Source: ASEAN
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, visited the BIR AS, one of Norway’s largest waste management companies located in Bergen, Norway, on 12 June 2025. The visit highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and Norway on innovative waste management solutions, where Norway has been a major player in the waste management sector.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN visits the BIR AS in Bergen, Norway appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Thales Group
Headline: Thales ranked No.1 most attractive employer among engineering students in France in 2025
Thales has secured the top spot in the 2025 ranking of the most attractive employers for engineering students in France, in a survey conducted by the Universum research institute. The survey covered 23,376 students, including 11,556 from engineering schools. Thales also ranked 4th among IT students.
Students notably praised the Group’s capacity for innovation and the wide range of career development opportunities it offers.
As a global leader in high technology across Defence, Aerospace, Cybersecurity and Digital Identity, Thales provides the opportunity to work in critical environments involving artificial intelligence, quantum technologies or cloud computing. The company offers a very broad array of career paths, backed by a strong industrial and academic presence across 68 countries. For the past three years, Thales has also invested heavily in a global upskilling initiative called the “Learning Company” programme, delivered by 2,000 in-house trainers. It brings together 13 Domain Academies (Radar, Radio, Naval, Tubes, Pyrotechnics…) and 19 Functional Academies (Engineering, Industry, HR, Finance, Communications…).
The preference expressed by young engineering students for Thales also reflects the Group’s efforts to reach out to younger generations. Last year, Thales engaged with over 150,000 young people through 600 events. In 2025, in France alone, the Group expects to welcome more than 3,000 interns and apprentices in higher education, with around 25% going on to secure permanent or fixed-term roles. Nearly 1,500 students in Year 10 and Year 11 will also be welcomed for short-term work experience across around 40 Thales sites in mainland France, helping to spark interest in science and technology careers.
“Attracting engineers – and diverse talent more broadly – to Thales is essential to staying at the forefront of innovation. We firmly believe that mathematics and science are key to understanding the world around us and tackling society’s greatest challenges. Joining Thales means continuing to learn throughout your career and helping to address the major societal challenges we are working on through our activities.”
Patrice Caine, Chairman & CEO of Thales
Interested candidates can learn more and apply online at
https://careers.thalesgroup.com/global/en
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
During the 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, India has emerged as a global leader in digital finance and inclusion, harnessing technology to deliver accessible, efficient, and transparent financial services to every corner of the country. This digital transformation has played a pivotal role in bridging the urban-rural divide and reshaping India’s economic landscape.
The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has revolutionised digital transactions, with over 1,867.7 crore transactions worth ₹24.77 lakh crore recorded in April 2025 alone. Now used by nearly 460 million individuals and 65 million merchants, UPI has gone global, with its presence in more than seven countries, including the UAE, Singapore, and France. According to ACI Worldwide’s 2024 report, India accounted for 49% of all global real-time transactions in 2023, underscoring its leadership in digital payments innovation.
The Aadhaar-enabled e-KYC system has simplified access to banking and public services, with over 141.88 crore Aadhaar IDs issued as of April 2025. It has become a foundational pillar of India’s digital infrastructure, ensuring faster verification and enhanced transparency.
Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT), backed by Aadhaar authentication, has streamlined welfare delivery. Over ₹44 lakh crore has been transferred directly to beneficiaries’ accounts as of May 2025, eliminating middlemen and fake beneficiaries. This has saved the exchequer more than ₹3.48 lakh crore since 2015. The system has also removed over 5.87 crore ineligible ration card holders and 4.23 crore fake LPG connections, making welfare schemes more targeted.
In the realm of e-commerce, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), launched in 2022, has expanded to over 616 cities, empowering small sellers and service providers. By January 2025, more than 7.64 lakh sellers had joined the platform, boosting MSME participation in the digital economy.
Similarly, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), launched in 2016, has transformed public procurement. By January 2025, GeM had achieved a gross merchandise value (GMV) of ₹4.09 lakh crore in just 10 months of FY 2024–25, marking nearly 50% growth over the previous year. With over 1.6 lakh government buyers and 22.5 lakh sellers, GeM continues to enhance transparency and efficiency in government transactions.
Together, these initiatives reflect a decade of digital empowerment under the Modi government, setting the foundation for a more inclusive, transparent, and resilient financial ecosystem.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency leads industry delegation to participate in Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market 2025 in FranceIssued at HKT 16:40
The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau led an industry delegation to participate in the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and Market 2025 in France and joined forces with the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA) to set up the Hong Kong Pavilion themed “AI-assisted Animation Production” and organised a series of activities, with the aim of increasing overseas exposure of Hong Kong original animation works and creative teams, enhancing their reach in market development, and enabling them to explore collaboration opportunities.
As the international animation film festival with a rich history and the largest scale of its kind, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival commands high respect from the global animation industry. Its film market, the Annecy International Animation Film Market, is a prominent annual business-oriented exhibition that takes place from June 10 to 13 (Annecy time). In the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Pavilion held on June 10, the Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, Mrs Lowell Cho, expressed hope that through a series of activities during this promotion, the CCIDA and the industry join hands to promote Hong Kong animation works to the animation industry professionals and audiences from all over the world, hence enabling the original animation by Hong Kong to shine bright on the international stage and to strive for opportunities to strengthen ties with global industry counterparts. She also warmly congratulated the film “Another World”, funded by the Film Development Fund (FDF) and produced by an animation creative team from Hong Kong, for being selected for the non-competitive section of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2025 and that it will be screened at the “Midnight Specials” session on the evening of June 13 (Annecy time). “Another World” brings international recognition, which serves as a significant booster for the Hong Kong animation industry, showcasing the global appreciation for Hong Kong animation.
