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Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Arab Coordination Group (ACG) provided US$ 19.6 billion in 2024 to promote global sustainable development

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) (https://TheACG.org/), the world’s second-largest development finance group, extended US$19.6 billion collectively to fund nearly 650 operations in more than 90 countries in 2024. This significant financing was geared towards developing critical infrastructure, addressing global challenges like climate change and food security, and supporting international trade.  

    The ACG Heads of Institutions gathered in Vienna today for their 20th annual meeting hosted by the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund). Ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) which is scheduled to take place from 30 June to 3 July 2025 in Spain, the group reaffirmed its commitment to scaling-up financial assistance for sustainable development.

    The top three sectors supported by ACG financing last year were energy (29 percent), agriculture (20 percent) and the financial sector (16 percent). Over 45 percent of the total financing promoted global trade, ensuring the movement of critical products and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

    In 2024, approximately 20 percent of the ACG’s commitments were dedicated to Africa, aligned with the US$50 billion pledge made by the group in November, 2023. During their meeting in Vienna today, the Heads of Institutions pledged continued and increasing support to the most vulnerable communities in Africa. The commitment aims to provide financing for energy security and energy transition; food security; enhanced integration of the Arab and African regions; gender and youth initiatives; and private sector support.

    The ACG will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in October 2025, marking a significant milestone in its journey of fostering sustainable development worldwide. This momentous occasion will provide an opportunity to reflect on the Group’s remarkable legacy, achievements, and challenges, while also reaffirming its commitment to global development. This event will not only document the Group’s accomplishments over the past fifty years but also inspire renewed commitment to advancing impactful development solutions worldwide.

    – on behalf of Arab Coordination Group (ACG).

    About the Arab Coordination Group (ACG):
    The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is a strategic alliance that provides a coordinated response to development finance. Since its establishment in 1975, ACG has been instrumental in developing economies and communities for a better future, providing more than 13,000 development loans to over 160 countries around the globe. Comprising ten development funds, ACG is the second-largest group of development finance institutions in the world and works across the globe to support developing nations and create a lasting, positive impact.

    The Group comprises the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development.

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Senegal’s tech ecosystem thrives as tech hub evolves

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    OPTIC, Senegal’s leading organization for tech professionals, has worked for three years with the Netherlands Trust Fund (NTF) V project at ITC to improve its services. Together we’ve improved Senegal’s entire digital ecosystem by investing in new skills and opportunities.

    Positive spin-offs for Senegal’s digital ecosystem

    OPTIC, the Organisation des Professionnels des Technologies de l’Information et de la Communication, has a long-standing and fruitful collaboration with ITC. They’ve worked with the current NTF V project, which is now winding down, as well as the previous NTF IV project.

    The project supports Senegal’s efforts to grow its economy with digital technology. That includes both information technology (IT) companies, and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms that offer back-office services to international businesses. 

    ‘NTF’s support has enabled us to establish our legitimacy and intensify our efforts in the Senegalese tech ecosystem,’ said Antoine Ngom, President of OPTIC. ‘Dozens of IT and BPO start-ups have benefited from this initiative, not to mention the indirect spin-offs that have benefited the entire tech economy.’

    OPTIC has set itself several goals: to create a regulatory environment conducive to growth and innovation; to improve the skills and competitiveness of players on international markets; and to foster partnerships. 

    ‘Our members have been able to seize international development opportunities thanks to personalized coaching sessions, as well as work on their pitch and sharpen their fund-raising skills through specialized training courses. Participation in leading B2B events, both national (SIPEN) and international (VivaTech, Africarena, GITEX International), considerably increased their visibility and expanded their professional network. A 360° diagnosis helped them to identify levers for improving their company’s performance, while certification support opened doors to national and international public procurement markets, synonymous with new growth prospects. The agritech community also benefited from a number of thematic meetings and a mapping of solutions.’ 

    Strengthen achievements and maintain regional influence

    OPTIC also received comprehensive, structuring support from the NTF V Project. After a performance diagnosis, OPTIC restructured its governance, revised its fundamental texts, and defined its recruitment needs for the permanent secretariat.

    ‘Cooperation between OPTIC and the NTF V project has also helped to make the SIPEN trade show a major focal point for players in the African digital economy. And that’s not counting the technical support we’ve provided for workshops, digital mornings and other ThémaTIC breakfasts that benefit Senegal’s Tech community,’ said Ngom.

    All these initiatives have contributed to the emergence of the Digital Senegal consortium and to the realization of promising partnerships with players such as Sen Startup. ‘There’s no doubt that the NTF V project has helped OPTIC to strengthen its leadership capabilities and increase its regional influence. We’ve seen a significant increase in membership over the past few years,’ added Ngom, who hopes to build on this positive impact over the long term. Now that the trade organization has secured a plot of land on which to build its future head office, achieving financial autonomy is a new challenge.

    ‘We want OPTIC to reinforce its position as a key digital player in Senegal and more widely in West Africa. To achieve this, we plan to boost our regional cooperation and support dialogue with public authorities more than ever. To continue our work, diversify our best practices and develop profitable activities, we are launching an appeal to national and international partners,’ he said. Ngom hopes a future NTF VI project will be part of that.

    About the project

    The Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF) programme (July 2021 – June 2025) is based on a partnership between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Trade Centre. NTF V supports SMEs in the digital technology and agribusiness sectors in Benin,Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Uganda. Its ambition is to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable transformation of agri-food systems partly through digital solutions, to improve the international competitiveness of local tech start-ups and to support the implementation of the export strategy of IT&BPO companies.

    – on behalf of International Trade Centre.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Letter from the Chair of the Office for Value for Money (OVfM) to the Comptroller & Auditor General

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Letter from the Chair of the Office for Value for Money (OVfM) to the Comptroller & Auditor General

    An exchange of letters between David Goldstone CBE, Chair of the OVfM, and Gareth Davies, the Comptroller and Auditor General, about the OVfM’s input into Spending Review 2025.

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    Letter from the Chair of the Office for Value for Money (OVfM) to the Comptroller & Auditor General

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    As part of the OVfM’s continued engagement with the National Audit Office, these letters set out the OVfM’s input into Spending Review 2025, how it has delivered against the mandate set by the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Budget 2024, its planned next steps, and the NAO’s reflections.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

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    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen Highland Games brings family fun

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Hazlehead Park was filled with the sound of bagpipes on Sunday as thousands enjoyed the Aberdeen Highland Games.  

    Over 8,000 attendees enjoyed traditional Highland Games events, including caber tossing and Highland Dancing, as well as a range of fun activities such as an assault course, climbing wall, segways and TechFest.  

    The 2025 Highland Games were officially opened by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, and The Marquess of Aberdeen and Temair, George Gordon, who was the Chieftan of the games.  

    The Lord Provost said: “I had a fantastic time being a part of this year’s Highland Games.  

    “Each year the Highland Games is so popular, with this year once again being no different, and I was delighted to see so many people turn out and enjoy a fun day out in the sun for the most part, the two heavy showers late in the afternoon did not dampen the spirits of everyone present.  

    Stage entertainment featured popular children’s act Mr Bloom from CBeebies and musical performances by Aberdeen City Music Service, The Rock Choir and Vienna. 

    A selection of fine food and drink from local producers was also available alongside quality trade and charity stalls.  

    Aberdeen’s summer events programme will continue with the Armed Forces Day Parade on 28 June, followed by the Festival of the Sea running from 12-27 July, and The Tall Ships Races from 19-22 July that will see the city welcome 50 magnificent vessels for four days of international celebration, music, food and family fun.  

    More information can be found online.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Law enforcement representatives from Ukraine build knowledge around Advance Passenger Information and passenger data systems during OSCE study visit to the United Kingdom

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Law enforcement representatives from Ukraine build knowledge around Advance Passenger Information and passenger data systems during OSCE study visit to the United Kingdom

    Law enforcement representatives from Ukraine build knowledge around Advance Passenger Information and passenger data systems during OSCE study visit to the United Kingdom | OSCE

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan

    UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    Special Rapporteur,

    We welcome your dedication to highlighting the grave human rights situation in Afghanistan. The UK fully supports your mandate.

    As you have outlined, as we approach the fourth anniversary of Taliban rule, women and girls are denied their right to education, employment, freedom of movement and expression.

    Discrimination against so many is compounded by the lack of accessible, affordable and impartial judicial institutions.

    The Taliban must reverse these inhumane restrictions to ensure a brighter future for all Afghans, including minorities such as LGBT+ individuals and people from ethnic Hazara communities.

    23 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian assistance. The UK continues to provide assistance, working with the UN and others.

    We remain committed to working constructively for an Afghanistan at peace with itself, its neighbours and the international community. Afghanistan cannot achieve long-term stability and prosperity while half its population is systematically excluded from society.

    The international community must remain united in ensuring accountability and in urging the Taliban to change direction.

    Special Rapporteur, what are the short and long-term consequences of this erosion of justice for Afghan society as a whole?

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement for the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement for the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Eritrea. Delivered by the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.

    Thank you Mr President,

    We thank the Special Rapporteur for his update and reiterate our ongoing support to his vital mandate. We remain concerned by Eritrea’s continued lack of engagement with the Special Rapporteur and minimal human rights scrutiny in the country.

    During Eritrea’s Universal Periodic Review in May 2024, the UK welcomed progress made in promoting economic, social and cultural rights, including an improvement in higher education opportunities. But more still needs to be done to ensure that the rights of Eritreans are fully promoted and protected.

    Meaningful change is urgently needed.

    The system of national service needs a comprehensive evaluation to help stem the flow of young people leaving the country in search of freedoms and opportunities they cannot access in Eritrea.

    Furthermore, those arbitrarily detained for political reasons, or for their religion or belief, must be released.

    Special Rapporteur,

    How can this Council further support your mandate, including by facilitating visits to the region?

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Situation in the Middle East: E3 Statement at the IAEA Extraordinary Board, 16 June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Speech

    Situation in the Middle East: E3 Statement at the IAEA Extraordinary Board, 16 June 2025

    Joint statement by Ambassador Corinne Kitsell, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, on behalf of France, Germany and the UK (E3) at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Extraordinary Board of Governors meeting on 16 June 2025.

    Chair,

    The E3 are concerned about  the ongoing escalation of tensions in the Middle East, following Israeli strikes against targets in Iran and Iran’s response. The E3 reiterate their commitment to the region’s stability and call on all sides to abide by international law, show restraint and refrain from taking further steps which could lead to serious consequences such as potential radioactive release. Escalation is in the interest of no one in the region.

