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Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Reflects On The Life And Legacy Of The Late Pope Francis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    April 28, 2025
    Durbin: In a world of hate and fear, the Pope’s message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor commemorating and honoring the late Pope Francis. This weekend, Durbin attended the late Pope’s funeral in the Vatican along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).
    “Today I join people across the world and mourn the passing of Pope Francis. He was forgiving, hopeful, and committed to the notion of peace. Francis taught us that there is no one ‘right’ way to be a Catholic. That the Church can shape you, and you can shape the Church. And in the process, he made the Church stronger,” said Durbin.
    During his speech, Durbin also noted he attended the Pope’s Joint Address to Congress in 2015—the first Pope to ever do so. Durbin then praised Pope Francis for using his platform to highlight the plight of immigrants and refugees, to ask compassion for those in the LGBTQ+ community whom the Church has historically shunned, and to advocate for peace in distant wars and to protect our environment.
    “Like myself, Pope Francis was the child of immigrants, and he often reminded us of our responsibility to welcome the stranger. In a recent letter to American Catholic bishops, Pope Francis affirmed our nation’s right to ‘defend itself and keep communities safe.’ But he raised serious concerns about mass deportation, which ‘damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.’ His message is so timely as our government ignores due process and through an ‘administrative error,’ sends individuals to a hell-hole prison in El Salvador and deports a two-year-old to Honduras,” said Durbin.
    Durbin praised Pope Francis for the speech he prepared for Easter Sunday—one day before he passed away. The Pope was so ill that he was unable to deliver the speech himself, so it was read by one of his aides.
    Durbin continued, “It was a speech of peace. It was a speech of hope. It was the speech of a truly good man. In it, he pled, ‘On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas.’”
    Durbin concluded by reflecting on the Pope’s funeral—where hundreds of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican City to mourn the death of Pope Francis.
    “The crowd was overwhelming. Estimated in the hundreds of thousands, they represented every corner of the Earth. Just in our small section was a delegation in business suits from Lesotho in Africa, Buddhists in bright orange robes, members of the Italian Parliament, a turbaned Sikh delegation from India, and our bipartisan House delegation led by Nancy Pelosi and Republican Leader Steve Scalise. Thousands of Catholic clergy on the altar and in the audience wore vestments presenting every shade of scarlet and red. But the vast crowds of mourners and celebrants were simply admirers of Francis who, in his humble way, touched so many lives. At the front of the altar was his simple wooden casket,” Durbin continued.
    “The funeral ceremony was in Latin, the language of the Catholic Church when I was a young altar boy at St. Elizabeth’s Church in East St. Louis, Illinois, in the 1950’s. As I witnessed this solemn mass and read from the text, I could hear in my mind the rusty hinges of an opening door taking me back to the Latin mass and Gregorian chant of my childhood. It is all still there, ‘deo gratias,’” said Durbin.
    “How did this Mass differ from the Funeral of John Paul II decades ago?  I remember the crowds of Polish mourners with their red and white flags for John Paul II,” Durbin continued. “But with Francis, what struck me were the many waves of spontaneous cheering from the vast crowd when reference was made to his simple message for immigrants, peace, understanding. Who can forget his five words: ‘Who am I to judge?’ defined his humility and humanity for so many of us. After the ceremony, I went back to my hotel room and turned on my TV. There was a recurring segment every few minutes. It showed a simple photograph of Francis and the Italian words: ‘Grazie Francesco, il Papa della gente.’ Translated to English: ‘Thank you, Francis. The Pope of the people.’ We must continue to hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another.  In a world of hate and fear, his message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever,”Durbin concluded.
    Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
    Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sex offenders to be stripped of refugee protections

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Sex offenders to be stripped of refugee protections

    Foreign nationals who commit sex offences will be excluded from asylum protections in the UK as part of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.

    Tougher border security measures will keep British streets safer, with foreign sex offenders to be excluded from refugee protections as the government announces new measures to slash the asylum backlog and strengthen border security through the Plan for Change. 

    At present, the Refugee Convention entitles countries to refuse asylum to terrorists, war criminals and individuals convicted of a ‘particularly serious crime’ who present a danger to the community – defined in the UK as an offence carrying a sentence of 12 months or more.

    For the first time, any conviction of a crime that qualifies a foreign national for the sex offenders register will lead to them being denied refugee status, toughening our approach to border security through stricter enforcement of the rules.

    The law change, which will be introduced through a new amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, also marks a further step in the government’s landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, making Britain’s streets safer and sending a clear message that sexual offences will be treated with the seriousness they deserve. 

    The new law comes alongside stronger measures to cut the asylum backlog and save taxpayer money, by giving the tribunals a new target to reduce the time they take to consider appeals from asylum seekers in accommodation, as well as rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) across asylum processing to speed up decision making.

    Under the new measures, the first-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber will have a new 24-week target to decide appeals brought by those receiving accommodation support, or who are foreign offenders. This will help stop lengthy legal battles, moving failed asylum seekers out of hotels faster and removing those with no right to be in the country. 

    The bill will also introduce tougher measures to weed out people who pose as immigration lawyers or advisers, by offering ‘advice’ to migrants on how to claim asylum in the UK and lodge fraudulent claims. The Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) will get expanded powers to hit these crooks with fines of up to £15,000.

    Major progress has already been made in fixing the foundations of the asylum system under the new government, with the return of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK in the first 9 months after the election, including a 16% increase in removals of foreign criminals, and asylum decision-making up 52% in the last 3 months of 2024.

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 

    We are restoring order to a broken asylum system that has been mired in delay and dysfunction for far too long, and we are strengthening our system to make sure that the rules are respected and enforced.

    Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK. We are strengthening the law to ensure these appalling crimes are taken seriously.

    Nor should asylum seekers be stuck in hotels at the taxpayers’ expense during lengthy legal battles. That is why we are changing the law to help clear the backlog, end the use of asylum hotels and save billions of pounds for the taxpayer. 

    This is part of our Plan for Change to strengthen our borders, make our streets safer and restore order to the broken system the last government left behind.

    Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Minister Jess Philips said:

    We are determined to achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls in a decade.

    That’s exactly why we are taking action to ensure there are robust safeguards across the system, including by clamping down on foreign criminals who commit heinous crimes like sex offences.

    It is right we ensure that convicted, registered sex offenders are not entitled to refugee status, as part of our work to see these awful crimes treated with the seriousness they deserve and perpetrators held to account.

    Alongside these measures, AI will be deployed to support caseworkers to make swifter decisions on asylum claims – preventing asylum seekers from being stuck in limbo at the taxpayers’ expense, delivering quicker answers to those in need and removal of those with no right to be here. 

    Caseworkers will use AI to speed up access to the relevant country advice, and summarise lengthy interview transcripts, streamlining asylum processing without compromising on the quality of human decisions. The tech could save decision makers up to an hour per case.  

    As announced last month, alongside these critical measures to reform the asylum system, the government will also table an amendment to the bill which requires companies hiring people in the gig economy to carry out checks confirming that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK, bringing them in line with other employers.

    These vital checks confirm someone’s immigration status and allow them to legally work in the UK, meaning that for the very first time, employment checks will be extended to cover businesses hiring gig economy and zero-hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery, beauty salons and courier services. 

    In addition to these measures, the landmark Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will empower law enforcement to intervene faster and more effectively, using counterterror-style powers to disrupt the people-smuggling gangs and placing restrictions on foreign offenders living in the community, including mandatory electronic tags, strict night-time curfews and enforced exclusion zones while awaiting removal. 

    Further background

    The measures are to be tabled ahead of report stage of the landmark Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill in the House of Commons. 

    Foreign sex offenders

    Under the UK Borders Act 2007, a deportation order must be made where a foreign national has been convicted of an offence and received a custodial sentence of at least 12 months. This is subject to several exceptions, including where it would breach UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention.

    However, the Refugee Convention allows protection to be denied to those who, having been convicted of a ‘particularly serious crime’, constitute a danger to the community in the UK. The proposed amendment will create a presumption that individuals convicted of sexual offences making them subject to notification requirements will be denied this protection. This does not alter the long-standing principle that all claims must be considered on a case-by-case basis, to ensure they meet the criteria regarding the seriousness of the crime, and the danger posed to the community

    Supported accommodation and foreign national offender appeals

    Under the new proposals, the first-tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber will be required to determine an asylum appeal lodged by a person receiving accommodation support, or from a non-detained foreign national offender within 24 weeks where it is reasonably practicable to do so. The latest published statistics show appeals to the tribunal take on average nearly 50 weeks to process.

    Currently, there is no set timeframe for the courts to consider these cases. Speeding up these appeals will help keep people moving through the asylum system rather than get stuck in accommodation at a cost to the taxpayer and speed up foreign offender deportations. This will assist with ending the use of hotels as asylum accommodation and facilitate swifter deportations.

    Just last month (March 2025), the government also announced more funding to boost the number of days the first-tier and upper-tier tribunals (of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber) can sit at near maximum capacity, helping to speed up decision-making and keep the system moving. 

    Immigration advice

    Providing immigration advice without being registered with the IAA or a recognised legal regulatory body is a criminal offence which can lead to jail time, and the new amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will give the IAA stronger powers to pursue those who breach those rules.

    The IAA is the only regulatory watchdog that can investigate and prosecute those pretending to be immigration lawyers or qualified advisers without any authority to do so. These sham lawyers could be acting as middlemen for those trying to abuse the immigration system in a bid to stay in the UK or trying to cash in on people’s desperation providing poor quality or outright fraudulent immigration advice. 

    Illegal working

    The government previously announced it will strengthen illegal working checks in a new amendment as set out on GOV.UK.

    On wider government AI work

    This new tool follows the Prime Minister setting out that he will ‘push forward with the digitisation of government services’ to find £45 billion worth of productivity savings, as the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology sets out how it will put AI and technology to work across public services.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Youth Mobility Scheme for Uruguayan and British citizens: 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Youth Mobility Scheme for Uruguayan and British citizens: 2025

    The Youth Mobility Scheme allows 500 visas, both for Uruguayan and British nationals, to live, study, work and travel in the UK and Uruguay respectively.

    In 2025, 500 British and 500 Uruguayan nationals aged 18 to 30 years old will be able to experience life and culture in each other’s country for up to 2 years, as established in the agreement that came into effect in both countries on 31 January 2024.

    Uruguayan citizens who would like to travel to the UK under this scheme need to apply for a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa. British citizens who would like to travel to Uruguay should apply for a Working Holiday temporary residency.

    The scheme desires to foster close relations between British and Uruguayan nationals, intending to promote and facilitate access to opportunities that enable youth to gain a better understanding of the other participant’s culture, society, and languages through travel, work, and life experience abroad.

    This is the first YMS between the UK and a South American Country. The agreement was signed in August 2023 at the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the visit of FCDO Minister for the Americas and Caribbean David Rutley MP to Uruguay.

    UK has YMS agreements in place with Andorra, Australia, Canada, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Taiwan and Uruguay.

    Uruguay has Working Holiday programmes with Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

    Find below information about the scheme and how to apply, for British and Uruguayan nationals.

    Information for British nationals

    British citizens interested in applying for a Working Holiday temporary residency must attend the Uruguayan Consulate in London and submit the following documents:

    • valid passport in good condition, with an expiry date at least one year in the future
    • a medical certificate from the country of residence where it states that you do not have medical conditions that would make it impossible for you to reside in Uruguay
    • evidence of a Police Certificate from the country of origin and from any country that you have lived in for the past 5 years. This should be apostilled or legalised, whichever is appropriate. In the UK you can apply for this at: http://www.gov.uk/copy-of-police-records. The six must have been issued within the 6 months prior to the filing of the application
    • documents that demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to meet their needs (such as salary payslips, bank statements, pensions, etc.) issued within 30 days of the application date
    • declaration of the intended time they will remain in Uruguay, which will be up to 2 years
    • apostille or legalised birth certificate (whichever is the case, if the person was born outside the UK) and translated (by a certified Uruguayan translator, by Consul or by consular intervention, depending on the case) will be required in Uruguay in order to obtain the Uruguayan National Identity card

    Once the documentation is submitted, the Consulate will inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Migration Direction, which will notify the National Migration Office. A decision will be made within a maximum of 15 working days.

    If the application is successful, the Consulate will let you will know. You will then need to enter Uruguay within 180 days from the notification day. If you need a visa, the Consulate will issue a tourist visa without consulting with the National Migration Office, referring to the temporary residency granted.

    Once you are in Uruguay, you will need to go in person to the National Migration Office and the National Civil Identification Office to apply for the National Identity card and pay the required fees. If youneed more information, please contact the Uruguayan Consulate or Uruguayan Embassy: cdlondres@mrree.gub.uy or urureinounido@mree.gub.uy, or call: +44 (0)207 584 4200

    Information for Uruguayan nationals:

    • applications to the Youth Mobility Scheme are online. You can apply from any country in the world, except from the UK
    • you can apply if you are a Uruguayan National aged 18-30 years old and hold a Uruguayan passport
    • you can spend up to 2 years in the UK, with multiple entries
    • you can work but it is not compulsory. You can travel, study short courses or volunteer
    • you do not need any language, job or skill requirements
    • you must apply for a visa and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge
    • you need to demonstrate you have the equivalent to £2,530 in a bank account for at least the past 28 days before applying
    • you need to get a Criminal Record Certificate. Please request it for Consulate- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the British Embassy
    • you cannot apply if you have any dependants living with you or who are financially dependent on you at the time of application
    • you must not have not previously taken part in the scheme

    Applicants will usually get a decision on their visa within 3 weeks.

    For more information, please go to Youth Mobility Scheme visa: Overview – GOV.UK or contact: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Russia must provide its response on Ukraine ceasefire

    Source: France-Diplomatie – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development

    Excerpts from statements to the press by M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, from Madagascar (Antananarivo, April 24, 2025)

    (Check against delivery)

    (…)

    A few moments ago, in your speech here, you denounced “the mad armies that want to seize little bits of land”. However, a few minutes ago President Zelenskyy said the pressure on Russia isn’t strong enough, at a time when the United States is obviously preparing to recognize Crimea as Russian. Is peace getting further away today?

    THE PRESIDENT – First of all, I don’t want to speak for anyone. As you know, France’s position is steadfast. It won’t change. We’re in favour of the sovereignty of peoples and territorial integrity, respecting international law. Moreover, there are no double standards for France. That applies to Ukraine, it applies to the Middle East and it applies to the African continent. And I pride myself on that position.

    So we’ll continue to uphold the Ukrainian people’s right to live in peace on their territory and within their internationally-recognized borders. That’s why we’ve always condemned the Russian war of aggression.

    We’re at a moment when I hope peace can be built, and I want to pay tribute to the efforts made by US diplomacy. But I also want to remind you of the facts. There’s an aggressor, Russia, and an aggressee, Ukraine. A few weeks ago, under American impetus, President Zelenskyy made an incredible gesture. He said: “I agree to an unconditional ceasefire”.

    The only thing we have to ensure, the only thing – I repeated this to President Trump, to whom I spoke two days ago during the night – is for President Putin to finally stop lying. When President Putin talks to the US negotiators, he tells them: “I want peace.” When he talks to the whole planet, he says: “I personally want peace.” He continues to bomb Ukraine. He continues to kill people in Ukraine. There’s only one reply we’re waiting for. Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire? The Americans have proposed it, the Europeans support it, and President Zelenskyy has said yes. If President Putin says yes, the weapons fall silent tomorrow and lives are saved. The international community has just one thing to do, and America’s irritation should focus on only one person: President Putin. He must answer the question he’s asking him. Then we’ll be able to build a just, solid, lasting, robust peace – in other words, a peace that makes it possible to find territorial concessions and solid security guarantees.

    But as I speak, it’s not as if nothing had happened in the past few weeks. The Americans have proposed something, the Ukrainians have said yes, and we support it. Now Russia must provide its response. If Russia says, I’m not ready for a ceasefire, it will have lied to the US President, it will have lied to all those it told it wanted peace, and we’ll have to act accordingly. If it says yes, we’ll have a ceasefire tomorrow. (…)

    Are you going to speak to President Trump?

    THE PRESIDENT – I spoke to him 24 hours ago, the night before yesterday.

    Do you think he can modify his position? Or is he sticking with positions that are difficult to reconcile with those of the Europeans?

    THE PRESIDENT – He wants to find agreements, and I completely respect him. He wants a comprehensive peace agreement – he’s the negotiator too. But let me put things back in the right order. There can be no peace agreement if there isn’t already an agreement on what he’s got from President Zelenskyy, which was a huge step forward by President Zelenskyy.

    I say this very emphatically here: the first step, the one that – if I can put it like this – marks the beginning of everything, is the unconditional ceasefire that the Russians must accept.

    So, no freezing of the ceasefire line, of the current front line?

    THE PRESIDENT – But all the other issues are issues that come under a peace negotiation, which must subsequently be carried out, and they’ll take into account the military positions, the territorial issues and the security issues. But you can’t ask for this or that to be accepted while Russia continues bombing Kyiv. Put yourself in President Zelenskyy’s shoes: do you think he can make gestures of openness when his capital is currently being bombed? Let’s be reasonable. (…)

    When Donald Trump says that Ukraine lost Crimea years ago, is he wrong? Is he playing into Russia’s hands?

    THE PRESIDENT – No, he’s describing a factual situation. But is it our job to describe a factual situation? Since 2014, an army has conquered a territory, totally illegally, through violence and by killing people. That’s describing a factual situation, what he’s saying. Does that mean we should approve of it? No, in any case, not now. And it isn’t for us to do so, as I’ve always said, it’s up to Ukraine and its representatives to say that. So our collective job – which is what President Trump has committed to do – is to say “ceasefire”. (…)./.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: NXP Semiconductors Reports First Quarter 2025 Results, Announces Management Transition

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) today reported financial results for the first quarter, which ended March 30, 2025. “NXP delivered quarterly revenue of $2.84 billion, in-line with the midpoint of guidance. NXP’s first-quarter results and guidance for the second quarter underpin a cautious optimism that NXP continues to effectively navigate through a challenging set of market conditions. We are operating in a very uncertain environment influenced by tariffs with volatile direct and indirect effects. Considering these external factors, we are redoubling our efforts to manage what is in our direct control, enabling NXP to drive solid profitability and earnings,” said Kurt Sievers, NXP President and Chief Executive Officer.

    The company announced that Mr. Sievers has informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire from NXP at the end of 2025. “Kurt has been a dynamic, visionary, and highly effective CEO of NXP since May 2020,” said Julie Southern, NXP’s Chair of the Board of Directors. “He has been instrumental in leading the definition and implementation of NXP’s strategy to be the leader in intelligent systems at the edge within the Automotive and Industrial & IoT end markets. After a successful 30-year career with NXP, we are saddened to see Kurt retire. We and the entire NXP community thank him for his leadership and wish him the absolute best in his retirement.”

    Following a comprehensive and thorough succession planning process, NXP’s Board of Directors announced that it has unanimously approved Mr. Rafael Sotomayor to succeed Mr. Sievers as President, effective April 28, 2025. Messrs. Sievers and Sotomayor will work closely to orchestrate a smooth leadership transition until October 28, 2025, when Mr. Sotomayor will assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. “Rafael has been an integral part of creating and shaping NXP’s strategy and enabling the company’s success. We are confident he is ideally suited to assume the role of President and CEO at NXP, and to execute the company’s vision for leadership in the intelligent systems at the edge within the Automotive and Industrial & IoT end markets,” said Ms. Southern.

    Mr. Sievers’ departure is a purely personal decision and is not related to any disagreement with the Board of Directors, or any issues relating to the strategic or financial performance of the company.

    Key Highlights for the First Quarter 2025:

    • Revenue was $2.84 billion, down 9 percent year-on-year;
    • GAAP gross margin was 55.0 percent, GAAP operating margin was 25.5 percent and GAAP diluted Net Income per Share was $1.92;
    • Non-GAAP gross margin was 56.1 percent, non-GAAP operating margin was 31.9 percent, and non-GAAP diluted Net Income per Share was $2.64;
    • Cash flow from operations was $565 million, with net capex investments of $138 million, resulting in non-GAAP free cash flow of $427 million;
    • Capital return during the quarter was $561 million, representing 131 percent of first quarter non-GAAP free cash flow. Share buybacks were $303 million and dividends paid during the quarter were $258 million. After the end of the first quarter, between March 31, 2025, and April 25, 2025, NXP executed via a 10b5-1 program additional share repurchases totaling $90 million;
    • On January 7, 2025, NXP announced the MCX L14x and MCX L25x, the first families in the ultra-low-power L Series of the MCX microcontroller portfolio. The MCX L series features a dual-core architecture with an independent ultra-low-power sense domain to enable challenging battery-limited applications, such as sensors for industrial monitoring, building management, and flow metering;
    • On January 8, 2025, Honeywell and NXP announced an expansion of its partnership that will accelerate aviation product development and chart the path for autonomous flight. The Honeywell Anthem cockpit is powered by NXP’s i.MX 8 applications processors to help improve operational efficiency, safety and unlock value for pilots and operators. This builds on the companies’ existing relationship, which is focused on helping optimize how building management systems sense and securely control energy consumption;
    • On January 15, 2025, NXP announced it has secured a €1 billion loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to advance the company’s RDI investments across its broad portfolio of semiconductor solutions. The €1 billion loan facility carries a weighted average interest rate of 4.54 percent when drawn in dollar denominated tranches, under the current market conditions and has a duration of six years;
    • On February 10, 2025, NXP announced the agreement to acquire Kinara Inc., an industry leader in high performance, energy-efficient and programmable discrete neural processing units (NPUs) to enable intelligence at the edge solutions. The all-cash transaction was valued at $307 million and is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances;
    • On March 11, 2025, NXP announced the new S32K5 family of automotive microcontrollers (MCU), the automotive industry’s first 16nm FinFET MCU with embedded magnetic RAM (MRAM). The S32K5 MCU family will extend the NXP CoreRide platform with pre-integrated zonal and electrification system solutions for scalable software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures.

    Summary of Reported First Quarter 2025 ($ millions, unaudited) (1)

      Q1 2025 Q4 2024 Q1 2024 Q – Q Y – Y
    Total Revenue $ 2,835   $ 3,111   $ 3,126   -9 % -9 %
    GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,560   $ 1,678   $ 1,783   -7 % -13 %
    Gross Profit Adjustments (i) $ (31 ) $ (111 ) $ (35 )    
    Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,591   $ 1,789   $ 1,818   -11 % -12 %
    GAAP Gross Margin   55.0 %   53.9 %   57.0 %    
    Non-GAAP Gross Margin   56.1 %   57.5 %   58.2 %    
    GAAP Operating Income (Loss) $ 723   $ 675   $ 856   7 % -16 %
    Operating Income Adjustments (i) $ (181 ) $ (390 ) $ (224 )    
    Non-GAAP Operating Income $ 904   $ 1,065   $ 1,080   -15 % -16 %
    GAAP Operating Margin   25.5 %   21.7 %   27.4 %    
    Non-GAAP Operating Margin   31.9 %   34.2 %   34.5 %    
    GAAP Net Income (Loss) attributable to Stockholders $ 490   $ 495   $ 639   -1 % -23 %
    Net Income Adjustments (i) $ (183 ) $ (322 ) $ (201 )    
    Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Stockholders $ 673   $ 817   $ 840   -18 % -20 %
    GAAP diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share (ii) $ 1.92   $ 1.93   $ 2.47   — % -22 %
    Non-GAAP diluted Net Income (Loss) per Share (ii) $ 2.64   $ 3.18   $ 3.24   -17 % -19 %
    Additional information          
      Q1 2025 Q4 2024 Q1 2024 Q – Q Y – Y
    Automotive $ 1,674 $ 1,790 $ 1,804 -6 % -7 %
    Industrial & IoT $ 508 $ 516 $ 574 -2 % -11 %
    Mobile $ 338 $ 396 $ 349 -15 % -3 %
    Comm. Infra. & Other $ 315 $ 409 $ 399 -23 % -21 %
    DIO   169   151   144    
    DPO   62   65   65    
    DSO   34   30   26    
    Cash Conversion Cycle   141   116   105    
    Channel Inventory (weeks)   9   8   7    
    Gross Financial Leverage (iii) 2.4x 2.1x 1.9x    
    Net Financial Leverage (iv) 1.6x 1.5x 1.3x    
               
    1. Additional Information for the First Quarter 2025:
      1. For an explanation of GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
      2. Refer to Table 1 below for the weighted average number of diluted shares for the presented periods.
      3. Gross financial leverage is defined as gross debt divided by trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA.
      4. Net financial leverage is defined as net debt divided by trailing twelve months adjusted EBITDA.

        5. Guidance for the Second Quarter 2025: ($ millions, except Per Share data) (1)

           
          GAAP   Reconciliation   non-GAAP
          Low   Mid   High       Low   Mid   High
        Total Revenue $2,800   $2,900   $3,000       $2,800   $2,900   $3,000
        Q-Q -1%   2%   6%       -1%   2%   6%
        Y-Y -10%   -7%   -4%       -10%   -7%   -4%
        Gross Profit $1,533   $1,604   $1,675   $(29)   $1,562   $1,633   $1,704
        Gross Margin 54.8%   55.3%   55.8%       55.8%   56.3%   56.8%
        Operating Income (loss) $680   $741   $802   $(182)   $862   $923   $984
        Operating Margin 24.3%   25.6%   26.7%       30.8%   31.8%   32.8%
        Financial Income (expense) $(100)   $(100)   $(100)   $(12)   $(88)   $(88)   $(88)
        Tax rate 18.5%-19.5%       17.0%-18.0%
        Equity-accounted investees $(8)   $(8)   $(8)   $(6)   $(2)   $(2)   $(2)
        Non-controlling interests $(9)   $(9)   $(9)       $(9)   $(9)   $(9)
        Shares – diluted 255.0   255.0   255.0       255.0   255.0   255.0
        Earnings Per Share – diluted $1.78   $1.97   $2.16       $2.46   $2.66   $2.86


        Note (1) Additional Information:

        1. GAAP Gross Profit is expected to include Purchase Price Accounting (“PPA”) effects, $(7) million; Share-based Compensation, $(15) million; Other Incidentals, $(7) million;
        2. GAAP Operating Income (loss) is expected to include PPA effects, $(33) million; Share-based Compensation, $(115) million; Restructuring and Other Incidentals, $(34) million;
        3. GAAP Financial Income (expense) is expected to include Other financial expense $(12) million;
        4. GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees is expected to include results relating to non-foundry equity-accounted investees $(6) million;
        5. GAAP diluted EPS is expected to include the adjustments noted above for PPA effects, Share-based Compensation, Restructuring and Other Incidentals in GAAP Operating Income (loss), the adjustment for Other financial expense, the adjustment for results relating to non-foundry equity-accounted investees and the adjustment on Tax due to the earlier mentioned adjustments.

        NXP has based the guidance included in this release on judgments and estimates that management believes are reasonable given its assessment of historical trends and other information reasonably available as of the date of this release. Please note, the guidance included in this release consists of predictions only, and is subject to a wide range of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond NXP’s control. The guidance included in this release should not be regarded as representations by NXP that the estimated results will be achieved. Actual results may vary materially from the guidance we provide today. In relation to the use of non-GAAP financial information see the note regarding “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. For the factors, risks, and uncertainties to which judgments, estimates and forward-looking statements generally are subject see the note regarding “Forward-looking Statements.” We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, including the guidance set forth herein, to reflect future events or circumstances.

        Non-GAAP Financial Measures

        In managing NXP’s business on a consolidated basis, management develops an annual operating plan, which is approved by our Board of Directors, using non-GAAP financial measures, that are not in accordance with, nor an alternative to, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). In measuring performance against this plan, management considers the actual or potential impacts on these non-GAAP financial measures from actions taken to reduce costs with the goal of increasing our gross margin and operating margin and when assessing appropriate levels of research and development efforts. In addition, management relies upon these non-GAAP financial measures when making decisions about product spending, administrative budgets, and other operating expenses. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, when coupled with the GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, provide a more complete understanding of the Company’s results of operations and the factors and trends affecting NXP’s business. We believe that they enable investors to perform additional comparisons of our operating results, to assess our liquidity and capital position and to analyze financial performance excluding the effect of expenses unrelated to core operating performance, certain non-cash expenses and share-based compensation expense, which may obscure trends in NXP’s underlying performance. This information also enables investors to compare financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management.

        These non-GAAP financial measures are provided in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The presentation of these and other similar items in NXP’s non-GAAP financial results should not be interpreted as implying that these items are non-recurring, infrequent, or unusual. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are provided in the financial statements portion of this release in a schedule entitled “Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited).” Please refer to the NXP Historic Financial Model file found on the Financial Information page of the Investor Relations section of our website at https://investors.nxp.com for additional information related to our rationale for using these non-GAAP financial measures, as well as the impact of these measures on the presentation of NXP’s operations.

        In addition to providing financial information on a basis consistent with GAAP, NXP also provides the following selected financial measures on a non-GAAP basis: (i) Gross profit, (ii) Gross margin, (iii) Research and development, (iv) Selling, general and administrative, (v) Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, (vi) Other income, (vii) Operating income (loss), (viii) Operating margin, (ix) Financial Income (expense), (x) Income tax benefit (provision), (xi) Results relating to non-foundry equity-accounted investees, (xii) Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders, (xiii) Earnings per Share – Diluted, (xiv) EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and trailing 12 month adjusted EBITDA, and (xv) free cash flow, trailing 12 month free cash flow and trailing 12 month free cash flow as a percent of Revenue. The non-GAAP information excludes, where applicable, the amortization of acquisition related intangible assets, the purchase accounting effect on inventory and property, plant and equipment, merger related costs (including integration costs), certain items related to divestitures, share-based compensation expense, restructuring and asset impairment charges, extinguishment of debt, foreign exchange gains and losses, income tax effect on adjustments described above and results from non-foundry equity-accounted investments.

        The difference in the benefit (provision) for income taxes between our GAAP and non-GAAP results relates to the income tax effects of the GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments that we make and the income tax effect of any discrete items that occur in the interim period. Discrete items primarily relate to unexpected tax events that may occur as these amounts cannot be forecasted (e.g., the impact of changes in tax law and/or rates, changes in estimates or resolved tax audits relating to prior year tax provisions, the excess or deficit tax effects on share-based compensation, etc.).

        Conference Call and Webcast Information

        The company will host a conference call with the financial community on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) to review the first quarter 2025 results in detail.

        Interested parties may preregister to obtain a user-specific access code for the call here.

        The call will be webcast and can be accessed from the NXP Investor Relations website at www.nxp.com. A replay of the call will be available on the NXP Investor Relations website within 24 hours of the actual call.

        About NXP Semiconductors

        NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ: NXPI) is the trusted partner for innovative solutions in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communications infrastructure markets. NXP’s “Brighter Together” approach combines leading-edge technology with pioneering people to develop system solutions that make the connected world better, safer, and more secure. The company has operations in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of $2.84 billion in 2024. Find out more at www.nxp.com.

        Forward-looking Statements

        This document includes forward-looking statements which include statements regarding NXP’s business strategy, financial condition, results of operations, market data, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different from those projected. These factors, risks and uncertainties include the following: market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; our ability to successfully introduce new technologies and products; the demand for the goods into which NXP’s products are incorporated; trade disputes between the U.S. and China, potential increase of barriers to international trade and resulting disruptions to NXP’s established supply chains; the impact of government actions and regulations, including restrictions on the export of US-regulated products and technology; increasing and evolving cybersecurity threats and privacy risks, including theft of sensitive or confidential data; the ability to generate sufficient cash, raise sufficient capital or refinance corporate debt at or before maturity to meet both NXP’s debt service and research and development and capital investment requirements; our ability to accurately estimate demand and match our production capacity accordingly or obtain supplies from third-party producers to meet demand; our access to production capacity from third-party outsourcing partners, and any events that might affect their business or NXP’s relationship with them; our ability to secure adequate and timely supply of equipment and materials from suppliers; our ability to avoid operational problems and product defects and, if such issues were to arise, to correct them quickly; our ability to form strategic partnerships and joint ventures and to successfully cooperate with our alliance partners; our ability to win competitive bid selection processes; our ability to develop products for use in customers’ equipment and products; the ability to successfully hire and retain key management and senior product engineers; global hostilities, including the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and resulting regional instability, sanctions and any other retaliatory measures taken against Russia and the continued hostilities and the armed conflict in the Middle East, which could adversely impact the global supply chain, disrupt our operations or negatively impact the demand for our products in our primary end markets; the ability to maintain good relationships with NXP’s suppliers; and a change in tax laws could have an effect on our estimated effective tax rate. In addition, this document contains information concerning the semiconductor industry, our end markets and business generally, which is forward-looking in nature and is based on a variety of assumptions regarding the ways in which the semiconductor industry, our end markets and business will develop. NXP has based these assumptions on information currently available, if any one or more of these assumptions turn out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from those predicted. While NXP does not know what impact any such differences may have on its business, if there are such differences, its future results of operations and its financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak to results only as of the date the statements were made. Except for any ongoing obligation to disclose material information as required by the United States federal securities laws, NXP does not have any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this document, whether to reflect any future events or circumstances or otherwise. For a discussion of potential risks and uncertainties, please refer to the risk factors listed in our SEC filings. Copies of our SEC filings are available on our Investor Relations website, www.nxp.com/investor or from the SEC website, www.sec.gov.

        For further information, please contact:

        Investors:
        Jeff Palmer 
        jeff.palmer@nxp.com
        +1 408 205 0687        		 Media:
        Paige Iven
        paige.iven@nxp.com
        +1 817 975 0602
           
        NXP-CORP


        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 1: Condensed consolidated statement of operations (unaudited)

        ($ in millions except share data) Three months ended
          March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
                   
        Revenue $ 2,835     $ 3,111     $ 3,126  
        Cost of revenue   (1,275 )     (1,433 )     (1,343 )
        Gross profit   1,560       1,678       1,783  
        Research and development   (547 )     (612 )     (564 )
        Selling, general and administrative   (281 )     (323 )     (306 )
        Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets   (27 )     (28 )     (51 )
        Total operating expenses   (855 )     (963 )     (921 )
        Other income (expense)   18       (40 )     (6 )
        Operating income (loss)   723       675       856  
        Financial income (expense):          
        Other financial income (expense)   (92 )     (91 )     (70 )
        Income (loss) before income taxes   631       584       786  
        Benefit (provision) for income taxes   (130 )     (77 )     (141 )
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees   (4 )     (2 )     (1 )
        Net income (loss)   497       505       644  
        Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests   7       10       5  
        Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders   490       495       639  
                   
        Earnings per share data:          
        Net income (loss) per common share attributable to stockholders in $
        Basic $ 1.93     $ 1.95     $ 2.49  
        Diluted $ 1.92     $ 1.93     $ 2.47  
                   
        Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period (in thousands):
        Basic   253,709       254,349       256,567  
        Diluted   255,018       256,628       258,954  
                   

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 2: Condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) As of
            March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        ASSETS          
        Current assets:          
          Cash and cash equivalents $         3,988           $         3,292           $         2,908        
          Short-term deposits           —                     —                     400        
          Accounts receivable, net           1,060                     1,032                     881        
          Inventories, net           2,350                     2,356                     2,102        
          Other current assets           627                     625                     603        
        Total current assets           8,025                     7,305                     6,894        
                     
        Non-current assets:          
          Deferred tax assets           1,284                     1,251                     1,048        
          Other non-current assets           1,942                     1,796                     1,290        
          Property, plant and equipment, net           3,210                     3,267                     3,304        
          Identified intangible assets, net           777                     836                     839        
          Goodwill           9,942                     9,930                     9,945        
        Total non-current assets           17,155                     17,080                     16,426        
                     
        Total assets           25,180                     24,385                     23,320        
                     
        LIABILITIES AND EQUITY          
        Current liabilities:          
          Accounts payable           863                     1,017                     954        
          Restructuring liabilities-current           75                     147                     68        
          Other current liabilities           1,412                     1,434                     1,906        
          Short-term debt           1,499                     500                     —        
        Total current liabilities           3,849                     3,098                     2,928        
                     
        Non-current liabilities:          
          Long-term debt           10,226                     10,354                     10,178        
          Restructuring liabilities           4                     10                     9        
          Other non-current liabilities           1,424                     1,392                     1,055        
        Total non-current liabilities           11,654                     11,756                     11,242        
                     
          Non-controlling interests           355                     348                     321        
          Stockholders’ equity           9,322                     9,183                     8,829        
        Total equity           9,677                     9,531                     9,150        
                   
        Total liabilities and equity           25,180                     24,385                     23,320        
                     

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 3: Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows (unaudited)

        ($ in millions) Three months ended
          March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        Cash flows from operating activities:          
        Net income (loss) $ 497     $ 505     $ 644  
        Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities:          
        Depreciation and amortization   209       259       235  
        Share-based compensation   127       117       115  
        Amortization of discount (premium) on debt, net   1       1       1  
        Amortization of debt issuance costs   1       2       2  
        Net (gain) loss on sale of assets   (22 )     (1 )     (2 )
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees   4       2       1  
        (Gain) loss on equity securities, net   6       6       2  
        Deferred tax expense (benefit)   (27 )     (145 )     (64 )
        Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
        (Increase) decrease in receivables and other current assets   (29 )     (25 )     (25 )
        (Increase) decrease in inventories   6       (122 )     32  
        Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other liabilities   (110 )     16       (102 )
        (Increase) decrease in other non-current assets   (106 )     (218 )     6  
        Exchange differences   4       (1 )     3  
        Other items   4       (5 )     3  
        Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities   565       391       851  
                   
        Cash flows from investing activities:          
        Purchase of identified intangible assets   (25 )     (36 )     (32 )
        Capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment   (139 )     (130 )     (226 )
        Insurance recoveries received for equipment damage   —       —       2  
        Proceeds from the disposals of property, plant and equipment   1       1       2  
        Advance payment from sale of property, plant and equipment   —       30       —  
        Proceeds of short-term deposits   —       400       9  
        Purchase of investments   (53 )     (67 )     (34 )
        Proceeds from the sale of investments   —       —       5  
        Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities   (216 )     198       (274 )
                   
        Cash flows from financing activities:          
        Repurchase of long-term debt   —       —       (1,000 )
        Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   370       670       —  
        Cash paid for debt issuance costs   —       (1 )     —  
        Proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper notes   646       —       —  
        Repayment of commercial paper notes   (146 )     —       —  
        Dividends paid to common stockholders   (258 )     (258 )     (261 )
        Proceeds from issuance of common stock through stock plans   37       3       37  
        Purchase of treasury shares and restricted stock unit withholdings   (303 )     (455 )     (303 )
        Other, net   (1 )     —       (1 )
        Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities   345       (41 )     (1,528 )
                   
        Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash positions   2       (4 )     (3 )
        Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   696       544       (954 )
        Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   3,292       2,748       3,862  
        Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   3,988       3,292       2,908  
                   
        Net cash paid during the period for:          
        Interest   41       92       38  
        Income taxes, net of refunds   96       280       198  
        Net gain (loss) on sale of assets:          
        Cash proceeds from the sale of assets   31       1       2  
        Book value of these assets   (9 )     —       —  
        Non-cash investing activities:          
        Non-cash capital expenditures   108       161       223  
                   

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 4: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results (unaudited)

        ($ in millions except share data) Three months ended
          March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,560     $ 1,678     $ 1,783  
        PPA Effects   (8 )     (11 )     (12 )
        Restructuring   (4 )     (21 )     (3 )
        Share-based compensation   (16 )     (15 )     (15 )
        Other incidentals   (3 )     (64 )     (5 )
        Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 1,591     $ 1,789     $ 1,818  
        GAAP Gross margin   55.0 %     53.9 %     57.0 %
        Non-GAAP Gross margin   56.1 %     57.5 %     58.2 %
        GAAP Research and development $ (547 )   $ (612 )   $ (564 )
        Restructuring   (7 )     (50 )     (3 )
        Share-based compensation   (64 )     (60 )     (58 )
        Other incidentals   (1 )     (5 )     (1 )
        Non-GAAP Research and development $ (475 )   $ (497 )   $ (502 )
        GAAP Selling, general and administrative $ (281 )   $ (323 )   $ (306 )
        Restructuring   (3 )     (41 )     (1 )
        Share-based compensation   (47 )     (42 )     (42 )
        Other incidentals   (20 )     (12 )     (29 )
        Non-GAAP Selling, general and administrative $ (211 )   $ (228 )   $ (234 )
        GAAP Operating income (loss) $ 723     $ 675     $ 856  
        PPA effects   (40 )     (39 )     (63 )
        Restructuring   (14 )     (112 )     (7 )
        Share-based compensation   (127 )     (117 )     (115 )
        Other incidentals   —       (122 )     (39 )
        Non-GAAP Operating income (loss) $ 904     $ 1,065     $ 1,080  
        GAAP Operating margin   25.5 %     21.7 %     27.4 %
        Non-GAAP Operating margin   31.9 %     34.2 %     34.5 %
        GAAP Income tax benefit (provision) $ (130 )   $ (77 )   $ (141 )
        Income tax effect   13       87       30  
        Non-GAAP Income tax benefit (provision) $ (143 )   $ (164 )   $ (171 )
        GAAP Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ 490     $ 495     $ 639  
        PPA Effects   (40 )     (39 )     (63 )
        Restructuring   (14 )     (112 )     (7 )
        Share-based compensation   (127 )     (117 )     (115 )
        Other incidentals   —       (122 )     (39 )
        Other adjustments:          
        Adjustments to financial income (expense)   (12 )     (17 )     (6 )
        Income tax effect   13       87       30  
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   (3 )     (2 )     (1 )
        Non-GAAP Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders $ 673     $ 817     $ 840  
                   
                   
        Additional Information:          
        1. Refer to Table 7 below for further information regarding the results relating to equity-accounted investees.
                   
        GAAP net income (loss) per common share attributable to stockholders – diluted $ 1.92     $ 1.93     $ 2.47  
        PPA Effects   (0.16 )     (0.15 )     (0.24 )
        Restructuring   (0.05 )     (0.44 )     (0.03 )
        Share-based compensation   (0.50 )     (0.46 )     (0.44 )
        Other incidentals   —       (0.47 )     (0.15 )
        Other adjustments:          
        Adjustments to financial income (expense)   (0.05 )     (0.07 )     (0.02 )
        Income tax effect   0.05       0.34       0.11  
        Results relating to equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   (0.01 )     —       —  
        Non-GAAP net income (loss) per common share attributable to stockholders – diluted $ 2.64     $ 3.18     $ 3.24  
                   
                   
        Additional Information:          
        1. Refer to Table 7 below for further information regarding the results relating to equity-accounted investees.

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 5: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial income (expense) (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) Three months ended
            March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        GAAP Financial income (expense) $ (92 )   $ (91 )   $ (70 )
          Foreign exchange loss   (3 )     3       (1 )
          Other financial expense   (9 )     (20 )     (5 )
        Non-GAAP Financial income (expense) $ (80 )   $ (74 )   $ (64 )
                     

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 6: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Other income (expense) (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) Three months ended
            March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        GAAP Other income (expense) $ 18     $ (40 )   $ (6 )
          PPA effects   (5 )     —       —  
          Other incidentals   24       (41 )     (4 )
        Non-GAAP Other income (expense) $ (1 )   $ 1     $ (2 )
                   

        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 7: Financial Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees (unaudited)

          ($ in millions) Three months ended
            March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees $ (4 )   $ (2 )   $ (1 )
          Results of equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   (3 )     (2 )     (1 )
        Non-GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees $ (1 )   $ —     $ —  
                   
        Additional Information:
        1. We adjust our results relating to equity-accounted investees for those results from investments over which NXP has significant influence, but not control, and whose business activities are not related to the core operating performance of NXP. Our equity-investments in foundry partners are part of our long-term core operating performance and accordingly those results comprise the Non-GAAP Results relating to equity-accounted investees.


        NXP Semiconductors
        Table 8: Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow (unaudited)

        ($ in millions) Three months ended
          March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        GAAP Net income (loss) $ 497     $ 505     $ 644  
        Reconciling items to EBITDA (Non-GAAP)          
        Financial (income) expense   92       91       70  
        (Benefit) provision for income taxes   130       77       141  
        Depreciation and impairment   143       190       145  
        Amortization   66       69       90  
        EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 928     $ 932     $ 1,090  
        Reconciling items to adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)          
        Results of equity-accounted investees, excluding Foundry investees1   3       2       1  
        Purchase accounting effect on asset sale   5       —       —  
        Restructuring   14       112       7  
        Share-based compensation   127       117       115  
        Other incidental items2   (4 )     77       39  
        Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 1,073     $ 1,240     $ 1,252  
        Trailing twelve month adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 4,885     $ 5,064     $ 5,395  
                   
        Additional Information:          
        1. Refer to Table 7 above for further information regarding the results relating to equity-accounted investees.
        2. Excluding from total other incidental items, charges included in depreciation, amortization or impairment reconciling items:
        – other incidental items   4       45       —  
                   
                   
                   
        ($ in millions) Three months ended
          March 30,
        2025        		   December 31,
        2024        		   March 31,
        2024
        Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities $ 565     $ 391     $ 851  
        Net capital expenditures on property, plant and equipment   (138 )     (99 )     (224 )
        Non-GAAP free cash flow $ 427     $ 292     $ 627  
        Trailing twelve month non-GAAP free cash flow $ 1,889     $ 2,089     $ 2,933  
        Trailing twelve month non-GAAP free cash flow as percent of Revenue   15 %     17 %     22 %
                   

      The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Kiribati

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Kiribati

    UK Statement on Kiribati, delivered at Kiribati’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Thank you, Mr President,

    The United Kingdom warmly welcomes the delegation. We recognise the Government of Kiribati’s positive engagement with this process and progress made since the last Universal Periodic Review. The United Kingdom commends ambitious reforms to social protection systems, including support provided to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. 

    We urge the Government to enhance efforts to address the high levels of gender-based violence, advance work to end discrimination, and guarantee the protection of all individuals.

    We recommend that Kiribati:

    1. Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

    2. Ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

    3. Renew efforts to enshrine protection from discrimination on the basis of gender, gender identity and expression and sexual orientation; and to decriminalise consensual sexual relations between adults of the same sex within the Constitution.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: How ICE is becoming a secret police force under the Trump administration

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lee Morgenbesser, Associate Professor, School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University

    Secret police are a quintessential feature of authoritarian regimes. From Azerbaijan’s State Security Service to Zimbabwe’s Central Intelligence Organisation, these agencies typically target political opponents and dissidents through covert surveillance, imprisonment and physical violence.

    In contrast to the regular police and armed forces, secret police primarily use preemptive repression to thwart threats to the government.

    In Nazi Germany, for example, Gestapo informants penetrated all levels of society, producing an atmosphere of distrust among those against Adolf Hitler. In Uganda, Idi Amin’s State Research Bureau employed sophisticated spying equipment and intercepted mail at the post office to root out supposed saboteurs.

    In Syria, Bashar al-Assad relied on the General Intelligence Directorate to oversee a network of torture centres. And in Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro has used the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) to spy on opponents overseas, often running operations out of diplomatic missions.

    Since US President Donald Trump took power in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has become a far more visible and fearsome force on American streets.

    Though ICE is ostensibly still bound by constitutional limits, the way it has been operating bears the hallmarks of a secret police force in the making.

    As an expert on authoritarian regimes, I’ve studied historical and contemporary secret police forces extensively across Africa, Asia and Europe. They typically meet five criteria:

    • they’re a police force targeting political opponents and dissidents

    • they’re not controlled by other security agencies and answer directly to the dictator

    • the identity of their members and their operations are secret

    • they specialise in political intelligence and surveillance operations

    • they carry out arbitrary searches, arrests, interrogations, indefinite detentions, disappearances and torture.

    How close is ICE to becoming a secret police force? Let’s consider each of these criteria.

    Targeting dissidents

    ICE has used the pretext of combating antisemitism to target dissidents. A branch of the agency previously used to target drug smugglers and human traffickers has reportedly been directed to scan social media for posts sympathetic to Hamas.

    On March 8, ICE arrested the prominent pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a legal resident. It was a similar story for Rumeysa Ozturk, a university student grabbed off the street on March 25 by ICE agents.

    Trump has cited the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 as the legal pretext for ICE’s actions in these cases and others. The law allows the US government to deport anyone whose presence has “adverse foreign policy consequences” for the country.

    Because Khalil and others are being targeted for their activism, legal scholars say the government appears to be “retaliating” against constitutionally protected free speech it disagrees with.

    Directly controlled by a dictator

    While ICE does not report directly to Trump, the agency is controlled by people who have shown intense loyalty to him.

    ICE is part of the Department of Homeland Security, which is overseen by stalwart Trump ally Kristi Noem. She is supported by Tom Homan, a former ICE director who Trump appointed as his “border czar” in November 2024.

    Despite a court order barring the deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members to a prison in El Salvador, Homan has remained defiant:

    We are not stopping. I don’t care what the judges think.

    The pertinent question now is whether Noem or Homan would refuse to follow a dictate from Trump in the face of a direct court order.

    Opaque operations

    ICE agents are increasingly operating in secret. The individuals who took Ozturk off the street in a widely shared video claimed to be police officers, even though they were in plain clothes and face marks.

    Similarly, ICE agents in plain clothes detained two men during a raid on a courthouse in Charlottesville, Virginia, on April 22. When two bystanders asked to see a warrant, they were ordered not to “impede” the agents’ lawful duties. ICE later said the two women would be prosecuted.

    Also last week, ICE agents attempted to arrest a man at a Wisconsin courthouse without a warrant. After a judge intervened, she was arrested herself by the FBI and charged with two felonies.

    This shroud of opacity has been accompanied by an end to local agency liaison meetings aimed at helping people seek answers to ICE’s actions.

    Surveillance capabilities

    ICE is organised into two distinct law enforcement components, giving it both political intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities.

    Its Homeland Security Investigations arm includes an intelligence division, while its Enforcement and Removal Operations arm uses third-party companies such as Geo Group, Giant Oak, and Palantir to conduct mass surveillance.

    Most worryingly, ICE is trying to procure greater intelligence and surveillance capabilities by soliciting pitches from private companies to monitor threats across the internet.

    According to a procurement document, contractors would be directed to focus on the backgrounds of social media users and use facial recognition capabilities to gather information on people. Criticisms of ICE itself would be monitored, too.

    Unlawful policing

    There has been a stream of reports exposing how ICE is conducting arbitrary searches, arrests, interrogations, and indefinite detentions.

    Some of the most egregious reported examples include:

    Since Trump’s inauguration, at least three people have died in ICE detention facilities, the latest in a string of fatalities in recent years.

    Prolonged solitary confinement is reportedly widespread. UN experts say this can amount to torture.

    Potentially expanded scope

    Overall, the evidence shows ICE meets most of the criteria for being a secret police force. It has yet to target political opponents, which I define narrowly as members of the Democratic Party. And it is not directly controlled by Trump, although the current structure provides him with plausible deniability.

    While the agency is far from resembling history’s most feared secret police forces, there have so far been few constraints on how it operates.

    The worst may be yet to come. A budget bill making its way through Congress would provide ICE with up to US$175 billion (A$274 billion) in funding over the next decade. (Its current annual budget is US$9 billion, or A$14 billion.) This would supercharge its use of surveillance, imprisonment and physical violence.

    When combined with a potential shift towards targeting US citizens for dissent and disobedience, ICE is fast becoming a key piece in the repressive apparatus of American authoritarianism.

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

    – ref. How ICE is becoming a secret police force under the Trump administration – https://theconversation.com/how-ice-is-becoming-a-secret-police-force-under-the-trump-administration-255019

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for International Fraud Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims

    Source: US State of California

    A Nigerian national was sentenced on Friday to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme.

    According to court documents, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Ogbata and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Ogbata and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Ogbata admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

    “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case.”

    “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”

    “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has a long history of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Steven Hodges of the USPIS Miami Division. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI and USPIS to protect our citizens from these scams.”

    “It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime working and building a life, and then are duped out of it all,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate this kind of behavior – we will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people.”

    Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. USPIS and HSI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/  or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for International Fraud Scheme that Defrauded Elderly U.S. Victims

    Source: United States Attorneys General 6

    A Nigerian national was sentenced on Friday to 97 months in prison for his role in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme.

    According to court documents, Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, 36, was a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States over the course of several years. The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before. Ogbata and his co-conspirators told a series of lies to victims, including that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for delivery fees, taxes, and other payments to avoid questioning from government authorities. Ogbata and his co-conspirators collected money victims sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive money and forward to the defendants or persons associated with them. Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds. In pleading guilty, Ogbata admitted to defrauding over $6 million from more than 400 victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable.

    “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will continue to pursue, prosecute, and bring to justice transnational criminals responsible for defrauding U.S. consumers, wherever they are located,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This case is a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime. I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case.”

    “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.”

    “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) has a long history of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice,” said Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Steven Hodges of the USPIS Miami Division. “Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI and USPIS to protect our citizens from these scams.”

    “It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime working and building a life, and then are duped out of it all,” said Special Agent in Charge Fransisco B. Burrola of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate this kind of behavior – we will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people.”

    Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorneys Josh Rothman and Brianna Gardner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case. USPIS and HSI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Europol, and authorities from the UK, Spain, and Portugal all provided critical assistance.

    If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

    More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/  or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Juggling dynamite? At 100 days in office, Donald Trump is no Franklin D. Roosevelt

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ronald W. Pruessen, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Toronto

    Watching United States President Donald Trump weave and chainsaw his way through the first 100 days of his second term in office, I’ve been reminded of what Anthony Eden, the United Kingdom’s foreign secretary in the 1930s and later its prime minister, once said about Franklin D. Roosevelt.

    FDR, Eden recalled in his memoirs, was “too like a conjurer, skilfully juggling balls of dynamite, whose nature he failed to understand.”

    The image fits the 47th president much better than the 32nd.

    The dynamite-wielding Trump

    Dynamite has certainly been exploding regularly since Trump took office in January. His actions include:



    Read more:
    How Project 2025 became the blueprint for Donald Trump’s second term

    For non-MAGA enthusiasts, it is easy to surmise — similar to Eden’s remarks on FDR — that Trump does not understand the potential damage of the dynamite he is not just juggling, but hurling.

    A case might be made that some lobs align with Trump’s personal penchant for retribution, or that the chainsaw is being wielded to make room in the federal budget for new tax cuts for the one per cent.

    But such calculations disregard deeply rooted American values like respect for the rule of law and the separation of powers.

    Trump’s actions could suggest a lust for mayhem apparently aimed at dismantling a century of efforts to shape a government that serves global security while also meeting the economic, social and health care needs of American citizens, including safety net provisions for senior citizens, children, farmers, veterans and others.

    Threats today, damage tomorrow

    His apparent fondness for dynamite is already having negative consequences, with seemingly little grasp of the likelihood of worse to come: today, he’s upending the lives of civil servants; tomorrow’s disruptions will likely include an attack on the services provided by agencies like the Social Security Administration and disruption of the flow of funds to many poor school districts.

    Today, the U.S. is struggling with a measles outbreak. But the personal beliefs of Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a notorious vaccination and public health skeptic, doesn’t bode well for a fight against a rapidly evolving avian flu threat on the near horizon.

    Today’s stock and bond market volatility creates the possibility of a trade war catastrophe and damage to economic stability as the U.S. appears poised to disregard its longtime status as the world economy’s “safe haven.”

    The current tensions in what were once ironclad partnerships with allies that include Canada, the European Union and Ukraine — along with the whiplash reversal of American-Russian dynamics — are reminiscent of the global disruption in the 1930s that featured the Great Depression and the eruption of the Second World War.

    How FDR coped with explosions around him

    If Eden’s image of FDR as a dangerous juggler of dynamite might also apply to Trump, it fails to capture the essential attributes of the 32nd president’s White House career. Eden’s ego seems to have undercut his appraisal of FDR — compounded by his own failure to understand the historical developments that profoundly weakened the British Empire and brought his own career to an end.

    There’s no question dynamite was exploding in 1933, the start of FDR’s 12 years in the White House. But the Depression and its evolving consequences, not FDR’s personal impulses and misconceptions, created a tinderbox decade.

    One of Roosevelt’s great strengths, in fact, was his ability to recognize the acute dangers emanating from a fearful cortege of flaming fuses. Another was his success in turning insights into meaningful actions.

    Roosevelt knew — far better than his predecessor, Herbert Hoover — that the onset of the Depression would require dramatic actions and fundamental reforms.

    His New Deal expanded the government’s role in stimulating the economy (for example, the Public Works Administration), regulation (the Securities Exchange Commission), social welfare initiatives (the Social Security program) and infrastructure development (for example, the Tennessee Valley Authority).

    The Depression wasn’t fully eradicated — that didn’t happen until after war broke out — but the lives of millions of Americans still improved significantly.

    Of equal importance, FDR’s creative thinking and government transformations created building blocks for further post-war reforms, including Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society efforts three decades later.



    Read more:
    The Great Society: the forgotten reform movement

    Roosevelt also knew that the devastation of the Depression and the unparalleled destruction of the Second World War required a transformation of the global arena. He believed technology — air power especially — had created an integrated world. In his January 1943 State of the Union address, he said:

    “Wars grow in size, in death and destruction, and in the inevitability of engulfing all nations, in inverse ratio to the shrinking size of the world as a result of the conquest of the air.”

    Sharing responsibilities

    FDR believed the world he worked to create would be safer and more prosperous because multilateral organizations would encourage greater emphasis on shared resources and responsibilities. The United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank took shape during FDR’s presidency — as did long-term plans for decolonization and human rights initiatives.

    Roosevelt knew too — better than many of his White House successors — that the U.S. needed to share leadership responsibilities. He believed emphatically in multilateralism, recognizing the limits of American resources and power, and the pragmatism of compromising with the priorities of others, whether they were powerful states or colonial peoples.

    His “Four Policemen” approach to maintaining peace — comprising the U.S., the U.K., the Soviet Union and China — would sometimes create unpalatable situations. He was criticized harshly, for example, for naively opening the door to Soviet domination of eastern Europe via the Yalta agreement. Nonetheless, FDR focused on efforts he believed would avert another destructive cataclysm.

    FDR was an imperfect leader in various ways — in not appreciating, for example, how global leadership could result in arrogance. He did, however, understand the explosive domestic and international developments of the 20th century and sought constructive solutions to grave challenges.

    Trump, on the contrary, is seemingly prioritizing destruction over construction. Propelled by a “move fast and break things” mantra, there’s little evidence that he understands its pain nor the damaging consequences of his impulses.

    Ronald W. Pruessen has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Juggling dynamite? At 100 days in office, Donald Trump is no Franklin D. Roosevelt – https://theconversation.com/juggling-dynamite-at-100-days-in-office-donald-trump-is-no-franklin-d-roosevelt-254773

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister writes to organisers of the Glastonbury Festival to ask them to drop Kneecap

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Jim Allister had today written the following letter to the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival:

    Dear Sir / Madam,

    Re: Booking of ‘Kneecap’ for Glastonbury Festival

    I write as a Member of Parliament for North Antrim and leader of TUV to express deep concern over the decision to host the group “Kneecap” at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.

    Kneecap is a group that derives its name from one of the most vicious forms of paramilitary violence used in Northern Ireland — the so-called “kneecapping” of innocent civilians. Their choice of name alone is an affront to the countless victims maimed by terrorist brutality.

    However, the concerns go deeper. Kneecap has repeatedly glorified the actions of the Provisional IRA and promoted a narrative that seeks to romanticise a terrorist campaign which caused immense suffering across our United Kingdom.

    More recently, this group has been embroiled in fresh controversy — publicly advocating that people should “kill your local Tory MP,” an utterly abhorrent incitement to political violence.

    Furthermore, Kneecap has made inflammatory and deeply offensive comments about Israel, during a time when antisemitism and violent rhetoric against the Jewish community are a growing and serious concern.

    That Glastonbury would offer a platform to a group which glorifies terrorism, advocates the murder of elected representatives, and engages in inflammatory rhetoric against the State of Israel is nothing short of a disgrace. It stands wholly at odds with the values of tolerance, peace, and inclusivity which your Festival claims to promote.

    It is wholly unacceptable for a mainstream, UK-wide cultural event to be seen to endorse — even by implication — messages of political violence and terror glorification.

    Accordingly, I call upon you to immediately rescind the invitation to Kneecap to perform at this year’s Festival.

    To allow them to proceed would seriously damage the reputation of Glastonbury Festival and cast doubt on its commitment to basic democratic and moral principles.

    I trust you will give this matter urgent and serious consideration.

    Yours sincerely,
    Jim Allister KC MP

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Non-Proliferation, Financing for Development & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Financing for Development
    Deputy Secretary-General
    Victims of Terrorism Associations’ Network
    Trust Fund in Support of Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
    International Court of Justice
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Lebanon/Israel
    Yemen
    Sudan
    Afghanistan
    Myanmar
    Security Council
    International Day
    Resident Coordinator – Samoa
    Financial Contribution
    Briefings Today

    FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
    This morning, the Secretary-General, as you heard, spoke at the Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development.
    He said that, as we prepare for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla in July, we are facing some harsh truths: donors are pulling the plug on aid commitments, the Sustainable Development Goals are dramatically off track and high borrowing costs are draining away public investments.
    But, the more dangerous truth is that collaboration is being questioned with the ongoing trade wars. The Secretary-General said trade is a prime example of the benefits of international cooperation, and trade barriers are a clear and present danger to the global economy and sustainable development.
    These are tough times, he said, but it is in difficult periods that the imperative for responsible, sustainable investment is even more critical.

    DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
    The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed is in Montevideo, Uruguay. Today, she met with the President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi, to discuss the country’s development priorities and their alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.
    Later today, she will meet with several Government Ministers to discuss the partnership between the United Nations and Uruguay. She is also meeting youth groups, civil society, and of course the country team of the United Nations.
    And over the weekend, she chaired the annual regional retreat with UN Resident Coordinators from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
    Ms. Mohammed will leave Uruguay later today and will be back here tomorrow evening.

    VICTIMS OF TERRORISM ASSOCIATIONS’ NETWORK
    This morning, our friends at the Office of Counter-Terrorism launched the Victims of Terrorism Associations’ Network. This is an initiative that brings together victims of terrorism and victims’ associations from across the globe to drive collective action to support victims’ rights and needs.
    The network aims to provide a safe space for victims and survivors of terrorism to support each other, build resilience and engage as advocates, as educators, and as peacebuilders.
    The development of the network was supported by a financial contribution from Spain.
    The network was launched during an event this morning – and it is already available on UN Webtv. More information on the website of the office of Counter-terrorism.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=28%20April%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMJiomcK2rY

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Observers in the European Parliament – 28-04-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Accession to the European Union is a long process, requiring not only legislative, administrative and economic adaptation to EU standards, but also a degree of adaptation to the working methods of the EU institutions. One of these new working methods candidate countries must navigate is how the European Parliament organises its activities, how members interact, and how to build alliances and dialogue among the various political families represented in Parliament. Parliament’s rules of procedure allow parliamentary representatives of candidate countries to experience all these aspects in person, in advance of accession. Once the accession procedure is nearing conclusion, i.e. once an accession treaty is signed, the parliament of the acceding country may be invited to appoint, from among its members, persons who will be granted observer status to the European Parliament. As they are not yet elected in European elections, these observers remain members of the acceding country’s parliament, but have the opportunity to participate, with some limitations, in parliamentary activities. For example, they cannot vote or fill any elected position within Parliament’s organisation. However, they can participate in the activities of the parliamentary group to which they are affiliated, and attend plenary sittings and committee meetings. Observers were appointed in the last three EU enlargements, and remained in office either until ad hoc European Elections were organised for the acceding country, i.e. outside the official electoral cycle (Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria), or until the end of the parliamentary term (2004 enlargement). The possibility for Ukraine to have observer members in the European Parliament, under the current rules, depends upon the progress on accession negotiations, which officially only opened in December 2023. Nevertheless, cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, and the European Parliament already takes place in other forms.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Fisheries – a priority at the EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025 – P-001609/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001609/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Wouter Beke (PPE)

    Fisheries is a fundamental theme of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The agreement establishes a detailed framework for reciprocal access to maritime resources. There is a transitional period from 2021 to 2026, during which both parties have full access to each other’s exclusive economic zone and, for specific fish stocks, partial access to the six to twelve nautical miles zone. As part of Brexit arrangements, the EU had to accept a transfer of 25% of EU quotas for that period. As from 2026, access to UK waters is to be determined through annual negotiations on a renewed level and under new conditions. This is creating considerable uncertainty for the fishing industry in Belgium, among other countries, which is highly dependent on access to UK waters – over 50% for all fish species and up to 70% for sole, which, last year, accounted for 44% of value creation by the fleet.

    Does the Commission regard fisheries as a priority on the negotiating agenda for the EU-UK summit on 19 May 2025?

    Submitted: 23.4.2025

    Last updated: 28 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Socio-economic and environmental impacts of Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on the European leather supply chain – E-001517/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001517/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Salvatore De Meo (PPE), Letizia Moratti (PPE), Massimiliano Salini (PPE), Flavio Tosi (PPE), Christine Schneider (PPE), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Francesco Torselli (ECR), Sebastian Tynkkynen (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Tomáš Kubín (PfE), Petr Bystron (ESN), Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă (NI)

    Considering that:

    • Regulation (EU) 2023/1115[1] on deforestation-free products (the EU Deforestation Regulation – EUDR) also requires tanneries to trace skins from the birth of the animal in order to demonstrate the absence of links with deforestation;

    • Skin is a by-product (Regulation (EC) 1069/2009[2]), waste that occurs from the slaughtering of cattle, representing only 1-2 % of the animal, and does not affect livestock breeding dynamics or deforestation phenomena;

    • Tanneries recover this waste, and that limiting such activity as a consequence of the EUDR’s application would have negative environmental effects, as the skins would have to be disposed of as waste and replaced with more polluting synthetic materials;

    • Under the rules of the EUDR, European tanneries, importing from 177 countries worldwide, will face the objectively impossible task of retrieving traceability data, thereby jeopardising their competitiveness and favouring non-EU producers, such as those in China, who are not subject to equivalent constraints;

    • The EUDR does not cover finished leather products (e.g., shoes), allowing for the entry into the EU of items tanned elsewhere, and thereby distorting competition.

    We ask the Commission:

    • 1.When will the impact assessment, pursuant to Article 34(3) of the EUDR, be available, and does the Commission intend to exclude leather from Annex I?
    • 2.Does the Commission nevertheless plan to simplify the EUDR?

    Supporter[3]

    Submitted: 11.4.2025

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 (OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1115/oj).
    • [2] Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation) (OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1069/oj).
    • [3] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Fernand Kartheiser (ECR)

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – EU dependence on critical raw materials and impact on European industry – E-000995/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Critical Raw Materials Act[1], which entered into force in May 2024, is the main framework to stimulate extraction, processing and recycling of critical raw materials in the EU. It allows the Commission to identify and support strategic projects linked to extraction, processing and recycling of strategic raw materials. Such projects will help develop European value chains and reduce EU dependencies. The Commission adopted a first Decision listing 47 strategic projects in the EU on 25 March 2025[2].

    2. Among the selected strategic projects, three are in Romania and concern the extraction of copper, graphite and magnesium. These strategic projects will benefit from a pre-set permitting timeline of 27 months maximum as well as coordinated support for access to finance and to industrial off takers.

    3. The Critical Raw Materials Act is the main framework to create an integrated European supply chains industry. It is complemented by other initiatives, such as the Net Zero Industry Act[3], the Chips Act[4] and the Automotive Action Plan[5] for other segments of the value chain. These initiatives contribute to the strengthening of European supply chains, the reduction of strategic dependencies and the promotion of EU industrial competitiveness.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (Text with EEA relevance).
    • [2] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials/strategic-projects-under-crma/selected-projects_en
    • [3] Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 (Text with EEA relevance).
    • [4] Regulation (EU) 2023/1781 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/694 (Chips Act) (Text with EEA relevance).
    • [5] Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0095
    Last updated: 28 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Pressure to release a Russian spy and the Commission’s rule of law report – E-001534/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001534/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mariusz Kamiński (ECR)

    The Commission’s rule of law report criticised the conservative Polish government for arresting dangerous Russian spy Pavel Rubtsov[1], which raises serious questions. Poland was clearly being pressured to release a Russian spy. In addition, this was an attack on the EU’s most anti-Putin government, which has been exceptionally active in supporting Ukraine in the war with Russia. Despite spending millions of euros on fact-checking and fighting disinformation, the Commission made no effort to verify the circumstances around Rubtsov’s arrest but simply, and disgracefully, played into Russia’s hands.

    The Commission handled the situation disgracefully, avoiding any responsibility and pinning the blame entirely on the Council of Europe’s platform[2]. However, following the spy exchange and the public welcome from Putin that backed up the Polish government’s position, the Council of Europe updated the information on the platform on 16 October. Other organisations also withdrew their false accusations[3]. By not withdrawing its disgraceful claims, the Commission is alone in stubbornly sticking to and promoting the lie. Commissioner McGrath’s stance was also significant – during an EUDS committee meeting he did not respond to questions on the matter.

    • 1.The Commission’s false accusations serve the interests of the Russian special services. It is the Commission’s responsibility to determine whether the accusations originated from them. Does the Commission intend to conduct an investigation and disclose who backed up these disgraceful claims?
    • 2.Does the Commission recognise that defending Rubtsov and attacking the Law and Justice government served the interests of the Russian special forces?
    • 3.Will the Commission continue to be the only institution compromising itself in this fashion, or will it apologise and update its 2023 report?

    Submitted: 15.4.2025

    • [1] The 2023 rule of law report criticised the Polish government for arresting Spanish left-wing journalist Pablo González. The case was supposed to be evidence of rule of law violations in Poland and restrictions on freedom of speech. However, Pablo González was actually Pavel Rubtsov, a dangerous Russian spy. In August 2024, Rubtsov was handed over to the Russians as part of a high-profile spy swap and was greeted by Putin at the airport.
    • [2] In response to a question I submitted, the Commission stated that it had supported Rubtsov based on information from the Council of Europe platform.
    • [3] Alert 87/2022 was deactivated and its content was updated. In addition, the Council of Europe stated that ‘the partner organisations decided to deactivate this alert on the Platform, concluding that the charges against Pablo González (Pavel Rubtsov), which led to his arrest in Poland, were not related to his journalistic activities.’ httpsfom.coe.int/en/alerte/detail/107637244.
    Last updated: 28 April 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Support for farmers affected by low temperatures in March 2025 – E-001579/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001579/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Daniel Buda (PPE)

    In March 2025, Romania was hit by late frosts and sub-zero temperatures after many farmers had already sown their spring crops. These adverse weather conditions caused significant losses, severely affecting agricultural production and farmers’ incomes.

    Late spring frosts also constitute a major threat to fruit growing, especially during the flowering season, when fruit trees are extremely vulnerable. Sub-zero temperatures at this critical stage of development are liable to seriously compromise this year’s production.

    • 1.Given that in February 2025 the Commission allocated EUR 98,6 million from the agricultural reserve to support farmers in certain Member States affected by natural disasters and extreme weather events, would it not consider it appropriate to extend these measures to Romanian farmers affected by the frosts in March 2025?
    • 2.What concrete measures is the Commission considering to financially support farmers in Romania affected by these exceptional climatic conditions?

    Submitted: 18.4.2025

    Last updated: 28 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Caithness Committee adopts Caithness Area Place Plan

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    At a meeting of the Caithness Committee held earlier today (Monday 28 April) members agreed to adopt the Caithness Area Place Plan. They also agreed to fully support and promote the plan where possible, giving it consideration within other plans, strategies, development and funding opportunities across or impacting the Caithness area.

    The Caithness Area Place Plan (APP) is ambitious but realistic, covering the aspirations within communities and focusing on outcomes for the whole area. It will help inform local and regional decision making about public services, budgeting and policy areas, as well as informing those wider statutory plans. It recognises the good work already taking place in Caithness and supports community action to make the most of opportunities.

    Chair of the Committee, Councillor Jarvie said: “The Caithness APP is about communities, and their views, opinions and ideas are at the core of this plan. As well as in partnership with communities, the Caithness APP has been developed in partnership with various services, organisations.

    “The depth of the data at a community level we have captured is a fantastic starting point. It is a resource for everyone, from small groups to large organisations to show levels of need and demands. However as Local Councillors, the next steps we take of how to put this into action, and make this plan a real plan that makes a difference on the ground, is the ultimate test.”

    The aspirations have been categorised under the headings of People, Place and Prosperity.

    The Committee have agreed the next steps for progressing the work set out in the plan.

    Councillor Jarvie added: “I’d like to thank all the individuals, stakeholders and local community groups for coming along to the sessions we held and playing a proactive role. Their input into the process has been invaluable. I’d like to especially thank all the young people who provided feedback as it was important their voices were heard as part of the preparation work.

    “Through our discussions, it became clear that many community priorities and aspirations reflect those which have been voiced for some time, but also that new upcoming ideas and opportunities were being identified.

    “Going forward our APP will help us and our communities secure funding for Caithness by evidencing the impact of every pound spent here. The associated actions will provide clarity and manage expectations around how and where resources are prioritised. It will also provide a stronger framework for communities to prepare more local plans, should they wish to, empowering them to drive and deliver change in our towns, villages, communities and settlements.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Area Committee members note the approval of Ward Discretionary projects

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Members of the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Area Committee today (28 April 2025) noted the range of projects which had been supported with more than £7,000 worth of Ward Discretionary Fund budget since the beginning of the year.

    Cllr Biz Campbell, Chair of the Committee, commented: “It is encouraging to see how our local Ward Budget can support such a range of projects, helping communities to support and deliver on local priorities.  As Ward Councillors, we are able to utilise our local knowledge and work with local organisations to make positive improvements to our communities.”

    The approved applications were:

    – Remembrance Day – wreaths – £204.60 
    – Wester Loch Ewe Trust – Cataloguing of Historical Artefacts – £900.00 
    – Community Out West Trust – Community Toilets Refurbishment – £1,250.00 
    – Torridon District Community Association – Community Centre Gutter Repairs – £630.00 
    – Torridon – Community Development Officer Bridging Funding – £1,000.00 
    – Southwest Ross Drama – One Act Play Festival – £500.00 
    – Stromeferry & Achmore Community Council – Manual grit spreader to aid Winter Resilience – £353.99 
    – Welcome Ullapool – Replace public benches and picnic tables – £2,386.16

    All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.

    28 Apr 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint Chairs appointed for Caithness Committee

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    First thing on the agenda at today’s Caithness Committee was to elect a new Chair to take over from Cllr Ron Gunn who has held the role since July 2022. The committee have taken the decision to have a joint chair arrangement between Councillor Andrew Jarvie and Councillor Karl Rosie. 

    The duty of chairing the regular Caithness Committee meetings will currently fall to Councillor Andrew Jarvie.

    He said: “I am honoured to be given this opportunity to serve Caithness as joint chair and I would like to thank Councillor Gunn who has held the role since 2022.

    “I stood for election in Caithness because I saw so many tremendous opportunities for the County and abundance of highly skilled people, despite the mood music from too many organisations being rather negative about Caithness’s prospects. I have only seen the odds of those opportunities begin to come a financial reality with the Highland Investment Plan, so I cannot think of a more exciting time to take on this role.

    “There is not much time remaining in my Council term, so getting on with doing what matters and not hosting endless meetings is my priority. It is also why I wanted two people to take this on as co-chairs, because there is more work to be done outside of Committee meetings than in them.

    “The priorities are simple, making best use of the Highland Investment Plan to fix our roads and build the future infrastructure, encouraging economic development and improving connectivity for both business and leisure – such as the Wick Airport PSO.”

    Joint Chair, Councillor Karl Rosie added: “I too look forward to serving in my new role and working to represent Caithness’ best interests.”

    All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.

    During today’s meeting the Committee reflected on the Discretionary Awards they have allocated to applicants over the last financial year.

    Today’s Chair Councillor Jarvie said: “It is always a privilege and a pleasure for Ward Councillors to make discretionary budget awards. One of the most rewarding aspects is that it allows members to utilise their local knowledge and work with local organisations to make positive improvements to our communities.

     “On behalf of the Committee, I’d like to wish all the successful applicants the very best with their projects.”

    Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025

    • Community Food Initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland – £1,690.00
    • Caithness Chamber of Commerce – Caithness Transport Forum – £500.00
    • Pentland Firth Yacht Club – Replacement Windows – £1,450.00
    • Highlife Highland – Active School Coaching & Equipment – £1,500.00
    • Sidh Chailleann Art – “Industrial Caithness” Exhibition – £1,000.00
    • Thurso Youth Club SCIO – Holiday Activities £1,000.00
    • Thurso Community Council – Thurso Town Centre initiative 2024 – £400.00
    • Association of Caithness Community Council – Village officer Funding – £3,200.00
    • Connecting Carers Caithness – £1,916.00
    • Caithness Voluntary Group – Winter Support 24/25 – £1000.00

    Wick and East Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025

    • Community Food Initiatives North East – Fareshare in Highland – £2,763.00
    • Caithness Chamber of Commerce – Caithness Transport Forum – £500.00
    • Highlife Highland – Youth Session Resources – £999.00
    • Argyll Square Area Association – Replacement Litter Bin – £561.60
    • Association of Caithness Community Council – Village officer Funding – £5,300.00
    • Caithness Voluntary Group – Winter Support 24/25 – £2,000
    • Dunbeath & District Centre – Back Office Support £2,276.40

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Update to Caithness Committee on project to renew interest in low-demand void housing

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Good progress is being made to create sustainable tenancies in Caithness by enhancing the appeal for re-letting of low-demand void council housing.

    The Council’s Void-Plus Policy is being delivered in Caithness on a trial basis as part of the Council’s Delivery Plan 2024 – 2027. It is designed to help create sustainable tenancies in parts of Caithness where there has been difficulty in re-letting void Council housing.

    It involves improvements being made to voided properties to increase the appeal of these homes. There are low demand issues in Caithness so a choice-based letting scheme currently operates in the area. This means housing applicants can register an interest in a property which will then be considered by the service.

    By the end of March 18 empty properties had been brought up to Void-Plus standard. While the Void-Plus Policy is focused primarily on decorative works, 2 of the 18 properties have benefited from the supply of white goods and carpeting.

    To date, no Void-Plus property has been refused. The local Housing team has spoken with 9 of the new tenants as part of the standard settling-in process. All have advised that they are satisfied with the quality of their new homes.

    Caithness Chair, Councillor Andrew Jarvie said: “This is a fantastic project which will help encourage people to move into Caithness.

    “By taking empty Council houses and fitting them out to an enhanced standard, it encourages people to register interest from the broader Highlands and brings homes back into use which would otherwise sit empty

    “Caithness has so much to offer, and it is great to see more people moving in.

    “I am also glad to note that the feedback from tenants who are now living in these homes has been very positive.

    “Our committee looks forward to a more detailed report once the first-year milestone of this pilot project has been reached.”

    ​

    28 Apr 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HIREP unveils ten-year strategy for regional growth

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Issued by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on behalf of HIREP 

     A partnership of public, private and academic organisations in the Highlands and Islands has unveiled its ten-year strategy to deliver sustainable economic growth across the region.  

    The Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Partnership (HIREP)’s Regional Economic Strategy 2025-2035 presents a vision of a thriving, resilient and inclusive region in 2035. 

    Aligning with the goals of member organisations, the strategy addresses the challenges affecting the region’s businesses and communities, including high cost of living, population and connectivity.  

    It sets out the importance of regional-scale collaborative actions necessary to address those challenges while capitalising on ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunities that could deliver thousands of jobs and millions of pounds into the economy.  
    Informed by research, analysis, stakeholder surveys and a consultation, it spells out a commitment to deliver high quality, affordable housing as well as enhanced transport and digital infrastructure.  

    There’s a focus on renewable energy and the need to maximise economic and community benefits while driving the region’s transition to net zero emissions.  

    The need to enhance skills and workforce capabilities to meet future demands is emphasised. 

    Current chair of HIREP is Cllr Raymond Bremner, Leader of The Highland Council. He said: “The Highlands and Islands is a region with tremendous potential. Realising that potential and building a vibrant economy and leading Scotland’s transition to net zero requires collaboration on a very broad scale. 

    “That’s what this strategy is all about. It’s a major step in our joint efforts to build a dynamic, connected, resilient and prosperous Highlands and Islands. I very much look forward to working with the HIREP partners to deliver the actions that will make a real and lasting difference.” 

    HIREP was established in 2021 to bring together public, private, academic and third sector interests in pursuit of economic opportunities and addressing challenges across the region. It is one of eight Regional Economic Partnerships in Scotland. Since its inception, it has worked across several policy areas including housing, population attraction and retention, skills, childcare, and community wealth building, as well as sectoral opportunities.  

    It emphasises collaboration, community benefit and leveraging regional strengths to address unique challenges and opportunities. HIREP plays a key role in a developing a regional vision for delivery of the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET). 
    Membership of the HIREP includes local authorities, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Funding Council, UHI, NatureScot, VisitScotland, Bord na Gaidhlig, HITRANS, Cairngorm National Park Authority, the Crofting Commission, business representatives and third sector organisations. 

    The full strategy is available on the HIREP website.

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Badenoch and Strathspey Committee members agree funding for community regeneration projects

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Two community projects in Badenoch and Strathspey have been awarded £9,435.20 of funding from the Community Regeneration Fund following today’s meeting of the Area Committee.

    Cllr Russell Jones, Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee, said: “Community Regeneration Funding helps us support key projects in the heart of our communities.  £4,435.20 will be invested in window repairs for the Burnfield Public Toilets in Grantown on Spey, with £5,000 being invested in urgent electrical work at the Newtonmore Village Hall.

    “Additionally, £50,000 of funding from the Highland Coastal Communities Fund has also been ringfenced to deliver the Loch Vaa car park project. I am pleased that these projects will now be prioritised and taken forward which will bring welcome improvements for those in the local community.”

    Community Regeneration Funding is an umbrella term for several funds that are available for communities and organisations to access in Highland. The Highland Coastal Communities Fund is designed to support economic regeneration and sustainable development around coastal areas in Highland.

    28 Apr 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nature Restoration Fund benefits for Highland projects highlighted ahead of Green Health Week

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    In celebration of the upcoming Green Health Week (3 – 11 May 2025), The Highland Council is showcasing the impressive achievements of the Highland Nature Restoration Fund.

    Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “The 67 projects supported by the fund have made significant contributions to enhancing biodiversity through a variety of projects including wildflower planting, woodland and wetland creation, and removal of invasive species.”

    The Scottish Government established the Nature Restoration Fund as a capital fund to support projects aimed at restoring nature, protecting wildlife, and addressing biodiversity loss caused by climate change. Over three years, Highland Council managed the fund, with most of the allocation distributed by Nature Scot.

    In total, £633,061.09 was allocated over the three years, supporting 67 projects across the Highlands. These projects achieved the following:

    • Planted 24,283 trees
    • Planted 8.97 hectares of wildflowers, equivalent to 12 football pitches
    • Planted 1,635 meters of hedgerows
    • Removed 34 hectares of non-native or invasive species
    • Created 2.5 hectares of wetlands/ponds, equivalent to 19 Olympic swimming pools
    • Installed 35 wildlife boxes
    • Engaged 1,709 volunteers

    Councillor Gowans added: “The theme and key focus of Green Health Week 2025 is that nature is for everyone. It’s about taking the opportunity to celebrate diversity and promote equality of access by breaking down the barriers to participation. As we prepare to mark the week, I think it’s very fitting for us to highlight the successful projects funded by the Nature Restoration Fund, that are making a difference across our communities. “

    “Our Community Regeneration Team is currently developing a Nature Restoration Fund brochure to highlight these remarkable projects and their impact on the Highlands so stay tuned for details.”

    The Highland Council is a member of the Highland Green Health Partnership, a programme which aims to encourage more use of the outdoors to tackle physical inactivity, mental health issues and health inequalities. The Partnership is supporting Green Health Week. More details on Green Health Week are available here

    28 Apr 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: BT consultation on the removal of 110 payphones in Highland

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    BT has launched a consultation on the removal of 110 public payphones in Highland which they state are no longer needed.  Details of the payphones being considered for closure are set out in the list at this link 

    The Highland Council is encouraging members of the public to look at BT’s proposals and to comment, giving as much information as possible.

    BT has indicated that they have assessed the 110 payphones using the criteria in Ofcom’s Review of the telephony universal service obligation.

    BT’s consultation is open until 15 July 2025.

    They will take account of representations that are made about their plans when they are making their final decision. They will write to you setting out the reasons for their decision which will also be published their decision on their website www.bt.com/payphones/service.

    If you have any questions or want to make representations, please contact BT at btp.authorisation.team@bt.com. 

    28 Apr 2025

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Transport Forum agreed for Badenoch and Strathspey

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Members of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee have today agreed to establish a Transport Forum for the area, comprising Highland Council Members, transport operators and other partner organisations.

    The forum is supported by the Badenoch and Strathspey Community Partnership and will be a central point of contact for transport issues in the area.

    Chair of the Badenoch and Strathspey Committee, Cllr Russell Jones, said: “The transport forum will allow us to develop an integrated Transport Plan which will provide a framework for transport provision and improvements in the area. The forum’s remit will cover all modes of public transport operating within Badenoch and Strathspey, namely local bus, express coach, community transport and train. Local transport is especially important in rural areas and the Forum will give our communities the opportunity to raise concerns, share ideas for improvements and engage directly with transport operators in the area.

    “It is important that the Badenoch and Strathspey Transport Forum delivers tangible actions and improvements for local people, and we look forward to building strong relationships with partner organisations to develop solutions for improved and sustainable community transport throughout Badenoch and Strathspey. We will be in touch with local community and statutory partners, including the Cairngorms National Park Authority, to set up an initial meeting of the Transport Forum before the end of June.”

    28 Apr 2025

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported sunflower seed product suspected to be contaminated with aflatoxin

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CFS urges public not to consume batch of imported sunflower seed product suspected to be contaminated with aflatoxinBrand: Tovano
    Place of origin: Bulgaria 
    Net weight: 700g
    Best before date: November 30, 2025
    Batch number: 346704-038
    Importer: Chef’s Garden Limited
    Retailer: Feather & BoneIssued at HKT 20:35

    NNNN

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Supercomputing Mission

    Source: Government of India

    National Supercomputing Mission

    Powering India’s Future with Indigenous High-Performance Computing

    Posted On: 28 APR 2025 6:00PM by PIB Delhi

     

    “India’s mantra is Atmanirbharta through research, Science for Self-Reliance.”

    – Prime Minister Narendra Modi

     

    Introduction

    The National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) is a flagship initiative by the Government of India to empower the country with high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities. Launched in 2015, the mission aims to enhance India’s technological prowess in supercomputing, foster research and development (R&D), and support scientific advancements across academia, industry, and government sectors.

    The Mission envisages empowering our national academic and R&D institutions spread over the country by installing supercomputers of various capacities. Access to these supercomputers is provided through the National Knowledge Network (NKN). The NKN is another program of the government which connects academic institutions and R&D labs over a high-speed network.

    Academic and R&D institutions as well as key user departments/ministries would participate by using these facilities and develop applications of national relevance. The Mission also includes development of highly professional High-Performance Computing (HPC) aware human resource for meeting challenges of development of these applications. HRD activities in this area are steered through five training centres at Pune, Kharagpur, Chennai, Palakkad, and Goa to expand the awareness and familiarization of supercomputing with college students and researchers.

     

    Current Status & Achievements

     

    Under NSM, as of March 2025, a total of 34 supercomputers with a combined compute capacity of 35 Petaflops, have been deployed across various academic institutions, research organizations, and R&D labs, including prominent institutions like IISc, IITs, C-DAC, and other institutions from Tier-II and Tier III cities of the country under NSM. The supercomputing systems commissioned under NSM have achieved an overall utilization rate of over 85%, with many systems exceeding 95%, demonstrating a high level of usage and efficiency in their computational capacity

    The contribution of these supercomputing systems to the Research and Development (R&D) sector has been highly impactful, facilitating over 10,000 researchers, including more than 1,700 PhD scholars from over 200 academic institutions and R&D labs across the country. These supercomputing systems have supported research in critical domains such as Drug Discovery, Disaster Management, Energy Security, Climate Modeling, Astronomical Research, Computational Chemistry, Fluid Dynamics, and Material Research. NSM has created opportunities for researchers from Tier II and Tier III cities to conduct research by providing access to state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities. These researchers have completed over 1 crore compute jobs and published more than 1,500 papers in leading national and international journals. Additionally, more than 22,000 individuals have been trained in HPC and AI skills. Start-ups and MSMEs are leveraging these supercomputing resources to advance their HPC-driven projects.

     

     

    In parallel, under the NSM, C-DAC has developed the indigenous high-speed communication network, “Trinetra,” to enhance data transfer and communication between computing nodes, strengthening India’s supercomputing capabilities. Trinetra is being implemented in three phases: Trinetra-POC, a proof-of-concept system to validate key concepts; Trinetra-A (100 Gigabits per second), a network with advanced connections, successfully deployed and tested in the 1PF PARAM Rudra at C-DAC Pune; and Trinetra-B (200 Gigabits per second), an upgraded version with improved capabilities, set to be deployed in the upcoming 20PF PARAM Rudra supercomputer at C-DAC Bangalore.

    In 2024, the Prime Minister dedicated three PARAM Rudra supercomputers to the young researchers, scientists and engineers of nation facilitating advanced studies in physics, earth sciences, and cosmology. These supercomputers have been deployed in Pune, Delhi and Kolkata to facilitate pioneering scientific research. PARAM Rudra supercomputers are built using indigenously designed and manufactured HPC servers, known as “Rudra”, along with an indigenously developed system software stack. “Rudra” Server is the first of its kind in India which is at par with globally available other HPC class Servers.

    The Government has initiated a project AIRAWAT for providing a common compute platform for AI research and knowledge assimilation. This AI computing infrastructure will be used by all Technology Innovation Hubs, research labs, scientific community, industry, start-ups and institutions under the NKN. The Proof of Concept (PoC) for AIRAWAT will be developed with 200 petaflops mixed precision AI machine which will be scalable to a peak compute of 790 AI petaflops. The AIRAWAT has secured 75th position in Top 500 Global Supercomputing List declared at International Supercomputing Conference (ISC 2023), Germany putting India on top of AI Supercomputing nations worldwide.

    In 2022, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has installed Param Pravega, one of the most powerful Indian supercomputers. Param Pravega having a supercomputing power of 3.3 petaflops, is the largest supercomputer that has been installed in an Indian academic institution.

    In 2019, the Prime Minister inaugurated National Supercomputing Mission’s first indigenously build supercomputer ‘Param Shivay’ at Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, Varanasi.

    In 2024-25, additional ~45 PF of computing infrastructure creation is envisaged using indigenously developed server and technologies.

     

    NSM Infrastructure

    The National Supercomputing Mission aims at achieving the goals of attaining self-reliance in supercomputing, building the culture of using supercomputing for carrying out R&D and problem-solving in various domains of scientific and technological endeavours, and designing solutions for various societal applications, and positioning the supercomputing ecosystem in the country at a globally competitive level. The systems and facilities created as part of the infrastructure under this mission are divided into three phases: Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III.

    Phase 1: This phase focused on creating a basic supercomputing infrastructure by installing six supercomputers across various institutions, with a significant portion of the components being assembled domestically. The aim was to build an ecosystem for the assembly of system components within the country.

    Phase 2: Building on Phase 1, this phase aimed to move towards indigenous manufacturing of supercomputers, including developing a local software stack. This phase also saw an increase in the value addition from India to 40%.

    Phase 3: This phase focuses on complete indigenization of supercomputing, including the design, development, and manufacturing of key components within India. The plan includes installing supercomputers at various academic and research institutions, as well as establishing a national facility with a high-performance computing capability.

    The Mission is being steered jointly by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and implemented by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. The Mission implementation would bring supercomputing within the reach of the large scientific & technology community in the country and enable the country with a capacity of solving multi-disciplinary grand challenge problems.

    NSM has planned to expand the number of supercomputers to select institutions including IITs with more compute power including 20 Peta Flop systems. An amount of Rs. 1874 crore has been allocated / utilized to develop and provide the super-computing facility for research and other allied areas. This includes funds for infrastructure creation, undertaking R&D in applied areas, applications, HRD and for mission management.

     

    Strengthening NSM through India Semiconductor Mission (ISM)

     

    The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is set to give a big boost to the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). Supercomputers need powerful parts like processors, memory chips, and special accelerators — all of which are made using advanced semiconductor technology. Until now, India had to rely heavily on imports for these components.

    With ISM, India is focusing on making these high-tech parts right here at home. This will make supercomputers faster, more energy-efficient, and much more affordable. It will also allow India to build supercomputers that are customized for our own scientific and industrial needs. By developing these technologies within the country, ISM will help NSM move closer to its dream of making India self-reliant and a global leader in supercomputing.

     

    Conclusion

     

    The National Supercomputing Mission is a transformative initiative that strengthens India’s position in global supercomputing. By fostering indigenous development, research, and innovation, NSM supports critical sectors and prepares the nation for future technological challenges. With continued investment and strategic deployment, India is poised to become a global leader in High-Performance Computing.

     

    References

    https://nsmindia.in/

    https://ism.gov.in/

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1666447

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2081061

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1800356

    https://dst.gov.in/pm-launches-country-1st-indigenously-build-supercomputer

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2087506

    https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2088268

    https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/184/AU2084_k8K63G.pdf?source=pqals

    https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/267/AU3905_rZLY5P.pdf?source=pqars

    National Supercomputing Mission

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    Santosh Kumar | Sarla Meena | Rishita Aggarwal

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Inter-Governmental Agreement inked with France for 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for Indian Navy

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 28 APR 2025 3:53PM by PIB Delhi

    The Governments of India and France have signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) for the procurement of 26 Rafale Aircraft (22 Single-Seater and four Twin-Seater) for the Indian Navy. It includes Training, Simulator, Associated Equipment, Weapons and Performance-Based Logistics. It also includes additional equipment for the existing Rafale fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

    The IGA has been signed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Minister of Armed Forces of France Mr Sebastien Lecornu. The signed copies of the agreement, aircraft package supply protocol and weapons package supply protocol were exchanged by Indian and French officials in the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at Nausena Bhawan, New Delhi on April 28, 2025.

     

     

    In line with the Government’s thrust on Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the agreement includes Transfer of Technology for integration of indigenous weapons in India. It also includes setting up of production facility for Rafale Fuselage as well as Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facilities for aircraft engine, sensors and weapons in India. The deal is expected to generate thousands of jobs and revenue for a large number of MSMEs in setting up, production and running of these facilities.

    Manufactured by France’s Dassault Aviation, the Rafale-Marine is a carrier-borne combat-ready aircraft with proven operational capabilities in maritime environment. The delivery of these aircraft would be completed by 2030, with the crew undergoing training in France and India.

    Rafale-Marine has commonality with the Rafale being operated by IAF. Its procurement will substantially enhance joint operational capability, besides optimising training and logistics for the aircraft for both Indian Navy and IAF. The induction would lead to the addition of a potent force multiplier to the Indian Navy’s aircraft carriers, substantially boosting the nation’s air power at sea.

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    VK/SR/Savvy

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –