Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 4th Consultation on the improved modalities for reporting and assessment of forest disturbance/damage in the UNECE region: Frequency of reporting and Thresholds for forest damage/disturbance

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    In response to the request by of the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI) and the FAO European Forestry Commission (EFC) to develop the improved modalities for reporting and assessment of forest disturbance/damage in the UNECE region, the UNECE/FAO Team of Specialists (ToS) on Monitoring Sustainable Forest Management has initiated work on this topic.

    A Task Force within the ToS has led the preparatory process, which includes the series of consultations to address key issues such as the purpose of reporting, the types of damage to prioritize, relevant metrics, the distinction between damage and disturbance, cause attribution, event timing, monitoring frequency, thresholds, and the integration of new technologies.

    The 4th consultation builds on the results of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd consultations, which were held on 25 February 2025, 27 March 2025, and 5 May 2025 respectively. It focuses on the following issues:

    • Frequency of forest damage/disturbance reporting, and
    • Thresholds for forest damage/disturbance.

    The 4th meeting will conclude this series of technical consultations on this topic. The results will form the basis of a proposal for improved forest damage and disturbance reporting in the UNECE region. This proposal will be discussed at the next Team of Specialists meeting, which will take place in Siegburg, Germany, from 9 to 11 September 2025 (in person only).

    Contact: Secretariat

    This meeting is exclusively for Team of Specialists and Task Force members. As such, it is closed to the public.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Post-Pandemic Investment in Spain: Assessing the Sluggish Recovery

    Source: International Monetary Fund

    Summary

    This paper examines Spain’s investment performance five years after the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 2024, investment had only returned to pre-pandemic levels and remained below historical fundamentals and euro area peers, particularly in transport equipment and other construction. Macroeconomic analysis identifies elevated economic policy uncertainty as a factor holding back investment. Moreover, firm-level data show that investment among small and younger to middle-aged Spanish firms is less responsive to profitability than in comparable firms in larger euro area economies, further suggesting that uncertainty is weighing on investment decisions. For younger and middle-aged firms, high leverage during the pandemic also points to binding financial constraints.

    Subject: Capital formation, COVID-19, Depreciation, Financial institutions, Foreign exchange, Gross fixed investment, Health, Housing, Intangible capital, National accounts, Purchasing power parity, Sovereign bonds

    Keywords: Bond yields, Capital formation, Consumer price indexes, COVID-19, Depreciation, Economic policy uncertainty, Firm heterogeneity, Gross fixed investment, Housing, Intangible capital, Investment, Leverage, Profitability, Purchasing power parity, Sovereign bonds

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 2/2025: Confirmation of decapitalisation rates

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    2/2025: Confirmation of decapitalisation rates

    Business rates information letters are issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government at regular intervals throughout the year.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Details

    This letter confirms the decapitalisation rates for the 2026 revaluation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chance to put your best foot forward to support city charities

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The annual Best Foot Forward challenge, organised by the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, takes place on Saturday 28 June, 2025, at WV Active Aldersley from 8am to 8pm, with all proceeds going to The Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, Central Youth Theatre and The Rotary Charitable Trust.

    The event is supported by around 40 community minded corporate Patrons who have created a fund which will be released by those taking part. During the course of the event, every completed lap of the stadium will unlock £1 from the fund which will go to the chosen charities, The Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, Central Youth Theatre of Wolverhampton and The Rotary Charitable Trust.

    Participants can spend as long or as little as they choose at the event and return as often as they want during the course of the day, with a personal chip keeping tally of how many laps have been covered. When finishing for the day a certificate is available, recording the number of laps covered.

    The event was first held in 2013, and in 10 editions since has raised over £200,000 for good causes.

    Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “We are delighted to be making WV Active Aldersley available once again for this important annual fundraiser.

    “This unique event provides the opportunity to take exercise at your own pace and will provide lots of benefits. Exercise is great for physical and mental health, helping to build stamina, burn calories and make the heart healthier, while at the same time knowing that you are completing a challenge that will help others is also immensely rewarding.

    “The essential difference between Best Foot Forward and a typical sponsored walk or run is that, for the latter, entrants are required to sign up personal sponsors and then collect and pay over the sponsorship monies.

    “For this event, there is no obligation to seek personal sponsorship – all you need to do is take part, because the charity funding comes from elsewhere.”

    For more information, and to register for the event, please visit Wolverhampton Best Foot Forward.
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: No One Left Behind: Birmingham Highlights Vital Support for Migrant Survivors This Refugee Week

    Source: City of Birmingham

    As part of Refugee Week 2025 (16-22 June), Birmingham City Council is raising awareness of the life-saving support available for refugee and migrant survivors of domestic abuse.

    Working in partnership with the Refugee and Migrant Centre, Central England Law Centre, and the NRPF Network, the campaign draws attention to the significant barriers many survivors face — including No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF), language barriers, and lack of access to safe housing. 

    Thanks to funding through the Council’s Domestic Abuse Community Grants, the Refugee and Migrant Centre, working in partnership with specialist domestic abuse services, is supporting survivors. This includes offering expert immigration advice and advocacy in over 40 languages, helping survivors claim asylum, regularise their immigration status, or access financial support. 

    Survivors with NRPF, including those whose asylum claims have been refused, can also receive legal advice and representation through the Central England Law Centre. Their work with local domestic abuse providers ensures access to support such as the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC) — a vital legal route to safety. 

    Councillor Jamie Tennant, Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said:

    “Refugee Week is a time for reflection and action. No one should be trapped in an abusive situation because of their immigration status. Here in Birmingham, we’re proud to stand alongside our partners to ensure that survivors get the help they need — with dignity, compassion, and justice. We are committed to making sure no one is left behind.” 

    The Council aims to raise awareness by sharing real survivor stories, busts harmful myths about migrant access to services, and provides practical information on where to get help. Each day focuses on a different theme, from legal support and housing rights to survivor voices and community solidarity. 

    Where to Get Help 

    If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse, support is available: 

    • Birmingham Domestic Abuse Hub:  

    Call 0808 800 0028 Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. 

    Visit www.bswaid.org (Webchat open Monday to Friday from 10am – 4pm) 

    The hub also has a women only drop-in service at Bank House, 36 Bristol Street, Birmingham B5 7AA. Opening times are: Monday and Tuesday 10:00am to 4:00pm, Wednesday 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Thursday and Friday 10:00am to 4:00pm 

    • Refugee and Migrant Centre: 

    Visit www.rmcentre.org.uk 

    Call 0800 0663 444 

    Or drop-in on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings between 9am-1pm at: 

    The Refugee and Migrant Centre, 
    Second Floor, Chamberlain Building, 
    36 Frederick Street, 
    Birmingham, 
    B1 3HN 

    • Central England Law Centre: 

    Telephone advice available Monday to Thursday 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm, and Friday 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm on 0121 227 6540 

    Or visit www.centralenglandlc.org.uk 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Public meeting on Curtis Wood’s future management

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Local people can find out more about how Curtis Wood will be cared for in the coming years at a public meeting next month.

    Curtis Wood is a 13-acre site, designated as a Local Nature Reserve, in Herne. It is known for its woodland flowers, meadow areas and variety of wildlife, and is owned and looked after by the city council.

    The meeting at the Herne Centre on Tuesday 1 July between 6.45pm and 7.45pm will see the council setting out its new management plan for the woodland area and hearing the views of residents.

    The plan details measures to allow more light to reach the woodland floor, creating better conditions for woodland flowers to establish and spread, and steps to prevent bluebells close to footpaths from being trampled.

    In addition, the council is keen to involve local people in recording wildlife sightings, which will provide information to guide future management of the wood.

    This focus on local involvement is particularly important as it follows an incident last year where work to cut back some of the woodland caused concern within the community, from which lessons have been learned.

    The council’s recently-appointed Tree and Woodland Officer, Martin Thomas, will give a presentation, followed by an open discussion to hear residents’ views.

    The event will be opened by Cabinet member for the environment and climate change, Cllr Mel Dawkins.

    Cllr Dawkins said: “We know there is plenty of passion locally about our woodlands and open spaces, so we are expecting a good turnout for this meeting.

    “Curtis Wood is one of our most precious areas of woodland in the district. We can reassure residents that there are no wholesale changes or over management – this is much more about the relatively small things we can do to enhance the site for biodiversity and wildlife.

    “We really hope people will want to get involved in what we are seeking to do and help with how we want to look after this important site in the years ahead.”

    No pre-booking is required for the meeting – just pop along.

    Published: 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Employers recognised for their defence support with 2025 ERS Silver Awards

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Employers recognised for their defence support with 2025 ERS Silver Awards

    The Ministry of Defence is pleased to announce that 307 organisations have been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2025.

    Framed Silver ERS Awards. Copyright: RFCA.

    The ERS Silver Award recognises employers who have shown exceptional support to the armed forces community, including reservists, veterans and military families. These employers have gone beyond their Armed Forces Covenant commitments to embed supportive HR policies, promote defence values, and advocate for service personnel in the civilian workforce.

    Awardees typically demonstrate:

    • paid leave for reservist training and mobilisation
    • active veteran recruitment and retention policies
    • flexible support for military families
    • visible leadership endorsement of the Armed Forces Covenant

    Major General Jamie Gordon, Chief Executive of the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations, said:

    These Silver Award winners are trusted allies of defence. They don’t just talk about support—they show it, every day, through flexible policies, visible advocacy, and long-term commitment to those who serve. This is about more than good intentions, it’s about practical, sustained support that strengthens our national resilience. It is very pleasing that they have been recognised for all they do for our reservists, veterans and cadets.

    The announcement forms part of defence’s broader strategy to build closer relationships with industry and civil society in support of a modern, adaptable armed forces.

    Find out how your organisation can support the armed forces community through the Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme:

    Join the conversation

    Awardees and partners are encouraged to engage with the announcement and share their support via social media.

    Please tag and follow DRM on:

    For more information and media enquiries:

    Email: co-adcomms@rfca.mod.uk

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Banking: axessinvest.de: BaFin warns consumers about website and identity fraud

    Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English

    Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation.

    The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).

    Please be aware:

    BaFin warns consumers about fraudulent term deposit offers.

    You can view BaFin’s current warnings about companies operating without the required authorisation and find out how to protect yourself from fraudsters on the financial market in the “Recognising financial fraud” section of our website.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Campaign highlights importance of cervical screening

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The NHS Cervical Screening Programme saves thousands of lives every year by checking for high risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a group of viruses that cause nearly all cervical cancers.

    Cervical cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms in its early stages, but as the disease progresses, common symptoms include unusual vaginal bleeding, like after sex, between periods, or after menopause, changes in vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain. Advanced cervical cancer may also cause symptoms like back pain, leg swelling, or problems with urination or bowel movements.

    Screening is recommended for women aged 25 to 64, with invitations typically sent every 3 years for those aged 25 to 49 and every 5 years for those aged 50 to 64.

    Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “Around 850 women die from cervical cancer each year, with incidence rates highest in women aged 30 to 34, but research shows that the HPV vaccine, combined with cervical screening, can bring that number right down.

    “Encouraging more eligible people to receive their free HPV vaccine and attending screening remains a key priority for us.

    “Cervical cancer is treatable and curable especially if diagnosed early. Many people survive cervical cancer if diagnosed at the earliest stage, so early detection really does save lives.

    “If you’ve received your invitation, call your GP practice to book as soon as possible – evening and weekend appointments may be available. And if you missed your last cervical screening, call your GP now as it’s not too late.”

    For more information, please visit NHS | Cervical screening.

    The council and the NHS in the Black Country are holding a cancer awareness drop-in session at Bilston Market this Thursday (19 June) from 9.30am to 1.30pm. People can get information and advice about cancer signs, symptoms and screening, as well as how to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.

    Cervical Screening Awareness Week runs from Thursday (19 June) to Tuesday 24 June, 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • ISRO, Axiom Space coordinate ahead of June 19 launch of Ax-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday said it is working closely with Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens, following the rescheduling of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for June 19.

    In a post on X, ISRO said: “@NASA, @Axiom_Space & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than June 19 for the #Ax4 mission to the @Space_Station. Indian Principal Investigators & @isro are coordinating with @Axiom_Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens. #Space #AxMission4 #ISRO #ISS.”

    The Axiom-4 mission includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will become the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.

    Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh confirmed the new launch date in a June 14 post on X, saying: “Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025.”

    He added that the technical issues which caused the initial delay had been resolved: “The SpaceX team has confirmed that all the issues that led to the earlier postponement of the launch have been duly addressed.”

    The delay was first announced by SpaceX on June 11, when the company cited a need for additional time to repair a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. “Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date” SpaceX said on X.

    The Ax-4 mission is Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS. The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. According to Axiom, this will be the first government-sponsored human spaceflight for the three nations since the 1980s.

  • ISRO, Axiom Space coordinate ahead of June 19 launch of Ax-4 mission

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday said it is working closely with Axiom Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens, following the rescheduling of the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for June 19.

    In a post on X, ISRO said: “@NASA, @Axiom_Space & @SpaceX are targeting no earlier than June 19 for the #Ax4 mission to the @Space_Station. Indian Principal Investigators & @isro are coordinating with @Axiom_Space to refresh time-sensitive experimental specimens. #Space #AxMission4 #ISRO #ISS.”

    The Axiom-4 mission includes Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who will become the second Indian to travel to space after Rakesh Sharma’s 1984 mission.

    Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh confirmed the new launch date in a June 14 post on X, saying: “Launch date of the Axiom-4 mission carrying Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station is, as of now, rescheduled for June 19, 2025.”

    He added that the technical issues which caused the initial delay had been resolved: “The SpaceX team has confirmed that all the issues that led to the earlier postponement of the launch have been duly addressed.”

    The delay was first announced by SpaceX on June 11, when the company cited a need for additional time to repair a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. “Standing down from tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch of Ax-4 to the @Space_Station to allow additional time for SpaceX teams to repair the LOx leak identified during post-static fire booster inspections. Once complete – and pending Range availability – we will share a new launch date” SpaceX said on X.

    The Ax-4 mission is Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut flight to the ISS. The Ax-4 crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary. According to Axiom, this will be the first government-sponsored human spaceflight for the three nations since the 1980s.

  • PM Modi conferred Cyprus’s highest civilian honour, dedicates it to people of India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the “Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III”, the highest civilian honour of the Republic of Cyprus. The award was presented by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the country.

    In his acceptance remarks, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the President, the government, and the people of Cyprus. Accepting the honour on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India, the Prime Minister said the recognition was a tribute to the enduring friendship between the two nations, founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and cooperation across diverse fields.

    “This honour is not just for me, but for 1.4 billion Indians,” he said. “It reflects our civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – which continues to guide India’s approach to global peace, progress and cooperation.”

    PM Modi described the Grand Cross as a symbol of the deepening ties between India and Cyprus and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to uphold peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity.

    Instituted in 1981 by then President Spyros Kyprianou, the Decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III is one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Cypriot state. It is granted under the powers of Article 47b of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and is reserved for distinguished personalities who have contributed to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting global goodwill.

    The honour has previously been awarded to several distinguished world leaders, including former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in March 1983, Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in April 1990, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in July 2022, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in March 2023, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands earlier this year.

    PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus comes at a time when both countries are seeking to deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, from economic engagement to cultural ties and innovation.

  • PM Modi conferred Cyprus’s highest civilian honour, dedicates it to people of India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the “Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III”, the highest civilian honour of the Republic of Cyprus. The award was presented by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during the Prime Minister’s official visit to the country.

    In his acceptance remarks, PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the President, the government, and the people of Cyprus. Accepting the honour on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India, the Prime Minister said the recognition was a tribute to the enduring friendship between the two nations, founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and cooperation across diverse fields.

    “This honour is not just for me, but for 1.4 billion Indians,” he said. “It reflects our civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – the world is one family – which continues to guide India’s approach to global peace, progress and cooperation.”

    PM Modi described the Grand Cross as a symbol of the deepening ties between India and Cyprus and a reaffirmation of the shared commitment to uphold peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and prosperity.

    Instituted in 1981 by then President Spyros Kyprianou, the Decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III is one of the most prestigious awards conferred by the Cypriot state. It is granted under the powers of Article 47b of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus and is reserved for distinguished personalities who have contributed to strengthening bilateral relations and promoting global goodwill.

    The honour has previously been awarded to several distinguished world leaders, including former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in March 1983, Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti in April 1990, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in July 2022, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel in March 2023, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands earlier this year.

    PM Modi’s visit to Cyprus comes at a time when both countries are seeking to deepen cooperation across diverse sectors, from economic engagement to cultural ties and innovation.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister calls on Government to tighten border controls

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MP:-

    “There is an urgent need for the Government to address, rather than run away from, the unfettered access of Eastern Europeans through the Republic to Northern Ireland.

    “Though we are supposed to have seen an end to ‘freedom of movement’ upon leaving the EU, the reality is that it has effectively continued via the Republic, made easy by HMG’s refusal to exercise any control of the border.

    “I will continue to press the Government on these issues. HMG talks incessantly about tackling the small boats, but makes no pretence of addressing this other, and even easier, access point.

    “The Protocol has the added potential of making things even worse, because, as the Rwanda case demonstrated, we can’t even apply in NI protections passed by the U.K. parliament.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: TUV call for local hero’s darts triumph to be marked

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV Braid Councillor Christopher Jamieson:

    “I am absolutely thrilled to extend my congratulations to the Northern Ireland darts team on achieving an extraordinary victory at the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. In a gripping final decider, Daryl Gurney and our very own Josh Rock triumphed 10–9 over Wales, clinching Northern Ireland’s first ever World Cup of Darts title .

    “As the local councillor representing Broughshane, I could not be prouder to see Josh Rock – our hometown hero – step onto the world stage and deliver such a performance. Breaking the tournament record for 180s made it all the more special.

    “Josh’s return to Broughshane will be met with a hero’s welcome. I will be requesting a Mayor’s reception for him. I’ve no doubt that his achievement will inspire future local sports stars.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Receives Phone Call from UK Foreign Secretary

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, June 15, 2025

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call from HE Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom (UK) David Lammy.

    During the call, the two sides discussed cooperation relations and ways to support and strengthen them, as well as the latest developments in the region, particularly the Israeli attack on the territory of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran.

    In this context, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar’s condemnation of the repeated Israeli violations and aggressions in the region that undermine efforts to achieve peace and threaten to drag the region into a regional war.

    His Excellency additionally stressed the need for regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomatic means, affirming that the State of Qatar is making strenuous efforts, along with its partners, for all parties to return to the path of dialogue to address outstanding issues and consolidate security and peace in the region and the world. 

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Receive Phone Call from Spanish Foreign Minister

    Source: Government of Qatar

    Doha, June 15, 2025

    HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received Sunday a phone call from HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares.

    During the call, they discussed bilateral cooperation relations and ways to further support and enhance them. They also reviewed the latest developments in the region, particularly the Israeli attack on the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran.

    In this context, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation of the repeated Israeli violations and attacks in the region, stressing that such actions undermine efforts to achieve peace and risk dragging the region into a wider conflict.

    His Excellency emphasized the urgent need for joint regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomatic channels. He affirmed that the State of Qatar continues to exert intensive efforts, in coordination with its partners, to restore dialogue among all parties, address outstanding issues, and promote security and peace in the region and the world.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrations as two more become Schools of Sanctuary

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    The Royal School Wolverhampton Primary and Ormiston NEW Academy showed assessors from the City of Sanctuary UK movement that they celebrate their diverse communities, and that the School of Sanctuary ethos of welcome, inclusion and safety for all, runs through all aspects of both schools.

    Achieving the School of Sanctuary status is the culmination of dedicated and ongoing efforts to ensure that every child, staff member and family feels represented, included, and valued.

    The Royal School Deputy Head of Primary Hayley Green said: “We are delighted to have been awarded School of Sanctuary status — a recognition of the incredible work and dedication of our whole school community.

    “This award celebrates the inclusive ethos that runs through everything we do, from our Young Interpreters to the everyday actions of all our amazing staff, pupils, and families who help make our school a warm, welcoming place for all. We’re proud of this achievement and grateful to everyone who continues to contribute to our culture of care, compassion, and belonging.

    “We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Citizenship, Literacy and Language Advisory Teacher Claire Sumner for her unwavering support throughout this journey. Claire was instrumental in helping us develop a focused action plan tailored to our school’s unique context, and her guidance during our School of Sanctuary application process has been both expert and encouraging.

    “This award is something we are all be truly proud of and belongs to all of us — staff, pupils, and families — who make our school such a safe and welcoming place for everyone where diversity is celebrated, support is proactive, and every child is given the opportunity to thrive.”

    Eleanor Tomlinson, Educational and Child Psychologist at Ormiston NEW Academy, said: “We are delighted to have achieved the School of Sanctuary Award.

    “We are extremely proud of the many different cultures and backgrounds of our student population here at Ormiston NEW Academy. This award recognises the hard work of staff, students and parents in building our diverse community, where all cultures are welcomed and celebrated, and all students can thrive. We look forward to sharing our knowledge and experience, supporting other local schools to work towards School of Sanctuary status.”

    The two schools have joined a growing group of educational institutions across the city that have achieved School of Sanctuary accreditation, further solidifying Wolverhampton’s reputation as a place of inclusion and sanctuary for all.

    Other Schools of Sanctuary include Bantock Primary, Dunstall Hill Primary, Goldthorn Park Primary, Graiseley Primary, Rakegate Primary, St Andrews CofE Primary, St Lukes CofE Primary, St Regis CofE Academy, Stowlawn Primary, St Mary’s Catholic Primary Academy, Villiers Primary, West Park Primary, Merridale Primary, Wodensfield Primary School, St Michael’s CE Primary School, SS Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, St Teresa’s Catholic Primary Academy and Colton Hills Community School.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We are delighted that we now have 20 Schools of Sanctuary in Wolverhampton, which are all demonstrating the lengths they go to ensure they provide a safe and welcoming place for their children and families.”

    Schools can apply to become a School of Sanctuary by demonstrating to City of Sanctuary UK that they have implemented 3 key principles – learning and helping people understand what it means to be seeking sanctuary, embedding the concepts of safety, welcome and inclusive culture for everyone, and sharing their values and activities with their local communities.

    The Schools of Sanctuary programme is part of the City of Sanctuary UK movement, committed to building a culture of safety and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution. For more information, please visit Schools of Sanctuary
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: First Step assisted purchase housing scheme reopens16 June 2025 ​The Minister for Housing has re-opened a successful scheme to help Islanders buy their first home. First Step, which helps aspiring homeowners onto the property ladder, opened again on Monday 16 June.… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    16 June 2025

    The Minister for Housing has re-opened a successful scheme to help Islanders buy their first home. 

    First Step, which helps aspiring homeowners onto the property ladder, opened again on Monday 16 June. 

    Since last year, more than 50 open-market homes have been purchased as a result of the £10 million of Government funding, which paid for loans of up to 40% towards the property purchase. This year, £2m has been added for a further tranche. 

    The loans have helped Islanders purchase properties of all sizes, ranging from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses. First Step, which is delivered in partnership with Andium Homes, was launched by Deputy Sam Mézec in February last year. The Minister said that he was delighted to reopen the scheme for a fourth time. 

    “I have seen for myself how much the scheme has made a real difference to Islanders who would have otherwise been unable to own their first home,” he said. “It is a meaningful way of tackling Jersey’s housing crisis and giving Islanders hope that they can access homeownership affordably and securely with the help of Government. 

    “We have also seen how well the scheme has been received and understood by the housing market, and I am grateful for all the work of estate agents, law firms, and mortgage providers in working with Government and Andium Homes to make a real success of the scheme.” 

    The scheme will be open to applications from Monday 16 June for four weeks, closing on Sunday 13 July. 

    Applicants must: 

    • hold Entitled status 
    • not own any property in Jersey or overseas 
    • be registered on the Assisted Purchase Pathway 
    • be able to provide a 5 per cent deposit towards the purchase 
    • be able to access the maximum lending available to them from one of the scheme’s partnering mortgage lenders 
    • not be under offer on another assisted purchase scheme. 

    Islanders must be registered on the Assisted Purchase Pathway before applying for First Step. If someone is already registered on the Assisted Purchase Pathway, they do not need to re-register. Applications will be means-tested against the financial criteria which is outlined in the policy guidance

    Chris Kynicos, Sales, and Lettings Lead at Andium Homes, said: “In the first three tranches, we’ve helped numerous individuals, couples and families become homeowners for the first time. 

    “From their initial application through to the final purchase in court, the Andium Homes team have helped each applicant navigate their way through what can be a daunting task, and one that many may only do once in their lifetime. 

    “We’d encourage anyone looking for their first home to get in touch either in person at our offices on Don Street or call 500700 and our team will be happy to help.” 

    Islanders wishing to join the Assisted Purchase Pathway, or those wanting to update their details, can do so via the Andium website: First Step (andiumhomes.je)​.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Bringing up baby! It’s Baby Week in Manchester this week – all you need to know 

    Source: City of Manchester

    It’s all about babies this week (16 – 21 June) in Manchester as parents, carers and tiny tots are invited to join in with a whole host of baby and toddler friendly activities across the city, designed to educate and entertain parents, carers, and little ones alike. 

    The now annual six-day programme is filled from start to finish with free activities – all designed to support a child’s development from birth and before, to two years old.

    The week kicks off today (Monday 16 June) with a packed programme of free fun-filled activities taking place all day long in Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery.

    Musical mums, dads and babies are in for a treat with everything from Baby DJing sessions, Shake Rattle and Roll workshops, and Dance Like a Mother workouts with awesome tunes, to have-a-go sessions playing musical instruments and singing with the Hallé Musical Stars.

    Mini-me fitness and fun sessions for toddlers and their grown-ups will also run throughout the day with Afro-fit workshops offering African dance-inspired exercise, and lots of fun physical activity sessions from the National Football Museum.

    The day will also see plenty of opportunities for toddlers and parents to get messy together with creative play sessions throughout the day at the art gallery, as well as story time sessions at the library – based on every toddler’s favourite book, The Hungry Caterpillar.

    Baby Massage and gentle stretch and flex Baby Yoga classes are also programmed at intervals during the day – showing carers how to enjoy moments of calm and connection with their babies amongst all the activity and noise they may experience day to day.

    There will also be plenty of practical advice on offer for parents and carers – from preventing common accidents in the home and first aid taster sessions, to Tiny Talk Baby Signing sessions to help teach even the youngest babies to begin to communicate long before they’re able to speak, helping parents and their babies to understand each other from the earliest of days together.

    The rest of the week sees many of the same events and more taking place across the city, in cultural venues, leisure centres, libraries, local Family Hubs, children’s centres, and also in the city’s parks – which will host free family fun days for all on Saturday 21 June.

    With family splash and swim sessions, pool parties, sensory play, and groovy dance classes, as well as walk and talk rambles round local areas and healthy child drop-ins with Health Visitors, there are plenty of free activities of all kinds for families to get involved in during the week. 

    Manchester’s annual Baby Week takes place at an important time for Manchester as the city journeys towards being recognised by UNICEF as a Child Friendly City – the best possible place for a child to grow up in, a place where children’s rights are understood and the voices of children and young people matter.

    Councillor Julie Reid, Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, Manchester City Council, said:  “As any parent or carer will tell you, parenting or caring for a baby or toddler can be both the most joyous and the most challenging of experiences – and sometimes even both these things in the space of a minute!

    “Having people around you to share these experiences with and help you navigate the hard things whilst enjoying all the great stuff is really important.  And that’s where Manchester Baby Week comes in.

    “We want to make sure that Manchester is the very best place it can be for all our babies and children to grow up in. The week provides a brilliant platform for parents, carers and babies to meet each other, learn from each other, and really enjoy themselves as they explore what’s available for tiny tots and their grown-ups in the city.”

    Manchester Baby Week runs from Monday 16 to Saturday 21 June.

    Find out more information on all the activities happening across the city for Baby Week 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Telegram of the Holy Father, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Day of Life of the Episcopal Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland

    Source: The Holy See

    Telegram of the Holy Father, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Day of Life of the Episcopal Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, 15.06.2025

    The following is the telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, on behalf of the Holy Father Leo XIV, to His Excellency Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool, on the occasion of the celebrations for the Day for Life of the Episcopal Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland:

    Telegram
    THE MOST REVEREND JOHN SHERRINGTONARCHBISHOP OF LIVERPOOL
    HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV SENDS THE ASSURANCE OF HIS SPIRITUAL CLOSENESS TO THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE 2025 “DAY FOR LIFE” BEING CELEBRATED JOINTLY BY THE BISHOPS’ CONFERENCES OF ENGLAND AND WALES, SCOTLAND, AND IRELAND. IN THIS JUBILEE YEAR FOCUSSED ON THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUE OF HOPE, IT IS FITTING THAT YOUR THEME, “HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT – FINDING MEANING IN SUFFERING”, SEEKS TO DRAW PEOPLE’S ATTENTION TO HOW THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING, SO PREVALENT IN THE HUMAN CONDITION, CAN BE TRANSFORMED BY GRACE INTO AN EXPERIENCE OF THE LORD’S PRESENCE, FOR GOD IS ALWAYS CLOSE TO THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND GUIDES US TO APPRECIATE THE DEEPER MEANING OF LIFE, IN LOVE AND CLOSENESS (CF. MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS, XXXIII WORLD DAY OF THE SICK). HIS HOLINESS PRAYS THAT, THROUGH YOUR COMMON WITNESS TO THE GOD-GIVEN DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, AND TO THE TENDER CHRIST-LIKE ACCOMPANIMENT OF THE SERIOUSLY ILL, ALL IN SOCIETY WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO DEFEND RATHER THAN UNDERMINE A CIVILIZATION FOUNDED ON AUTHENTIC LOVE AND GENUINE COMPASSION. THE HOLY FATHER ENTRUSTS YOUR EFFORTS TO THE INTERCESSION OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL, AND TO ALL SUPPORTING THIS “DAY FOR LIFE”, HE CORDIALLY IMPARTS HIS APOSTOLIC BLESSING AS A PLEDGE OF FORTITUDE, JOY AND PEACE IN THE RISEN LORD.
    CARDINAL PIETRO PAROLINSECRETARY OF STATE

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • Nvidia’s pitch for sovereign AI resonates with EU leaders

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nvidia NVDA.O CEO Jensen Huang has been pitching the idea of “sovereign AI” since 2023. Europe is now starting to listen and act.

    The concept is based on the idea that the language, knowledge, history and culture of each region are different, and every nation needs to develop and own its AI.

    Last week, the CEO of the artificial-intelligence chipmaker toured Europe’s major capitals – London, Paris and Berlin – announcing a slew of projects and partnerships, while highlighting the lack of AI infrastructure in the region.

    In a place where leaders are increasingly wary of the continent’s dependency on a handful of U.S. tech companies and after drawing ire from the U.S. President Donald Trump, his vision has started to gain traction.

    “We are going to invest billions in here … but Europe needs to move into AI quickly,” Huang said on Wednesday in Paris.

    On Monday of last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced 1 billion pounds ($1.35 billion) in funding to scale up computing power in a global race “to be an AI maker and not an AI taker.”

    French President Emmanuel Macron called building AI infrastructure “our fight for sovereignty” at VivaTech, one of the largest global tech conferences.

    After Nvidia laid out plans to build an AI cloud platform in Germany with Deutsche Telekom DTEGn.DE, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it an “important step” for the digital sovereignty and economic future of Europe’s top economy.

    Europe lags behind both the U.S. and China as its cloud infrastructure is mostly run by Microsoft MSFT.O, Amazon AMZN.O and Alphabet’s GOOGL.O Google, and it has only a few smaller AI companies such as Mistral to rival the U.S. ones.

    “There’s no reason why Europe shouldn’t have tech champions,” said 31-year-old Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch, sitting beside Huang, who has led Nvidia for more than three decades, at a panel at VivaTech.

    “This is a gigantic dream.”

    GIGAFACTORY PLANS UNLEASHED

    In France, Mistral has partnered with Nvidia to build a data centre to power the AI needs of European companies with a homegrown alternative.

    It will use 18,000 of the latest Nvidia AI chips in the first phase, with plans to expand across multiple sites in 2026.

    In February, the European Union announced plans to build four “AI gigafactories” at a cost of $20 billion to lower dependence on U.S. firms.

    The European Commission has been in touch with Huang and he had told the EU executive that he was going to allocate some chip production to Europe for these factories, an EU official told Reuters.

    Nvidia’s chips known as Graphics Processing Units or GPUs are crucial for building AI data centres from the U.S. to Japan and India to the Middle East.

    In Europe, a push for sovereign AI could reshape the tech landscape with domestic cloud providers, AI startups, and chipmakers standing to gain from new government funding and a shift toward in-region data infrastructure.

    Nvidia also wants to cement demand for its AI chips, ensuring that even as countries seek independence, they still rely on its technology to get there.

    POWER COSTS

    The push is not without challenges.

    High electricity costs and rising demand could strain sourcing of electricity for data centres. Data centres account for 3% of EU electricity demand, but their consumption is expected to increase rapidly this decade due to AI.

    Mistral, which has raised just over $1 billion, is trying to become a European homegrown champion with a fraction of the money U.S. hyperscalers or large data-centre operators spend in a month.

    “Hyperscalers are spending $10 billion to $15 billion per quarter in their infrastructure. Who in Europe can afford that exactly?” said Pascal Brier, chief innovation officer at Capgemini CAPP.PA, a partner of both Nvidia and Mistral.

    “It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do anything, but we have to be cognizant about the fact that there will always be a gap.”

    Mistral has launched several AI models which are used by businesses but companies tend to mix them with models from other companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta Platforms META.O.

    “Most of the time it’s not Mistral or the rest, it’s Mistral and the rest,” Brier said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Expands Nasdaq Stockholm Offering with Five New Crypto ETP Listings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New listings reflect growing demand for regulated crypto investment products in the Nordic region

    Zurich, 16 June 2025 – 21Shares AG, one of the world’s largest issuers of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs), today announced the crosslisting of five additional products on Nasdaq Stockholm, further solidifying its presence in the Nordic region and reinforcing its commitment to providing investors with regulated, transparent, and simple access to digital assets.

    The newly listed products include:

    • 21Shares Uniswap ETP (Ticker: AUNI)
    • 21Shares Avalanche ETP (Ticker: AVAX)
    • 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP (Ticker: BOLD)
    • 21Shares Solana Core Staking ETP (Ticker: CSOL)
    • 21Shares Ethereum Core ETP (Ticker: ETHC)

    These products join an existing suite of 21Shares products already available on Nasdaq Stockholm: the 21Shares Bitcoin ETP (ABTC), 21Shares Ethereum ETP (AETH), 21Shares Solana ETP (ASOL), 21Shares XRP ETP (AXRP), and 21Shares Bitcoin Core ETP (CBTC).

    “Our continued expansion in the Nordic region reflects the increasing demand from both retail and institutional investors for diversified and cost-effective crypto exposure,” said Mandy Chiu, Head of Financial Product Development at 21Shares. “By offering a broader selection of single-asset and thematic crypto ETPs, we’re empowering investors to build more customised and resilient portfolios through a familiar exchange environment.”

    “We are pleased to welcome the expansion of 21Shares’ product suite on Nasdaq Stockholm. These newly listed ETPs reflect the kind of innovation that is shaping the future of financial markets. As the ETP market continues to grow, we remain committed to modernising access to investment opportunities and supporting greater transparency,” said Helena Wedin, Head of ETF & ETP, Nasdaq European Markets.

    With this expansion, 21Shares now offers 10 ETPs on Nasdaq Stockholm, spanning large-cap cryptocurrencies, innovative index strategies, and staking-enabled products. All products are fully collateralised and traded in a regulated, liquid format, providing an easy gateway to digital assets without the need to manage wallets or custody directly. With annual fees ranging from 0.21% to 2.50%, these products are some of the most cost-efficient in the market.

    With listings across Europe that include Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam, London Stock Exchange, and SIX Swiss Exchange, 21Shares is the largest and most diversified crypto ETP provider in the region.

    For more information on 21Shares’ full product suite, visit www.21shares.com.

    Notes to editors

    About 21Shares

    21Shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product providers and offers the largest suite of crypto ETPs in the market. The company was founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. 21Shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018, building a seven-year track record of creating crypto exchange-traded funds that are listed on some of the biggest, most liquid securities exchanges globally. Backed by a specialized research team, proprietary technology, and deep capital markets expertise, 21Shares delivers innovative, simple and cost-efficient investment solutions.

    21Shares is a member of 21.co, a global leader in decentralized finance. For more information, please visit www.21Shares.com.

    Media Contact
    Matteo Valli
    matteo.valli@21shares.com

    DISCLAIMER

    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2024 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with BX Swiss AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2024 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: 21Shares Expands Nasdaq Stockholm Offering with Five New Crypto ETP Listings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New listings reflect growing demand for regulated crypto investment products in the Nordic region

    Zurich, 16 June 2025 – 21Shares AG, one of the world’s largest issuers of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs), today announced the crosslisting of five additional products on Nasdaq Stockholm, further solidifying its presence in the Nordic region and reinforcing its commitment to providing investors with regulated, transparent, and simple access to digital assets.

    The newly listed products include:

    • 21Shares Uniswap ETP (Ticker: AUNI)
    • 21Shares Avalanche ETP (Ticker: AVAX)
    • 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP (Ticker: BOLD)
    • 21Shares Solana Core Staking ETP (Ticker: CSOL)
    • 21Shares Ethereum Core ETP (Ticker: ETHC)

    These products join an existing suite of 21Shares products already available on Nasdaq Stockholm: the 21Shares Bitcoin ETP (ABTC), 21Shares Ethereum ETP (AETH), 21Shares Solana ETP (ASOL), 21Shares XRP ETP (AXRP), and 21Shares Bitcoin Core ETP (CBTC).

    “Our continued expansion in the Nordic region reflects the increasing demand from both retail and institutional investors for diversified and cost-effective crypto exposure,” said Mandy Chiu, Head of Financial Product Development at 21Shares. “By offering a broader selection of single-asset and thematic crypto ETPs, we’re empowering investors to build more customised and resilient portfolios through a familiar exchange environment.”

    “We are pleased to welcome the expansion of 21Shares’ product suite on Nasdaq Stockholm. These newly listed ETPs reflect the kind of innovation that is shaping the future of financial markets. As the ETP market continues to grow, we remain committed to modernising access to investment opportunities and supporting greater transparency,” said Helena Wedin, Head of ETF & ETP, Nasdaq European Markets.

    With this expansion, 21Shares now offers 10 ETPs on Nasdaq Stockholm, spanning large-cap cryptocurrencies, innovative index strategies, and staking-enabled products. All products are fully collateralised and traded in a regulated, liquid format, providing an easy gateway to digital assets without the need to manage wallets or custody directly. With annual fees ranging from 0.21% to 2.50%, these products are some of the most cost-efficient in the market.

    With listings across Europe that include Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam, London Stock Exchange, and SIX Swiss Exchange, 21Shares is the largest and most diversified crypto ETP provider in the region.

    For more information on 21Shares’ full product suite, visit www.21shares.com.

    Notes to editors

    About 21Shares

    21Shares is one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange traded product providers and offers the largest suite of crypto ETPs in the market. The company was founded to make cryptocurrency more accessible to investors, and to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. 21Shares listed the world’s first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018, building a seven-year track record of creating crypto exchange-traded funds that are listed on some of the biggest, most liquid securities exchanges globally. Backed by a specialized research team, proprietary technology, and deep capital markets expertise, 21Shares delivers innovative, simple and cost-efficient investment solutions.

    21Shares is a member of 21.co, a global leader in decentralized finance. For more information, please visit www.21Shares.com.

    Media Contact
    Matteo Valli
    matteo.valli@21shares.com

    DISCLAIMER

    This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for securities of 21Shares AG in any jurisdiction. Neither this document nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever or for any other purpose in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this document should be considered investment advice.

    This document and the information contained herein are not for distribution in or into (directly or indirectly) the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful.

    This document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in or into the United States, Canada, Australia or Japan. The securities of 21Shares AG to which these materials relate have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will not be a public offering of securities in the United States. Neither the US Securities and Exchange Commission nor any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States has approved or disapproved of an investment in the securities or passed on the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this presentation. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

    Within the United Kingdom, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (i) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”); or (ii) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”); or (iii) persons who fall within Article 43(2) of the Order, including existing members and creditors of the Company or (iv) any other persons to whom this document can be lawfully distributed in circumstances where section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply. The securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

    Exclusively for potential investors in any EEA Member State that has implemented the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) is made available on the Issuer’s website under www.21Shares.com.

    The approval of the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) should not be understood as an endorsement by the SFSA of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market. Eligible potential investors should read the Issuer’s Base Prospectus (EU) and the relevant Final Terms before making an investment decision in order to understand the potential risks associated with the decision to invest in the securities. You are about to purchase a product that is not simple and may be difficult to understand.

    This document constitutes advertisement within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 and the Swiss Financial Services Act (the “FinSA”) and not a prospectus. The 2024 Base Prospectus of 21Shares AG has been deposited pursuant to article 54(2) FinSA with BX Swiss AG in its function as Swiss prospectus review body within the meaning of article 52 FinSA. The 2024 Base Prospectus and the key information document for any products may be obtained at 21Shares AG’s website (https://21shares.com/ir/prospectus or https://21shares.com/ir/kids).

    ###

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dstl announces Orpheus satellite mission contract

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Dstl announces Orpheus satellite mission contract

    The Orpheus satellite mission will carry a suite of payloads to measure the effects of space weather.

    The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has awarded the £5.15 million satellite contract for the Orpheus space domain awareness mission to Astroscale UK.

    This will be a successor to the Prometheus-2 and CIRCE missions that were lost aboard the Virgin Orbit launch in 2023. Orpheus is a collaborative effort between UK industry, government and academia–as well as international government partners in Canada and the US. Launch is anticipated to be in 2027.

    Astroscale UK is working with subcontractor Open Cosmos Limited who will design and build 2 near identical cubesats that Astroscale UK will operate for the mission. The satellites will fly in formation in Low Earth, Sun Synchronous Orbit to observe and collect critical data using in-situ and remote sensing techniques.

    Dstl Chief Executive, Dr Paul Hollinshead, said:

    “Changes in space weather can have a critical impact on satellites which provide navigation aids, telecommunications and data transmission. Sustained investment in space research in collaboration with our international partners strengthens the security of UK interests in space.”

    Orpheus will host a suite of Space Domain Awareness (SDA) payloads. These payloads will include a Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) payload on each spacecraft and an array of payloads to characterise the ionosphere (the ionised portion of Earth’s upper atmosphere) from several UK and international partners.

    HSI payload

    The 2 HSI payloads, supplied by Dragonfly Aerospace, will capture image data to support SDA and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) scientific experiments and measurements of land-based, littoral and ice over water targets.

    Used in a lead-trail configuration in a near-polar earth sun-synchronous orbit, the 2 HSI payloads will allow for the detection and identification of materials and targets of interest based on their spectral signatures.

    Dragonfly Aerospace, South Africa and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), Canada.

    The satellites will carry the following payloads to measure the effects of space weather:

    Triple Tiny Ionospheric Photometers (Tri-TIP)

    Characterises the ionosphere through observation of UV wavelengths on the night-side of the Earth, using two payloads with multiple different view angles to allow multi-point sampling. US Naval Research Laboratory, US.

    TOPside ionosphere Computer Assisted Tomography (TOPCAT II)

    Derives total electron content of the propagation medium from differential phase of received GPS signals. University of Bath, UK.

    Wind Ion Neutral Composition Suite (WINCS)

    Provide in-situ observations of ions and neutrals (density, temperature and winds/drifts). US Naval Research Laboratory, US.

    Radiation Monitor (RadMon)

    Comprised of a particle detector, dose rate monitor and total dose monitor. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, UK.

    The suite of payloads carried on Orpheus will generate observations enabling a greater understanding of the driving processes of geophysical phenomena in the ionosphere-thermosphere system, distributed across a wide range of latitudes.

    Understanding the characteristics of the dynamic ionosphere is vital for a range of both civil and defence applications such as:

    • GNSS
    • communications
    • sensing technology
    • space sustainability

    This fully funded project will run for 3 years and will conclude in 2028. It will cover the complete lifecycle of the mission, from design through to launch, operations and disposal.

    Orpheus is Astroscale UK’s first defence mission and demonstrates how the defence industry is a conduit for small and medium enterprises to super charge their growth through defence activities.

    In the short-term, Orpheus will enable Astroscale to retain 10 direct jobs, in addition to a further 17 jobs for platform partner Open Cosmos and the wider UK supply chain.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI China: Russell wins F1 Canadian GP as Norris-Piastri clash shakes up title fight

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

    George Russell claimed Mercedes’ first win of the season with a commanding drive from pole position in Montreal, but the biggest drama came behind as McLaren teammates and title rivals Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided late in the race.

    The contact occurred on lap 67 of 70 as Norris attempted to overtake Piastri for fourth. The Briton misjudged a move on the pit straight and ran into the back of the Australian’s car.

    Mercedes’s British driver George Russell competes during the qualifying session of the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix 2025 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Song Haiyuan/Xinhua)

    Norris retired on the spot with front suspension damage, while Piastri continued to finish fourth behind Russell, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli. The race ended under the safety car.

    Norris immediately took full responsibility over team radio: “It’s all my bad, all my fault. Unlucky, sorry. Stupid from me.”

    The incident, reminiscent of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button’s infamous clash at the same point in 2011, dealt a blow to Norris’ title challenge. Piastri’s points lead over his teammate now stands at 22 points, with Verstappen a further 21 points behind.

    Until the clash, Norris had run a good race from seventh on the grid on an inverted tyre strategy. Having gained on Piastri, the Briton surprised his teammate on lap 66 with a pass into the hairpin, but Piastri regained the position with a cut-back down the straight.

    As Norris aimed to slingshot past on the pit straight, he ran out of room and his front wing broke against the rear of Piastri’s car.

    While McLaren were left to rue the first clash between their two drivers this season, Russell delivered a composed and clinical performance out front.

    Having taken a surprise pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session, he converted it into victory with a strong start and controlled the pace throughout the afternoon. Despite closing the gap in the closing laps, Verstappen never truly threatened.

    Mercedes, however, may face a post-race protest from Red Bull, who allege Russell drove erratically under the safety car.

    Behind them, 18-year-old Antonelli secured his maiden F1 podium in just his tenth Grand Prix. The Italian overtook Piastri for third on the opening lap and showed maturity in defending the final podium place before Norris’ crash neutralized the race.

    Ferrari endured a frustrating day. Charles Leclerc finished a distant fifth after publicly questioning the team’s strategy to make two pit stops instead of just one. Teammate Hamilton finished a low-key sixth, although the Briton’s pace was affected by an early collision with a groundhog, which damaged his floor and cost him some downforce.

    Fernando Alonso continued Aston Martin’s mini-revival with a solid seventh place, followed by Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber in eighth. Esteban Ocon secured ninth for Haas, and Carlos Sainz took the final point after executing a well-managed one-stop strategy.

    The 11th round of the 2025 Formula 1 season is the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, where Russell won last year after Norris and Verstappen clashed while battling for the lead. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: BSTDB Hosts the Heads of Internal Audit Annual Meeting

    Source: Black Sea Trade and Development Bank

    Press Release | 16-Jun-2025

    Internal Audit Leaders Convene in Thessaloniki to Discuss ESG, AI, and Evolving Governance Standards

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) hosted the Annual Meeting of the Heads of Internal Audit (HOIA) on 12–13 June 2025. The two-day event, held under the theme “Empowering Accountability and Resilience,” brought together internal audit leaders from over 40 international financial institutions, United Nations agencies, European bodies, and global alliances.

    Participants addressed a wide range of critical topics shaping the future of the profession—from ESG integration and fraud risk management to artificial intelligence, generative technologies, and internal audit quality standards.

    In his opening statement, BSTDB President Dr. Serhat Köksal underlined that “the role of internal audit is one of the critical functions, given the current challenging international setting, including geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, technological disruption, and urgent climate imperatives.”  He stressed that International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have an increased responsibility to drive in these factors into their governance frameworks because of their wide-reaching impact on communities, the environment, and global development.

    Delivering the keynote,  Anthony J. Pugliese, President and CEO of the Institute of Internal Auditors, emphasized the systemic, fast-evolving and interconnected nature of today’s risk landscape. Emphasis was placed on the expanding role of internal audit- transforming from traditional oversight to providing strategic guidance in enterprise risk management. He highlighted the dual impact of technology as both a disruptive and an enabler and introduced the principles of responsible AI governance. He concluded by outlining key priorities for strengthening the future of the profession, emphasizing culture, synergies and resilience as the foundations for long term sustainability.

    Pavlos Pavlides, Director of Internal Audit at BSTDB and host of the Meeting, stressed the importance of sound governance, vigilance, and integrity in delivering on institutional mandates. He called for strengthening collaboration among internal audit functions across international organisations to increase collective impact, knowledge-sharing, and professional development.

    The Meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing the internal audit profession as a cornerstone of good governance, resilience, and institutional excellence.

     

    The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org.

     

    Contact: Haroula Christodoulou

    : @BSTDB

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (“Falcon”).

    Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    16 June 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) achieved an average 30-day initial production (“IP30”) flow rate of 7.2 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) across a 35 stage stimulated length within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it the highest IP30 result in the Beetaloo to date.

    Points to note:

    • The normalized flow rate of 13.2 MMcf/d over an extrapolated 10,000-foot horizontal section is in-line with the average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period. The results demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts.
    • The exit rate trajectory continues a steady, low-declining curve at 6.7 MMcf/d (normalized at 12.2 MMcf/d per 10,000-feet) with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~910 psi. The steady state decline curve on SS-2H ST1 is consistent with that achieved from the Shenandoah South 1H well (“SS-1H”).
    • For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test including a table, and charts please refer to Appendix A.

    Development activity

    • The Shenandoah South drilling campaign is planned to commence in July 2025, targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells and completed with up to 60 stimulation stages from the SS2 well pad. As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (“Falcon Australia”) has opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%.
    • Once completed, the five wells on the SS2 pad are planned to be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (“SPCF”) to feed into a 40 MMcf/d take-or-pay Gas Sales Agreement (“GSA”) with the Northern Territory Government. Production remains on track to commence in mid-2026, subject to standard regulatory and stakeholder approvals and favourable weather conditions.
    • The Shenandoah South 4H (“SS-4H”) well is planned to be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025, with the remaining wells drilled in the 2025 campaign to be completed during 1H 2026.
    • Completion of the remaining four wells will incorporate lessons from the SS-1H and SS-2H ST1 wells.
    • The five wells are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d volume under a binding take-or-pay agreement with the Northern Territory Government.

    Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:

    “The IP30 flow rate results announced today of 7.2 MMcf/d, are truly stellar and marks another major data point in the Beetaloo Sub-basin again demonstrating that it compares to the best shale wells in the United States. Not only did the results exceed Falcon’s pre-drill commercial threshold of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres but had similar flow rates and pressures to SS-1H and SS-2H ST1, which all point towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo.

    Falcon looks forward to the planned completion and testing of SS-4H by the end of 2025 and also to observing the results from the next three wells of the Shenandoah South drilling program and the additional milestones they will establish.

    As further results become available, we look forward to updating the market further”

    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.          +353 1 676 8702
    Philip O’Quigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042
    Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162
     
    Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
    Neil McDonald / Adam Rae +44 131 220 9771

     

    This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gábor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd’s Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eötvös L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.

    About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Please visit www.falconoilandgas.com

    About Beetaloo Joint Venture (EP 76, 98 and 117)   

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 22.5%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (“Tamboran”) 77.5%
    Total 100.0%

    Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units – 46,080 acres1

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 5.0%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 95.0%
    Total 100.0%

    1Subject to the completion of SS4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.

    About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited
    Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B1”) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP.

    Tamboran Resources Corporation is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Sub-basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as management’s experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America.

    Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (“PE”), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company.

    Appendix A – SS-2H ST1 Flow Test Details

    Note to reader: Please refer to the PDF attachment included at the end of this press release for further details including a table and charts related to the SS-2H ST1 flow test results

    Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
    Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “anticipated”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP30 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 including assumptions that the results are in line with average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period and that they demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts; consistency of the results of SS-2H ST1 with SS-1H; details on the planned three well drilling campaign including the plan to commence in July 2025 and to continue into 1H 2026; the plan to tie the wells to the SPCF under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government in mid-2026; the plan that SS-4H will be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025; the five wells drilled are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government;

    This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and/or their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.

    Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.

    Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (“Falcon”).

    Another Stellar IP30 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo

    16 June 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) achieved an average 30-day initial production (“IP30”) flow rate of 7.2 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) across a 35 stage stimulated length within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it the highest IP30 result in the Beetaloo to date.

    Points to note:

    • The normalized flow rate of 13.2 MMcf/d over an extrapolated 10,000-foot horizontal section is in-line with the average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period. The results demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts.
    • The exit rate trajectory continues a steady, low-declining curve at 6.7 MMcf/d (normalized at 12.2 MMcf/d per 10,000-feet) with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~910 psi. The steady state decline curve on SS-2H ST1 is consistent with that achieved from the Shenandoah South 1H well (“SS-1H”).
    • For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test including a table, and charts please refer to Appendix A.

    Development activity

    • The Shenandoah South drilling campaign is planned to commence in July 2025, targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells and completed with up to 60 stimulation stages from the SS2 well pad. As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (“Falcon Australia”) has opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%.
    • Once completed, the five wells on the SS2 pad are planned to be tied into the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility (“SPCF”) to feed into a 40 MMcf/d take-or-pay Gas Sales Agreement (“GSA”) with the Northern Territory Government. Production remains on track to commence in mid-2026, subject to standard regulatory and stakeholder approvals and favourable weather conditions.
    • The Shenandoah South 4H (“SS-4H”) well is planned to be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025, with the remaining wells drilled in the 2025 campaign to be completed during 1H 2026.
    • Completion of the remaining four wells will incorporate lessons from the SS-1H and SS-2H ST1 wells.
    • The five wells are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d volume under a binding take-or-pay agreement with the Northern Territory Government.

    Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:

    “The IP30 flow rate results announced today of 7.2 MMcf/d, are truly stellar and marks another major data point in the Beetaloo Sub-basin again demonstrating that it compares to the best shale wells in the United States. Not only did the results exceed Falcon’s pre-drill commercial threshold of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres but had similar flow rates and pressures to SS-1H and SS-2H ST1, which all point towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo.

    Falcon looks forward to the planned completion and testing of SS-4H by the end of 2025 and also to observing the results from the next three wells of the Shenandoah South drilling program and the additional milestones they will establish.

    As further results become available, we look forward to updating the market further”

    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.          +353 1 676 8702
    Philip O’Quigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042
    Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162
     
    Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
    Neil McDonald / Adam Rae +44 131 220 9771

     

    This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gábor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd’s Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eötvös L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.

    About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Please visit www.falconoilandgas.com

    About Beetaloo Joint Venture (EP 76, 98 and 117)   

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 22.5%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (“Tamboran”) 77.5%
    Total 100.0%

    Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units – 46,080 acres1

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 5.0%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 95.0%
    Total 100.0%

    1Subject to the completion of SS4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.

    About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited
    Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B1”) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP.

    Tamboran Resources Corporation is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Sub-basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as management’s experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America.

    Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (“PE”), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company.

    Appendix A – SS-2H ST1 Flow Test Details

    Note to reader: Please refer to the PDF attachment included at the end of this press release for further details including a table and charts related to the SS-2H ST1 flow test results

    Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
    Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “anticipated”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP30 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 including assumptions that the results are in line with average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period and that they demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Australian East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States and under long term CPI-linked contracts; consistency of the results of SS-2H ST1 with SS-1H; details on the planned three well drilling campaign including the plan to commence in July 2025 and to continue into 1H 2026; the plan to tie the wells to the SPCF under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government in mid-2026; the plan that SS-4H will be completed and flow tested by the end of 2025; the five wells drilled are expected to deliver the required 40 MMcf/d under a GSA with the Northern Territory Government;

    This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and/or their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.

    Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.

    Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • India-Cyprus relations: expanding defence and economic ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) have continued to deepen their bilateral engagement with steady progress in defence and economic cooperation in recent years. Building on shared strategic interests, the two countries have laid down frameworks to expand collaboration in key sectors, while also reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based international order.

    In the area of defence, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation on December 29, 2022, during External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Cyprus, marked a significant development. The agreement has since been followed by the signing of a Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme (BDCP) for 2025, which took place in Nicosia on January 23, 2025. The programme aims to enhance structured cooperation in defence and military exchanges.

    In a reflection of this growing engagement, a Cypriot defence delegation led by Anna Aristotelous, Permanent Secretary of the Defence Ministry of RoC, participated in Aero India 2025 held in Bengaluru from February 10–14. On the sidelines of the event, Aristotelous held discussions with Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, to explore ways to further deepen defence ties.

    Defence diplomacy between the two nations is also supported by India’s concurrent accreditation of its Defence Attaché to the Republic of Cyprus, based at the Embassy of India in Cairo.

    On the economic front, bilateral trade has shown resilience despite global challenges. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), trade between India and Cyprus in 2023–24 stood at USD 137 million. Key Indian exports to Cyprus include pharmaceuticals, textiles, ceramic products, iron and steel, machinery, and chemicals. Meanwhile, Cyprus exports pharmaceuticals, beverages, and various manufactured goods to India.

    While trade volumes were impacted by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, both sides remain engaged in efforts to revive economic flows and encourage greater investments. Cyprus continues to be an important partner in the Foreign Direct Investment space for India, and several Indian firms view Cyprus as a strategic gateway to the European Union.