The Hong Kong animation film “Another World” is directed by Tommy Ng, and produced and scripted by Polly Yeung. The production team attended the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in person to engage with audiences and industry counterparts. In 2019, the team participated in the sixth Animation Support Program, a project funded by the CCIDA through the CreateSmart Initiative (CSI), and was granted a subsidy to initiate the production of the short version of “Another World”, which won the Gold Award under the Small Animation Enterprises (Advanced Production) category. Subsequently, the team, with its proposal to develop “Another World” into a feature-length animation film, successfully applied for the Film Production Financing Scheme under the FDF and was granted the subsidy to bring the debut animation feature film directed by Ng into fruition, paving the way for the film’s global premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Yeung was also invited by the Hong Kong Film Development Council to participate in the 81st Venice International Film Festival in Italy and the 78th Cannes Film Festival in France to seek production investment, attend various producer matching activities, and exchange ideas with filmmakers from all over the world, increasing publicity for “Another World” and opening doors for overseas distribution of the film project.
During the exhibition period, a series of networking and exchange activities were launched at the Hong Kong Pavilion, and six short original animated works created with AI assistance were also showcased, demonstrating to the international market the creativity and unique charisma of Hong Kong productions. The Hong Kong Partner Pitches was held on June 11, where the six Hong Kong companies selected under the 2nd Future Animation – AI-assisted Animation Production Support Scheme organised by the HKDEA and sponsored by the CCIDA, namely 924 Studio Limited, Astro Heart Limited, Free-D Workshop, ManyMany Creations Ltd, Morph Workshop and Stepc, conducted exchanges with elite animation companies from all over the world. They took the opportunity to broaden their horizons, enhance their promotion to overseas practitioners and investors, and pursue more collaboration possibilities.
The Animation Support Program, a government-funded project under the CSI, is now in its 12th edition. It focuses on supporting local start-ups and small animation companies and cultivating local animation talent. Over the years, it has assisted more than 250 local animation companies and enabled them to produce more than 270 original animation works. As a scheme under the FDF with the longest history and well-received by the film industry, the Film Production Financing Scheme aims to provide government financing for film productions with small-to-medium production budgets. As of the end of May 2025, approved films have received more than 150 local and international film awards.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SITI to visit France and NetherlandsIssued at HKT 15:00
The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, will depart for a visit to France and the Netherlands this evening (June 12) to strengthen Hong Kong’s ties and co-operation in innovation and technology (I&T) with France and the Netherlands.
Professor Sun will attend Viva Technology 2025 (VivaTech) in Paris, France, and deliver a keynote speech on “From Hong Kong to the World: Embarking on the New Journey of Innovation” at a seminar and networking reception organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. VivaTech, being held from June 11 to 14, is Europe’s annual start-up and technology event that brings together start-ups, tech leaders, corporates and investors to drive I&T and business collaboration.
During the visit, Professor Sun will also meet with leaders of the local I&T sector as well as technology enterprises and tour the I&T and advanced manufacturing enterprises there.
Professor Sun will return to Hong Kong on June 18. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong, will be the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Applications to join the Attorney General’s Senior Treasury Counsel (Civil) Group are now open
The Attorney General is creating a new Senior Treasury Counsel (Civil) Group (STCG) and is seeking applicants from both barristers and solicitors (with relevant Higher Court Advocacy qualifications) who have been appointed as King’s Counsel with regular advocacy experience.
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in a new approach to the strategic management of the government’s civil litigation and most significant cross-cutting legal issues.
Members of the Group will share responsibility with the First Treasury Counsel in co-ordinating and providing strategic direction on the most significant litigation affecting government, shaping the way that the government handles its litigation and consequently, influencing the development of civil law.
Members will also have an important role in providing legal leadership to the Attorney General’s Civil Panel Counsel, supporting the Treasury Solicitor in monitoring and developing the performance of junior panel counsel.
The Attorney General seeks KCs with a vision for how the group could operate and a clear understanding of the value they could individually bring to it.
The introduction of this group sits alongside proposed changes to the role of the First Treasury Counsel, principally by relaxing the current requirement that the postholder undertakes work exclusively for government.
Subject to any necessary transitional arrangements, STCG members will be expected to make available the time necessary to perform their new role and to prioritise and be available for government work.
Given the nature of the role and the access to sensitive information it will necessarily afford, for the duration of their appointments, the government would regard the acceptance by the FTC or members of the STCG of instructions to undertake work against central government as potentially giving rise to a conflict of interest, requiring the prior approval of the Treasury Solicitor.
To obtain more details about the role and the application process, we recommend reading our
Please submit an application via Gatenby Sanderson.
Completed applications must be submitted by noon on Thursday 3 July 2025.
If you have any queries, please feel free to get in touch via Julie.Myers@gatenbysanderson.com.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on a London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashing shortly after take-off in India.
Prof Graham Braithwaite, Director of Aerospace and Aviation, Cranfield University, said:
What do we know about the situation so far?
“The aircraft involved is an 11-year-old Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. This is the first major accident involving the 787.
“At this point we don’t know whether there are any survivors or whether there have been any casualties on the ground.
What don’t we know and are waiting to find out?
“At this stage the focus will be on search and rescue at the site. For the airline, they will be focused on caring for family members and friends at both the departure airport and destination. Until the manifest is confirmed, they will be dealing with a very high number of enquiries from concerned friends and families. Early information about the accident is unlikely to be accurate so even though people will look at tools like FlightRadar 24, it won’t tell us anything about the “why it happened”. We should be very careful not to speculate on cause when there is so little reliable information available.
Is it unusual for a plane crash to occur so soon after take-off?
“Yes. Although take off is a critical stage of flight, aircraft accidents are incredibly rare, especially involving modern aircraft types such as the Boeing 787. Take off is a critical stage because the aircraft is still accelerating and any problem-solving requires a rapid response.
Any other information you think is relevant for journalists to know.
“The accident will be investigated by the Indian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau – an organisation which is independent from the aviation regulator, and which is focused on ‘not for blame’ safety investigations. This is governed by an international standard known as ICAO Annex 13. Under that, participants will include the US National Transportation Safety Board as the State of Manufacturer. Stated with a significant number of people on board will also have a right to participate so I would expect the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch to be involved.”
Declared interests
No reply to our request for DOIs was received.
Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, visited the Bir Privat AS, one of Norway’s largest waste management companies located in Bergen, Norway, on 12 June 2025. The visit highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between ASEAN and Norway on innovative waste management solutions, where Norway has been a major player in the waste management sector.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN visits the Bir Privat AS in Bergen, Norway appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Source: Scottish Government
Carers urged to check for financial support during Carers Week.
This Carers Week (9 – 15 June), unpaid carers across Scotland are being encouraged to find out if they are eligible for social security support – through Carer Support Payment, Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement – a payment only available north of the border – was the first benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland in 2018 to provide extra financial support for carers, recognising their important contribution.
Since the payment’s introduction, unpaid carers in Scotland will be up to £4,475 better off by the end of 2025.
On a visit to Midlothian Carers Centre to meet with parent carers of adults with additional support needs, Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart, said:
“Social security in Scotland isn’t about renaming benefits previously delivered by the UK Government. We are about delivering social security with dignity, fairness and respect, continually listening to what carers and support organisations have to say to help shape the changes we’re making.
“We introduced Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant, which are only available in Scotland, and widened eligibility for Carer Support Payment to enable more carers in education to access it. We’re also committed to introducing new extra support for carers who care for more than one person. Changes to help improve the lives of carers in Scotland.
“Social security is something anyone may need at any point in their life. It’s a public service and I encourage all unpaid carers to find out if they are entitled to financial support and apply.”
Carla Bennett, Carer Services Manager at VOCAL Midlothian added:
“Unpaid carers often face financial hardship, with many forced to give up paid work or reduce their hours to support those they care for. Caring for someone comes with additional costs too, such as transport, heating, equipment and food. These expenses, combined with reduced income, mean carers are more likely to experience poverty.
“Demand for VOCAL’s income maximisation service has doubled in the past year, showing that carers are feeling the strain. Accessing financial and social security support can ease this burden and make a significant difference to the lives of carers and those they care for. We would encourage carers to find out what they might be eligible for.”
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Source: City of Plymouth
Plymouth is celebrating a proud moment after scooping two prestigious awards last night – recognising the city’s leadership in both environmental innovation and inclusive employment.
The prestigious Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards 2025, recognise the best in local government, with judges having to consider over 1,000 submissions from councils across the UK.
At a ceremony last night, the city was honoured in the Environmental Services category for our pioneering Habitat Bank, and in Diversity and Inclusion for our transformative Supported Internships programme.
These awards shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done across Plymouth to build a greener, fairer future – and the dedicated teams making it happen.
Plymouth’s Habitat Bank, delivered through the city’s green finance vehicle Ocean City Nature, will deliver an impressive £7m in investment to restore and enhance habitats across the city. The initiative is creating a local market for Biodiversity Units, helping developers meet planning requirements while delivering real gains for nature and communities with work on the first site at Ham Woods already underway.
Councillor Tom Briars Delve, Plymouth City Council Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “This award is a huge recognition of the bold, creative work happening in Plymouth to tackle the ecological emergency. The Habitat Bank is a brilliant example of how we can use green finance to deliver real, lasting benefits for wildlife and communities. I’m incredibly proud of the team behind this – their passion and innovation are helping to put Plymouth on the map as a leader in nature recovery.”
At the same time, the city’s Supported Internships programme scooped the top award in its category. Run in partnership with Discovery College – the programme has grown from just nine participants to 67 in just two years. The programme supports young people with learning difficulties or disabilities to gain meaningful, sustainable employment through a blend of tailored work placements, coaching and classroom learning. Every single participant has gone on to secure a job – a remarkable achievement that’s changing lives.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, added: “This award is a celebration of the young people who’ve taken part in Supported Internships – and the incredible staff who’ve supported them every step of the way. It shows what’s possible when we believe in people’s potential and invest in inclusive opportunities. This work is vital to building a city where everyone can thrive.”
Source: Anglia Ruskin University
Writtle College students and staff celebrate the Ofsted report
Writtle College has been recognised for preparing students for real-world success through a strong curriculum and industry-relevant teaching, following its first Ofsted inspection since becoming part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
The inspection team noted that students at Writtle College are developing business-relevant skills through hands-on learning, expert teaching, tailored support and a curriculum shaped by industry needs, with courses in areas such as animal management, horticulture, equine studies, and floristry.