    We reiterate our full support to the IAEA’s independent and impartial mandate and thank the DG for his recent update to the UNSC.

    The E3 have repeatedly expressed their deep concern about Iran’s accelerating and expanding enrichment activities without any plausible civilian justification. The E3 are also worried by recent statements by high-ranking officials on Iran’s willingness to take new and special measures to protect nuclear materials and equipment that would not be declared to the IAEA. As a state party to the NPT and its nuclear safeguards regime, Iran is obliged to declare and put all nuclear material located in Iran under IAEA safeguards. Such statements are concerning and exacerbate the IAEA Comprehensive Report’s findings of Iran’s continued noncompliance with its safeguards agreement and that the IAEA is not in a capacity to verify that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.

    Manipulative attempts to link this crisis with the resolution passed by the Board is an unjustified and irresponsible narrative politicising the IAEA and the safeguards system. The resolution this Board adopted last week was a necessary and long-overdue step to hold Iran into account for its failure to cooperate sufficiently with the Agency over the past six years. It was measured and gave Iran a final opportunity to resolve the outstanding safeguards issues. Iran’s full cooperation with the IAEA and full implementation of its safeguards agreement are a legal obligation and a necessary foundation for any enduring agreement.

    The E3 have repeatedly expressed our commitment to a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear programme and the security of the state of Israel. We have supported recent US diplomatic efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement. We regret Iran’s decision not to participate in talks scheduled this Sunday in Oman. We will spare no efforts to contribute to a negotiated solution, in coordination with the United States.

    Thank you, Chair.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO participates in EU European Youth Event in Strasbourg

    Source: NATO

    “What if Google Maps was a game?” This question was brought to a whole new level when NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division presented an Alliance-themed Geoguessr game at the biennial European Youth Event (EYE) on 14 June 2025.

    Hosted at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France and attended by various European Union (EU) institutions, international organisations, civil society and youth organisations, the EYE brings together thousands of 16- to 30-year-olds from across the European Union, and beyond. It provides a platform for young people to exchange views and debate with European parliamentarians and other influential decision-makers.

    For the first time, the event included a dedicated session on NATO and provided European youth with the opportunity to learn more about how the Alliance works to ensure peace and security for one billion people across Europe and North America. The briefing covered an introduction to NATO, a panel session in which young Europeans were able to ask questions to experts about the Alliance’s core business, and a fast-paced location-guessing challenge with a French professional Geoguessr, Bastel.

    Geoguessr is an online game in which players are dropped in a random location somewhere in the world. Using a 360-degree image from Google Street View, they must guess where they have landed based on the scenery, geographical features, or local elements specific to certain locations. To help educate young people about the Alliance, a specific version of the game was created with 35 significant locations from NATO’s history, such as the Palais de Chaillot, opposite the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, where NATO’s Headquarters was based from 1952 to 1959. By playing along with Bastel and NATO staff, the more-than-150 attendees were able to learn more about the origins and relevance of the Alliance in a fun and engaging manner.

    The event concluded with an open conversation between the young audience members and NATO experts. Questions centred around today’s security challenges, NATO-EU unity in the context of defence, and how young people can help contribute to the Alliance’s mission.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Steijn: The AI assistant transforming meal planning for millions in the Netherlands

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Steijn: The AI assistant transforming meal planning for millions in the Netherlands

    Albert Heijn carries about 17,000 different products in its 1,200 stores, and it has a system of demand forecasting that makes as many as one billion predictions a day to ensure the best possible balance between supply and demand.

    A separate product team is responsible for the price labels on the electronic shelves in the stores.

    “There is an algorithm behind them that automatically calculates the best discounts every 15 minutes,” van Ameyden says. As products get closer to their expiration date, the discounts get bigger. “At the beginning of the day you might see 20% off, and it can go to 70%.”

    Willems, back at home in her kitchen in Nieuw-Vennep, said that as long as she’s been shopping for groceries, she’s been an Albert Heijn customer, and before Steijn appeared, she was using recipes she found in the app.

    Steijn has added a helpful twist, however, introducing new flavors – both by suggesting variations on favorite recipes and introducing new ones.

    “For example, lentils – I never used lentils for any of my recipes, but when I entered three ingredients in Steijn, it came up with a lentil soup, and we loved it,” she said. “Thanks to Steijn I’m now a big fan of lentils.”

    Van Straaten said Steijn has delivered both practical and unexpected benefits.

    “I think Steijn saves me about an hour and a half to two hours a week,” he said. “But I think what is even more important is that I provide my kids with healthier food and a better variety of food.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Announcing comprehensive sovereign solutions empowering European organizations

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Announcing comprehensive sovereign solutions empowering European organizations

    Today, we are taking the next step in strengthening our European Digital Commitments to empower our customers with greater choice, more control over their data privacy and the most robust digital resilience we have ever offered. Building on our 42-year history as a company in Europe, we are expanding our efforts with Microsoft Sovereign Cloud. This offer spans both public cloud and private digital infrastructure, ensuring our customers can choose the right balance of control, compliance and capability for their needs.

    With this expanded offering we are announcing Data Guardian for European operations, External Key Management for customer-controlled encryption, Regulated Environment Management for simplified configuration and Microsoft 365 Local for critical productivity services in private cloud environments.

    This brings together comprehensive productivity, security and cloud solutions designed to enable European organizations to grow, compete and lead on their own terms and with more control than ever before across Sovereign Public Cloud, Sovereign Private Cloud and National Partner Clouds.

    Building on our experience delivering sovereignty solutions that meet the needs of highly regulated customers and government agencies, our Sovereign Public Cloud is an evolution and expansion of the Microsoft Cloud for Sovereignty and will be offered across all existing European datacenter regions, for all European customers, across enterprise services such as Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Security and Power Platform. Sovereign Public Cloud ensures customer data stays in Europe, under European Law, with operations and access controlled by European personnel, and encryption is under full control of customers. This is enabled for all customer workloads running in our European datacenter regions requiring no migration.

    Microsoft’s new Sovereign Private Cloud will support critical collaboration, communication and virtualization services workloads on Azure Local. This solution now integrates Microsoft 365 Local and our security platform with Azure Local, providing consistent capabilities for hybrid or air-gapped environments to meet resiliency and business continuity requirements.

    In France and Germany, our National Partner Clouds offer comprehensive capabilities of Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Azure in an independently owned and operated environment. In France, we have an agreement with Bleu, a joint venture between Orange and Capgemini, for Bleu to operate a “cloud de confiance” for the French public sector, critical infrastructure providers and essential services providers that is designed to meet SecNumCloud requirements. In Germany, we have an agreement with Delos Cloud, an SAP subsidiary, for Delos Cloud to operate a sovereign cloud for the German public sector that is designed to meet the German government’s Cloud Platform Requirements.

    Across our Sovereign Public Cloud, Sovereign Private Cloud and support for National Partner Clouds, Microsoft Sovereign Cloud offers the most comprehensive set of sovereignty solutions in the industry for integrated productivity, security and cloud.

    Sovereign Public Cloud for all Microsoft Cloud customers in Europe

    Many technology providers have approached sovereignty as niche requirements for a unique set of customers that require a specific deployment approach that at times is at odds with the economics and innovation of public cloud systems. This often requires running duplicate systems and teams, migrating to separate environments and limiting access to cutting-edge technologies like AI. However, Microsoft’s Sovereign Public Cloud builds an evolving set of sovereign capabilities that can be configured to meet specific needs without sacrificing functionality or requiring migration to specialized datacenters. With Microsoft’s Sovereign Public Cloud currently in preview and set to be generally available in all European cloud regions later this year, we will introduce new features and solutions that reinforce this vision.

    Announcing Data Guardian

    Our EU Data Boundary already provides an industry-leading commitment to store and process your data on infrastructure located in Europe. Data Guardian will add an additional level of assurance by ensuring that only Microsoft personnel residing in Europe control remote access to these systems. Data Guardian adds additional human and technical oversight whenever engineers outside of Europe need access. All remote access by Microsoft engineers to the systems that store and process your data in Europe is approved and monitored by European resident personnel in real time and will be logged in a tamper-evident ledger.

    Announcing External Key Management to extend Azure Managed HSM

    Encryption under the full control of customers provides an additional guarantee of data protection. With external key management, customers can connect Azure to keys stored on their own Hardware Security Module (HSM) on-premises or hosted by a trusted third party. We’re working with major HSM manufacturers such as Futurex, Thales and Utimaco to ensure their support.

    Announcing Regulated Environment Management

    The Regulated Environment Management service will allow customers to easily manage all these features in one place (for instance, configuring Data Guardian policies or reviewing access log entries). Regulated Environment Management will be at the center of the customer experience for configuring, deploying and monitoring workloads in support of sovereign operations. Together, these tools will be at the center of the customer experience for configuring, deploying and monitoring workloads in the Sovereign Public Cloud.

    Sovereign Private Cloud with Azure Local and Microsoft 365 Local

    While strengthening sovereign controls in public cloud environments is critical, we also understand that some scenarios require certain workloads be run in a physical environment under full customer control to support business continuity risk mitigation. Azure Local delivers Microsoft cloud services in customer locations, enabling organizations to meet specific data residency and sovereignty requirements. It includes core Azure capabilities — such as compute, storage, networking and virtualization services — while providing a consistent management and developer experience. Azure Local is ideal for delivering services closer to where data is generated or regulated, whether in-country, on-premises or in partner-operated datacenters. Microsoft’s Sovereign Private Cloud solution is in preview today and will be generally available later this year.

    Announcing Microsoft 365 Local

    Microsoft 365 Local provides customers with additional choice by bringing together Microsoft’s productivity server software into an Azure Local environment that can run entirely in a customer’s own datacenter.

    This provides a simplified deployment and management framework for organizations to run Microsoft’s trusted productivity servers in environments they fully control. Built on our validated reference architecture and powered by Azure Local, Microsoft 365 Local enables customers to deploy Microsoft productivity workloads like Exchange Server and SharePoint Server in their own datacenters or sovereign cloud environments — with full control on security, compliance and governance.

    Private Sovereign Cloud is designed for governments, critical industries and regulated sectors that need to meet the highest standards of data residency, operational autonomy and disconnected access.

    Building a sovereign cloud and AI partner ecosystem for Europe

    To support European customers in implementing and operating sovereign solutions, we are also excited to preview a new Microsoft Sovereign Cloud specialization in the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. This specialization will provide our European customers the ability to identify Partners who have differentiated themselves based on their demonstrated capabilities in supporting their Sovereign Cloud ambitions on Microsoft technology. Our preview partners include Accenture, Arvato Systems, Atea, Atos, Crayon, Capgemini, Dell Technologies, IBM, Inspark, Infosys, Lenovo, Leonardo, NTT Data, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone.

    “The launch of Microsoft Sovereign Cloud marks a pivotal moment in empowering European institutions and industries with the control, compliance and innovation they need to thrive in today’s digital economy,” said Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini Group.

    “As a shareholder of Bleu, we have already set up a National Partner Cloud in France in order to deliver Microsoft technologies in a sovereign environment that respects the French State requirements. With decades of experience in Microsoft technologies and deep expertise in regulated sectors, we are uniquely positioned to help our clients harness the full power of Microsoft’s sovereign public and private cloud solutions. Together, we are enabling a trusted digital future for Europe.”

    Delivering on our digital commitments to Europe

    Together, Microsoft Sovereign Cloud is grounded in our European Digital Commitments and offers the best mix of choice, control and resilience for European customers. Microsoft is proud to offer the broadest set of sovereignty solutions available on the market today and we will constantly look for new ways to ensure our European customers have the options and assurances they need to operate with confidence.

    In a time of geopolitical volatility, we are committed to providing digital stability. With each step we take in this journey, we invite open dialogues with our customers, policymakers and regulators as we continue to innovate.

    Tags: Azure, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Sovereign Cloud, National Partner, Power Platform, Sovereign Private Cloud, Sovereign Public Cloud

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: You know AI is transformative when it’s at your dinner table. In the Netherlands today, I met the Albert Heijn team who are using Azure AI Foundry to help customers navigate everyday decisions, like what’s for dinner.

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: You know AI is transformative when it’s at your dinner table. In the Netherlands today, I met the Albert Heijn team who are using Azure AI Foundry to help customers navigate everyday decisions, like what’s for dinner.

    Really impressed by how Steijn tackles the problem with habit-driven user design – helping users within their existing decision-making flow rather than forcing new workflows. It’s a smart example of making AI feel seamless and intuitive. This is exactly where GenAI shines, not just through automation, but through contextual augmentation that enhances everyday choices. And we’re just scratching the surface with such applications, industries like healthcare, education, and logistics are next in line to benefit from similar personalized, AI-powered experiences.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Life’s Better by Bike — Even Small Rides Can Make a Big Difference 16 June 2025 Islanders are being invited to leave the car at home and hop on their bikes this June

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Islanders are being invited to leave the car at home and hop on their bikes this June, as part of the Isle of Wight Council’s ‘Life’s Better by Bike’ campaign.

    The campaign aims to inspire residents to swap shorter car journeys for cycling — boosting their own health and wellbeing while helping to protect the Island’s environment.

    Throughout June, the campaign will highlight how cycling can help improve physical fitness, strengthen mental wellbeing, and contribute to cleaner, greener communities.

    While we recognise that not all routes are currently ideal for cycling — with some lanes and footpaths in need of improvement — the campaign also aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining and enhancing our cycling infrastructure. Feedback from local cycling groups is vital in helping us identify areas that need attention.

    Simon Bryant, the Isle of Wight’s Director of Public Health, said: “We know that regular cycling can help reduce stress, improve mental focus, and boost heart health. It’s also a great way to reconnect with nature, enjoy time with friends and family, and rediscover that sense of freedom we often lose in busy daily life. Life really is better by bike — and we’d love to see as many people as possible joining in this June.”

    With the Island’s roads often busy, especially during peak times, cycling can offer a refreshing alternative for some journeys — no queues, just the freedom of two wheels. However, we understand that for others, walking may feel like a safer or more accessible option, and that’s okay too. The key is finding ways to stay active and reduce car use where possible.

    The council will be promoting local cycle routes — including those best suited for beginners or families — offering inspiration for Islanders of all abilities to get started or rediscover the simple joy of riding a bike.

    The Isle of Wight celebrates its highly reputed status as one of the top cycling destinations in the world. With around 200 miles of cycle tracks, byways and bridleways, there are plenty of opportunities to explore — whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just starting out.

    Residents are encouraged to share their cycling adventures on social media, tagging the council and using the hashtag #LifesBetterByBike for a chance to be featured.

    Even a short ride can make a big difference — to your health, your mood, and the environment we all share.

    Residents can find cycling tips, local routes, and ways to get involved by visiting our Life’s better by bike webapge: Life’s better by bike

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Support for Struggling Island Households – DWP Household Support Fund 16 June 2025 Households on the Isle of Wight will benefit from extended financial assistance thanks to the DWP extension of the HSF

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Households on the Isle of Wight will benefit from extended financial assistance with the cost of food, utilities, and wider essentials thanks to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) extension of the Household Support Fund (HSF). Available from early-June 2025 until March 2026, the fund provides £1.994 million to help eligible Island residents struggling to manage the continued cost of living pressures.

    Ian Lloyd, Strategic Manager for Partnerships and Support Services, Isle of Wight Council, emphasised the importance of this funding: “Supporting our community through these challenging times is a top priority, as recognised in the Island’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The extended Household Support Fund will offer crucial assistance to those facing financial hardship.”

    Key Support Measures

    • Supermarket Vouchers: A £25 one-off voucher will be distributed to up to 10,000 households receiving Local Council Tax Support as of 19 May 2025. These vouchers will be sent out in July. Pensioners in receipt of Local Council Tax Support as of 29 September 2025 will receive an additional supermarket voucher in November.

    • Utility Support for Pensioners: Eligible pensioners will receive £75 pre-paid utility cards or vouchers between November and February, in addition to the supermarket voucher in November.

    • Additional Vouchers: Up to three £25 supermarket vouchers will be available for households experiencing significant financial crises through Isle of Wight Council and partner organizations.

    • Foodbank and Community Pantry Support: Essential food items will be provided to those in financial crisis need.

    • Help Through Crisis: Support for utility debt, energy-efficient white goods, and emergency food assistance.

    • Community Grants: Funding will be available for local initiatives offering crisis and preventative approaches through support and guidance, with application windows in June, September, and January.

    For more information, visit the council’s cost of living web page, email hsf@iow.gov.uk, or call (01983) 823644.

    This initiative aligns with the Isle of Wight’s Poverty Reduction Strategy 2024-2029, which aims to address financial hardship through targeted support, preventative measures, and long-term planning in partnership.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dstl celebrates King’s Honours and team commendations

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Dstl celebrates King’s Honours and team commendations

    Dstl engineer Peter Briggs awarded an OBE for his work securing UK defence and security capabilities, and Dstl teams receive VCDS commendations.

    Dstl scientist Peter Briggs OBE

    Peter Briggs, Senior Principal Engineer in Positioning, Navigation and Timing at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list 2025. He has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

    The prestigious honour acknowledges Peter’s significant contributions to the UK’s defence and security capabilities through his expert work in Positioning, Navigation and Timing technologies at Dstl.

    During his 23-year career at Dstl, he has led numerous groundbreaking projects that have enhanced the resilience of the UK’s critical navigation systems, developed countermeasures against emerging threats and strengthened collaboration with international partners.

    On hearing about his award Peter said:

    I am amazed and proud to receive this honour for the work I’ve done over my career. I’d like to thank all of my incredible colleagues, both nationally and internationally, that I have worked with and learnt from over the years. Their team effort has led to me proudly receiving this honour.

    The recognition comes as Dstl teams have also received Vice Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS) commendations for their exceptional work on critical defence projects.

    Dr Paul Hollinshead, Dstl’s Chief Executive, said:

    This well-deserved honour recognises Peter’s exceptional technical leadership and innovation in critical defence technologies. His work has significantly enhanced the UK’s security capabilities and represents the outstanding talent we have at Dstl.  

    We’re especially proud that our teams have also been recognised through the Vice Chief of Defence Staff commendations, which highlight the crucial contribution Dstl makes to national security through cutting-edge research and collaboration with military and industry partners.

    Taskforce Spirit commendation recognises international collaboration

    A combined Dstl and Ministry of Defence (MOD) team has been commended for supporting allies with leading-edge expertise to help develop long-term military capability.

    Taskforce Spirit developed and delivered innovative wargaming, modelling and analytical techniques to inform critical capability priorities and investment decisions, helping to generate forces fit for the future operating environment.

    The work, conducted alongside allies and partners, has enhanced the UK’s reputation in the Strategic Force Development arena and contributed to United Kingdom National Security Objectives to counter global threats and support UK interests and influence.

    Dstl Strategic Force Analysis team recognised for Strategic Defence Review work

    Dstl’s Strategic Force Analysis team has also received a commendation for their crucial role in providing the MOD with force design and capability evidence to inform the Strategic Defence Review (SDR).

    Between August 2024 and January 2025, the team developed coherent candidate Defence Force Structures representing different policy choices, costed principal alternatives, and explored variations as requested by Defence Reviewers. Their work ensured senior management understood the challenges and choices available to Defence, drawing praise from the Chief of Defence Staff.

    Multidisciplinary team receives Vice Chief of Defence Staff commendation

    A multidisciplinary team including Dstl scientists has received a prestigious VCDS commendation for their work on a complex flight test event conducted in the US in late 2024.

    The successful trial tested multiple technologies and concepts to improve air survivability in a complex Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) environment. The whole-force collaboration included elements from the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office, Air and Space Warfare Centre, Dstl and industry partners.  

    Dstl continues to play a vital role in science and technology innovation for the UK’s defence and security, with experts like Peter Briggs and the commended teams demonstrating the organisation’s world-class capabilities and contributions to national security.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: REMINDER: Boralex to hold Investor Day and present its 2030 Strategy on June 17, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boralex inc. (“Boralex” or the “Company”) (TSX: BLX) announces that its 2030 Strategy will be presented at an Investor Day on June 17, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Toronto.

    Financial analysts, investors and the media are invited to attend the conference in person in Toronto or via a live video webcast during which members of Boralex’s senior management will present the various aspects of the 2030 Strategy and financial targets.

    Date and time

            Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (ET)

    To attend the live conference

    Webcast link: https://meetings.lumiconnect.com/400-747-683-475

    In person in Toronto (analysts, investors and media): please contact Dominique Hamelin (dominique.hamelin@boralex.com) to reserve your place.

    Anyone interested in this conference are invited to attend the webcast, which will be broadcast live and available for replay on Boralex’s website at www.boralex.com until July 17, 2026.

    Media availability

    Members of Boralex’s Executive Committee will be available for media interviews on the afternoon of June 17, 2025, either by telephone or videoconference, to discuss the company’s 2030 Strategy. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Camille Laventure, Senior Advisor, Public Affairs and Communications. Her contact details are provided at the end of this press release.

