NewzIntel.com

Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Arbitrary use by Italian Government of golden power in the banking sector – E-001673/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001673/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Gaetano Pedulla’ (The Left), Pasquale Tridico (The Left)

    In recent months, Italy’s financial system has been going through a wide-ranging overhaul involving some of its main credit institutions and their public exchange offers – among others UniCredit’s bid for Banco BPM and the bid by Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS) for Mediobanca.

    Although they are all Italian companies, the government decided to intervene in those transactions, exercising its golden power in the UniCredit offer by laying down a number of seemingly spurious requirements and penalties, but the same criterion was not applied to MPS’ bid for Mediobanca. That unequal treatment has seriously undermined government neutrality with regard to the market, not least because it came shortly before the most recent Generali insurance group shareholders’ meeting. Mediobanca is its largest shareholder and UniCredit holds a significant stake in that group.

    On 6 April 2025, the Commission launched a procedure on this matter as a whole with the Italian Government for informal discussions on the use of golden powers.

    In the light of the above, can the Commission clarify whether it considers the Italian Government in breach of market rules – on the grounds of its misuse of golden powers with regard to UniCredit and, at the same time, undue support for MPS, weakening Mediobanca, the subject of a public exchange offer – or not?

    Submitted: 24.4.2025

    Last updated: 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Delay in the implementation of the CrossBo project and impact on cross-border connectivity – E-001670/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001670/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Nikola Minchev (Renew)

    The Aiming at Improving Cross-Border Accessibility (CrossBo) project, financed under the Interreg V-A Greece–Bulgaria Programme (2014–2020), includes the construction of the Rudozem–Xanthi border crossing point. All activities on the Bulgarian side were completed within the agreed timeframe. However, the delay on the Greek side poses a serious risk to the commissioning of the border crossing and the effectiveness of the investment made with EU funds.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.What control and monitoring mechanisms does the Commission apply within cross-border programmes, such as Interreg V-A, to ensure the balanced and timely implementation of projects by all partners, and what actions have been taken regarding the CrossBo project?
    • 2.In cases where one party (in this case, Bulgaria) has fulfilled all its obligations on time but the other is lagging behind, what measures can the Commission take to ensure that the infrastructure built with public funds is put into operation, and how is the overall funding affected?
    • 3.Given that the 2014–2020 programming period has ended, what deadlines and eligibility rules for potential extension apply to projects that have not been completed within the original timeframe?

    Submitted: 24.4.2025

    Last updated: 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in Greece and tackling marine pollution in the Thermaic and Corinthian Gulfs – E-001669/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001669/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Sakis Arnaoutoglou (S&D)

    The Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC is the European Union’s main instrument for protecting the marine environment. In Greece, although relevant monitoring programmes have been established, questions remain regarding their effective implementation and financing, especially in areas under intense environmental pressure, such as the Thermaic and Corinthian Gulfs. These areas face significant challenges due to pollution from microplastics, agricultural waste and sewage, while concerns are also registered about the impacts on fishing and marine ecosystems.

    At the same time, national and private initiatives are being undertaken for monitoring and pollution management, but without a clear coordination and evaluation framework.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.What is the Commission’s assessment of Greece’s progress on implementing the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC and Directive (EU) 2019/904 on single-use plastics, especially in areas facing intense environmental pressure, such as the Thermaic and Corinthian Gulfs?
    • 2.What forms of financial or technical support are provided by the Commission to local communities affected by marine pollution and activity restrictions, with a focus on fishing communities?
    • 3.What measures has the Commission put in place to strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors in monitoring and remediating marine pollution?

    Submitted: 24.4.2025

    Last updated: 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Effects of US tariffs and EU countermeasures on the North of Ireland – E-001175/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom’s (UK) customs territory. Exports from Northern Ireland are therefore subject to tariffs imposed on the UK by other countries.

    The EU countermeasures taken in response to the United States (US) tariffs only concern imports of US originating goods into the EU.

    They were not envisaged to target Northern Ireland. Therefore, no impact assessment has been carried out on the specific effects of the tariffs and countermeasures on Northern Ireland.

    For goods imported into Northern Ireland, EU customs and trade rules apply under the Windsor Framework — avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.

    It is to be noted that if traders in Northern Ireland can prove that the goods did not enter the EU market, they can claim reimbursement of the duty paid to the UK, from the UK. This is a solution foreseen under the Windsor Framework.

    The Commission and relevant UK authorities are in contact and continue to exchange regularly.

    Last updated: 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More girls to study maths under plans to improve pathway into AI careers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    More girls to study maths under plans to improve pathway into AI careers

    Government invests £8.2m to boost girls’ advanced maths skills and AI careers.

    Thousands of the country’s brightest girls will get the opportunity to study advanced maths and progress into AI-related careers, as the government invests in the skills young people need for the jobs of tomorrow.   

    Currently only a third of A level maths pupils are girls, while currently only 22% of professionals working in AI related roles like software engineer or data science are women. 

    Now through the government’s Plan for Change around 7,500 girls will be eligible for support as part of £8.2m of funding announced today to improve participation and teaching of advanced maths. The funding, part of the refreshed Advanced Maths Support Programme, will target support to thousands of pupils from 400 disadvantaged secondary schools – breaking the link between background and success so all young people have the chance to progress in careers of the future. 

    Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: 

    Today’s brightest maths minds are tomorrow’s AI pioneers, and this government is opening the door for groups who have so far been left behind in the AI revolution.

    Through our Plan for Change we are breaking down barriers to opportunity, backing our young people and going further and faster for AI growth, ensuring the next generation can progress in the exciting careers of the future.

    The updated Advanced Maths Support Programme includes pilot teacher training and student enrichment courses on the key maths concepts and skills needed for AI and this will benefit 450 students and 360 teachers from September.  

    It marks a crucial step in delivering a key commitment in the government’s AI Action Plan – creating a strong talent pipeline and driving greater diversity across the AI talent pool.  

    It comes as the Education Secretary convenes a group of experts to advise on what changes are needed to the 5-18 education system to improve digital education and give young people the AI-specific skills they need to thrive in a digital world. The Digital, AI and Technology Task and Finish Group chaired by Sir Kevan Collins, non-executive board member at the Department for Education, will provide recommendations to the department and insights for the Curriculum and Assessment Review so they can draw on this expertise.   

    Members include Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner-Centred Design at University College London and Dr Sue Sentance, Director of the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre at the University of Cambridge and Chair of the BCS Schools and Colleges Committee. 

    Science Secretary, Peter Kyle said: 

    AI is the defining technology of our generation, improving our public services, sparking fresh economic growth, and unlocking the jobs of the future. We can only harness that potential if we have a pipeline of talent equipped with the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow. 

    This package of support will help us deliver our Plan for Change and do exactly that. This is the first step in our plan to give every young person in the country the opportunity to develop the tools which will put them front and centre in delivering our AI-powered future.

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: India/Pakistan & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:

    – India/Pakistan
    – Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
    – Sudan
    – Sudan/Humanitarian
    – South Sudan
    – Gaza
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Lebanon
    – Ukraine
    – Senior Personnel Appointment – Cyprus
    – Cyprus
    – Portuguese Language Day

    INDIA/PAKISTAN 
    The Secretary-General spoke to reporters just an hour ago to say that, with tensions between India and Pakistan at their highest in years, he once again strongly condemns the attack in Pahalgam on 22 April and extends his condolences to the families of the victims. He said that those responsible must be brought to justice through transparent, credible, and lawful means. 
    The Secretary-General said that it is also essential – especially at this critical hour — to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control. Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. 
    He once more offered his good offices to both governments in the service of peace.  

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/ TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT 
    The Secretary-General will be travelling to Copenhagen, in Denmark, tonight, where he will chair the biannual session of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, also known as the CEB, which brings together the heads of the UN system organizations. 
    The Secretary-General is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. He will also take part in a dinner, hosted by Their Majesties, the King and Queen of Denmark, in honour of the gathered leaders of the Chief Executives Board for Coordination.  
    The Secretary-General will also engage with UN staff based in Copenhagen, as well as with Danish media and he will have a number of meetings with UN senior officials, ahead of the CEB session.  
    During their biannual session, the Chief Executives Board Members will reflect on current world affairs as they affect and are related to the UN system. They will also engage in deliberations on ‘Adapting to New Realities: Leveraging the UN80 Initiative’ and ‘Upholding Respect for International Law’. 
    The Secretary-General will be back in New York on Friday evening. 

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=05%20May%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irQjqaS5q20

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Rebirth of the Portuguese Language in Timor-Leste | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    The United Nations document the rebirth of the Portuguese language in Timor-Leste.

    In Dili, the country’s capital, UN News spoke to Timorese who have learned the language over the past 20 years, lawmakers, authorities and linguists; the former rector of the National University says that Portuguese is now recognized as the language of Timorese youth.

    A legacy that contributed to the fight for independence. A strategic choice in the geopolitical scenario. A source of connection with the national soul. This is how several Timorese people described the role of the Portuguese language in Timor-Leste, the nation in Southeast Asia.

    A former colony of Portugal, East Timor was annexed by Indonesia in the 1970s. In 2002, the country restored its independence and decided to make Portuguese its official language. The preservation and expansion of the language on this remote island reinforces the message of Mother Language Day 2025, which emphasizes linguistic diversity.

    The power of language through generations
    Within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), one of the most active areas of cooperation is education. During a visit to the National University of Timor-Leste in Dili, UN News spoke to the institution’s former rector, Benjamin Corte Real, who highlighted the rejuvenation of Portuguese through the education system.

    “The language has been rejuvenated a lot in Timor. There is an older generation that reaffirmed the language after our independence. A generation that had to reclaim the language because it stopped practicing and learning the language. A generation that started learning from the roots. And that is the generation that is now arriving at universities. Therefore, the language is constantly rejuvenating itself. Today, it is already the language of the youth.”

    The language that returned to the nation as an official language had to be learned from scratch by an entire generation that spoke Bahasa Indonesia, after the annexation of the neighboring nation, in addition to Tetum and other Timorese languages. But when it returned to the school curriculum, the learning of Portuguese gained momentum.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0YVKhKhbZ8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Culture Takes Steps to Halt Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Culture Takes Steps to Halt Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong

    Sotheby’s responds to the legal notice with the assurance that full attention is given to this matter

    Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 8:35PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, has taken swift and comprehensive measures to prevent the auction of the sacred Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, underscoring India’s commitment to protecting its cultural and religious heritage. These relics, excavated from the Piprahwa Stupa—widely recognized as the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha—hold immense historical and spiritual significance.

    The Piprahwa Relics, which include bone fragments, soapstone and crystal caskets, a sandstone coffer, and offerings such as gold ornaments and gemstones, were excavated by William Claxton Peppé in 1898. An inscription in Brahmi script on one of the caskets confirms these as relics of the Buddha, deposited by the Sakya clan. The majority of these relics were transferred to the Indian Museum, Kolkata, in 1899 and are classified as ‘AA’ antiquities under Indian law, prohibiting their removal or sale. While a portion of the bone relics was gifted to the King of Siam, a selection retained by Peppé’s descendants has now been listed for auction.

    Upon learning of the proposed auction, the Ministry of Culture initiated the following actions:

    1. The Ministry collected detailed background information on the auction and issued a legal notice to Sotheby’s Hong Kong to stop the auction immediately. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) also requested the Consulate General of Hong Kong to take up the matter with authorities there demanding the immediate cessation of the auction.
    2. During a bilateral meeting on May 2, 2025, Culture Minister Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat raised the issue with Rt Hon Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, United Kingdom. The Minister emphasized the cultural and religious significance of the relics and urged immediate action to halt the auction and facilitate their repatriation.
    3. On May 5, 2025, the Secretary of Culture convened a high-level review meeting to outline further steps. The Ministry of External Affairs has been requested to engage with embassies in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong through its Europe West and East Asia Divisions to ensure the auction is stopped.
    4. The Financial Investigation Unit (FIU) has been asked to coordinate with its counterpart in Hong Kong to highlight the illegality of the auction and ensure compliance with international laws.
    5. Ivy Wong, Ivy Wong, Associate General Counsel Sotheby’s in her reply to the legal notice assured that our full attention is given to this matter.

    The Ministry of Culture remains steadfast in its efforts to protect India’s cultural heritage and ensure the repatriation of the Piprahwa Relics. We call upon Sotheby’s Hong Kong to immediately withdraw the relics from auction and cooperate with Indian authorities to return these sacred artifacts to their rightful place.

    ****

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2127159) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New metal-free organic catalyst can produce hydrogen fuel by harvesting mechanical energy

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 05 MAY 2025 4:58PM by PIB Delhi

    Researchers have developed a novel, cost-effective, metal-free porous organic catalyst for efficient H2 production by harvesting mechanical energy.

    In order to reduce the global warming and related impact of fossil fuels, transition towards sustainable alternatives based on renewable energy becomes increasingly critical. Green hydrogen (H₂) fuel has emerged as a game-changing renewable and clean-burning energy source, which generates no direct carbon emissions and only water as a by-product when used in fuel cells. Recognizing the critical role of green H2 in sustainable energy, the Government of India launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission to drive large-scale production, promote research and innovation, and position the country as a global leader in H2 economy.

    Among the environmentally benign methods of H2production, overall water splitting stands out as an effective and scalable technique that relies on a catalytic strategy since the reaction is energetically uphill. Piezocatalysis has emerged as a promising catalytic technology which harvests mechanical perturbations with a piezoelectric material to generate charge carriers that are utilized to catalyze water splitting.

    In recent groundbreaking research work, Professor Tapas K. Maji  from Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) Bengaluru (an autonomous institution under the Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India) and his research team have developed a metal-free donor-acceptor based covalent-organic framework (COF) for piezocatalytic water splitting. This study published in Advanced Functional Materials demonstrates a Covalent organic framework (COF) built from imide linkages between organic donor molecule tris(4-aminophenyl)amine (TAPA) and acceptor molecule pyromellitic dianhydride (PDA) acceptor exhibiting unique ferrielectric (FiE) ordering, which showed efficient piezocatalytic activity for water splitting to produce H2.

    This discovery breaks the traditional notion of solely employing heavy or transition metal-based ferroelectric (FE) materials as piezocatalysts for catalyzing water splitting reaction. Conventional FE materials have limited charges confined at the surface only which usually lead to quick saturation of their piezocatalytic activity. In contrast, FiE ordering in a COF provides a multifold enhanced number of charges at the pore surfaces owing to the large local electric fields. The sponge-like porous structure of a COF allows the diffusion of water molecules to efficiently access and utilize these charge carriers for catalysis, giving ultra-high H2production yields and outperforming all oxide-based inorganic piezocatalysts.

    Figure: Schematic showing piezocatalytic water splitting by a metal-free donor-acceptor based covalent organic framework.

    Using a simple donor molecule like TAPA and an acceptor molecule like PDA, Prof. Maji and his research team have built a COF system that has strong charge transfer properties, which creates dipoles (separation between positive and negative charges).

    The TAPA units have a unique propeller-like shape, where their benzene rings twist and tilt to break the flat symmetry of the structure, helping it reach a more stable, lower-energy state. Prof. Umesh V. Waghmare and his team from JNCASR, who are collaborators of the study, showed using theoretical analyses that this COF has an unusual electronic structure with energy bands that couple and resonate with each other by dipolar ordering. This causes instability in the lattice structure, leading to FiE ordering. These FiE dipoles interact with flexible twisting molecular motion in the material, making them responsive to mechanical pressure. As a result, the material can generate electron-hole pairs when mechanically stimulated, making it a highly efficient piezocatalyst for water splitting for H2 production. The team comprises four other researchers from JNCASR: Ms. Adrija Ghosh, Ms. Surabhi Menon, Dr. Sandip Biswas and Dr. Anupam Dey.

    Apart from JNCASR, Dr. Supriya Sahoo and Prof. Ramamoorthy Boomishankar from  Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune and Prof. Jan K. Zaręba from Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland made important contributions to the present interdisciplinary study.

    The utilization of a cost-effective, metal-free system with a high production rate of H2 by harvesting mechanical energy opens up a new route to green H2 based on porous heterogeneous catalysts.

    ***

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2127064) Visitor Counter : 64

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: A new financial plan to steady the ship for Australia’s naval fleet

    Source:

    06 May 2025

    A new planning formula to optimise the lifecycle value of Australia’s warships in an era of geopolitical instability has been proposed by researchers at the University of South Australia.

    Based on an existing model used in financial decision making – the Real Options Approach (ROA) – but with modifications to address the unique nature of warship planning, the formula has the potential to transform the way the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) manages its fleet.

    “Due to diminishing budgets, rapid advances in technology, and emerging threats, it is more important than ever to build a naval framework that is more flexible and cost effective,” according to lead researcher Ben Petersen, a recent UniSA graduate who undertook this research as part of his university degree.

    Along with UniSA systems engineer Dr Mahmoud Efatmaneshnik, the pair recently outlined their proposed model to the International Symposium on Systems Engineering, held in Italy in late 2024.

    “Military assets such as warships and other naval vessels must maintain high levels of readiness and capability despite constrained financial resources,” Mr Petersen says.

    “Warships typically undergo major upgrades every seven to 10 years, with a service life of approximately 30 years, unlike other industries that have much shorter product lifecycles. These upgrades are substantial in scale and complexity, and they often go way over projected budgets.

    “Traditional lifecycle planning models for warships are rigid and do not account for uncertainties in long-term naval investments, such as technological advancements, geopolitical shifts or budget constraints.”

    Using an adaptation of the ROA model, naval forces will be able to assess multiple future scenarios, reducing the risk of overinvestment or premature commissioning, according to the researchers in a new paper.

    The research identified key benefits to adopting a Real Options Approach:

    • Operational readiness – ensuring that naval assets remain technologically advanced and mission-capable over time
    • Cost Efficiency – more efficient budgeting, prioritising upgrades and maintenance that deliver the best value
    • Risk Mitigation – reducing the financial and strategic risks associated with overinvestment in outdated technologies
    • Sovereign Defence Capability – supporting Australia’s goal of strengthening its defence industry by improving long-term planning for sustainable ship building.

    With Australia investing heavily in maritime defence capabilities – including the Hunter-class frigates, nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement, and upgrades to existing vessels – Dr Efatmaneshnik says the research is highly relevant.

    “By applying financial risk management principles to warship design, acquisition, and maintenance, our study offers a new model for sustaining naval superiority in an era of geopolitical uncertainty,” he says.

    “Australia’s defence environment is evolving rapidly. Our research provides a clear pathway for defence planners to ensure that our warships remain at peak capability while maximising taxpayer investment in national security.”

    Mr Petersen says the next steps involve improving the model to capture additional nuances in naval warship designs, and to avoid oversimplification.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, law enforcement partners arrest 8 illegal aliens, 1 American during large-scale EBT benefit fraud operation

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    LOS ANGELES — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service and other federal, state and local partners, carried out a large-scale enforcement and interdiction operation targeting high-traffic ATM locations known for rampant fraudulent electronic benefit transfer card activity May 1 and 2.

    “This operation underscores ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment — alongside our law enforcement partners — to defend public assistance programs from exploitation,” said ICE HSI Los Angeles acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “This kind of fraud doesn’t just target government systems — it robs struggling families, children and seniors of the essential resources they rely on to survive. We will not stand by while criminals prey on the most vulnerable members of our communities.”

    ICE HSI’s El Camino Real Task Force, which includes special agents with ICE HSI and the U.S. Secret Service, as well as officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, is conducting the investigations in this matter.

    Criminals, many from Romania, have historically targeted EBT cash fund allocations to victim accounts at the beginning of each month to maximize withdrawal amounts. These individuals employ deceptive means and methods of skimming card information before ultimately reloading the stolen information onto magnetic card strips for later use.  

    This operation yielded nine arrests, including eight Romanian illegal aliens, one Mexican illegal alien, and one U.S. citizen. Special agents seized approximately 100 fraudulent cards and arrested the nine subjects for violations of 18 U.S.C. 1029. Following completion of their criminal judicial process, the eight illegal aliens will be transferred to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations custody pending removal proceedings.  

    Recent enforcement operations in February, March and April 2025 resulted in the federal arrest of 32 suspects, including 27 foreign nationals. These enforcement operations have involved strong partnerships between ICE, the U.S. Secret Service, and several state and local law enforcement agencies.

    “ICE HSI prioritizes identity and benefit fraud crimes that originate outside the United States through our Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces,” said Pasciucco. “Criminals who exploit government programs and steal from the American people will be aggressively pursued. We are dismantling the criminal organizations behind these schemes and making it clear: Fraud will not go unanswered.”

    If you suspect someone may be involved in or a victim of human trafficking, contact local law enforcement, dial 911 or call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Microsoft partners with Global Anti-Scam Alliance to fight cybercrime

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft partners with Global Anti-Scam Alliance to fight cybercrime

    Being the victim of a scam can be devastating. Unfortunately, the number of people who can attest to the truth of this statement, either because they themselves have been scammed or because it has happened to someone they know, is growing. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) reports that in 2024 nearly 50% of the world’s consumers dealt with at least one attempted scam every week.1 Microsoft understands the importance of protecting against scams in all their forms. This understanding is the basis for multiple companywide projects, including the launch of the Secure Future Initiative (SFI) in November of 2023.

    Read the latest SFI updates

    In February of 2024, Microsoft outlined its six-pillared comprehensive approach to addressing abusive AI-generated content. These pillars are: 

    • Strong safety architecture.  
    • Durable media provenance and watermarking.
    • Safeguarding services from abusive content and conduct.  
    • Robust collaboration across industry, governments, and civil society.  
    • The push toward modernized legislation to protect people from the abuse of technology.
    • Enhanced public awareness and education.   

    The foundation these pillars are built upon is responsibility. Microsoft leadership believes it is imperative for the tech sector to continually and proactively address fraud, scams, and security threats as they emerge. As part of that responsibility, Microsoft published a whitepaper in July 2024 and highlighted AI-generated fraud as one of the abuses United States policymakers should consider addressing with new legislation. 

    In accordance with this ethos and as the next step in its ongoing fight against scams around the world, Microsoft now announces that it will be joining GASA as a Foundation Member. In doing so, Microsoft readily grants its knowledge and expertise to an organization that has dedicated itself to protecting consumers everywhere from scams of all kinds. It is GASA’s mission to unite public authorities, industry leaders, and technology platforms in sharing knowledge, defining joint strategies, and coordinating effective actions that shield consumers from scams. In 2024 alone, scammers drained the global economy of more than $1.03 trillion.2 Together, Microsoft and the other members of GASA hope to stem these losses going forward.  

    Doubling down on fraud prevention through the Global Signal Exchange  

    As well as joining GASA as a Foundation Member, Microsoft also announces it is joining the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), the world’s first clearing house for scam and fraud threat signals. The GSE enables member organizations to collaborate in order to tackle online scams, fraud, and abuse—with more than 191 million threat signals being monitored in real time. The GSE is a United Kingdom not-for-profit organization owned by Oxford Information Labs (OXIL) and was launched in partnership with GASA. Microsoft is one of the first 20 leading international organizations that has joined in recent months.  

    “We are delighted to welcome Microsoft to the Global Signal Exchange. Fighting scams is a collaborative effort. Together we are changing the game, by putting a spotlight on where scams are happening online, in real time, and by sharing information about online scams and fraud across the internet ecosystem. We aim to help stop malicious activities faster, make them less effective and so less profitable for the criminals. To this end, The Global Signal Exchange empowers us all to share a vision for data sharing based on a global, multistakeholder, multisector platform.”  

    —Emily Taylor, Founder, Global Signal Exchange  

    The Global Signal Exchange platform surfaces malicious URLs, suspect IP addresses, scams, and phishing attacks. With the new data being shared by Microsoft, the organization’s mandate will steadily continue to broaden in order to cover more threats and threat actors. Together, Microsoft and the rest of the organizations participating in the GSE will work to shine a light not just on cybercrime but upon those individuals and groups facilitating it as well. 

    To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and X (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.  

    1International Scammers Steal Over $1 Trillion in 12 Months in Global State of Scams Report 2024, GASA. November 7, 2024.

    2Global Signal Exchange.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Griffith Statement on President Trump Executive Order Targeting Gain-of-Function Research

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

    U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to halt U.S. federal funding of gain-of-function research in overseas countries, like China and Iran, without proper oversight measures. In response to the Executive Order, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

    “President Trump’s decisive action against gain-of-function research is a significant step towards greater government agency accountability. While this news is welcomed by many who have closely investigated COVID-19 origins, I believe future congressional action is essential to monitoring gain-of-function research of concern, reforming our public health agencies and protecting American life from risky experiments that involve dangerous virus transmission in humans.”

    BACKGROUND

    In the 118th Congress, Rep. Griffith chaired the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations.

    Rep. Griffith chaired hearings on various issues, including but not limited to topics of biosafety and risky research. 

    Rep. Griffith was the lead Energy and Commerce Member in numerous forums with public health officials that were in various leadership positions during the outbreak of COVID-19, including working closely with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.

    During this time, Chairman Griffith participated in closed-door transcribed interviews questioning former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci and questioning former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Frances Collins.

    Rep. Griffith was also a key figure in examining EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak. 

    EcoHealth is the company that received grants from NIAID which in turn gave subgrants to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to conduct research on Coronavirus evolution and transmission. 

    Because of questions asked by Rep. Griffith related to significant inconsistencies and delays in required reports, among others, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that Dr. Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance would be debarred for five years, cutting them off from U.S. federal funding.

    In January of 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Trump was considering an Executive Order to halt federal funding to gain-of-function research. In response, Rep. Griffith called on President Trump to scrutinize the country’s national gain-of-function research policy.

    Some of Rep. Griffith’s e-newsletters on these topics can be found here and here.

    In March, Rep. Griffith introduced the Risky Research Review Act and the Royalty Transparency Act to rein in the federal health bureaucracy.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Kneat Expands Executive Leadership Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIMERICK, Ireland, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — kneat.com, inc. (TSX: KSI) (OTC: KSIOF) (“Kneat” or the “Company”) a leader in digitizing and automating validation and quality processes, today announced the expansion of its executive leadership team.

    As a product-led company that continues to scale for efficiencies and satisfy the growing demand from global customers, Kneat’s innovation and product development are critical pillars for success. To optimise product operational excellence and strategic planning, Kneat is expanding its senior management team to provide the necessary strategic leadership, governance and cadence as it grows.

    In early June, Kevin Fitzgerald, Kneat co-founder and Chief Product Officer, will step out of his current role and not seek re-election to the Board of Directors to take on the newly created role of Chief Innovation Officer. This will enable Kevin to dedicate his focus and attention on the strategic vision and innovation of Kneat product, ensuring clarity of product definition and alignment of product requests and features to that vision.

    At that time, Donal O’Sullivan will join Kneat to fill the role of Chief Product Officer. Donal has more than 25 years’ experience in software development leadership roles. Donal joins Kneat from My Compliance Office where he is currently acting as CPO.

    Prior to this, Donal served as Global Head of Analytics Product Management in PICO Ltd for four years, having previously served in Corvil for 18 years as Head of product Management and Director of Product Management. His responsibilities included leading the Product Management team, Product Marketing, Sales Enablement, Pricing and Bundling product, as well as managing the Corvil Portfolio to deliver significant growth. PICO, a provider of IT performance and operational analytics systems, acquired Corvil, and Donal successfully merged the best of Corvil’s product capabilities with PICO’s strong record of service delivery.

    “Donal’s varied and extensive software development and product management leadership experience will be hugely beneficial as we become a bigger company. With Donal on board and Kevin able to focus exclusively on developing the Kneat Gx platform to its full potential, we are better equipped to capture the exceptional opportunity in front of us today.”

    – Eddie Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of Kneat. 

    About Kneat

    Kneat Solutions provides leading companies in highly regulated industries with unparalleled efficiency in validation and compliance through its digital validation platform Kneat Gx. As an industry leader in customer satisfaction, Kneat boasts an excellent record for implementation, powered by our user-friendly design, expert support, and on-demand training academy. Kneat Gx is an industry-leading digital validation platform that enables highly regulated companies to manage any validation discipline from end-to-end. Kneat Gx is fully ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified, fully validated, and 21 CFR Part 11/Annex 11 compliant. Multiple independent customer studies show up to 40% reduction in documentation cycle times, up to 20% faster speed to market, and a higher compliance standard.

    Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

    Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the relationship between Kneat and the customer, Kneat’s business development activities, the use and implementation timelines of Kneat’s software within the customer’s validation processes, the ability and intent of the customer to scale the use of Kneat’s software within the customer’s organization, our ability to win business from new customers and expand business from existing customers, our expected use of the net proceeds from the IPF Facility and the public equity financing completed in both February and October 2024 and the anticipated effects thereof on the business and operations of the company, and the compliance of Kneat’s platform under regulatory audit and inspection. These and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties may cause Kneat’s actual results, performance, achievements and developments to differ materially from the results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.

    For further information:

    Katie Keita, Kneat Investor Relations
    P: + 1 902-706-9074
    E: katie.keita@kneat.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Affordability Actions in the FY26 Budget to Benefit Families

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul visited Kamil and Karolina Kolodziejczyk — parents of two children — on Long Island to discuss her affordability agenda in the Fiscal Year 2026 Executive Budget. The Governor highlighted her efforts to increase the child tax credit, expand child care access, issue New York State’s first-ever inflation refund checks, deliver a tax cut for middle-class and low-income New Yorkers, and provide free breakfast and lunch for every K-12 student in New York — all efforts to put more money back in families’ pockets.

    B-ROLL of the Governor meeting the Kolodziejczyk family is available to stream on Youtube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    VIDEO: The Governor’s conversation with the Kolodziejczyk family is available to stream on YouTube here and TV quality video is available here (h.264, mp4).

    AUDIO: The Governor’s conversation with the Kolodziejczyk family is available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s conversation with the Kolodziejczyk family is available below:

    Governor Hochul: But I just want to talk to you about some of the stresses that families are feeling now and — you’ve got the two little ones, 5-year-old and a 3-year-old.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yep. 3-year-old and a 5-year-old.

    Governor Hochul: And I know a 3-year-old. I have got a 3-year-old granddaughter now. She just had her birthday, so I know this age very well and I’m a mom, so it’s great to see this. But, what’s it like? I mean, you worry about grocery shopping and what’s it like when you have to go to the counter it all adds up? Are you seeing any — what’s it like?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Oh yeah. Everything got so expensive in a few years. This one was born five years ago, and that’s when COVID happened and lost the job, laid off and it got tough.

    Governor Hochul: How long were you laid off when COVID hit?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: I got laid off and I went and opened my own business with a chance and business, you know, going into HVAC.

    Governor Hochul: That was ambitious. How’s that going for you?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: It’s going well. It’s going well. Now especially in this weather; it got really, really warm lately, so people call — we’re doing installation service. When my second son was born, my wife had to take a week from work and stay-at-home because daycare got really expensive and the needs for the kids and everything.

    Governor Hochul: Same thing happened to me — when I had my job, my son was born and then child care was not really available. I just couldn’t find much child care and it was very expensive. And so, I just ended up staying home too. So we went from having two incomes — my husband was working for the government and we went and eliminated my income — and that was when I would go to the newspapers, and cut out the coupons, and go to the big-box stores and just, yeah; you load up the big cart, and buy the diapers in bulk, and paper towels, and toilet, detergent, dishwashing liquid.

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: Costco is my favorite.

    Governor Hochul: Costco. There a BJ’s. Or just even going to Walmart, but even those prices are going up, right?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah. I go get the water for a week or something. It’s $100, $20 and it goes in price. Water, drinks — pull up the cart and so, definitely the prices went up, you know?

    Governor Hochul: So you got hit with COVID —

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah.

    Governor Hochul: — lost your job, came back to work, inflation hits you..

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Inflation — the rate for the house, it’s over 6 percent.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, yeah.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: So the payment —

    Governor Hochul: Interest rates were going up when you bought your house and then you have property taxes.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Taxes up. Yeah.

    Governor Hochul: Also, especially important here on Long Island is the state and local tax deduction — and back in 2017, that was eliminated by the president who’s in office now; that was a big tax increase for New Yorkers. New Yorkers right now are sending $12 billion because of losing the state and local tax reduction. So you’re not able to deduct all your taxes, are you?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: No, we’re over —

    Governor Hochul: You’re over the limit. So that’s money that you know you should have back in your pocket, not sending to the federal government. And that’s something that’s really a problem. So, have you ever had to make decisions about what not to buy? Like you want to do some —

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: I do want — like some of the little things for the children and even clothes for them, like do I need that?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Thank God we got two boys. So one after another saving too.

    Governor Hochul: They’re always outgrowing their clothes, aren’t they?

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: Yeah. It’s like every year, the whole — everything new for him, so. Thank God, Benjamin. But if it’s still not ripped, he could use it.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: They’re boys, you know? They’re (inaudible).

    Governor Hochul: They’re rough on clothes, boys, aren’t they? I know that, I know that. We used to get clothes at used clothing stores and put it on layaway. You can’t buy it right when you want to buy it so you put it aside and have to come get it later. So, you know, that’s hard. It’s hard.

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: It is hard, and like I said, I do cook at home so getting the groceries, everything we need — it’s a lot.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Obviously the vehicles, you got to get bigger because you got car seats with little kids.

    Governor Hochul: That’s right.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: If you had three kids, you got a problem because what are you going to do with it? You can’t put the three car seats in the back of the vehicle. Having a bigger family, you can’t even think of nowadays.

    Governor Hochul: Are you going to have a bigger family?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: No, it’s — you know.

    [Laughter]

    Governor Hochul: I didn’t want to pry.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: People that consider a bigger family, they have got to think twice, you know?

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, they do. Cost of child care, in some cases, is as much as a first year of college education in a public university or college. Right? I mean, it’s so much — such a big chunk out of family’s lives and so, we’re very focused on that. You know, everything you’re talking about is not unique to you, and a lot of it is out of your control — pandemic, and inflation, and now tariffs are making all the products that even go into the less expensive stores like Walmart or Target; those products are coming from China and there’s now additional costs on them because of the tariffs. So it’s just all adding up. And, I know you feel it, right?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah, a hundred percent. Can of all the awful things that we wish —

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: It’s going up.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah. And the bills, utility bills and everything. Well, we’re focused on that in government to put you on my Budget. I just wrapped it up and I think it’ll be done another day officially — I’ve been done with my priorities for a little while. I really wanted to figure out a way to put money back in people’s pockets, and it’s people like you — I’ve been thinking about that. Again, none of this you asked for; you came here in search of the American Dream all the way from Poland — that joy of home ownership, which is becoming too rare for people, especially here in Long Island because it’s so expensive. You’re raising your boys here and that’s all good, but sometimes it all feels like it just comes crashing down.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah, every month, the first, you’ve got to pay the mortgage, there’s a tax bill comes in, there’s insurance, repairs around the house. So, yeah, it’s definitely —

    Governor Hochul: So my goal is to put more money back in your pockets. I talked about my priorities back when I announced my Budget. I said, “Your family is my fight,” as your executive — families that I’m thinking about. So we have found a way, working with the Legislature, to first of all have a middle class tax cut, which will benefit about 80 percent of people on Long Island. About 1.3 million will be able to get part of this tax cut. We also are looking at families like yours, and we just talked about how expensive they are, they outgrow everything. So for families with four-year-olds or under, we’ll give a $1,000 direct rebate to you, and for the kids that are over four, $500.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Wow, that’s great.

    Governor Hochul: Sound good?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Yeah, we could definitely use it. Definitely use it.

    Governor Hochul: What would you do with that?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Oh, definitely we are going to spend it on first needs — stuff that is needed for the kids. And the summer is coming so we, obviously you want to spend some time with the kids. So maybe that will let us take some time off and maybe go spend more time with the kids doing a little bit, out of trouble.

    Governor Hochul: That’s not all. We have the inflation rebate. What does that mean? Because you paid so much more over the last few years because everything was higher, we collected more at the state level because of the sales tax. Right? So sales tax — we collected more so we had this surplus there, which some would say we should spend on other things, or some would say we should just stash away. And I said, “No, this is not our money. It belongs to you because you had to pay more. You didn’t ask for that.” And so, the money we accumulated there we were able to give a family like yours an additional $400.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Wow.

    Governor Hochul: So $400 there, and in school districts where they don’t cover the school lunches and breakfast, we’re going to pay for that so children that are struggling and their parents don’t have the money to cover it, they won’t feel a stigma. The kids that have to get it subsidized will be able to get it covered. That’s about $1,600 a year that you can either pay for the school lunch with that, or you can — you won’t have to pay this, it’s free — or you can just not have to make the sandwiches anymore. You won’t have to buy the peanut butter and jelly and all those things that are part of your shopping basket that you don’t have to buy now, and all the little snacks. So when your kids are both school aged, that’ll be $3,200 that you don’t have to spend right there

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: That’s great. That’s big.

    Governor Hochul: And then a tax rate — the largest middle class tax rate decrease in 70 years. So we’re going to work cutting middle class taxes, the direct rebates, the Child Tax Credit, covering school lunches and breakfasts, and we have calculated, for a family like yours, it should add up to about $5,000 back in your pockets. So that’s the whole goal of my Budget. Was public safety, keeping everybody safe, but also realizing —

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: There’s a middle class that needs help.

    Governor Hochul: There’s a middle class that needs help, and we get that, and we want you to keep being successful and not have all these stresses that you have. I can’t take them away from you, but maybe just help a little bit. Right?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Of course.

    Karolina Kolodziejczyk: I really appreciate it.

    Governor Hochul: Anything else you need me to know as I head back to Albany and finish up our work?

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: No, we really appreciated that you remember about the middle class because there’s so many of us around here, not only us, but there’re people that really need that help.

    Governor Hochul: Yeah, people come here, especially our immigrants, people who are living here because you want to contribute and have a better life and build a business and expand that. When I come back someday you’re going to have a big business, lots of employees working all over Long Island.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Hopefully. Hopefully.

    Governor Hochul: Well, Kamil and Karolina, it has been a pleasure just to just catch up with you a little bit, and this is a great reminder to me of why we do what we do and reminds me who we’re fighting for.

    Kamil Kolodziejczyk: Thank you. We appreciate that you remembered and took your time to come and visit us.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President Macron of France: 5 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President Macron of France: 5 May 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to France’s President Emmanuel Macron this evening.

    The Prime Minister spoke to France’s President Emmanuel Macron this evening.

    The Prime Minister began by reflecting on how privileged he felt to be part of the moving VE Day celebrations this week, including the commemorative events held today.

    Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the leaders discussed the need for Russia to commit to a 30-day ceasefire to ensure meaningful peace talks. Ukraine had proved it was willing and ready to come to the table and was the party of peace, the Prime Minister added.

    The leaders also looked ahead to the UK-France summit taking place later this year and agreed to step up ambition between the two countries across all areas, including defence and security and irregular migration. Both leaders underscored that more needed to be done to disrupt irregular migration upstream.

    They also agreed on the importance of a successful EU-UK summit in two weeks’ time.

    Discussing the situation in Gaza, both expressed their deep concern at recent developments and agreed a renewed peace process was required.

    The leaders looked forward to speaking again soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Bipartisan Push, Welch and Hawley Introduce Major Legislation to Lower Prescription Drug Prices 

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) today introduced the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act, bipartisan legislation to lower drug prices for Americans. The Senators’ bill would offer relief for millions of patients by prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from selling drugs in the United States at higher prices than an international average, ending the practice of forcing Americans to pay the world’s highest prices for medications.  
    “No one should ever be forced to choose between paying for the prescriptions they need or putting food on the table. But Big Pharma’s price gouging has made that a reality for many Americans, forcing them to pay four or five times more for the same lifesaving medications as folks in other countries—it’s unacceptable,” said Senator Welch. “In his first term, President Trump pursued a most-favored nation policy to level the playing field for American patients. This bipartisan bill offers his administration a template to work with Congress to make that goal a reality. We have an obligation to ensure folks in Vermont, Missouri, and across the country get the best possible price for their prescription drugs.” 
    “For too long, Americans have subsidized prescription drug costs for foreigners while paying outrageous prices for their own medications,” said Senator Hawley. “President Trump previously advanced major reforms to ensure that American patients pay the same prices as consumers abroad. This bipartisan legislation would continue that work to end a drug market that favors Big Pharma, make prescriptions affordable again, and empower Americans to get the care they need.” 
    The Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act would correct decades of policies that benefited pharmaceutical companies but left American patients holding the bag. While other developed nations pay reasonable prices for prescription drugs, Americans pay substantially higher prices for the same medications. In his first term, President Trump pursued “international price index” and “most favored nation” policies on drugs covered by Medicare to end these practices.  
    The bill would also impose stiff civil monetary penalties on pharmaceutical companies that violate this rule. Specifically, the penalty would equal ten times the difference between the U.S. list price and the average price of the drug sold in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Penalties would be calculated and charged for each unit of drug or biological product sold at an inflated price. 
    Read and download the full text of the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: ARRAY Technologies Enhances ARRAY STI H250™ Tracker with SmarTrack® Backtracking and Diffuse Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) (“ARRAY” or the “Company”), a leading global provider of solar tracking technology products, software and services, today announced the expansion of its SmarTrack® software to include backtracking and diffuse optimization capabilities for its ARRAY STI H250™ dual-row tracker. This advancement brings algorithm training and optimization tools, already proven on the DuraTrack® platform, to H250 installations across Europe and other global markets.

    “Our H250 tracker has long been a trusted solution in markets with challenging site conditions, and the addition of SmarTrack Backtracking and Diffuse takes its performance to the next level,” said Neil Manning, president and chief operating officer of ARRAY Technologies. “By applying algorithmic training and real-time sensor data, we’re empowering our customers to optimize their solar energy output across more geographies and more terrain types, ultimately improving project returns.”

    Engineered to tackle the challenges of irregular terrain, the H250 tracker is widely deployed in Europe, South America, and Africa. With the addition of SmarTrack® Backtracking and Diffuse, project developers and asset owners can now further improve energy production in complex environments and variable weather conditions. These tools help trackers automatically adjust to minimize shading and maximize light capture, even on cloudy days.

    • ARRAY SmarTrack™ Backtracking uses algorithmic training and terrain analysis and production data to reduce shading and maximize morning and evening energy generation. The system intelligently adjusts each motor block based on its unique slope characteristics, leading to sustained improvements in energy yield. Once optimized, backtracking parameters remain valid for the life of the project.
    • ARRAY SmarTrack™ Diffuse allows projects to continue performing at a high level during overcast conditions. By analyzing real-time Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) sensor data, the system dynamically flattens tracker angles to capture more scattered light, increasing energy capture when direct sunlight is limited.

    These capabilities were validated in Spain and Brazil and are available for immediate deployment on new and existing H250 projects. In combination with ARRAY’s hardware and integrated software platform, SmarTrack is currently optimizing over 5 GW of solar capacity worldwide.

    To learn more about SmarTrack software or the H250 tracker, visit arraytechinc.com.

    About ARRAY
    ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) is a leading global provider of solar tracking technology to utility-scale and distributed generation customers who construct, develop, and operate solar PV sites. With solutions engineered to withstand the harshest weather conditions, ARRAY’s high-quality solar trackers, software platforms and field services combine to maximize energy production and deliver value to our customers for the entire lifecycle of a project. Founded and headquartered in the United States, ARRAY is rooted in manufacturing and driven by technology – relying on its domestic manufacturing, diversified global supply chain, and customer-centric approach to design, deliver, commission, train, and support solar energy deployment around the world. For more news and information on ARRAY, please visit arraytechinc.com.

    Forward Looking Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections regarding its business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business and operations, particularly those described in more detail in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the SEC, each of which can be found on our website www.arraytechinc.com. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

    Media Contact
    Nicole Stewart
    505-589-8257
    nicole.stewart@arraytechinc.com    

    Investor Relations Contact
    ARRAY Technologies, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    investors@arraytechinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Zimbabwe’s Finance Minister to Present Energy Investment Outlook at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025

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

    PARIS, France, May 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, will address global investors at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum in Paris next week. As a keynote speaker, Minister Ncube will present Zimbabwe’s energy investment outlook, economic reform agenda and efforts to mobilize private capital across the power, hydrocarbons and renewable energy value chains.

    Zimbabwe is targeting rapid energy sector expansion to meet rising industrial and consumer demand, reduce reliance on electricity imports and support long-term economic transformation. Key investment opportunities span power generation, transmission infrastructure, oil and gas exploration and the deployment of renewable energy – with a particular emphasis on solar and hydroelectric resources. The country is estimated to have a $4.8-billion funding gap for large-scale solar projects and is actively working to expand the pool of available capital. Efforts are also underway to enhance financial inclusion and secure more favorable terms for foreign investors in energy infrastructure.

    IAE 2025 (http://apo-opa.co/3GH3mpN) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is home to the Muzarabani Prospect in the north, currently being explored by Australian-listed Invictus Energy. The company has identified eight high-potential gas and condensate prospects in the eastern portion of its Cabora Bassa Basin project, with the Musuma prospect emerging as a key target for exploration drilling in 2025. Recent survey results revealed significant prospectivity in the eastern basin, estimating approximately 2.9 trillion cubic feet of gas and 184 million barrels of condensate across the eight prospects on a gross mean unrisked basis.

    Minister Ncube’s participation signals Zimbabwe’s commitment to fostering an enabling investment environment and positioning energy as a central pillar of national development. The country’s strategic location, resource potential and improving macroeconomic stability make it a compelling destination for long-term infrastructure and energy investment.

    “Minister Ncube’s keynote will offer investors direct insight into the policy direction and financing mechanisms shaping Zimbabwe’s energy future. His presence at IAE 2025 underscores the country’s strong push to deepen international investment partnerships in support of energy access and industrialization,” says Sandra Jeque, Events & Project Director at Energy Capital & Power.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Unlock what’s next: Microsoft at May 19-22 Red Hat Summit 2025

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Unlock what’s next: Microsoft at May 19-22 Red Hat Summit 2025

    Learn more about the solutions that Microsoft and Red Hat have to offer that drive technological advancements and empower organizations.

    As the tech world eagerly anticipates Red Hat Summit 2025, Microsoft is proud to announce its role as a platinum sponsor at the event. Red Hat Summit is a premier enterprise open source event for IT professionals to learn, collaborate, and innovate on technologies from the datacenter and public cloud to edge and beyond. This year, Microsoft’s collaboration with Red Hat promises to be a highlight, showcasing the power of partnership and the innovative solutions that arise from it. 

    Over the years, this partnership has achieved significant milestones, transforming the way businesses operate and deliver value to their customers. By combining Microsoft’s cloud expertise with Red Hat’s open-source leadership, we have created a synergy that drives technological advancements and empowers organizations to achieve more. 

    One of the key benefits of this partnership is the seamless integration of Red Hat technologies with Microsoft Azure. This integration provides customers with a robust and flexible platform to build, deploy, and manage their applications. Whether it’s modernizing legacy systems or developing new cloud-native applications, the combination of Azure and Red Hat offers a plethora of capabilities and support. For instance, Red Hat OpenShift on Azure enables organizations to run containerized applications with ease, leveraging the scalability and security of Azure. Additionally, Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure provides a reliable and secure operating system for mission-critical workloads.

    Build your next great app with free Azure services today >

    At Red Hat Summit 2025, attendees will have the opportunity to explore these technologies in depth. Microsoft and Red Hat will showcase new features and integrations that enhance the capabilities of Azure and Red Hat solutions. From improved performance to enhanced security, these advancements are designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses in today’s digital landscape. 

    • RHEL for WSL: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is now available for use with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL is a feature of Microsoft Windows that allows developers to run Linux distributions. With RHEL for WSL, developers can run a RHEL development environment on Windows without having to spin up a traditional virtual machine (VM). With a no-cost Red Hat Developer subscription, developers can download the latest release of RHEL as a WSL image during their install and easily run both Windows and RHEL at the same time on their Windows machine.
    • Azure Red Hat OpenShift: Microsoft and Red Hat are enhancing security with Confidential Containers on Azure Red Hat OpenShift, now in public preview. This feature offers hardware-level protection for workloads via memory encryption and secure execution environments, addressing compliance needs in sectors like healthcare and financial services. Managed identity for Azure Red Hat OpenShift is also in public preview, transitioning organizations from static service principals to dynamic, token-based credentials. This reduces operational complexity and security risks, facilitating container platform adoption in regulated environments. Azure Red Hat OpenShift has expanded to the Spain Central region with plans for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Central and Microsoft Azure Government (MAG) regions by Q2 2025. Enhancements include OpenShift 4.16 support, enterprise-grade cluster-wide proxy, and Ddsv5 instance performance optimization. Additionally, OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift is entering public preview, enabling customers to accelerate VM migration to Azure without refactoring while unifying management of VMs and containers on a single platform. 
    • RHEL landing zone: The Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on Azure Landing Zone guide provides everything needed to deploy, manage, and scale RHEL instances using Azure-specific system images. Software lifecycle automation is simplified with Red Hat Satellite and Red Hat Satellite Capsule, ensuring timely updates and patches. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) are enhanced through Azure’s on-demand capacity reservations, guaranteeing reliable availability in Azure regions. Optimized identity management infrastructure deployment minimizes latencies and eliminates replication failures.
    • Application awareness and wave planning in Azure Migrate: The new application-aware method sets the stage for grouping dependent resources into waves and provides technical and business insights for the entire application to help you decide on Azure targets and tooling. Migrate applications with dependent workloads, as one to collocate in Azure for optimal performance and cost. 
    • JBoss EAP on App Service: JBoss EAP on App Service is a jointly developed and supported managed solution from Red Hat and Microsoft for running enterprise Java applications with maximum productivity. We have recently made important changes to make JBoss EAP on App Service as cost-effective as possible. This includes a 60% plus license fee price reduction for Pay-As-You-Go plans, memory optimized SKUs, a free tier for a lower barrier to entry, the availability of JBoss EAP 8, as well as a soon-to-be-released ability to Bring-Your-Own-Subscription to App Service. 
    • JBoss EAP on Azure Virtual Machines: Robust solutions to run JBoss EAP on Azure Virtual Machines are now generally available (GA). The solutions are developed and supported by Red Hat and Microsoft. The solutions include templates available in the Azure Portal to automate most boilerplate resource provisioning tasks. The solutions also include JBoss EAP VM images published in the Azure Marketplace. 

    Customer success stories 

    The success of the Microsoft and Red Hat partnership is best demonstrated through the experiences of our customers. Organizations across various industries have leveraged Azure and Red Hat solutions to achieve remarkable results. For example, Teranet utilized Azure Red Hat OpenShift for a digital transformation, migrating mission-critical systems from on-premises to Azure. Outcomes included improved automation, enhanced customer confidence, and significant cost savings to the tune of CA5.6 million. 

    Western Sydney University adopted Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure to enhance the security and reliability of its critical systems. 

    By providing innovative solutions and exceptional support, we empower our customers to overcome challenges and drive business growth. 

    What to expect at Red Hat Summit 2025 

    Red Hat Summit 2025 promises to be an exciting event, with a wide range of sessions, workshops, and presentations. Microsoft will be actively involved, sharing insights and expertise on various topics. Attendees can look forward to exclusive announcements and product launches that will shape the future of technology. 

    This is a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations. Our vision is to deliver cutting-edge solutions that enable organizations to thrive in the digital age. We remain committed to our customers, ensuring that they have access to the best technologies and support.

    Learn more about Red Hat on Azure

    Join us to explore the innovative solutions that Microsoft and Red Hat have to offer. Register now to attend the summit and engage with our experts to learn more about how our collaboration can benefit your organization. 

    Visit the Red Hat on Azure page to learn more about our offerings and join us at the Microsoft booth number 424 at Red Hat Summit 2025!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Bipartisan Push, Hawley & Welch Introduce Major Legislation to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo)

    Monday, May 05, 2025

    Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced legislation to lower the cost of drug prices for Americans. The Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act would offer relief for millions of patients while ensuring Americans are no longer financing lower drug costs for foreigners.
    This legislation would correct decades of policies that benefited pharmaceutical companies but left American patients holding the bag. While other developed nations pay reasonable prices for prescription drugs, Americans pay substantially higher prices for the same medications. In his first term, President Trump pursued “international price index” and “most favored nation” policies on drugs covered by Medicare to end these practices.
    “For too long, Americans have subsidized prescription drug costs for foreigners while paying outrageous prices for their own medications,” Senator Hawley said.“President Trump previously advanced major reforms to ensure that American patients pay the same prices as consumers abroad. This bipartisan legislation would continue that work to end a drug market that favors Big Pharma, make prescriptions affordable again, and empower Americans to get the care they need.”
    “No one should ever be forced to choose between paying for the prescriptions they need or putting food on the table. But Big Pharma’s price gouging has made that a reality for many Americans, forcing them to pay four or five times more for the same lifesaving medications as folks in other countries—it’s unacceptable,” said Senator Welch. “In his first term, President Trump pursued a most-favored nation policy to level the playing field for American patients. I’m glad to partner with Senator Hawley on this bipartisan bill that offers the administration a template to work with Congress to make that goal a reality. We have an obligation to ensure folks in Vermont, Missouri, and across the country get the best possible price for their prescription drugs.”
    The Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act would:
    Prohibit pharmaceutical companies from selling drugs in the United States at higher prices than the international average, ending the practice of forcing Americans to pay the world’s highest prices for medications
    Impose stiff civil monetary penalties on pharmaceutical companies that violate this rule. Specifically:
    The penalty would equal 10 times the difference between the U.S. list price and the average price of the drug sold in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
    Penalties would be calculated and charged for each unit of drug or biological product sold at an inflated price.

    Click here for full text of the bill.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Soldiers, stevedores set stage for successful African Lion 2025

    Source: United States Army

    1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Lt. Col. Travis Michelena, center, the theater support team chief assigned to the 79th Theater Sustainment Command (Forward), speaks with Maj. Joshua Veal, left, a theater sustainment planner assigned to the 79th Theater Sustainment Command (Forward), and their Tunisian Armed Forces counterpart during port operations in preparation for Exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025.Multiple units joined the port operations in an effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out the license plate. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    Back to

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

    GABES, Tunisia — A stevedore shouted over the diesel hum of cranes as the first storage container was lifted out of the cargo ship and onto Tunisian soil. For the untrained eye, it may have looked like just another port delivery. But for the Soldiers and civilians waiting at the port of Gabes, it marked the start of something much bigger.

    This was the opening move in setting the theater for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25).

    Without the shipment of 95 pieces of cargo, including vehicles, equipment and weapon systems, the exercise would be dead in the Mediterranean water.

    “We’re not just moving cargo; we’re enabling the entire exercise to happen,” said U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin VanFleet, a mobility officer assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command.

    1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
    3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload the very first shipping container from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    Along with setting the theater, VanFleet also set the record straight. A stevedore, he clarified, is a longshoreman who works at a port and is responsible for moving goods on and off ships.

    “We’re the first ones in,” VanFleet explained. “Before troops land or vehicles roll, we’re on the ground establishing the logistical foundation that allows the rest of the force to operate. That’s how we set the theater.”

    This does not happen overnight.

    Setting the theater is a strategic concept that goes beyond logistics. It means having an adaptable and agile military with the infrastructure, agreements and relationships in place to shape conditions for successful Army, joint and combined operations. The combined force in Gabes validated those capabilities in a real-world environment.

    “This is my first time participating in African Lion and working with the Tunisians. It’s been a seamless process allowing for the clearance of cargo at a rapid pace,” said VanFleet.

    The Portuguese-flagged vessel, BBC Bergen, arrived to a welcome-party of Italians, Americans and Tunisians, highlighting the multinational effort involved. The Bergen’s journey took two and a half days across the Mediterranean from Livorno, Italy and all 95 pieces — including shipping containers filled with equipment, trailers, water purification systems, air defense vehicles and M119 howitzers — were offloaded in less than a day and a half.

    1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
    3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload a generator trailer during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    Multiple units joined the 839th Transportation Battalion’s offloading effort, including Soldiers assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), the 79th Theater Sustainment Command, the 173rd Airborne Brigade, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-57 ADAR) and the 240th Composite Supply Company (240th CSC) — all there to ensure a successful offloading process.

    Two members of the 1-57 ADAR accompanied the crew of the Bergen on its voyage from Italy. The escort is a requirement anytime sensitive U.S. military equipment, dubbed “super cargo,” is transported on a foreign-flagged vessel.

    “Without the port operation, nothing downstream moves forward,” said VanFleet.

    This first port operation in Tunisia set the foundation for the broader SETAF-AF-led African Lion exercise, showcasing the U.S. Army’s ability to operate in complex environments. Gabes was simply the first stop.

    Immediately after offloading, equipment was loaded onto Tunisian Armed Forces vehicles and transported to exercise locations throughout the country.

    The 839th Transportation Battalion is unique compared to most Army units. Along with Soldiers, it also employs two U.S. Army civilians and up to 10 local nationals per detachment. During port operations, the assigned detachment leads contract responsibilities, documentation and cargo handling, while the battalion sends military leadership to provide command oversight.

    “Utilizing our local nationals is a huge asset,” said VanFleet. “Some individuals have been doing this for more than 30 years. Their knowledge of the area of operations and relationships with host-nation authorities are critical to mission success.”

    1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, work with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials to offload a shipping container during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) (Photo Credit: Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dustin VanFleet, second from left, a mobility officer assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, speaks with civilian officials prior to offloading equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros)
    3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Soldiers and civilians assigned to the 839th Transportation Battalion, 598th Transportation Brigade, Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, U.S. Transportation Command, speak with the Tunisian Armed Forces and civilian officials prior to offloading equipment from the Portuguese-flagged BBC Bergen during port operations in preparation for exercise African Lion 2025 (AL25) in Gabes, Tunisia, April 8, 2025. Multiple units joined the 839th’s offloading effort to set the exercise theater, validating their ability to deploy personnel and equipment over long distances while maintaining operational readiness. AL25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, AL25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach and fosters innovative solutions. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. Joe Legros) VIEW ORIGINAL

    In the first months of 2025 alone, the battalion supported missions in Poland, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia, Italy and Croatia, with additional deployments planned throughout the year.

    “It’s vital we keep exercising these ports and working with our partners,” said VanFleet. “It allows everyone to create that muscle memory that only makes our relationships stronger.”

    AL25, U.S. Africa Command’s largest annual exercise, brings together more than 10,000 troops from over 40 nations to enhance interoperability and strengthen multinational readiness. But before the first formation steps into the training area, port operations like the one in Gabes must succeed.

    Every stevedore handshake and each offloaded vehicle contributes to the larger picture: the ability to quickly and efficiently project lethality anywhere, anytime.

    About the 839th Transportation Battalion

    The 839th supports both U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command, functioning as the single port manager for U.S. military cargo entering and exiting strategic seaports in both theaters. Its responsibilities include staging, reception, onward movement, customs clearance, agricultural inspections and overall integration of DoD assets at ports of embarkation and debarkation.

    About African Lion

    African Lion 25 (AL25) is set to be the largest annual military exercise in Africa, bringing together 41 nations, including seven NATO allies, and about 10,000 troops. Led by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), the exercise will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.

    AL25 is designed to restore the warrior ethos, sharpen lethality and strengthen military readiness alongside our African partners and allies. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win when it matters most.

    African Lion provides an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Central Command; as well as strategic maritime choke points and global shipping lanes.

    About SETAF-AF

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

    Follow SETAF-AF on:

    Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Romanian Prime Minister Announces Resignation

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Xinhua | 06. 05. 2025

    Keywords: minister of romania, prime minister, resignation, announced, apartment of the romanian social, ruling coalition, democratic party, headquarters, ciolacu, monday, will leave

    BUCHAREST, May 5 (Xinhua) — Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation at the headquarters of the Romanian Social Democratic Party (PSD) on Monday.

    The SDP he leads will also leave the ruling coalition. –0–

    Source: Xinhua

    Romanian Prime Minister Announces Resignation Romanian Prime Minister Announces Resignation

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tiffany Announces Winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07)

    WAUSAU, WI – Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) announced the winners of Wisconsin’s Seventh District 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Created in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition is a great opportunity for young artists to have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. This year’s theme was: A day in the life of Wisconsin.   

    “Each year, I become more impressed by the young talent in Wisconsin’s Seventh District. Thank you to all the artists who participated in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition, and congratulations to this year’s winners,” said Congressman Tiffany.

    First Place Winner

    Name: Aubrey Cronce 

    School: Wausau East High School 

    Title: Midsummer Spark

     

    Second Place Winner

    Name: Anna Rose Czarnecki 

    School: Wolfpack Academy (Greenwood) 

    Title: Down the Road

      

    Third Place Winner

    Name: Francesca Germano 

    School: Northwestern High School 

    Title: I Went Golfing Yesterday

      

    Honorable Mention

    Name: Sona Ovezmyradova 

    School: Hayward High School 

    Title: Dairyland Memories

     

    The first-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for one year. The Cannon Tunnel is the most highly traveled walkway between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Capitol. Southwest Airlines also offers each first-place winner two round-trip tickets to attend the Winners’ Celebration in Washington, DC. The second-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in my Washington, DC office, and the third-place winner’s artwork will be displayed in my Wausau office. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Message of thanks after 150,000 line the streets for Leeds United parade

    Source: City of Leeds

    You did us proud – that’s the message from Leeds City Council to every single person who helped make Leeds United’s promotion party a truly champion occasion.

    Around 150,000 fans turned out in the city centre this afternoon to salute manager Daniel Farke and his title-winning players during a celebratory open-top bus parade.

    Landmark locations such as City Square and The Headrow were packed with supporters more than two hours ahead of the start of the event.

    Huge numbers also lined famous streets like Boar Lane and Vicar Lane as the convoy of three United buses made its way through the heart of Leeds.

    And together the crowds created an electric atmosphere that ramped up still further the city-wide feelgood factor generated by the club’s Championship title win and return to the Premier League.

    The parade was organised by the council in conjunction with United, and with support from various multi-agency partners.

    Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:

    “The scenes today were brilliant and highlighted the bond that exists between Leeds United and the city of Leeds.

    “We were absolutely delighted to be able to stage an event that gave fans, players, coaches, backroom staff and of course Daniel Farke the chance to celebrate promotion together.

    “Thank you to everyone who made it a success, from the supporters who turned out in such incredible numbers to all the people who had an organisational role.

    “This was a team effort that involved the council, the club and partners such as West Yorkshire Police, and showed just how special this city is.

    “Congratulations once again to Daniel and his players, they have given us a season to remember and fully deserved the reception they got today. Bring on the Premier League!”

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s historical insights into war and peace 2025-05-06 01:17:07 As the top Chinese leader travels to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, his presence both carries the weight of history and reaffirms a vision of the future.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the military parade during the commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

    BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) — In the stately Conference Building at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, a 65-inch-tall resplendent bronze vessel gleams under soft light, its cloisonne enamel blazing in vibrant Chinese red.

    The “Zun of Peace,” presented by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2015 as a special gift for the United Nations’ 70th anniversary, is not merely a delicate artifact. It embodies the aspiration and conviction of the Chinese people to seek peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes, Xi said at its unveiling.

    A decade later, as the top Chinese leader travels to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, his presence both carries the weight of history and reaffirms a vision of the future.

    Leading a nation always aspiring for peace and harmony in its long history and further strengthened by its battles against militarism, imperialism and fascism in its recent past, Xi commands a unique insight into the value of peace, and has steadfastly championed the building of a peaceful world, a cause of great urgency given the tensions and conflicts on the global landscape today.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) attends a presentation ceremony on which the Chinese government gives the “Zun of Peace” to the United Nations as a gift in New York, the United States, Sept. 27, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

    Xi sees history as a mirror from which humanity should draw lessons to avoid repeating past calamities.

    This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in what is commonly known in China as the World Anti-Fascist War or, more globally, as World War II. Almost every part of the world was involved, and more than 100 million were killed or wounded in what was described as the most destructive conflict in human history.

    The bravery and tremendous sacrifice of the Chinese people played a decisive role in defeating Fascist Japan and offered strategic support to the Allies on the European and Pacific battlefields.

    “History has told us to stay on high alert against war, which, like a demon and nightmare, would bring disaster and pain to the people,” Xi once said. “History has also told us to preserve peace with great care, as peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticed when people are benefiting from it, but none of us can live without it.”

    This historical observation features prominently in Xi’s unrelenting pursuit of peace. He has repeatedly reiterated China’s commitment to peaceful development, pledging that China will never seek hegemony, expansion or any sphere of influence, no matter how strong it may grow.

    During a 2014 visit to France, Xi reshaped Napoleon’s metaphor of China as a “sleeping lion” that would shake the world upon awakening. “Now China the lion has awakened. But it is a peaceful, amicable and civilized lion,” Xi said when illustrating the peaceful dimension of the Chinese Dream.

    Xi’s philosophy stems from the millennia-old Chinese culture. An avid reader of traditional Chinese classics, he once expounded how ancient Chinese wisdom views war and peace by quoting “The Art of War,” a Chinese classic written more than 2,000 years ago.

    The book’s key message “is that every effort should be made to prevent a war and great caution must be exercised when it comes to fighting a war,” Xi said when delivering a keynote speech in the UN Office at Geneva in 2017.

    Xi’s view on prudence in warfare is also reflected in his exchanges with foreign leaders and officials.

    “It has long been known that the real experts on military affairs do not want to employ military means to solve issues,” he quoted a Chinese aphorism when meeting with then U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Beijing in 2018.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping straightens the ribbon on a flower basket during a ceremony to present flower baskets to fallen heroes at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

    A clear manifestation of Xi’s reflection is to cherish history and honor heroes. “A nation of hope cannot be without heroes,” Xi once said. Every year since 2014, Xi has paid tribute to China’s fallen heroes on Martyrs’ Day, which falls on Sept. 30, a day ahead of the country’s National Day.

    In 2015, when China celebrated the 70th anniversary of its victory in World War II, Xi presented medals to Chinese veterans and representatives from Russia and other countries who assisted Chinese soldiers on the battlefields.

    Nikolai Chuikov, the grandson of Soviet General Marshal Vasily Chuikov, was among those who received a peace medal from Xi. “Of all the honors I have won, I hold the highest regard for the peace medal,” he said.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, front) shakes hands with a Russian veteran in Moscow, Russia, on May 8, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: CDU/CSU and SPD leaders sign agreement to form new coalition government in Germany

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BERLIN, May 5 (Xinhua) — The leaders of the conservative Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc and the center-left Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) signed a coalition agreement on Monday, paving the way for the formation of a new federal government in Germany.

    Under the coalition pact, finally agreed in April after weeks of negotiations, the parties pledge to increase Germany’s economic competitiveness, strengthen national defence and tighten migration policy.

    The CDU/CSU, informally referred to as the “Union Parties” or “the Union”, is a conservative political alliance of two German political parties.

    On May 6, the Bundestag, Germany’s unicameral parliament, is expected to elect CDU leader Friedrich Merz as chancellor of Germany.

    Following the election of F. Merz, his government will begin work, ending the current administration led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. SPD co-chairman Lars Klingbeil will take up the post of vice-chancellor in the new government. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to host wreath-laying ceremony at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Cenotaph to mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Toronto, ON –Veterans Affairs Canada will host a wreath-laying ceremony at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Cenotaph. Christine McDowell, Associate Deputy Minister, Veterans Affairs Canada will be joined by Veterans of the Second World War, residents of Sunnybrook, Dr. Andy Smith, CEO Sunnybrook Veterans Centre, Harman Idema, Consul-General of the Netherlands, and other dignitaries.

    There will be a photo op and interview opportunities with Veterans and other dignitaries following the ceremony.

    Location:   Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Cenotaph
                             2075 Bayview Avenue
                         Toronto, ON  M4N 1J7

    Date:           Tuesday, 6 May 2025

    Time:          10:30 EDT

    Notes for media:

    Media who wish to participate must register by 08:30 EDT on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 by contacting media@veterans.gc.ca with their name and media outlet. Media members are asked to arrive no later than 10:00 EDT.

    Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs and we will work with you to enable your participation.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada to host Boots of Remembrance ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Toronto, ON –Veterans Affairs Canada will host a Boots of Remembrance commemorative event at CIBC SQUARE with the official Government of Canada delegation commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe Day. The delegation will be joined by Commander Paul Smith, Commanding Officer, HMCS York, Canadian Armed Forces, David Hoffman, General Manager, CIBC SQUARE and other dignitaries.

    In 2019, a pair of combat boots – a symbol of the many Canadians who took a similar journey during the Second World War to serve our country – was placed on a train in Vancouver, British Columbia, to begin the voyage to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where so many troops departed for Europe over 80 years ago. Along the way, commemorative ceremonies were held across the country to honour the boots and what they symbolize.

    This year, as we commemorate 80 years since the Liberation of the Netherlands and Victory in Europe, the boots are making a return trip, starting in Halifax and making their way to Toronto to symbolize the homecoming of Canadian soldiers and their return to family and community.

    There will be a photo op and interview opportunities with Veterans and other dignitaries following the ceremony.

    Location:        CIBC SQUARE
                              Elevated Green Space
                              81 Bay Street
                              Toronto, ON M5J 0E7

    Date:               Tuesday, 6 May 2025

    Time:              14:00 EDT

    Notes for media:

    Media who wish to participate must register by 12:00 EDT on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 by contacting media@veterans.gc.ca with their name and media outlet. Media members are asked to arrive no later than 13:30 EDT.

    Please let us know if you have any accessibility needs and we will work with you to enable your participation.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: UPDATED: Three people arrested as part of Counter Terrorism Policing operation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Three people have been arrested in London as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation.

    Two of the men [A and B] were arrested at separate addresses in north west London and one man [C] was arrested at an address in west London on Saturday, 3 May, as part of the investigation, which is being led by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.

    The men, aged 39 [A], 44 [B] and 55 [C], and who are all Iranian nationals were arrested and detained under section 27 of the National Security Act 2023.

    All three men were taken into custody and warrants of further detention have been sought and obtained, meaning they can be detained until Saturday, 10 May.

    This investigation is not connected to the arrest of five people yesterday as part of a separate Met Counter Terrorism operation.

    Enquiries remain ongoing.

    MIL Security OSI –