Category: Europe

MIL-OSI Russia: Lithium-ion battery production base put into operation in Shenyang

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

SHENYANG, July 2 (Xinhua) — EVE Energy Co., a leading Chinese lithium-ion battery maker, on Monday launched its battery production base in Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province, to develop batteries that can withstand extreme cold.

Based in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, EVE has invested a total of 10 billion yuan (approximately $1.4 billion) in the base. It will mainly produce low-temperature-resistant, high-density and reliable energy storage batteries, which will solve the industry’s critical problems of poor battery performance in cold regions.

At the same time, EVE Energy launched a research center for lithium batteries in cold climates. According to Li Wei, director of the center, the center will use EVE Energy Co.’s technology and regional partnerships to develop new materials and technologies that will significantly improve battery performance at low temperatures, including charge-discharge cycle efficiency.

Li Wei noted that the EVE Energy research center also aims to become a national-level energy innovation platform to support the transition of old industrial bases in the northeast to green energy. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Detectives appeal for information following serious assault in Hackney

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Detectives investigating a serious assault in Hackney are appealing for witnesses to come forward, and have named a man they need to trace.

On Saturday, 28 June at 00:56hrs police were called to reports of a fight between two men in Lower Clapton Road, E5.

Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service who treated a 32-year-old man at the scene before transporting him to hospital. He remains in hospital with serious injuries that are believed to be life-changing.

After making enquiries and reviewing CCTV, detectives are keen to speak to Christopher Richards, 32 (08.08.1992) of South Ockendon, Thurrock, in relation to the assault.

Richards is known to have links to the Hackney area, as well as South Ockendon, Hammersmith and Fulham and Islington. He is of a medium, broad build and has dark brown hair.

Anyone who has information on Richards’ and his whereabouts, or anyone with further information that could help the investigation, is urged to contact police on 101 quoting CAD 409/28JUN25.

To remain anonymous, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

MIL Security OSI –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Second person charged following fatal shooting in Enfield

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A second person has been charged following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Keanu Harker in Enfield.

Eliezer Mbaki, 24 (8.7.00), of Oulton Road, Tottenham, was arrested on Monday, 30 June. He was charged on Tuesday, 1 July with perverting the course of justice.

He was remanded to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 2 July.

After receiving reports that gunshots had been heard on Thursday, 26 June, Met officers attended Great Cambridge Road, Enfield alongside the London Ambulance Service.

An arrival the victim, Keanu Harker, was treated before being taken to a nearby hospital.

Sadly, despite the best efforts of medical staff, he later died from his injuries.

His family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

A 17-year-old – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was also arrested on Sunday, 29 July, in connection with the shooting.

He appeared before Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 1 July, charged with murder. He will next appear at the Old Bailey on Thursday, 3 July.

Several lines of enquiry remain active.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 8393/26JUN or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

MIL Security OSI –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: KGV Football Complex scores twice at prestigious awards ceremony
Source: City of Portsmouth

These awards recognise the outstanding collaboration and integration that underpinned the successful delivery of the £8.1 million KGV Football Complex. Delivered by Portsmouth City Council thanks to funding from the Premier League, The FA and Government’s Football Foundation, the project transformed the area into a state-of-the-art football and youth facility in the north of Portsmouth.

These awards recognises the strong teamwork behind the creation of the £8.1 million KGV Football Complex. Portsmouth City Council and the Football Foundation worked together to create a modern football and youth centre, replacing an outdated, vandalised pavilion with no all weather pitches.

Funded by Portsmouth City Council, the UK Government (including the Youth Investment Fund and Changing Places Fund), and the Football Foundation, the project exemplifies how early engagement, a shared vision, and integrated delivery can overcome complex challenges and deliver exceptional outcomes.

From the outset, Portsmouth City Council brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including funders, community groups, and technical experts, to co-create a facility that meets the strategic needs of the city. The project was supported by the council’s in-house teams, including parks and open spaces officers, procurement experts, architects, landscape architects, construction inspectors, quantity surveyors, mechanical & electrical engineers, and buildings services professionals.

In addition, the appointment of Hampshire FA as the future operator of the complex took place at the same time as the procurement of LST Projects as the design and build contractor. This unique but critical collaborative arrangement ensured that the design was informed early on by operational insight.

Key to the project’s success was:
- Early and ongoing engagement with all partners and the local community to shape the scheme.
- Integrated delivery across disciplines, ensuring design, construction, and operational needs were aligned.
- Effective risk management and resolution of complex land ownership issues through collaborative decision-making.
- Fair and transparent supply chain practices, including prompt payments and clear communication across all tiers.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said:

“These awards are a powerful endorsement of what can be achieved when we work together. The KGV Football Complex is a shining example of collaboration, bringing together partners, professionals, and the community to create something truly special for Portsmouth.”

Cllr Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure and Sport said:

“This demonstrates our commitment to providing excellent sports facilities across Portsmouth, which are accessible to all and support a wide range of activities. We are only part of the way through on our journey, with more exciting developments to come in the coming years which will provide a sustainable future for sport and leisure across the city.”

Jimmy Marsh, Senior Quantity Surveyor from LST Projects said:

“It was a real pleasure and privilege for the LST team to work collaboratively with PCC and the FA throughout the entire build process. Re- purposing the derelict pavilion and surrounding areas into an excellent sporting and amenity facility has been a source of huge pride and to be recognised by the SECBE with two awards is a fantastic achievement for all of us involved.”

Neil Casser, Hampshire FA CEO said:

“We are delighted that King George V Football Complex was recognised as a winner at the SECBE Construction Industry Excellence Awards in the Integration and Collaborative Working category. It is a fitting tribute to the team effort that made the project possible. King George V Football Complex is a fantastic hub site and will be enjoyed by many generations in the city and surrounding areas for years to come. We also congratulate Portsmouth City Council for also scooping the “Client of the Year” award making it a double success.”

Since opening in October 2024 under the stewardship of Hampshire FA, the KGV Football Complex has welcomed over 70,000 visits, with peak usage reaching 81% capacity. It is already transforming grassroots sport and youth engagement in the city, providing a vibrant, inclusive space for positive activity.

The Football Foundation is the Premier League, The FA and Government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most.

The Foundation’s goal is to unlock the power of pitches ensuring every community has a great place to play regardless of gender, race, disability or place.