These programmes are enriched by employer feedback and include practical skills like customer service, pricing strategies, and the use of industry-standard tools.
Inspectors particularly commended the college’s support for students with high needs and those who have previously faced challenges in education. They found that learners feel safe, respected, and well-supported, with clear pathways into further study or employment.
The college’s partnerships with local and regional employers were described as a key strength. These collaborations provide students with meaningful work placements, real-world projects, and exposure to current industry practices.
The college also plays a vital role in regional skills development initiatives, including the Chelmsford Partnership for Skills and the upcoming Essex Rural Skills Summit. Writtle College offers Level 2 and 3 courses, including T-Levels and apprenticeships, for 16-18-year-olds as well as adult learners.
New courses starting in September 2025 include; Level 1 provision with Animal and Equine pathways, Level 2 Horticulture, Level 2 Veterinary Care Assistant and a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Land-Based Service Engineering.
The college received a “Good” rating across all categories, affirming its role as a leading provider of land-based and vocational education in the region.
“We are proud of this outcome, which reflects the college’s commitment to excellence and community impact in the land-based education sector as well as the dedication of our staff, the enthusiasm of our students, and the strength of our partnerships.
“This is a significant milestone in our journey as part of Anglia Ruskin University, and we remain focused on continuous improvement.”
Philip Grant, Principal of Writtle College
For more information about Writtle College and its programmes, visit aru.ac.uk/study/college-courses/about-writtle-college
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Council’s Archives, Gallery & Museums service (AAGM) is celebrating Green Tourism awards success for four of its venues.
The Art Gallery has achieved the highest award, Gold recognition, with the Maritime Museum, Provost Skene’s House and the Treasure Hub celebrating Silver status.
Green Tourism is the world’s largest sustainable certification programme of its kind, promoting greener ways for businesses and organisations to operate, by offering advice on sustainability best practice, from ethical buying to reducing energy use.
The AAGM staff team was congratulated by the judges for displaying an excellent understanding of sustainability and awareness of opportunities and challenges associated with running a responsible business. The AAGM submissions were themed around People, Places and Planet, with initiatives including:
Key projects:
Establishing a wildflower meadow at the Treasure Hub in Northfield
Over 97% of the UK’s wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s. Staff volunteers worked with Habitat People to rewild a patch of land at the Treasure Hub to bring back at-risk plant species including crane’s-bill, yellow toadflax or pignut. As the meadow matures it will increase the biodiversity of the area, including pollinators and grasshoppers.
Re-homing bee hives
Bees prop-up the ecosystem and are an integral part of it. The team is working with a local beekeeper to provide a safe and secure home for hives.
Repurposing art crates – from crate to plate
The AAGM collection is in demand, but bespoke packing materials are an unfortunate by-product of lending artworks to other art galleries and museums. Re-fitting a crate requires specialist equipment and knowledge, making them difficult and expensive to re-use. AAGM worked with Fresh Community Wellness SCIO (Freshcom) to re-purpose crates as flower and vegetable planters for a community garden in Seaton. ACC gardeners re-purposed a number crates for Cfine, who worked with asylum seekers to plant a range of vegetables including kale, beetroot, carrots, radishes and parsnips. The crates were painted in the Ukranian colours of blue and yellow.
David McDonald of the Green Tourism Awards, said, “It gives the judges the utmost pleasure to confirm these awards. We were extremely impressed with the level of detail and work put into all four submissions. The whole staff team should be justifiably proud of their achievement and we look forward to continuing to work together.”
David Jackson, VisitScotland Regional Director, said, “We must all play a role in preserving Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage. I’m thrilled to hear about AAGM’s Green Tourism Award successes. Sustainable tourism development is at the heart of what we do, working with partners to drive change and embed responsible practices across the industry. Our VisitScotland business support hub contains a plethora of essential advice, including a guide to Net Zero and information on how businesses can create a sustainability and climate action plan. We have a vision for Scotland to be the most economically, environmentally and socially sustainable destination in the world, so it’s great to see AAGM playing their part and demonstrating real leadership for the region.”
Councillor Miranda Radley, Aberdeen City Council’s tourism spokesperson and VisitAberdeenshire Council Director, said, “The Gold and Silver Green Tourism awards are fantastic news for visitors to the Art Gallery, Maritime Museum, Provost Skene’s House and Treasure Hub. We know from research with our visitors that climate change is an important issue for them. The globally-recognised Green Tourism awards will give visitors the confidence that we are working towards a climate positive future where, alongside the art and history collection, we also value our planet as an irreplaceable treasure.”
Councillor Ian Yuill, Co-Leader of the Council, said, “This success in the Green Tourism awards highlights the Council’s commitment to sustainability, from improving biodiversity and eliminating single-use items, to supporting our local communities. I congratulate the Archives, Gallery & Museums team on their commitment to sustainability in relation to people, place and planet and the excellent work they have done to date to achieve the Green Tourism awards.”
Source: City of Leicester
LEICESTER schools and workplaces are getting ready to take part in Clean Air Day next week.
Clean Air Day, on Thursday 19 June, is the UK’s biggest initiative to reduce air pollution, raising awareness about air quality and encouraging action for a healthier environment.
Selected roads will be closed to traffic so that sports, games and fun activities can be held out on the streets in front of several schools in Leicester.
Among the schools taking part in Leicester are Castle Mead Academy, which will be running sporting activities on the street and waterside activities in conjunction with the Canal & River Trust and Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, including a ‘park and paddle’ where pupils will be able to arrive at school by bell boat.
