NewzIntel.com

Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI Security: Update: Detectives name victim of Hackney murder

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives investigating a murder in Hackney are now able to name the victim, as their enquiries continue into the circumstances of her death.

    Annabel Rook, aged 46, died early this morning, Tuesday, 17 June, having been found with stab wounds.

    A 44-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Officers are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

    Police were called at 04:57hrs to reports of a gas explosion with a person trapped inside an address in Dumont Road, Hackney.

    Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, Annabel sadly died at the scene.

    Her family continue to be supported by specialist officers.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke, who leads policing in the local area, said: “This is an extremely tragic incident and our thoughts are with the victim’s family at this very difficult time.

    “Our officers arrested a man on suspicion of murder at the scene and will be conducting interviews as soon as possible, to establish the full circumstances that led to Annabel’s death. While enquiries continue, at this early stage we do believe this to be a domestic-related incident.

    “We understand what happened will cause concern within the Hackney community and residents can expect to see an increased police presence in the area, along with a crime scene, as we carry out the investigation. We are working closely alongside our partners at Hackney Council to help support those residents locally who have been impacted by this.”

    The man arrested was taken to hospital with slash wounds where he currently remains. His condition is not life-changing or life-threatening.

    Two children, aged nine and seven, were also been taken to hospital as a precaution but are not believed to have been inside the property at the time of the gas explosion.

    Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 926/17June or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Lower revenues, pricier loans: how flooding in Europe affects firms and the financial system they depend on

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Serena Fatica, Principal Economist — Team Leader, Joint Research Centre (JRC)

    In Europe, the fastest-warming continent, the intensification of extreme weather events and changes in precipitation patterns have led to widespread and catastrophic flooding. Last year, storms and flooding affected an estimated 413,000 people, resulting in the loss of at least 335 lives. Material damage is estimated to amount to at least €18 billion, according to the 2024 European State of the Climate report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service and the World Meteorological Organization.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    The flooding in October that hit southeastern Spain and the Valencia province in particular took the heaviest toll. Intense and prolonged rainfall and river flooding led to 232 fatalities, and infrastructure damage and economic losses totalled around €16.5 billion. More than seven months later, the local economy has rebounded, thanks in part to public aid packages worth 0.5% of the country’s GDP. However, in early May, the same part of Spain found itself exposed again to the disruptive consequences of climate change when extreme weather hit.

    The costs of flooding

    The direct costs from the damage to public infrastructure and private assets are only part of the economic losses originating from flooding. The indirect costs might not be immediately visible, but they are certainly not less significant. Business interruptions reduce firms’ revenue and cash flows, straining liquidity and, in the worst cases, threatening their survival. In addition, the increasing likelihood of future flooding may be priced into the valuation of assets and real estate in areas exposed to these types of climate risks. Firms impacted by climate-related hazards might find it difficult to pay back loans or bonds, or to raise finance as physical assets that can be pledged as collateral for bank credit lose value. Ultimately, this can affect the stability of the financial system.

    For these reasons, climate change is not just a long-term environmental issue, but a threat to our economy and financial systems now. Economists at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) have been conducting research to better understand how the links between the business sector and the financial system amplify its impact.

    A JRC study of flood events between 2007 and 2018 finds that flooding significantly worsened the performance of European firms. Manufacturers exposed to flooding experienced reductions in sales, number of employees and the value of their assets. These impacts occurred in the year following the flooding and tended to be persistent, with no clear signs of recovery seven years after the disaster. Some firms even went out of business. The study also finds that companies in flood-prone areas were better able to weather the shock than businesses exposed to less frequent flooding. This is consistent with the fact that adaptation and protection measures reduce the impacts of flooding.

    Threats to smaller firms

    Water damage is particularly disruptive for companies that are highly indebted. A second JRC study zooms in on the mechanisms whereby financing choices, and reliance on bank loans in particular, amplify the impact of climate change. This study focuses on loans extended to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Italy, Spain and Belgium between 2008 and 2019. It was motivated by the idea that smaller firms, which are more financially fragile than larger ones, might also be more vulnerable to the localised impact of climate-related hazards, not least because of their limited capacity to geographically diversify their operations and access market-based finance. The study shows that flood episodes under analysis strained SMEs’ ability to meet their debt obligations. Flooded firms were more likely to incur delays in servicing their loans and eventually fail to repay them, even two years after the disaster.

    In turn, this entails losses for the banks that finance these firms. In general, if banks anticipate the impact of flooding on business operations, they could be expected to divert lending toward safer borrowers or charge a higher interest rate on credit extended to at-risk firms. Indeed, the study finds evidence that prospective flood risk is priced into new loans. In the period under analysis, the “flood risk premium” was especially high for loans to smaller firms and for those granted by local, specialised banks, both of which tend to have geographically concentrated activities that are more exposed to disaster impacts. Loans to borrowers exposed to high flood risk were 12 percent more expensive, all things being equal.

    Thus, flooding causes worse financial conditions for businesses and exposes the banking sector to losses on their loan portfolios. The numbers can be staggering: days after the October 2024 flooding, the Spanish Central Bank said that banks’ exposure in the affected areas would total €20 billion, with €13 billion in household loans and €7 billion in business loans (60% to SMEs), impacting 23,000 companies and 472,000 individuals.

    With extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe, the direct and indirect costs of climate change are projected to increase, unevenly affecting households, firms and territories across Europe. Increasing investments in adaptation, eg in flood defence, and closing the climate insurance protection gap – the uninsured portion of economic losses caused by natural hazards – are crucial to increase the resilience of our economies and financial systems and preserve the wellbeing of our societies. The complex structure of investment incentives calls for a multilayered approach, with a mix of private and public funding and risk-sharing mechanisms.

    Serena Fatica ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Lower revenues, pricier loans: how flooding in Europe affects firms and the financial system they depend on – https://theconversation.com/lower-revenues-pricier-loans-how-flooding-in-europe-affects-firms-and-the-financial-system-they-depend-on-258755

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Anniversary Statement: St Helena Airport

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Anniversary Statement: St Helena Airport

    Investigation of go-arounds flown at St Helena Airport on 17 June 2023 and subsequently

    This statement provides an update on the AAIB investigation into a number of go-arounds flown at St Helena Airport on 17 June 2023 and subsequently. 

    The AAIB has determined that these go-arounds did not constitute serious incidents, as defined, but that there are actions that may potentially improve the safety of operations by aircraft to the airport.  These include possible enhancements to runway marking, weather reporting and diversion procedures. 

    The report is nearing completion and will be published by the AAIB.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK turns the screw on Putin as allies unite behind Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK turns the screw on Putin as allies unite behind Ukraine

    The Prime Minister has ramped up economic pressure on Russia with a raft of new sanctions.

    • 30 new UK sanctions hit Russian finance, military and energy targets
    • Prime Minister ramps up pressure at G7 Summit as Putin continues to avoid peace.
    • Comes after further devastating Russian attacks on Kyiv in the last few hours

    The Prime Minister has ramped up economic pressure on Russia with a raft of new sanctions, as he galvanises support behind Ukraine at the G7 Summit in Canada today.  

    The 30 targets strike across Russia’s financial, military and energy sectors in response to Putin’s continued aggression. His repeated refusals to engage seriously in peace has redoubled the UK’s resolve to apply a stranglehold on the Russian economy. 

    The new sanctions crack down further on Putin’s shadow fleet, targeting 20 of his oil tankers. The UK is also tightening the net around those who enable Putin’s illicit oil trade, sanctioning Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels.  

    Today’s action also targets Russia’s military capabilities, hitting the military agency leading the development of Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations (GUGI), protecting the UK from attacks on subsea infrastructure, restricting Putin’s war machine and increasing our security at home. 

    In addition, two UK residents Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz operating a shadowy network of shell companies, have now been sanctioned for collectively funnelling over $120 million of electronics, many of which are on the Common High Priority goods list, to Russia. 

    These individuals, who live and own businesses in the UK, are responsible for supplying Russia with high tech electronics which are crucial to Putin’s war effort. The UK will not tolerate those who enable Putin to wage his illegal war, and today’s sanctions demonstrate there is nowhere to hide. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine. 

    “We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.

    “The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: 

    “With his continued attacks and needless bloodshed, it is clear that Putin has no interest in peace. 

    “Today’s sanctions show we will systematically dismantle his dangerous shadow fleet, starve his war machine, and support Ukraine to defend itself.     

    “The UK and our allies will not sit idly by whilst Putin’s cowardly inaction continues to cost lives.”  

    The UK also plans to move with partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap to hurt Russia’s oil revenues, while ensuring stability of the energy market.  

    We are determined to hit Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues – the single most important source of funding for his barbaric war.

    Additional infomation

    • GUGI is the common name for the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research within Russia’s Ministry of Defence. 

    • A full list of today’s targets can be found here

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over £3.4m funding secured to help prevent homelessness and rough sleeping in Derby

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council has been awarded more than £3.4m in Government funding to help prevent and relieve homelessness and rough sleeping in Derby.

    The funding comes from two separate grants awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for 2025/26:  

    • £2.328m – MHCLG Homelessness Prevention Grant
    • £1.166m – MHCLG, Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant 

    Last year, 2,292 households approached Derby Homes for homelessness assistance. Over 530 individuals were identified through outreach services as rough sleeping on at least one night during the year. 

    This funding enables the Council to step in earlier to prevent more households becoming homeless in the first place. This includes mediation with landlords and families to prevent evictions, help finding new homes and help with deposits to access private renting.

    The funding also enables the Council to channel resources into services which prioritise access to housing for people with histories of repeat homelessness, rough sleeping and multiple disadvantages, including drug and alcohol abuse, by securing critical outreach services and pathways into supported housing that best meets their needs.

    Derby City Council and its partners welcome this funding to continue delivering critical services, support and access to accommodation for households facing difficult situations.

    Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services said:

    Everybody deserves a safe home, and while I am extremely proud of the level of support that is on offer in Derby, as long as there are still people finding themselves without a roof over their head, there is still more that needs to be done.

    This funding allows us to continue the great work happening in the city and will help us to continue to proactively support people before they become homeless.

    If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of becoming homeless or sleeping rough, call Derby Homes on 01332 888777.

    If you do not have access to a phone, you can visit the Council House – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am – 1pm. Wednesday and Friday 10am – 1pm.  
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DEVB and works departments win nine Martin Barnes Awards in UK (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong’s excellence in delivering public works projects received international recognition. The Development Bureau (DEVB) and works departments shone at the 2025 Martin Barnes Awards Ceremony in London, the United Kingdom, on June 16 (London time), winning nine awards from the 27 awards in eight categories (see Annex), including two prestigious winner awards, among 80 entries worldwide.
     
    A prestigious honour in the industry, the Martin Barnes Awards are presented by the New Engineering Contract (NEC) Users’ Group under the Institution of Civil Engineers of the United Kingdom. The awards recognise construction projects, organisations and individuals worldwide that have demonstrated excellence in project delivery through collaborative partnership.
     
    The two winner awards are as follows:
     
    1. The winner award for the Climate Change Initiative category was received by the Water Supplies Department (WSD) for the implementation of Shek Wu Hui Water Reclamation Plant. In the construction and operation of Hong Kong’s first large-scale regional water reclamation plant, the WSD worked with the contractor through the NEC mechanism to develop an innovative and cost-effective fully automated reclaimed water production solution that saves energy and helps reduce carbon emissions. The facility supplies water for non-potable uses in Northern District and nearby new development areas. With the production process remaining unaffected by extreme weather, it not only conserves precious water resources but also enhances the resilience of Hong Kong’s water resources portfolio, thus further improving the stability of the city’s water resources.
     
    2. The winner award for Distinguished Contribution category was received by Deputy Secretary for Development (Works) Mr Tony Ho, in recognition of his outstanding performance in promoting and deepening the application of the NEC in construction projects over the years, which has nurtured a collaborative culture in the industry. His proactive promotion of the adoption of advanced technologies has also enhanced the overall performance of construction projects.
     
    In addition to the above two winner awards, the DEVB, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, the Drainage Services Department, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, and the Highways Department also received various awards for several notable NEC entries.
     
    The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, extended her congratulations to the project teams on their impressive achievements. She said, “The DEVB and works departments have been committed to promoting collaborative partnerships in the delivery of public works projects through the adoption of the NEC form, enhancing mutual trust and co-operation among different industry stakeholders. Such collaborative partnerships help accomplish the primary goals of project management and enhance management efficiency and cost-effectiveness of projects. The awards fully demonstrate that their efforts and accomplishments have been recognised internationally.”
     
    The NEC Users’ Group also held its 2025 Annual Conference on the same day. The Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Poon Kwok-ying, was invited to attend the plenary session to exchange ideas with a group of international experts on how to lead the industry in applying innovative technologies and integrating the use of the NEC form to enhance the effectiveness of implementing infrastructure projects.
     
    Since the DEVB introduced the NEC form for public works projects in Hong Kong in 2009, it has become a key driver in transforming the construction industry. The NEC embraces a collaborative partnership between clients and contractors, thereby enhancing project performance. While the conventional form of contracts focused more on specifying contractual obligations and responsibilities of both parties, the NEC introduces a comprehensive project management system into its contractual provisions, including an early warning mechanism, a compensation mechanism between contractual parties and action plans. It advocates for contractual parties to work together to resolve contractual problems in a proactive and collaborative manner under this management system, thereby achieving win-win situations. As of today, more than 760 public works contracts, with a total value of over HK$510 billion, have adopted the NEC form.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal for information after man repeatedly stabbed in Newham

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are appealing for information after a man was seriously injured after being repeatedly stabbed in east London.

    Police were called at 21:48hrs on Wednesday, 7 May to reports of a stabbing in Park Grove, E15.

    Officers arrived three minutes later and found a man nearby, aged in his 20s, suffering multiple stab injuries. He was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service with serious injuries. He remained in hospital for two weeks.

    Detective Constable Richard Brunning, the investigating officer from the North East Basic Command Unit, said: “This is a complex and serious incident. We keep an open-mind for the motive, however it is believed that the victim and offenders were not known to each other.

    “The violence which was displayed during this attack is shocking and we are doing everything we can to investigate what happened. We are looking to identify the suspects who are described as black, tall and slim.

    “We are appealing to the public who may recall seeing this incident, or have any footage of the suspects or vehicle involved, which we believe to be a white BMW series X1.

    “If you were in the Chadd Green estate at the time, witnessed the incident or have any information or footage please contact us without delay.”

    Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting CAD 7760/07MAY.

    Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal for information after man repeatedly stabbed in Newham

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are appealing for information after a man was seriously injured after being repeatedly stabbed in east London.

    Police were called at 21:48hrs on Wednesday, 7 May to reports of a stabbing in Park Grove, E15.

    Officers arrived three minutes later and found a man nearby, aged in his 20s, suffering multiple stab injuries. He was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service with serious injuries. He remained in hospital for two weeks.

    Detective Constable Richard Brunning, the investigating officer from the North East Basic Command Unit, said: “This is a complex and serious incident. We keep an open-mind for the motive, however it is believed that the victim and offenders were not known to each other.

    “The violence which was displayed during this attack is shocking and we are doing everything we can to investigate what happened. We are looking to identify the suspects who are described as black, tall and slim.

    “We are appealing to the public who may recall seeing this incident, or have any footage of the suspects or vehicle involved, which we believe to be a white BMW series X1.

    “If you were in the Chadd Green estate at the time, witnessed the incident or have any information or footage please contact us without delay.”

    Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X quoting CAD 7760/07MAY.

    Alternatively, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Precise measurement standards have revolutionized museum science, helping nail down where artifacts are from

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Edward Vicenzi, Research Scientist, Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution

    Museums and their bountiful collections are research bastions. Douglas Rissing/iStock via Getty Images

    On a cool February morning in 1904, a spark ignited a fire in the heart of downtown Baltimore. Within hours, a raging inferno swept eastward across the harbor district, consuming everything in its path. By evening, the local firefighters were overwhelmed, and the city sent telegrams to the fire chiefs of major Northeastern cities pleading for help in battling the blaze.

    Washington, Philadelphia and New York, along with other cities, responded quickly with dozens of engine companies. Yet when they arrived at the scene, many responders could not hook up to Baltimore’s hydrants since each city had its own threading standards to connect fire hoses.

    The fire resulted in damages of over US$3.5 billion in today’s dollars. It created a call for a national standard of threads for hoses and fire hydrant outlets. These standards now improve emergency responses across the country – and the same concept of standardization allows for consistency and replicability in scientific research.

    An illustration of the aftermath of the Great Baltimore Fire in February 1904.
    Fred Pridham/Wikimedia Commons

    In science, the ideal way to evaluate data is related to the concept driving the calls for uniform fire hose equipment. When scientists compare their results to those obtained in other laboratories, or with previously published data, the comparisons are most meaningful if all datasets were made with standardized practices and reference materials.

    Museum scientists like us provide compelling insights into the natural world, prehistory and historical culture heritage. Like that of many other scientists, our work, and the measurements we take day to day, depends upon standard references.

    Here we offer two fascinating stories from the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum Conservation Institute that highlight how scientific measurement standards allow for exciting new discoveries:

    You are what you drink

    In 2007, the New Mexico Bureau of Reclamation exhumed the remains of dozens of Civil War-era soldiers from the ruins of Fort Craig. They had been left behind when the fort was abandoned in 1885.

    A historical view of Fort Craig, N.M.
    Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico, CC BY-NC-SA

    Anthropologists from the Smithsonian and the Bureau of Reclamation in New Mexico identified the remains as belonging to a diverse range of people – including a few dozen African American Buffalo Soldiers, a group that made up a relatively small percentage of the U.S. military at that time.

    Historical records tell researchers that most of the military units at Fort Craig mobilized out of Kentucky and Virginia, but official records don’t always tell the full story. The group of project scientists, which included one of us, Christine France, needed a way to confirm the origin of these individuals and restore some identity to these forgotten soldiers.

    The researchers decided to use stable isotope analysis on the bones. This technique counts the number of atoms of a particular element in the sample that have one or more extra neutrons – this is the “heavy” isotope – and compares it with the number of atoms that have a normal number of neutrons – this is the “light” isotope.

    Drinking water in southern latitudes has more naturally occurring heavy oxygen atoms compared with northern latitudes. If a soldier’s bones had a relatively high ratio of the heavy to the light oxygen atoms, that soldier likely spent more time drinking water from the South.

    Researchers have measured oxygen isotopes in other archaeological remains and in water all over North America, giving us a water “isotope map.” But matching the bone isotope values to the water map is like comparing apples to oranges, and every lab has subtle variations in its instruments. The scientists needed to normalize and calibrate the isotope ratios they had measured to a reference standard.

    In this case, the standard was the average oxygen isotope value of ocean water, a convention that stable isotope researchers agreed upon as a consistent and readily available value. The researchers now had a uniform way to say how many more – or fewer – heavy oxygen isotopes the bones contained compared to the ocean water standard.

    Other archaeology labs and the North American water isotope map use that same standard comparison, allowing them to directly compare all the bone isotope values to one another, and to the North American water isotope map.

    Ultimately, the method helped the team identify several soldiers who came from quite far away to join the company, including individuals who likely grew up in the mid-Atlantic, New England and Southeast.

    The exact circumstances that brought these soldiers together is lost to history. But the researchers’ ability to assign them geographic provenance with the help of reference standards gave them further insight into this pivotal time in U.S. history.

    Volcanic glass mirrors

    Humans have always been fascinated by looking at themselves in the mirror. In Mesoamerica – modern-day central and southern Mexico together with northern Central America – archaeologists have found convex round objects so finely polished that they have been termed mirrors.

    But instead of using them for vanity, shamans from ancient times likely used them as a tool to access portals to other dimensions.

    The oldest Preclassic mirrors (2000 BCE to 250 CE) were fashioned from polished iron ores, but later Postclassic period mirrors (900 CE to 1450 CE) were made from obsidian, a typically black silica-rich volcanic glass.

    The collections at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian contain six large, rectangular obsidian mirrors, purchased in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their labels state they come from the “Valley of Mexico.”

    Obsidian tablets, a view of both their front and back sides, found in the National Museum of the American Indian collections.
    NMAI, Martinez et al (2022)

    Archeologists rarely find rectangular obsidian mirrors like these at pre-Columbian dig sites. So, local artisans skilled in stone polishing likely made these unusually shaped objects upon request by Spanish invaders around the time of European contact. But which Mesoamerican culture did they come from?

    Scientists from the Museum Conservation Institute, including two of us, Thomas Lam and Edward Vicenzi, and a member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, worked with staff at the National Museum of the American Indian on an effort to pinpoint which volcano created the obsidian in the mirrors.

    The location of the obsidian source would indicate whether the Aztecs who controlled eastern central Mexico, or the Purépecha who controlled an area west of the Aztecs, produced the objects, as both had ample sources of obsidian in their territories.

    To conduct such a study, the researchers required two types of reference materials: obsidian that had erupted from known volcanic locations, and a reference obsidian that scientists already knew the composition of to confirm the quality of the analysis.

    The first reference obsidians, from known locations, told the researchers about the differences in geochemistry of the volcanoes in central Mexico. That information allowed them to match the mirror analyses to the known volcanic location analyses and their map coordinates. The second reference obsidian served as a quality control specimen for the analysis.

    Museum Conservation Institute scientists used a nondestructive technique called X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to analyze ratios of elements in the obsidians. The process works by “exciting” atoms in the obsidian, and a spectrum of X-ray energies is given off as the atoms “relax.”

    Scientists analyzed the obsidian shards to see which elements were present in them in which ratios, and where in Mexico obsidian contained similar elements at similar ratios.
    Sharps et al. (2021)

    The results showed that all the specimens came from a region controlled by the Purépecha, not the Aztecs. The museum curators updated their records describing the mirrors to include this new information about their origin.

    Creating standards

    Standardized measurement procedures and reference materials play a central role in museum science. Organizations dedicated to rigorous measurement science, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a federal government agency, help create some of these standards and research new measurement procedures.

    Without their leadership, it would be far more difficult for researchers like us to produce high-quality data and discern the relationships between specimens in the natural and cultural heritage sciences. With quality measurement standards in our toolbox, we are finding new insights into human history and the natural world.

    Edward Vicenzi is a guest researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the Material Measurement Laboratory.

    Christine France and Thomas Lam do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Precise measurement standards have revolutionized museum science, helping nail down where artifacts are from – https://theconversation.com/precise-measurement-standards-have-revolutionized-museum-science-helping-nail-down-where-artifacts-are-from-254025

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 17 June 2025 News release The WHO Hub in Berlin: driving innovation to make the world safer from health threats

    Source: World Health Organisation

    WHO is developing new tools and innovative partnerships to boost countries’ defenses against future pandemics, including real-time threat detection and genomic analysis of viruses.

    In today’s interconnected world, health threats spread faster than ever. A new virus can cross continents in hours. An outbreak in one country can escalate into a global crisis in days. This reality requires constant innovation to protect lives and prevent the next pandemic.

    Building on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin leverages innovative tools and collaborations for more effective disease surveillance worldwide. Just over three years after its inauguration, the Hub now supports over 150 countries in detecting health threats more effectively and rapidly.

    The Hub’s latest annual report highlights the growing impact of this work and provides key insights into progress made in 2024.

    As no country can tackle the next pandemic alone, WHO is supporting countries to implement Collaborative Surveillance, a new collaborative approach to disease surveillance that promotes data and information sharing so that outbreaks can be detected and controlled faster.

    The early warning system hosted at the Hub, called Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS), scans online sources in real time and uses AI technology to identify public health threats more efficiently.

    “The Hub is ensuring that the most robust tools and analytics are available to enhance early threat detection and rapid response and support decision-makers around the world,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I have urged all WHO Member States to work closely with the Hub, not only to strengthen their own national and regional health security, but also to contribute to global preparedness and response.”

    Pathogen genomics, which analyses the genetic material of viruses and other pathogens, has become a powerful tool to track and predict outbreaks. The Hub’s International Pathogen Surveillance Network (IPSN) connects over 235 organizations and countries to expand genomic surveillance more equitably around the world, including through a US$ 4 million fund for low- and middle-income countries.

    “As part of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence builds on proven surveillance approaches while continuously developing and integrating new, innovative methods for detecting and responding to health threats,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

    To help decision-makers better understand an emerging health emergency and plan an effective response, the Hub is developing a cutting-edge platform that will visualize disease transmission and simulate the impact of different countermeasures. Once launched, the pandemic simulator will provide actionable insights to policy-makers and support them in responding to a health crisis.

    “Our commitment to fostering trust, building partnerships and driving innovation has never been stronger. Together, we are building a safer, healthier world for all,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Deputy Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme.

    The collaborative spirit is also evident in the Hub’s physical space in Berlin, a dynamic campus for global collaboration that welcomes thousands of experts and collaborators each year at more than 60 onsite workshops and events.

    “Germany has been a strong supporter of scientific innovation for global health security, including the vision to establish the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence,” said Dr Oliver Morgan, Director of the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence. “Germany recognized the urgent need for a space where science, technology and partnerships can come together to protect the world from future health threats. This vision is now a reality and we are proud to call Berlin the home for the Hub.”

    “The WHO Hub in Berlin is a vibrant place for collaboration and co-creation. By leveraging WHO’s convening power, we bring partners together, facilitate data sharing and joint analysis, and support the collective adoption of innovative approaches,” said Sara Hersey, Director of Collaborative Intelligence at the WHO Hub in Berlin.

    With the ongoing threat of future pandemics, WHO remains at the forefront of developing tools, building partnerships and strengthening public health intelligence and surveillance capacities worldwide.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Elisabeth Weber, Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog prepare to shake hands in Berlin on May 12, 2025. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    Friedrich Merz did something unprecedented for a German chancellor in late May 2025: publicly criticize Israel in unvarnished, unequivocal terms.

    “What the Israeli army is doing in the Gaza Strip, I no longer understand the goal,” he said in a televised interview. He added, “To harm the civilian population in such a way … can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism.”

    A day later, during a summit with prime ministers of Nordic countries in Finland, Merz doubled down. “I take a very, very critical view of what has happened in Gaza,” he said in reference to Israel’s bombing campaign and the blockade of food and other aid.

    Merz is not alone in the German government. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also weighed in, noting that Germany’s stance against antisemitism and its “full support” for the right of Israel to exist “must not be instrumentalized for the conflict and the warfare currently being waged in the Gaza Strip.”

    Criticism by outside governments of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that killed close to 1,200 people has been present since the war in Gaza began. At first, it was largely confined to countries in the Global South. But more recently it has included countries in the West.

    Still, as a scholar of the Shoah – the Hebrew term for the Holocaust – I know that this rebuke from Germany hits differently. Post-war Germany has a long-standing political commitment to Israel’s security. It is a commitment rooted in the nation’s historical responsibility for the Nazis’ annihilation of European Jews and that has been staunchly reaffirmed by German governments since the 1952 agreement of reparations between the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, and the first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion.

    ‘Staatsräson’ and its critics

    In 2008, then-chancellor Angela Merkel went so far as to call this commitment to Israel’s security Germany’s “Staatsräson,” or “reason of state.” In a speech she gave to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on March 18, 2008, Merkel emphasized that “only if Germany acknowledges its perpetual responsibility for the moral catastrophe of German history can we shape the future humanely.” She went on to assert that Germany’s “historic responsibility” is “part of my country’s raison d’état.” She added: “Israel’s security is never negotiable for me as German chancellor.”

    The argument that Israeli security is Germany’s “reason of state” was reiterated by Merkel’s successor, Olaf Scholz, during his visit to Israel on Oct. 17, 2023 – just 10 days after the Hamas attack. Standing next to Scholz, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Palestinian militant group “the new Nazis.”

    Tracing back the term’s origins and history, renowned historian Enzo Traverso recently noted that theorists and practitioners of “reason of state” agree that the concept “denotes the violation by a political power of its own ethical principles in service to a higher interest, generally the safeguarding of its own power.”

    The problem with Germany’s invocation of the “Staatsräson” as prioritizing the security of Israel above other concerns is that it implies defending policies even if they contravene Germany’s foundational ethical principles, such as those declared in its constitution. Article 1 asserts that the German people “acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world.”

    Such principles were born out of the recognition of the horrendous violation of human rights under the Nazi regime and the acknowledgment of Germany’s “perpetual responsibility,” as Merkel put it.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks ahead of a special session of the Israeli parliament on March 18, 2008.
    Sebastian Scheiner/Pool/Getty Images

    In Germany’s public discourse, as well as school curricula, the Shoah is always described as absolutely unique.

    But as Israeli-American genocide and Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov has argued, this assertion is also open to criticism:

    “Germany’s commitment to the uniqueness of the Holocaust, from which it also derives its unique commitment to Israel, has arguably put it in a morally highly dubious position of both long denying its own past colonial crimes [in Namibia] and of denying Israel’s culpability in the present destruction of Gaza, including the killing and starvation of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.”

    Germany’s commitment to the uniqueness of the Shoah also leaves little room for an acknowledgment of the Nakba – the violent expulsion of around 800,000 Palestinians before, during and after the foundation of the state of Israel.

    And it leaves no room for a recognition of how both catastrophes, the Shoah and the Nakba, are, as Bartov insists, “inextricably entangled.”

    Antisemitism definitions — and their critics

    As a consequence of Germany’s responsibility for the Shoah and its commitment to its uniqueness, the country has some of the strictest laws to combat antisemitism in the world. But critics also note widespread conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel.

    Germany, like the United States,
    has adopted a definition of antisemitism authored in 2004 by American lawyer Kenneth Stern and espoused in 2016 by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. That definition includes 11 examples of antisemitism, seven of which pertain to Israel.

    It has been criticized for being too vague, leading to the labeling of Jewish and non-Jewish people who oppose the current Israeli war in Gaza as “antisemitic.”

    Stern, who describes himself as Zionist, has sharply criticized the misuse of his definition to stifle academic freedom and criticism of the actions of the Israeli nation.

    In an article for the conservative Germany newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Israeli legal scholar Itamar Mann
    argued that Germany “needs a new definition of antisemitism.”

    He applauded the recent adoption, by the German leftist party Die Linke, of a separate definition of antisemitism laid out in the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism. Formulated in 2021 by more than 350 respected scholars, many of them Jewish, the declaration rejects labeling as antisemitic political speech that “criticizes or opposes Zionism as a form of nationalism.”

    Mann calls on the German government to implement policies to “protect all Jews, including those who … reject the current Israeli government and insist on a vocabulary that allows us to be Jewish and to criticize Israel.”

    A historic shift?

    The recent remarks of Merz may represent a subtle but sure shift in Germany’s “Staatsräson” and how it engages with its historical debt, Israel and antisemitism.

    And that may be a first step in moving away from a “Staatsräson” that, in the words of scholar of Middle Eastern politics Lena Obermaier, is “detrimental for Palestinians and progressive Jews” and gives Israel international cover when accused of massive violations of international law.

    What Merkel called Germany’s “perpetual responsibility for the moral catastrophe” of the Holocaust would, from my perspective as a scholar of the Shoah, demand nothing less.

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

    – ref. German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds – https://theconversation.com/german-chancellors-rebuke-of-israel-marks-a-shift-in-state-policy-that-has-long-put-such-criticism-out-of-bounds-258156

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Global: German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Elisabeth Weber, Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Israeli President Isaac Herzog prepare to shake hands in Berlin on May 12, 2025. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

    Friedrich Merz did something unprecedented for a German chancellor in late May 2025: publicly criticize Israel in unvarnished, unequivocal terms.

    “What the Israeli army is doing in the Gaza Strip, I no longer understand the goal,” he said in a televised interview. He added, “To harm the civilian population in such a way … can no longer be justified as a fight against terrorism.”

    A day later, during a summit with prime ministers of Nordic countries in Finland, Merz doubled down. “I take a very, very critical view of what has happened in Gaza,” he said in reference to Israel’s bombing campaign and the blockade of food and other aid.

    Merz is not alone in the German government. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also weighed in, noting that Germany’s stance against antisemitism and its “full support” for the right of Israel to exist “must not be instrumentalized for the conflict and the warfare currently being waged in the Gaza Strip.”

    Criticism by outside governments of Israel’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that killed close to 1,200 people has been present since the war in Gaza began. At first, it was largely confined to countries in the Global South. But more recently it has included countries in the West.

    Still, as a scholar of the Shoah – the Hebrew term for the Holocaust – I know that this rebuke from Germany hits differently. Post-war Germany has a long-standing political commitment to Israel’s security. It is a commitment rooted in the nation’s historical responsibility for the Nazis’ annihilation of European Jews and that has been staunchly reaffirmed by German governments since the 1952 agreement of reparations between the first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Konrad Adenauer, and the first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion.

    ‘Staatsräson’ and its critics

    In 2008, then-chancellor Angela Merkel went so far as to call this commitment to Israel’s security Germany’s “Staatsräson,” or “reason of state.” In a speech she gave to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on March 18, 2008, Merkel emphasized that “only if Germany acknowledges its perpetual responsibility for the moral catastrophe of German history can we shape the future humanely.” She went on to assert that Germany’s “historic responsibility” is “part of my country’s raison d’état.” She added: “Israel’s security is never negotiable for me as German chancellor.”

    The argument that Israeli security is Germany’s “reason of state” was reiterated by Merkel’s successor, Olaf Scholz, during his visit to Israel on Oct. 17, 2023 – just 10 days after the Hamas attack. Standing next to Scholz, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Palestinian militant group “the new Nazis.”

    Tracing back the term’s origins and history, renowned historian Enzo Traverso recently noted that theorists and practitioners of “reason of state” agree that the concept “denotes the violation by a political power of its own ethical principles in service to a higher interest, generally the safeguarding of its own power.”

    The problem with Germany’s invocation of the “Staatsräson” as prioritizing the security of Israel above other concerns is that it implies defending policies even if they contravene Germany’s foundational ethical principles, such as those declared in its constitution. Article 1 asserts that the German people “acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world.”

    Such principles were born out of the recognition of the horrendous violation of human rights under the Nazi regime and the acknowledgment of Germany’s “perpetual responsibility,” as Merkel put it.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks ahead of a special session of the Israeli parliament on March 18, 2008.
    Sebastian Scheiner/Pool/Getty Images

    In Germany’s public discourse, as well as school curricula, the Shoah is always described as absolutely unique.

    But as Israeli-American genocide and Holocaust scholar Omer Bartov has argued, this assertion is also open to criticism:

    “Germany’s commitment to the uniqueness of the Holocaust, from which it also derives its unique commitment to Israel, has arguably put it in a morally highly dubious position of both long denying its own past colonial crimes [in Namibia] and of denying Israel’s culpability in the present destruction of Gaza, including the killing and starvation of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.”

    Germany’s commitment to the uniqueness of the Shoah also leaves little room for an acknowledgment of the Nakba – the violent expulsion of around 800,000 Palestinians before, during and after the foundation of the state of Israel.

    And it leaves no room for a recognition of how both catastrophes, the Shoah and the Nakba, are, as Bartov insists, “inextricably entangled.”

    Antisemitism definitions — and their critics

    As a consequence of Germany’s responsibility for the Shoah and its commitment to its uniqueness, the country has some of the strictest laws to combat antisemitism in the world. But critics also note widespread conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel.

    Germany, like the United States,
    has adopted a definition of antisemitism authored in 2004 by American lawyer Kenneth Stern and espoused in 2016 by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. That definition includes 11 examples of antisemitism, seven of which pertain to Israel.

    It has been criticized for being too vague, leading to the labeling of Jewish and non-Jewish people who oppose the current Israeli war in Gaza as “antisemitic.”

    Stern, who describes himself as Zionist, has sharply criticized the misuse of his definition to stifle academic freedom and criticism of the actions of the Israeli nation.