Since its creation in 2000, the Foundation has invested £1.2 billion to improve grassroots facilities across the country – including 1,200 3G pitches, 14,000 grass pitches and 1,600 changing rooms. This has attracted an additional £1.5 billion of partnership funding – totalling over £2.7 billion investment in grassroots football so far.

In partnership with local authorities, County FAs and other community stakeholders, the Foundation has created Local Football Facility Plans for every local authority in England. These Plans act as a blueprint for providing the grassroots football facility improvements that each community needs and deserves across the country.

Visit footballfoundation.org.uk for more information on the Foundation and view the Plan for your local area.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Businesses showcase tough justice tech to Government ministers
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Businesses showcase tough justice tech to Government ministers

Thousands of criminals could soon be managed by revolutionary new technology to enhance how the justice system monitors offenders and cuts reoffending.
Businesses pitch new technology to Ministers that will deliver safer streets, contributing to the Government’s Plan for Change

Strict 24/7 surveillance and enhanced AI could monitor criminals in the community more closely than ever before

New “smell-detector” AI device could detect substance abuse inside and outside prison

On Tuesday 01 July, seven top tech companies pitched their ideas to the Prisons and Probation’s Minister, James Timpson, as part of a Dragon’s Den style pitch, after being whittled down from over 90 submissions.

The finalists included companies developing AI home monitoring which will toughen up punishment outside of prison. Cameras would be installed inside offenders’ homes, with artificial intelligence used to analyse offenders’ behaviours ensuring they comply with licence conditions.

Other radical tech ideas included ‘smell detector’ devices which use synthetic brain cells and AI to replicate the behaviour of a human nose. The tech will help deliver enhanced surveillance and detect the use of drugs, such as Spice or Fentanyl, offering prison and probation a swift way to detect drugs and boost staff safety.

Additional proposals included software to standardise how staff input information on offenders, alongside transcription tools to cut the administrative burden and cost to taxpayers, while allowing staff to focus more of their time on cutting crime.

The successful businesses will have their proposals considered for pilot rollouts, helping staff on the front line to tackle violence in prison and monitor offenders.

This follows the Government’s response to the Independent Sentencing Review, which recommended the greater use of technology and community sentencing in a bid to tackle the inherited crisis in our prisons system.

Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Minister, James Timpson, said:

We inherited a justice system in crisis and in need of reform. Prisons and probation are working in analogue while tech drives forward a new digital age.

That’s why we have invited companies to present bold new ideas to help us deliver tough punishment and enhanced surveillance. Embracing new technologies will help us to protect victims, reduce reoffending and cut crime as part of our Plan for Change.

In the Spending Review, the Government announced that the Probation Service will receive up to £700 million, an almost 45% increase in funding. This new funding will mean tens of thousands more offenders can be tagged and monitored in the community.

These technological solutions follow the publication of recent research that confirms curfew tags, which keep offenders at home and off the streets during certain times, can reduce reoffending by 20 per cent. This demonstrates how even older technology is supporting punishment in the community and cutting crime.

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Published 2 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Join dozens of others and Swap to Stop smoking

Source: City of Wolverhampton

Launched by the City of Wolverhampton Council last year, Swap to Stop provides free vaping kits and behavioural support to help people stop smoking.

The service is delivered over a period of 12 weeks by trained members of staff who offer free vape starter kits alongside support and weekly ‘check-in’ sessions at community venues to help people on their quitting journey.

Scores of people have already come forward to get help – with over 135 quitting as a result. Others are invited to sign up for free at Swap to Stop. http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/swap-to-stop
www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/swap-to-stop.

The Government is offering a million free ‘Swap to Stop’ vaping kits as part of its aims for the country to become ‘smokefree’ by 2030. The council has made these available at a range of community venues, including the city’s eight Family Hubs and Central and Warstones libraries.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and the health of those around you.

“It is still the single largest preventable cause of death in England, accounting for around for 64,000 deaths annually. Almost every minute of every day someone is admitted to hospital with a smoking-related disease – but, when you stop smoking, there are almost immediate improvements to your health.

“And it’s not just your body which will benefit, your purse or wallet will too. On average smokers spend around £40 per week on tobacco – and that means you could have around £2,000 extra to spend a year by quitting, or even more if you are a really heavy smoker.

“Nicotine vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking and is also one of the most effective tools for quitting, and it’s fantastic that over 135 residents have already been able to quit using the support available through Swap to Stop.

“We are delighted to be extending the programme for another 12 months so, if you want to quit smoking, please sign up today.”

For more help and support to stop smoking, please visit Quit Smoking. https://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-and-wellbeing/quit-smoking.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plan ahead: Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass improvements enter next phase
Source: City of Leeds

Over four weeks starting on Saturday 26 July 2025, road repairs and resurfacing works will take place on the Stanningley Bypass, as part of the £44.179m Dawsons Corner and Stanningley Bypass improvement scheme.

Road users are now being urged to prepare to plan ahead, as traffic management (contraflow where vehicles are directed to travel in the opposite direction to the normal flow of traffic) works begin later this month to make improvements to the A647/A6120 Dawsons Corner junction, with repairs and resurfacing works on the Stanningley Bypass.

The work has been planned to coincide with the reduced levels of traffic over the school summer holidays, allowing for these works to progress as quickly as possible with some significant disruption expected to journeys over the coming weeks.

Traffic management will be in place 24/7 along with 30mph speed limits to help complete this work efficiently and for the safety of all road users. During the set up and switch around of the traffic management, there will be partial closures of the bypass and some of the access/slip roads will have local diversions. Access to Pudsey train station will be maintained at all times.

The road traffic management system will safely allow repairs and surfacing works to take place, starting northbound from 8pm Saturday 26 July until 9 August and then southbound from 5am Sunday 10 August, until Sunday 24 August.

The Owlcotes Shopping Centre slip road will be closed to facilitate changes to the traffic management on the following dates:
- Saturday 26 July 8pm-5am
- Saturday 9 August 8pm-5am
- Saturday 23 August 8pm-5am
- Sunday 24 August 8pm-5am (contingency date)
Over the previous three summer holiday periods the council has carried out Stanningley Bypass joint and resurfacing repairs work, as part of the highway’s annual maintenance programme. The road works involve the repair of over 140 structures on Stanningley Bypass and associated resurfacing works.