Dovelands Primary School will have sports on the streets, cycling activities and the Hop! fully electric green bus, with its signature ‘ribbit’ effect bell, will pay a visit. The Children’s Bookbus will be at Kestrel Mead Infants School, and there will be sport on the street outside Rushey Mead Primary School, as well as a visit from Strider the walking mascot.
Temporary road closures will be in place on Thursday 19 June from 8am until 4pm on Magnus Road, Bessingham Close, Richard III Road, Eastfield Road, Hazeldene Road and Bramble Close.
Parking, waiting and loading will be prohibited from 8am on Wednesday 18 June until 4pm on Thursday 19 June 2025 on sections of Mundesley Road, Kestrel Lane, Richard III Road, Maidenwell Avenue, Foxglove Road and Laverton Road.
Some of the city’s largest workplaces are also getting involved in Clean Air Day. The University of Leicester has organised a walk in Victoria Park, meeting at the memorial arch at 12pm. The walk is suitable for all abilities and is open to staff, students and the public. Researchers from the Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, who work on air quality and pollutants, will be taking part in the walk and will be available to discuss their research, how air pollution impacts health and ways we can all support reductions in air pollution.
The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust will have information stands in hospital restaurants in the run-up to Clean Air Day, offering advice and information to staff and the public on how they can help reduce air pollution, with information on travel, food and nutrition, energy use and some simple flash card quizzes.
The events are being supported by Leicester City Council, national walking, wheeling and cycling charity Sustrans and Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking, as well as by the Canal & River Trust and Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre.
Assistant city mayor responsible for air quality, Cllr Geoff Whittle, said: “Clean Air Day is a chance for schools to take part in some fun activities on traffic-free streets, while delivering an important message about improving air quality.
“It’s also a great chance for local workplaces to get involved by promoting the benefits of active travel.
“It is very encouraging to see so many people across the city marking Clean Air Day in this way.”
The city council’s air quality action plan includes commitments to carry out education and awareness campaigns in communities and schools to improve knowledge and understanding of the main sources of pollution and their impact, as well as working with schools to encourage active travel.
More information on air quality in Leicester is available at www.leicester.gov.uk/airquality
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
BRUSSELS, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Eclipse Foundation, one of the world’s largest open source software foundations, today announced the upcoming 0.5 release of the Safety Open Vehicle Core (S-CORE) project, the first open source core software stack specifically designed for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Targeting embedded high-performance Electronic Control Units (ECUs), S-CORE represents a significant milestone in the automotive industry’s transition toward open, community-driven software platforms.
With support from a growing group of major industry leaders, including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, ETAS, QNX, Qorix, and Accenture, the S-CORE project is building an open source foundation that allows automakers and suppliers to accelerate the development of next-generation automotive software, while allowing them to concentrate on building their own differentiated features and applications.
“Open collaboration is key to managing complexity in modern vehicle software architectures,” said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. “With S-CORE, we’re providing developers with a reliable, safety-grade runtime environment that allows the industry to focus on innovation while reducing duplication of effort. This project offers the entire sector a jumpstart in building the custom solutions that will define the future of mobility.”
Often described as “middleware,” S-CORE sits between the operating system and application layer, delivering core, non-differentiating services that all software-defined vehicles require. By providing a common set of baseline functions, such as application orchestration, inter-process communication (IPC), logging, and data persistence, S-CORE aims to streamline development, lower costs, and accelerate time-to-market for companies building software-defined vehicles.
The 0.5 release, targeted for availability in October 2025, will mark the project’s first public milestone, providing an initial set of functional building blocks for industry adoption and feedback. The reference platform for this release will run on QNX SDP 8.0, which is available for non-commercial prototyping and experimentation via the company’s recently launched QNX Everywhere program. Additional operating system support, including Linux, is planned for future releases.
In parallel, the S-CORE development process, currently under audit by a certification agency, aims to define a methodology for producing open source software suitable for safety-critical automotive standards such as ISO 26262.
As software increasingly defines vehicle functionality, S-CORE’s open approach helps address one of the automotive industry’s most pressing challenges: developing complex, high-performance vehicle software that is safe, cost-effective, and scalable, while still allowing room for innovation. By enabling automakers, suppliers, and technology companies to collaborate on shared core components, S-CORE allows development teams to focus their efforts on areas that create the most value, such as differentiated features, enhanced customer experiences, and brand-defining innovations.
Join the Eclipse SDV Community
The Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group is a global hub for open source collaboration in automotive software. Our diverse membership of automakers, suppliers, and technology leaders is driving real-world innovation that is shaping the future of mobility. We provide an inclusive platform where companies of all sizes can contribute on equal footing. Learn more about participation opportunities at sdv.eclipse.org/membership.
For additional details on the S-CORE project and its upcoming release, visit Eclipse Safe Open Vehicle Core
About Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle
Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), a working group within the Eclipse Foundation, supports the open source development of cutting-edge automotive technologies that power the programmable vehicles of the future where software defines features, functionality, and operations. With over 50 members, including leading automotive manufacturers, global cloud providers, technology innovators, and key supply chain partners, the initiative has strong industry backing. The working group’s mission is to provide a collaborative forum for developing and promoting open source solutions tailored to the global automotive industry. Adopting a “code first” approach, Eclipse SDV focuses on building the industry’s first open source software stacks and associated tools that will support the core functionalities of next-generation vehicles.
About the Eclipse Foundation
The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organisations with a business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. We host the Eclipse IDE, Adoptium, Software Defined Vehicle, Jakarta EE, and over 420 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, specifications, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, open processor designs, and many others. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 300 members. To learn more, follow us on social media @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn, or visit eclipse.org.
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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
MAHWAH, N.J., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, today released its new report, 2025 Cyber Survey: Application Security at a Breaking Point. The survey reveals threat areas of rapidly growing concern as organizations’ cyber defenses lag well behind. This includes a major lack of protection against AI threats, as well as API and business logic attacks, among others.
“The weaponization of AI by malicious actors is intensifying cybersecurity threats and drawing even more attention to areas where companies are simply ill-protected,” said Shira Sagiv, Radware’s vice president of product portfolio. “Internal alarms should be sounding. Companies openly admit to major concerns about gaps in cyber protection and lack of readiness, especially around web applications and APIs; yet their usage continues to climb creating even more risk and exposure.”
KEY FINDINGS
The scramble is on to catch up with AI
According to the report, the use of AI to improve and intensify hacking tradecraft is of greatest concern. Organizations have significant concerns about threat actors using AI to generate new attacks at a faster cadence, bypassing existing defenses and compromising areas that were previously too difficult to attack.
Security fails to keep up with sprawling API ecosystems
APIs are in a constant state of fluctuation. Organizations are increasing their use of APIs even while they remain ill-protected.
Risks to resilience continue to rise
Survey respondents expressed a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of their defensive posture against growing threats.
Methodology
The survey, which was conducted with Osterman Research, includes responses from compliance, chief risk, and data privacy officers; vice presidents of research and development; senior network security administrators; senior DevOps and DevSecOps administrators; cloud security; API architects; among other titles. The survey was conducted in nine countries across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM.
Radware’s complete 2025 Cyber Survey: Application Security at a Breaking Point can be downloaded here.
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.
THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE 2025 CYBER SURVEY: APPLICATION SECURITY AT A BREAKING POINT ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INDICATOR OF RADWARE’S BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OR OPERATING RESULTS FOR ANY PRIOR, CURRENT, OR FUTURE PERIOD.
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.” For example, when we say in this press release that the weaponization of AI by malicious actors is intensifying cybersecurity threats and drawing even more attention to areas where companies are simply ill-protected and that their usage continues to climb creating even more risk and exposure, we are using forward-looking statements. 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.
Media Contact:
Gerri Dyrek
Radware
Gerri.Dyrek@radware.com
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Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-002053/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)
Following the recent presidential election in Romania, the runner-up, nationalist candidate George Simion, publicly made accusations of foreign interference. He spoke of external influence, in particular from France, which affected the conduct and fairness of the ballot.
These statements have been backed up in remarks made by Valérie Hayer, Chair of Parliament’s Renew Europe Group, who admitted to having organised meetings in France for the Romanian diaspora to encourage them to vote[1].
Furthermore, according to Pavel Durov, founder of the platform Telegram, there has been pressure coming from Paris to censor certain conservative Romanian voices. If these accusations prove to be true, it would pose a serious problem with regard to the principles of non-interference and democratic equality between candidates in a Member State or EU candidate country.
In view of the above:
Submitted: 21.5.2025
Source: European Parliament
A listing of a group or entity under any EU regime of restrictive measures has certain legal and political requirements.
As regards the possibility of a listing under Council Common Position of 27 December 2001 on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (2001/931/CFSP)[1], the main legal requirement is a decision by a national competent authority for the involvement of the group or entity in terrorist acts as defined by the same Common Position.
If that legal requirement is met, a proposal to list a group or entity is adopted only if there is unanimous agreement by the Member States in the Council. Discussion on such proposals are confidential.
Source: European Parliament
The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations (UN) agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis. It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and actively contributes to such a peaceful settlement, including its external aspects.
As per the conclusions of the Special European Council of 17-18 April 2024, the EU attaches particular importance to resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks in further enhancing EU-Türkiye cooperation[1].
As per latest Council conclusions on Enlargement, welcoming the recent steps taken by the UN Secretary-General towards a resumption of settlement talks, the EU remains ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all appropriate means at its disposal[2]. These messages are continuously communicated to Turkish authorities.
The EU remains committed to continue cooperation in areas of common interest on the basis of an equal commitment on Türkiye’s side to advance on a path of cooperation and de-escalation.
Concerning restrictive measures, under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union[3], it is strictly the prerogative of the Council, through its Member States, to take, with unanimity, decisions to adopt, renew or lift sanctions regimes.
The EU will continue to call on Türkiye to comply with its international obligations, and with the EU values, as a candidate country for EU accession.
It should be recalled that accession negotiations with the country remain at a standstill since 2018, in line with the decision of the Council[4].
Source: European Parliament
The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations (UN) agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis.
It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and actively contributes to such a peaceful settlement, including its external aspects. As per the conclusions of the Special European Council of 17-18 April 2024, the EU attaches particular importance to resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks in further enhancing EU-Türkiye cooperation[1].
As per the Council conclusions on Enlargement of 2024, welcoming the recent steps taken by the UN Secretary-General towards a resumption of settlement talks, the EU remains ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all appropriate means at its disposal[2]. These messages are continuously communicated to the Turkish authorities.
Concerning restrictive measures, under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union, it is strictly the prerogative of the Council of the EU, through its Member States, to take, with unanimity, decisions to adopt, renew or lift sanctions regimes.
The EU will continue to call on Türkiye to comply with its international obligations, and with the EU values, as a candidate country for EU accession.
Source: European Parliament
On 17 March 2025, the EU hosted the ninth Brussels Conference ‘Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition’.
The Syrian Interim Foreign Minister was invited and attended the conference, alongside international and regional partners and Syrian civil society.
This invitation reflected the EU’s engagement in supporting an inclusive and peaceful transition guided by the respect of international law, human rights, pluralism and non-discrimination, and addressing Syria’s humanitarian and economic needs.
Gravely alarmed by the violence in Syria’s coastal region on 6 March 2025, on 11 March 2025, the High Representative/Vice-President issued a statement[1] on behalf of the EU, strongly condemning the horrific crimes committed against civilians.
The EU welcomed the transitional authorities’ establishment of an investigative committee, and called for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and to prevent any such crimes from happening again.
It further called on the transitional authorities to allow the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate all violations.
The EU continues to be a staunch supporter of accountability mechanisms in Syria, including the Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Independent Institution on Missing Persons.
The EU continues to call for an end of violence across Syria, urges all parties to protect all Syrians without any form of discrimination, notably on the basis of ethnic and religious background, and advocates an inclusive, peaceful, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led transition built on the respect of international law and human rights.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002137/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Laura Ballarín Cereza (S&D)
On 3 April 2025, Meta announced that it was terminating its content moderation contract with Telus, which provided Barcelona-based moderation for Facebook and Instagram. As a result, on 28 April, Telus laid off 2 059 employees at its office in Barcelona. This decision followed January’s revelation that Meta was ending its fact-checking programme and relaxing its content moderation.
Article 35(1) of the Digital Services Act requires large online platforms to implement effective measures to reduce systemic risks, which may include improving content moderation, with expeditious content removal or blocking, in particular in respect of hate speech or cyber violence.
In light of the above:
Submitted: 28.5.2025
Source: European Parliament
Members from the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will hold on 16 June the 19th Recovery and Resilience Dialogue (RRD) with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President responsible for Cohesion and Reforms, and Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification.
The Recovery and Resilience Dialogue is organised under Article 26 of the Regulation establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility to ensure greater transparency and accountability in implementation of the Facility.
The dialogue will be preceded by a presentation of the report of the RRF working group mission to Athens, which took place from 14 to 16 April 2025.
Source: European Parliament
The Committee will vote on the budgetary aspects of the proposal for a regulation amending ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review.
The budgetary assessment analyses if the act provides for sufficient financial and human resources, assessing the alignment with the EU’s long term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027) and the budgetary principles outlined in the Financial Regulation.
Ms Danuše Nerudová (EPP, Czechia) is the rapporteur for the file.
Source: European Parliament
‘Securitisation’ is the process of pooling financial assets (such as loans, mortgages and consumer credit) and turning them into tradable securities. This process allows banks to transfer the risk of some loans to other banks or long-term investors, such as insurance companies and asset managers. Banks are then allowed to use the capital which was set aside to cover the risk of those same loans to create and sell new loans. In the European Union (EU), the space freed up in banks’ balance sheets through the securitisation process can be used to support the Union’s priorities, such as the green and digital transitions. However, if left unregulated, the process of securitisation can increase vulnerabilities across the financial system, as it did in the United States with the subprime mortgage crisis which began in 2007. As part of its Capital Markets Union initiative, launched in 2015, the EU relaunched the framework establishing an EU securitisation market, helping the development of finance and the economy without creating risks to financial stability; this is the securitisation framework, which came into force in 2019. According to the Commission’s 2022 review report, while the EU’s current securitisation framework has made the EU’s market safer, it has also resulted in higher costs for issuers and investors, preventing the development of the EU’s securitisation market. The capital requirements it introduced may have reduced incentives to participate in or issue securitisations, and some stakeholders have stated that the EU’s due diligence requirements have created entry barriers or disincentives for participation by some investors. With the start of the 10th legislative term, the intention of accelerating work on all European savings and investments measures, including securitisation, was confirmed in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines of July 2024; in the mission letter of the Commissioner for Financial Services, Maria Luís Albuquerque, of September 2024; and in the 2025 Commission work programme. The European Parliament has remained supportive of securitisation as a tool for funding the EU’s economy but has remained critical of any dilution of regulatory standards that could raise systemic risk. This briefing focuses on the two legal acts of the securitisation framework that the Commission proposes to review in June 2025: the Securitisation Regulation and the Capital Requirements Regulation. These two regulations govern the general rules for securitisation, and the capital requirements for banks and investment firms that hold securitisation positions, respectively.
Source: European Investment Bank
From as early as 4 years old we knew that our daughter, Josephine, would most likely need an operation to correct her scoliosis. The thought of the procedure, which involves screwing metal rods into the vertebrae down most of the spine to straighten it out, filled us with terror. We did everything to avoid it — physical therapy twice a week, horse-riding, swimming, and even an innovative dynamic spine brace that was much more comfortable than the traditional hard braces.
But after the pandemic disrupted travel to London for her regular brace adjustments, the scoliosis got worse and even the classic hard brace that went down to her hips did nothing. When it became clear that surgery was the only option to stop the S-shaped curve of her spine getting worse and compressing her organs, we set out to find the best orthopaedic surgeon. We met several excellent surgeons in Brussels before trying UZ Leuven, a university hospital about 30 kilometres east of Brussels in Flanders.
With roots that trace back to 1160, UZ Leuven is one of the largest and oldest teaching hospitals in Europe. KU Leuven, the 600-year-old university to which it is attached, is the oldest in the low countries and considered the most prestigious in Belgium. Turning off the motorway and seeing the massive campus for the first time, I thought we’d arrived at a town rather than a hospital. Impressed by the doctor and the facilities, and relieved that the staff were happy to communicate in English and French, we chose to go ahead with the procedure.
Some months later in 2024, when my daughter was recovering from her successful operation in the new paediatric wing, I remember looking around at the great facilities, which included a rooftop playground, and a well-appointed playroom with events for patients led by staff, and thinking, “I wonder if this place has had EIB funding? It looks like the sort of thing we’d do…”
I didn’t know at the time that the Bank would soon sign a €230 million loan to help fund the hospital’s Health Sciences Campus 2.0 Masterplan. This gave me the chance to write about the plan and have many of my own questions answered about the whole hospital.
Yes, the building that my daughter spent five days in had received EIB funding. The paediatric wing was financed in part with a €325 million loan from the Bank in 2008 under the first phase of the university hospital’s redevelopment. The new loan signed in 2025 is for the second phase of that vision.
In his office. Dr Wim Tambeur, operations director at UZ Leuven, explained the hospital’s Health Sciences Master Plan. “About 20 years ago, we started to think about and redefine our vision of what a university hospital should be and how we envisioned our role,” he says.
“We clearly said that a university hospital is quite unique in its setting because it creates innovation by R&D. We should invent better healthcare and better healthcare models, implement them in daily care, and teach the innovation to our students.”
UZ Leuven is not just a hospital campus but a “city of innovation” integrating clinical care, research, and teaching, he said.
This approach is reflected in many ways that we noticed during our stay. Our daughter’s doctor, for example, was also a professor at KU Leuven. “A lot of our medical staff are also appointed as professors at the university, so that already creates close interaction,” explained Dr Tambeur. “The real innovation is that our research is really focused on how we can improve clinical practice.”
As a practical example, Dr Tambeur pointed to the nuclear medicine building on the campus, which will be expanded with funding from the new loan as one part of the plan. The centre develops specialised radioactive molecules for scans that help doctors in the hospital and scientists from the pharmaceutical industry with which they work to get a precise view of the targets where drugs are working in the body. Such molecules have very short lifespans so need to be produced on site to reduce transport times.
Back at the paediatric wing where my daughter stayed was another great example of how the university hospital combines clinical research with innovation in patient care. The hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit has a unique design in which each baby gets its own quiet little room where parents and family can visit.
Typically, neonatal units, such as the one where my daughter spent five weeks after being born in Brussels, are like busy intensive care wards for adults with bright lights and machines constantly beeping. Access even for families is tightly controlled to limit crowding.
“Neonatal care has improved dramatically in recent decades but has become a lot more intensive,” says Dr Tambeur. “The babies are so surrounded by technical equipment you can barely see them and all the noise and activity is very disturbing for them.”
Dr Tambeur’s ward is designed in concentric circles, with a bay of individual rooms around a central staffing zone and an outer ring of rooms where brothers, sisters, grandparents and so can visit. “It allows for a lot of family involvement without disturbing the care processes,” he says. “And the monitors beep at the nurse’s station rather than the baby’s bed.”
Health outcomes for the newborns seem to have improved and the neonatal care department is studying the long term effects of the new care process design, says Dr Tambeur.
About one year on from the operation, Josephine, who is 15, is rid of her brace, her back is straight, her scar is discreet, and she’s four centimetres taller. We’ve been back to UZ Leuven several times and each time I feel proud to know that the European Investment Bank supports this kind of project.
Source: European Parliament
EU energy policy is based on the principles of decarbonisation, competitiveness, security of supply and sustainability. Its objectives include ensuring the functioning of the energy market and a secure energy supply within the EU, as well as promoting energy efficiency and savings, the development of renewable energies and the interconnection of energy networks. A variety of measures aiming to achieve a complete Energy Union is at the core of the EU’s energy policy.
Source: European Parliament
The Maastricht Treaty altered the former European treaties and created a European Union based on three pillars: the European Communities, the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs (JHI). With a view to the enlargement of the Union, the Amsterdam Treaty made the adjustments needed to enable the Union to function more efficiently and democratically.
Source: European Parliament
Energy efficiency measures aim to achieve a sustainable energy supply, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve security of supply, lower import bills, and promote European competitiveness. In 2023, the co-legislators decided to decrease EU final energy consumption by at least 11.7% by 2030, compared to projections made in 2020.
Source: European Parliament
EU policy for research and technological development (RTD) has been an important area of European legislation since the start, and was extended in the 1980s with a European framework programme for research. In 2014, most EU research funding came under the umbrella of Horizon 2020, which covered the period 2014-2020 and aimed at ensuring the EU’s global competitiveness. Its successor Horizon Europe, the current EU research and innovation programme, was launched in 2021 for the period 2021-2027.
Source: European Parliament
The European Union (EU) is among the leading major economies in terms of tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2020, EU GHG emissions were down by 31% from 1990 levels, exceeding the EU’s target of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. Led by international treaties, such as the Kyoto Protocol, the EU adopted many climate policies, such as the EU Emissions Trading System. In 2019, the Commission presented the European Green Deal. Since then, many measures have been agreed on with the aim of increasing the EU’s GHG emission reduction target to 55% by 2030 and decarbonising its economy by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.