003, and House Bill 7288) that will enable thousands of additional children to enroll in high-quality, early childhood education services, which have been unattainable for families.

    “This legislative session was a victory for the many parents, families, and early childhood educators who have been advocating for Connecticut to make early childhood education affordable and accessible for all of our kids,” Governor Lamont said. “Access to early childhood education is massively important to any state’s success, not only because these programs provide valuable tools for children that will lead them to professional achievements in the future, but also because being able to enroll your child in care right now means that parents can join the workforce and earn an income that supports their family. The bills that the General Assembly approved this session represent the largest expansion of early childhood education access in Connecticut history, and I thank them for making this a priority and recognizing that this issue is a major part of what will create a stronger, safer, and resilient state.”

    A significant amount of the legislation that was approved came from the recommendations of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care, which brought together voices from across child care providers, businesses, government, and parents to provide a roadmap on the future of early childhood education in Connecticut.

    “With this legislation, Connecticut provides an early childhood education model for the nation,” Connecticut Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye said. “It will make child care free or affordable for tens of thousands of families, and provide a portal where parents can find affordable child care in their community. And as the endowment grows, it will reach more communities and more families. Connecticut’s model is different from other states with its focus on affordability for families, equitable wages for early childhood educators, and local community planning for expansion. The passage of this bill is an achievement shared by many here today who worked for this change this year and for decades – from families, to advocates, to businesses, to providers – all share in this success.”

    “Connecticut is now a national leader in creating a child care system that truly supports working families and boosts our state’s economy,” Eva Bermúdez Zimmerman, director of Child Care for CT, said. “We applaud Governor Lamont and his fellow leaders in government for hearing the voices of parents, providers, and business leaders who advocated fiercely to make child care a top priority in the halls of the capitol. This is transformative legislation for Connecticut, and we are so proud to help make it a reality.”

    “The Endowment bill is the most significant piece of early childhood legislation to pass the General Assembly in my lifetime,” Merrill Gay, executive director of the Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance, said. “Thank you, Governor Lamont, for proposing this approach to fix the problem that has plagued early care and education from its inception. Most parents can’t afford what it costs to provide high quality care, and early educators shouldn’t have to subsidize the system by working for poverty wages.”

    Establishment of the Early Childhood Education Endowment

    Senate Bill 1 establishes a state-managed Early Childhood Education Endowment fund starting on July 1, 2025, that will initially be funded with up to $300 million in unappropriated surplus funding from the fiscal year 2025 budget. This fund will be used to:

    • Support the expansion of early childhood education providers by adding tens of thousands of slots in Connecticut’s state-funded system available to enroll additional children;
    • Expand opportunities that make early childhood education available at no cost to families enrolled in Early Start CT who earn up to $100,000 per year, and a sliding scale of no more than 7% for families earning more than $100,000 per year.

    In future years, the fund will continue to grow with annual funding from budget surpluses and investments.

    Finally, in fiscal year 2027 the legislation requires that the state launch a health insurance subsidy pilot program for early childhood educators in partnership with Access Health CT. There will be $10 million available for this subsidy.

    Simplifying the ability of families to access early childhood education

    To address concerns from families that Connecticut’s current system of early childhood education services is fragmented and challenging to navigate, House Bill 5003 creates the Early Care and Education Program Portal to provide families with a means of accessing real-time information about slot availability. Available for all Connecticut providers and families, the portal will:

    • Allow families to submit information for resource and referral and enrollment purposes in early childhood programs;
    • Provide the ability for the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood to manage payments to early childhood programs;
    • House information on the availability of free or subsidized slots in each town and on a regional and statewide basis;
    • Allow early childhood providers to enter slot availability and enrollment information into the portal;
    • Be access through a mobile app or internet website; and
    • Allow families to apply for child care subsidies or other assistance, including Care 4 Kids.

    Supporting construction and renovation of child care facilities

    House Bill 7288 – the annual state bond bill – enables the State Bond Commission to authorize up to $80 million in bonds that will be used to support the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood in establishment of the Child Care Facilities Grant Program for Construction and Renovation. This grant program will offer financial assistance for facility improvements for licensed child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes.