These changes to the junction when complete will reduce congestion and delays, helping to support economic growth across Leeds and Bradford, as well as improve air quality. Improvements will see better traffic flow, with bus journey times reduced and safer crossing facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“The team are working hard to minimise disruption by planning, co-ordinating and sequencing large highways schemes across Leeds. They need careful planning with other works, not always in our control and events across our busy city. We have done lots of work to try and minimise the disruption these works will create, but what ever the amount of planning there may be some delays.

“Starting from 26 July, to coincide with four weeks of the school summer holidays, please plan ahead when travelling between Bradford and Leeds (A647) or using the (A6120) outer ring road through Dawsons Corner. You will need to allow extra time for your journeys, be patient and follow the signed road diversions in place. For more information, please see the Dawsons Corner project website https://dawsonscorner.commonplace.is/.

“We thank everyone for their ongoing patience while we continue to work hard to minimise the disruption over the summer and thank those who have already changed the way they travel into and around the city centre.”
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: NATO summit mural unveiled in The Hague

Source: NATO

On Sunday 22 June, the Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, unveiled the winning entries to NATO’s summit mural competition. Following successful editions in Vilnius (2023) and Washington (2024), the 2025 competition marked the third year in a row that NATO has invited young artists from across Europe and North America to submit designs encapsulating the spirit of the Alliance and the personality of the summit’s host city.

Diederik Dijkgraaf from the Netherlands and Riivo Kruuk from Estonia managed to convince the jury with their submissions and were able to bring their murals to life in The Hague in collaboration with Dutch artist Tobias Becker. This year’s competition was organised under the motto “Maintaining Our Shared Future”.

The mural consists of the two winning entries combined. On the left, “NATO Dove: Protection of 1 Billion Citizens” was designed by Diederik Dijkgraaf and incorporates the flags of all 32 Allies into the wings of a dove. On the right, “A Peaceful Day” was designed by Riivo Kruuk and pays tribute to Dutch painters such as Johannes Vermeer. The winning designs were selected by a professional jury who considered entries from all across the Alliance.

MIL Security OSI –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: NATO summit mural unveiled in The Hague

Source: NATO

On Sunday 22 June, the Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, unveiled the winning entries to NATO’s summit mural competition. Following successful editions in Vilnius (2023) and Washington (2024), the 2025 competition marked the third year in a row that NATO has invited young artists from across Europe and North America to submit designs encapsulating the spirit of the Alliance and the personality of the summit’s host city.

Diederik Dijkgraaf from the Netherlands and Riivo Kruuk from Estonia managed to convince the jury with their submissions and were able to bring their murals to life in The Hague in collaboration with Dutch artist Tobias Becker. This year’s competition was organised under the motto “Maintaining Our Shared Future”.

The mural consists of the two winning entries combined. On the left, “NATO Dove: Protection of 1 Billion Citizens” was designed by Diederik Dijkgraaf and incorporates the flags of all 32 Allies into the wings of a dove. On the right, “A Peaceful Day” was designed by Riivo Kruuk and pays tribute to Dutch painters such as Johannes Vermeer. The winning designs were selected by a professional jury who considered entries from all across the Alliance.

MIL Security OSI –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Departure Statement by Prime Minister on the eve of visit to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia

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Today, I embark on a five-nation visit to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia from 2 to 9 July 2025.

At the invitation of President H.E. John Dramani Mahama, I will visit Ghana on 2-3 July. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. I look forward to my exchanges aimed at further deepening our historical ties and opening up new windows of cooperation, including in the areas of investment, energy, health, security, capacity building and development partnership. As fellow democracies, it will be an honour to speak at the Parliament of Ghana.

On 3-4 July, I will be in the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, a country with which we share deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect. I will meet President H.E. Mrs. Christine Carla Kangaloo, who was the Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, and Prime Minister H.E. Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has recently assumed office for the second term. Indians first arrived in Trinidad and Tobago 180 years ago. This visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us.

From Port of Spain, I will travel to Buenos Aires. This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years. Argentina is a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20. I look forward to my discussions with President H.E. Javier Milei, whom I also had the pleasure of meeting last year. We will focus on advancing our a mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the areas of agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology, and investment.

I will attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 6-7 July. As a founding member, India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order. On the sidelines of the Summit, I will also meet several world leaders. I will travel to Brasilia for a bilateral State Visit, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen our close partnership with Brazil, and work with my friend, President H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, on advancing the priorities of the Global South.

My final destination will be Namibia, a trusted partner with whom we share a common history of struggle against colonialism. I look forward to meeting President H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and chart a new roadmap for cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, our regions and the wider Global South. It will be a privilege to also address the Joint Session of Namibian Parliament as we celebrate our enduring solidarity and shared commitment for freedom and development.

I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and the CARICOM.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Ecobank Group and Google Cloud Announce Partnership to Accelerate Financial Inclusion and Innovation Across Africa
Ecobank (www.EcoBank.com), a leading pan-African financial services group, and Google Cloud today announced a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at transforming financial services with advanced analytics and AI and driving digital empowerment across Africa. Through this collaboration, Ecobank plans to leverage Google Cloud’s cutting-edge technology to deliver innovative payment and remittance solutions that are frictionless, secure, and universally accessible, empowering individuals and businesses across the continent and beyond. This collaboration will focus on leveraging Google Cloud’s advanced technologies and AI to enhance Ecobank’s digital offerings to accelerate the digital transformation of the Bank.

The partnership agreement is designed to empower individuals, support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region, and contribute to the overall economic development of Africa.

This partnership is intended to deliver substantial benefits:
- Enhancing financial accessibility: The collaboration will strive to simplify and streamline money transfers, both domestically and across borders. This will be supported by Google Cloud’s scalable infrastructure and advanced API solutions, such as Apigee, aiming to make financial transactions faster, more affordable, and more accessible for more people, facilitating crucial support for families and enabling smoother commercial activities for businesses.
- Empowering African businesses: A core objective of the collaboration is to explore ways to bolster the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, including its powerful data analytics platform, BigQuery, for AI-driven insights, Ecobank will aim to develop solutions that improve access to finance for SMEs, simplify payment acceptance, and provide valuable data-driven insights to help businesses scale across more than 33 countries in Africa.
- Envisioning seamless digital banking: The collaboration will explore the creation of more intuitive and user-friendly digital banking platforms, built on Google Cloud’s secure and scalable global infrastructure and enhanced by Google Cloud’s AI technologies. This will empower Ecobank’s developers and customers to easily integrate into Ecobank’s platforms connecting to a unified and advanced API, enabling them to offer innovative financial solutions. For example, fintech partners can readily provide core banking services such as accounts, payments, and lending for seamless transactions.
- Personalising financial solutions responsibly: Utilizing Google’s advanced data analytics, AI, and machine learning, while upholding the highest standards of data privacy and security, Ecobank will aim to better understand and anticipate customer needs. This will enable the development of more relevant and personalized financial products and services, including tailored credit, savings, and insurance options.
- Strategic expert collaboration: Google Cloud’s Professional Services team will aim to provide ongoing expert support to Ecobank, ensuring the effective implementation of technology and the successful realization of the collaboration’s transformative goals over the coming years.
Jeremy Awori, Group CEO, Ecobank said: “Our collaboration with Google Cloud is a leap forward in Ecobank’s digital transformation journey. We look forward to leveraging Google Cloud’s world-class technology to unlock new possibilities for individuals and businesses to grow and scale across Africa. This collaboration signifies our shared intent to explore building a more connected and financially inclusive future for the continent.”

Thomas Kurian, CEO, Google Cloud said: “Google Cloud and Ecobank have a shared vision for using technology to help deliver financial empowerment to more people and businesses in Africa. We look forward to exploring the ways our cutting-edge AI, powerful data analytics, and scalable infrastructure can support Ecobank efforts to fuel the continent’s economic development and digital future.”

This agreement signifies a shared commitment between Ecobank and Google Cloud to explore how the power of technology might unlock new opportunities for Africans and contribute to a digitally empowered and economically vibrant future for the continent.

Ecobank and Google Cloud will actively explore opportunities to further expand their collaboration, tapping into the vast potential of other Google solutions and services.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

Media Contact:
For Ecobank Group
Christiane Mbimbe Bossom
Group Communications
Email: groupcorporatecomms@ecobank.com
Tel: +228 22 21 03 03

About Ecobank Group:
The Ecobank Group is the leading pan-African private sector banking group with unparalleled African expertise. It operates in 35 countries across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in France, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and China. Its unique pan-African network provides a unified platform for payments, cash management, trade, and investments. The Ecobank Group employs over 14,000 people serving more than 32 million customers and offers a comprehensive range of Personal, Commercial, and Corporate & Investment Banking products, services, and solutions through multiple channels, including digital. For more information, please visit www.EcoBank.com

About Google Cloud:
Google Cloud is the new way to the cloud, providing AI, infrastructure, developer, data, security, and collaboration tools built for today and tomorrow. Google Cloud offers a powerful, fully integrated and optimized AI stack with its own planet-scale infrastructure, custom-built chips, generative AI models and development platform, as well as AI-powered applications, to help organizations transform. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted technology partner.

MIL OSI Africa –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes President Halla Tómasdóttir of Iceland to the WTO

Source: WTO

Headline: DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes President Halla Tómasdóttir of Iceland to the WTO

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, on 1 July at the WTO. They discussed the current uncertainty faced by global trade and the world economy and emphasized the importance of collective efforts to tackle global challenges. Both leaders reiterated the importance of the multilateral trading system and the need for reform and repositioning of the WTO. DG Okonjo-Iweala complimented Iceland on its strong economic performance and its active participation in the work of the WTO.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: DG Okonjo-Iweala underscores importance of partnerships to support LDCs

Source: WTO

Headline: DG Okonjo-Iweala underscores importance of partnerships to support LDCs

Co-organized by Djibouti, Finland and the Executive Secretariat of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), the event focused on strengthening international partnerships in support of LDC trade and investment priorities. The vision for EIF Phase Three – the next stage of this Aid for Trade programme exclusively dedicated to LDCs – was also presented. Several countries announced new funding commitments to this new phase of the EIF.
Several donors pledged new contributions to the EIF Trust Fund, providing strong momentum for Phase Three, which is set to begin in October 2025. Sweden announced a contribution of SEK 75 million (approx. CHF 6.3 million), Denmark DKK 20 million (approx. CHF 2.5 million), Norway NOK 12 million (approx. CHF 0.9 million), France EUR 300,000, (approx. CHF 0.3 million) and Liechtenstein CHF 50,000, building on Finland’s earlier pledge of EUR 2.5 million (approx. CHF 2.3 million) and a GBP 400,000 (approx. CHF 0.4 million) contribution from the United Kingdom to EIF Phase Three. These pledges will help ensure a solid start to the next phase of EIF support, which is designed to deliver catalytic and transformative impact for LDCs through trade.
In her opening remarks, DG Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the growing gap between development needs and available resources, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of the EIF in helping LDCs benefit from trade. She noted that the partnership has “gone from strength to strength,” supporting USD 1 billion in LDC exports and enabling hundreds of thousands of small farmers and entrepreneurs to improve their livelihoods.
She also shared the story of Sittina Farate Ibrahima from Comoros, whose biocosmetics business was developed with EIF support. “Today, 80% of her products are exported to Europe. This is what Aid for Trade to LDCs is all about.”
Looking ahead, the Director-General welcomed the shared ambition behind EIF Phase Three and its USD 200 million funding target. “`We hope we can count on all the partners in bringing this vision to life, she said, noting that the event would serve as “a springboard for a high-level launch of the next phase of the EIF partnership at the 14th Ministerial Conference.”
The event brought together ministers from Djibouti, Finland and Guinea, along with senior representatives from other least-developed and donor countries, including Sweden, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Liechtenstein and the United Arab Emirates. UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan delivered closing remarks, alongside representatives from other international organizations and other development partners. Discussions focused on priorities for EIF Phase Three, which will run up to 2031.
“From the perspective of the WTO LDC Group, EIF Phase Three comes at a critical time,” said H.E. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance of Djibouti. “What we need is a mechanism that catalyses our efforts, brings innovation to respond to our evolving trade and investment priorities, supports stronger institutions, and helps unlock new partnerships. We see in the vision for EIF Phase Three a foundation to move towards precisely that. For many of our countries, including my own, the EIF has not only been a financial and technical partner. It has also been a catalyst for inclusive economic transformation.”
“Finland is a longstanding supporter of multilateral efforts to strengthen the trade capacities of least-developed countries,” said H.E. Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland. “We believe in the transformative power of trade as, when matched with targeted support and strong local ownership, it can unlock lasting development impact. The EIF has consistently proven to be a trusted and effective partner for LDCs. As it enters a new phase, we see an opportunity to deepen its reach and amplify its role in advancing inclusive and sustainable growth. Finland is proud to contribute to this next chapter.”
A follow-up pledging and partnership event is scheduled for September 2025 on the margins of the WTO Public Forum in Geneva.
EIF Phase Three aims to mobilize at least USD 200 million to help LDCs strengthen trade capacities, expand exports, and harness trade for inclusive, sustainable development.
More information on the EIF and its work is available here.