    In an article for the conservative Germany newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Israeli legal scholar Itamar Mann
    argued that Germany “needs a new definition of antisemitism.”

    He applauded the recent adoption, by the German leftist party Die Linke, of a separate definition of antisemitism laid out in the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism. Formulated in 2021 by more than 350 respected scholars, many of them Jewish, the declaration rejects labeling as antisemitic political speech that “criticizes or opposes Zionism as a form of nationalism.”

    Mann calls on the German government to implement policies to “protect all Jews, including those who … reject the current Israeli government and insist on a vocabulary that allows us to be Jewish and to criticize Israel.”

    A historic shift?

    The recent remarks of Merz may represent a subtle but sure shift in Germany’s “Staatsräson” and how it engages with its historical debt, Israel and antisemitism.

    And that may be a first step in moving away from a “Staatsräson” that, in the words of scholar of Middle Eastern politics Lena Obermaier, is “detrimental for Palestinians and progressive Jews” and gives Israel international cover when accused of massive violations of international law.

    What Merkel called Germany’s “perpetual responsibility for the moral catastrophe” of the Holocaust would, from my perspective as a scholar of the Shoah, demand nothing less.

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

    – ref. German chancellor’s rebuke of Israel marks a shift in state policy that has long put such criticism out of bounds – https://theconversation.com/german-chancellors-rebuke-of-israel-marks-a-shift-in-state-policy-that-has-long-put-such-criticism-out-of-bounds-258156

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Solaris Presale Enters Final Weeks with Mobile Mining and 100,000 TPS Blockchain Breakthrough

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A major shift is underway in the crypto space as Bitcoin Solaris (BTC-S) enters the final weeks of its presale. With a groundbreaking dual-layer architecture, mobile-first mining technology, and over 11,500 users already on board, BTC-S is quickly gaining momentum ahead of its scheduled mainnet launch.

    Designed for mass adoption, Bitcoin Solaris is not a fork, clone, or rebrand—it’s an entirely new blockchain built from the ground up to meet the scalability, accessibility, and energy-efficiency demands of today’s global user base.

    The Technology Powering the BTC-S Surge

    Bitcoin Solaris leverages a hybrid consensus model for optimal performance and security:

    • Proof-of-Work Base Layer with 3,000+ TPS
    • Delegated Proof-of-Stake Solaris Layer delivering up to 100,000 TPS and 2-second finality
    • Dynamic validator rotation, ZK-Proofs, and Byzantine Fault Tolerance
    • Audited by Cyberscope and Freshcoins, ensuring code integrity and investor protection

    This innovative architecture positions BTC-S as a leader in next-generation blockchain design.

    • Dynamic validator rotation every 24 hours with slashing penalties
    • Secure architecture with Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Byzantine Fault Tolerance

    This architecture doesn’t just sound impressive and it’s verified. Security audits from Cyberscope and Freshcoins are already complete, reinforcing investor trust ahead of the mainnet.

    The Future Is Mobile and Bitcoin Solaris Owns It

    Bitcoin was built for miners. Bitcoin Solaris is built for you. Through the exciting release of the upcoming Solaris Nova App, users can mine BTC-S with zero technical knowledge from their smartphone, laptop, or even browser.

    With BTC-S mobile mining, expect:

    • One-click startup
    • Adaptive smart mining that respects device limitations
    • Biometric login and secure wallet features
    • Real-time earnings with zero complexity

    A recent in-depth breakdown from Crypto Vlog YouTube channel explores why this app is drawing crowds: it’s inclusive, efficient, and miles ahead of outdated ASIC-only models.

    The Mobile-First Blockchain That Pays You Back Meet BTC-S

    Reward Distribution That Actually Rewards

    Unlike traditional chains that over-reward central miners, Bitcoin Solaris spreads the wealth with an optimized reward system:

    • 40% of rewards go to Base Layer miners
    • 25% to Solaris Layer validators
    • 20% to BTC-S stakers
    • 10% to development
    • 5% to community growth initiatives

    What’s more, your payout isn’t static. Rewards scale based on:

    • Your device’s contribution score
    • Long-term time-weighted participation
    • Real-time network demand
    • Task complexity and activity type

    It’s a system designed to grow with the user base, not just enrich early whales.

    Presale Frenzy: Don’t Miss the Second Chance

    The momentum is undeniable. The presale is entering Phase 8, and with over 11,500 unique users already participating, it’s shaping up to be the shortest and most explosive presale in crypto history.

    • Current Price: $8
    • Next Phase: $9
    • Launch Price: $20
    • Bonus: 8%
    • Raised So Far: Over $4.5 million

    Less than 7 weeks remain. For those who missed Bitcoin at $100, Bitcoin Solaris may very well be the reset button.

    Final Verdict

    Bitcoin created the revolution. Bitcoin Solaris is building the upgrade. With technical depth, performance scalability, and real-world accessibility, BTC-S is the token that finally answers the question: “What if we could build Bitcoin again, knowing everything we know today?”

    You missed BTC at $100. You don’t have to miss this.

    For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:
    Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
     Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
     X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

    Media Contact:
    Xander Levine
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: Available upon request

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Bitcoin Solaris. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/46ebd2f9-29a9-4f82-8574-117b23a70b44

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/401768da-d05b-43a7-ac5c-252148887417

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ba5fc80c-3d0a-44c5-b877-a355a19d2a0b

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cafeb1c9-3310-4837-aa60-f37afda1dc2b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ESET Named a 2025 Gartner® Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice for Endpoint Protection

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as the Customers’ Choice in the 2025 Gartner® Peer Insights™ “Voice of the Customer” report1 for Endpoint Protection Platforms, in the category of Organizations with Annual Revenue between 50M – 1B USD. This distinction reflects the positive feedback and high satisfaction ratings from verified end users who rely on ESET´s solutions to defend against evolving cyber threats.

    According to the report, 95% of Gartner Peer Insights reviews received for ESET indicated a 5-star (60%) or 4-star (35%) rating. Overall, our customers have given us a rating of 4.9 out of 5 during the last 180 days, with 98% of them concluding they would recommend our product. “In our view, ESET’s placement in the report underscores our commitment to delivering reliable, effective, and user-friendly endpoint protection platforms solutions to organizations worldwide,” said Zuzana Legáthová, Director of Test, Analyst Relations and Market Research at ESET.

    The “Voice of the Customer” report aggregates peer reviews and ratings over an 18-month period, offering valuable insights into customer experiences with leading cybersecurity vendors. ESET´s recognition is based on reviews from 187 verified end-user professionals, and we believe that it focuses on their direct experience with operating the ESET PROTECT Platform.

    “Being named a Customers’ Choice by Gartner Peer Insights is a powerful validation of the trust our users place in ESET. It reflects our ongoing mission to deliver cybersecurity that’s not only powerful and reliable but also intuitive and tailored to the real-world needs of modern organizations,” said Pavol Balaj, Chief Business Officer at ESET.

    ESET PROTECT is a comprehensive cybersecurity platform designed to meet the evolving needs of modern organizations. Built on decades of expertise and continuous innovation, it delivers a Prevention-First approach to security, integrating advanced technologies and security services into a single, scalable solution.

    At its core, the platform features ESET LiveSense, a multilayered security engine powered by over 30 years of human expertise, machine learning, and ESET LiveGrid, a global cloud-based reputation system. This foundation enables balanced breach prevention, detection, and response capabilities, ensuring robust protection across all digital environments.

    Key features include:

    • Modern, multilayered endpoint security for desktops, servers, and mobile devices
    • Extended protection for cloud applications, email systems, and servers
    • Comprehensive vulnerability assessment and patch management
    • AI-native detection technologies and advanced threat protection
    • Globally sourced telemetry and threat intelligence
    • Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services with local support and a fast 20-minute response time

    The report is based on over 5,400 reviews collected over an 18-month period ending January 31, 2025. Only vendors with a minimum of 20 eligible reviews and 15 ratings for “Capabilities” and “Support/Delivery” were included.

    Discover more about ESET PROTECT Platform. For more information about ESET’s awards and recognized excellence, click here.

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc., and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and PEER INSIGHTS is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc., and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner® Peer Insights™ content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

    About ESET

    ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of emerging global cyberthreats, both known and unknown—securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud, or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. The ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow our social media, podcasts, and blogs.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ESET Named a 2025 Gartner® Peer Insights™ Customers’ Choice for Endpoint Protection

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as the Customers’ Choice in the 2025 Gartner® Peer Insights™ “Voice of the Customer” report1 for Endpoint Protection Platforms, in the category of Organizations with Annual Revenue between 50M – 1B USD. This distinction reflects the positive feedback and high satisfaction ratings from verified end users who rely on ESET´s solutions to defend against evolving cyber threats.

    According to the report, 95% of Gartner Peer Insights reviews received for ESET indicated a 5-star (60%) or 4-star (35%) rating. Overall, our customers have given us a rating of 4.9 out of 5 during the last 180 days, with 98% of them concluding they would recommend our product. “In our view, ESET’s placement in the report underscores our commitment to delivering reliable, effective, and user-friendly endpoint protection platforms solutions to organizations worldwide,” said Zuzana Legáthová, Director of Test, Analyst Relations and Market Research at ESET.

    The “Voice of the Customer” report aggregates peer reviews and ratings over an 18-month period, offering valuable insights into customer experiences with leading cybersecurity vendors. ESET´s recognition is based on reviews from 187 verified end-user professionals, and we believe that it focuses on their direct experience with operating the ESET PROTECT Platform.

    “Being named a Customers’ Choice by Gartner Peer Insights is a powerful validation of the trust our users place in ESET. It reflects our ongoing mission to deliver cybersecurity that’s not only powerful and reliable but also intuitive and tailored to the real-world needs of modern organizations,” said Pavol Balaj, Chief Business Officer at ESET.

    ESET PROTECT is a comprehensive cybersecurity platform designed to meet the evolving needs of modern organizations. Built on decades of expertise and continuous innovation, it delivers a Prevention-First approach to security, integrating advanced technologies and security services into a single, scalable solution.

    At its core, the platform features ESET LiveSense, a multilayered security engine powered by over 30 years of human expertise, machine learning, and ESET LiveGrid, a global cloud-based reputation system. This foundation enables balanced breach prevention, detection, and response capabilities, ensuring robust protection across all digital environments.

    Key features include:

    • Modern, multilayered endpoint security for desktops, servers, and mobile devices
    • Extended protection for cloud applications, email systems, and servers
    • Comprehensive vulnerability assessment and patch management
    • AI-native detection technologies and advanced threat protection
    • Globally sourced telemetry and threat intelligence
    • Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services with local support and a fast 20-minute response time

    The report is based on over 5,400 reviews collected over an 18-month period ending January 31, 2025. Only vendors with a minimum of 20 eligible reviews and 15 ratings for “Capabilities” and “Support/Delivery” were included.

    Discover more about ESET PROTECT Platform. For more information about ESET’s awards and recognized excellence, click here.

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc., and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and PEER INSIGHTS is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc., and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner® Peer Insights™ content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

    About ESET

    ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of emerging global cyberthreats, both known and unknown—securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud, or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. The ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow our social media, podcasts, and blogs.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NXP Completes Acquisition of TTTech Auto to Accelerate the Transformation to Software-Defined Vehicles

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today announced the completion of the acquisition of TTTech Auto, a leader in innovating unique safety-critical systems and middleware for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), pursuant to the terms of the previously announced agreement from January 2025.

    The open and modular offering of the NXP CoreRide platform and TTTech Auto’s MotionWise safety middleware helps automakers overcome software and hardware integration barriers, while reducing complexity and development efforts and increasing scalability and cost-efficiency required for next-generation vehicles.

    To continue operating within an open industry ecosystem, TTTech Auto’s services will remain with neutral position, supporting various System-on-Chips manufacturers, OEMs and 3rd party software partners. This will advance SDV capabilities while maintaining stringent safety and performance standards and ensuring data protection.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This document includes forward-looking statements which include statements regarding NXP’s acquisition of TTTech Auto, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except for any ongoing obligation to disclose material information as required by the United States federal securities laws, NXP does not have any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after NXP distributes this document, whether to reflect any future events or circumstances or otherwise. For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors and other cautionary statements included in NXP’s SEC filings. Copies of NXP’s SEC filings are available on NXP’s Investor Relation website, https://investors.nxp.com or from the SEC website, www.sec.gov. 

    About NXP Semiconductors
    NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) is the trusted partner for innovative solutions in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communications infrastructure markets. NXP’s “Brighter Together” approach combines leading-edge technology with pioneering people to develop system solutions that make the connected world better, safer, and more secure. The company has operations in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of $12.61 billion in 2024. Find out more at www.nxp.com. 

    NXP and the NXP logo are trademarks of NXP B.V. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. © 2025 NXP B.V

    For more information, please contact:

    NXP-Corp
    NXP-Auto

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8029b30c-b73f-4318-9a1a-ed675027c8bf

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: How Birmingham will benefit from the Government’s Spending Review

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Access to more affordable homes, increased funding for schools and their pupils, and investment in Birmingham’s transport networks are among the Chancellor’s spending priorities.

    These headlines come from the Government’s Spending Review, which unveiled on 11 June, outlining their spending plans for the next three years.

    Finance officers are assessing what the Chancellor’s announcement means for the council’s own finances and services and the picture will become clearer later in the year.

    Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I welcome this Spending Review, and I’m encouraged the Chancellor has included funding for projects like the extension of the West Midlands Metro into East Birmingham, which will bring with it hundreds of jobs.

    “Working closely with West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, we are ambitious for Birmingham and its people, and we need a government that matches those ambitions – so I am glad to see investment in education, children and young people are among those key spending priorities,

    “With the right support, cities like Birmingham can unlock growth and tackle inequalities that continue to hold too many people back – and the Government’s commitment to invest £39 billion in affordable housing is also key to this. This funding will transform the lives of so many people.”

    In Birmingham – one of the youngest cities in Europe – children will benefit from the £4.7 billion committed to spending on schools, up by £2 billion – to improve facilities and opportunities in education by 2028/29.

    There will also be investment in amenities and activities for young people, which in Birmingham could translate into revitalising local facilities. This is part of a new Local Growth Fund and an additional Mayoral Growth Fund to help cities deliver on the Government’s Growth Mission.

    In addition £410 million will be spent on extending the Free School Meals scheme to all pupils with a parent receiving Universal Credit. This comes on top of the council’s ongoing work to auto-enrol children across the city who qualify for free school meals, but have not applied for them.

    Meanwhile school breakfast clubs will be open to all children – to ensure their school day gets off to a good start.

    Housing features highly in this Spending Review – with a £39 billion commitment to increase the provision of affordable housing across the country over the next decade.

    Being able to access this funding will help Birmingham City Council tackle the city’s housing crisis – by improving access to safe, decent and affordable housing, to those most in need.

    Extending the West Midlands Metro through East Birmingham – connecting the Birmingham Sports Quarter and investment in West Midland Rail Hub will all help create thousands of jobs and opportunities for local business as part of our ambitious inclusive growth agenda for East Birmingham.

    This investment in key infrastructure will help to deliver Birmingham’s Sports Quarter – which will be home to Birmingham City FC’s new stadium.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: The Netherlands Associations for Investor Relations (NEVIR) announces the nominees for the 18th Annual Dutch IR Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, the Netherlands, June 12, 2025: The Netherlands Association for Investor Relations (NEVIR) is proud to announce the nominations for the 18th Annual Dutch IR Awards.

    The nominees are:

    AEX Company of the Year

    ASML Holding

    ASR Nederland

    Shell

    AEX IR Professional of the Year

    Marcel Kemp, ASML Holding

    Michel Hulters, ASR Nederland

    Robin van den Broek, NN Group

    AMX Company of the Year

    CTP

    Just Eat Takeaway.com

    Royal Vopak

    AMX IR Professional of the Year

    Rutger Relker, Aalberts

    Maarten Otte, CTP

    Fatjona Topciu, Royal Vopak

    AScX Company of the Year

    Alfen

    Avantium

    Wereldhave

    AScX IR Professional of the Year

    Aarne Luten, Avantium

    Floor van Maaren, ForFarmers

    Inge Laudy, PostNL

    Best ESG Engagement

    ASR Nederland

    Royal Ahold Delhaize

    Unilever

    Best Investor Event

    ASR Nederland

    Royal Ahold Delhaize

    Shell

    Best IR Website

    AkzoNobel

    KPN

    Philips

    Most Improved Company (IR Programme)

    Adyen

    Corbion

    Exor

    Young IR Talent

    Valentina Fantigrossi, ASM International

    Lennart Scholtus, Heineken Company

    Thomas Turnock, NN Group

    The Dutch IR Awards celebrates the achievements of individuals and companies of Dutch stock-listed companies across nine categories; ranging from Best IR professional and Company, to Best Investor Event. 

    The nominations for the Dutch IR Awards are based on European research by Extel and incorporate feedback from global buy and sell-side professionals. 

    The 2025 awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 3 in Amsterdam.

    SPONSORS

    We would like to extend our gratitude to our 2025 Dutch IR Awards sponsors:

    Platinum: ABN AMRO and ODDO BHF, CMi2i, Computershare Georgeson, Euronext Corporate Solutions, Ingage, ING 

    Gold: FGS Global, Nasdaq, Notified

    Silver: S&P Global Market Intelligence, Tangelo

    Sponsoring through services / products: Extel and NFGD

    The publication of this press release has been made possible by GlobeNewswire.

     For media enquiries:

    Heather Robertson and Jonathan Berger

    secretariaat@nevir.nl

     About the NEVIR:

    The Netherlands Association for Investor Relations (NEVIR), is the professional representative

    body and advocacy organisation for all members of Investor Relations teams at Dutch listed

    companies and consultants in the field of Investor Relations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lufthansa honored with World Airline Awards 2025

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    Lufthansa is the world’s most family-friendly airline. This prize from the World Airline Awards 2025 was presented today by the market research institute Skytrax at the Paris Air Show. The Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt was also named the world’s best First Class Lounge. Austrian Airlines and Eurowings also received one of the coveted prizes – the award for “Best Airline Staff in Europe” went to Austrian Airlines in Vienna and Eurowings was named “Best Low Cost Airline in Europe”. Skytrax, a market research institute specializing in aviation, had previously surveyed 22.3 million passengers from well over 100 countries worldwide.

    “Lufthansa attaches great importance to ensuring that all guests on board feel comfortable with us – from Economy to First Class. I am therefore particularly pleased that we have received the award for the world’s most family-friendly airline and at the same time for the best First Class lounge,” says Heiko Reitz, Chief Customer Officer Lufthansa Airlines. “Above all, Lufthansa’s unsurpassed hospitality is also premium. In particular, our colleagues in the cabin, cockpit and on the ground can be very proud today. They are the ones who fulfill our promise of quality day after day.”

     

    Traveling with children  

    Lufthansa attaches great importance to ensuring that its youngest guests also feel comfortable on board. The airline therefore offers specially created kids’ menus prepared by the chefs at Gate Gourmet. The menus belong to the “Special Meals” category and can be pre-ordered by passengers free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. The offer applies to all classes on long-haul flights and to Business Class on short-haul flights.

    The trays are lovingly designed with colorful illustrations of the Lufthansa mascots “Lu” and “Cosmo” and the menu card invites young passengers to puzzle and color while they playfully learn how an airplane flies.

    Lufthansa has also introduced a new range of children’s toys on board. From cloud-shaped cuddly blankets for toddlers to puzzles and the game “City, Country, Flight”, there is something for every taste and every age. There is also a portfolio of coloring pages featuring Lu and Cosmo, which can be accessed via the Lufthansa eJournals homepage. Young passengers will also find magazines for children and teenagers in various languages. The in-flight entertainment program for children includes a large selection of films, series, music, audio books and podcasts. Children can also look forward to special amenity kits and, from summer 2025, new year-round “Best Friend” children’s boarding passes.

     

    Travel in Lufthansa First Class

    The separate First Class terminal in Frankfurt with limousine transfer directly to the aircraft and personal assistant, which has been named the best First Class lounge in the world, is emblematic of Lufthansa’s premium offering.

    Since the beginning of the year, traveling in Lufthansa’s top class has become even more exclusive. The new Lufthansa Allegris First Class on long-haul aircraft can be experienced in the summer timetable on flights from Munich to San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Shanghai and Bengaluru and sets new standards with two individual suites and the extraordinary Suite Plus: guests can heat or cool their almost one meter wide seats in the individual suites according to their personal needs. The separate cabins with ceiling-high walls and lockable door, large table and wide seat, a living room-sized screen and wireless “over-ear” headphones define a new standard in comfort and individuality. Generous storage space is provided by a personal wardrobe in the suite, so that travelers can change comfortably and have all their personal items to hand. Individual lamps allow travelers to create their very own feel-good atmosphere.

    The Suite Plus double cabin, the only one of its kind in the world, creates a special travel experience with two wide seats that can be combined to form a comfortable double bed if required. The flying private room impresses with maximum comfort and individuality. The Suite Plus offers maximum exclusivity for the single passenger and the unique opportunity to use the double cabin as a couple.

    The new First Class is part of a major Lufthansa premium offensive. Among other things, First Class guests can also look forward to renovated First Class check-in areas in Frankfurt (from late summer) and Munich as well as the newly designed First Class Lounge at Munich Airport.

     

    Skytrax

    The survey was conducted by the market research institute Skytrax. It evaluated the airlines’ in-flight offers and services at the airports. Skytrax has been conducting the annual passenger survey since 1999. All detailed results of the World Airlines Awards can be found at www.worldairlineawards.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems join Culham fusion hub

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems join Culham fusion hub

    UKAEA’s Culham Campus welcomes Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems as its latest tenants.

    Culham Campus site in Oxfordshire – Image Credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

    Two pioneering companies, Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems, have joined the growing cluster of fusion technology and AI organisations at United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Culham Campus.

    The arrival of Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems marks another significant step in the evolution of Culham Campus as a community of like-minded people. The site has organisations across sectors including fusion energy, robotics, autonomous vehicles, and computing, supporting the UK’s ambition to lead the global quest for commercial fusion energy.

    Kyoto Fusioneering, a leading developer of fusion technologies, and Astral Systems, a leader in compact fusion innovations, bring cutting-edge capability to Culham, enhancing the dynamic ecosystem of science and technology tenants already based on site.

    Tim Bestwick, Deputy CEO, UKAEA, said:

    We are delighted to welcome Kyoto Fusioneering and Astral Systems to Culham Campus. Their presence demonstrates the growing momentum in the UK’s fusion technology sector and the strength of our innovation ecosystem. Culham is not just the home of the UK’s fusion programme – it is the UK’s first AI Growth Zone and is fast becoming the go-to location for industry, academia and investors focusing on high technology innovation.

    Richard Pearson, Co-founder and Chief Innovator at Kyoto Fusioneering, added:

    Being part of the Culham Campus community is an important milestone for Kyoto Fusioneering. Culham represents a world-class environment for fusion innovation, and we are excited to contribute our expertise and collaborate with the brilliant minds here to help realise a fusion-powered future.

    Talmon Firestone, Co-founder and CEO, Astral Systems, said:

    Securing space at Culham Campus marks another important step in deepening our relationship with UKAEA. With its world-class facilities and collaborative environment, Culham is the ideal home for our work on the Small-Scale Experiment for Tritium Breeding (SSETB) and future Fusion Futures initiatives. We’re excited to grow our presence here and continue contributing to the UK’s fusion ecosystem.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leeds City Council supports biodiversity improvements on green spaces

    Source: City of Leeds

    Leeds City Council is supporting investment in four local green spaces to boost biodiversity by improving wildlife habitats across the city. This comes after a successful pilot project funded by developers delivered improvements to local habitats including grasslands, woodlands and a wetland.

    Government rules relating to the new ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ (BNG) planning requirements, say developers need to make sure nature is at least 10% better after their projects. If they can’t do it on-site, they have to find local spots to improve.