    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 development projects 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 more than 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, LinkedIn and Instagram.

    For more information

    MEDIA INVESTOR RELATIONS
    Camille Laventure
    Senior Advisor, Public Affairs and External Communications
    Boralex Inc.
    438 883-8580
    camille.laventure@boralex.com    		 Stéphane Milot
    Vice President, Investor Relations and Financial Planning and Analysis
    Boralex Inc.
    514 213-1045
    stephane.milot@boralex.com
       

    Source: Boralex inc.        

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: “Resilience isn’t enough”: why the growth of women’s football could lead to player burnout

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Helen Owton, Lecturer in Sport and Fitness, The Open University

    Millie Bright (Chelsea Fcw) of England shooting to goal during the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup in France Jose Breton- Pics Action/Shutterstock

    Women’s football has exploded onto the global stage. Record-breaking crowds, major sponsorships, elite athletes and huge media deals have transformed the sport into a fast-growing spectacle. Its rise may be inspiring, but behind the success, many players are struggling with the growing physical and mental demands of the modern game.

    As the game becomes faster and more physically intense, players are expected to deliver top performances across crowded domestic seasons, international tournaments and growing commercial commitments.

    Recovery windows are shrinking, while the pressure to remain at peak performance only grows. Physiotherapists have already warned that many female players face burnout, overtraining and a rising risk of injuries due to inadequate rest and recovery time.

    With growing visibility also comes increasing scrutiny. Female players now live under the spotlight of social media, where they are expected not only to perform, but to lead, inspire and remain endlessly positive – often while facing online abuse.

    Chelsea and England star Fran Kirby has spoken openly about the criticism she has received about her body, especially after injuries or illness when she wasn’t at peak fitness.

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

    “I get called fat all the time,” she has said, highlighting how online abuse adds another layer of psychological strain that isn’t always visible, but can be deeply harmful.

    Mental health is increasingly part of the conversation around women’s football, but real support remains patchy. After the tragic suicide of Sheffield United’s 27-year-old midfielder Maddy Cusack in 2023, the FA commissioned a report into mental health support across the Women’s Super League (WSL).

    More players are speaking publicly about the pressures of anxiety, burnout and emotional distress, but access to professional psychological care still depends largely on the resources of individual clubs.

    For some players, the psychological toll deepens even further after injury. One study found that professional female footballers are nearly twice as likely to experience psychological distress after undergoing surgery. Yet mental health support during injury recovery remains inconsistent across the WSL.

    Millie Bright’s story offers a recent example. The Chelsea and England defender missed much of the 2023-24 season due to injury and, in 2025, withdrew from the England squad citing burnout. She eventually underwent knee surgery and chose to prioritise her rehabilitation over international duty, highlighting the difficult choices players face when balancing physical and emotional wellbeing.

    Governing bodies and clubs have a crucial role to play in safeguarding players’ wellbeing. Yet Uefa has come under fire for putting commercial growth ahead of player welfare with its expansion of the women’s Champions League into the new “Swiss model” format.

    Instead of facing three opponents twice, teams will now play six different teams during the league phase, splitting those matches home and away. While the extra fixtures may boost visibility and revenue, they also add to an already punishing schedule, heightening the risk of fatigue, injury and burnout for players who are already stretched to the limit.

    Financial security remains another major challenge. Some WSL players reportedly earn as little as £20,000 a year, forcing many to juggle full-time jobs or academic studies alongside football.

    For mothers in the game, the demands are even higher, as they manage childcare, training, travel and recovery with little institutional support. Maternity policies remain inconsistent, and many players face intense pressure to return quickly to peak form after pregnancy.

    Extraordinary resilience

    Despite these enormous challenges, female players continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience, paving the way for the next generation. But as a 2024 Health in Education Association report notes, resilience alone isn’t enough. Without proper investment in both physical and mental health services, the long-term wellbeing and careers of these athletes remain at risk.

    While mental toughness is often celebrated, research shows that resilience depends heavily on the support structures available. In the WSL, access to mental health care and sports psychology varies dramatically between clubs.

    The FA has announced plans to make wellbeing and psychology roles mandatory in WSL licensing, which is a positive step. But for many players, consistent, high-quality support remains far from guaranteed.

    There is no doubt that women’s football has finally gained the attention it deserves. But progress must not come at the cost of player welfare. A sustainable future for the sport means investing not just in performance, but in protection: standardised access to physiotherapy, sport psychology and wellbeing professionals for all players, across all clubs.

    If the game truly wants to thrive long-term, it must create a culture where players aren’t just expected to perform, but are supported to rest, recover and speak openly about their mental health – without fear, stigma or consequence.

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

    – ref. “Resilience isn’t enough”: why the growth of women’s football could lead to player burnout – https://theconversation.com/resilience-isnt-enough-why-the-growth-of-womens-football-could-lead-to-player-burnout-258432

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden wins the 2025 Women’s prize – an expertly woven tale of personal crises and national horror

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Manjeet Ridon, Associate Dean International, Faculty of Arts, Design & Humanities, De Montfort University

    The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden has won the 2025 Women’s prize. It revisits a dark, under-explored chapter of Dutch history. It asks what happened to all the possessions that Jews who were forced to flee or were taken to camps during the second world war had to leave behind.

    The trauma of this history hangs over the novel, a haunting buzz beneath this tale of a woman slowly losing control over her small and regimented world one summer in the early 1960s. That woman is Isabel, who lives alone in her sprawling family home in a rural area of the Netherlands.

    The house is the centre of Isabel’s world and she spends most of her time obsessively keeping it in order, as her late mother would have wanted. To her, “a house is a precious thing”. Isabel is its possessive and careful caretaker, suspicious of anyone she perceives as interfering in her relationship with it.

    Isabel’s relationship with the house is tied to a difficult childhood under the influence of her domineering mother, who is still asserting control from beyond the grave. Isabel is stuck in this history, aware that “she belonged to the house in the sense that she had nothing else, no other life than the house”. It is the only place she has, and can assert, a sense of control.

    But the house does not belong to her, she is simply its keeper. It will be inherited by her brother when he wants to start a family – a future which seems incredibly distant because of his playboy and big city ways. That is till he delivers his gauche new girlfriend, Eva, to stay at the house while he is away on business.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    What lies beneath?

    Set 15 years after the end of the second world war, van der Wouden’s debut novel unearths terrible crimes from the past and the psychological legacies that still ripple across generations of families, ancestral homes and communities. It is a novel about theft, expropriation and convenient cultural memory loss.

    The Safekeep succeeds in blending the political with the domestic and the historical with the personal.

    The writing is restrained yet lyrical and poetic, allowing space for the readers to realise how easily injustice and a historical wrong can be quietly concealed under the surface of everyday respectability. The story unfolds slowly, like coming across an old box of photos long forgotten in a dusty attic, which reveals a devastating narrative in fragments.

    Eva’s penetration of Isabel’s perfectly kept and regimented world, makes it clear to Isabel that the house and the objects she lovingly “kept” over decades were never, and will never, be hers. This graceless young woman stands in contention to everything Isabel (and her mother) thought a woman ought to be.

    As they spend time together and her desperate attempts to enforce control fail, Isabel has to confront the uncomfortable reality of her inheritance – that of the role she plays in her family, the life she has chosen to lead and the house she loves so dearly.

    There is mystery in this novel: pieces of a broken plate, missing objects, imperfect memories. The careful attention to detail and suspenseful prose makes the house take on a ghostly presence in the novel, becoming an archive of both sentimental memory and moral ambiguity.



    Read more:
    Women’s prize for fiction 2025: six experts review the shortlisted novels

    As things become more heated inside the house, we learn more about Isabel’s relationship with her two brothers, which is marked by a similar quiet tension and emotional distance. This family is shaped by its history and by their mother. The ways they grieve their matriarch’s death become entangled with the unravelling of long-held assumptions about their identities, values, each of their ideas about love and relationships, and the meaning of home and family.

    This startling debut has moved the literary world, having been shortlisted for 2024’s Booker and now winning the 2025 Women’s prize. The brilliance of The Safekeep lies in its subtlety and moral complexity. It is beautifully written, tightly constrained and poetic, and a deeply moving story about one woman’s desire for truth, justice and transformation.

    This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

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

    – ref. The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden wins the 2025 Women’s prize – an expertly woven tale of personal crises and national horror – https://theconversation.com/the-safekeep-by-yael-van-der-wouden-wins-the-2025-womens-prize-an-expertly-woven-tale-of-personal-crises-and-national-horror-258997

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Soledad Núñez: Address – CREO 2025 Forum

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    I would like to thank Cinco Días for their kind invitation to participate in this second edition of CREO, a forum for reflection and debate on Spain’s economic future and the challenges facing the financial system. Today two fundamental areas for our country’s development and growth have been addressed.

    First, the technology and innovation industry, which is key for driving a state-of-the-art, efficient and competitive economy.

    Second, the banking sector, which is essential in any economy for channelling the funds needed to make business investments and meet consumer needs.

    Starting with the banking sector, the first point to highlight is the prominent role it plays in our economy:1 the latest National Statistics Institute (INE) data show that the financial sector has contributed more than 5% of gross value added to the Spanish economy, above the European average. Moreover, it generates slightly more than 1% of employment in Spain. The banking sector is the main pillar of the financial industry, which also includes the insurance sector and other financial intermediaries.

    As you are all aware, the Spanish banking sector is in good health, having undergone a major transformation in recent years. Indeed, the current Spanish banking landscape looks little like that of 15 years ago. The great financial crisis triggered a series of legislative reforms, propelled by the Basel Capital Accord, which strengthened banking solvency and fuelled advances in other areas, such as governance. All this led to an improvement in risk management, which is key to ensuring the good health of the sector.

    Thanks to this prudent risk management, Spanish banks now have historically low non-performing loan ratios, profitability levels above the European average and significantly more robust solvency levels than in the past. These legislative and management changes have also been accompanied by a new supervisory framework: the Single Supervisory Mechanism for the leading banks, or so-called “significant institutions”, which in Spain account for 94% of total banking sector assets.

    As has already been noted during today’s session, the banking sector faces a range of challenges, some unique to it and others shared by the economy as a whole.

    Among the latter, the present uncertain global environment cannot go unmentioned. The new geopolitical setting, in which trade positions are still unclear, will undoubtedly affect the global economy. The projection models suggest that the direct impact on the Spanish economy will not be very significant. However, there could clearly be an indirect impact through other economies with which we have closer ties. In consequence, the banking sector will have to keep a close watch on credit risk developments, especially in the sectors that are, a priori, most exposed to changes in the new international trade order. Other risks – such as liquidity or market risk – should also be monitored in view of the potential impact of possible financial market instability owing to unexpected events.

    Another challenge faced by all economic sectors is adapting to the ongoing technological revolution, as the use of technology clearly affects the financial industry, albeit not exclusively. The emergence of new tools, new communication channels, new competitors, etc., poses a challenge for the banking sector, as banks will have to make major investments within a pre-defined strategic framework.

    New technologies – today notably including artificial intelligence – represent a business opportunity, paving the way for new banking products more in line with customers’ needs and delivered through new, faster channels. Although the use of artificial intelligence by banks is not yet widespread, it is a galvanising factor that will prompt efficiency gains, reducing costs and boosting profitability.

    Banks’ use of technology and artificial intelligence will have to be prudently managed, as they increase operational risk, owing to possible system failures or cyberattacks. Banks must be ready to quickly and diligently manage any such failures, as well as the risks associated with reliance on third-party providers for certain critical activities. Moreover, the use of artificial intelligence has ethical connotations that must also be considered, avoiding undue bias or inexplicable results.

    As it advances in this unstoppable digitalisation process, the banking sector, as an essential service provider, cannot leave anyone behind. This is why it must continue its efforts to ensure access to banking services for population groups who face the most barriers, whether due to a digital divide, physical distance from a bank branch or their lack of the basic financial knowledge to make sound economic decisions.

    The last challenge I wish to mention briefly here today is the sustainable transition of the banking sector. Although banking is not a highly polluting sector per se, it does play a leading role in enabling all productive sectors to transition towards a more sustainable economy. Sustainability and competitiveness are two essential and interlinked concepts; a sustainable economy tends to be more competitive because it uses fewer resources. The banking sector should play a leading role in providing appropriate funding for that transition, for which purpose it needs both data and metrics. In the current debate on regulatory simplification under way at various fora, one of the focal points is sustainability reporting. Certainly, we need to reflect on this and other requirements, but any attempt to simplify firms’ sustainability reporting must not compromise the harmonised or sufficient disclosure of critical metrics and data points for climate and nature-related risk management.

    We need to move towards a more sustainable and competitive economy, and the banking sector will play an essential role in that process.

    Moreover, as I mentioned at the start, the technology and innovation industry is key, to boost our economy and make it more competitive and productive.

    The role of the technology and communication sector is particularly crucial. Compared with the European Union (EU) average, it accounts for a smaller share of the Spanish economy in terms of gross value added (6% versus 8%) and employment (4% versus 4.5%). But our economy is very well positioned for technological change for various reasons. First, Spain has good digital skills; indeed, in 2023, 66% of the Spanish population aged between 16 and 74 had high digital skills, the fourth highest figure in the EU after the Netherlands, Finland and Ireland. It also has a good digital infrastructure, with a high penetration rate of high-speed networks. In 2023, 96% of households had access to high-capacity networks, the third highest figure in the EU.

    Second, Spanish firms are very open to adopting and using digital technologies. According to a recent survey by the European Investment Bank,2 innovation and digitalisation are the key to our firms’ competitiveness and Spain leads the way in the use of advanced digital technologies (80% versus 74%).

    Third, the industrial production index of high-tech manufacturing industries has risen more in recent years than among our main European peers. Indeed, since 2021 this sector has grown by more than 25% in Spain, compared with 12% in France and 2% in Germany.

    In short, integrating new technologies and artificial intelligence in the banking and tech sector presents significant opportunities for achieving efficiency gains, reducing costs and boosting profitability. But this progress must be prudently managed, taking into account operational and ethical risks, as well as the need for digital inclusion.

    Furthermore, the banking sector has an essential role to play in the transition towards a more sustainable economy, providing appropriate funding and correctly managing risks, drawing on data and metrics backed by clear sustainability reporting. Spain’s technological environment is well positioned to continue leading in innovation and digitalisation, with a highly skilled population and state-of-the-art digital infrastructure. As we move forward, collaboration between these sectors will be vital to drive a more competitive, productive and sustainable economy.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Aleš Michl: Remarks on euro adoption

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Delivering on our mandate of price stability

    The new Bank Board was appointed in mid-2022. At that time, inflation in the Czech Republic was 17.5 percent. Today, it is back under control, down to just 2.4 percent.

    The base repo rate is currently at 3.5%, and I expect it will remain at this level for some time.

    Our strategy is clear: to keep interest rates higher for longer compared to the period before COVID, to avoid any unconventional policies, and to follow the vision that in monetary policy, less is more (Michl, 2024b).

    This year, our currency – the koruna – appreciated by 11% against the US dollar and by 2% against the euro. This helps us in the fight against inflation.

    The Czech National Bank is the most trusted institution in the country (STEM, 2025)1. We take this trust seriously.

    The pros and cons of having an independent monetary policy

    Two main advantages:

    First, exchange rate flexibility. A stronger koruna makes imports cheaper, which helps fight inflation. On the other hand, a weaker koruna supports exports during a recession. We can call it an adjustment mechanism for the economy – or, to be exact, an adjustment mechanism for the balance of payments.

    And the second one:

    The current policy of the European Central Bank does not fit the Czech economy. Our key interest rate is 3.5%, while in the eurozone it is 2%. We still need high interest rates to keep inflation low. We also need positive real interest rates to maintain price stability.

    In Croatia and Slovakia, inflation is around 4%, which means they currently have negative real interest rates. That makes it harder for them to fight inflation.

    Our goal is price stability – not to support exporters. The key is to keep the growth of money in the economy under control.

    One key disadvantage:

    Everyone can make mistakes. In the history of the Czech National Bank, there were two major ones: keeping real interest rates negative for more than 10 years before COVID, and increasing the money supply (banking liquidity) by 100% in 2017 in order to weaken the koruna. This is one of the reasons why core inflation after COVID was higher in the Czech Republic than in the eurozone. We must not repeat these mistakes.

    That is why our strategy is to keep interest rates higher for longer, avoid any unconventional policies, and follow the vision that in monetary policy, less is more.

    The “perfect” timing of euro adoption

    Just to remind you, the government makes the final decision about euro adoption, not the central bank.

    My PhD thesis was about the perfect timing for euro adoption.  And the main conclusion was that one day, the exchange rate adjustment mechanism may stop working for the economy.

    Let me give two situations as examples:

    First, a weaker koruna might help exporters – but at the same time, it brings very high inflation into the country (Michl, 2016).

    Second, if there is already a large amount of loans in euros in the economy – like in Croatia (Croatia: 70%, vs 20% in the Czech Republic) – independent monetary policy effectively stops working. A weaker koruna in such a situation could lead to large-scale defaults.

    For now, the exchange rate adjustment mechanism still works. There is no need to rush to adopt the euro. We should remain a country with a strong koruna, an independent monetary policy, and robust FX reserves – not follow the example of Croatia.

    Our experience with fighting high inflation

    Inflation was 17.5% in July 2022 and still rising. The key interest rate was already at 7%. Then, a new Bank Board was appointed – and we changed the strategy.

    The gamechanger was the strong koruna strategy, which we introduced in late 2022 (Michl, 2022). We announced that we would keep interest rates stable for an extended period. At the same time, we clearly communicated that a strong koruna is crucial for the Czech economy.

    This strategy worked. In spring 2023, we saw the strongest koruna in our history. The strong koruna helped reduce inflation by making imported raw materials cheaper. It also created tougher conditions for exporters – a necessary trade-off.

    The market understood and trusted our strategy because we communicated it openly and transparently. And that was enough. Sometimes, less is more in monetary policy. It is better to maintain a steady and credible restrictive stance than to keep interest rates at zero for a decade – and then hope to control inflation with a sudden, sharp rate hike.

    On FX volatility and risk premia

    Yes, FX volatility brings hedging costs for companies. But the mission of monetary policy is price stability – not cheap financing.

    Let me measure the risk premium using the asset swap spread: the difference between the 5-year government bond yield and the interest rate swap rate, measured in percentage points. Currently, this spread stands at 0.2 percentage points in Croatia, 0.3 percentage points in Slovakia, and 0.2 percentage points in the Czech Republic.

    We aim to keep the risk premium low through credible and independent monetary policy – and by putting pressure on the government to balance public finances.

    Within the eurozone, governments often feel less pressure to save money or balance their budgets. The bailout system reduces the risk premium – but it also weakens the incentive for fiscal responsibility. In a country without market pressure, politicians become less motivated to reduce deficits, and a real estate bubble can form more easily.

    We also learned the wrong lesson from the eurozone fiscal rules – the idea that a deficit under 3% of GDP is always acceptable. It’s not. What really matters is maintaining balanced public finances over time.

    Cheap euro loans and the koruna’s higher borrowing costs

    Yes, corporate loans in euros are cheaper, but interest rates on savings are higher in our country. In the Czech Republic, we need higher interest rates to fight inflation.

    Those higher rates help slow down borrowing – for everyone: households, the government, and businesses (Michl, 2024a).

    Monetary policy’s mission is price stability – not cheap financing.

    Keeping money too cheap for too long was one of the mistakes in the past that led to high inflation.

    References

    Michl, A. (2016). Nová kritéria pro přijetí Eura [New Euro Convergence Criteria]. Politická ekonomie, 2016(6), 713–729.

    Michl, A. (2022). Policy for a Strong Koruna. CNB Discussion Forum. Faculty of Economics and Administration at Masaryk University, Brno, 23 November 2022.

    Michl, A. (2024). The Target. University of Pardubice, CNB Discussion Forum 2024, 23 April 2024.

    Michl, A. (2024b). CNB’s Aleš Michl on Tackling Inflation, Friedman’s Legacy and Ditching DSGE. Central Banking, 19 December 2024.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province Awards Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project Funding

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Three organizations have been awarded funding under the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project to address childhood obesity and chronic disease in the province.

    The successful applicants are Acadia University, Upward Mobility Kitchens East Inc., and Wasoqopa’q First Nation. The total amount of funding is $1.05 million.

    “Reducing childhood obesity and helping young people to establish healthy habits will help reduce the burden on our healthcare system and make a lasting impact on the overall health of our province,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “These investments will provide more communities with the resources they need to raise healthy children.”

    The three projects, with funding amounts, are:

    • $320,643 to Acadia University in Wolfville to create a self-sustaining farm-to-school initiative that includes a greenhouse. It will address childhood obesity, food insecurity and declining physical activity by integrating nutrition education, sustainable agriculture and mental health support directly into the school curriculum at Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning.

    • $334,384 to Upward Mobility Kitchens East Inc. to transform The Nook on Halifax’s Gottingen Street into a hub for youth-focused cooking classes and food literacy education. The Sharpen Up initiative will give youth the skills to take control of their nutrition, improve health outcomes and host community-centred meal events.

    The kitchen at the Nook (Province of Nova Scotia) Click or tap for larger image
    • $400,000 to Wasoqopa’q First Nation to create a space that fosters physical activity, mental resilience and community well-being through traditional Mi’kmaw teachings. The project includes an outdoor structure that supports traditional food sourcing, cleaning and preparation.

    Ninety-seven organizations applied for funding; nine were invited to submit a proposal and eight were received.

    The Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project is a partnership between the Province and Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. that brought together healthcare, academic and economic leaders to identify barriers and challenges that contribute to poor health outcomes. It invited businesses and academic and community organizations to submit proposals for funding to address them. The initiative is delivered in collaboration with the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub and Life Sciences Nova Scotia.

    Quotes:

    “At Novo Nordisk Canada, we are committed to engaging as a valuable and dedicated partner in improving the lives of Nova Scotians and fighting childhood obesity. We are proud to partner on this important issue and excited by this first round of funding announcements; these projects have the potential to drive change for a healthier Canada.”
    — Vince Lamanna, President, Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.

    “Over the past two years, we’ve delivered more than half a million meals to people in need in HRM, and we’re just getting started. After 15 years of building kitchens with purpose and running Sharpen Up in communities from New York to Vancouver, I’ve learned the most powerful thing we can give youth is belief, and the tools to back it up. Sharpen Up is not just a cooking class. It’s skill-building with real chefs, instilling confidence in yourself, and a chance to see all the pathways food can create through our non-profit and entrepreneur network. In a time when one in four kids in the Maritimes is food insecure, this kind of education and support is essential. I was raised in Dartmouth, and it’s an honour to come home and create this opportunity for my community.”
    — Mark Brand, founder, Upward Mobility Kitchens & A Better Life Foundation

    “When our Mi’kmaw youth are free to move, play and learn in culturally safe spaces, they build strength not only in body, but in spirit. When our Mi’kmaw families and community members have our own culturally safe spaces to learn through land-based knowledge and traditional food harvesting on our lands, we reclaim our health, our identity and our honour. We will build strong foundations for all our relations from our neighbouring communities and all Mi’kma’ki. That is true reconciliation.”
    — Melanie Robinson-Purdy, Director, Community Enhancement and Cultural Revitalization, Wasoqopa’q First Nation

    “The best way to build a healthier tomorrow is to begin upstream – where good food, joyful movement and self-worth take root early. Grow & Go is how we nurture that growth: from greenhouse to classroom, from kitchen to community. This is more than a project – it’s a path forward, and we invite others to walk and grow it with us.”
    — Tavis Bragg, project lead, Grow & Go; adjunct professor, Acadia University, and teacher, Northeast Kings Education Centre

    Quick Facts:

    • for profit, not-for-profit and public-sector organizations registered to do business in Canada were eligible to submit a proposal
    • the Province and Novo Nordisk Canada have each contributed $1.5 million toward the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project, with another call for proposals to be announced later
    • the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project is the result of a partnership with Denmark and is based on a concept from the Danish Business Promotion Agency; Danish Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs; Novo Nordisk; research institutions; and technology companies

    Additional Resources:

    Nova Scotia Lighthouse Project: https://www.lighthousens.ca/

    News release – New Partnership Will Address Childhood Obesity, Chronic Disease: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/03/05/new-partnership-will-address-childhood-obesity-chronic-disease

    News release – Nova Scotia Signs Health Agreement with Denmark: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/05/24/nova-scotia-signs-health-agreement-denmark

    Other than cropping, Province of Nova Scotia photos are not to be altered in any way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: RNA has newly identified role: Repairing serious DNA damage to maintain the genome

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Francesca Storici, Professor of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Double-strand breaks in DNA can be deadly. Victor Golmer/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Your DNA is continually damaged by sources both inside and outside your body. One especially severe form of damage called a double-strand break involves the severing of both strands of the DNA double helix.

    Double-strand breaks are among the most difficult forms of DNA damage for cells to repair because they disrupt the continuity of DNA and leave no intact template to base new strands on. If misrepaired, these breaks can lead to other mutations that make the genome unstable and increase the risk of many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration and immunodeficiency.

    Cells primarily repair double-strand breaks by either rejoining the broken DNA ends or by using another DNA molecule as a template for repair. However, my team and I discovered that RNA, a type of genetic material best known for its role in making proteins, surprisingly plays a key role in facilitating the repair of these harmful breaks.

    These insights could not only pave the way for new treatment strategies for genetic disorders, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, but also enhance gene-editing technologies.

    Sealing a knowledge gap in DNA repair

    I have spent the past two decades investigating the relationship between RNA and DNA in order to understand how cells maintain genome integrity and how these mechanisms could be harnessed for genetic engineering.

    A long-standing question in the field has been whether RNA in cells helps keep the genome stable beyond acting as a copy of DNA in the process of making proteins and a regulator of gene expression. Studying how RNA might do this has been especially difficult due to its similarity to DNA and how fast it degrades. It’s also technically challenging to tell whether the RNA is directly working to repair DNA or indirectly regulating the process. Traditional models and tools for studying DNA repair have for the most part focused on proteins and DNA, leaving RNA’s potential contributions largely unexplored.

    RNA plays a key role in protein synthesis.

    My team and I were curious about whether RNA might actively participate in fixing double-strand breaks as a first line of defense. To explore this, we used the gene-editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 to make breaks at specific spots in the DNA of human and yeast cells. We then analyzed how RNA influences various aspects of the repair process, including efficiency and outcomes.

    We found that RNA can actively guide the repair process of double-strand breaks. It does this by binding to broken DNA ends, helping align sequences of DNA on a matching strand that isn’t broken. It can also seal gaps or remove mismatched segments, further influencing whether and how the original sequence is restored.

    Additionally, we found that RNA aids in double-strand break repair in both yeast and human cells, suggesting that its role in DNA repair is evolutionary conserved across species. Notably, even low levels of RNA were sufficient to influence the efficiency and outcome of repair, pointing to its broad and previously unrecognized function in maintaining genome stability.

    RNA in control

    By uncovering RNA’s previously unknown function to repair DNA damage, our findings show how RNA may directly contribute to the stability and evolution of the genome. It’s not merely a passive messenger, but an active participant in genome maintenance.

    One type of RNA that has been effectively used in treatments is mRNA.
    Aldona/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    These insights could help researchers develop new ways to target the genomic instability that underlies many diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. Traditionally, treatments and gene-editing tools have focused almost exclusively on DNA or proteins. Our findings suggest that modifying RNA in different ways could also influence how cells respond to DNA damage. For example, researchers could design RNA-based therapies to enhance the repair of harmful breaks that could cause cancer, or selectively disrupt DNA break repair in cancer cells to help kill them.

    In addition, these findings could improve the precision of gene-editing technologies like CRISPR by accounting for interactions between RNA and DNA at the site of the cut. This could reduce off-target effects and increase editing precision, ultimately contributing to the development of safer and more effective gene therapies.

    There are still many unanswered questions about how RNA interacts with DNA in the repair process. The evolutionary role that RNA plays in maintaining genome stability is also unclear. But one thing is certain: RNA is no longer just a messenger, it is a molecule with a direct hand in DNA repair, rewriting what researchers know about how cells safeguard their genetic code.

    Francesca Storici consults at Tessera Therapeutics. She has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.

    – ref. RNA has newly identified role: Repairing serious DNA damage to maintain the genome – https://theconversation.com/rna-has-newly-identified-role-repairing-serious-dna-damage-to-maintain-the-genome-256429

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Export bar placed on £8 million Rubens work

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Export bar placed on £8 million Rubens work

    A temporary export bar has been placed on an oil sketch, titled ​​Cimon Falling in love with Efigenia, by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens

    • The work has been valued at £8.4 million 
    • The export bar will allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the oil sketch for the nation

    An export bar has been placed on an oil sketch by Flemish artist, Peter Paul Rubens, which is at risk of leaving the UK.

    Rubens was an exceptionally successful painter and is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens was born in Siegen, Germany in 1577 and is mostly known for his vibrant style emphasising movement, colour, and sensuality. Some of his most famous paintings include The Elevation of the Cross and Judgement of Paris. 

    Cimon Falling in love with Efigenia is a remarkable example of one of Rubens’ authentic oil sketches created entirely by his own hand.

    Oil sketches by Rubens have been eagerly collected in the UK and there is a strong British connection to this piece, as George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham (1592–1628), was an admirer of his artistic talent and displayed works by Rubens in his home at York House. This included the finished painting of Cimon and Efigenia for which the current oil sketch is a preparatory work.

    The sketch is a marvellous encapsulation of Rubens’ working methods at a relatively early stage in his career. It would enhance the representation of such works in the UK if saved for the nation by a cultural institution. 

    Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: 

    This work is the perfect example of Rubens’ artistic talent and gives us greater insight into Flemish art during the 17th century. 

    I hope that a UK gallery is able to save  it so that the public can enjoy it for generations to come.

    Mark Hallett, Committee Member said: 

    This is a picture that gives us the opportunity to appreciate a great artist’s creative process in full flow. Produced on panel as the primary sketch for a monumental oil painting that now hangs in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Cimon falling in Love with Efigenia is entirely the product of Rubens’s own hand, rather than one that – as is the case with the final picture – contains the contributions of his studio assistants. In the sketch, we see Rubens exploring the artistic possibilities of an ethically and erotically charged scene from early Renaissance literature, and experimenting with the established pictorial conventions of the female nude. The longer one looks at and thinks about this picture, the more complex and challenging it becomes: the mark of all truly significant works of art. For these reasons, Cimon falling in Love with Efigenia demands to be found a permanent home in the UK, where it can be enjoyed and reflected upon for decades to come.

    The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

    The RCEWA made its recommendation on the basis that the painting met the second and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding aesthetic importance and its outstanding significance to the study of Rubens’ preparatory studies and sketches and their influence, as well as the treatment of the female nude in art.

    The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 15 September 2025 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the painting at the recommended price of £8,440,000. The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for six months.

    Notes to editors:

    1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the painting should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk.
    2. Details of the painting are as follows: Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) Cimon Falling in love with Efigenia, c. 1616–17. Oil on panel, 29.8 x 43.5 cm. The painting is on a narrow wooden panel with vertical grain. The painting is in generally good condition.

    3. Provenance: Probably the painter and dealer Jeremias Wildens (1621-53), son of Jan Wildens (1586 – 1653) who collaborated with Rubens on the Vienna picture in which he painted the landscape; His estate: inventory drawn up 30 January 1653 and 11 January 1654, no. 528 ‘Eenen Thimon met Naeckte vrouwkens van Rubbens’ (A Thimon [Cimon] with naked women by Rubens); Philippe Panné, Esq., Great George Street, Hanover Square, London (d. 1819); His sale: Christie’s, London, A catalogue of the very capital, valuable and highly important collection of Italian, French, Flemish and Dutch pictures, of the late Ph. Panné, Esq. of Great George Street, Hanover Square, deceased, 27 March 1819 (including 350 lots), lot 17, as ‘Rubens, Cymon and Iphigenia. panel, 12’ x 17’ [sic.] (sold 26-5 pounds); William Noel-Hill, 3rd Baron Berwick (1773-1842); His sale: Christie’s, London, 1 December 1827, lot 73, as ‘Rubens’ School, Cymon and Iphiginia’ (“17 guineas”, “”bought in”); Sir Matthew Wilson,1st Baronet of Eshton Hall (1802-1891), Gargrave, 1877; Private Collection, U.K. by 1886; Private collection, purchase, 2024

    4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK’s Janus Accelerator selected for NATO DIANA’s 2026 defence innovation programme

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    UK’s Janus Accelerator selected for NATO DIANA’s 2026 defence innovation programme

    The Janus Accelerator will support a new cohort of cutting-edge companies developing dual-use technologies that enhance NATO’s technological edge.

    The UK’s Janus Accelerator has been selected as an activated site for NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) 2026 programme, reinforcing Britain’s position at the forefront of global defence innovation.

    Based in London’s thriving White City Innovation District, the Janus Accelerator will support a new cohort of cutting-edge companies developing dual-use technologies that enhance NATO’s technological edge while addressing critical defence challenges.

    The selection comes as DIANA launched its 2026 Challenge Call on 2 June, with Phase 1 of the accelerator programme scheduled to begin in early 2026.

    Sharpening NATO’s technological advantage

    NATO DIANA was formally established in 2023 to identify and accelerate dual-use innovation across the Alliance. The initiative provides innovators with vital resources, networks and guidance to develop deep technologies that solve pressing defence challenges – from operating in denied environments to countering threats to collective resilience.

    Emerging and disruptive technologies have become increasingly crucial for maintaining NATO’s competitive edge in collective defence and security. Through a transatlantic network spanning 23 accelerators and 182 test centres, DIANA connects military end-users with innovative start-ups, researchers and technologists across all 32 NATO nations.

    John Cunningham, Director of Defence Innovation, said:

    The selection of the Janus Accelerator as an activated site for NATO DIANA’s 2026 programme represents a significant vote of confidence in the UK’s defence innovation ecosystem. This partnership will help unlock the potential of our most promising dual-use technologies, accelerating groundbreaking solutions to strengthen NATO’s capabilities while creating high-skilled jobs and economic growth here in Britain.

    State-of-the-art innovation hub

    Launched in January 2025 and supported by the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), the Janus Accelerator is delivered by the Janus Consortium and collocated with the NATO DIANA Regional Office at Imperial College London’s Innovation Hub.

    Companies participating in the DIANA accelerator programme gain unparalleled exposure to government and military buyers, investors and end users across the Alliance – creating pathways to scale innovative solutions that address NATO’s most pressing security challenges.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: HERE Technologies Releases 2024 Annual Sustainability Report, Marking Five Years of ESG Progress

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • HERE demonstrates progress in responsible AI, emissions reductions and workforce inclusion.
    • New partnerships and customer solutions deliver measurable sustainability results.

    Amsterdam, The Netherlands – HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology platform, today released its fifth annual Sustainability Report highlighting the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) progress and the growing role of location intelligence in global sustainability efforts.

    The 2024 report outlines the company’s advancements in helping customers decarbonize and electrify transportation, improve operational efficiency and plan more sustainable infrastructure. HERE also advanced internal goals around emissions reduction, workforce inclusivity and the responsible use of AI. 

    “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we’re proud of the real-world impact our technology delivers, both in reducing emissions and helping our customers meet ambitious sustainability goals,” said Denise Doyle, Chief Product Officer and Sustainability Executive Sponsor at HERE Technologies. “Location technology plays an essential role in achieving global decarbonization targets and we’re committed to building solutions that move the world forward sustainably.”

    Highlights from HERE’s 2024 Sustainability Report include:

    Enabling the EV future. HERE is helping to ease the shift to electric vehicles globally by partnering with automakers, such as Lotus, to deliver accurate, real-time EV range information. Location data is essential to tackling “range anxiety” and making EV adoption more practical for drivers. Together, Lotus and HERE are using leading edge technology to reduce carbon emissions and improve the driver experience.

    Additionally, HERE and industry analyst firm SBD Automotive co-published the second annual EV Index, which offers critical insights to consumers, automakers and policymakers developing charging infrastructure worldwide. 

    Helping customers achieve sustainability goals. From optimizing truck and fleet operations to smarter vehicle routing, HERE solutions are used to reduce environmental impact. PSA Singapore, which operates the world’s largest transshipment hub, has developed OptETruck, a cloud-based transport management solution with features like automated scheduling and asset pooling for truck drivers within the port. Powered by HERE Tour Planning and Location Services, OptETruck allocates jobs to drivers based on their location, offering real-time optimization of routes and truck assignments. OptETruck has the potential to cut empty truck runs within the Port of Singapore by 50%, equivalent to an estimated annual reduction of 10,000 metric tons of CO2, or planting 300,000 trees.

    Using AI in a responsible way. In 2024, HERE launched a Responsible AI Office and published a Responsible AI Policy to guide the ethical use of emerging technologies. These initiatives reinforce the company’s commitments to data privacy, transparency and accountability as AI becomes more central to HERE applications and its work in supporting more sustainable transportation systems.

    Furthering commitment to reduce environmental impact. HERE remains focused on its aggressive decarbonization goals, marking progress against all emissions reduction targets in 2024. Additionally, the Chicago office joined offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Finland in transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy and HERE reduced its environmental footprint at industry events like CES.

    Strengthening employee purpose and workforce inclusivity. HERE continues to strengthen its commitment to employee engagement and inclusivity. In 2024, the company hosted Purpose Week, its largest internal activation in a decade, connecting more than 600 employees across 31 global sites in volunteer efforts with 19 nonprofit partners. HERE also launched a new employee resource group, Grace, to support colleagues with diverse disabilities, and made measurable progress toward gender parity in leadership and workforce representation.

    For more information on HERE Technologies’ sustainability initiatives and to access the full 2024 Sustainability Report, please visit https://www.here.com/about/sustainability.

    Media Contacts
    Danielle Beer, U.S.
    danielle.beer@here.com

    Dr. Sebastian Kurme, Germany
    sebastian.kurme@here.com

    Vanessa Lee, APAC
    vanessa.lee@here.com

    About HERE Technologies
    HERE has been a pioneer in mapping and location technology for 40 years. Today, HERE’s location platform is recognized as the most complete in the industry, powering location-based products, services and custom maps for organizations and enterprises across the globe. From autonomous driving and seamless logistics to new mobility experiences, HERE allows its partners and customers to innovate while retaining control over their data and safeguarding privacy. Find out how HERE is moving the world forward at here.com. 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Applied Materials and CEA-Leti Expand Joint Lab To Drive Innovation in Specialty Chips

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. and GRENOBLE, France, June 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Applied Materials, Inc. and CEA-Leti today announced the next phase of their longstanding collaboration to accelerate innovation in specialty semiconductors. Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU), the organizations plan to expand their joint lab and develop materials engineering solutions to address emerging infrastructure challenges in AI data centers.

    The joint lab is focused on device innovations for chipmakers serving ICAPS markets (IoT, Communications, Automotive, Power and Sensors). These specialty chips are used in a wide range of applications – from industrial automation to electric vehicles – and they play a critical role managing data and power distribution within data centers. Growing resource demands in AI infrastructure have highlighted the need for a new wave of innovation in ICAPS chips to enable more energy-efficient computing.

    Under the new arrangement, Applied and CEA-Leti plan to expand the lab with new equipment and capabilities that move beyond individual process steps to include full-flow development of specialty devices. Additionally, the lab would be equipped with state-of-the-art advanced packaging tools to support heterogeneous integration of chips across different wafer types and process nodes – enabling entirely new classes of specialty devices for a range of next-generation applications.

    The joint facility features several Applied Materials wafer processing systems together with CEA-Leti’s world-class capabilities for evaluating performance of new materials and device validation. The upgraded lab is expected to strengthen the chipmaking ecosystem in France by further expanding the technology hub in Grenoble, a leading site for collaborative innovation across government, academia and industry. The lab also marks an extension of Applied’s global EPIC Platform, a new high-velocity innovation model designed to accelerate commercialization of new chip technologies. Applied and CEA-Leti will be able to leverage the R&D work taking place across Applied’s global innovation centers to drive progress in specialty semiconductor technologies.

    “Applied Materials and CEA-Leti have a long history of successful collaboration, and we are excited to strengthen our capabilities for accelerating innovation and commercialization of next-generation specialty chips,” said Aninda Moitra, corporate vice president and general manager of Applied Materials’ ICAPS business. “Our combined expertise will help foster breakthroughs and push the boundaries of semiconductor innovation, contributing to sustainable advancements in a range of critical applications for the AI era.”

    Sébastian Dauvé, CEO of CEA-Leti, said the first phase of the expanded collaboration laid important groundwork for addressing materials-engineering challenges of specialty semiconductor devices.

    “Building on this momentum, the joint lab’s new focus on energy-efficient solutions for AI data-center infrastructure reflects our shared commitment to making technological progress that meets both industrial and societal needs. The extended collaboration also leverages our complementary strengths to accelerate innovation at the system level, while supporting sustainable growth in France’s semiconductor ecosystem,” he said.

    About Applied Materials
    Applied Materials, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMAT) is the leader in materials engineering solutions used to produce virtually every new chip and advanced display in the world. Our expertise in modifying materials at atomic levels and on an industrial scale enables customers to transform possibilities into reality. At Applied Materials, our innovations make possible a better future. Learn more at www.appliedmaterials.com.

     About CEA-Leti (France)
    CEA-Leti, a technology research institute at CEA, is a global leader in miniaturization technologies enabling smart, energy-efficient and secure solutions for industry. Founded in 1967, CEA-Leti pioneers micro-& nanotechnologies, tailoring differentiating applicative solutions for global companies, SMEs and startups. CEA-Leti tackles critical challenges in healthcare, energy and digital migration. From sensors to data processing and computing solutions, CEA-Leti’s multidisciplinary teams deliver solid expertise, leveraging world-class pre-industrialization facilities. With a staff of more than 2,000 talents, a portfolio of 3,200 patents, 11,000 sq. meters of cleanroom space and a clear IP policy, the institute is based in Grenoble, France, and has offices in Silicon Valley, Brussels and Tokyo. CEA-Leti has launched 75 startups and is a member of the Carnot Institutes network. Follow us on www.leti-cea.com and @CEA_Leti.

    Technological expertise
    CEA has a key role in transferring scientific knowledge and innovation from research to industry. This high-level technological research is carried out in particular in electronic and integrated systems, from microscale to nanoscale. It has a wide range of industrial applications in the fields of transport, health, safety and telecommunications, contributing to the creation of high-quality and competitive products.

    For more information: www.cea.fr/english 

    Applied Materials Contacts
    Ricky Gradwohl (U.S. editorial/media) +1 408.235.4676
    Audrey Pariente (Europe editorial/media) +49 174 336 57 68
    Liz Morali (financial community) +1 408.986.7977

    CEA-Leti Press Contact
    Agency
    Sarah-Lyle Dampoux
    sldampoux@mahoneylyle.com
    +33 6 74 93 23 47

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dounreay helps Caithness retrieve its past

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Dounreay helps Caithness retrieve its past

    A Pictish stone believed to date back 1,700 years has been retrieved and preserved for future generations with financial help from Dounreay’s operators.

    David Calder, NRS Dounreay Head of Sustainability and Socio-economics, Lord Thurso and Dave Wilson, NRS Dounreay Managing Director (left to right) at the stone’s unveiling. Copyright: High Life Highland

    Dounreay isn’t the only site in Caithness where relics of the past are being retrieved and made safe for the future.

    Thirty miles south-east of the site, a Pictish stone believed to date back 1,700 years has been retrieved and preserved for future generations, with financial help from Dounreay’s operators.

    The stone was discovered in 2022 by Fiona Begg Wade who alerted archaeologists when she was clearing up the burial ground at St Martin’s, Ulbster, where some of her relatives are buried.

    It was found lying horizontally on the ground, in a line with other plain stones, and probably used as a grave marker in recent times. It is weathered but several typical Pictish symbols – the double disc and z-rod, the mirror, and the comb – can be made out.

    A project to remove, restore and place the stone on public display came to fruition when it was unveiled at the North Coast Visitor Centre in Thurso.

    Among those attending the unveiling by Lord Thurso, the land-owner who has loaned the artefact to High Life Highland who run the centre and museum, was Dave Wilson, managing director of Nuclear Restoration Services Dounreay.

    He said:

    We’re in the business of retrieving the past to make it safe for the future, and I’m delighted we can help the visitor centre do the same with a long-lost legacy of previous generations.

    The Caithness and North Sutherland Fund has contributed £5,500 towards the cost of the project. The Fund was established by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Dounreay to provide community benefit from the construction and operation of the site’s low-level waste vaults.

    A total of £4 million has been invested in the fund to date, supporting a range of community projects with a combined value of £15 million.

    Dounreay also part-funds the running costs of the North Coast Visitor Centre with High Life Highland.

    For more information about the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund, see their website.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work to start on new Cot Hill crossing next month

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Work to construct a new crossing over Cot Hill in Plympton will get under way on Monday 14 July.

    The crossing, near the Marshall Road junction, will help people (including those with disabilities) to walk and cycle across this busy road.

    It will create a safer pedestrian and cycle route between Saltram Park and Plympton St Mary playing field, further enhancing the National Cycle Network.

    In addition to the crossing, the scheme will include a dropped kerb crossing point on Marshall Road, a raised table crossing on Dudley Road and a wider, shared-use path on Cot Hill.

    Double yellow lines will also be introduced on the eastern (uphill) side of Cot Hill between Marshall Road and Dudley Road to help prevent obstructive parking.

    The improvements are entirely grant-funded by National Highways through Sustrans.

    Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “We’re looking forward to starting work on these improvements, which will not only make a big difference for people walking and cycling between Saltram and other parts of Plympton, including the playing field but also alleviate some of the problem parking in the area. Helping people to walk and cycle more improves health and wellbeing, while also reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions.”

    The first phase of works, programmed to run from Monday 14 July to Sunday 5 October, will require temporary signals at the junction of Cot Hill and Marshall Road. There will also be no parking along a stretch of Marshall Road and Cot Hill.

    The second phase is planned to begin on Monday 6 October and will require temporary signals on Cot Hill between the Marshall Road and Underlane junctions.  

    To help minimise disruption on the network during this second phase, Dudley Road will be temporarily one-way (eastbound only), with traffic only allowed to access at Cot Hill and exit at Linketty Lane. The no parking restriction on Cot Hill will remain in place, as well as on a short stretch of Dudley Road.

    The final week will include overnight closures for resurfacing, with all work expected to be complete by Friday 14 November.

    Dates may change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. The latest updates will be published on our Cot Hill crossing web page.

    People can also sign up for our weekly Roadworks Roundup here.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lively turnout and local talent shine at Buskfest 2025 in Banbridge

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Banbridge town centre was filled with the sound of live music and the buzz of community spirit as Buskfest 2025 welcomed performers and visitors for a relaxed and enjoyable day of entertainment – despite the rain!

    With over eighty acts taking part and a prize fund of £3,500 up for grabs, the annual busking competition attracted a wide mix of musical talent, from solo acoustic artists to lively bands. The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, with visitors enjoying performances across the town between 2pm and 5pm.

    This year’s winners, 4AM Club, were announced during the evening concert in the town centre, which also featured performances from last year’s champions Banshee, popular local act The Reillys, and headliners The Nooks.

    Alongside the music, an artisan market offered a range of local food, crafts, and handmade products, while a family funfair at Solitude Park, added to the day’s relaxed, family-friendly feel.

    Alderman Stephen Moutray ,Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough, commented: “Buskfest continues to provide a fantastic showcase for emerging and established performers and is a much-loved highlight in the borough’s events calendar. The atmosphere in Banbridge was brilliant, with the town centre buzzing with music, family fun, and a real sense of community. Events like this not only celebrate our local talent but also support our businesses and hospitality sector.”

    The judging panel, including BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean, noted the diversity and quality of talent on show, with many returning acts and new faces adding to the variety. This year’s event was supported by several valued sponsors including Banbridge Chamber of Commerce, The Boulevard Outlet Shopping, Game of Thrones Studio Tour, and Eats and Beats Festival, Newcastle, whose contributions helped ensure a vibrant and well-supported day for performers and visitors alike.

    Winners on the day were:

    Best Individual – Cellofella

    Best band – Frank

    Best Junior – Sarah Reynolds

    Best performance – Daniel and the Lion

    Spirit of Buskfest – Banbridge Ukes

    Overall winner – 4AM Club

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Come As You Really Are exhibition – the largest ever presentation of hobbies across the region and beyond

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The exhibition presents hobbies of all kinds to celebrate their variation, freedom of expression and ingenuity, broadening our perception of who gets to be called creative and where the impulse to create stems from.

    On display will be unique hand crafted objects loaned by hobbyists working in diverse disciplines, such as knitters and needleworkers, wood carvers and model makers, potters, painters and illustrators, costume and cosplay makers, model engineers, origami specialists and many more. There will also be collections, including vintage football programmes, kitchenalia, milk bottles, painted eggs, gnomes and stones, alongside comics, action figures and toys – from Goo-jit-Zu to Transformers and He-Man to dollhouses!

    The exhibition also features new and existing works by Patel, including a new film that explores the outstanding creativity and passion that people put into their hobbies. A selection of objects by the hobbyists featured in the film will be interspersed throughout the exhibition, including animals sculpted in wool by Mandy Smith, a needle felting enthusiast from Tipton.

    Come As You Really Are by Hetain Patel is a nationwide project made up of 13 partner presentations across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales from Summer 2024 – 2026.

    Commissioned by Artangel, the project began with a national call out inviting members of the public to share the activity to which they dedicate their spare time. At the heart of this project is a nationwide community of people whose labours of love are a lens through which the artist presents an alternative portrait of the UK. The inaugural exhibition took place at The Hobby Cave at Grants, Croydon, London between 18 July and 20 October 2024. This is being followed by curated presentations at partner venues across the UK throughout 2025 – 2026.

    Aiming to showcase hobbies from across the region, Wolverhampton Art Gallery launched a fresh call out in the Midlands in January 2025. Gallery staff have been amazed by the immense skill, passion and imagination demonstrated in the hundreds of responses from hobbyists across the region and further afield.

    Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The power of creativity is unstoppable, and at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, we’re celebrating it in all its forms.

    “Come As You Really Are brings together an incredible tapestry of hobbies from handcrafted masterpieces to nostalgic collections – revealing the passion, ingenuity, and individuality behind each one.

    “Whether you’re a dedicated hobbyist or simply curious, this exhibition invites you to explore the many ways we express ourselves beyond the everyday. Join us in celebrating the limitless nature of human creativity and the joy of making!”

    Hetain Patel said: “There is a vulnerability in sharing something so personal, which often happens in private spaces around the responsibilities of daily life. But there is also a tremendous power in sharing collectively, which is at the heart of this project. I hope people join us in this celebration of the unstoppable nature of self expression that is demonstrated by our hobbies.”  

    Mariam Zulfiqar, Director at Artangel, said: “Hetain Patel’s work has always invited us to reflect on identity as multidimensional and complex. For Come As You Really Are he generously extends an invitation to people around the country, asking them to share the objects, activities and pastimes that form part of their identity. The ambitious presentation of hundreds of objects loaned by as many hobbyists creates a new kind of picture, where people and their identities are seen beyond national, racial, gendered or age related categories that conventionally categorise who we are.

    “Artangel is working with a network of leading arts and cultural organisations to realise this ambitious project across the UK and supporting one of our most exciting artists working today to create an exceptionally memorable and inclusive project.”

    Come As You Really Are opens on Saturday 12 July and runs until Sunday 5 October, 2025. The exhibition is free to the public, and timeslots can be booked in advance. Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. For more information, please visit Wolverhampton Arts & Culture.

    The launch weekend on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 July celebrates hobbies and hobbyists, with a Friday Late, from 6pm to 9.00pm, and a Hobby Fair, from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the exhibition hobbies and themes in the company of artist Hetain Patel and participating hobbyists, with talks, workshops, demos and live performances including music and fashion.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –