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Category: Energy

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Bloomberg Engineers Help Brooklyn Robotics Reach FIRST Worlds

    Source: Bloomberg Press Statements

    Headline: Bloomberg Engineers Help Brooklyn Robotics Reach FIRST Worlds

    Giving back and supporting others is a cornerstone of Bloomberg’s culture — deeply embedded in how the firm works, collaborates, and shows up for communities. Whether through mentoring students, volunteering time, or rallying around causes that matter, Bloomberg employees are encouraged to use their skills and resources to uplift others.

    Read on to learn how a group of engineers came together to reinforce that spirit of generosity and turn individual contributions into collective impact.

    Engineering the Future: Bloomberg Powers the 2025 NYC FIRST Robotics Regional

    Bloomberg recently served as the lead sponsor of the 2025 FIRST Robotics Competition’s New York City Regional, hosted by NYC FIRST, where more than 50 high school teams from across the tri-state area showcased their engineering skills to help protect one of the ocean’s most diverse habitats.

    Among the competitors were 21 Bloomberg-sponsored teams, including Team 333 – The Megalodons from John Dewey High School in Brooklyn.

    The Megalodons earned a prestigious Regional Engineering Inspiration Award, securing them a coveted spot at the FIRST Championship in Houston, Texas, where they competed on the global stage. But for this school team, winning was just the beginning — the real challenge was securing the funds to make the journey to Houston a reality.

    When Competition Ends, Community Begins

    In a powerful show of solidarity, a group of Bloomberg software engineers — who spent the season mentoring teams that didn’t make it to the finals — came together to help. Engineers, including Josh Greenman, Brian Maher, Joe Pokorny, Bharath Sreenivas, and ZQ Yeo, donated their Dollars For Your Hours (DFYH) contributions to support the Megalodons’ journey to Houston. It’s a testament to the deep sense of community and compassion that defines Bloomberg’s Engineering culture.

    “Brian and I have mentored the Megalodons for six and 10 years respectively, and we’re always eager to support our team’s journey,” said Josh Greenman, FIRST Engineering Mentor. “At Bloomberg, FIRST mentors are a family — we rally behind the teams that make it to Champs, whether our own or not, to ensure every student gets to experience that inspiration. The growth we see in these students, sparked by curiosity and nurtured through mentorship, is what truly inspires us in return.”

    These efforts reflect a core value at Bloomberg: using technical skills and professional support to empower the next generation. More than 1,800 Bloomberg employees have volunteered nearly 30,000 hours with FIRST programs in New York City, New Jersey, San Francisco, and London since 2004, mentoring students, designing workshops, and supporting competitions across the U.S. and beyond.

    “Supporting programs like FIRST Robotics is how we bring Bloomberg’s values to life — combining skills, mentorship, and community to empower future leaders,” said Vanessa Luna of Bloomberg’s Corporate Philanthropy team. “Watching our engineers rally around the Megalodons is a powerful reminder of the impact we can make when we collectively invest in people and purpose.”

    At this year’s NYC Regional event, 13 Bloomberg engineers served as mentors, and 50 employees volunteered on site. Adam Wolf, Bloomberg’s Global Head of Engineering, attended with his family, witnessing firsthand the power of STEM mentorship and the community that forms around it.

    “Giving students the confidence to solve real-world problems, work as a team, and see themselves as future engineers and leaders is incredibly rewarding,” said Wolf. “I am always inspired watching our engineers mentor and support these teams, using our skills to give back and help shape what’s next.”

    From Brooklyn to Houston: A Team Effort

    For the Megalodons, reaching Houston meant more than just competing — it was a moment to represent their school, their city, and their journey. They were joined at the FIRST Championship by six other Bloomberg-sponsored teams, including:

    • Team 1796 – RoboTigers, Queens Technical High School (Long Island City, NY)
    • Team 694 – StuyPulse, Stuyvesant High School (New York City, NY)
    • Team 1880 – Warriors of East Harlem, East Harlem Tutorial Program (East Harlem, NY)
    • Team 2601 – Steel Hawks, Townsend Harris High School (Flushing, NY)
    • Team 5298 – E-Tech Chargers, Energy Tech High School (Long Island City, NY)
    • Team 8739 – Redhawk Robotics, High School for Construction Trades, Engineering & Architecture (Queens, NY)

    These students joined thousands of peers from around the world in Houston from April 17–20, 2025, where they competed in high-stakes matches, learned from others, and inspired one another through their shared passion for science, technology, engineering, and math.

    Engineering Culture in Action

    FIRST Robotics is more than a competition — it’s a launching pad for future engineers, technologists, and leaders. Bloomberg’s support spans sponsorship, mentorship, and education initiatives that open doors for students who may not otherwise have access to advanced STEM experiences.

    “Those who support FIRST Robotics do so because we share a passion to excite and grow future engineers,” said Engineering Manager Joe Pokorny. “When we have a chance to support others, like this year’s Megalodons – whether it be through time, services, or donations – we band together as one tight-knit team. Seeing these kids realize what they can achieve is such a great experience.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the Clean Industrial Deal – B10-0278/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Paolo Borchia, Isabella Tovaglieri, Julie Rechagneux, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Ondřej Knotek, Filip Turek, Auke Zijlstra, Barbara Bonte, Jana Nagyová, Aleksandar Nikolic, Silvia Sardone, Raffaele Stancanelli
    on behalf of the PfE Group

    B10‑0278/2025

    European Parliament resolution on the Clean Industrial Deal

    (2025/2656(RSP))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘Action Plan for Affordable Energy’ (COM(2025)0079),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 entitled ‘Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector’ (COM(2025)0095),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640),

    – having regard to the questions to the Commission [XXXXX],

    – having regard to Rules 142(5) and 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the motion for a resolution of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

    A. whereas the Clean Industrial Deal was presented at a time of a serious competitiveness crisis; whereas it was supposed to represent the first step towards a decisive shift in pace and approach in EU policies, in order to safeguard businesses and industrial capacity across the EU;

    B. whereas European industry is facing fierce competition from global players, with competitors benefiting from public investment, lower energy prices and a favourable regulatory environment, which are factors that provide significant advantages and encourage the relocation of EU enterprises to non-EU countries; whereas in recent decades, the policies pursued by the Commission, causing overregulation in industrial matters and setting unreasonable and unattainable environmental targets, have contributed to the massive relocation of EU production to non-EU countries, resulting in significant job losses, desertification and deterioration of living conditions in certain regions, as well as a transfer of knowledge and increased dependencies in strategic sectors;

    C. whereas the implementation of the Fit for 55 package and other legislation under the Green Deal imposes stringent targets for the reduction of CO2 emissions, which undermine European industrial competitiveness; whereas the policies related to the Green Deal have shown serious drawbacks, especially in the current competitiveness crisis, such that a change of approach, including by revising the targets set and comprehensively reviewing the current legislation, appears to be crucial;

    1. Notes the publication of the Clean Industrial Deal and the announcement of upcoming initiatives by the Commission; expresses concern about their potential ineffectiveness and the risk of further harming the competitiveness of EU businesses; believes that forcing market change through legislative measures, rather than allowing it to be driven by business-led innovation, is a fundamentally flawed approach; calls for a decisive change of pace from the previous legislative term, including a thorough revision and repeal of pieces of legislation adopted under the framework of the Green Deal;

    2. Calls, in any case, for the implementation of the economically harmful policies of the Green Deal to be suspended, to enable a re-evaluation of their objectives and application; urges the Commission, moreover, to refrain from proposing a legislative initiative for an intermediate target of 90 % reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2040;

    3. Expresses concern about the way in which the Commission drafts its legislative proposals and conducts impact assessments, which reveals a lack of full stakeholder involvement and in-depth analysis of the effects, including long-term, on competitiveness; stresses the importance of ensuring effective consultation with all stakeholders, including local and regional entities, in order to improve the accuracy of impact assessments, thus avoiding the need to revise regulations shortly after their adoption and reducing uncertainty in an environment already marked by the crisis;

    4. Urges the Commission to engage in structured sectoral dialogue with industry representatives, academia, social partners and relevant stakeholders from energy-intensive sectors, as well as cross-border regional industrial clusters, to ensure that policies are aligned with real industrial needs and challenges; affirms that well-targeted industrial policy, starting from a review of the EU decarbonisation objectives, is crucial to ensure a strong industrial base and to create and maintain high-quality jobs in the EU; affirms its commitment to fostering stable and predictable industrial policies that take into account the impact on the competitiveness of EU companies, and commits to upholding the principle of technology neutrality when adopting such policies, as a cornerstone for building competitive European industry;

    5. Notes the affordable energy action plan; strongly stresses the need for action aimed at reducing volatility and lowering the high energy prices that impact heavily on businesses and consumers; urges the Commission and the Member States, following adequate impact assessments and consultation with the stakeholders, to put forward ways to decouple electricity prices from fossil fuel prices; warns against Commission initiatives that could circumvent Treaty provisions assigning competence over the energy mix to the Member States;

    6. Expresses concern about the overly excessive focus of EU policies on electrification and renewables, which has been reaffirmed with the Clean Industrial Deal; states the need to promote a diversified energy mix that includes clean and low-carbon energy, in order to ensure security of energy supply and competitiveness; emphasises that relying solely on electrification will be extremely challenging for energy-intensive industries; stresses the indispensable role that natural gas will continue to play in the energy mix; reiterates the need to develop measures to ensure gas supply at a mitigated cost and calls on the Commission to ensure an improved, stable and certain regulatory framework; deplores the proposal to eliminate all subsidies for fossil fuels;

    7. Acknowledges that the electricity grid infrastructure plays an essential role in achieving the EU’s strategic autonomy; calls on the Member States to fully explore, optimise, modernise and expand their electricity grid capacities, including transmission and distribution, with technological neutrality as a core principle; considers electricity grids to be a central element in the transition to a competitive economy;

    8. Recalls the large-scale blackout that affected the Iberian Peninsula on 28 April 2025, leaving over 50 million people without electricity for several hours and causing severe disruption to transport, telecommunications and essential services; underlines that, at the time of the incident, renewable energy accounted for approximately 70 % of Spain’s electricity mix, and that only a few days earlier, on 16 April, the Spanish grid had operated entirely on renewable energy; highlights the fact that the blackout was caused by multiple factors, including the excessively high share of variable renewables, which contribute less to grid inertia compared to conventional power plants, making it more difficult to manage sudden frequency changes; strongly affirms, as a consequence, the need to adopt a technologically neutral approach in the planning, development and strengthening of electricity networks, in order to enable the safe integration of all technologies that support grid stability, especially in the context of growing energy demand; calls on the Member States to strengthen risk assessments related to systemic electricity shocks and to promote resilient, secure and technologically diversified grid models;

    9. Stresses the fundamental role that low-carbon hydrogen can play; calls for the swift adoption and implementation of a simple, technology-neutral and investment-friendly definition of low-carbon hydrogen in the upcoming delegated act[1], while ensuring that such a definition is robust and science-based, and incentivises hydrogen production; recognises that carbon management, including capture, storage, transport and utilisation, can play a role for hard-to-abate sectors;

    10. Supports the proposal to strengthen a European preference in public procurement processes, in the context of the revision of the public procurement framework in 2026, to the benefit of European businesses; considers this to be essential for enhancing supply chain security and fostering a resilient EU industrial base; remains strongly sceptical about the announced industrial decarbonisation accelerator act and about the extension of new sustainability criteria to the EU budget and national support programmes, as well as to public and private procurement benefiting energy-intensive industries; remains critical of the proposal to introduce new environmental criteria in addition to the many that are already in place, as well as the introduction of environmental labelling for industrial products, which risks creating additional administrative burdens for companies;

    11. Affirms the need to create a favourable environment for investment that is capable of discouraging the relocation of industrial activities outside the EU; recognises the importance of increasing and encouraging both public and private investment in the energy, industry and transport sectors; takes note of the announced creation of a competitiveness fund and calls for this to be an instrument of genuine support for businesses; calls for an EU State aid framework in support of industrial transformation and modernisation, in line with the principle of technology neutrality, also enabling existing plants to access funding for technology upgrades, thereby safeguarding employment and economic stability; expects the new framework to address these needs; expresses its firm opposition to any new own resources and EU-level taxes;

    12. Notes the plan for the automotive sector and the measure for additional flexibility for the calculation of manufacturers’ compliance with CO2 emissions performance standards; considers this insufficient and largely inadequate to address the challenges faced by the sector; urges the Commission to promptly review Regulation (EU) 2019/631[2], particularly by lifting the ban on combustion engine vehicles and removing the sanctions regime; strongly emphasises that technological neutrality is crucial for ensuring sustainable and competitive industry, and calls, therefore, on the Commission to revise the regulation accordingly by fully considering all relevant technological developments, including biofuels;

    13. Notes that raw materials supply remains a strategic vulnerability, with the EU heavily dependent on non-EU suppliers for critical raw materials, requiring an urgent scaling-up of domestic mining, refining and battery recycling capabilities in a technology neutral, publicly accepted way; recalls the need to implement the Critical Raw Materials Act[3] and the Net Zero Industry Act[4] properly and to significantly strengthen industrial and raw materials diplomacy to access new markets via trade and partnership agreements, as well as special critical raw materials access agreements; stresses the crucial importance of catalysing investment to develop a domestic supply chain, ensuring its competitiveness and strategic autonomy;

    14. Stresses that the European Court of Auditors has highlighted[5] the Commission’s inability to achieve the target of capturing 20 % of the global semiconductor market by 2030 through the Chips Act[6]; calls, therefore, on the Commission to confront reality and revise its strategy accordingly, by setting clearer and more measurable objectives, ensuring proportionate and secured funding and promoting the integration of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout the entire semiconductor value chain;

    15. Stresses that EU industry is struggling not only a result of European environmental policies but also because of the overregulation that characterised the previous legislative term; urges the Commission to launch a broad process of genuine simplification and, where appropriate, deregulation; endorses simplification and digitalisation for speeding up administrative procedures; notes the omnibus simplification packages recently presented by the Commission; observes that these highlight flawed or missing impact assessments in the adoption of a number of major legislative measures during the previous term, such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive[7] and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive[8]; affirms the need, in the current context of overregulation and excessive administrative burdens, as well as heavy obligations on businesses, to repeal this legislation; underlines, in any event, the importance of safeguarding smaller enterprises;

    16. Affirms the need to create a truly enabling environment for SMEs, which have been particularly affected by the crisis and represent 99 % of all European businesses; recalls the importance of avoiding any form of discrimination against small businesses that choose to remain small, while continuing to contribute to the economic and social prosperity of the territories in which they operate; calls for accessible funding for SMEs and small mid-caps and further improvements and harmonisation to simplify funding applications, reduce reporting obligations and fast-track small projects; stresses that the new EU-level statute for small mid-caps must not compromise or alter the current classification of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; underlines that the establishment of the small mid-caps category should not divert attention or resources away from micro and small enterprises, which have distinct needs and priorities; calls, therefore, on the Commission to adopt the necessary measures and safeguards, and to establish thresholds that reflect the actual conditions regarding turnover and number of employees in the Member States;

    17. Notes the proposed simplification of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) in the first omnibus package; recalls that the CBAM was introduced to compensate for the effect of the EU emissions trading system (ETS) in order to tackle carbon leakage; underlines that the CBAM, as currently designed, in parallel with the phasing out of the ETS free allowances, will not ensure a level playing field and will undermine competitiveness by increasing production costs and the administrative burden for EU companies; calls for the ETS and the CBAM to be entirely reassessed in the upcoming revision;

    18. Expresses concern about the ongoing negotiations on the reform of Regulation (EU) 2019/452[9], which establishes a framework for the screening of foreign direct investment into the Union; is particularly concerned about the excessive centralisation of control in the hands of the Commission at the expense of the authority of Member States, including those that already have effective national measures in place to protect strategic sectors that are crucial to national interest; underlines that national security and maintenance of public order are, in fact. exclusive Member State competences;

    19. Stresses the critical importance of preserving industrial activity and employment in the EU; warns that misguided industrial policies can have severe repercussions on jobs; underlines the urgent need to equip the European workforce with the necessary skills to adapt to the ongoing digital and industrial transformations, especially in remote and rural areas; calls for increased investment and a comprehensive industrial skills strategy; calls for the adoption of effective measures to address the alarming phenomenon of brain drain;

    20. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski Welcomes Eielson AFB Announcement on Microreactor Pilot Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.12.25
    Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) welcomed the United States Department of the Air Force’s (DAF) Notice of Intent to Award the microreactor pilot project at Eielson Air Force Base (AFB). This announcement clears the way for the DAF and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to prepare an environmental analysis.
    Microreactors are small nuclear reactors that can be transportable, offering operational flexibility that can benefit remote and rural communities. Senator Murkowski is a long-time advocate of microreactor technology, providing support for small modular and microreactors through her work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Energy Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). She has also worked to secure key policy provisions to advance innovative energy technologies through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and in her capacity as a senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
    “This announcement, though long-delayed, is a very welcome development and brings us one step closer to having this critical next generation of clean, baseload energy technology to help power our communities,” said Senator Murkowski. “Microreactors have the potential to provide safe and affordable energy to remote rural areas, which is why I’ve been spearheading investment in this technology in Congress for years.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Delegation Introduce Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
    06.12.25
    Washington, DC — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Nick Begich (all R-Alaska), introduced the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange and Oil Spill Recovery Act to direct a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach). This exchange would resolve conflicts that exist between the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council’s Habitat Protection Program (the “Program”) goals for federal habitat conservation of surface lands impacted by EVOS and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) promises to Chugach for economic development of subsurface rights under these same lands. 
    The land exchange directed by this legislation would require Chugach to trade 231,000 acres of subsurface estate (under surface fee and conservation easements on surface land owned by the federal government) for 65,403 acres of fee simple land owned by the federal government. Most of the lands that would be exchanged were identified in the Chugach Region Land Study and Report to Congress from December 2022.  Congress directed the study in Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9; 133 Stat. 614) which Murkowski authored.
    “The effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on Native people in the Chugach region are still felt –environmentally, socially and economically. We must continue to take steps to move forward with recovery and that includes fulfilling the promises of ANCSA to Chugach, the Alaska Native Regional Corporation,” Senator Murkowski said. “I am proud to reintroduce this legislation, which is a “win-win” for Chugach and the federal government’s EVOS program goals.”
    “In the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez spill, Chugach Alaska Corporation not only had to deal with the devastating environmental consequences for the region, but also misguided federal restrictions on their ability to develop resources on their lands,” said Senator Sullivan. “Senator Murkowski, Congressman Begich and I are reintroducing legislation to amend ANCSA—as has been done many times throughout history—and facilitate a commonsense land exchange already studied extensively by BLM and the Forest Service. Our legislation will help address the evolving needs of Prince William Sound communities and create economic opportunities and cultural benefits for thousands of Alaska Native shareholders in the Chugach region, as intended under ANCSA.”
    “This land exchange corrects a decades-old misstep that has kept Chugach shareholders from fully benefiting from their own land and resources. With this legislation, we’re protecting our resources while restoring the rights of Alaska Native landowners,” said Congressman Begich. “I am proud to lead this legislation in the House and look forward to working with the delegation to continue restoring Alaska’s right to self-determination and ensuring responsible stewardship of our state’s resources.”
    “We are deeply grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan, and Representative Nick Begich for their unwavering leadership and advocacy on behalf of Chugach and our people and communities,” said Sheri Buretta, Chairman of the Chugach Board. “Their decision to reintroduce this legislation underscores the significance of this exchange resolving long-standing split-estate conflicts in the region — not only for our corporation, but for the broader public interest, the State of Alaska, and the federal government. Chugach stands ready to work in close partnership with Congress, federal agencies, and all stakeholders to help advance this process. Our commitment to cooperation is rooted in a shared vision of responsible stewardship, economic opportunity, and enduring respect for our connection to these lands that have sustained our people for millennia.”?
    BACKGROUND:
    On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil spill discharged approximately 11 million gallons of crude oil (enough to fill 17 Olympic-sized swimming pools) into Prince William Sound and adjoining waters in Alaska. It was one of the most environmentally damaging disasters in world history.
    The Chugach Region experienced great social and economic harm from the oil spill. Government recovery efforts, though well-intentioned, also had negative impacts and did not always include the voices of the Alaska Native people who have stewarded these lands for millennia. Thirty-five years later, the people and the environment are still recovering.
    Through Section 1113 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act of 2019 (sponsored by Murkowski; Public Law 116-9), Congress directed the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and in consultation with Chugach Alaska Corporation, to conduct a study and provide a report to Congress assessing the social and economic impacts of the EVOS Trustee Council’s Program on Chugach, Chugach lands, and on the Chugach Region. The study was also required to identify sufficient acres of accessible and economically viable federal land that could be exchanged with Chugach.
    Under the Program, the Trustee Council used funds acquired from the companies responsible for EVOS to purchase fee title to 134,121 acres of surface estate lands, and purchased conservation easements on an additional 66,073 acres of surface estate lands, from four of the five Village Corporations in the Chugach Region that had been conveyed to them under ANCSA. Chugach was not a party to any of these acquisitions but owns the subsurface, or mineral estate, for all of the lands in which interests were acquired by the federal government from the Village Corporations under the Program.
    Some surface lands and conservation easements on surface lands acquired by the federal government under the Program went into the state and federal park systems, but most went into the Chugach National Forest, managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
    The EVOS Program lands (fee surface estate lands and conservation easement lands) are subject to restrictions on any surface development that is inconsistent with maintaining their wilderness characteristics. Therefore, Chugach is effectively prohibited from taking any steps to develop its subsurface interests and needs alternative lands to realize the meaningful economic benefits promised in ANCSA.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Energy Office Announces Launch of Funding Opportunity to Support Local Policy Adoption to Advance Climate Goals

    Source: US State of Colorado

    Statewide – Thursday, Jun. 12, 2025 – Today, Governor Polis and the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) announced the launch of its Local Implementation, Mitigation, and Policy Action (IMPACT) Accelerator grant program Thursday. This opportunity will provide funding to support local policy adoption that enhances resilience, reduces emissions, and advances other state priorities such as cleaner air, lower energy costs, and more affordable housing. The $50 million available through this program comes from a $129 million federal Climate Pollution Reduction Implementation Grant (CPRG) that Colorado received last summer. 

    “In Colorado we are continuing to invest in bold climate initiatives that boost local communities capacity to implement clean energy policy, like reducing emissions and lowering energy costs to overall save people money, and help Colorado achieve our climate goals,” said Governor Polis. 

    “Local actions will play a major role in helping us achieve net-zero emissions in Colorado by 2050,” said CEO Executive Director Will Toor. “Local and Tribal governments are uniquely situated to implement a number of policies that reduce emissions in key economic sectors, but often lack capacity to do this important work. The Accelerator provides the support these communities need to pursue policies that will have a longstanding IMPACT locally and across the State.” 

    The Accelerator represents a key step in meeting the vision outlined in the state’s second comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Pollution Reduction Roadmap (“Roadmap 2.0”), which CEO released in February 2024. The Accelerator fulfills a Near Term Action, which called for the creation of a “local Climate Action Accelerator.” 

    This program is designed to maximize emissions reductions by promoting policies that extend beyond state requirements in four categories: buildings, land use, transportation, and waste. Examples of eligible policies in each sector include: 

    • Buildings: Adopting building energy codes that exceed Colorado’s Model codes, establishing energy performance standards, or creating energy efficiency incentives, which could include projects related to developing geothermal systems;
    • Land use: Adopting policies that promote housing, parking management, EV charging, or clean energy development;
    • Transportation: Adopting policies that encourage multimodal transportation infrastructure, prioritize transit options, or create registration incentives for clean vehicles;
    • Waste: Adopting policies to increase waste diversion, promote reuse, or transition refuse and recycling trucks to zero-emission vehicles. 

    Local governments — including cities, counties, and cohorts led by cities/counties — and Tribal governments are eligible to apply for IMPACT Accelerator funding. Applicants may apply for funding to support policy adoption-only or policy adoption and project implementation. Funding may not cover project implementation alone. 

    CEO expects to award approximately $2 million per award to develop new policies and implement related projects, though award amounts may vary depending on the project. A 5% local match is required; however, to ensure equitable access to this funding, low-income communities and Tribal Governments may qualify for a 0% match. CEO will also prioritize awards for projects that target benefits toward primarily low-income populations. 

    The first round of applications for the Local IMPACT Accelerator grant program will open June 16 and close August 1, 2025. Applicants will first submit a Letter of Intent to CEO and will receive feedback on the proposal as well as an “encouraged” or “discouraged” designation before submitting a full application in the fall. CEO will host an informational webinar about the grant and the application process on June 17 at 11:00 AM MT, followed by a Question & Answer webinar on July 1 at 10:00 AM MT. CEO plans to open a second funding round for this program later this year. More information about the program, including timelines for each funding round and the complete program guidance, is available on the Local IMPACT Accelerator webpage. 

    The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) also received a CPRG implementation grant. Jurisdictions in DRCOG territory may apply for both DRCOG and CEO funding. Details about how to apply to both programs are available in the program guidance on the Accelerator webpage. Learn more about DRCOG funding. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: AMD Unveils Vision for an Open AI Ecosystem, Detailing New Silicon, Software and Systems at Advancing AI 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    — Only AMD powers the full spectrum of AI, bringing together leadership GPUs, CPUs, networking and open software to deliver unmatched flexibility and performance —

    — Meta, OpenAI, xAI, Oracle, Microsoft, Cohere, HUMAIN, Red Hat, Astera Labs and Marvell discussed how they are partnering with AMD for AI solutions —

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) delivered its comprehensive, end-to-end integrated AI platform vision and introduced its open, scalable rack-scale AI infrastructure built on industry standards at its 2025 Advancing AI event.

    AMD and its partners showcased:

    • How they are building the open AI ecosystem with the new AMD Instinct™ MI350 Series accelerators
    • The continued growth of the AMD ROCm™ ecosystem
    • The company’s powerful, new, open rack-scale designs and roadmap that bring leadership rack-scale AI performance beyond 2027

    “AMD is driving AI innovation at an unprecedented pace, highlighted by the launch of our AMD Instinct MI350 series accelerators, advances in our next generation AMD ‘Helios’ rack-scale solutions, and growing momentum for our ROCm open software stack,” said Dr. Lisa Su, AMD chair and CEO. “We are entering the next phase of AI, driven by open standards, shared innovation and AMD’s expanding leadership across a broad ecosystem of hardware and software partners who are collaborating to define the future of AI.”

    AMD Delivers Leadership Solutions to Accelerate an Open AI Ecosystem
    AMD announced a broad portfolio of hardware, software and solutions to power the full spectrum of AI:

    • AMD unveiled the Instinct MI350 Series GPUs, setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency and scalability in generative AI and high-performance computing. The MI350 Series, consisting of both Instinct MI350X and MI355X GPUs and platforms, delivers a 4x, generation-on-generation AI compute increasei and a 35x generational leap in inferencingii, paving the way for transformative AI solutions across industries. MI355X also delivers significant price-performance gains, generating up to 40% more tokens-per-dollar compared to competing solutionsiii. More details are available in this blog from Vamsi Boppana, AMD SVP, AI.
    • AMD demonstrated end-to-end, open-standards rack-scale AI infrastructure—already rolling out with AMD Instinct MI350 Series accelerators, 5th Gen AMD EPYC™ processors and AMD Pensando™ Pollara NICs in hyperscaler deployments such as Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and set for broad availability in 2H 2025.
    • AMD also previewed its next generation AI rack called “Helios.” It will be built on the next-generation AMD Instinct MI400 Series GPUs – which compared to the previous generation are expected to deliver up to 10x more performance running inference on Mixture of Experts modelsiv, the “Zen 6”-based AMD EPYC “Venice” CPUs and AMD Pensando “Vulcano” NICs. More details are available in this blog post.
    • The latest version of the AMD open-source AI software stack, ROCm 7, is engineered to meet the growing demands of generative AI and high-performance computing workloads—while dramatically improving developer experience across the board. ROCm 7 features improved support for industry-standard frameworks, expanded hardware compatibility and new development tools, drivers, APIs and libraries to accelerate AI development and deployment. More details are available in this blog post from Anush Elangovan, AMD CVP of AI Software Development.
    • The Instinct MI350 Series exceeded AMD’s five-year goal to improve the energy efficiency of AI training and high-performance computing nodes by 30x, ultimately delivering a 38x improvementv. AMD also unveiled a new 2030 goal to deliver a 20x increase in rack-scale energy efficiency from a 2024 base yearvi, enabling a typical AI model that today requires more than 275 racks to be trained in fewer than one fully utilized rack by 2030, using 95% less electricityvii. More details are available in this blog post from Sam Naffziger, AMD SVP and Corporate Fellow.
    • AMD also announced the broad availability of the AMD Developer Cloud for the global developer and open-source communities. Purpose-built for rapid, high-performance AI development, users will have access to a fully managed cloud environment with the tools and flexibility to get started with AI projects – and grow without limits. With ROCm 7 and the AMD Developer Cloud, AMD is lowering barriers and expanding access to next-gen compute. Strategic collaborations with leaders like Hugging Face, OpenAI and Grok are proving the power of co-developed, open solutions.

    Broad Partner Ecosystem Showcases AI Progress Powered by AMD
    Today, seven of the 10 largest model builders and Al companies are running production workloads on Instinct accelerators. Among those companies are Meta, OpenAI, Microsoft and xAI, who joined AMD and other partners at Advancing AI, to discuss how they are working with AMD for AI solutions to train today’s leading AI models, power inference at scale and accelerate AI exploration and development:

    • Meta detailed how Instinct MI300X is broadly deployed for Llama 3 and Llama 4 inference. Meta shared excitement for MI350 and its compute power, performance-per-TCO and next-generation memory. Meta continues to collaborate closely with AMD on AI roadmaps, including plans for the Instinct MI400 Series platform.
    • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed the importance of holistically optimized hardware, software and algorithms and OpenAI’s close partnership with AMD on AI infrastructure, with research and GPT models on Azure in production on MI300X, as well as deep design engagements on MI400 Series platforms.
    • Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is among the first industry leaders to adopt the AMD open rack-scale AI infrastructure with AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs. OCI leverages AMD CPUs and GPUs to deliver balanced, scalable performance for AI clusters, and announced it will offer zettascale AI clusters accelerated by the latest AMD Instinct processors with up to 131,072 MI355X GPUs to enable customers to build, train and inference AI at scale.
    • HUMAIN discussed its landmark agreement with AMD to build open, scalable, resilient and cost-efficient AI infrastructure leveraging the full spectrum of computing platforms only AMD can provide.
    • Microsoft announced Instinct MI300X is now powering both proprietary and open-source models in production on Azure.
    • Cohere shared that its high-performance, scalable Command models are deployed on Instinct MI300X, powering enterprise-grade LLM inference with high throughput, efficiency and data privacy.
    • Red Hat described how its expanded collaboration with AMD enables production-ready AI environments, with AMD Instinct GPUs on Red Hat OpenShift AI delivering powerful, efficient AI processing across hybrid cloud environments.
    • Astera Labs highlighted how the open UALink ecosystem accelerates innovation and delivers greater value to customers and shared plans to offer a comprehensive portfolio of UALink products to support next-generation AI infrastructure.
    • Marvell joined AMD to highlight its collaboration as part of the UALink Consortium developing an open interconnect, bringing the ultimate flexibility for AI infrastructure.

    Supporting Resources

    • Learn more about the event here.
    • Access the AAI 2025 press kit here.
    • Learn more about AMD AI solutions here.
    • Connect with AMD on Linkedin
    • Follow AMD on X: AMD, AMD AI

    About AMD
    For more than 55 years, AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies. Hundreds of millions of consumers, Fortune 500 businesses, and leading scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology to improve how they live, work, and play. AMD employees are focused on building leadership high-performance and adaptive products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit www.amd.com.

    Cautionary Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) such as the features, functionality, performance, availability, timing and expected benefits of AMD products and roadmaps; AMD’s AI platform; and AMD’s partner ecosystem, which are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as “would,” “may,” “expects,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “projects” and other terms with similar meaning. Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, speak only as of the date of this press release and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Such statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond AMD’s control, that could cause actual results and other future events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, without limitation, the following: Intel Corporation’s dominance of the microprocessor market and its aggressive business practices; Nvidia’s dominance in the graphics processing unit market and its aggressive business practices; competitive markets in which AMD’s products are sold; the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry; market conditions of the industries in which AMD products are sold; AMD’s ability to introduce products on a timely basis with expected features and performance levels; loss of a significant customer; economic and market uncertainty; quarterly and seasonal sales patterns; AMD’s ability to adequately protect its technology or other intellectual property; unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations; ability of third party manufacturers to manufacture AMD’s products on a timely basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies; availability of essential equipment, materials, substrates or manufacturing processes; ability to achieve expected manufacturing yields for AMD’s products; AMD’s ability to generate revenue from its semi-custom SoC products; potential security vulnerabilities; potential security incidents including IT outages, data loss, data breaches and cyberattacks; uncertainties involving the ordering and shipment of AMD’s products; AMD’s reliance on third-party intellectual property to design and introduce new products; AMD’s reliance on third-party companies for design, manufacture and supply of motherboards, software, memory and other computer platform components; AMD’s reliance on Microsoft and other software vendors’ support to design and develop software to run on AMD’s products; AMD’s reliance on third-party distributors and add-in-board partners; impact of modification or interruption of AMD’s internal business processes and information systems; compatibility of AMD’s products with some or all industry-standard software and hardware; costs related to defective products; efficiency of AMD’s supply chain; AMD’s ability to rely on third party supply-chain logistics functions; AMD’s ability to effectively control sales of its products on the gray market; long-term impact of climate change on AMD’s business; impact of government actions and regulations such as export regulations, tariffs and trade protection measures, and licensing requirements; AMD’s ability to realize its deferred tax assets; potential tax liabilities; current and future claims and litigation; impact of environmental laws, conflict minerals related provisions and other laws or regulations; evolving expectations from governments, investors, customers and other stakeholders regarding corporate responsibility matters; issues related to the responsible use of AI; restrictions imposed by agreements governing AMD’s notes, the guarantees of Xilinx’s notes, the revolving credit agreement and the ZT Systems credit agreement; impact of acquisitions, joint ventures and/or strategic investments on AMD’s business and AMD’s ability to integrate acquired businesses, including ZT Systems; AMD’s ability to sell the ZT Systems manufacturing business; impact of any impairment of the combined company’s assets; political, legal and economic risks and natural disasters; future impairments of technology license purchases; AMD’s ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; and AMD’s stock price volatility. Investors are urged to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in AMD’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to AMD’s most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

    AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, EPYC, AMD CDNA, AMD Instinct, Pensando, ROCm, Ryzen, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    __________________________

    i Based on calculations by AMD Performance Labs in May 2025, to determine the peak theoretical precision performance of eight (8) AMD Instinct™ MI355X and MI350X GPUs (Platform) and eight (8) AMD Instinct MI325X, MI300X, MI250X and MI100 GPUs (Platform) using the FP16, FP8, FP6 and FP4 datatypes with Matrix. Server manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. Results may vary based on use of the latest drivers and optimizations.
    MI350-004

    iiMI350-044: Based on AMD internal testing as of 6/9/2025. Using 8 GPU AMD Instinct™ MI355X Platform measuring text generated online serving inference throughput for Llama 3.1-405B chat model (FP4) compared 8 GPU AMD Instinct™ MI300X Platform performance with (FP8). Test was performed using input length of 32768 tokens and an output length of 1024 tokens with concurrency set to best available throughput to achieve 60ms on each platform, 1 for MI300X (35.3ms) and 64ms for MI355X platforms (50.6ms). Server manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. Performance may vary based on use of latest drivers and optimizations.

    iii Based on performance testing by AMD Labs as of 6/6/2025, measuring the text generated inference throughput on the LLaMA 3.1-405B model using the FP4 datatype with various combinations of input, output token length with AMD Instinct™ MI355X 8x GPU, and published results for the NVIDIA B200 HGX 8xGPU. Performance per dollar calculated with current pricing for NVIDIA B200 available from Coreweave website and expected Instinct MI355X based cloud instance pricing. Server manufacturers may vary configurations, yielding different results. Performance may vary based on use of latest drivers and optimizations. Current customer pricing as of June 10, 2025, and subject to change. MI350-049

    iv MI400-001: Performance projection as of 06/05/2025 using engineering estimates based on the design of a future AMD Instinct MI400 Series GPU compared to the Instinct MI355x, with 2K and 16K prefill with TP8, EP8 and projected inference performance, and using a GenAI training model evaluated with GEMM and Attention algorithms for the Instinct MI400 Series. Results may vary when products are released in market. (MI400-001)

    v EPYC-030a: Calculation includes 1) base case kWhr use projections in 2025 conducted with Koomey Analytics based on available research and data that includes segment specific projected 2025 deployment volumes and data center power utilization effectiveness (PUE) including GPU HPC and machine learning (ML) installations and 2) AMD CPU and GPU node power consumptions incorporating segment-specific utilization (active vs. idle) percentages and multiplied by PUE to determine actual total energy use for calculation of the performance per Watt. 38x is calculated using the following formula: (base case HPC node kWhr use projection in 2025 * AMD 2025 perf/Watt improvement using DGEMM and TEC +Base case ML node kWhr use projection in 2025 *AMD 2025 perf/Watt improvement using ML math and TEC) /(Base case projected kWhr usage in 2025). For more information, https://www.amd.com/en/corporate/corporate-responsibility/data-center-sustainability.html.

    vi AMD based advanced racks for AI training/inference in each year (2024 to 2030) based on AMD roadmaps, also examining historical trends to inform rack design choices and technology improvements to align projected goals and historical trends. The 2024 rack is based on the MI300X node, which is comparable to the Nvidia H100 and reflects current common practice in AI deployments in 2024/2025 timeframe. The 2030 rack is based on an AMD system and silicon design expectations for that time frame. In each case, AMD specified components like GPUs, CPUs, DRAM, storage, cooling, and communications, tracking component and defined rack characteristics for power and performance. Calculations do not include power used for cooling air or water supply outside the racks but do include power for fans and pumps internal to the racks.
    Performance improvements are estimated based on progress in compute output (delivered, sustained, not peak FLOPS), memory (HBM) bandwidth, and network (scale-up) bandwidth, expressed as indices and weighted by the following factors for training and inference.

    Training FLOPS HBM BW Scale-up BW
    Inference 70.0% 10.0% 20.0%
      45.0% 32.5% 22.5%
           

    Performance and power use per rack together imply trends in performance per watt over time for training and inference, then indices for progress in training and inference are weighted 50:50 to get the final estimate of AMD projected progress by 2030 (20x). The performance number assumes continued AI model progress in exploiting lower precision math formats for both training and inference which results in both an increase in effective FLOPS and a reduction in required bandwidth per FLOP.

    vii AMD estimated the number of racks to train a typical notable AI model based on EPOCH AI data (https://epoch.ai). For this calculation we assume, based on these data, that a typical model takes 1025 floating point operations to train (based on the median of 2025 data), and that this training takes place over 1 month. FLOPs needed = 10^25 FLOPs/(seconds/month)/Model FLOPs utilization (MFU) = 10^25/(2.6298*10^6)/0.6. Racks = FLOPs needed/(FLOPS/rack in 2024 and 2030). The compute performance estimates from the AMD roadmap suggests that approximately 276 racks would be needed in 2025 to train a typical model over one month using the MI300X product (assuming 22.656 PFLOPS/rack with 60% MFU) and <1 fully utilized rack would be needed to train the same model in 2030 using a rack configuration based on an AMD roadmap projection. These calculations imply a >276-fold reduction in the number of racks to train the same model over this six-year period. Electricity use for a MI300X system to completely train a defined 2025 AI model using a 2024 rack is calculated at ~7GWh, whereas the future 2030 AMD system could train the same model using ~350 MWh, a 95% reduction. AMD then applied carbon intensities per kWh from the International Energy Agency World Energy Outlook 2024 [https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2024]. IEA’s stated policy case gives carbon intensities for 2023 and 2030. We determined the average annual change in intensity from 2023 to 2030 and applied that to the 2023 intensity to get 2024 intensity (434 CO2 g/kWh) versus the 2030 intensity (312 CO2 g/kWh). Emissions for the 2024 baseline scenario of 7 GWh x 434 CO2 g/kWh equates to approximately 3000 metric tC02, versus the future 2030 scenario of 350 MWh x 312 CO2 g/kWh equates to around100 metric tCO2.

    Contact: 
    Brandi Martina 
     AMD Communications 
    (512) 705-1720 
    Brandi.martina@amd.com 

    Liz Stine
    AMD Investor Relations 
    +1 720-652-3965
    liz.stine@amd.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Announces JetZero Selects North Carolina for $4 Billion Airplane Manufacturing Hub, Creating 14,500 Jobs in Guilford County in Largest Job Commitment in State History

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Announces JetZero Selects North Carolina for $4 Billion Airplane Manufacturing Hub, Creating 14,500 Jobs in Guilford County in Largest Job Commitment in State History

    Governor Stein Announces JetZero Selects North Carolina for $4 Billion Airplane Manufacturing Hub, Creating 14,500 Jobs in Guilford County in Largest Job Commitment in State History
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced JetZero, Inc., a breakthrough aviation company, will invest more than $4.7 billion in Greensboro to build its first commercial airplane manufacturing facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport. The project will create more than 14,560 jobs for Guilford County by 2063, the largest economic development project in North Carolina history based on job commitment.

     

    “I am thrilled to welcome JetZero and its 14,000 good-paying jobs and unprecedented innovation to Guilford County,” said Governor Josh Stein. “From first in flight to now the future of flight, North Carolina and our skilled workforce is soaring.”

     

    JetZero is a start-up airplane designer and manufacturer of the Z4, a blended-wing body jet, which blends the wings and fuselage, enabling the entire wingspan to produce lift. Founded in 2020, the California-based company has partnerships with NASA, Siemens, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and suppliers including RTX and BAE Systems. JetZero will build an advanced manufacturing facility for a first-of-its-kind commercial all-wing jet, as well as a state-of-the-art research and development center for composite structures. Its unique design uses technological advancements to help lower carbon emissions, burn less fuel, and enhance the experience of its travelers. 

      

    “North Carolina offers the ideal combination of talent, infrastructure, and forward-thinking leadership to support our mission to reshape aviation,” said Tom O’Leary, CEO and co-Founder of JetZero. “This facility is a critical milestone in bringing our all-wing Z4 to market. I applaud the leadership of Governor Josh Stein and his team as well as the leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly, and whole host of local leaders and organizations for working with us to bring JetZero to North Carolina, the birthplace of aviation.”

     

    “With an internationally recognized aerospace cluster of more than 400 companies and major aviation hubs across the state, North Carolina is a top choice for manufacturers and suppliers,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “JetZero will benefit from our Tier 1 research institutions and community colleges, ecosystem of industry partnerships, and strong infrastructure, helping them soar in North Carolina and beyond.”

     

    New jobs for the company include engineers, manufacturing specialists, and technicians. While salaries for the positions will vary, the average annual salary is expected to be $89,340, which exceeds the Guilford County average of $60,195. These new jobs could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $1.3 billion for the region.

     

    JetZero’s operation in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Transformative-class Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) awarded to JetZero, Inc., which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 37-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $259.4 billion. Using a formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the 14,564 new jobs and capital investment, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,017,775,800, spread over 37 years. 

     

    Should JetZero create and maintain at least 10,000 jobs, the threshold for the JDIG’s transformative qualities will be reached, which allows for grant payments to be made for up to 29 years as long as performance targets are maintained.

     

    Like all grants from the JDIG program, any state payments only occur following performance verification each year by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets.

     

    The project’s projected return on investment of public dollars is 274 percent, meaning for every dollar of potential cost to the state, the state receives $3.74 in state revenue. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

     

    Because JetZero chose a site in Guilford County, classified by the state’s economic tier system as Tier 2, the company’s JDIG agreement also calls for moving as much as $113 million into the state’s Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account.  The Utility Account helps rural communities anywhere in the state finance necessary infrastructure upgrades to attract future business.

     

    The state also anticipates providing additional support of publicly owned infrastructure to the project by means of a state appropriation of as much as $450 million, to cover site preparations; road, water, and wastewater improvements, as well as the construction of the manufacturing and research and development facility. The funding will be administered by the N.C. Department of Commerce and provided to Piedmont Triad International Airport, the N.C. Department of Transportation, and the City of Greensboro.

     

    “JetZero’s decision to come to the Triad solidifies North Carolina’s status as a leader in aerospace innovation,” said Senator Phil Berger, President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate. “Our state’s high-tech manufacturing renaissance wouldn’t be possible without the General Assembly’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment by lowering taxes, cutting red tape, and supporting world-class educational opportunities.”  

     

    “With 14,000 new jobs and nearly $5 billion dollars in investment, this project represents a transformational step forward for Guilford County and North Carolina,” said Senator Sydney Batch, Senate Democratic Leader. “Projects like this create a ripple effect that strengthens our entire state by supporting families, growing local economies, and creating more promising futures for everyone. I’m so grateful for the hard work Governor Stein, Secretary Lilley, and the Commerce Department put in to bring this across the finish line.”

     

    “Today’s announcement is a huge win for Greensboro, Guilford County, and our entire state,” said Speaker of the House Destin Hall. “JetZero’s decision to build its cutting-edge aerospace facility here proves what we’ve long known — North Carolina’s strong business environment makes our state ripe for innovation. This $4.7 billion investment and the creation of over 14,000 high-paying jobs will be a generational boost for our workforce and our future.”  

     

    “I am proud to see JetZero choose the Triad as the site of their new facility,” said Representative Robert Reives, House Democratic Leader. “Our state has some of the brightest talent in the world who are up to this challenge. We will continue to attract these investments and cement our state’s status as the place for aerospace manufacturing in the nation and world.”

     

    “This announcement is a transformative win for Guilford County and the entire state of North Carolina,” said Senator Michael Garrett. “The magnitude of this investment is a vote of confidence in our world-class workforce to fill these great-paying jobs, and proof that our community is an ideal place for new companies and ideas to launch into a bright future.”  

     

    “Today is a celebration of the intentional efforts that we’re making to transition the Triad to an innovation economy,” said Representative John Blust. “This is an historic day for all of us, and we applaud the collaboration of elected officials, economic developers, and workforce professionals throughout the state that helped JetZero make their decision to call Greensboro and PTI home.”

    In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the North Carolina Community College System, Guilford Tech Community College, Forsyth Tech Community College, the University of North Carolina System, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Golden LEAF Foundation, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority, Piedmont Triad Partnership, Guilford County Economic Development Alliance, Guilford County, GuilfordWorks, Forsyth County, the Greensboro Chamber, High Point Economic Development Corporation, Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., City of Greensboro, City of High Point, and City of Winston-Salem.

    When career opportunities at JetZero become available, they will be posted to NCworks.gov, the state’s leader in connecting employers with skilled talent

    Jun 12, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: 8th Wall Studio Wins Best Developer Tool Award at AWE USA 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONG BEACH, Calif., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 8th Wall, the 3D Engine for the AI era, has been awarded Best Developer Tool for 8th Wall Studio at the prestigious Auggie Awards, held during Augmented World Expo (AWE) USA 2025, the world’s largest event dedicated to augmented and virtual reality. The award recognizes excellence in empowering creators and developers to build groundbreaking immersive content, highlighting 8th Wall’s role as a leader in the XR development landscape.

    8th Wall Studio disrupts the legacy game engine model with a streamlined, browser-based platform designed to accelerate 3D and XR development. Developers can now build immersive experiences with AI-powered tools, real-time editing, and one-click deployment across web and native apps for mobile, desktop, and XR headsets.

    This recognition comes just as 8th Wall officially launched the general availability of Studio, a next-generation 3D development platform that marks a significant leap forward for developers. Newly released features include the AI-native Asset Lab, which allows creators to instantly generate images, 3D models, and animated characters using integrated generative AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT Image 1 and Meshy. Studio’s native app export capability now supports Android, with iOS and other platforms coming soon, giving developers true cross-platform freedom.

    “Studio represents a new era in 3D and XR development, one where AI accelerates creativity, and cross-platform deployment is seamless,” said Erik Murphy-Chutorian, Founder of 8th Wall. “Winning this award at AWE reinforces our belief that the future of immersive content will be built in the browser, powered by AI, and accessible to everyone.”

    8th Wall is also pleased to recognize ARKx, Saatchi & Saatchi Germany, and Form&Fun Studio for winning Best Campaign for the OREO x PAC-MAN: The SuperMarcade AR experience powered by 8th Wall. Also a Webby and Cannes Lions winner, this immersive activation transformed supermarkets into real-life AR PAC-MAN mazes.

    Held annually, AWE USA draws over 5,000 attendees, 250 exhibitors, and 450 speakers across the XR ecosystem. Now in its 16th year, the event is focused on the AI+XR imperative, spotlighting how artificial intelligence is accelerating the adoption and potential of extended reality.

    Developers can start building with 8th Wall for free at www.8thwall.com. For the month of June, new signups get 50 additional bonus credits to do even more with 8th Wall’s new advanced features such as Asset Lab and native app export.

    About 8th Wall
    8th Wall is an award-winning 3D & XR development platform that makes it possible to build interactive, immersive content that can be experienced on any device. 8th Wall supports billions of devices globally and has been used by developers, agencies and creative studios to create 3D/AR activations for brands across industry verticals including retail, food and beverage, travel and tourism, automotive, fashion, sports and entertainment. 8th Wall has powered WebAR experiences for top brands such as Nike, Porsche, Sony Pictures, Burger King, General Mills, British Gas, Heineken, McDonald’s, Swiss Airlines, Toyota, Red Bull, Adidas, COACH and more. 8th Wall, LLC is a subsidiary of Niantic Spatial, Inc. Learn more about 8th Wall at www.8thwall.com.

    Media Contact
    Joel Udwin
    press@8thwall.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Amid Trump’s Threats to Critical Agriculture Support Programs, Duckworth Discusses Agricultural Priorities with Illinois Farm Bureau

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    June 11, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Caucus—met with Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) President Brian Duncan and IFB members to discuss shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical federal agricultural programs. Photos from today’s meeting can be found on the Senator’s website.

    “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Farm Bureau and farmers across the state at the federal level.”

    In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. To help increase the availability of E15 biofuels, Duckworth helped introduce the bipartisan Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Earlier this year she helped introduced the Farm to Fly Act to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.

    As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture across the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit in 2023, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan in 2022, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Ministers present 2025 Wildfire Season Forecast

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 12, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario

    Canadians are coming together to confront a severe wildfire season, driven by rising temperatures and dry conditions. It has already had devastating impacts in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario.

    Today, the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Eleanor Olszewski, joined by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson; the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Julie Dabrusin; and the Minister of Indigenous Services, Mandy Gull-Masty, delivered the latest assessment of the 2025 wildfire season.

    Minister Olszewski reported that, as of today, there are 225 wildfires in Canada and 121 of them are still out of control. The total area burned so far this year is over 3.7 million hectares. And thousands of firefighters are working tirelessly to contain these fires.

    On evacuations, the two Requests for Federal Assistance (RFA) made by the Manitoba government on May 28 to support the Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb Cree Nations were completed with the help of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The RFA from Ontario made on June 7 for the evacuation of Sandy Lake is also complete.

    These successful operations were the result of the CAF, provincial counterparts, and non-governmental organizations working around the clock to help the evacuees, find them shelters and fight the fires.

    Wildfires are causing widespread damage to communities, ecosystems, infrastructure and air quality, posing serious risks to public health and safety. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, preparation and public awareness have never been so important.

    Canadians can access information through the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System and learn how to protect themselves by visiting Get Prepared.

    Looking ahead, forecasts point to above-normal temperatures from June through August this year, with potential drought intensifying across many areas in the coming weeks, especially in the northern Prairies and northwestern Ontario.

    Due to these weather forecasts, NRCan modeling predicts elevated fire risk for the first half of June over the northern prairies, southcentral British Columbia and northwestern Ontario. In mid-June, precipitation is anticipated to return to near-normal levels.

    In July, high fire risk is predicted to expand across western Canada, with the most significant risk expected in southern British Columbia. Roughly normal conditions are anticipated for eastern Canada in June and July.

    In August, wildfire activity is expected to continue to increase and persist to well above average conditions over much of western Canada, although it is too early to be certain.

    The federal government stands ready to mobilize additional support wherever needed and in all aspects. We also remain focused on supporting prevention, preparedness, and public awareness efforts.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada Announces Major Investments to Improve Resilience Against Wildfires

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    June 12, 2025                                                      Ottawa, Ontario                                                        Natural Resources Canada

    Wildfire season is in full effect across much of Canada, with many Canadians currently facing severe wildfire conditions. The Government of Canada, along with the provinces, territories and the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), is seized with the importance of supporting Canadians whose lives and livelihoods are at stake.

    Today, the Governments of Canada, British Columbia, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Manitoba, together with the CIFFC, announced a total investment of $104 million through the Government of Canada’s Resilient Communities through FireSmart (RCF) Program.

    FireSmart™ Canada is a key part of our national wildfire prevention and mitigation efforts. Led by CIFFC, the program identifies and reduces wildfire risks and provides actionable guidance for homeowners and communities. The funding announced today will help enhance FireSmart™ programming and support the provinces and territories in increasing capacity and assisting community-based projects to help prevent wildfires and mitigate their impacts, including Indigenous communities that are disproportionately threatened by wildfires.

    These investments are strengthening the federal government’s actions and efforts to enhance and expand wildfire prevention and mitigation across all levels of government. By working together with provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and international allies, the Government of Canada continues to support the fight against wildfires in communities across the country.

    Quotes

    “No Canadian should have to worry about a wildfire threatening their community — but as extreme weather increases, the Government of Canada is providing provinces, territories, Indigenous communities and partners with the support they need to fight wildfires. I would like to thank all Canadians, especially first responders, for working to protect one another. The federal government stands with you and is working to build resilience for this wildfire season, and the future.”

    The Honourable Tim Hodgson
    Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

    “Across Canada and around the world, climate change is forcing us to change how we think about wildfires — I see this in every community I visit in British Columbia. Preventing wildfires is a shared responsibility, and the only way forward is by working together. From supporting grassroots community projects and education, to expanding government’s role in building a safer, more-resilient future, our shared investment with the Government of Canada is testament to a whole-of-society approach for living with wildfire.”

    The Honourable Ravi Parmar
    British Columbia Minister of Forests

    “Building wildfire resilience involves an approach focused on prevention, mitigation and being ready to respond to wildfires threatening our homes and communities. This investment will help communities apply FireSmart principles that will enhance collaboration, build greater awareness and help reduce wildfire risk.”

    The Honourable Todd Loewen
    Alberta Minister of Forestry and Parks

    “Preparing for the threat of wildfire is a shared responsibility — we all have a part to play. FireSmart’s practical, effective and science-based programs help residents reduce the risk of wildfires in our communities and ensure residents are better prepared when wildfires occur. Through the FireSmart program, we will continue our ongoing work with Newfoundland and Labrador communities to help keep our residents safe.”

    The Honourable Lisa Dempster
    Newfoundland and Labrador Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

    “Canadians — especially those of us in the North — are focused on preparing for wildfires. This investment, from both our government and the Government of Canada, will support important wildfire prevention efforts in the Yukon. This includes developing Community Wildfire Protection Plans and a territorial prevention and mitigation strategy; constructing large-scale fuel breaks and improving our training; and modelling and risk assessment. Together, we are building wildfire-resilient communities across the Yukon.”

    The Honourable Richard Mostyn
    Yukon Minister of Community Services 

    “Wildfire is everyone’s responsibility, and we thank Nova Scotians for their vigilance that’s helping keep our people and our communities safe. Through our partnership with the federal government, we’re continuing to help people adopt the FireSmart principles around their homes and in their communities so we can avoid the devastation and upheaval that wildfires can cause.”

    The Honourable Tory Rushton
    Nova Scotia Minister of Natural Resources

    “Prince Edward Island is in a good position to respond to fire thanks to local, provincial and federal support that we are using to continually build our wildland fire fighting capacity. It is great to see more Islanders and local communities embracing FireSmart principles, and we are committed to increasing our prevention, mitigation and response efforts.”

    The Honourable Gilles Arsenault
    Prince Edward Island Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action

    “As Manitobans bravely pull together to battle one of the most challenging fire seasons in recent memory, wildfire preparedness is more crucial than ever. We thank and honour the incredible work of our wildfire service, local firefighters, Indigenous and municipal leadership and members of the public who are working together to ensure that the thousands of displaced residents remain safe and healthy. The entire government of Manitoba strongly supports any and all initiatives that recognize the need for investing in firefighting preparedness, and we congratulate the federal government on its continuing efforts to address the needs of firefighters and evacuees.”

    The Honourable Ian Bushie
    Manitoba Minister of Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures

    “Through this funding, Canadians will be in a better position to protect themselves from the dangers of wildland fire. By working together, using the core FireSmart principles, we can become more resilient and more prepared to face the challenges ahead.”

    Kelsey Winter
    Executive Director of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

    Quick facts

    • The Government of Canada is providing $9.1 million over five years to the CIFFC under the RCF program. This is in addition to the $1.2-million investment provided to the CIFFC that started in 2023–24 and was announced on May 9, 2024.

    • Canada and British Columbia are each providing an additional $17.9 million over five years through the RCF program. This is in addition to the $950,122 joint investment between Canada and British Columbia that started in 2023–24 and was announced on September 18, 2024. 

    • Canada and Alberta are each providing $17.9 million over four years through the RCF Program.

    • Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are each providing $6.4 million over four years through the RCF program.

    • The Government of Canada is providing $5.5 million and the Government of Yukon $1.8 million over four years through the RCF program.

    • Canada and Nova Scotia are each providing an additional $821,130 over five years through the RCF program. This is in addition to the $3.9-million joint investment between Canada and Nova Scotia that started in 2023–24 and was announced on October 1, 2024.

    • Canada and Prince Edward Island are each providing $510,300 over four years through the RCF program.

    • Canada and Manitoba are each providing a contribution of $150,000 through the RCF program. Discussions are ongoing to conclude a multi-year agreement.

    • Visit Canada.ca/wildfires for a complete list of links to various federal supports for individuals impacted by wildfires.

    Related products

    Associated links

    Contacts

    Natural Resources Canada
    Media Relations
    343-292-6096
    media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Carolyn Svonkin
    Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
    carolyn.svonkin@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

    Ministry of Forests
    Government of British Columbia
    Media Relations
    250 380-8491
    Forest.Media@gov.bc.ca

    Neil Singh
    Press Secretary, Forestry and Parks
    Government of Alberta
    (587) 385-9649
    Neil.Singh@gov.ab.ca

    Linda Skinner
    Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
    Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
    709-637-2284
    lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca

    Julia Duchesne
    Communications, Community Services
    Government of Yukon
    867-332-4188
    julia.duchesne@yukon.ca

    Adèle Poirier
    Communications Director
    Department of Natural Resources
    902-430-0997
    Adele.Poirier@novascotia.ca

    Katie Cudmore
    Communications Officer, Environment, Energy and Climate Action
    Government of Prince Edward Island
    902-314-3996
    Katiecudmore@gov.pe.ca

    Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures
    Government of Manitoba
    newsroom@gov.mb.ca (media requests for general information)
    cabcom@manitoba.ca (media requests for ministerial comment)

    Alexandria Jones
    Acting Communications Manager
    Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
    www.ciffc.ca
    media@ciffc.ca

    Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Third Strategic Dialogue between the State of Qatar and the French Republic

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Paris,  June 12, 2025

    The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, Mr Jean-Noël Barrot, co-chaired the third annual Qatar-France Strategic Dialogue in Paris on June 12 2025. 

    Qatar and France welcomed the holding of their third Annual Strategic Dialogue and reviewed the important progress made since the State Visit of His Highness the Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to France in February 2024 which resulted in new cooperation initiatives within the fields of security, defence, economy, trade, investment and education. Both countries affirmed the strength of their bilateral relationship and pledged to further develop it by expanding strategic partnership on key files.

    POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC COOPERATION

    Both Ministers reaffirmed the commitment of Qatar and France to upholding a rules-based international order and international law, the promotion of peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East, and to close cooperation in relation to regional and global crises.

    Palestine-Israel: Both Ministers called for a ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages and a long-term political solution that will offer the best hope for the victims of this conflict on all sides and achieving a pathway to a two-state solution. The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs expressed France’s deep appreciation for all Qatar’s mediation efforts, including those to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

    Both Ministers called for full, unhindered humanitarian access allowing aid for the Palestinian population to enter Gaza. The Ministers further stated that politicising of humanitarian assistance, threats of forced displacement, or Israel’s plans to remain in Gaza after the war are unacceptable. The two Ministers stated that the Israeli government’s restrictions of essential humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population of Gaza are totally deplorable and breach International Humanitarian Law.  They further highlighted that Israel is duty-bound to meet all its obligations to ensure immediately a massive and unhindered flow of aid to Gaza – this includes engaging with the UN to ensure aid delivery is in line with humanitarian principles. 

    Both ministers reiterated their opposition to any forced displacement of Gaza’s Palestinian population, which would be a serious violation of international law and a major destabilizing factor for the entire region.

    Qatar welcomes the endorsement by France of the Gaza Reconstruction plan formulated by the League of Arab States in March as a serious, credible basis for immediately meeting reconstruction, governance and security needs in the aftermath of the war in Gaza. It guarantees the respect of international law and maintains Gaza’s future within the framework of a future Palestinian State.

    HE Prime Minister Al Thani welcomed the French-Saudi jointly chaired international meeting on June 18 for the implementation of a two-state solution. Both Ministers declared such efforts as the only way to bring durable peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians while ensuring the stability of the wider region.   

    They stressed that the High-Level International Conference on the peaceful resolution of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-State solution, decided by UNGA resolution A/RES/79/81, would contribute to this goal by designing a credible roadmap for the implementation of this solution in which the two countries would be able to live side-by-side in peace within their internationally recognized borders. Both ministers stressed that the future Palestinian state would have sole responsibility for rule of law, including policing primacy. 

    Syria: Both Ministers acknowledged the historic transition process underway in Syria. They emphasised the importance of an inclusive political dispensation that protects the rights of all irrespective of ethnicity, sect, religion or gender. They reiterated their support for the reconstruction of a new Syria – free, stable, sovereign, that respects all components of society. They agreed that stability and security in Syria is paramount for all its citizens as well as the surrounding region. To that end both Ministers committed to work together wherever possible to provide humanitarian assistance, as well as support economic development, and long-term reconstruction. They welcomed the lifting of international sanctions on Syria’s economy and encouraged foreign investments in the country. Qatar welcomed French support for the recent EU decision to lift economic sanctions on Syria and the recent meeting between President Macron and Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Such support and initiatives enable Syria and the Syrian people to undertake a transition to stability, peace and prosperity. The Ministers condemned violations of Syria’s territorial integrity and warned of escalation tactics designed to de-stabilize the region.  

    Lebanon: Qatar welcomed the hosting by France of the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty in October 2024. Progress to political and economic reform in Lebanon is welcomed by both countries. 

    Qatar and France support the territorial integrity and sovereign rights of the Lebanese people, both Ministers called on all parties to honour the commitments made under the ceasefire reached in November 2024. To this end they called for a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon, the complete deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces and their ongoing support to ensure security and achieve State monopoly on arms, assisted by UNIFIL and the supervision mechanism of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement, of which France alongside the U.S. participates in. 

    They emphasized their support to the process of change that has begun under the new Lebanese government, aimed at putting Lebanon back on the path of reconstruction, recovery and stability. They expressed their continuing support to the Lebanese Armed Forces and to the UN interim force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) whose action is essential to guarantee the stability of South Lebanon.

    Iran: Both Ministers reaffirmed Qatar and France’s support for a diplomatic solution leading to an agreement that addresses and resolves all international concerns related to Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, in order to preserve the non-proliferation global architecture as well as stability and de-escalation in the Gulf region. They reiterated their support to the ongoing talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.  They also called on Iran to fully and effectively cooperate with the legitimate requests and work of the International Atomic Energy Agency.   

    Rwanda and eastern DRC: Both ministers emphasised their shared commitment to peace, stability and security in the Great Lakes region. France commended Qatar’s mediation efforts between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and between Congolese authorities and AFC/M23. They stressed the need for parties to continue working towards the conclusion of a ceasefire, as called upon by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2773 (2025). Following its participation, along with the U.S., DRC, Rwanda and Togo, to the Doha meeting on April 30, France recalled its continued support to Qatar’s peace efforts.

    Sudan: Both Ministers resolved to further work together to address the devastating conflict in Sudan. Qatar and France recalled the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024) demanding that the Rapid Support Forces halt the siege of El Fasher and calling for an immediate de-escalation. They reaffirmed their support to the unity of the country and called on the warring parties to immediately cease hostilities, abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and guarantee full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. 

    UNOC: Both ministers welcomed the organization of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025, inter alia to support a blue carbon economy and the fight against illicit fishing. They praised the treaty on marine biodiversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction on the high seas (BBNJ) as a milestone in the collective protection of the high seas.

    ECONOMY, TRADE AND INVESTMENTS

    Qatar and France emphasized the importance of their growing economic, trade and investment partnership, with a total trade of more than €1.3 billion in 2024. The Ministers highlighted that bilateral trade makes a significant contribution to supporting jobs, innovation, and economic development in both countries.

    The two Ministers reviewed progress on Qatar’s 2024 landmark engagement to invest 10 billion euros into key sectors of the French economy. Qatar’s investment will cover mutually beneficial sectors ranging from food security, digital economy, AI and IT, semiconductors, energy transition, space, Intellectual Property, health, tourism and hospitality and culture. They also welcomed the forthcoming Qatar-France Business Forum as an opportunity for mutual trade growth and investment. They discussed ways to further strengthen their investment partnership and underlined their willingness to facilitate cooperation between the Qatari and French private sectors. They also explored areas of common interest, such as fiscal policy, sustainable finance and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

    Qatar’s innovative investment in France’s semiconductor industry highlights its role in key technology subsectors, including supply chain developments that are also propelling digital and green transformations across vital industries such as AI, mobility, and consumer technology. 

    Both sides discussed ways to further develop their trade and investment partnership, through a Roadmap focused on strategic areas in alignment with the framework of the economic diversification goals stated by Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and in accordance with the economic plan “France 2030.” 

    The French Minister praised Qatar’s ongoing commitment to ensure continued and reliable supplies of energy to Europe, including France and thus contributing to the country’s energy security. 

    DEFENSE, SECURITY AND COUNTERTERRORISM 

    Qatar and France reaffirmed the importance of the defence and security as a foundation stone of their partnership.  This was illustrated by the increase in official-level visits in the last 12 months, and the deepening coordination on an operational level.  

    The Ministers welcomed the implementation of joint defence operational partnership including joint planning, training and military exercises, most recently the Pegase, Al Salam, Al Koot exercises, as well as joint projects in defence industries and innovation and ongoing defence acquisitions including cooperation through both nations’ air forces, facilitated by the common possession of Rafale combat aircrafts. 

    They praised the strategic convergences between Qatar and France, which contribute to enhancing bilateral interactions between the two military institutions. Qatar and France are keen to explore ways to develop new synergies between their armed forces for future defence capabilities. 

    They also explored ways to build on existing links and expand activities on common strategic interests particularly as they contribute to de-escalation and security in the Gulf and the Red Sea.  

    Both Ministers welcomed the robust and long-lasting partnership between their respective security forces, including cooperation and important knowledge-sharing on Mega Sports Events, Crisis Management and Major Event Management, Air and Aviation Security, Cybersecurity and Digital Investigations, and mutual professionalization and capacity-building. 

    They commended the friendship and trust between the French Gendarmerie and the Qatari Lekhwiya celebrating in 2025 the 20th anniversary of their cooperation. They also welcomed the development of a strategic partnership between the French and Qatari national police forces and the establishment of a High Police Committee. They also emphasised building on this cooperation. 

    Both Ministers emphasised that the fight against terrorism remains a key bilateral realm for cooperation. They said that such cooperation is crucial in prevention and countering terrorism and ensuring the safety of their citizens. These efforts reflect the need for a coordinated approach to deal with an ever-evolving set of terrorist threats that transcend national borders. They also agreed to continue their strong partnership in cybersecurity and in combating terrorism, countering violent extremism and illicit financial flows. 

    HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

    On humanitarian and international development cooperation, both Ministers affirmed the continuing success of programmatic bilateral cooperation and coordination between their respective implementing agencies including QFFD, EAA, Silatech and AFD.

    Regarding development, both Ministers welcomed the renewal of their bilateral cooperation in this field, building on the signing of two major agreements between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Qatar Fund for Development, the Education Above All (EAA) foundation and Silatech in February 2024. They expressed their appreciation concerning the first cooperation between AFD and QFFD for an ambitious project to renovate and expand Saint Joseph’s Hospital in East Jerusalem. They welcomed that QFFD and the AFD Group (AFD, Proparco and Expertise France) renewed their commitment to cofinance development projects and agreed to raise the cofinancing target from $50 million to $100 million for the duration of the MoU. In the short term, QFFD and the AFD Group commit to operationalizing the partnership in the following countries where there are pressing needs and discussions have already started on joint priorities: Lebanon, Palestine and Syria. They welcomed that QFFD and AFD Group will also, in the medium term, work on joint global advocacy activities and expand the partnership to innovative finance.

    Both Ministers praised the ongoing discussions between the Crisis and Support Centre of the French ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Qatar Fund for Development to explore possible new areas of dialogue and joint funding, including in the Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as in the field of humanitarian logistics. 

    Following the joint commitment by the Emir of Qatar and the President of the French Republic to dedicate 200 million dollars in 2024 to humanitarian relief in Gaza both Ministers expressed the necessity of answering without delay the urgent needs for aid there. The Ministers also commended the humanitarian impact of joint health relief efforts in Gaza, including medical evacuations, delivery and flow of humanitarian aid, medicines and ambulances. Additionally, they highlighted joint relief efforts in Lebanon to support conflict-affected populations. Recalling these recent successful joint humanitarian operations, both Ministers support a new joint emergency operation to supply medical equipment and medicine to Afghanistan.

    Such cooperation is the embodiment of the longstanding strategic partnership as well as the commitment of Qatar and France to stand by conflict-affected populations.  

    EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SPORTS 

    Both Ministers lauded the strong cooperation in the fields of education, health and sports. On education the Ministers addressed the growing partnership in the field of education, in particular knowledge sharing and research agreements between Qatari and French Institutions of Higher Education (HEI), including Sciences Po and Doha Institute. 

    Cooperation on research and innovation has been boosted by the strong collaboration between Qatar Research Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) and French HEI’s including Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux energies alternatives (CEA), Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) and HEC Paris. Under the Qatar Open Innovation Scheme French companies have also received QRDI awards and are working in collaboration with Qatar-based SME’s and institutions to make strides in Agricultural Sciences and Medical Healthcare.  

    Qatar and France are looking forward to the signing of the 8th executive program enhancing bilateral cooperation particularly in French language learning, technical, professional and higher education, and mobility of students and teachers. This agreement aims at establishing a steering committee dedicated to learning French from the 9th (third French) class in Qatari public institutions, as well as a steering committee related to the development of university cooperation. Both sides expressed their mutual intention to strengthen their cooperation in higher education and research, promoting exchanges of students and researchers, as well as further exploring joint training and programmes that enable students to achieve their personal and professional goals.

    Qatar and France also expressed their wish to strengthen the sharing of expertise between the medical communities of the two countries, through the rapprochement or exchange of researchers. The minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs expressed his appreciation for the help of Qatar for the recent opening of the World Health Organization Academy in Lyon.The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al Thani congratulated the Republic of France on its hugely successful hosting of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Both sides expressed their willingness to share expertise and knowledge and to continue their cooperation on the positive impact and the legacy of hosting mega sporting events.  In particular, they addressed the ways in which strong commitments in terms of social and environmental issues, including on emissions reduction and carbon absorption, opportunities to promote inclusion and diversity, and combat hate speech, racism and other forms of prejudice and discrimination, is offered by sport. 

    CULTURE, ART, HERITAGE COOPERATION

    Both Ministers welcomed the deep institutional and people-to-people connections forged through shared ties on culture, art and heritage. They recalled the visit in April, at the invitation of the Qatari authorities and HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, of HE Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture of the French Republic. 

    The visit came as part of framework commitments made in the MoU signed in June 2024 between HE Rachida Dati, on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, and HE Sheikha Al Mayassa, Chairperson of Qatar Museums. Both Ministers welcomed the signing of 6 partnership agreements in April 2025 between the French Ministry of Culture, Qatar Museums and the cultural institutions of both countries, and pertaining to a broad range of areas of cooperation, in particular training, exhibitions, loans, research, artist residencies, development of image education workshops for young audiences, development of co-productions, support in the creation of a cinematheque. Qatari and French cultural institutions are currently working on the implementation of these agreements.

    The accords include a framework agreement between the French Ministry of Culture and Qatar Museums for professional training in the cultural sector; an agreement between Qatar Museums and the Etablissement public du musée d’Orsay et du musée de l’Orangerie – Valérie Giscard d’Estaing, including research projects, joint exhibition projects, and academic and educational projects. Qatar Museums and the Musée Guimet will proceed on collaboration that includes research, conservation and educational projects dedicated to Asian arts. Qatar Museums also proceeded with a partnership agreement with Manufactures nationales – Sèvres and Mobilier national dedicated to the design and crafts sectors, aiming to strengthen links between French and Qatari designers and craftspeople. Under the framework further Qatar-France agreements include a Memorandum of Understanding between the Doha Film Institute and the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée as well as a Memorandum of understanding between the National Library of Qatar and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. 

    They also welcomed the increased cooperation between the Qatari and French Ministries of Culture, in particular through the forthcoming renewal of the cooperation agreement between the two ministries of Culture.

    Both Ministers reiterated the commitment of their nations to heritage protection, especially in conflict areas, and respect for all relevant international agreements of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

    A SHARED AND RESPONSIBLE FUTURE 

    The State of Qatar and France emphasize the importance of their continued partnership which benefits the interests of both countries and consolidates coordination towards a shared and responsible future.

    Qatar and France look forward to reviewing progress in these areas at the fourth Strategic Dialogue to be held in Doha in 2026.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pallone Blasts Trump Budget for Gutting Emergency Response Funds Ahead of World Cup, Nation’s 250th Anniversary

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

    Elimination of Hospital Preparedness Program Would Cripple NJ’s Emergency Medical Response

    Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today slammed the Trump Administration’s new budget proposal for eliminating the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) – a federal initiative that directly supports New Jersey’s Emergency Medical Services Task Force and ensures the state can respond to mass casualty events.

    “Eliminating this program is reckless,” Pallone said. “The Hospital Preparedness Program is the backbone of New Jersey’s ability to respond to disasters. Without it, we’re flying blind as we prepare for millions of visitors to descend on our region for the World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary. Republicans in Congress should be fighting to protect their communities, not helping Trump gut the systems that keep people alive.”

    Next year, MetLife Stadium will host multiple FIFA World Cup matches and communities across New Jersey are expected to host large public events to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary. Pallone said pulling the plug on the HPP now puts first responders and residents at serious risk.

    The Hospital Preparedness Program, currently administered through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), provides approximately $240 million annually to help states prepare hospitals and EMS systems for large-scale emergencies. In New Jersey, those funds support the NJ EMS Task Force, a nationally recognized team that has coordinated public safety for major events, natural disasters, and mutual aid deployments.

    Pallone, top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is leading efforts in Congress to block the cut and fully restore HPP funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA and FAO Conduct First Atoms4Food Assessment Mission to Burkina Faso

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The joint IAEA and FAO Assessment Mission team examine new rice varieties during the first Atoms4Food Initiative Assessment Mission in Burkina Faso. (Photo: Victor Owino/IAEA)

    In a critical step toward addressing food insecurity in West Africa, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have launched their first joint Atoms4Food Initiative Assessment Mission in Burkina Faso. 

    This mission aims to identify key gaps and opportunities for delivering targeted technical support to Burkina Faso for food and agriculture in a country where an estimated 3.5 million people—nearly 20% of the population—are facing food insecurity. By leveraging nuclear science and technology, Atoms4Food seeks to bolster agricultural resilience and agrifood systems in one of the region’s most vulnerable nations.

    The mission, conducted from 26 May to 1 June, assessed how nuclear and related technologies are being used in Burkina Faso to address challenges in enhancing crop production, improving soil quality and in animal production and health, as well as human nutrition.

    The Atoms4Food Initiative was launched jointly by IAEA and FAO in 2023 to help boost food security and tackle growing hunger around the world. Atoms4Food will support countries to use innovative nuclear techniques such as sterile insect technique and plant mutation breeding to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food safety, improve nutrition and adapt agrifood systems to the challenges of climate change. Almost €9 million has been pledged by IAEA donor countries and private companies to the initiative so far.

    As part of the Atoms4Food initiative, Assessment Missions are used to evaluate the specific needs and priorities of participating countries and identify critical gaps and opportunities where nuclear science and technology can offer impactful solutions. Based on the findings, tailored and country-specific solutions will be offered.

    Burkina Faso is one of 29 countries who have so far requested to receive support under Atoms4Food, with more expected this year. Alongside Benin, Pakistan, Peru and Türkiye, Burkina Faso was among the first countries to request an Atoms4Food Assessment Mission in 2025.

    A large proportion of Burkina Faso’s population still live in poverty and inequality.  Food insecurity has been compounded by rapid population growth, gender inequality and low levels of educational attainment. In addition, currently, 50% of rice consumed in Burkina Faso is imported. The government aims to achieve food sovereignty by producing sufficient rice domestically to reduce reliance on imports.

    “Hunger and malnutrition are on the rise globally, and Burkina Faso is particularly vulnerable to this growing challenge,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “This first Atoms4Food assessment mission marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to harness the power of nuclear science to enhance food security. As the Atoms4Food Initiative expands worldwide, we are committed to delivering tangible, sustainable solutions to reduce hunger and malnutrition.”

    The mission was conducted by a team of ten international experts in the areas of crop production, soil and water management, animal production and health and human nutrition. During the mission, the team held high-level meetings with the Burkina Faso Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Environment and conducted site visits to laboratories including the animal health laboratory and crop breeding facility at the Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research, the crop genetics and nutrition laboratories at the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, and the bull station of the Ministry of Agriculture in Loumbila.

    “The Government of Burkina Faso is striving to achieve food security and sovereignty, to supply the country’s population with sufficient, affordable, nutritious and safe food, while strengthening the sustainability of the agrifood systems value-chain,” said Dongxin Feng, Director of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and head of the mission to Burkina Faso. “Though much needs to be done, our mission found strong dedication and commitment from the Government in developing climate-resilient strategies for crops, such as rice, potato, sorghum and mango, strengthening sustainable livestock production of cattle, small ruminants and local poultry, as well as reducing malnutrition among infants and children, while considering the linkages with food safety.”

    The Assessment Mission will deliver an integrated Assessment Report with concrete recommendations on areas for intervention under the Atoms4Food Initiative. This will help develop a National Action Plan in order to scale up the joint efforts made by the two organizations in the past decades, which will include expanding partnership and resource mobilization. “Our priority now is to deliver a concrete mission report with actionable recommendations that will support the development of the National Action Plan aimed at improving the country’s long term food security,” Feng added.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update 296 – IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Nuclear safety remains precarious at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and its six reactors cannot be restarted as long as the military conflict continues to jeopardize the situation at the site, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told IAEA Member States this week.

    Addressing the regular June meeting of the Board of Governors, the Director General briefed them about his 12th mission to Ukraine during the current conflict, which took place in early June, followed by a visit to Russia, which also focused on nuclear safety and security at the ZNPP.

    Addressing the Board meeting, he highlighted “the extremely vulnerable” status of the off-site power supply at the site, which for more than a month now has relied on one single power line for the electricity it needs to cool its reactors and spent fuel. Before the conflict, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant (NPP) had access to ten power lines.

    In addition, Director General Grossi noted that the ZNPP reactors’ “reliance on groundwater for cooling remains an interim solution, whilst in their cold shutdown state”.  The plant has depended on 11 groundwater wells since the downstream Kakhovka dam was destroyed two years ago.

    In their meeting in Kyiv on 3 June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “made a point to recognize the importance of the IAEA’s permanent presence” at the ZNPP, the Director General told the Board, adding he had assured President Zelenskyy of the IAEA’s continued commitment to Ukraine’s nuclear safety and to helping it rebuild its energy infrastructure.

    The Director General added: “As the military conflict moves further into its fourth year, Ukraine needs support, and the IAEA is providing it … it is also crucial to prepare for the reconstruction phase.”

    At the ZNPP, the IAEA team based there has held several meetings with the ZNPP to discuss the site’s electrical system and also visited its 750 kilovolt (kV) switchyard.

    Apart from the sole remaining 330 kV back-up line that was disconnected due to military activities on 7 May, the site does not know the current condition of its five other 330 kV lines, which remain unavailable after they were damaged outside of the ZNPP area early in the conflict.

    The ZNPP said maintenance work was conducted at one of the four 750 kV power lines that was originally connected to the ZNPP before being damaged in 2022. Since the conflict, the ZNPP had lost access to three of its 750 kV lines.

    In addition, the ZNPP informed the IAEA about a planned project to pump water into the cooling pond from the Dnipro River in order to maintain a water level that is sufficient to cool one operating reactor initially, followed by a second unit, until the pond reaches its full capacity. According to the site, a pumping station will be constructed to supply water directly to the cooling pond until the plant can rebuild the Kakhovka dam.

    The exact location of the pumping station cannot yet be determined, as it depends on the security conditions, the ZNPP said, adding the project would only start once military activities cease.

    Separately this week, the IAEA team was informed that that the Russian regulator, Rostekhnadzor, over the next two weeks will perform pre-licensing inspection activities at ZNPP reactor units 1 and 2, whose current operational licences issued by Ukraine are due to expire in December this year and in February 2026, respectively. The IAEA team has requested to observe these activities and will seek additional information regarding items such as the scope of these undertakings and any criteria for assessing nuclear safety.

    Over the past several weeks, the IAEA team has also been monitoring a leak in one reactor unit’s essential service water system which delivers cooling water to the safety systems. The leak – which can occur in NPPs without any significant safety consequences – was discovered during maintenance and the team was informed that it was caused by corrosion. It has since been repaired.

    The IAEA team reported hearing military activities on most days over the past weeks, at varying distances away from the ZNPP including last week’s purported drone attack on the site’s training centre.

    The Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and the South Ukraine NPPs are continuing to operate amid the problems caused by the conflict. Three of their nine operating reactor units are still undergoing planned outages for refuelling and maintenance. The IAEA teams at these plants and the Chornobyl sites have continued to report on – and be informed about – nearby military activities, including drones observed flying nearby. Last Monday, the IAEA teams at Khmelnytskyy and Rivne were required to shelter.

    Over the past two weeks, the IAEA teams based at these four sites have all rotated.

    As part of the IAEA’s assistance programme to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, the Chornobyl site received essential items to improve staff living conditions and the National Scientific Centre Institute of Metrology received personal radiation detectors.

    These deliveries were funded by Austria, Belgium, France and Norway and brought the total number of IAEA-coordinated deliveries since the start of the armed conflict to 140.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bondholders of Baltic Horizon Fund approved the amendments to the bond terms and conditions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Baltic Horizon Fund applied for bondholders’ approval for certain amendments to the terms and conditions (the Terms and Conditions) of the Baltic Horizon Fund EUR 42 million 5-year floating rate bonds maturing in 2028 (ISIN EE3300003235, the Bonds) in relation to the Bonds by way of written procedure initiated on 9 June 2025.

    Bondholders who were entered in the registry of bond-holders maintained by Nasdaq CSD SE on 6 June 2025 were entitled to vote in the written procedure (the Holders). Altogether Holders holding in aggregate Bonds with the nominal value of EUR 18,999,997.80 which constitutes 100% of the aggregate nominal value of all Bonds, participated in the written procedure for amending the Terms and Conditions.  The Holders voted unanimously in favour of the decisions to amend the voluntary early redemption provisions of the Bonds and therefore adopted the necessary decision. Following the approval of the amendments, the Baltic Horizon Fund will have the right to carry out voluntary early redemptions in tranches of at least EUR 3 million.

    The amended Terms and Conditions will be published on the website of the Baltic Horizon Fund within three business days as of publishing of this notice.

    For additional information, please contact:

    Tarmo Karotam
    Baltic Horizon Fund manager
    E-mail tarmo.karotam@nh-cap.com
    www.baltichorizon.com

    Baltic Horizon Fund is a registered contractual public closed-end real estate fund managed by Alternative Investment Fund Manager license holder Northern Horizon Capital AS. Both the Fund and the Management Company are supervised by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority.

    Distribution: GlobeNewswire, Nasdaq, www.baltichorizon.com

    To receive Nasdaq announcements and news from Baltic Horizon Fund about its projects, plans and more, register on www.baltichorizon.com. You can also follow Baltic Horizon Fund on www.baltichorizon.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabinda Refinery Eyes 2025 Start, Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 as Bronze Sponsor

    The Cabinda Refinery plans to start phase one operations in 2025, with a capacity of 30,000 barrels per day (bpd). Developed by investment company Gemcorp, the refinery will be the country’s second operational refining facility once completed. As the facility prepares to start production, Cabinda Refinery has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference – taking place September 3-4 in Luanda – as a Bronze Sponsor.  

    AOG 2025 represents the premier platform for the country’s oil and gas industry and Cabinda Refinery’s sponsorship reflects its broader commitment to enhancing Angolan crude processing and distribution. The Cabinda Refinery seeks to reduce Angolan fuel imports by increasing domestic refining capacity, with a goal to achieve 445,000 bpd in the coming years. With the start of operations at the Cabinda Refinery, the country will achieve 22% of this goal by the end of 2025. Cabinda Refinery’s sponsorship at AOG 2025 will support discussions around Angola’s downstream project pipeline.  

    AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com. 

    The first phase of the Cabinda Refinery – at a cost of $473 million – will produce naphtha, jet fuel, diesel and heavy fuel oil, with the Naphtha and heavy fuel oil destined for exports. This first phase will supply approximately 10% of the country’s domestic fuel demand, with a planned second phase set to double capacity to 60,000 bpd. Engineering works for the second phase will commence once the first phase is operational. The first phase of the refinery was backed by funding provided by multilateral finance institutions Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), with financial close reached in 2023. Additional financing was provided by the Fund for Export Development in Africa – the impact investment subsidiary of the Afreximbank. Of the total $473 million investment, $138 million represented equity from project sponsors while the remaining $335 million was mobilized through the AFC-led facility.  

    As the largest event of its kind in the country, AOG 2025 will connect global investors and project developers with Angolan opportunities. Cabinda Refinery’s sponsorship will not only open doors to discussions on financing downstream projects, but unlock new opportunities for financing by international institutions. With two additional refining facilities – namely, the 200,000 bpd Lobito Refinery and 150,000 bpd Soyo Refinery – seeking capital, AOG 2025 will facilitate engagement and deal-signing among industry stakeholders.  

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Apex Labs Granted Israel MoH Approval to Expand Phase 2b Macrodose Psilocybin PTSD Clinical Trial

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Israel’s Ministry of Health (MoH) approval to add additional sites to APEX SUMMIT-90 160 patient phase 2b macrodose clinical trial:
      • Tel Aviv University (TAU)’s Institute for Psychedelic Research located at the Sagol Brain Institute (SGI) in Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
      • Be’er Yaakov Mental Hospital (Merhavim) Center for Psychedelic Studies.
    • For more information or to register visit clinicaltrials.gov (Canada) and mytrials.gov (Israel).

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apex Labs Ltd. (APEX or the Company), a pharmaceutical company transforming the standard of mental health care with psilocybin is pleased to announce the approval by the Israeli MoH and IRBs to open two additional clinical trial sites for SUMMIT-90. The trial is a double-blind, placebo controlled phase 2b study evaluating multiple doses of APEX-90, a psilocybin macrodose utilizing APEX’s US patent pending capsule. APEX-90 is administered in-clinic with study-assisted psychotherapy for severe depression within diagnosed PTSD. Israel is facing a severe mental health crisis: 44% of adults report depression and 42% PTSD, far above the 8–13% depression and 6–10% PTSD rates seen in the US and Canada.

    This MoH approval leverages the expertise of TAU’s renowned SGI and Merhavim Hospital, which both have a rich history of pioneering research in neurological sciences. Their cutting-edge facilities and teams profound understanding of PTSD dynamics are poised to add patient recruitment expertise.

    “I am honoured to have been able to facilitate this new partnership; another example of building important bridges between Canada and Israel in innovative clinical research, which will result in advancing patient access to emerging treatments,” says Sharon J. Fraenkel, TAU Canada’s CEO for Ottawa, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada, on behalf of the organization.

    “As someone deeply connected to Israel, witnessing the toll of PTSD among my loved ones, I’m driven to lead research that brings hope and healing,” says Alysa Langburt, APEX’s VP of Global Clinical Development. “This marks more than a clinical milestone, it represents a fundamental step towards transforming the mental health landscape in Canada and Israel, where the need has never been greater. Through our incredible partnerships, we aim to catalyze a shift in access, care and outcomes for those suffering with PTSD.”

    “SUMMIT-90 offers a beacon of hope for the significant numbers suffering from PTSD in Canada and Israel,” says Tyler Powell, co-Founder and CEO of APEX. “It underscores our commitment to global mental health innovation and our belief in the opportunity for clinically proven psilocybin therapies to transform mental health care.”

    About Apex Labs Ltd.
    APEX is a patient-driven pharmaceutical company focused on revolutionizing the standard of mental health care with psilocybin. APEX’s strategy is two-pronged, clinical evaluation of drug assets alongside a robust Early Access Program. APEX recognizes and prioritizes Veterans as a patient base with the most severe unmet medical need.

    Visit apexlabs.com for more information and follow APEX on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” and certain “forward-looking information” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “plans” or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability to control or predict, that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out here in, including but not limited to: receiving authorization of Health Canada Dealers Licence; filing US provisional patent, the Company evaluating the safety and efficacy of APEX-52 (psilocybin) and APEX-90 (psilocybin) in treating depression in Veterans and patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; statements related to APEX-52 and APEX-90, including manufacturing, dosing, and trial details; statements made by the Company’s executives with respect to Health Canada’s Dealer’s Licence and capsule patent filing; the Company’s efforts around the Early Access Program; statements made relating to Canadian Veteran patients; approvals by the Israeli Ministry of Health and ethics; the inherent risks involved in the general securities markets; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents managements’ best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

    SOURCE Apex Labs Ltd.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Devon Energy to Participate in a Fireside Chat at the J.P. Morgan Energy, Power, Renewables & Mining Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OKLAHOMA CITY, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Devon Energy Corp. (NYSE: DVN) today announced Clay Gaspar, President and CEO will participate in a fireside chat at the J.P. Morgan Energy, Power, Renewables & Mining Conference.

    The fireside chat is scheduled for 9:20 a.m. Central time (10:20 a.m. Eastern time) on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 and will be webcast live on Devon’s website at www.devonenergy.com. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the event.

    ABOUT DEVON ENERGY

    Devon Energy is a leading oil and gas producer in the U.S. with a diversified multi-basin portfolio headlined by a world-class acreage position in the Delaware Basin. Devon’s disciplined cash-return business model is designed to achieve strong returns, generate free cash flow and return capital to shareholders, while focusing on safe and sustainable operations. For more information, please visit www.devonenergy.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The case for investment in Canadian clean power

    Source: – Press Release/Statement:

    Headline: The case for investment in Canadian clean power

    Growing Canada’s clean electricity advantage means investing in our energy security. 

    By Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO, Canadian Renewable Energy Association

    In 2025, global capital flows to the energy sector are set to rise to USD 3.3 trillion, a two percent rise in real terms compared to 2024.

    Of that amount, around USD 2.2 trillion is going to renewables, energy storage, electrical grids, electrification and other clean energy technologies. [Source: IEA’s World Energy Investment]

    Canada can also expect, and will require, significantly increased investment in wind energy, solar energy and energy storage, as electricity demand grows from coast to coast to coast.

    Demand in the Age of Electricity

    As the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated in its 2024 World Energy Outlook, we have now entered the Age of Electricity. In Canada, and all around the world, we can expect electricity demand to grow quickly as we digitize and electrify our economies.

    Ontario, for example, is expecting to see 75% growth in electricity demand by 2050.

    For the new federal government to achieve its goal of building the strongest economy in the G7, we must build out every part of the electricity system—generation, storage, transmission, distribution, smart energy management—and do so in advance, before we fall short of the electricity we need. Canada’s clean electricity advantage will be our energy security.

    How will we get there? Largely by building new clean energy projects, like wind, solar and energy storage. These technologies are not only clean, but low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s urgent and long-term needs.

    Canada is open for business

    Another key driver of the big build will be Canada’s Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits (ITCs), which will help increase the pace of the clean investment we need in Canada.

    We’ve already started building. More than 18 GW of upcoming procurements are currently either underway, being procured or being planned. This represents about $34B in investment. CanREA is tracking Canada’s electricity procurements in this procurement calendar.

    Indigenous equity is propelling growth

    In Canada, Indigenous equity partners can and do directly contribute to the success of renewable energy and energy storage projects.

    Take, for example, the Oneida Energy Storage Project, a 250 MW / 1,000 MWh battery energy storage project in Haldimand County, Ontario, which achieved commercial operation on May 7, 2025. This project’s majority owner is CanREA Industry Leader member Northland Power Inc., who shares ownership with an Indigenous equity partner, CanREA Megawatt member Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation.

    Or consider the recent 2024 B.C. Call for Power, which resulted in ten new renewable-energy projects, each with First Nations asset ownership between 49 and 51 percent.

    These are but two examples of many, with more to come.

    We have a long way to go on Canada’s national journey of Reconciliation, but in the clean electricity sector, we are getting started on economic reconciliation.

    The federal government’s recent announcement expanding the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program from $5B to $10B is another step in the right direction.

    Join CanREA at Clean Power Finance Canada

    Is it all tailwinds with no headwinds? Of course not. We are seeing risks to project development in Canada, including supply chain disruptions, policy and regulatory barriers, misinformation and more.

    As an industry, we’re tackling these challenges. We all benefit when we work together on solutions. And a great place to do that is at Canada’s only national conference dedicated to clean energy finance.

    Happening on June 25, 2025, in Toronto, the second annual Clean Power Finance Canada—CanREA Summit makes the case for investment in Canadian clean power projects.

    Presented by CIBC, Clean Power Finance Canada brings together the finance world (including bankers, lenders, investors, finance professionals, tax experts and insurers) andthe clean energy sector (including project developers, asset owners and managers), to learn from one another about project financing and clean power markets.

    This year’s speakers will provide insights into revenue streams and risks for clean energy projects, up-to-date information on policy directions and regulatory hurdles, updates on the new federal ITCs and financing opportunities for Indigenous clean energy projects, and much more. 

    I hope you’ll join me in Toronto! Bring your questions and ideas for a full day of learning, followed by the CanREA Connects—Ontario, our popular annual Summer Solstice networking reception.

    Pro tip: Last year’s Summit sold out, so be sure to register in advance.

    The post The case for investment in Canadian clean power appeared first on Canadian Renewable Energy Association.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa rallies Africa behind Green Hydrogen at inaugural Summit

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Ramaphosa rallies Africa behind Green Hydrogen at inaugural Summit

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on African countries to seize the opportunity presented by green hydrogen as a catalyst for industrial transformation, energy security, and inclusive economic growth across the continent.

    Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural Africa Green Hydrogen Summit at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town on Thursday, President Ramaphosa positioned the continent as a key player in the emerging global green hydrogen economy.

    “Our beloved continent Africa, the cradle of humanity, is uniquely positioned to become a major player in green hydrogen because it has abundant renewable resources manifested in high solar irradiance, strong winds and hydropower potential. 

    “The vast land our continent has lends itself to large-scale renewable energy projects. We are therefore perfectly placed to leverage the global shift towards cleaner energy sources for our collective advantage,” the President said. 

    WATCH | 

    Originally launched in 2022 as a South African initiative to articulate its national vision, the summit has now evolved into a continental platform to harness Africa’s green hydrogen potential. 

    Held under the theme: “Unlocking Africa’s Green Hydrogen Potential for Sustainable Growth”, this innovative summit convenes African energy ministers, policymakers, investors, developers, technology partners, and research institutions to shape the continent’s emerging green hydrogen sector.

    READ | Green hydrogen can ‘reposition’ Africa within global value chains

    New energy could spark million of jobs

    President Ramaphosa noted that over 52 large-scale projects have been announced across the continent, including South Africa’s Coega Green Ammonia project, the AMAN project in Mauritania and Project Nour in Morocco. 

    The target, as articulated through the Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance (AGHA), is to produce 30 to 60 million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2050. 

    It is estimated that this could create between two and four million new jobs in alliance member states by 2050.

    The Africa Green Hydrogen Alliance brings together a number of African nations, including Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia and South Africa. 

    “To make use of these opportunities, we need to establish appropriate policy and regulatory environments. We must continue to move as a continent to develop regional certification schemes, hydrogen corridors and green product export platforms. 

    “We commend the work of countries like Mauritania, which has taken early steps on certification. It will be critical that we learn from one another and converge on standards that work for Africa,” the President said. 

    The President acknowledged the critical need for regulatory certainty, robust certification systems, and market access, stressing that investment and offtake agreements would be key to unlocking Africa’s green hydrogen future.

    “We cannot close that gap with potential alone. We must match it with demand signals, regulatory certainty and project preparation support. We need to ensure that there is sufficient and growing demand. This includes building domestic demand in African countries,” the President said. 

    In this regard, the President noted that the launch of green hydrogen production for mobility in Sasolburg and policy enablers for domestic offtake are important foundational steps. 

    “As we explore these exciting opportunities, we must work to address the impediments to the growth of this industry,” he said. 

    President Ramaphosa also highlighted Germany’s continued support through the H2Global mechanism, which has allocated one of its bidding windows to Africa and praised ongoing bilateral cooperation with the EU on green hydrogen projects, including Sasol’s HySHiFT sustainable aviation fuel initiative.

    READ | Germany, South Africa collaborate on green hydrogen

    The H2Global mechanism is opening its second bidding window, with one of the four lots allocated to Africa. 

    “The African lot, which is funded by the German government, will guarantee offtake for successful projects on the continent. 

    “A Joint Declaration of Intent with the German government focuses on market access, offfake opportunities and value-additive benefits in the production of green steel and green fertiliser. We commend the German government for its commitment to African supply,” the President said. 

    At home, South Africa is accelerating efforts to localise hydrogen production and industrial use. The country has invested R1.49 billion in its Hydrogen South Africa programme, launched new wheeling regulations, and initiated pilot projects, such as green hydrogen mobility in Sasolburg, and advanced planning for the Coega project. 

    In addition, the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan has been launched to integrate renewable energy and hydrogen into broader industrial development goals.

    President Ramaphosa acknowledged the many challenges facing the sector, including high capital costs, global investment gaps, and stiff competition from fossil fuels but urged unity and urgency in building an African-led hydrogen economy.

    “Tempered by these realities, this summit must not only be a platform of ideas. It must be a platform of commitments. We must put the African voice at the centre of global energy rulemaking. We must be authors of our own future,” he said. 

    Africa Green Hydrogen Summit an important part of SA’s G20 vision

    South Africa, which currently chairs the G20, has chosen just energy transitions as a key theme for its presidency, placing green hydrogen at the heart of its climate resilience and industrialisation agenda.

    IN PICTURES | Green Hydrogen Summit

    “The Africa Green Hydrogen Summit is an important part of that vision. Hydrogen is a bridge to a new export industry for African countries. It is an enabler for Africa’s energy independence and climate resilience,” he said. 

    More importantly, the President framed green hydrogen as more than an energy source, describing it as an “anchor for industrial transformation and infrastructure investment”.

    “We are called upon to join hands to build this bridge together as Africans, as partners and as builders of a green, prosperous and inclusive future,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

    DikelediM

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Funding secured for Britain’s industrial future

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Funding secured for Britain’s industrial future

    Government backs 2 major Carbon Capture projects in Aberdeenshire and the Humber.

    • Path to securing tens of thousands of jobs in the North Sea and industrial heartlands for decades to come
    • Further investment in Scotland as government’s Plan for Change delivers record settlement for Scottish Government with an extra £9.1 billion over the Spending Review period to deliver public services
    • Government meets in full request for initial development expenditure from projects, including funding for the SCO₂T Connect onshore pipeline connecting St Fergus with Grangemouth

    Workers in the North Sea and Britain’s manufacturing heartlands will drive forward the country’s industrial renewal, as 2 major carbon capture projects in Aberdeenshire and the Humber receive funding to progress.  

    It comes as part of the government’s Spending Review, which will see working people across Scotland benefit from significant investment in clean energy and innovation, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and strengthening Scotland’s position as the home of the United Kingdom’s clean energy revolution. 

    After years of delay under previous governments, the government has backed UK carbon capture industries with £9.4 billion following the Spending Review, investing in Britain’s reindustrialisation with good, well-paid, skilled jobs for Britain’s engineers, technicians and electricians.  

    Funding will be invested this parliament to get spades in the ground and accelerate Britain’s global leadership in the technology of the future. 

    It will also progress the Acorn project in Aberdeenshire and the Viking project in the Humber with development funding, helping provide long-term industrial certainty for working people at the heart of these communities.  

    Today the government is meeting in full the request for development funding of around £200 million, subject to business case,  to prepare the Acorn project for delivery – the first time a government has provided funding of this scale for the projects to proceed. 

    As the project develops, funding will also provide financial cover for the National Gas SCO₂T Connect project, to repurpose an existing 175 mile gas pipeline, alongside 35 miles of new build pipeline, to allow CO2 captured at Grangemouth to be transported to storage facilities under the North Sea. Industry expects at their peak construction Acorn to support approximately 15,000 jobs and Viking to support 20,000 jobs, including 1,000 apprenticeships – bolstering the proud energy history of 2 industrial heartlands as engines for growth through the Plan for Change. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This government is putting its money where its mouth is and backing the trailblazing Acorn and Viking CCS projects.  

    This will support industrial renewal in Scotland and the Humber with thousands of highly-skilled jobs at good wages to build Britain’s clean energy future. 

    Carbon capture will make working people in Britain’s hard-working communities better off, breathing new life into their towns and cities and reindustrialising the country through our Plan for Change.

    Tim Stedman, CEO Storegga, lead developer of Acorn, said: 

    We warmly welcome the UK government’s support for the Acorn project and the commitment to development funding that will enable the critical work needed to reach Final Investment Decision (FID).  

    Building on the momentum from the Track 1 projects and significant private sector investment, this milestone is key not only for Acorn but for establishing Scotland’s essential CCS infrastructure needed to grow and scale the UK’s wider carbon capture and storage industry. 

    We look forward to working with government in the months ahead to understand the details of today’s commitment, and to ensure the policy, regulatory and funding frameworks are in place to build and grow a world-leading UK CCS sector.

    Graeme Davies, Executive Vice President, CCS, Harbour Energy said: 

    The Spending Review today sends a strong signal that Track-2 and Viking CCS are an infrastructure-led economic growth priority in this Parliament. 

    We will work with government on the critical steps needed to progress Viking CCS towards a final investment decision, following our completion of Front-End Engineering Design and approval of the onshore pipeline Development Consent Order earlier this year.

    Acorn has said its project will safeguard around 18,000 jobs in the North Sea that would otherwise have been lost, including jobs at Grangemouth.  

    These jobs will be needed to build pipelines to transport CO2 safely and generate low-carbon power to homes and businesses so the British people can have energy security, lower bills and protection from the climate crisis. 

    The funding accelerates the mission to become a clean energy superpower, with projects set to remove CO2 emissions before they reach the atmosphere and store them away safely, which is crucial to securing Britain’s industrial manufacturing future and tackling the climate crisis. Funding builds on and provides more construction support for 2 more advanced projects in Liverpool Bay and Teesside, which both reached financial close earlier this year. 

    Today’s funding sets a path to unlocking billions of private sector investment, putting more money into the pockets of hard-working communities in Aberdeen and the Humber – securing their place as a world-leader of net zero and low-carbon industries. 

    Once Acorn and Viking are operational, combined, they could remove up to 18 million tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere per year. As well as capturing emissions, carbon capture can also be used to generate low-carbon power, as well as enabling hydrogen power –  with the industry expected to support up to 50,000 jobs in the 2030s.  

    Both projects will now move forward with their proposals with the aim of reaching financial closure later this Parliament, subject to project readiness and affordability.  

    Notes to editors

    Today’s funding delivers on our commitments, having already reached financial investment decisions on 2 projects in Hynet, North Wales and the East Coast Cluster, Teesside which industry expects to deliver 20,000 jobs each at peak construction and assuming full deployment.

    Jobs figures were provided to government by industry.

    Stakeholders: 

    Jon Butterworth, CEO, National Gas, said  

    We warmly welcome the government’s decision to fund a further programme of significant carbon capture projects across the country. As Britain’s national gas network, we share the government’s view on the importance of energy security in bolstering our national security.  

    National Gas’s SCO₂T Connect Project, an essential component of the Acorn Project and wider Scottish Cluster, will be the key enabler for carbon capture across Scotland by providing the network infrastructure to facilitate industrial decarbonisation at scale and Clean Power.  

    This milestone investment commitment will set the UK on a path to be a genuine world-leader in carbon capture and storage which will play a pivotal role in securing Britain’s energy, decarbonising our economy and creating the jobs of the future.

    Finlay McCutcheon, Managing Director, SSE Thermal, said:  

    The UK government’s support for the Scottish Cluster reflects a strong commitment to advancing a low carbon future for Scotland and the wider UK. 

    Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station is an essential anchor project within the cluster, and this welcome announcement moves us a step closer to delivering this vital project.  

    Carbon capture technology is essential to achieving the UK’s Clean Power targets, and today’s news highlights the need to deliver clean, low carbon dispatchable power that strengthens energy security in a renewables-led system.   

    SSE’s Peterhead site is strategically located near North Sea oil and gas infrastructure, which we aim to repurpose for CCS in collaboration with partners Equinor and Acorn. This would create a pathway for job creation and retention in North East Scotland, while accelerating the wider decarbonisation of our industrial clusters.     

    This marks an important step forward for the future of UK energy infrastructure, and SSE remains committed to working closely with government and industry partners to support the transition to a clean energy future.

    Olivia Powis, CEO, Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), said: 

    The CCSA welcomes support for CCUS in the Comprehensive Spending Review, with allocation of funding for the build-out of HyNet and the East Coast Cluster and development funding to progress the Acorn Project and Viking CCS.

    The commitment to taking Final Investment Decision this Parliament, subject to readiness and affordability, for these clusters is welcome and helps towards giving industry the confidence it needs to move forward with major investments in low-carbon infrastructure.

    This is a clear step forward to progressing the next clusters in Scotland and Humber. CCUS is critical to decarbonising our industrial heartlands, supporting clean power and enabling low-carbon hydrogen.

    It also plays a key role in protecting and creating thousands of high-quality jobs across the country in critical industries like cement, chemicals and refining, and the power system — all of which are essential for meeting the government’s commitments on new infrastructure and housebuilding.

    David Whitehouse, CEO, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK), said: 

    The support for the next phase of carbon storage projects in Scotland and Humberside is welcome, and an important step towards final investment decisions later in this Parliament. Together Viking and Acorn have the potential to unlock over £25 billion of investment by 2035, creating over 30,000 jobs at peak construction, 

    These projects will provide the pathway to support the decarbonisation of UK industries and are critical to the governments clean power objectives. We will continue to work with government to detail long-term support required to deliver these projects and unlock the wider UK’s CCS ambition.

    Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union, said:  

    Prospect has been calling for further investment in infrastructure and CCUS, particularly in the Acorn and Viking clusters, so this is welcome.  

    New investment is vital to support jobs and the development of new technology in Scotland, the Humber and other industrial heartlands.  

    If these projects are successful they can not only help us to hit our emissions targets but will also play an important role in a just transition in the North Sea.

    Dr Liz Cameron CBE, CEO, Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said: 

    The government’s backing for the Acorn Project is a significant endorsement which will help to make the North East a world leader in the low-carbon industry. 

    This major carbon capture and storage facility puts us on an ecologically more sustainable trajectory and will bolster the region’s economy by creating up to 15,000 jobs in construction and attracting billions in private investment. 

    Whilst this intervention is undoubtedly welcome, we urge both the UK and Scottish governments to work in collaboration to realise Acorn’s potential in full.

    Andy Prendergast, GMB National Secretary, said:  

    We strongly welcome this announcement that secures thousands of jobs whilst putting Britain’s firmly on the path to net zero. After years of dithering, it’s great to see a government willing to come forward with the investments necessary to protect and decarbonise crucial industries in Aberdeen and Humberside.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Angola’s Block 17 Partners Sign License Extension, Signaling Commitment to Increasing Offshore Production

    Energy major ExxonMobil, alongside partners TotalEnergies (operator), Equinor, Azule Energy and Sonangol – has signed a production sharing contract (PSC) extension for Block 17, situated offshore Angola. Securing the long-term future of one of the country’s most productive oil assets, the extension marks a major milestone in Angola’s efforts to sustain oil production above one million barrels per day.

    The African Energy Chamber (AEC) – serving as the voice of Africa’s energy sector – fully supports this extension as a vital move to unlock continued value from legacy assets and stimulate reinvestment in mature fields. By extending the license of mature assets, reinvesting in producing blocks and eyeing new opportunities offshore Angola, major operators stand to accelerate the country’s oil and gas growth while unlocking greater returns in deepwater basins.

    Block 17 is one of Angola’s most prolific and strategically important offshore assets. Home to world-class developments such as Dalia and CLOV, the block has been a cornerstone of Angola’s oil output for over two decades. The extension of the PSC ensures that existing infrastructure and expertise continue to generate value for Angola, reinforcing the significance of mature fields in driving production and attracting investment.

    The AEC sees this agreement as a clear commitment by ExxonMobil and its partners to maximizing existing resources while deploying advanced technologies to enhance recovery. Under the leadership of Katrina Fisher, Managing Director of ExxonMobil Angola, the company has demonstrated a forward-looking approach, aligning with national priorities to maintain and increase oil production. Projects like CLOV and Dalia highlight how mature assets, when paired with innovation and strategic investment, can remain competitive. Meanwhile, beyond Block 17, ExxonMobil’s work in the Namibe Basin, including frontier exploration across Blocks 30, 44 and 45, illustrates a dual-track strategy of sustaining mature fields while pursuing new discoveries. This balanced approach strengthens Angola’s upstream landscape and ensures resilience amid global energy transitions.

    As such, the AEC also applauds the collaborative nature of the PSC extension. TotalEnergies, as operator of Block 17, has built a legacy of operational excellence alongside ExxonMobil and other major stakeholders. Such cooperation between international oil companies and Angola’s government entities is essential for long-term sectoral growth and investment stability. Chevron’s recent signing of risk service contracts for ultra-deepwater Blocks 29 and 50 further underscores the sustained confidence global energy majors place in Angola’s hydrocarbon potential. These developments, combined with ExxonMobil’s Block 17 extension, signal a broader trend: mature fields are not in decline – they are being revitalized.

    “As ExxonMobil continues to lead on legacy asset optimization and frontier exploration, the AEC stands firmly in support of this agreement extension. It is a critical step in reinforcing Angola’s position as a top-tier African oil producer and ensuring continued economic benefit for its people,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC. “The AEC remains dedicated to championing policies and partnerships that enable energy independence, maximize resource value and foster inclusive development across the African continent.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nuclear safeguards: AUKUS statement to the IAEA Board of Governors, June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Nuclear safeguards: AUKUS statement to the IAEA Board of Governors, June 2025

    Statement by Australia, the UK and the US to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on IAEA safeguards and AUKUS

    Thank you, Chair.

    I take the floor on behalf of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to respond to continued false claims that purposefully mischaracterize AUKUS partners’ intentions and attempt to undermine the independence, integrity, and authority of the IAEA.  

    We reiterate that this item has not been adopted as a standing agenda item by the Board and does not have consensus support among Board members. It is a distraction from the Board’s important work on other pressing issues. We support discussion of naval nuclear propulsion at the appropriate time, such as when the Director General releases reports on the topic. As we have always said, Australia’s arrangement will be referred to the Board for appropriate action guided by the DG’s technical assessment of the arrangement’s nonproliferation provisions when the time is right.

    AUKUS partners remain committed to transparency as we work to set the highest nonproliferation standard, and Director General Grossi has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with AUKUS partners’ engagement and transparency. As a demonstration of our commitment to transparency, I would like to highlight the side event held at the NPT Preparatory Committee in New York on 1 May.  AUKUS partners value sessions such as these to openly offer clarity on how we are developing the non-proliferation approach for Australia’s program, consistent with our respective international obligations.

    As we have said, when we discuss setting the highest nonproliferation standard, we are not seeking to establish a model arrangement for others.  Australia’s arrangement, once finalized, will demonstrate that it is possible to apply the highest non-proliferation standard to naval nuclear propulsion under an Article 14 arrangement in a way that will allow the IAEA to fulfill its technical objectives: verifying there has been no diversion of nuclear material, no misuse of nuclear facilities, and no undeclared nuclear material or activities in Australia. For other Member States seeking naval nuclear propulsion programs, it will be up to them to negotiate directly with the IAEA on appropriate verification arrangements based on the unique nature of the program. Although, we trust that other such Member States likewise will support a high standard and respect the integrity and independence of the IAEA.

    The commitment to a robust Article 14 arrangement was included in our countries’ legal obligations in the AUKUS Naval Nuclear Propulsion Agreement (ANNPA), including through the requirement that the United States and UK not transfer any nuclear material to Australia for naval nuclear propulsion until Australia and the IAEA have such an arrangement in place. As we have prioritized since the start of the AUKUS partnership in 2021, ANNPA, which entered into force in January, is yet another way that we are demonstrating our commitment to setting the highest standard of nonproliferation in an open and transparent manner.

    Chair,

    Some countries continue to make the same false claims about the AUKUS partnership. We have spent considerable time addressing these in the past, both here at the Board and in other venues. To be clear, AUKUS in no way involves cooperation on nuclear weapons. The AUKUS partnership is fully consistent with partners’ respective international obligations under the NPT and safeguards agreements. Again, the transfer of nuclear material under the AUKUS partnership will only proceed once we can ensure it is done in a manner consistent with the highest nonproliferation standard.

    We will continue our open and transparent approach, including by providing an update under Any Other Business, and will engage in good faith with Member States on genuine questions as we continue to develop our partnership.

    Thank you, Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Government e-Marketplace surges past ₹4 lakh crore GMV in just 10 months of FY 2024-25

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Under the transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who completes 11 years in office, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of ₹4.09 lakh crore within the first 10 months of Fiscal Year 2024-25. This feat, announced by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, reflects a nearly 50% growth compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year, cementing GeM’s role as a cornerstone of India’s digital procurement revolution.

    Launched in August 2016, GeM has emerged as a trusted platform for transparent and efficient public procurement, serving over 1.6 lakh government entities and 22.5 lakh sellers and service providers. The platform’s GMV for FY 2024-25, achieved by January 23, 2025, outpaces last year’s historic high of ₹4 lakh crore, driven significantly by the services segment, which accounted for ₹2.54 lakh crore (62% of total GMV). The product segment contributed ₹1.55 lakh crore (38%). The services segment’s near-100% growth, fueled by the addition of 19 new service categories, has enabled government entities to procure specialized services like debit card printing, bulk email services, dark fiber leasing, and data center operations management with enhanced efficiency.

    Central government entities, particularly the ministries of Coal, Defence, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Power, and Steel, have been pivotal in this surge. The Ministry of Coal led as the top procurer, with a transacted order value of nearly ₹1.63 lakh crore, including over 320 high-value bids worth approximately ₹42,000 crore for handling and transport services by Coal PSUs. GeM’s versatility is evident in its facilitation of both everyday essentials, such as rations and stationery, and high-end, complex items like advanced technology systems and missile components.

    The platform’s operational excellence was further highlighted by processing 49,960 orders in a single day during FY 2024-25, showcasing its robustness and widespread adoption. Since its inception, GeM has facilitated over 2.59 crore orders, amassing a cumulative GMV of more than ₹11.64 lakh crore. Continuous reforms, including simplified processes and reduced transaction charges, have made GeM more accessible, particularly for Micro and Small Enterprises, startups, and women-led businesses.

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Slowing Down to Speed Up: Samsung Brings Rest to Runners in the City That Never Sleeps

    Source: Samsung

    They’re everywhere you look, trotting on the sidewalk, bounding on the trail, pacing on the treadmill.
    Runners.
    On any given day, millions of people around the world are hitting the pavement, logging miles, and pushing for personal bests. With a low barrier to entry and near universal access, it’s easy enough to get started, but for most people, making gains is not so straightforward.
    Samsung Health, together with powerful Galaxy Wearables like Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Ring offer runners of all levels an incredible set of tools to monitor progress and improve — including automatically tracking runs, keeping tabs on heart rate zones1, and evaluating their daily Energy Score2.

    Even so, one of the most overlooked aspects of improving performance has nothing to do with racking up steps: getting quality rest. Your downtime provides an important window into your overall health and directly impacts running performance. That’s why Samsung Health also features extensive sleep analysis1 to help runners understand their sleep patterns3 and build better habits. All data and insights captured on compatible Galaxy Wearables are integrated into the Samsung Health app which generates detailed reports across a range of health metrics.
    Throughout the summer, Samsung will be bringing its expertise to runners across New York City through partnerships with some of the city’s largest run clubs, collaborations with fitness creators, and race activations. The collaborations will emphasize the importance of rest and recovery, and how Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearables can play a vital role in the training and recovery process.

    Samsung is working with two of New York City’s largest run clubs — Almost Friday Run Club and Midnight Runners New York — empowering select participants with Galaxy technology to help them reach their goals and better understand the importance of rest as part of their training.
    Samsung will also be activating at select New York City races in partnership with NYCRuns, providing interactive rest stations for racers. The experience will include a hydration station and stretching area, as well as opportunities to learn about how runners can use Samsung Health’s Energy Score and sleep data insights to improve their running performance.
    The first sponsored run takes place July 13, 2025 at the NYCRuns Queens Ice Cream Social 5K. The event is open to the public, and those interested can register here.
    Stay tuned throughout the summer for more updates!
    To learn more about Samsung Health, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Ring or how Samsung can help power your runs and catch some Z’s visit Samsung.com.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: African Development Bank to provide $184.1 million for Africa’s largest solar energy and battery storage project


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    The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a financing package of up to $184.1 million to support the development of the Obelisk 1-gigawatt solar photovoltaic project and 200MWh battery energy storage system in Egypt, which will be Africa’s largest solar power plant.

    Located in Qena Governorate in southern Egypt, the project entails the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a photovoltaic power plant with an integrated battery energy storage system. The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company will be the sole off-taker under a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement.

    The project’s total cost is estimated at more than $590 million. The Bank Group’s financing package includes $125.5 million of ordinary resources, as well as concessional funding from Bank Group-managed Special Funds the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa  (SEFA) worth $20 million, and the Canada-African Development Bank Climate Fund ($18.6 million), a partnership of the Bank Group and the Government of Canada. A further $20 million will come from the Climate Investment Funds’ Clean Technology Fund, with additional financing to be mobilized from a consortium of development finance institutions.

    Under Egypt’s Nexus of Water, Food, and Energy (NWFE) platform, Obelisk has been granted a Golden License by the government, which recognizes it as a strategic initiative that will contribute to addressing Egypt’s energy constraints and advancing its energy transition.

    Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, said “the Obelisk solar project is another important milestone for Egypt under the energy pillar of the NWFE program which has since its launch in November 2022 at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh delivered 4.2 GW of privately financed renewable energy investments, worth about $4 billion, with the support of partners such as the Africa Development Bank.  The goal of NWFE’s energy pillar is to add 10 GW of renewable energy capacity with investments of approximately $10 billion, and phase out 5 GW of fossil fuel power generation by 2030.”

    The project, expected to be fully operational by the third quarter of 2026, will generate an estimated 2,772 gigawatt-hours of clean, reliable, and affordable energy annually to the national grid. The battery energy storage system will help meet peak evening demand with renewable power while also mitigating the variability of solar power generation. The project is expected to reduce annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by approximately one million tons and create about 4,000 jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs during operation, with a special focus on women and youth employment.

    “Obelisk is another landmark development under NWFE that leverages on Egypt’s and the African Development Bank’s leadership as well as commitment to harnessing the country’s renewable energy to enhance the resilience of the country’s energy supply to meet its fast-growing energy demand sustainably,” said Kevin Kariuki, African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth.  “This project also contributes to Egypt’s ambition of producing 42 percent of its power generation capacity from renewable energy sources by 2030 while spurring economic growth and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,”

     Ambassador of Canada to the Arab Republic of Egypt Ulric Shannon said: “Canada is proud to support solar energy development in Egypt. This initiative is a meaningful step toward enhancing energy security and stability, with direct benefits for the Egyptian people. We are pleased to collaborate with the African Development Bank and other partners in supporting Egypt’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.”

    The Obelisk Solar Project aligns with the African Development Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy, its New Deal on Energy for Africa, and its Country Strategy Paper for Egypt as well as SEFA’s strategic framework which aims to accelerate African countries energy transition by increasing the share of renewables and catalyzing commercial capital mobilization in the power sector. The project also advances Egypt’s commitment to achieve 42 percent generation capacity from renewable energy sources by 2030.

    “This project exploits the abundant renewable energy potential in Africa and demonstrates how strong partnerships and innovative solutions contribute to balancing three core objectives in the energy sector, namely energy security, affordability, and sustainable economic development,” said Wale Shonibare, Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulation at the African Development Bank. “It has high potential for replicability across the continent.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media Contact:
    Olufemi Terry
    Communication and External Relations Department
    o.terry@afdb.org

    Technical Contact:
    James Otto
    Senior Investment Officer
    Energy Financial Solution and Policy Regulations Department
    j.otto@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Federal R&D funding boosts productivity for the whole economy − making big cuts to such government spending unwise

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Andrew Fieldhouse, Visiting Assistant Professor of Finance, Texas A&M University

    Research can make everyone better off.
     Emilija Manevska/Moment via Getty Images

    Large cuts to government-funded research and development can endanger American innovation – and the vital productivity gains it supports.

    The Trump administration has already canceled at least US$1.8 billion in research grants previously awarded by the National Institutes of Health, which supports biomedical and health research. Its preliminary budget request for the 2026 fiscal year proposed slashing federal funding for scientific and health research, cutting the NIH budget by another $18 billion – nearly a 40% reduction. The National Science Foundation, which funds much of the basic scientific research conducted at universities, would see its budget slashed by $5 billion – cutting it by more than half.

    Research and development spending might strike you as an unnecessary expense for the government. Perhaps you see it as something universities or private companies should instead be paying for themselves. But as research I’ve conducted shows, if the government were to abandon its long-standing practice of investing in R&D, it would significantly slow the pace of U.S. innovation and economic growth.

    I’m an economist at Texas A&M University. For the past five years, I’ve been studying the long-term economic benefits of government-funded R&D with Karel Mertens, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. We have found that government R&D spending on everything from the Apollo space program to the Human Genome Project has fueled innovation. We also found that federal R&D spending has played a significant role in boosting U.S. productivity and spurring economic growth over the past 75 years.

    Measuring productivity

    Productivity rises when economic growth is caused by technological progress and know-how, rather than workers putting in more hours or employers using more equipment and machinery. Economists believe that higher productivity fuels economic growth and raises living standards over the long run.

    U.S. productivity growth fell by half, from an average of roughly 2% a year in the 1950s and 1960s to about 1%, starting in the early 1970s. This deceleration eerily coincides with a big decline in government R&D spending, which peaked at over 1.8% of gross domestic product in the mid-1960s. Government R&D spending has declined since then and has fallen by half – to below 0.9% of GDP – today.

    Government R&D spending encompasses all innovative work the government directly pays for, regardless of who does it. Private companies and universities conduct a lot of this work, as do national labs and federal agencies, like the NIH.

    Correlation is not causation. But in a Dallas Fed working paper released in November 2024, my co-author and I identified a strong causal link between government R&D spending and U.S. productivity growth. We estimated that government R&D spending consistently accounted for more than 20% of all U.S. productivity growth since World War II. And a decline in that spending after the 1960s can account for nearly one-fourth of the deceleration in productivity since then.

    These significant productivity gains came from R&D investments by federal agencies that are not focused on national defense. Examples include the NIH’s support for biomedical research, the Department of Energy’s funding for physics and energy research, and NASA’s spending on aeronautics and space exploration technologies.

    Not all productivity growth is driven by government R&D. Economists think public investment in physical infrastructure, such as construction of the interstate highway system starting in the Eisenhower administration, also spurred productivity growth. And U.S. productivity growth briefly accelerated during the information technology boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s, which we do not attribute to government R&D investment.

    More R than D

    We have found that government R&D investment is more effective than private R&D spending at driving productivity, likely because the private sector tends to spend much more on the development side of R&D, while the public sector tends to emphasize research.

    Economists believe the private sector will naturally underinvest in more fundamental research because it is harder to patent and profit from this work. We think our higher estimated returns on nondefense R&D reflect greater productivity benefits from fundamental research, which generates more widely shared knowledge, than from private sector spending on development.

    Like the private sector, the Department of Defense spends much more on development – of weapons and military technology – than on fundamental research. We found only inconclusive evidence on the returns on military R&D.

    R&D work funded by the Defense Department also tends to initially be classified and kept secret from geopolitical rivals, such as the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb. As a result, gains for the whole economy from that source of innovation could take longer to materialize than the 15-year time frame we have studied.

    Research takes not just time but money, and the government is now cutting that funding.
    Nitat Termmee/Moment via Getty Images

    Role of Congress

    The high returns on nondefense R&D that we estimated suggest that Congress has historically underinvested in these areas. For instance, the productivity gains from nondefense R&D are at least 10 times higher than those from government investments in highways, bridges and other kinds of physical infrastructure. The government has also invested far more in physical infrastructure than R&D over the past 75 years. Increasing R&D investment would take advantage of these higher returns and gradually reduce them because of diminishing marginal returns to additional investment.

    So why is the government not spending substantially more on R&D?

    One argument sometimes heard against federal R&D spending is that it displaces, or “crowds out,” R&D spending the private sector would otherwise undertake. For instance, the administration’s budget request proposed reducing or eliminating NASA space technology programs it deemed “better suited to private sector research and development.”

    But my colleague and I have found that government spending on R&D complements private investment. An additional dollar of government nondefense R&D spending causes the private sector to increase its R&D spending by an additional 20 cents. So we expect budget cuts to the NIH, NSF and NASA to actually reduce R&D spending by companies, which is also bad for economic growth.

    Federal R&D spending is also often on the chopping block whenever Congress focuses on deficit reduction. In part, that likely reflects the gradual nature of the economic benefits from government-funded R&D, which are at odds with the country’s four-year electoral cycles.

    Similarly, the benefits from NIH spending on biomedical research are usually less visible than government spending on Medicare or Medicaid, which are health insurance programs for those 65 years and older and those with low incomes or disabilities. But Medicare or Medicaid help Americans buy prescription drugs and medical devices that were invented with the help of NIH-funded research.

    Even if the benefits of government R&D are slow to materialize or are harder to see than those from other government programs, our research suggests that the U.S. economy will be less innovative and productive – and Americans will be worse off for it – if Congress agrees to deep cuts to science and research funding.

    The views expressed in the Dallas Fed working paper are the views of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas or the Federal Reserve System.

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

    – ref. Federal R&D funding boosts productivity for the whole economy − making big cuts to such government spending unwise – https://theconversation.com/federal-randd-funding-boosts-productivity-for-the-whole-economy-making-big-cuts-to-such-government-spending-unwise-255823

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Energy Star, on the Trump administration’s target list, has a long history of helping consumers’ wallets and the planet

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Magali A. Delmas, Professor of Management, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, Anderson School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles

    The blue Energy Star label is widely recognized across the U.S. Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Since the early 1990s, the small blue Energy Star label has appeared on millions of household appliances, electronics and even buildings across the United States. But as the Trump administration considers terminating some or all of the program, it is worth a look at what exactly this government-backed label means, and why it has become one of the most recognizable environmental certifications in the country.

    Energy Star was launched by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 and later expanded in partnership with the Department of Energy with a simple goal: making it easier for consumers and businesses to choose energy-efficient products, helping them reduce energy use and save money, without sacrificing quality or performance.

    As a scholar of energy conservation, I have studied the Energy Star program’s development and public impact, including how it has shaped consumer behavior and environmental outcomes.

    According to the EPA, it has saved consumers an average of US$15 billion a year on energy costs since its inception, a massive return on a program that costs taxpayers an estimated $32 million a year.

    How Energy Star works

    When you see an Energy Star label on a product, it means that product has met strict energy efficiency standards set by the EPA in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, which tests how much energy appliances use. The federal agencies also consult with product manufacturers, utilities and others to figure out how best to improve products and determine how cost-effective changes might be.

    Products that earn the Energy Star certification typically use significantly less energy than standard models, often between 10% and 50% less. The energy – and financial – savings can add up quickly, especially when homes or buildings have multiple Energy Star appliances and systems.

    Energy Star itself does not manufacture or sell products. Instead, it acts as a trusted third-party certifier, providing consumers and businesses with reliable information and clear labeling. It also offers information to help people estimate energy savings and compare long-term costs, making it easier to identify high-performing, cost-effective options. Manufacturers participating in Energy Star seek to improve their environmental reputation and increase their market share, giving them a strong incentive to meet the program’s efficiency criteria.

    Today, the label appears on refrigerators, dishwashers, laptops, commercial buildings and even newly built homes. The government says people in more than 90% of American households recognize the label.

    Energy Star-certified appliances include upright freezers, clothes washers and many other types of home equipment, which use between 10% and 50% less energy than uncertified items.
    AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

    People don’t always choose efficient products

    Energy Star seeks to tackle a wide range of problems that can result in people deciding not to buy energy-efficient products.

    One problem is that efficient models often come with higher up-front costs. While efficient models save money over time, that higher purchase price can discourage buyers. Energy Star helps counter this problem by clearly showing how much money can be saved on energy costs over the lifetime of the product – as compared with noncertified products – and by offering rebates that reduce the initial expense.

    Another problem involves what economists call “split incentives.” A landlord might not want to pay a higher price up front for energy-efficient appliances if the tenants are the ones who will save money on the utility bills. And renters may not want to spend a lot of money on appliances or equipment in a place they do not own. Energy Star tries to bridge this divide by promoting whole-building certifications, which encourage landlords to invest in their buildings’ energy efficiency with the goal of making their properties more attractive to tenants.

    The countless varieties of refrigerators, dishwashers, air conditioners and other items on the market can also create confusion. Consumers who just look at manufacturers’ promotional material may find it very hard to determine which appliances truly deliver better energy efficiency. The Energy Star label makes this comparison easier: If the label is there, it is among the most efficient choices available.

    And consumers are often skeptical of manufacturers’ claims – especially when it comes to new technologies or environmental promises. Energy Star’s status as a program backed by the government, rather than a private company, gives it a level of independence and credibility that many other labels lack. People know the certification is based on science, not sales tactics.

    Lastly, Energy Star helps overcome the problem that many people are not aware of how much energy their appliances consume, or how those choices contribute to climate change. By connecting everyday products to larger environmental outcomes, Energy Star helps consumers understand the effects of their decisions, without needing to become energy experts.

    The program delivers real results

    Since its inception, more than 800,000 appliance models have earned Energy Star certification based on the criteria for their type of product.

    The same principles that make the label valuable for consumer appliances – independent certification, clear metrics and a focus on results – have proved equally effective in real estate. Nearly 45,000 commercial buildings and industrial plants have earned certification. And there have been more than 2.5 million Energy Star-certified homes and apartments built in the U.S.

    In 2023 alone, over 190,000 new homes and apartments were certified, representing more than 12% of all new residential construction nationwide.

    Energy Star-certified homes are designed to be at least 10% more energy efficient than those built to standard building codes, with more insulation and windows and lights that are energy-efficient, as well as appliances. These enhancements can translate to better quality, comfort and long-term cost savings for homeowners.

    Commercial buildings, which account for about 18% of total U.S. energy use, have also benefited substantially. Research I was involved in found that certified commercial buildings use an average of 19% less energy than their noncertified counterparts.

    Computers can sleep, too – not just cats. Both types conserve energy.
    Markus Scholz/picture alliance via Getty Images

    Why government leadership matters

    Energy Star’s status as a government-led label contributes to its credibility as a more neutral and science-based source of information than commercial labels.

    Energy Star’s government connections also bring scale: By requiring federal purchases to have Energy Star certifications, the federal government can influence manufacturers. For example, a federal executive order in 1993 required government agencies to purchase only computers that had been Energy Star-certified, which required them to have energy-saving sleep functions.

    In response, manufacturers began including the feature so they could sell their products to the government. Consumers soon came to expect the sleep feature on all computers.

    A quiet success story in energy and climate

    Energy Star does not grab headlines. It does not rely on regulation or mandates. Yet it has quietly become one of the most effective tools the U.S. has for improving energy efficiency across homes, offices and public buildings.

    That said, the program is not without its limitations. Some critics have pointed out that not all certified products consistently perform at the highest efficiency levels. Other critics note that the benefits of Energy Star are more accessible to wealthier consumers who can afford up-front investments, even with available rebates. And the EPA itself has, at times, struggled to manage the certification process and update standards in line with the latest technological advances.

    At a time when energy costs and climate concerns are rising, Energy Star stands out as a rare example of a practical, nonpartisan program that delivers real benefits. It helps individuals, businesses and communities save money, lower emissions and take part in a more sustainable future – one smart decision at a time.

    Magali Delmas received funding from the US EPA in 2002 for research on Environmental Management Strategies and Corporate Performance.

    – ref. Energy Star, on the Trump administration’s target list, has a long history of helping consumers’ wallets and the planet – https://theconversation.com/energy-star-on-the-trump-administrations-target-list-has-a-long-history-of-helping-consumers-wallets-and-the-planet-258152

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: NextNRG Partners with $13 Billion Renewable Energy Investor Hudson Sustainable Group to Accelerate U.S. Energy Infrastructure Buildout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NextNRG, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXXT), a pioneer in AI-driven energy solutions revolutionizing production, management, and delivery with the Next Utility Operating System®, smart microgrids, wireless EV charging, and on-demand mobile fuel, today announced a strategic partnership with Hudson Sustainable Group LLC, one of the most experienced investment firms in global renewable energy and climate infrastructure.

    The agreement establishes a framework for NextNRG and Hudson to jointly develop, finance, and deploy a national portfolio of energy assets — including utility-scale solar, battery storage, distributed smart microgrids, wireless EV charging infrastructure, and NextNRG’s proprietary Next Utility Operating System®.

    Under the Master Framework Agreement, Hudson will receive priority consideration to fund select projects in NextNRG’s expanding national pipeline. The collaboration also provides NextNRG access to Hudson-led development opportunities in high growth sectors such as fleet electrification, data center power, and municipal energy resiliency.

    Hudson Sustainable Group has mobilized and deployed over $13 billion in capital across renewable power, energy efficiency, and clean transport infrastructure and is recognized for its support of scalable, long-term energy transition projects worldwide. Led by CEO Neil Auerbach, a former Goldman Sachs partner, Hudson brings an innovative approach to clean energy finance, having backed global players such as Recurrent Energy, Sunlight Financial, Powermat and Landis + Gyr.

    “This partnership with Hudson enhances our ability to scale AI-optimized, distributed energy infrastructure at a time when demand for smarter, more resilient power solutions is accelerating,” said Michael D. Farkas, Founder and CEO of NextNRG. “By aligning innovation with growth capital, we believe we’re well positioned to drive project execution, strengthen our commercial pipeline and advance the deployment of next-generation systems that can reduce cost, improve reliability, and support the evolving energy needs of both today and tomorrow.”

    “We are excited to partner with NextNRG,” said Neil Auerbach, Founder and CEO of Hudson Sustainable Group. “Michael is a pioneer in EV charging, and a seasoned entrepreneur. The technology under the hood at NextNRG is breathtaking in its scope and potential. We look forward to assisting the company in monetizing both its IP and downstream portfolios.”

    Execution of individual project financings and terms will be subject to final due diligence, mutual agreement, and completion of definitive documentation.

    About Hudson Sustainable Group
    Hudson Sustainable Group LLC is a private equity firm dedicated to investing in sustainable investments in the energy transition and the built environment. Founded in 2007, Hudson has a long-standing focus on investing in the dynamic sectors of the sustainable economy, including renewable power, energy efficiency, energy storage, sustainable transportation, and sustainable real estate. For more information, visit www.hudsonsustainable.com.

    About NextNRG, Inc.
    NextNRG Inc. (NextNRG) is Powering What’s Next by implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into renewable energy, next-generation energy infrastructure, battery storage, wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging and on-demand mobile fuel delivery to create an integrated ecosystem.

    At the core of NextNRG’s strategy is its Next Utility Operating System®, which leverages AI and ML to help make existing utilities’ energy management as efficient as possible; and the deployment of NextNRG smart microgrids, which utilize AI-driven energy management alongside solar power and battery storage to enhance energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve grid resiliency. These microgrids are designed to serve commercial properties, healthcare campuses, universities, parking garages, rural and tribal lands, recreational facilities, and government properties, expanding energy accessibility while supporting decarbonization initiatives.

    NextNRG continues to expand its growing fleet of fuel delivery trucks and national footprint, including the acquisition of Yoshi Mobility’s fuel division and Shell Oil’s trucks, further solidifying its position as a leader in the on-demand fueling industry. NextNRG is also integrating sustainable energy solutions into its mobile fueling operations. The company hopes to be an integral part of assisting its fleet customers in their transition to EV, providing fuel delivery while advancing efficient energy adoption. The transition process is expected to include the deployment of NextNRG’s innovative wireless EV charging solutions.

    To find out more visit: www.nextnrg.com

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statement describing NextNRG’s goals, expectations, financial or other projections, intentions, or beliefs is a forward-looking statement and should be considered an at-risk statement. Words such as “expect,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those related to NextNRG’s business and macroeconomic and geopolitical events. These and other risks are described in NextNRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. NextNRG’s forward-looking statements involve assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove correct, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although NextNRG’s forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of its management, these statements are based only on facts and factors currently known by NextNRG. Except as required by law, NextNRG undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements for any reason. As a result, you are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements.

    Investor Relations Contact
    NextNRG, Inc.
    Sharon Cohen
    SCohen@nextnrg.com

    The MIL Network –