    All three bills are currently undergoing engrossing and final printing in the legislature’s nonpartisan offices. Once that process has been completed, the bills will be transmitted to the Office of the Governor for the governor’s signature. The governor will sign the bills shortly after they have been transmitted to his office.

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: 5 benefits Africa’s new space agency can deliver

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Scott Firsing, Senior Research Associate, University of South Africa

    The African Space Agency was officially inaugurated in Cairo’s Space City in April 2025. The event marked a milestone in a process that had been in the works since the early 2000s. Drawing inspiration from the European Space Agency, it unites African Union (AU) member states to harness space technology for development. This is in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063, aimed at advancing Africa into a prosperous future.

    Read more: Africa has ambitious goals for 2063: plans for outer space hold the key to success

    The agency’s goal is to:

    • coordinate and implement Africa’s space ambitions by promoting collaboration among the AU’s 55 member states

    • harness space technologies for sustainable development, climate resilience and socio-economic growth

    • oversee the African Space Policy and Strategy to enhance access to space-derived data

    • foster partnerships with international space agencies like the European Space Agency and others.

    Over 20 African countries operate space programmes and more than 65 African satellites have been launched. It is my view as a global space diplomacy expert that the agency can help ensure that Africa isn’t a bystander in the space economy. This sector is projected to be worth US$1.8 trillion by 2035.

    The space agency positions Africa to address pressing challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the global space economy. These include using satellite data, boosting connectivity, driving economic growth, fostering global partnerships and training future leaders.

    Five benefits

    Valuable eyes in the sky

    Space assets, particularly Earth observation satellites, offer a number of advantages. The continent faces significant climate risks like droughts, fires and floods. This is particularly problematic as the agricultural sector is approximately 35% of Africa’s GDP and employs about half of its people across over 1 billion hectares of arable land.

    Satellite data optimises crop yields, supports climate-resilient farming, and enhances sustainable fisheries and port modernisation. Nigeria’s National Space Research and Deveopment Agency, for example, has used satellites like the NigSat-2 to monitor crop health and predict yields.

    Beyond agriculture, satellites assist in project planning in cities across Africa. Kenya uses a satellite to track urban development trends and enhance municipal urban planning capacities.

    Satellites also keep an eye on Africa’s resource-abundant territories while tackling problems like armed conflict, deforestation, and illegal migration and mining.

    The African Space Agency will help provide access to AI-enhanced satellite data. This will enable even nations with constrained resources to tackle local needs. For instance, Côte d’Ivoire’s first locally made satellite, launched in 2024, shows how African nations are building their own capabilities.

    Read more: Côte d’Ivoire is launching its first satellite for Earth observation – and it’s locally made

    By making it easier to share data, the African Space Agency also positions the continent to generate revenue in the global space data market. That fuels innovation.

    Enhancing connectivity and enabling cutting-edge technology

    Africa’s digital divide is stark. Only 38% of its population was online in 2024, compared to the global average of 68%. The African Space Agency aims to bridge this gap through satellite-based communications. This technology can deliver broadband to remote regions where cell towers and undersea cables are impractical.

    Connectivity enables education, e-commerce and telemedicine.

    Satellite services, like those provided by SpaceX’s Starlink in 21 African countries, will drive digital inclusion. In turn this promises to reduce unemployment and help entrepreneurs.

    The African Space Agency is also positioning Africa to embrace new space technologies. Examples include Japan’s 2025 demonstration of beaming solar power from space, following a US achievement in 2023.

    This could revolutionise energy access. Space-based solar power captures solar energy in orbit via satellite and transmits it as microwaves to Earth. This offers a solution to Africa’s energy poverty. It could provide reliable power to remote areas without extensive grid infrastructure.

    The African Space Agency’s role in coordinating satellite launches and data sharing will make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective.

    Driving economic growth and innovation

    Africa’s space sector, now worth over US$20 billion, is growing rapidly. The industry has seen an increase of private companies and investor support, moving beyond sole dependence on government funding. Investment is being fuelled by 327 NewSpace firms, a term used for the new emerging commercial space industry in nations such as Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. These firms often excel in satellite communication, Earth observation and component manufacturing.

    But many African nations lack resources. The agency will lower barriers by fostering collaboration, coordinating national space programmes, and reducing duplication.For example, the African Space Agency’s efforts to streamline satellite development and launches will spur local manufacturing and tech hubs.

    This means that smaller economies will be able to participate.

    Strengthening regional and global connections

    Africa’s space sector relies on partnerships with space agencies and commercial space companies based in the “space powers”. These include the US, Russia, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. These institutions provide launch services, satellite development and ground stations.

    An example is Senegal’s GaindeSAT-1A, a CubeSat launched in 2024 via America’s SpaceX with French collaboration.

    Meanwhile, countries like South Africa are exploring local rocket programmes to enhance the agency’s self-reliance. Africa’s space ground stations are already located across the continent, supporting the European Space Agency and commercial missions. They will soon host a deep space ground station for America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

    Funding remains a challenge. African nations allocated just US$426 million to space programmes in 2025. That’s less than 1% of global spending. The European Space Agency has an US$8 billion budget.

    However, initiatives like the €100 million Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme (2025–2028) aim to boost Africa’s space sovereignty and innovation.

    The agency’s vision extends beyond Earth, with an eye on the Moon. Some members, notably Angola, Nigeria and Rwanda, have already signed the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar exploration. For their part Egypt and South Africa are collaborating with China and Russia on the International Lunar Research Station.

    Read more: Outer space: Rwanda and Nigeria sign an accord for more responsible exploration – why this matters

    Training the next generation

    A skilled workforce is critical to Africa’s space industry. The Africa Space Agency Space City plans to host a training academy. It will build on Egypt’s programmes in space project management, satellite design, and orbital simulation.

    Partnerships like the Africa-EU programme offer scholarships, while private initiatives, such as the Pathways to Space programme by Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy, engage students in 63 schools in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

    – 5 benefits Africa’s new space agency can deliver
    – https://theconversation.com/5-benefits-africas-new-space-agency-can-deliver-258098

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 5 benefits Africa’s new space agency can deliver

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Scott Firsing, Senior Research Associate, University of South Africa

    The African Space Agency was officially inaugurated in Cairo’s Space City in April 2025. The event marked a milestone in a process that had been in the works since the early 2000s. Drawing inspiration from the European Space Agency, it unites African Union (AU) member states to harness space technology for development. This is in line with the AU’s Agenda 2063, aimed at advancing Africa into a prosperous future.



    Read more:
    Africa has ambitious goals for 2063: plans for outer space hold the key to success

    The agency’s goal is to:

    • coordinate and implement Africa’s space ambitions by promoting collaboration among the AU’s 55 member states

    • harness space technologies for sustainable development, climate resilience and socio-economic growth

    • oversee the African Space Policy and Strategy to enhance access to space-derived data

    • foster partnerships with international space agencies like the European Space Agency and others.

    Over 20 African countries operate space programmes and more than 65 African satellites have been launched. It is my view as a global space diplomacy expert that the agency can help ensure that Africa isn’t a bystander in the space economy. This sector is projected to be worth US$1.8 trillion by 2035.

    The space agency positions Africa to address pressing challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the global space economy. These include using satellite data, boosting connectivity, driving economic growth, fostering global partnerships and training future leaders.

    Five benefits

    Valuable eyes in the sky

    Space assets, particularly Earth observation satellites, offer a number of advantages. The continent faces significant climate risks like droughts, fires and floods. This is particularly problematic as the agricultural sector is approximately 35% of Africa’s GDP and employs about half of its people across over 1 billion hectares of arable land.

    Satellite data optimises crop yields, supports climate-resilient farming, and enhances sustainable fisheries and port modernisation. Nigeria’s National Space Research and Deveopment Agency, for example, has used satellites like the NigSat-2 to monitor crop health and predict yields.

    Beyond agriculture, satellites assist in project planning in cities across Africa. Kenya uses a satellite to track urban development trends and enhance municipal urban planning capacities.

    Satellites also keep an eye on Africa’s resource-abundant territories while tackling problems like armed conflict, deforestation, and illegal migration and mining.

    The African Space Agency will help provide access to AI-enhanced satellite data. This will enable even nations with constrained resources to tackle local needs. For instance, Côte d’Ivoire’s first locally made satellite, launched in 2024, shows how African nations are building their own capabilities.



    Read more:
    Côte d’Ivoire is launching its first satellite for Earth observation – and it’s locally made

    By making it easier to share data, the African Space Agency also positions the continent to generate revenue in the global space data market. That fuels innovation.

    Enhancing connectivity and enabling cutting-edge technology

    Africa’s digital divide is stark. Only 38% of its population was online in 2024, compared to the global average of 68%. The African Space Agency aims to bridge this gap through satellite-based communications. This technology can deliver broadband to remote regions where cell towers and undersea cables are impractical.

    Connectivity enables education, e-commerce and telemedicine.

    Satellite services, like those provided by SpaceX’s Starlink in 21 African countries, will drive digital inclusion. In turn this promises to reduce unemployment and help entrepreneurs.

    The African Space Agency is also positioning Africa to embrace new space technologies. Examples include Japan’s 2025 demonstration of beaming solar power from space, following a US achievement in 2023.

    This could revolutionise energy access. Space-based solar power captures solar energy in orbit via satellite and transmits it as microwaves to Earth. This offers a solution to Africa’s energy poverty. It could provide reliable power to remote areas without extensive grid infrastructure.

    The African Space Agency’s role in coordinating satellite launches and data sharing will make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective.

    Driving economic growth and innovation

    Africa’s space sector, now worth over US$20 billion, is growing rapidly. The industry has seen an increase of private companies and investor support, moving beyond sole dependence on government funding. Investment is being fuelled by 327 NewSpace firms, a term used for the new emerging commercial space industry in nations such as Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. These firms often excel in satellite communication, Earth observation and component manufacturing.

    But many African nations lack resources. The agency will lower barriers by fostering collaboration, coordinating national space programmes, and reducing duplication.For example, the African Space Agency’s efforts to streamline satellite development and launches will spur local manufacturing and tech hubs.

    This means that smaller economies will be able to participate.

    Strengthening regional and global connections

    Africa’s space sector relies on partnerships with space agencies and commercial space companies based in the “space powers”. These include the US, Russia, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. These institutions provide launch services, satellite development and ground stations.

    An example is Senegal’s GaindeSAT-1A, a CubeSat launched in 2024 via America’s SpaceX with French collaboration.

    Meanwhile, countries like South Africa are exploring local rocket programmes to enhance the agency’s self-reliance. Africa’s space ground stations are already located across the continent, supporting the European Space Agency and commercial missions. They will soon host a deep space ground station for America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

    Funding remains a challenge. African nations allocated just US$426 million to space programmes in 2025. That’s less than 1% of global spending. The European Space Agency has an US$8 billion budget.

    However, initiatives like the €100 million Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme (2025–2028) aim to boost Africa’s space sovereignty and innovation.

    The agency’s vision extends beyond Earth, with an eye on the Moon. Some members, notably Angola, Nigeria and Rwanda, have already signed the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar exploration. For their part Egypt and South Africa are collaborating with China and Russia on the International Lunar Research Station.



    Read more:
    Outer space: Rwanda and Nigeria sign an accord for more responsible exploration – why this matters

    Training the next generation

    A skilled workforce is critical to Africa’s space industry. The Africa Space Agency Space City plans to host a training academy. It will build on Egypt’s programmes in space project management, satellite design, and orbital simulation.

    Partnerships like the Africa-EU programme offer scholarships, while private initiatives, such as the Pathways to Space programme by Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy, engage students in 63 schools in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

    Scott Firsing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 5 benefits Africa’s new space agency can deliver – https://theconversation.com/5-benefits-africas-new-space-agency-can-deliver-258098

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Energy Minister asks NDA to explore clean energy at Moorside

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Energy Minister asks NDA to explore clean energy at Moorside

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks asks the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to explore clean energy at Moorside.

    • Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council to explore clean energy development in Cumbria – protecting billpayers and supporting new jobs as part of government’s Plan for Change
    • Moorside land could be used for range of clean energy projects, from nuclear to solar to wind
    • Builds on Cumbria’s strong nuclear history and decommissioning work at Sellafield – making the region a clean energy powerhouse

    People in Cumbria could benefit from a new jobs and economic growth in Moorside, after Energy Minister Michael Shanks asked the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Cumberland Council to explore the potential for clean energy development on the land.

    The government’s nuclear decommissioning arm, which owns the site adjacent to Sellafield, will work with the local council to explore using the land for clean energy projects – opening up market discussions on privately-backed new nuclear, solar or wind as part of government’s Plan for Change.

    Cumbria has a strong nuclear history and the decommissioning work at Sellafield is a national priority. Any plans for development will consider the requirements of existing major programmes at Sellafield, including plutonium disposition, which will support thousands of skilled jobs and inject billions into Cumbria over the coming decades.

    A new clean energy project could lead to new jobs in the region, while protecting billpayers and boosting the UK’s energy security.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    Unlocking the potential of Moorside for clean energy is a significant step forward in our Plan for Change, supporting skilled jobs, economic growth and energy security in Cumbria and across the UK.

    By working closely with local partners, we can ensure that this historic region continues to lead the way in clean energy innovation, delivering real benefits for communities and protecting billpayers for years to come.

    Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

    Cumbria has a fantastic nuclear legacy, and opening up this land for development will build on the region’s energy expertise.

    This could lead to new jobs and economic growth in Cumbria, while boosting the nation’s energy security and protecting family finances.

    NDA Group CEO, David Peattie, said:

    Our priority will always be the delivery of our nationally important mission, to safely and securely decommission the UK’s earliest nuclear sites.

    We have unique expertise, resources and assets and we are committed to exploring how we can best utilise these to support wider energy security ambitions and low carbon energy generation.

    That includes looking to identify land not required for our mission, which could be freed up for other uses to deliver benefits to the local community and wider economy.

    Councillor Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council, said:

    This is great news for West Cumbria, a clean energy development will help grow and diversify our future economy.  

    The council are fully committed to working with the NDA together to understand how we can deliver maximum value and benefit from the land at Moorside for the local community.

    Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, said:

    Unlocking this land gives us our best chance at new nuclear since the collapse of NuGen. Now we have the government behind us and an agreement on use of the land we can motor ahead to deliver Pioneer Park at pace.

    I will do everything in my power, working with national government and local partners, to secure West Cumbria’s nuclear future.

    Notes to editors

    There are no plans for waste disposal at Moorside, some land is required for Sellafield’s mission delivery including to enable plutonium disposition. 

    Moorside is one of several sites that has the potential to host future civil nuclear projects, though no decisions have yet been made.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Murkowski Introduce Bill to Strengthen Maine’s Coastal Workforce, Fisheries and Infrastructure

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation that would lay the groundwork to boost the workforce, energy and shoreside infrastructure, food security, and economies of coastal communities in Maine and across the country. The Working Waterfronts Act, which is also co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), is comprised of more than a dozen provisions, would support efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and strengthen federal conservation research projects. Included in the legislation is Senator King’s Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act which would allow businesses that provide direct assistance to fishing operations — like gear producers or cold storage — to access loans from the Farm Credit System (FCS) that are already offered to service providers for farmers, ranchers and loggers. 
    “Maine’s coastal communities are changing. From a warming climate to an evolving economy, the Gulf of Maine faces both historic opportunities and challenges that will define our state’s success for generations,” said Senator King. “The Working Waterfronts Act would provide Maine’s working waterfronts up and down the coast with the necessary financial, energy and infrastructure resources to adapt to the rapidly shifting dynamics of natural disasters affecting economic and tourism operations. It would also help support the necessary workforce to sustain our coastal businesses. Thanks to my colleagues for working with me to ensure our waterfronts have the necessary tools and resources to thrive for years to come.”
    “One of my priorities this Congress was reintroducing the Working Waterfronts Act, a comprehensive and collective effort to harness the potential of the blue economy for Alaska’s coastal communities,” said Senator Murkowski. “With 66,000 miles of coastline, it is vital Alaska strengthens our shoreside infrastructure and supports workforce development to ensure the sustainability and growth of our fisheries, tourism, and mariculture sectors. This legislation will provide essential resources for alternative energy initiatives, improve community processing facilities, and promote safety and wellness in the maritime workforce. Together, we can build a resilient future for our coastal communities while addressing climate change and preserving our precious marine ecosystems.”
    “The men and women who make their living in Maine’s blue economy face growing challenges, including rising costs, workforce shortages, and changing ocean conditions,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would help address these issues by improving shoreside infrastructure, supporting the next generation of maritime workers, and investing in ocean ecosystem maintenance to ensure that Maine’s coastal communities remain strong for years to come.”
    Bill Highlights:
    Investing in Energy and Shoreside Infrastructure
    Tax Credits for Marine Energy Projects supports projects that produce electricity from waves, tides, and ocean currents.
    Fishing Vessel Alternative Fuels Pilot Program provides resources to help transition fishing vessels from diesel to alternative fuel sources such as electric or hybrid, and funds research and development of alternative fuel technologies for fishing vessels.
    Rural Coastal Community Processing and Cold Storage Grant increases support for community infrastructure such as cold storage, cooperative processing facilities, and mariculture/seaweed processing facilities by establishing a competitive grant program through the Department of Commerce for rural and small-scale projects.
    Working Waterfronts Development Act establishes a grant program for infrastructure improvements for facilities benefitting commercial and recreational fishermen, mariculturists, and the boatbuilding industry.
    Boosting Maritime Workforce Development and Blue Economy
    Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act strengthens financial support for fishery operations by expanding Farm Credit eligibility to fishing industry support businesses.
    Maritime Workforce Grant Program establishes a Maritime Workforce Grant Program, directing the Maritime Administrator to award competitive grants supporting entities engaged in recruiting, educating, or training the maritime workforce.
    Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement (FISH Wellness) Act expands the Coast Guard and CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fishing Safety Research and Training (FRST) Grant Program to include projects supporting behavioral health in addition to the projects currently supported dedicated to occupational safety research and training.
    Ocean Regional Opportunity and Innovation Act establishes at least one ocean innovation cluster in each of the five domestic NOAA Fisheries regions, as well as the Great Lakes and Gulf of Mexico regions. The ocean cluster model fosters collaboration between different sectors – including public, private, and academic – within a geographic region to promote economic growth and sustainability in the Blue Economy.
    Supporting Sustainable and Resilient Ecosystems
    Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act enhances collaboration on ocean acidification research and monitoring through ongoing mechanisms for stakeholder engagement on necessary research and monitoring. This provision would also establish two Advisory Board seats for representatives from Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, Tribal organizations, and Tribal consortia affected by ocean acidification and coastal acidification.
    Vegetated Coastal Ecosystem Inventory establishes an interagency working group for the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive national map and inventory detailing vegetated coastal and Great Lakes ecosystems. This inventory encompasses habitat types, species, ecosystem conditions, ownership, protected status, size, salinity and tidal boundaries, carbon sequestration potential, and impacts of climate change.
    Marine Invasive Species Research and Monitoring provides resources and tools to mitigate the impact of invasive species and help limit their spread by authorizing research and monitoring grants for local, Tribal, and regional marine invasive prevention work. This includes training, outreach, and equipment for early detection and response to invasions.
    Senator King is a longtime supporter of working waterfronts and small businesses. He previously introduced the bipartisan Providing Resources for Emergency Preparedness and Resilient Enterprises (PREPARE) Act to reauthorize the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Pilot Program, which would give small businesses the opportunity to take out low-interest loans for the purpose of proactively implementing mitigation measures that protect their property from future disaster-related damage. He also led a bipartisan bill to provide working waterfronts with a 30 percent tax credit on up to $1 million in mitigation expenses, adjusted for inflation annually. In 2024, he was named a Hero of Main Street for his support of small businesses across Maine.
    Senator Collins has consistently fought to strengthen Maine’s working waterfronts. Earlier this year, she successfully pushed the Department of Commerce to restore full funding for Maine Sea Grant, ensuring continued support for coastal research and marine industries in Maine. She secured $15 million in federal funding in the 2024 funding package to help coastal communities recover from storm damage and to launch a new grant program at the Economic Development Administration for working waterfronts. She previously introduced the bipartisan Working Waterfront Preservation Act to create a $20 million annual grant program to support working waterfronts nationwide.

    MIL OSI USA News –