    The council has identified Rothwell Country Park, Skelton Lake, Killingbeck Fields, and Otley Chevin Forest Park for these investments with improvements being delivered through the Leeds Habitat Company, which is wholly owned by the council. 

    Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said:

    “The council manages a large variety of green spaces which would benefit significantly from investment to enhance their biodiversity and allow local wildlife to thrive.

    “We are really pleased with what has been achieved so far through our pilot BNG scheme.

    “By making these new sites available for future investments, we are likely to secure significant long-term funding for the benefit of local wildlife and visitors to the sites.

    “This will help us with our aim to work together with local partners to protect nature and reverse the loss of biodiversity, as is set out in our Best City Ambition.

    “We are looking forward to being able to improve these four sites for people and wildlife soon.”

    Read more about BNG at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Homes England acquires Ripon Barracks from the Ministry of Defence to pave way for 1,300 new homes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Homes England acquires Ripon Barracks from the Ministry of Defence to pave way for 1,300 new homes

    Planning permission has been granted by North Yorkshire council for the new homes as part of a phased development plan

    Credit: Aecom

    Homes England and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have today confirmed that land at Ripon Barracks, a military site scheduled for closure, will be developed into 1,300 new homes following a sale between the two public sector organisations.

    The homes will be surrounded by natural green spaces and complemented by a new primary school, community centre and retail area to create a vibrant new community. 

    In March, the site was named as part of a trailblazer approach to development on public sector land, with a changed cross-government approach to MoD land providing a blueprint for accelerating housebuilding. A ‘tripartite taskforce’ of MoD, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and HM Treasury is working to deliver further planning changes

    The plans have been made possible by extensive collaboration work between Homes England, MoD, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and the Army Basing and Infrastructure Directorate, as part of the new trailblazer approach, with teams in all organisations working cooperatively to unlock the publicly owned site for housing delivery. The sale of Ripon Barracks is part of the MoD’s Defence Estate Optimisation (DEO) portfolio, which includes investing in key military infrastructure and releasing sites that are no longer needed by the MoD.  

    The development will be delivered in phases, with initial work beginning at the vacant Deverell Barracks site to provide the first 150 new homes. The remaining areas – Claro Barracks, Laver Banks, and the former Engineering Park – will be developed following the scheduled departure of the Royal Engineers to the nearby Marne Barracks in Catterick.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary for Housing Angela Rayner, said: 

    Unlocking underused public land like Ripon Barracks is exactly the kind of practical action people want to see, and a crucial part of tackling the housing crisis we face.  

    By working with Homes England as a key delivery partner, we’re making a real difference for people in North Yorkshire by creating vibrant communities and driving economic growth. This marks another step forward in our mission to build 1.5 million homes in our Plan for Change.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: 

    We are delivering on our promise to create a new, trailblazer approach to the use of public land and unlock homeownership for working families in North Yorkshire and beyond. We are working together to speed up planning permissions and housebuilding plans. This is a truly cross-government effort to remove blockers, deliver homes and boost growth in support of our Plan for Change. 

    Alongside this, we are investing more than £7 billion this Parliament on improving accommodation for military personnel and their families, providing them the standard of living they truly deserve.

    Homes England will act as the master developer for Ripon Barracks and will coordinate delivery of the essential infrastructure needed before construction can begin. This includes the planning of site-wide drainage, supporting road networks, and other key enabling works.  

    Homes England and the MoD will work together to honour the site’s military past through appreciative design, landscaping, and interpretive elements within the new community. Core design principles will preserve and integrate notable historical features of the site, such as the linear parade ground layout and the original footpath network. 

    Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Homes England, said:  

    This milestone achievement is the result of government bodies uniting to drive forward this government’s mission of building 1.5 million homes this parliament. By combining MoD’s land assets with Homes England’s planning and development expertise, we’ve unlocked a site with a historic past which we’re determined will shape the development’s future.

    Deputy Head of Major Disposals for DIO, Robert Smith, said:  

    This is an important milestone in bringing forward Ripon Barracks for redevelopment and is testament to the strong collaboration between all partners involved. Ripon Barracks has a rich history and this is an excellent example of how sites that are no longer needed by the military can be unlocked to bring real benefits to the local community.

    Notes to editors: 

    1. Under current DEO Army plans, 21 Engineer Regiment will move from Claro Barracks into Marne Barracks in Catterick where they will co-locate with 32 Engineer Regiment and 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in a mixture of refurbished and modern purpose-built buildings. 

    2. As well as delivering new and refurbished accommodation for over 40,000 military personnel and their families, the Defence Estate Optimisation Portfolio will also deliver new and refurbished technical, training and office space for over 64,000 MOD personnel. 

    3. DEO is on target to release enough surplus MOD land for over 32,000 new homes to be built across the country, as well as a range of community enhancing construction projects including schools, offices, shops, parks and open green spaces. 

    4. Defence Estate Optimisation is the single biggest estates change programme within Defence, bringing together an ambitious portfolio of interdependent programmes, construction activity, unit and personnel moves, and land release. www.gov.uk/guidance/defence-estate-optimisation-deo-portfolio 

    5. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) was formed in 2011 as the Ministry of Defence’s estates arm, supporting the armed forces to enable military capability by planning, building, maintaining, and servicing infrastructure.  https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-infrastructure-organisation 

    About Homes England 

    We are the government’s housing and regeneration Agency, and we’re here to drive the creation of more affordable, quality homes and thriving places so that everyone has a place to live and grow.  

    We make this happen by working in partnership with thousands of organisations of all sizes, using our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more quality homes built. 

    Learn more about us: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england/about 

    Press Office Contact Details 

    Email: media@homesengland.gov.uk 

    Phone: 0207 874 8262

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seafront sculpture makes mark on Southsea

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    A series of five iconic stone sculptures called the Portsmouth Markers now has a sixth member with the addition of a new piece designed by the original artist John Maine RA.

    The Portsmouth Markers have been situated at five locations along the Southsea seafront since 1974. They were originally a series of six but one disappeared from its location in the late 1970s.

    John Maine was commissioned by Portsmouth City Council to create a new sculpture entitled Portsmouth Marker 2025, adding to the five markers he created more than 50 years ago.

    It is located on the promenade close to the Pyramids where it is part of the council’s arts programme for the Southsea Coastal Scheme.

    Now an internationally recognised artist in his 80s, John said: “The Portsmouth Markers have been sited to emphasise key points along the coast. 

    “In the Solent nearby there are island fortresses and navigational markers which create intervals across the vast expanse of the sea and this inspired my approach to sculpture in landscape.

    “The space between the stones becomes part of the story. I believe that such small-scale interventions can have a powerful influence on our reading of the whole landscape. 

    “It is a pleasure to revisit the project after an extended period of time and make a new mark on the landscape.”

    Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said:

    “Over five decades, the Portsmouth Markers have been recognisable fixtures of our seafront.

    “The sculptures are the only remaining artworks from a 1974 citywide sculpture exhibition so it’s great to see the full set completed by the current addition as part of today’s sea defence project.”

    The sixth marker near the Pyramids joins its ‘cousins’ at The Point, Hotwalls Studios, Spur Redoubt, Bandstand Field and Castle Field. Like the others, it is carved from Portland stone.

    The commission was made possible thanks to funding from Arts Council England.

    Read more about the Portsmouth Markers.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Help shape our strategy to give Derby’s children the best start in life

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council has launched a consultation to gather feedback on how it supports the city’s children. The Council’s draft Early Years 0-7 Strategy has been designed to create an inclusive and thriving city where every child and young person can succeed and live their best life.

    Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age seven have a major impact on their future life. This strategy sets out a vision of how education, health and social care services will collaborate with families and the voluntary sector to provide all Derby children with equal opportunity to be healthy, happy, and safe.

    The Council would love to hear what parents, carers, stakeholders and city residents think about the draft strategy to help shape it going forwards. An online survey is now live on Let’s Talk Derby and is open until Friday 25 July.

    Derby has already demonstrated significant progress in supporting its most disadvantaged children. In 2024, 54% of Derby children eligible for free school meals achieved a Good Level of Development (GLD), surpassing the national average of 51.5%. Furthermore, 29.8% of Derby children receiving SEND Support and 4.1% of children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan achieved a GLD, compared with national outcomes of 24.9% and 3.8% respectively. These achievements place Derby 10th nationally for these key outcomes.

    This new strategy builds on these existing strengths and aims to further narrow the educational attainment gap, ensuring that all children, particularly the most disadvantaged, can flourish.

    The Council has developed the strategy in partnership with key Early Years stakeholders, identifying areas where collective efforts can further improve outcomes for children and families across the city.

    Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:

    Derby aims to be an ambitious and inclusive city where all children and young people can thrive. This means providing the best possible start in life, fostering a strong sense of belonging, and supporting their development, health, and well-being. 

    This vision will be achieved through a strong collaborative network with children and families at the centre, ensuring they get the right support at the right time.

    You can contribute to this by taking part in our consultation on the draft Early Years Strategy, so please take part.

    The survey is available at Let’s Talk Derby until Friday 25 July. Feedback can also be sent by post to Coral Golding, Professional Advocate for Children in Education (PACE) and Early Years Quality Improvement Service Manager, at The Council House, Corporation Street, Derby, DE1 2FS.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Great British Energy Lands Deal to Deliver Offshore Wind Jobs

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Great British Energy Lands Deal to Deliver Offshore Wind Jobs

    Britain’s workers in industrial heartlands such as Teesside, Scotland, South Wales and East Anglia to benefit from a deal for the country’s industrial renewal.

    • Britain’s workers and industries supported as Energy Secretary and Great British Energy announce a major public-private deal to drive investment into offshore wind jobs.
    • Great British Energy’s initial investment of £300 million to catalyse a further £700 million from industry and The Crown Estate, taking the total pot to £1 billion as part of the Industrial Strategy.
    • Comes as Clean Industry Bonus allocations are confirmed, as government turbocharges delivery of clean energy jobs and growth through the Plan for Change.

    Britain’s workers in industrial heartlands such as Teesside, Scotland, South Wales and East Anglia are set to benefit from a major deal crowding in investment for the country’s industrial renewal.

    The government and Great British Energy, the UK’s publicly owned clean power company, have today (17 June) joined forces with industry and The Crown Estate to invest £1 billion in offshore wind supply chains. This will secure Britain’s renewal through manufacturing facilities and skilled well-paid jobs, delivering on government’s mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower.

    Investment comes after the Spending Review confirmed the biggest programme of investment in homegrown energy in history and forms part of the government’s Industrial Strategy – which will include clean energy industries – sending a clear signal to the world to ‘Build it in Britain’.

    This investment will power the next generation of offshore wind in Britain, supporting British innovation from blueprint to blade. By backing the manufacturing of turbines, floating platforms, HVDC cables, and cutting-edge technologies, alongside upgrading vital port infrastructure from Leith and Teesside to Great Yarmouth and Port Talbot. This investment will unlock thousands of jobs, kickstarting growth in coastal communities and industrial towns, and secure a cleaner, more independent energy future for Britain.

    The funding is made up of:

    • £300 million announced by Great British Energy in April, which provides upfront public investment to crowd in funding from the private sector into Britain’s industrial regions.
    • £400 million from The Crown Estate, intended to support new infrastructure, including ports, supply chain manufacturing and research and testing facilities.
    • £300 million being developed by the offshore wind industry to match fund government through the Industrial Growth Plan, to deliver new investments into supply chains such as advanced turbines technologies and foundations and substructures.

    This takes the pot to £1 billion, building the industries of the future in Britain, such as floating offshore wind, and securing the UK as an attractive investment destination for international investors and existing UK companies. 

    Funding will support thousands of additional jobs – from the electricians manufacturing the turbines and blades to the engineers responsible for the construction and maintenance of wind farms. The government is giving long-term industrial certainty to hardworking British people as part of the Plan for Change.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    This is an unprecedented collaboration between public and private investors with Great British Energy crowding in millions of private sector investment from industry and The Crown Estate, to ensure that British companies and workers win the global race for clean energy.