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MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Radware Schedules Conference Call for Its Second Quarter 2025 Earnings

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TEL AVIV, Israel, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware^® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, will announce its second quarter results on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Conference Call Details
Radware management will host a call on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at 8:30 AM EDT to discuss its second quarter 2025 results and outlook for the third quarter of 2025. Participants are advised to join the call approximately 15 minutes before the start time.

US: 1-877-704-4453 (toll free)
International: 1-201-389-0920

In addition, the call will be webcast live on the Company’s website at http://www.radware.com/ir/investor-events/.

A replay of the call will be available for seven days, starting two hours after the end of the call, on telephone number 1-844-512-2921 (toll free) or 1-412-317-6671. Access ID: 13754237.

About Radware
Radware^® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on: Facebook, LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, and YouTube.

©2025 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan, financial and credit market fluctuations (including elevated interest rates), impacts from tariffs or other trade restrictions, inflation, and the potential for regional or global recessions; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cybersecurity and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, or if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; our use of AI technologies that present regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; risks related to the fact that our products must interoperate with operating systems, software applications, and hardware that are developed by others; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns; our net losses in the past and the possibility that we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cybersecurity and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; complications with the design or implementation of our new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system; our reliance on information technology systems; our ESG disclosures and initiatives; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

CONTACTS
Investor Relations:
Yisca Erez, +972-72-3917211, ir@radware.com

Media Contact:
Gerri Dyrek, gerri.dyrek@radware.com

The MIL Network –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Everything Blockchain Inc. Eyes Historic First: Tokenizing OTC Stock After Robinhood’s Market-Defining Shift
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Jacksonville, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT), a public company focused on owning and staking the world’s fastest-growing crypto networks, announced today that it is actively preparing to tokenize its stock upon completion of its pending capital raise scheduled for early-to-mid July. This groundbreaking move would position EBZT as the first U.S. OTC-listed company to bring its equity fully on-chain, following in the footsteps of major industry players like Robinhood Markets, Superstate, and xStockFi.

Market Validation from Industry Giants

On June 30th, Robinhood unveiled its own stock tokenization rollout at its inaugural crypto keynote in France, enabling European investors to trade tokenized versions of major U.S. equities such as Apple and NVIDIA, 24/7, via blockchain rails. EBZT’s proposed strategy aligns with this broader market evolution and builds upon it with a historic first for OTC markets.

“We see tokenization as not just a technology upgrade, but as a core shift in how public companies interact with shareholders, access capital, and create transparency,” said Steven Maik, CTO of Everything Blockchain.

“Robinhood’s move validates what we’ve been planning for months,” added Arthur Rozenberg, CEO of Everything Blockchain. “As the first OTC company to take this step, we’re pioneering a new frontier for retail investors and opening entirely new possibilities for how public companies can operate on blockchain infrastructure.”

Industry Momentum Confirms Historic Opportunity

EBZT is evaluating strategic opportunities within the tokenization ecosystem and intends to explore potential collaboration frameworks with leading platforms including Superstate and xStockFi as it develops its on-chain infrastructure.

Massive Market Projections
- $24 Trillion Market: HSBC forecasts tokenized assets could reach 10% of global GDP by 2027
- $3.3 Trillion Crypto Market: Current cryptocurrency market capitalization continues growing
- Retail Demand: Infrastructure requirements accelerating as retail investors seek 24/7 access
EBZT’s plan to become the first OTC company to tokenize its equity while building a public blockchain treasury positions the company at the center of this global financial transformation.

Backed by Strategic Crypto Treasury Plan

Tokenization is just one part of EBZT’s board-approved strategy. The company also plans to build a diversified crypto treasury, focused on owning and staking five of the fastest-growing blockchain networks:
- Solana (SOL) – high-speed DeFi and NFT platform
- XRP (Ripple) – global payments and settlement
- Hyperliquid (HYPE) – emerging decentralized exchange
- Bittensor (TAO) – decentralized AI protocol
- Sui (SUI) – next-gen smart contract platform
The goal is to build a blockchain-native treasury that generates income from validator rewards and protocol incentives. Execution will begin once funding is secured.

Historic Market Leadership

As traditional financial markets increasingly embrace blockchain technology, EBZT’s dual strategy of being the first OTC tokenization and crypto treasury development creates unprecedented value drivers:

Historic First-Mover Advantage
- Pioneer Status: The first OTC company to fully tokenize equity
- Uncharted Territory: Opening entirely new market category for retail investors
- Market Leadership: Setting the standard for OTC blockchain integration
Strategic Value Drivers
- Diversified Exposure: Direct ownership of leading blockchain networks focused on Solana’s ecosystem
- Operational Innovation: Enhanced shareholder experience through cutting-edge technology
- Market Validation: Strategy aligned with major institutional players but first in OTC space
Retail Investor Benefits
- Access to Innovation: First opportunity to own tokenized OTC equity
- Crypto Exposure: Diversified blockchain treasury provides crypto market exposure through Solana-focused strategy
- 24/7 Flexibility: Trade on your schedule, not market hours
The convergence of these trends positions EBZT to capture massive value from the broader transformation of global financial infrastructure while giving retail investors unprecedented access to both tokenized equity and crypto treasury exposure powered by Solana’s high-performance blockchain.

For more information, visit: www.everythingblockchain.io or follow us on twitter: x.com/ebzt_

About Everything Blockchain Inc.

Everything Blockchain Inc. (OTC: EBZT) is a public company focused on identifying and capitalizing on opportunities within the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors. The company’s strategy centers on building a diversified portfolio of leading crypto networks, with primary focus on Solana infrastructure, while pioneering innovative approaches to public company operations through blockchain technology. EBZT is positioned to become the first U.S. OTC-listed company to fully tokenize its equity.

For more information, visit: www.everythingblockchain.io

Contact Information

Arthur Rozenberg
CEO, Everything Blockchain, Inc.
arthur.rozenberg@everythingblockchain.io

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to plans related to tokenization, treasury strategy, market opportunities, capital raises, and anticipated benefits of proposed initiatives. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the completion of necessary financing, regulatory approval, technical execution, market acceptance, competitive factors, and general economic conditions.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Everything Blockchain Inc. undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
The MIL Network –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Shell plc filed amendments to its Form 20-Fs for 2023 and 2024 with SEC

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

July 2, 2025

Shell plc filed amendments to its Form 20-Fs for the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2024, (“2023/24 Form 20-F/As”), with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on July 2, 2025.

The 2023/24 Form 20-F/As can be downloaded from www.shell.com/investors/results-and-reporting/annual-report or www.sec.gov.

The printed copies of the 2034/24 Form 20-F/As are expected to be available from August 15, 2025, and can be requested, free of charge, at www.shell.com/investors/results-and-reporting/annual-report/order-printed-annual-reports.

Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts can be viewed online or downloaded in pdf format at www.shell.com/investors/results-and-reporting/annual-report.

Enquiries

Shell Media Relations International: +44 20 7934 5550

US Media Relations: Contact Shell US Media Team

LEI number of Shell plc: 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70

Classification: Additional regulated information required to be disclosed under the laws of the United Kingdom

The MIL Network –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: More than 700 dogs from city shelters have found homes since the beginning of the year

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Over the past six months, more than 700 dogs kept in 13 city shelters have found a new home. Most of the animals met their owners in the Southern (177 dogs), South-Eastern (174 dogs) and North-Eastern (151 dogs) administrative districts of the capital. This was reported on International Dog Day, which is annually celebrated on July 2 in some countries, by the Moscow City Services Complex.

Love at first sight

The timid dog Kapa arrived at the municipal shelter for homeless animals “Solntsevo” of the Western Administrative District last fall. In less than a year, her life changed dramatically. At the shelter, Kapa met her future owner and won her over at first sight.

In a short time, Kapa mastered the elevator, the stairs and learned the walking regime. At home, the animal behaves perfectly, as befits a well-mannered dog. She has another friend – a cat.

The perfect companion for hiking and river rafting

Smiling Jenny, a dog from the municipal shelter of the South-West Administrative District, also went home.

“My sweet Jennie, a favorite, a smart girl, a helper, has finally found owners and has been living as a house dog for three months. In all these years, the shelter had only once expressed interest in her, and that was unsuccessful. And then suddenly some guys showed up – without much experience, hesitant, but very fond of this dog. For a month and a half, they came every weekend, walked Jennie, fed her. At first, the dog did not make contact, did not want to walk, refused to eat. But the guys persistently came with treats. And the ice melted, Jennie warmed up to them, greeted them with joy, walked for a long time and with pleasure. Finally, she went home,” recalls volunteer guardian Yana Sviryakina.

Jeni immediately accepted the rules of living in the apartment: the toilet is strictly outside, she does not damage things, she respects the cat. She rides in the car perfectly, walks on a leash, but is still a little afraid of large cars. And recently Jeni went on her first trip with rafting on the river.

Become the master

Currently, there are over 15,000 animals living in 13 city shelters. You can visit them without an appointment on working days. You must have a passport with you. All animals are socialized, healthy and vaccinated.

In addition, you can meet a cheerful and friendly little tail at animal adoption exhibitions, which are regularly held in the capital.

The next one will be held on Saturday, July 5, from 11:00 to 17:00 at the site next to the Museum of Moscow Municipal Economy at VDNKh. 25 dogs and cats fromcity shelters “Zelenograd” and “Zoorassvet” State Budgetary Institution “Dorinvest”.

Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156169073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: A residential complex will be built on the banks of the Skhodnya River as part of the KRT project to implement the renovation program

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Two areas in the Yuzhnoye Tushino and Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo districts will be reorganized under the integrated territorial development program (ITD). The corresponding draft resolution published on the mos.ru portal. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

The project for the integrated development of territories in the North-West Administrative District is aimed at implementing a renovation program.

“The two sites subject to redevelopment, with a total area of 5.08 hectares, are located in different areas of the district – Yuzhnoye Tushino and Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo, but in close proximity to each other. They are separated by the Skhodnya River. A new residential complex will be built on its banks in accordance with the high standards of the renovation program. Its total area will be 130.6 thousand square meters, and the area of the apartments will be approximately 81 thousand square meters. Due to the placement of shops, cafes and other small and medium-sized businesses on the ground floors, about 500 jobs will also be created here,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

The plots are located in Pokhodny and 2nd Tushinsky Proezd. The natural monument “Skhodnensky Ladle” is a 15-minute walk away. Volokolamsk Highway is nearby. The picturesque area will be further improved, including areas for walking and recreation, children’s and sports grounds. There are several schools, kindergartens and medical institutions near the future new buildings. The project is planned to be implemented within six years.

Earlier, within the framework of the KRT project, it was also planned to construct a building for the college on this territory with an area of 33 thousand square meters. Later, the city decided to increase its area and build it within the framework of the Targeted Investment Program.

According to the program of integrated development of territories, multifunctional city blocks are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of development and implementation in Moscow. This work is being carried out on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin.

Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Earlier, the Mayor of Moscow ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the program in twice.

Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156170073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: From risk to resilience: Unlocking SDG progress through DRR
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Venue

United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 8
Organizers

Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction (Permanent Missions of Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Time

1:15 – 2:45pm

Background

As the 2030 Agenda enters the final stretch for implementation with only 17% of the SDGs on track, the escalating impact of disasters continues to jeopardize progress, and threatens to reverse hard-won development gains. From 2015 to 2023, direct economic loss worldwide has been reported to exceed US$ 1.1 trillion in total1, with an even higher toll in terms of human lives as well as economic, social and environmental impacts. Recent Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), have highlighted both the obstacles and opportunities for a risk-informed approach to sustainable development.

This side event will delve into the key takeaways from the Global Platform for DRR, revealing priorities for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Using insights from the VNRs, the event will also explore practical ways to strengthen the coherence between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.

The discussion will focus on advancing next steps to strengthen national and international disaster risk reduction efforts in an evolving risk landscape. It will spotlight transformative actions and accelerated solutions, building on the main findings and calls to action from the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2025 ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum.

Join us for a dynamic and insightful session to contribute to and learn from the global efforts to build resilience and achieve the SDGs.

Programme

Moderator: Ms. Laurel Patterson, Strategic Partnerships and Communications Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

Fireside chat: Learnings from the Global Platform Key takeaways from Global Platform to accelerate SDG implementation
- Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General and Head of Thematic Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland
- Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
Panel: Building a strong evidence base for DRR and resilience Insights from VNRs and future pathways for implementation
- Three countries presenting on their integration of DRR in the VNRs
Open Discussion

Closing Remarks: Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Disaster Risk Reduction

This event is open to all participants registered for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) and to those holding a valid UN grounds pass.
MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: From risk to resilience: Unlocking SDG progress through DRR
Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Venue

United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 8
Organizers

Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction (Permanent Missions of Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Time

1:15 – 2:45pm

Background

As the 2030 Agenda enters the final stretch for implementation with only 17% of the SDGs on track, the escalating impact of disasters continues to jeopardize progress, and threatens to reverse hard-won development gains. From 2015 to 2023, direct economic loss worldwide has been reported to exceed US$ 1.1 trillion in total1, with an even higher toll in terms of human lives as well as economic, social and environmental impacts. Recent Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), have highlighted both the obstacles and opportunities for a risk-informed approach to sustainable development.

This side event will delve into the key takeaways from the Global Platform for DRR, revealing priorities for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Using insights from the VNRs, the event will also explore practical ways to strengthen the coherence between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.

The discussion will focus on advancing next steps to strengthen national and international disaster risk reduction efforts in an evolving risk landscape. It will spotlight transformative actions and accelerated solutions, building on the main findings and calls to action from the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2025 ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum.

Join us for a dynamic and insightful session to contribute to and learn from the global efforts to build resilience and achieve the SDGs.

Programme

Moderator: Ms. Laurel Patterson, Strategic Partnerships and Communications Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

Fireside chat: Learnings from the Global Platform Key takeaways from Global Platform to accelerate SDG implementation
- Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General and Head of Thematic Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland
- Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR
Panel: Building a strong evidence base for DRR and resilience Insights from VNRs and future pathways for implementation
- Three countries presenting on their integration of DRR in the VNRs
Open Discussion

Closing Remarks: Co-Chair of the Group of Friends on Disaster Risk Reduction

This event is open to all participants registered for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) and to those holding a valid UN grounds pass.
MIL OSI United Nations News –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – ENVI vote on opinion to the EU-UK TCA implementation report – Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source: European Parliament

On 3 July 2025, ENVI Members will vote on their opinion for the AFET/INTA-led report on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, focusing on the Committee’s areas of competence

The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), in force since 2021, governs post-Brexit relations in many policy areas, including on trade, energy, transport, fisheries, and climate and environmental cooperation. In March 2025, the European Commission published its 2023 implementation report, outlining progress and challenges. In areas under ENVI’s remit, the report notes continued cooperation on emissions trading and offshore renewable energy, and highlights UK legislative changes to its Emissions Trading Scheme, which the Commission continues to monitor. It also flags divergence in the UK’s chemicals policy (UK REACH) from EU REACH. Following this, the AFET and INTA committees launched its periodical own-initiative implementation report. ENVI is one of 11 committees authorised to contribute an opinion, providing input within its area of competence. ENVI Members tabled 245 amendments to the draft opinion, with nine compromise amendments negotiated ahead of the vote.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – ENVI exchange of views with Commissioner Roswall on the Water Resilience Strategy – Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source: European Parliament

On 7 July, ENVI will hold an exchange of views with Commissioner Roswall on the 2025 Water Resilience Strategy, a key priority under the 2024–2029 Political Guidelines and part of the EU’s long-term vision for water policy.

On 7 July, Commissioner Roswall will present the 2025 Water Resilience Strategy to the ENVI Committee. The strategy supports the EU’s 2050 water vision outlined at the 2023 UN Water Conference and reflects the Commission’s prioritisation of water resilience. It is also a reaction to the European Parliament own-initiative report on the European Water Resilience Strategy put forward by the ENVI Committee in May this year. The strategy is built around three pillars: restoring and protecting the water cycle by implementing existing EU laws like the Water Framework Directive and Nature Restoration Regulation; building a water-smart economy by boosting sustainability and water efficiency, supported by an EU-wide goal to improve efficiency by 2030; and securing clean, affordable water and sanitation for all. The strategy aims to safeguard water as a fundamental resource across all sectors.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – ENVI-IMCO vote on circularity requirements and end-of-life vehicle management – Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source: European Parliament

On 7 July, ENVI and IMCO members will vote on the report revising circularity requirements for vehicle design and improving end-of-life vehicle management.

During a joint ENVI-IMCO meeting, members will vote on the report on the proposal of revision of circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles. The proposal aims to improve approval, market surveillance, and end-of-life management of vehicles. In total, 1929 amendments were tabled to the Commission proposal. They cover various aspects, such as the scope of the regulation, recycled content targets (including plastic, steel, and aluminium), vehicle passports, circularity strategy, extended producer responsibility, and vehicle reparability. Amendments also focus on the export and collection of used vehicles, preventing unnecessary scrappage, and addressing “missing vehicles” in illegal circuits that are not properly recycled.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – ENVI and AGRI Members to discuss draft report on biological control agents – Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source: European Parliament

On 3 July 2025, ENVI and AGRI Members will consider a draft own-initiative report calling for faster registration and uptake of biological control agents, in light of a forthcoming Commission proposal

In a joint discussion, Members of the ENVI and AGRI Committees will examine the draft report by co-rapporteurs Alexander Bernhuber (EPP, ENVI) and Anna Strolenberg (Greens/EFA, AGRI) on ensuring faster registration and uptake of biological control agents. The report responds to the Commission’s upcoming legislative proposal, expected in Q4 2025, to facilitate the market access of biopesticides, as announced in the Communication “A Vision for Agriculture and Food.” The co-rapporteurs call for a legal definition of biological control agents and a framework for their accelerated authorisation to enhance legal certainty, foster investment in sustainable alternatives and prevent market fragmentation. They stress the need for a fast-track procedure, financial support, and increased knowledge exchange and capacity-building regarding both approval processes and Integrated Pest Management. ENVI and AGRI Members will now submit amendments, with a vote foreseen in the October II plenary.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Mass electoral complaints led by politicians from Poland’s ruling coalition – P-002571/2025
Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002571/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR)

The weeks following the Polish presidential election results have seen mass electoral complaints. Led by Roman Giertych, member of the Sejm whose supporters are called ‘Giertychówkis’, the complaints are aimed at sowing chaos and undermining the democratic election of our new head of state.

Up to 90 % of the 50 000 complaints are faulty or duplicates, making them unlikely to be considered. Many of the people submitting complaints used Giertych’s PESEL identification number instead of their own. In addition, Michał Wawrykiewicz MEP created a template that was used to submit several thousand complaints.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk also joined the campaign, suggesting that votes should be recounted despite the lack of any relevant precedence or legal basis.

Taking the Commission’s self-proclaimed commitment to the rule of law and respect for independent democratic election processes in Member States into account:

1.Is the Commission aware of the fact that the democratic election of the Polish President is being undermined by Poland’s ruling coalition, which oversaw the election process and monitored every polling station?

2.Will the Commission call on politicians in Poland’s current ruling coalition, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, to not undermine the democratic will of the people of Poland and to not destroy the country’s legal order?

3.Is the Commission aware of MEP Wawrykiewicz’s role in the mass submission of electoral complaints, which seeks to undermine the results of the election, and does it not consider such action to be unethical?

Submitted: 25.6.2025
Last updated: 2 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: EU’s Climate Law presents a new way to get to 2040

Source: EuroStat – European Statistics

European Commission Press release Brussels, 02 Jul 2025 The European Commission today proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 EU climate target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, compared to 1990 levels, as requested by the Commission Political Guidelines for 2024-2029.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – ENVI Members to Vote on Amendments on Battery Due Diligence Delay Proposal – Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source: European Parliament

On 3 July 2025, ENVI Members will vote on amendments to a Commission proposal delaying the application of new due diligence rules for battery materials, following the decision to apply the simplified procedure

As part of the fourth Omnibus Simplification Package adopted on 21 May 2025, the Commission proposed to amend Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 to postpone the application of due diligence obligations concerning the sourcing, processing and trading of cobalt, natural graphite, lithium and nickel used in battery manufacturing. While these obligations are currently set to apply from 18 August 2025, the Commission proposes to delay their application by two years and the publication of implementing guidelines by 17 months, due to slower-than-expected designation of notified conformity assessment bodies. The aim is to give economic operators sufficient time to comply and ensure consistency with the timeline of the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive. On 4 June, coordinators agreed to apply the simplified procedure under Rule 52(2) to allow for a faster adoption of the proposal. As a result, ENVI Members will now vote on 22 amendments tabled, including two rejecting the proposal.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protection of the Sixena murals and EU cultural heritage safeguards – E-002541/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002541/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Diana Riba i Giner (Verts/ALE)

The European Union plays a supportive and complementary role in preserving and promoting Europe’s cultural heritage, as outlined in the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage[1]. This framework promotes evidence-based decision-making and urges Member States to protect fragile heritage from irreversible damage, including threats resulting from human actions.

The case of the Romanesque murals from the Monastery of Sixena raises serious concerns. Severely damaged by fire during the Spanish Civil War, the murals were rescued and have since been preserved, studied, and permanently exhibited at the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). Experts warn that their forced relocation, following a court ruling, could cause irreparable harm. MNAC itself has declared the transfer technically unfeasible.

1.In the light of the objectives and recommendations set out in the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, does the Commission consider that the relocation of the Sixena murals, despite expert warnings, is consistent with the EU’s strategic approach to safeguarding fragile and endangered cultural heritage?

2.Given that cultural heritage protection is also an EU responsibility under the Treaties, what tools or mechanisms can the Commission provide to help prevent actions that may lead to the destruction of irreplaceable assets, and will it engage with the competent authorities to ensure their protection?

Submitted: 24.6.2025

[1] European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5a9c3144-80f1-11e9-9f05-01aa75ed71a1.
Last updated: 2 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Sweden: EIB backs DanAds to accelerate advertising technology to compete with tech giants

Source: European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €21 million (around 230 million Swedish kronor) to Swedish software company DanAds to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe and beyond gain access to premium online advertising channels. The financing will enable DanAds to expand its operations and accelerate the development of automated, AI-driven advertising solutions. These technologies will allow advertisers, especially smaller ones, to purchase advertising directly from major publishers’ ad inventory – providing access to premium advertising space that were previously out of reach.

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – European support for NGOs to take legal action against European firms and the supporting role of the Anti-SLAPP Directive in this context – E-002360/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002360/2025/rev.1
to the Council
Rule 144
Marieke Ehlers (PfE)

According to the newspaper Welt am Sonntag, the Commission has paid environmental organisations up to EUR 700 000 to take legal action against European firms. For instance, ClientEarth is reported to have received EUR 350 000 to bring legal proceedings against the German energy sector[1]. Last year, the Council adopted the so-called Anti-SLAPP Directive, which makes it more difficult for companies and governments to defend themselves legally against NGOs. This directive also requires Member States to support associations, organisations and trade unions so that they can aid NGOs by providing advice and assistance during legal proceedings[2].

1.What is the Council’s view on the interplay between the Commission’s support for NGOs to bring lawsuits against companies on the one hand, and EU legislation that makes it difficult or even impossible for companies to defend themselves legally against these NGOs on the other?

2.Does the Council consider this to constitute a clear violation of the fundamental legal principle of equality of arms and the right to a fair trial, as enshrined in Articles 6 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights?

3.Is the Council prepared to push for a review of the Anti-SLAPP Directive and to ensure that, in the context of negotiations on the new MFF, NGOs do not receive subsidies to pursue their ideological fight against European companies through legal proceedings?

Submitted: 11.6.2025

[1] https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/plus256221718/geheime-vertraege-eu-kommission-bezahlte-aktivisten-fuer-klimalobbyismus.html .

[2] Directive (EU) 2024/1069 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on protecting persons who engage in public participation from manifestly unfounded claims or abusive court proceedings (‘Strategic lawsuits against public participation’).
Last updated: 2 July 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
July 2, 2025