    We are witnessing the coming of age of Britain’s green industrial revolution as we build this new era of clean energy abundance, helping deliver new jobs, energy security and lower household’s bills through our Plan for Change.

    Great British Energy Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:

    Today’s announcement highlights the unique role Great British Energy can play in the market. By providing state-backed, catalytic investment, we can deliver on our remit to crowd-in investment, giving much needed certainty to developers and investors in the clean energy sector. GBE will continue to support domestic supply chains, driving sustainable economic growth for all corners of the UK.

    RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Jane Cooper said:

    A concerted focus from industry and Government on growing the offshore wind industry’s supply chain in the UK could deliver an extra 10,000 jobs between now and 2035, boosting the UK’s economy by £25 billion. Our sector is stepping up, working closely with the Energy Secretary and the Crown Estate to create new opportunities for manufacturing high-value goods like turbine towers, blades, foundations and cables, and providing high quality jobs building, operating and maintaining offshore wind farms.

    Our ambition is to transform quaysides around our coastline into clusters of global excellence in offshore wind, bringing new jobs and investment to communities which often badly need economic renewal.

    Richard Sandford, Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, said;

    Growing our supply will avoid the kind of bottlenecks that push up costs and cause delays, so it is good for developers, consumers and our Clean Power Mission. We are working to match the Government’s funding to support a homegrown supply chain, and drive long-term sector growth. It’s vital that industry and Government keep working together to remove barriers so that we can get more capacity through clean power auctions and more funding to the supply chain.

    Gus Jaspert CMG, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said:

    The power of offshore wind is not just in secure, green energy, but also in the opportunity to create jobs, investment and support economic growth across the country.  As our ambition on renewable energy grows, so too does our ambition to grow the UK’s supply chain and infrastructure.  Scaling up investment in our domestic supply chain will propel the UK towards its clean energy goals and take our world-leading sector to the next level, supporting thousands more jobs and creating an increasingly attractive environment for investors.

    The funding comes as Great British Energy have announced that leading public finance and investment institutions have come together to accelerate the deployment of funding, supporting domestic supply chain development for offshore wind projects.

    Great British Energy will bring together the National Wealth Fund, The Scottish National Investment Bank, The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland and The Development Bank of Wales, agreeing to develop a unified public finance ‘ecosystem’ to build Britain’s offshore wind supply chains.

    The government will also allocate up to £544 million from its Clean Industry Bonus, which provides funding to offshore wind developers for prioritising their investment into some of Britain’s most deprived communities, and in cleaner supply chains. 

    Funding will go to developers investing in regions such as Scotland, the North East and the East Anglia. Subject to the outcome of this year’s renewables auction, industry estimates this could support up to 14,000 jobs, and drive up to £9 billion of private funding into these communities over the next four years.  For every £1 spent on the bonus, it is estimated to crowd in £17 of private investment.

    This means unlocking private sector investment into manufacturers of electrical equipment, heavy steel products, upgraded port facilities and the high-tech components needed to build floating and fixed offshore wind farms.

    This will support good jobs for British people in these regions – delivering the government’s mission to become a Clean Energy Superpower and Plan for Change.

    Notes to editors: 

    Offshore wind supply chains:

    • The funding comes as Great British Energy today have announced that leading public finance and investment institutions have come together to accelerate the deployment of funding, supporting domestic supply chain development for offshore wind projects.
    • Great British Energy, The National Wealth Fund, The Scottish National Investment Bank, The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland and The Development Bank of Wales have each agreed to develop a unified, integrated public finance ecosystem to support the growth of the UK’s offshore wind sector.
    • Developers are set to contribute to the pot once they have secured a Contracts for Difference in the next auction round (AR7).

    Clean Industry Bonus:

    • Industry applied for Clean Industry Bonus in their numbers, with hundreds of bids, in a major vote of confidence for the Prime Minister’s mission to become a Clean Energy Superpower.   
    • Up to £200 million has been allocated to invest in clean energy facilities in the North East, unlocking up to an additional £4 billion private sector investment into manufacturers such as electrical equipment and heavy steel products.     
    • Up to £185 million has been allocated to Scotland, unlocking up to £3.5 billion private sector investment in ports and high-tech components needed to build floating and fixed offshore wind farms.    
    • The East of England has been allocated up to £20 million and Northern Ireland has up to £25 million to develop clean energy manufacturing capacity. 

    Offshore wind developers will now go on to bid for contracts to deliver their projects, as part of the next Contracts for Difference renewables round. This means there will be some attrition in winning CIB bids. Those project that win CfD contracts can then finalise the above investments into factories, with any unsuccessful projects in the main auction able to bid again next year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Combining Sustainable Growth with Performance: Boralex Announces Its Strategic Plan and Financial Objectives for 2030

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTRÉAL, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boralex inc. (“Boralex” or the “Company”) (TSX: BLX) announces its Strategic Plan and Financial Objectives for 2030.

    2030 Strategy Highlights

    • Acceleration of organic growth, leveraging our high-quality pipeline of projects and growth path
    • Maintain disciplined financial management with precise expected returns indicators, a solid balance sheet, flexible and agile financing and the introduction of a cash flows per share growth objective.  
    • Three simplified pillars: growth, efficiency and long-term differentiation.
    • Two markets in strong leadership position: Canada, with strong growth potential in Quebec and Ontario, and France, with significant potential to optimize revenues and cash flows from operating assets.
    • Two expanding markets: certain U.S. states, including solar in New York State, and the United Kingdom through the development of a long-term growth platform.
    • Increase in the weighted average remaining contract duration1 from 11 years in 2024 to 14 years by 2030.
    • Keeping up the pace of growth: double the Company’s installed capacity2 every five years within a diverse, inclusive, and responsible work environment aimed at a net-zero trajectory by 2050.

    “We are very proud to present the results of our 2030 strategic planning exercise. In a context where climate risk remains one of the main business risks globally, our strategy aims to combine sustainable growth with performance through the production of renewable and affordable energy,” said Patrick Decostre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boralex. “By executing this plan, we are unlocking the full potential of our business model, which will allow us to seize the most promising opportunities in the four markets where we are already active and where demand for renewable energy is growing rapidly,” he added.

    “This growth, supported by a development projects pipeline and growth path of 8 GW, will be carried out in a disciplined manner and will continue to focus on securing long-term power purchase agreements with an increasingly diversified customer base. Moreover, the increase in the weighted average remaining duration of our contracts from 11 to 14 years will enable us to implement highly competitive financing structures and reinvest these long-term secured funds into an increasing number of profitable projects in the coming years,” Mr. Decostre continued.

    Boralex’s 2030 Strategy is rooted in a long-term value creation perspective, as it will enable targeted investments in projects that will materialize not only over the next five years, but also in following years, replicating the approach adopted in the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. The 2030 Strategy builds on the significant efforts made over the past five years to create a high-quality development portfolio, enabling us to set fully organic growth targets over which we have greater control. As a result, this approach carries a lower level of risk compared to the previous plan, which relied on an important expected portion coming from mergers and acquisitions.

    Financial Objectives and Main Business Indicators 2025–20303

    100% Organic financial objectives

    • Compound annual growth rate (CAGR)4 of operating income between 12% to 14%, consolidated EBITDA(A)4 between 7% to 9% and combined EBITDA(A)4 between 8% to 10%.
    • CAGR of cash flows related to operating activities per share4 and of discretionary cash flows per share4 between 8% to 10%.

    Main business indicators

    • Total planned investments4 of $6.8 billion plus $1.2 billion for projects scheduled to be commissioned after 2030.
    • Minimum levered internal rate of return (IRR)4 on investments threshold between 10% and 12% adjusted for specific risks by region and technology as well as changes in cost of capital.
    • Payout ratio4 of 20% to 40% of discretionary cash flows.

    “Boralex will continue to grow by applying the same financial discipline that has driven its success in recent years. We will become even more agile by further diversifying our sources of financing. This will include a proactive approach to capital recycling for our most mature assets or those with high value-creation potential, as well as evaluating partnerships for larger-scale projects,” said Bruno Guilmette, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Boralex.

    “Our 100% organic financial objectives reflect the high potential of our development pipeline and growth path, which has nearly tripled over the past five years. We are also introducing a new target in this plan: the growth of discretionary cash flows per share—a metric aligned with investor expectations and with the variable compensation of our employees. We are therefore highly confident that these objectives, combined with our discipline, will enable Boralex to maximize value creation for its shareholders and all stakeholders,” Mr. Guilmette added.

    Investor Day 2025

    Boralex presented its 2030 Strategy and objectives to a group of investors, financial analysts, and bankers gathered in Toronto. The presentation was also broadcast live for business partners who were unable to attend in person. On this occasion, the executive team and regional leaders outlined the key elements and financial targets of the 2030 Strategy, the various growth opportunities and outlooks by region and technology, as well as the company’s approach to risk management and sustainability. A replay of the event and all presentation materials are available on Boralex’s website in the Investors section.

    About Boralex

    At Boralex, we have been providing affordable renewable energy accessible to everyone for over 30 years. As a leader in the Canadian market and France’s largest independent producer of onshore wind power, we also have facilities in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Over the past five years, our installed capacity has increased by more than 50% to 3.2 GW. We are developing a portfolio of projects in development and construction of 8 GW in wind, solar and storage projects, guided by our values and our corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach. Through profitable and sustainable growth, Boralex is actively participating in the fight against global warming. Thanks to our fearlessness, discipline, expertise and diversity, we continue to be an industry leader. Boralex’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BLX. 

    For more information, visit boralex.com or sedarplus.com. Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

    Non-IFRS and other financial measures

    Performance measures

    In order to assess the performance of its assets and reporting segments, Boralex uses various performance measures. Management believes that these measures are widely accepted financial indicators used by investors to assess the operational performance of a company and its ability to generate cash through operations. The non-IFRS and other financial measures also provide investors with insight into the Corporation’s decision making as the Corporation uses these non-IFRS financial measures to make financial, strategic and operating decisions. It is important to note that the non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered as substitutes for IFRS measures. They are primarily derived from the audited consolidated financial statements, but do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS; accordingly, they may not be comparable to similarly named measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-IFRS financial measures are not audited and have important limitations as analytical tools. Investors are therefore cautioned not to consider them in isolation or place undue reliance on ratios or percentages calculated using these non-IFRS financial measures.

    Non-GAAP financial measures
    Specific financial measure Use Composition Most directly comparable IFRS measure
    Financial data – Combined (all disclosed financial data) To assess the performance and the ability of a company to generate cash from its operations and investments in joint ventures and associates. Results from the combination of the financial information of Boralex Inc. under IFRS and the share of the financial information of the Interests.

    Interests in joint ventures and associates, Share in earnings (losses) of joint ventures and associates and Distributions received from joint ventures and associates are then replaced with Boralex’s respective share in the financial statements of the Interests (revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities, etc.).

    		 Respective financial data –Consolidated
    Discretionary cash flows To assess the cash generated from operations and the amount available for future development or to be paid as dividends to common shareholders while preserving the long-term value of the business. Net cash flows related to operating activities before “change in non-cash items related to operating activities,” less:

    (i) distributions paid to non-controlling shareholders;
    (ii) additions to property, plant and equipment (maintenance of operations);
    (iii) repayments on non-current debt (projects) and repayments to tax equity investors;
    (iv) principal payments related to lease liabilities;
    (v) adjustments for non-operational items; plus
    (vi) development costs (from the statement of earnings).

    		 Net cash flows related to operating activities
    Non-GAAP financial measures – Non-GAAP ratios
    Specific financial measure Use Composition
    Discretionary cash flows per share To assess the amount per share available for future development or to be paid as dividends to common shareholders while preserving the long-term value of the business as well as to assess operating results.

    Financial objective 2030

    		 The discretionary cash flows amount divided by the weighted average number of basic outstanding shares.
    Payout ratio To assess ability to sustain current dividends as well as ability to fund its future development.

    Main business indicator 2030

    		 The amount of dividends paid to shareholders divided by the discretionary cash flows amount.
    Other financial measures – Total of segment measures
    Specific financial measure Most directly comparable IFRS measure
    EBITDA(A) Operating income
    Other financial measures – Total of segment measures
    Specific financial measure Most directly comparable IFRS measure
    Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) The CAGR is a growth rate indicating the annual variation as if the growth had been constant throughout the period for a period of more than one fiscal year.
    Net Cash flows related to operating activities per share

    Financial objective 2030    		 The amount of cash flows from operating activities is divided by the weighted average number of basic outstanding shares.
    Total planned investments

    Main business indicator 2030

    		 Total planned investments represent the sums that will need to be invested to complete the projects up to commissioning.
    Internal rate of return (IRR)

    Main business indicator 2030

    		 The IRR is a profitability indicator that measures the average annual return of an investment, taking into account levered cash flows.


    Assumptions regarding forward-looking information

    Assumptions and risk factors regarding the forward-looking information in our 2030 strategic targets are presented below.

    Assumptions regarding forward-looking information
    Forward-looking information Key assumptions Most relevant risk factors
    2030 Installed capacity Results solely from the contribution of organic projects, excluding the impact of potential merger and acquisition transactions. Lag in commissioning time if obtaining the required permits is more complicated and takes longer than expected and if the Corporation encounters issues related to the availability of materials.
    Weighted average residual duration of contracts 2030 Growth of installed capacity according to the strategic plan and obtaining targeted contracts for new projects that will be commissioned. Delay in the commissioning of organic projects and contractual conditions different from those initially planned.
    Projects under construction Investments, EBITDA(A) and forecasted discretionary cash flows to meet the target IRR of 10% to 12% set by management for projects under construction. Possible variation in construction costs related to the complexity of work, the supply of materials and equipment and availability of labour necessary for the construction of projects.
    2030 Operating Result and EBITDA(A) 2030 Prices of energy sales or feed-in premium contracts, proportion of production sold at market prices, annual anticipated production, cost structures to support growth. Competition in requests for proposals, lag in commissioning time for organic projects and completion of merger and acquisition transactions, price curve volatility and weather conditions impacting the total volume of power generated by the Corporation.
    Cash flow per share 2030 Largely related to the expected EBITDA(A), and to project financing ranging from 70% to 80% of the total planned investment and the number of shares outstanding. Possible fluctuations related to deviations in the expected EBITDA(A) target and market conditions for financing and issuing new equity instruments


    Disclaimer regarding forward-looking statements

    Certain statements contained in this release, including those related to results and performance for future periods, installed capacity targets, EBITDA(A) and discretionary cash flows, the Corporation’s strategic plan, business model and growth strategy, organic growth and growth through mergers and acquisitions, obtaining an investment grade credit rating, payment of a quarterly dividend, the Corporation’s financial targets, the projects commissioning dates, the portfolio of renewable energy projects, the Corporation’s Growth Path, the bids for new storage and solar projects and its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives are forward-looking statements based on current forecasts, as defined by securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such as “will,” “would,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “project,” “continue,” “intend,” “assess,” “estimate” or “believe,” or expressions such as “toward,” “about,” “approximately,” “to be of the opinion,” “potential” or similar words or the negative thereof or other comparable terminology, are used to identify such statements.

    Forward-looking statements are based on major assumptions, including those about the Corporation’s return on its projects, as projected by management with respect to wind and other factors, opportunities that may be available in the various sectors targeted for growth or diversification, assumptions made about EBITDA(A) margins, assumptions made about the sector realities and general economic conditions, competition, exchange rates as well as the availability of funding and partners. While the Corporation considers these factors and assumptions to be reasonable, based on the information currently available to the Corporation, they may prove to be inaccurate.

    Boralex wishes to clarify that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and that its results, or the measures it adopts, could be significantly different from those indicated or underlying those statements, or could affect the degree to which a given forward-looking statement is achieved. The main factors that may result in any significant discrepancy between the Corporation’s actual results and the forward-looking financial information or expectations expressed in forward-looking statements include the general impact of economic conditions, fluctuations in various currencies, fluctuations in energy prices, the risk of not renewing PPAs or being unable to sign new corporate PPA, the risk of not being able to capture the US or Canadian investment tax credit, counterparty risk, the Corporation’s financing capacity, cybersecurity risks, competition, changes in general market conditions, industry regulations and amendments thereto, particularly the legislation, regulations and emergency measures that could be implemented for time to time to address high energy prices in Europe, litigation and other regulatory issues related to projects in operation or under development, as well as certain other factors considered in the sections dealing with risk factors and uncertainties appearing in Boralex’s MD&A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.

    Unless otherwise specified by the Corporation, forward-looking statements do not take into account the effect that transactions, non-recurring items or other exceptional items announced or occurring after such statements have been made may have on the Corporation’s activities. There is no guarantee that the results, performance or accomplishments, as expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, will materialize. Readers are therefore urged not to rely unduly on these forward-looking statements.

    Unless required by applicable securities legislation, Boralex’s management assumes no obligation to update or revise forward- looking statements in light of new information, future events or other changes.

    For more information

    Source: Boralex inc.        

    1 The weighted average remaining duration also includes non-activated contracts for newly commissioned sites.
    2 Installed capacity reflects 100% of Boralex’s subsidiaries in which Boralex is the controlling shareholder. It also reflects Boralex’s share in entities over which it does not have control, and which are accounted for using the equity method.
    3 For more information on the key assumptions and risk factors related to the targets of the 2030 strategic plan, refer to the section Non-IFRS financial measures and other financial measures of this press release.
    4 The compound annual growth rate, cash flows from operating activities per share, total planned investments, and internal rate of return are additional financial measures. The Combined is a non-GAAP financial measure and does not have a standardized definition under IFRS. Therefore, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Discretionary cash flows per share and the payout ratio are non-GAAP ratios and do not have a standardized definition under IFRS. EBITDA(A) is a total of sector measures. In 2024, net cash flows from operating activities amounted to $411 million, after adjusting to exclude the change in accounts payable related to the inframarginal rent contribution, representing an amount of $196 million. This adjustment primarily reflects a payment made during the third quarter of the fiscal year. The inframarginal rent contribution is no longer applicable in 2025. For more details, refer to the section Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Financial Measures in this press release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermex and the New York Red Bulls Join Forces to Bring Financial Services to Northeastern Communities Through the Shared Passion for Soccer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI) (“Intermex” or the “Company”), a leading money remittance provider to Latin America and the Caribbean, today announced a new official partnership with the New York Red Bulls, one of Major League Soccer’s most dynamic and community-focused clubs. This collaboration brings together two organizations committed to serving and celebrating the diverse cultural richness of the Latino community, using soccer as a powerful platform for connection.

    With over 85 million soccer fans across the United States and Latinos representing nearly 70% of MLS viewership, this partnership with the New York Red Bulls strengthens Intermex’s commitment to remain close to its customers in the northeast region — not only through financial services, but by supporting the sport that represents identity, family, and tradition for millions of Latino households.

    “Intermex was built by Latinos for Latinos. Partnering with the New York Red Bulls allows us to engage directly with the vibrant northeast latin communities we proudly serve, in one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world,” said Marcelo Theodoro, Chief Product, Marketing & Digital Officer at Intermex. “NY Red Bulls represents the cutting edge of the sport, This partnership demonstrates Intermex’s ambition to expand, grow, and redefine what it means to move money and provide financial services with meaning in the digital age.”

    “The Red Bulls and Sports Illustrated Stadium are proud to welcome Intermex to our club and venue,” said Scott Epstein, Head of Corporate Partnerships, New York Red Bulls. “As valued partners, we both pride ourselves on the exceptional customer and fan experience we strive to deliver.”

    Through this partnership, Intermex and the New York Red Bulls will collaborate on in-stadium activations, community outreach events, and cultural initiatives that spotlight the passion, pride, and identity that soccer brings to Latino families across the Tri-State area.

    About Intermex
    Founded in 1994, Intermex applies proprietary technology to enable consumers to send money from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany to more than 60 countries. The company facilitates digital money movement through its website and mobile app, as well as through a vast network of retail agents and company-operated stores. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Intermex also operates international offices in Puebla, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; London, England; and Madrid, Spain. Learn more at www.intermexonline.com.

    About New York Red Bulls
    The New York Red Bulls are one of 29 teams in Major League Soccer (MLS). The club is owned by the global energy drink and media company Red Bull GmbH and plays its home matches at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Since joining MLS as a founding member in 1996, the Red Bulls have won three Supporters’ Shields, earned multiple playoff appearances, and continue to serve as a leader in youth development through its Academy system. The club is deeply committed to connecting with the diverse communities of the New York and New Jersey metro area through soccer, community programs, and fan engagement. For more information, visit www.newyorkredbulls.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Alex Sadowski
    Investor Relations Coordinator
    ir@intermexusa.com
    305-671-8000

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man arrested in connection to attempted rape

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A 67-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape after members of public came forward following a media appeal.

    The man is accused of an alleged attempted rape at a cinema in Finchley Road, NW3 on Wednesday, 11 June.

    He was arrested in Primrose Hill at around 17:30hrs on Monday, 16 June and remains in police custody.

    The victim-survivor continues to be supported by specialist officers.

    Detective Chief Inspector Paul Ridley, leading the Met’s investigation, said: “Our thanks go to the public who worked quickly to share the appeal, leading to the arrest.

    “I know this incident will have caused concern for the local community, so I’d like to reassure Londoners that this investigation is progressing at pace.

    “Our commitment remains that women and girls in London should feel safe going about their daily lives. Local neighbourhood officers continue to patrol in the surrounding area, so if anyone has any concerns, please do talk to them as they are here to help.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • Indian, French Armies to conduct joint military drill in Southern France

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    contingent of the Indian Army departed on Monday to participate in the eighth edition of the Indo-French joint military exercise, Shakti, set to be held from June 18 to July 1, at Camp Larzac, La Cavalerie, in southern France.

    The Indian team comprises 90 personnel, with the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles leading the representation, supported by troops from various arms and services. The French Army contingent, also numbering 90 personnel, will include soldiers from the 13th Foreign Legion Half-Brigade (13th DBLE), a renowned unit of the French Foreign Legion.

    Exercise Shakti, a biennial engagement between the Indian and French armies, is designed to deepen interoperability and operational cooperation, with this edition focusing on joint operations in a sub-conventional environment in accordance with Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Training will take place in semi-urban terrain, reflecting the complexities of modern conflict scenarios.

    The joint exercise is expected to enhance coordination between the two armies through shared tactical drills and exchanges on Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs). Troops will also train on contemporary military technologies and equipment while undertaking physically demanding activities aimed at building endurance and cohesion.

    Beyond operational objectives, the exercise is expected to strengthen military-to-military ties, promote mutual understanding, and foster camaraderie between the personnel of the two nations.

    Exercise Shakti-VIII is emblematic of the growing strategic partnership between India and France. Defence cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral relations, with both countries regularly engaging in military exchanges, joint exercises, and high-level visits.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russians’ interest in the Chinese city of Shanghai is steadily growing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 17 (Xinhua) — Russians’ interest in the Chinese city of Shanghai is steadily growing, according to data from the city’s immigration service.

    In the period from the beginning of January to June 12, 2025, Russia took 6th place in the tourist flow to Shanghai in terms of the number of tourists, writes the newspaper Xinmin Wanbao.

    According to this indicator, the top 10 countries include the Republic of Korea, Japan, the USA, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Germany, Vietnam and Australia.

    According to official data, Shanghai received a total of over 2.3 million foreign tourists during the period, an increase of 45.6 percent year-on-year.

    Shanghai’s tourism boom is believed to be due to the ongoing optimization of its visa-free policy. China has introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of 47 countries and extended the permitted stay under visa-free transit to 240 hours for citizens of 55 countries.

    Statistics show that during the reporting period, about 1.27 million foreigners made visa-free tourist trips to Shanghai. Their share exceeded 50 percent.

    To make it more convenient for foreigners to travel to the city, the local immigration service hotline 12367 has introduced service functions in Russian and other languages. In addition, police officers who speak foreign languages, including Russian, English, Japanese, Korean and Arabic, are on duty at passport control points. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –