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Category: France

  • MIL-OSI: Sidetrade sets new ESG benchmarks with elevated EthiFinance and EcoVadis ratings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sidetrade, the global leader in AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, has raised the bar in corporate sustainability, securing a prestigious Platinum medal from EthiFinance and a Silver medal from EcoVadis for 2024. These top-tier accolades underscore Sidetrade’s commitment to responsible innovation and sustainable business practices.

    For the year 2024, Sidetrade achieved an overall rating of 84/100 from EthiFinance, the rating agency specializing in European-listed SMEs. This score places Sidetrade at the highest level with a Platinum medal with an 8-point increase from 2023. The improvement reflects tangible progress in reducing environmental impact, strengthening governance and ethical frameworks, and embedding sustainability into corporate strategy.

    Sidetrade also enhanced its standing with EcoVadis, the world’s most trusted business sustainability ratings, with a 70/100 score for 2024 and earning a Silver medal for the second consecutive year. A key highlight was Sidetrade’s significant improvement in environmental performance with a 10-point jump in this category. This advancement reflects the company’s targeted sustainability initiatives and responsible business practices. As a result, Sidetrade ranks among the top 15% of the highest-performing companies across all industries, audited by EcoVadis.

    Philippe Gangneux, CFO and CSR Ambassador at Sidetrade commented: “Since 2021, we have been implementing an ambitious ESG roadmap. Sidetrade’s steady rise in ESG rankings reflects a dynamic approach where economic performance and positive impact go hand in hand. Today, the results are significant, and our impact is recognized by EthiFinance and EcoVadis. These distinctions strengthen our determination to redefine standards, drive relentless innovation, and embed sustainability at the core of our business model”

    A long-term commitment to sustainability

    Sidetrade’s CSR strategy is structured around four pillars:

    • Reducing Carbon Footprint: Implementing initiatives to minimize its environmental impact and align its actions with the Paris Agreement targets.
    • Fostering Innovation and Inclusion: Promoting talent diversity and collaborative excellence to drive creativity and ensure equal opportunities.
    • Digital Security and Ethics: Strengthening data protection standards and advocating for responsible digital practices.
    • Integrity and Transparency: Upholding ethical business practices and exemplary governance.

    By the end of the year, Sidetrade will publish its Bilan Carbone® and 2024 CSR Report. Learn more about Sidetrade’s CSR commitments.

    Media relations @Sidetrade
    Becca Parlby                  +44 7824 5055 84             bparlby@sidetrade.com

    About Sidetrade (www.sidetrade.com)
    Sidetrade (Euronext Growth: ALBFR.PA) provides a SaaS platform designed to revolutionize how cash flow is secured and accelerated. Leveraging its next-generation AI, nicknamed Aimie, Sidetrade analyzes $7.2 trillion worth of B2B payment transactions daily in its Cloud, thereby anticipating customer payment behavior and the attrition risk of 39.9 million buyers worldwide. Aimie recommends the best operational strategies, dematerializes and intelligently automates Order-to-Cash processes to enhance productivity, results and working capital across organizations.
    Sidetrade has a global reach, with 400+ talented employees based in Europe, the United States and Canada, serving global businesses in more than 85 countries. Amongst them: Bidcorp, Biffa, Bunzl, Engie, Inmarsat, KPMG, Lafarge, Manpower, Page, Randstad, Saint-Gobain, Securitas, Tech Data, UGI, and Veolia.
    Sidetrade is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, adhering to its principles-based approach to responsible business.
     For further information, visit us at www.sidetrade.com and follow @Sidetrade on LinkedIn.
     In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of this press release, only the English version is to be taken into account.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Debate over H-1B visas shines spotlight on US tech worker shortages

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Moshe Y. Vardi, Professor of Computer Science, Rice University

    Babson College graduate students from India type on their computers in Wellesley, Mass., on June 30, 2016. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

    A heated debate has recently erupted between two groups of supporters of President Donald Trump. The dispute concerns the H-1B visa system, the program that allows U.S. employers to hire skilled foreign workers in specialty occupations – mostly in the tech industry.

    On the one hand, there are people like Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon, who has called the H-1B program a “total and complete scam.” On the other, there are tech tycoons like Elon Musk who think skilled foreign workers are crucial to the U.S. tech sector.

    The H-1B visa program is subject to an annual limit of new visas it can issue, which sits at 65,000 per fiscal year. There is also an additional annual quota of 20,000 H-1B visas for highly skilled international students who have a proven ability to succeed academically in the United States.

    The H-1B program is the primary vehicle for international graduate students at U.S. universities to stay and work in the United States after graduation. At Rice University, where I work, much of STEM research is carried out by international graduate students. The same goes for most American research-intensive universities.

    As a computer science professor – and an immigrant – who studies the interaction between computing and society, I believe the debate over H-1B overlooks some important questions: Why does the U.S. rely so heavily on foreign workers for the tech industry, and why is it not able to develop a homegrown tech workforce?

    The US as a global talent magnet

    The U.S. has been a magnet for global scientific talent since before World War II.

    Many of the scientists who helped develop the atomic bomb were European refugees. After World War II, U.S. policies such as the Fulbright Program expanded opportunities for international educational exchange.

    Attracting international students to the U.S. has had positive results.

    Among Americans who have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, medicine or physics since 2000, 40% have been immigrants.

    In 2023, U.S.-born Louis Brus, left, shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry with U.S. immigrants Alexei Ekimov, born in the former USSR, and Moungi Bawendi, born in France.
    AP Photo

    Tech industry giants Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google were all founded by first- or second-generation immigrants. Furthermore, immigrants have founded more than half of the nation’s billion-dollar startups since 2018.

    Stemming the inflow of students

    Restricting foreign graduate students’ path to U.S. employment, as some prominent Trump supporters have called for, could significantly reduce the number of international graduate students in U.S. universities.

    About 80% of graduate students in American computer science and engineering programs – roughly 18,000 students in 2023 – are international students.

    The loss of international doctoral students would significantly diminish the research capability of graduate programs in science and engineering. After all, doctoral students, supervised by principal investigators, carry out the bulk of research in science and engineering in U.S. universities.

    It must be emphasized that international students make a significant contribution to U.S. research output. For example, scientists born outside the U.S. played key roles in the development of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. So making the U.S. less attractive to international graduate students in science and engineering would hurt U.S. research competitiveness.

    Computing Ph.D. graduates are in high demand. The economy needs them, so the lack of an adequate domestic pipeline seems puzzling.

    Where have US students gone?

    So, why is there such a reliance on foreign students for U.S. science and engineering? And why hasn’t America created an adequate pipeline of U.S.-born students for its technical workforce?

    After discussions with many colleagues, I have found that there are simply not enough qualified domestic doctoral applicants to fill the needs of their doctoral programs.

    In 2023, for example, U.S. computer science doctoral programs admitted about 3,400 new students, 63% of whom were foreign.

    It seems as if the doctoral career track is simply not attractive enough to many U.S. undergrad computer science students. But why?

    The top annual salary in Silicon Valley for new computer science graduates can reach US$115,000. Bachelor’s degree holders in computing from Rice University have told me that until recently – before economic uncertainty shook the industry – they were getting starting annual salaries as high as $150,000 in Silicon Valley.

    Doctoral students in research universities, in contrast, do not receive a salary. Instead, they get a stipend. These vary slightly from school to school, but they typically pay less than $40,000 annually. The opportunity cost of pursuing a doctorate is, thus, up to $100,000 per year. And obtaining a doctorate typically takes six years.

    So, pursuing a doctorate is not an economically viable decision for many Americans. The reality is that a doctoral degree opens new career options to its holder, but most bachelor’s degree holders do not see beyond the economics. Yet academic computing research is crucial to the success of Silicon Valley.

    A 2016 analysis of the information technology sectors with a large economic impact shows that academic research plays an instrumental role in their development.

    Why so little?

    The U.S. is locked in a cold war with China focused mostly on technological dominance. So maintaining its research-and-development edge is in the national interest.

    Yet the U.S. has declined to make the requisite investment in research. For example, the National Science Foundation’s annual budget for computer and information science and engineering is around $1 billion. In contrast, annual research-and-development expenses for Alphabet, Google’s parent company, have been close to $50 billion for the past decade.

    Universities are paying doctoral students so little because they cannot afford to pay more.

    Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai speaks at a Google I/O event in Mountain View, Calif., on May 14, 2024.
    AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

    But instead of acknowledging the existence of this problem and trying to address it, the U.S. has found a way to meet its academic research needs by recruiting and admitting international students. The steady stream of highly qualified international applicants has allowed the U.S. to ignore the inadequacy of the domestic doctoral pipeline.

    The current debate about the H-1B visa system provides the U.S. with an opportunity for introspection.

    Yet the news from Washington, D.C., about massive budget cuts coming to the National Science Foundation seems to suggest the federal government is about to take an acute problem and turn it into a crisis.

    Moshe Y. Vardi receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the US Office of Naval Research.

    – ref. Debate over H-1B visas shines spotlight on US tech worker shortages – https://theconversation.com/debate-over-h-1b-visas-shines-spotlight-on-us-tech-worker-shortages-248711

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Drone Services Market Size Predicted to Surpass Around $555 Billion By 2034

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The drone services worldwide market has been growing substantially in recent years and is projected to continue into the several years to come. According to a report from Precedence Research, the global drone services market size accounted for USD 24.56 billion in 2024, grew to USD 33.55 billion in 2025 and is predicted to surpass around USD 555.58 billion by 2034, representing a healthy CAGR of 36.60% between 2024 and 2034. The North America drone services market size is calculated at USD 8.84 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a fastest CAGR of 36.78% during the forecast year. The report said: “North America held the highest share of the global drone services market in terms of value. This is due to major service providers’ presence and early adoption of high-end drone technologies. Furthermore, the region’s market is driven by increased demand for aerial photography in the real estate and construction sectors. The US is a significant market for drone services in North America, accounting for a large share of the region’s market.   Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Large drone service providers exist in APAC countries such as China and Japan. Limited regulation on commercial drone use and price drop drive market demand. Furthermore, the rise is attributed to increased government and OEM investments in drone services propelling the market. The rising demand for industry-specific solutions and the increasing demand for time-efficient delivery are driving the growth of the drone service market… Along with this, the growing initiative from governments and regulatory bodies to develop drones propels the market forward.”   Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC), ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO).

    Precedence Research continued: “Due to the widespread availability of low-cost drones, photography has become well-known for applications requiring high-resolution cameras. Aerial photography offers new perspectives on innovative city projects, large township projects, and multi-story building projects. Mini drones are also becoming popular for wedding photography and videography. Furthermore, the real estate and infrastructure industries also see increased demand for drones. Drones are used for various commercial purposes, including agriculture, transportation, mapping, aerial photography, and videography. Drones increase productivity and improve farming methods. The growing demand for precision farming propels the agricultural industry and expands the drone services market. Precision farming has the potential to increase crop productivity.”

    ZenaTech (NASDAQ:ZENA) Signs Seventh LOI to Acquire a Land Survey Company in Southeast Region Contributing to Drone as a Service Strategy – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drone, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS and Quantum Computing solutions, announces that it has signed an LOI (Letter of Intent) to acquire a seventh land survey engineering company located in Florida, marking the fourth LOI in the Southeast Region. The company has closed one acquisition in this region to date so upon completion, this would be the second closed acquisition in the Southeast Region. Having two locations in this region will serve as a launchpad to further regional development and ZenaTech’s national DaaS business model bringing the speed and precision of AI drone solutions in a convenient subscription or pay-per-use business model to commercial and government customers.

    “Florida is strategic to our Drone as a Service strategy as it offers year-round flying conditions, a favorable innovation environment including consistent state-wide regulations, and existing government drone use for public safety, disaster response, and transportation monitoring. With growing commercial sector interest in agriculture, real estate, construction, and industrial inspection applications, we see multiple growth paths to help customers use drones to drive extraordinary efficiencies,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    ZenaTech’s Drones as a Service or DaaS model is similar to Software as a Service (SaaS), but instead of providing software solutions over the Internet, the company will offer ZenaDrone solutions and services on a subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for manual or time-consuming tasks achieving more insight and precision, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision agriculture applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments like spraying, without the need for specialized training.

    Accurate land surveys are essential for the planning, designing, and executing roads, bridges, and building projects for cities, commercial, and residential projects, and are required for legal purposes. Remotely piloted drones with an array of sensors and cameras, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and GPS systems for capturing high-resolution pictures and data are revolutionizing the land survey industry gathering aerial data across expansive terrains in a matter of hours instead of weeks or months using more traditional photogrammetry methods.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the drone industry include:

    EHang Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EH), the world’s leading Urban Air Mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, recently announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. Mr. Huazhi Hu, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EHang: “We are thrilled to have concluded 2024 with a series of achievements that have propelled us closer to the widespread commercial adoption of eVTOLs. As a pioneer in the UAM industry, we achieved our highest-ever quarterly and annual eVTOL deliveries, driving revenues to record-high levels and delivering our first year of non-GAAP profitability. This underscores the accelerating adoption of our pilotless eVTOL solutions. We worked on our production capacity expansion, deepened ecosystem partnerships for infrastructure and talents, and advanced our footprint in Asia, Europe and South America. Looking ahead to 2025, our focus remains on driving innovation, expanding our operational network, and scaling production to meet increasing demands and unlock the full potential of UAM. We are confident in our ability to lead the transformation of aerial transportation and deliver long-term value to our stakeholders.”

    AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), a leading provider of best-in-class unmanned aerial systems (UAS), sensors and software solutions for customers worldwide in the commercial and government verticals, recently announced the recent completion of a successful four-day proof-of-concept demonstration with France’s Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (DGAMPA) testing eBee VISION’s advanced capabilities.

    AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, “This successful demonstration underscores the potential of the eBee VISION for enhancing maritime security and environmental protection efforts. Multiple flights were carried out in diverse conditions, both day and night. Our eBee VISION demonstrated outstanding performance, operating within a 20 km range and temperatures as low as 5°C, as well as landing smoothly on sand. Throughout the trials, various observation scenarios were tested for maritime control and surveillance, all of which were completed with positive results. This success not only highlights the robust performance of our technology but also validates the potential for growth across various markets.”

    Unusual Machines (NYSE: UMAC), a leading provider of NDAA-compliant drone components, recently announced that its Fat Shark Aura FPV Camera has been added to the U.S. Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Blue UAS Framework. It is the only camera on the Blue UAS list purpose-built for first person view (“FPV”) applications, providing a high-performance, NDAA-compliant option for defense and government users.  

    This approval marks another step forward in Unusual Machines’ mission to supply NDAA-compliant FPV components for both commercial and defense applications. The Fat Shark Aura FPV Camera joins the Rotor Riot Brave F7 Flight Controller and Brave 55A ESC, both of which have already been approved under the Blue UAS Framework.

    ParaZero Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: PRZO), an aerospace company focused on safety systems for commercial unmanned aircrafts and defense Counter UAS systems, recently announced that is has received its first order from the strategic partnership that the company recently announced that it entered into with ABOT, one of France’s largest drone distributors of advanced drone solutions for various industries. This partnership, announced earlier this month, was established as part of the company’s effort to expand the availability of its cutting-edge SafeAirTM parachute recovery systems in the French market. Under this new collaboration, ABOT will become an official reseller of ParaZero’s SafeAir products in France, with the two companies jointly launching a new brand, ABOT-PZ SafeAir, to align with local market preferences.

    ParaZero’s SafeAir system is a state-of-the-art drone safety solution designed to enable safe and legal drone operations in urban and high-risk environments. The system features an autonomous parachute deployment mechanism, real-time monitoring and advanced failure detection, ensuring a controlled descent in the event of an emergency. SafeAir provides a critical safety layer for commercial drone operations, supporting compliance with global aviation regulations.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

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    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated fifty one hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by ZenaTech, Inc. by the Company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK, France and Switzerland announce new anti-corruption alliance

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK, France and Switzerland announce new anti-corruption alliance

    UK, France and Switzerland announce new alliance to tackle bribery and corruption threat 

    The UK’s Serious Fraud Office, France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF) and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) today affirmed their shared commitment to tackling international bribery and corruption at an event in London.   

    The agencies also founded a new taskforce to strengthen collaboration.  

    All three countries have wide-reaching anti-bribery legislation with jurisdiction to prosecute criminal conduct that occurs overseas, if there is a link to the prosecuting country.   

    The taskforce will strengthen existing ties between these countries and lead to greater joint working on cases, as well as sharing of insight and expertise.   

    The statement can be seen here.

    Nick Ephgrave, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said:

    The commitment we have made today reaffirms our individual and collective commitment to tackling the pernicious threat of international bribery and corruption, wherever it occurs. 

    We will make use of every power and partnership available to confront this criminality. This taskforce is an important step forward in our approach.

    Jean-François Bohnert, Head of the Parquet National Financier, said:

    I am delighted that ten years of operational cooperation between the PNF, SFO and OAG are developing today into the setting up of a prosecutorial taskforce.

    This taskforce will definitely strengthen our current cooperation in order to fight more efficiently against bribery and corruption in individual cases.

    Stefan Blättler, Attorney General of the Swiss Confederation, said:

    Within the framework of this cooperation, we will be able to help ensure that fraud and crime can be better combated in the future.

    This task force is of great importance for Switzerland.

    Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

    I welcome the SFO’s commitment to working even more closely with their French and Swiss partners, including setting up this new taskforce to tackle international bribery and corruption.

    Through strong international partnerships, we will be able to robustly tackle cross-border economic crime and protect our future prosperity.

    Press Office

    Email news@sfo.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number +44 (0)7557 009842

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PR Cruise Ships and Manche Iles Express 2025 Thursday 20 March 2025

    Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

    Press Release
    Date: 20th March 2025

    Alderney is getting ready to welcome 9 luxury cruise ship visits this summer.

    The Island’s special brand of welcoming hospitality will also be in full swing for several visits of the France-based ferry company Manche Iles Express.

    “This is a great opportunity to showcase Alderney’s famous warm welcome,” said Visit Alderney’s Caroline Gauvain. “Although the cruise ship guests are here for only a short time, we are confident they’ll enjoy our hospitality and our unique island and want to come back for a longer stay next time.”

    The scheduled cruise ship visits are:
    • Tuesday April 29 – Ocean Nova (morning)
    • Wednesday July 2 – MS Hamburg (morning)
    • Sunday July 13 – MS Hamburg (morning)
    • Wednesday August 6/Thursday 7 August – Hebridean Princess (overnight 8.30pm-1pm)
    • Saturday August 9/Sunday 10 August – Hebridean Princess (overnight 1pm-8am)
    • Sunday August 31 – Island Sky (all day)
    • Monday September 1/Tuesday 2 September – Hebridean Princess (overnight 5pm-1pm)
    • Sunday September 7 – Island Sky (all day)
    • Tuesday September 9 – MS Hamburg (afternoon)

    The full schedule is available at www.harbours.gg/cruiseships.

    Scheduled visits by Manche Iles Express from Dielette are:
    Sunday 4 / Friday 23 / Sunday 25 May
    Sunday 6 /Sunday 20 July
    Monday 4 / Monday 18 August
    Sunday 7 September

    They will also be running from Alderney to Diélette for the French Exchange on 7 June, with a return sailing on 8 June evening. Information: www.manche-iles.com/en

    End

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada is investing more than $9.3 million to support Francophone minority communities

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    March 20, 2025—Ottawa—Francophone immigration plays a crucial role in growing the Canadian economy, in promoting the vitality of Francophone minority communities and in meeting labour needs across the country.

    On this International Francophonie Day, the Honourable Rachel Bendayan, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced $9.3 million of funding for 12 new projects aimed at supporting the economic development and demographic growth of Francophone minority communities.

    Reporting to the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration, these projects are financed through the Francophone Immigration Support Program. They aim to promote Francophone minority communities, the recruitment and selection of French-speaking applicants, as well as the support of these applicants towards permanent residence.

    Some of these projects also contribute to the collection and analysis of evidence to establish concrete actions to reduce the barriers to Francophone immigration.

    To learn more about the projects, visit the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration web page.

    As part of the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, we will continue to increase our targets for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec, bringing them to 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027. We are proud that, in 2024, we exceeded our ambitious target of 1.21%, reaching 7.21% of admissions of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec. The higher targets demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to supporting Francophone immigration.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s phone call with Putin fails to deliver a full ceasefire – here’s what could happen next

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

    After more than two hours on the phone on Tuesday, March 17, the US president, Donald Trump, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, agreed only to confidence-building measures, not a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. The two leaders came away from the call having agreed on a limited prisoner exchange, a suspension of attacks on energy infrastructure, and the creation of working groups to explore further steps towards a ceasefire and ultimately a peace agreement, a proposal which Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky has since agreed to in his call with the US president.

    A less charitable way of looking at the outcome of the second call between the two presidents since Trump returned to the White House would be that the ball is now back in America’s court. Putin made it crystal clear to Trump that he is not (yet) in the mood for any compromise.

    This is hardly surprising given recent events.

    The US has pressured Ukraine mercilessly into accepting a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Trump hoped Russia would also agree to. But apart from a vague statement by Trump that he might consider sanctions against Russia, he has so far seemed unwilling to contemplate putting any meaningful equivalent pressure on Putin.

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    On the ground, Russia has gained the upper hand in the Kursk region where Ukrainian troops have ceded most of the territory they captured after a surprise offensive last summer. Once Putin’s forces, assisted by thousands of North Korean soldiers, have succeeded in driving the Ukrainians out of Russia, Kyiv will have lost its most valuable bargaining chip in negotiations with Moscow.

    Meanwhile, Russia has also made further gains on the frontlines inside Ukraine especially in parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. These are two of the four regions (the other two are Donetsk and Luhansk) that Putin has claimed for Russia in their entirety since sham referendums in September 2022, despite not yet having full control of them.

    If Russia were to capture yet more Ukrainian territory, Putin would probably find it even easier to convince Trump that his demands are reasonable. The fact that Trump already hinted at a “dividing of assets”, including the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia – Europe’s largest before its forced shutdown in September 2022 – is a worrying indication of how far the Russian president has already pushed the envelope.

    Ukraine war: territory occupied by Russia as at March 18 2025.
    Institute for the Study of War

    But a deal solely between Russia and the US is not going to work. In that sense, time is not only on Putin’s side but also on Zelensky’s.

    The Russian readout of the call between the two presidents claimed that they had discussed “the complete cessation of foreign military assistance and the provision of intelligence information to Kyiv” as a key condition for moving forward – something that Trump subsequently denied in an interview with Fox. This means that, for now, Kyiv is likely to continue to receive US aid.

    Europe at the ready

    Perhaps more importantly in the long term, Europe is also doubling down on support for Ukraine. While Trump and Putin were discussing a carve-up of Ukraine over the phone, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, left no doubt on where the EU stands.

    In a speech at the Royal Danish Military Academy foreshadowing the publication of the commission’s Readiness 2030 white paper on bolstering European defences, she recommitted to developing European “capabilities to have credible deterrence” against a hostile Russia.

    A few hours later, the German parliament passed a multi-billion Euro package that loosens the country’s tight borrowing rules to enable massive investments in defence. This follows announcements of increased defence elsewhere on the continent, including in the UK, Poland, and by the EU itself.

    Meanwhile, the UK and France are leading efforts to assemble a coalition of the willing to help Ukraine. Representatives of the 30-member group gathered in London on March 15 for further talks.

    Afterwards, the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, released a statement saying that Ukraine’s western partners “will keep increasing the pressure on Russia, keep the military aid flowing to Ukraine and keep tightening the restrictions on Russia’s economy”.

    Undoubtedly, these measures would be more effective if they had Washington’s full buy-in – but they send a strong signal to both the Kremlin and the White House that Ukraine is not alone in its fight against Russia’s continuing aggression.

    Putin’s options

    Putin, meanwhile, may have time on his side in the short term – but he should take note of this. Russian manpower and firepower may dwarf that of Ukraine, but it would be no match for a Ukraine backed by such a coalition of the willing.

    Putin’s apparent plan to drag Trump into the minutiae of negotiating a comprehensive deal may eventually backfire in more ways than one. For a start, really detailed discussions will test the US president’s notoriously short attention span.

    But this will also buy time for Ukraine and its supporters to strengthen Kyiv’s position in future negotiations. And it will continue to strain – but not immediately break – Russia’s economy.

    For now, Trump’s efforts to end the war in Ukraine have stalled. He is attempting to broker a complex ceasefire deal that involves separate agreements with Kyiv and Moscow, pressure on Nato allies, and an attempt to drive a wedge between Russia and China. It’s not clear how this will succeed or indeed where it will end.

    The only certainty is that they are not bringing a just and stable peace for Ukraine any closer.

    Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

    Tetyana Malyarenko 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. Trump’s phone call with Putin fails to deliver a full ceasefire – here’s what could happen next – https://theconversation.com/trumps-phone-call-with-putin-fails-to-deliver-a-full-ceasefire-heres-what-could-happen-next-252417

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tyrannical leader? Why comparisons between Trump and King George III miss the mark on 18th-century British monarchy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carla Gardina Pestana, Professor and Joyce Appleby Endowed Chair of America in the World, University of California, Los Angeles

    Are there legitimate comparisons between President Donald Trump and King George III? Rebecca Noble/Getty Images; Kean Collection/Getty Images

    George III, king of Great Britain and its colonies at the time of the American Revolution, has been maligned unfairly.

    During both the first and now the second term of President Donald Trump, commentators in the U.S. have invoked the king’s misdeeds to criticize Trump. When the president bypassed Congress to create a new government agency, appointed its head and stopped payment of millions of dollars of allocated federal funds, his critics noted that he assumed the role of Congress, a power grab that supposedly made him similar to George III. According to this criticism, the president engaged in tyranny, just as the founders accused George of doing.

    As a scholar of early America, I believe, however, that George III has gotten a bad rap. He was not the all-powerful monarch that Trump allegedly aspires to be.

    In the 1770s, the power of the British king was limited by the authority of Parliament. In that system, which Americans and others praised at the time as balanced, the king and the legislature each had specific duties and powers so that neither could control the government alone.

    George III was not an absolutist monarch, to use the language of the day for a power-hungry ruler. The English had struggled in the previous century over the extent of the king’s power. After fighting two civil wars, executing one king, and, eventually, forcing the monarch to agree to rule with Parliament rather than on his own, they believed their liberties were safeguarded.

    This system, known as limited monarchy, was the pride of Great Britain. It was also admired by the American founders. As late as 1774, in his Summary View of the Rights of British America, Thomas Jefferson praised the “free and ancient principles” of the British constitution in which “kings are the servants, not the proprietors of the people.”

    Trump has been compared with King George III by many writers and commentators; the White House on Feb. 19, 2024, issued the fake magazine cover of Trump crowned like a king.
    Various

    No kingly tyranny

    Britons, whether in Great Britain or the colonies, did fear a tyrant, a controlling and abusive leader.

    Some fears came from their study of political theory, which taught that government worked best when composed of various branches that represented the concerns of the different political classes.

    As this theory went, an unbalanced government would descend into tyranny with a too-powerful monarch; oligarchy under a dominant aristocratic class; or anarchy with the people out of control. They believed these perils could be avoided only by maintaining balance.

    Even though the British did not fear imbalance or a tyrant king in their own case, they could see the danger threatening elsewhere in Europe.

    France represented a worst-case scenario. Its absolutist kings had ruled without France’s legislature – the Estates General – for more than a century and a half at the time of the American Revolution. British poet Robert Wolseley’s often reprinted poem declared: “Let France grow proud beneath the tyrant’s lust, While the rackt people crawl and lick the dust. The mighty Genius of this isle disdains Ambitious slavery and golden chains.”

    Within a few years, Anglo-American criticism of kingly tyranny in France would be validated: That country descended into a violent revolution that resulted in decades of warfare and political violence, including the execution of the entire royal family.

    This experience confirmed for the British and Americans that a balanced system was best and that they should count their blessings.

    Why revolt?

    A list of grievances held by the American Colonies against King George III, set down in Thomas Jefferson’s first draft of the American Declaration of Independence, which ultimately included 27 grievances against the king.
    MPI/Getty Images

    If the American revolutionaries admired the British system and sought to copy it in the United States, why did they reject the link to Britain and revolt in the first place?

    Americans did not revolt against the nature of British government. Rather they objected to their changing place within the British Empire. The revolutionary crisis had a number of roots, but most of them arose out of changes in the management of the relationship between the American Colonies and the imperial center.

    From the 1760s, the British government took a more activist role in its American Colonies, limiting their geographical expansion and imposing taxes directly on the population. In the past, Colonists had been free to move west, challenged only by the indigenous residents who fought to defend their lands.

    Now the British government, aiming to put an end to these wars, blocked expansion. At the same time, to pay down the debt accrued in recent war with France – and fought in part in North America – the government levied taxes not via the Colonial legislatures, as it had before, but directly on residents. This change sparked revolt and, eventually, revolution.

    Turning on the king

    American Colonists pull down a statue of King George III in New York City during the American Revolution.
    Corbis via Getty Images

    Before 1776, the Colonists believed that George III would come to their rescue and halt these changes imposed by Parliament. They thought initially that he did not realize how the new policies affected them.

    Only in 1776 did they accept that George III supported the policy changes and would not defend their rights. It was in that context that they turned on him and declared him tyrannical, blaming him for the new policies and calling for a break with Britain. As the Declaration of Independence said: “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

    Although they complained about the tyranny of George III, their true objection was that their subordinate position within the empire gave them little leverage when opposing policies that king and Parliament agreed to impose on them.

    Once independent, the founders created a system that imitated the British model of mixed governance and created barriers – the powers of Congress and the oversight of the Supreme Court – that they hoped would safeguard their liberties against the threat of renewed tyranny.

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

    – ref. Tyrannical leader? Why comparisons between Trump and King George III miss the mark on 18th-century British monarchy – https://theconversation.com/tyrannical-leader-why-comparisons-between-trump-and-king-george-iii-miss-the-mark-on-18th-century-british-monarchy-251869

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: NordProtect becomes a stand-alone service and includes online fraud coverage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NordVPN’s identity theft protection solution, NordProtect, is now available as a stand-alone service and offers protection against a broader range of cyber incidents.

    LONDON, March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NordProtect, an identity theft protection service created by NordVPN, is now available to users in the United States as a stand-alone product. This will allow users to benefit from identity theft protection without purchasing a NordVPN Prime plan, as they have until now.

    In addition, NordProtect now includes online fraud coverage, which provides support for victims of a variety of online scams or fraud. This coverage compensates users for financial losses incurred through various online scams and criminal activities, such as romance scams, marketplace fraud, QR code scams, fraudulent credit card charges, and many other prevalent tactics used to swindle money today.

    “Criminals are constantly finding new ways to extort money from people, and our mission is to provide relevant and reliable tools to protect internet users. Online fraud is rapidly growing, with numerous variations leading to significant financial losses. To address this, we’ve expanded our existing services, which now include better monitoring of personally identifiable information as well as reimbursement for certain online fraud incidents, ensuring our customers receive support when they need it most,” says Tomas Sinicki, managing director of NordProtect.

    NordProtect customers may be eligible for a reimbursement of up to $10,000, excluding investment scams. After the latest improvements, NordProtect customers now enjoy a comprehensive range of ID monitoring services and are insured from a number of ID theft, cyber extortion and online fraud incidents

    With identity recovery and restoration, victims of identity theft can be reimbursed up to $1M for expenses incurred in restoring their identity, such as legal costs or lost wages. NordProtect connects victims with an identity restoration case manager to help them recover from identity theft. NordProtect’s cyber extortion protection offers $50,000 to cover expert assistance and payments in response to cyber threats to delete or release victims’ information or restrict access to their data or smart devices.

    Secure credit monitoring ensures that customers receive an individual monthly credit score and are notified about any suspicious credit activity. 24/7 dark web monitoring alerts if information associated with a customer’s email address, phone numbers, SSNs, or other identity assets have been leaked.

    Currently, NordProtect is available only to users in the United States. For customers in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Sweden, Germany, and Italy, NordVPN offers cyber insurance benefits as part of its service bundles. These benefits include scam loss recovery and online shopping fraud recovery.

    About NordProtect

    NordProtect is a comprehensive identity theft protection service designed to keep users’ identity safe. With features like 24/7 dark web monitoring, credit activity tracking and security alerts, users can stay informed about potential threats and take action to protect themselves right away. Additionally, NordProtect helps users to get financial help and expert support if they fall victim to identity theft, cyber extortion or online fraud. For more information: www.nordprotect.com

    More information: egidijus@nordsec.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has provided an update to the House of Commons on the conflict in Gaza.

    With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement about the conflict in Gaza.

    In January, I outlined to the House the deal agreed between Israel and Hamas. It was a moment of huge hope and relief.

    In the weeks that followed, hostages cruelly detained by Hamas were reunited with their families and aid blocked by Israel finally flooded into Gaza. A path out of this horrendous conflict appeared open.

    It is therefore a matter of deep regret to have to update the House today on a breakdown of that ceasefire and yet more bloodshed in Gaza.

    On the night of 18 March, Israel launched airstrikes across Gaza. A number of Hamas figures were reportedly killed.

    But it has been reported that over 400 Palestinians were killed in missile strikes and artillery barrages, the majority of them women and children.

    This appears to have been the deadliest single day for Palestinians since the war began. This is an appalling loss of life and we mourn the loss of every civilian.

    Yesterday morning, a UN compound in Gaza was hit. I can confirm to the House that a British National was amongst the wounded. Our priority is supporting them and their family at this time.

    Gaza has been the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker.

    I share the outrage of UN Secretary-General Guterres at this incident. The Government calls for a transparent investigation and for those responsible to be held to account.

    The UK is now working closely with partners such as France and Germany, to send a clear message.

    We strongly oppose Israel’s resumption of hostilities. We urgently want to see a return to a ceasefire. More bloodshed is in no-one’s interest. Hamas must release all the hostages and negotiations must resume.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, diplomacy is the only way to achieve security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

    The House will know that the ceasefire in Gaza had lasted for almost two months, the result of dogged efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.

    The deal reached in January saw the nightmare of captivity end for 30 hostages and the bodies of 8 further victims of Hamas returned to their loved ones.

    We all remember the joy of seeing Emily Damari reunited with her mother and family, and the desperately-needed aid had begun to flow back into Gaza – food, medicines, fuel and tents.

    Children in Gaza had respite from relentless fear. The severely injured could cross the border again for treatment. Palestinians had begun to return to their homes and consider how to rebuild their lives.

    In the first days of the ceasefire, the UK moved swiftly to invest in the peace.

    We released £17m in additional emergency humanitarian funding for the promised surge in aid, bringing our total support this year for Palestinians across the region to £129m.

    We accelerated work on the pathway to reconstruction, supporting our Arab partners’ very welcome recent initiative.

    We worked at every level to support negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and the return of every single hostage and backed an extension to phase one of the current deal.

    But negotiations have been gridlocked for several weeks.

    Hamas has been resisting calls for the release of further hostages in return for a longer truce and Israeli forces did not begin to withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor as agreed.

    On 2 March, the Israeli government announced it was blocking all further aid deliveries until Hamas agreed to its terms.

    For weeks now, supplies of basic goods and electricity have been blocked, leaving over half a million civilians once again cut off from clean drinking water and sparking a 200% surge in the price of some basic foodstuffs – a boon to those criminals who use violence to control supplies.

    As I told the House on Monday, this is appalling and unacceptable.

    Ultimately, of course, these are matters for the courts, not governments, to determine but it’s difficult to see how denying humanitarian assistance to a civilian population can be compatible with international humanitarian law.

    Though it’s important to say I could have been a little clearer in the House on Monday, our position remains that Israel’s actions in Gaza are at clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law.

    The consequences of the ceasefire’s breakdown, Madam Deputy Speaker, are catastrophic.

    For the family and friends of the remaining 59 hostages, including Avinatan Or, the agony goes on.

    Hamas’ kidnapping of these people, their treatment of them in captivity, the cruel theatre of their release, depriving them of food and basic rights, these are acts of despicable cruelty.

    Hamas must release them all now.

    And Palestinian civilians, who have already endured so much, now must fear a rerun and a return to days of death, deprivation and destruction. 

    Civilians have once again been issued with evacuation orders by Israel.

    Only 4% of the UN Flash Appeal is funded – not even enough to get through to the end of this month.

    Health centres have had to close, even as the devastated Gazan health service has to treat another surge of those wounded in strikes.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, Hamas can have no role in Gaza’s future.

    A collapsed ceasefire will not bring the hostages home to their families.

    An endless conflict will not bring long term security to Israel. 

    And a deepening war will only set back the cause of regional normalisation and risk further instability – shortly after the Houthis resumed their unacceptable threats to shipping in the Red Sea.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, since the renewed outbreak of hostilities, I have spoken to Secretary Rubio, to EU High Representative Kallas, to UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher. And I will shortly speak to my Israeli counterpart Gideon Sa’ar and Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa.

    We and our partners need to persuade the parties that this conflict cannot be resolved by military means.

    We want Israel and Hamas to re-engage with negotiations.

    We continue to condemn Hamas, of course, for their actions on October 7th, their refusal to release the hostages, and their ongoing threat to Israel.

    But we are also resolute in calling on Israel to abide by international law and to lift the unacceptable restrictions on aid and demand the protection of civilians.

    Many months ago, only weeks into office, I concluded that there was a clear risk of Israel breaching international humanitarian law in Gaza.

    It was this risk that I first set out to this House in September which meant that the Government suspended relevant export licences for items for use by the IDF in military operations in Gaza.

    The actions of the last three weeks only reinforce that conclusion.

    Madam Deputy Speaker, in the days and weeks ahead, we will redouble our efforts to restore a ceasefire.

    But we will also continue to work with our partners on the security, governance and reconstruction arrangements. Those issues are not going away.

    There remains no military solution to this conflict. A two-state solution remains the only path to a just and lasting peace.

    At this dispatch box in January, I called the ceasefire deal a glimmer of light in the darkness. It feels like the darkness has returned.

    Former British hostage Emily Damari said the resumption of fighting left her heart “broken, crushed and disappointed”. I am sure she speaks for the whole House.

    But we must preserve hope. For the sake of the remaining hostages and their loved ones, for the people of Gaza, for the future of two peoples that have suffered so much for so long, we will keep striving for a return to the path of peace.

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Cardinal Tagle consecrates Bishops Sangalli and Sarrió Cucarella: Like Saint Joseph, be ‘silent’ heralds of the Word of God

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 19 March 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Bishops are called to be “silent” heralds of the Word of God. They do their work well when, without being protagonists, they become humble “guardians of the active presence of God in his Church”. And if their projects do not progress, it is better to “sleep” like Saint Joseph and “dream the dreams of God,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle in an address to Samuele Sangalli and Diego Ramón Sarrió Cucarella during the liturgy of their episcopal ordination in the Vatican Basilica on the afternoon of March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph.Samuele Sangalli, Adjunct Secretary and Head of the Administration of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches), was appointed Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Zella by Pope Francis on February 6 (see Fides, 6/2/2025). Diego Ramn Sarrió Cucarella, former President of the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI), of the Missionaries of Africa, was appointed by the Pope as the new Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria, on January 25.More than 30 bishops and Cardinals participated in the solemn ordination liturgy at the main Altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Missions and Principal Consecrator, had as co-consecrators Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio of Lombardy and Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Department for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches).On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph and exactly 12 years after the solemn inauguration of Pope Francis’s Petrine Ministry (“for whose complete recovery we pray”), Cardinal Tagle turned his attention to the Spouse of Mary in his homily to offer the two new bishops valuable inspiration for their new journey as Successors of the Apostles. According to the Second Vatican Council, they are called “to care for the flock of which they are shepherds in God’s place, as teachers of doctrine, priests of worship, and ministers of the government of the Church”, and “to be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with the blood of his own Son,” as Saint Paul says. “Beautiful teachings,” remarked the Filipino Cardinal, “which make even bishops tremble. How can a bishop live up to such a great responsibility? Surely only by the grace of God.””Saint Joseph too,” Cardinal Tagle emphasized, “accepted God’s call in faith.” Faith “is the source of Joseph’s courage and creativity, who always subordinates his project to God’s, even when it is incomprehensible and uncomfortable.” Similarly, the ordained ministry of priests and bishops must be “rooted in a response of faith in God and exercised as a response of faith.” Often, Cardinal Tagle noted, “we plan and expect God to carry out our plans.” In reality, however, “we are not the planners, and God is not the executor of our plans.” And “if your vision and your plans do not seem to be moving forward,” he added, addressing the new Bishops, “sleep like Saint Joseph.” For “when we sleep, we are vulnerable, have less control, and are therefore more receptive and open. Sleep and dream the dreams of God. Wake up to realize the dreams of God with obedience and zeal.”Saint Joseph, according to the Pro-Prefect of the Missionary Dicastery, is also considered a “silent saint.” Not a single word of his is recorded in the Gospels. Nevertheless, “he accompanies, nurtures, and preserves the Word of God, made flesh in Mary’s womb, the most important Word.” And “every thought, every heartbeat, and every action of Joseph speaks of one Word: Jesus. It is the only thing that matters. His own words pale before the greatest Word. He can remain silent.” Following in the footsteps of Saint Joseph, “deacons, priests, and bishops must also remain ‘silent’ when proclaiming the Word of God.” For “it is not our word that counts and must be preserved for posterity, but the Word of God.” And “if our thoughts, plans, decisions, and actions do not speak of Jesus, we could be “like resounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”Furthermore, Saint Joseph is “a reliable guardian of Jesus.” And while carrying out his mission to guard the Son of God, “Joseph knows that Jesus belongs to his Father’s house. Joseph’s house in Nazareth has value only if it remains a shadow of the Father’s house, from which he must draw light.” Along these same lines, Cardinal Tagle noted: “Deacons, priests, and bishops are also called to be guardians of God’s active presence in his Church.” Because “bishops are not substitutes for the eternally living God nor competitors of the Redeemer.” And like Saint Joseph, they are called to be “authentic signs of God’s presence in the Church” with a “discreet visibility of the shadow that depends on the light.”Precisely, imitating the “sober and essential style of Saint Joseph,” at the end of the solemn liturgy, Archbishop Sangalli read a few simple “words of thanks.” They were addressed primarily to the “Providence of God, which has granted this afternoon full of grace” and to Pope Francis, “who has called us to be bishops and to whom we renew our affection and our prayers for a complete recovery as Head of the Church.”The new bishop’s thanks were also directed to the three consecrators, “who truly express the universality of the Church, and to all the other concelebrating cardinals and bishops, for whose service we were admitted to the College of Bishops through the gift of the ‘Spiritus principalis,’ the Spirit who governs and guides the Church.” This Spirit, Archbishop Sangalli added, “I received from the Church” and “from the good example of my dear parents, who today are already in eternal Life.” Finally, the new Archbishop’s thanks also went to the “brothers and family members who have accompanied, supported, and encouraged my journey,” as well as to the clergy and “the Ambrosian people of Lecco and the Seminary of Milan, with my former companions.”Archbishop Sangalli also thanked “the communities and associations I served, not least the Sinderesi Foundation,” as well as the academic communities of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the various universities where Sangalli was a student and professor.The gratitude of the new Archbishop was also expressed towards the Dicastery of Bishops, where Sangalli served for 20 years and lived “in contact with the vibrant heartbeat of the building of the local Churches and the election of their pastors.” The new Archbishop’s final words of thanks went to “the great family of the Dicastery for Evangelization, which opens the whole world to the richness of different traditions and cultures, each capable of sharing and transmitting the Gospel in its own singular way.” (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 19/3/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The PKK says it will lay down its arms. What are the chances of lasting peace between Turkey and the Kurds? Podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    For over 40 years, the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey, fighting for Kurdish rights and autonomy.

    But in late February, Abdullah Öcalan, the PKK’s imprisoned founder, called for the group to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. Days later, the PKK, which is labelled as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, Europe and the US, declared a ceasefire with Turkey.

    In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to political scientist Pinar Dinc about what’s led to this moment and whether it could be the beginning of a lasting peace between Turkey and the Kurds.

    Despite being imprisoned in solitary confinement since his capture in 1999, Öcalan has remained a central figure in the Kurdish movement, both in Turkey and across the region.

    His call for the PKK to abandon its armed struggle came months after the leader of a Turkish ultra-nationalist political party launched an initiative to bring an end to the conflict.

    Over the past few decades, previous rounds of peace talks between the PKK and Turkey, most notably in 2009 and 2013-15, have collapsed.

    But Pinar Dinc, an associate professor of political science at Lund University in Sweden, says that since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel and the war in Gaza, the situation in the Middle East has rapidly changed. “It’s mutually beneficial to put an end to this war,” she says. “Both groups recognise the necessity of addressing regional tensions.”

    Dinc says international support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in north-eastern Syria, and its Rojava revolution, means that Turkey has been forced to recognise a new “Syrian Kurdish reality”. At the same time, she says, the Kurdish movement has also reached a limit in what it can achieve in an era of modern warfare.

     Turkey has a huge army. It’s one of the biggest armies of Nato. Now we see increased use of drones surveillance and advanced weaponry, and I think the PKK guerrillas in the Qandil mountains, what they refer to as the medya defence zones, they’re also realising that this is getting more and more difficult.

    Limited discussions began in March between the Turkish government and Kurdish political parties on a way forward in peace negotiations. Dinc says this is a real opportunity for a broader reconciliation process, but there will be real challenges in the detail of what it means for Turkey’s Kurdish population.

     The PKK is an outcome of structural problems arising from the longstanding oppression and marginalisation of Kurds in Turkey, and addressing these root causes is essential for achieving lasting peace.

    Listen to the conversation with Dinc on The Conversation Weekly podcast.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Gemma Ware is the executive producer.

    Newsclips in this episode from AP Archive, AFP News Agency, Sky News, Med TV, Gazete Duvar, DW News, Al Jazeera English and France 24 English.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Pinar Dinc is the principal investigator of the ECO-Syria project, which receives funding from the Strategic Research Area: The Middle East in the Contemporary World (MECW) at the Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, Sweden.

    – ref. The PKK says it will lay down its arms. What are the chances of lasting peace between Turkey and the Kurds? Podcast – https://theconversation.com/the-pkk-says-it-will-lay-down-its-arms-what-are-the-chances-of-lasting-peace-between-turkey-and-the-kurds-podcast-252646

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Next-Generation Water Satellite Maps Seafloor From Space

    Source: NASA

    More accurate maps based on data from the SWOT mission can improve underwater navigation and result in greater knowledge of how heat and life move around the world’s ocean.
    There are better maps of the Moon’s surface than of the bottom of Earth’s ocean. Researchers have been working for decades to change that. As part of the ongoing effort, a NASA-supported team recently published one of the most detailed maps yet of the ocean floor, using data from the SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) satellite, a collaboration between NASA and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales).
    Ships outfitted with sonar instruments can make direct, incredibly detailed measurements of the ocean floor. But to date, only about 25% of it has been surveyed in this way. To produce a global picture of the seafloor, researchers have relied on satellite data.

    [embedded content]
    This animation shows seafloor features derived from SWOT data on regions off Mexico, South America, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Purple denotes regions that are lower relative to higher areas like seamounts, depicted in green. Eötvös is the unit of measure for the gravity-based data used to create these maps.NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

    Why Seafloor Maps Matter
    More accurate maps of the ocean floor are crucial for a range of seafaring activities, including navigation and laying underwater communications cables. “Seafloor mapping is key in both established and emerging economic opportunities, including rare-mineral seabed mining, optimizing shipping routes, hazard detection, and seabed warfare operations,” said Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, head of physical oceanography programs at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
    Accurate seafloor maps are also important for an improved understanding of deep-sea currents and tides, which affect life in the abyss, as well as geologic processes like plate tectonics. Underwater mountains called seamounts and other ocean floor features like their smaller cousins, abyssal hills, influence the movement of heat and nutrients in the deep sea and can attract life. The effects of these physical features can even be felt at the surface by the influence they exert on ecosystems that human communities depend on.

    Mapping the seafloor isn’t the SWOT mission’s primary purpose. Launched in December 2022, the satellite measures the height of water on nearly all of Earth’s surface, including the ocean, lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. Researchers can use these differences in height to create a kind of topographic map of the surface of fresh- and seawater. This data can then be used for tasks such as assessing changes in sea ice or tracking how floods progress down a river.
    “The SWOT satellite was a huge jump in our ability to map the seafloor,” said David Sandwell, a geophysicist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. He’s used satellite data to chart the bottom of the ocean since the 1990s and was one of the researchers responsible for the SWOT-based seafloor map, which was published in the journal Science in December 2024.
    How It Works
    The study authors relied the fact that because geologic features like seamounts and abyssal hills have more mass than their surroundings, they exert a slightly stronger gravitational pull that creates small, measurable bumps in the sea surface above them. These subtle gravity signatures help researchers predict the kind of seafloor feature that produced them.
    Through repeated observations — SWOT covers about 90% of the globe every 21 days — the satellite is sensitive enough to pick up these minute differences, with centimeter-level accuracy, in sea surface height caused by the features below. Sandwell and his colleagues used a year’s worth of SWOT data to focus on seamounts, abyssal hills, and underwater continental margins, where continental crust meets oceanic crust.
    Previous ocean-observing satellites have detected massive versions of these bottom features, such as seamounts over roughly 3,300 feet (1 kilometer) tall. The SWOT satellite can pick up seamounts less than half that height, potentially increasing the number of known seamounts from 44,000 to 100,000. These underwater mountains stick up into the water, influencing deep sea currents. This can concentrate nutrients along their slopes, attracting organisms and creating oases on what would otherwise be barren patches of seafloor.
    Looking Into the Abyss
    The improved view from SWOT also gives researchers more insight into the geologic history of the planet.
    “Abyssal hills are the most abundant landform on Earth, covering about 70% of the ocean floor,” said Yao Yu, an oceanographer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and lead author on the paper. “These hills are only a few kilometers wide, which makes them hard to observe from space. We were surprised that SWOT could see them so well.”
    Abyssal hills form in parallel bands, like the ridges on a washboard, where tectonic plates spread apart. The orientation and extent of the bands can reveal how tectonic plates have moved over time. Abyssal hills also interact with tides and deep ocean currents in ways that researchers don’t fully understand yet.
    The researchers have extracted nearly all the information on seafloor features they expected to find in the SWOT measurements. Now they’re focusing on refining their picture of the ocean floor by calculating the depth of the features they see. The work complements an effort by the international scientific community to map the entire seafloor using ship-based sonar by 2030. “We won’t get the full ship-based mapping done by then,” said Sandwell. “But SWOT will help us fill it in, getting us close to achieving the 2030 objective.”
    More About SWOT
    The SWOT satellite was jointly developed by NASA and CNES, with contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed for the agency by Caltech in Pasadena, California, leads the U.S. component of the project. For the flight system payload, NASA provided the Ka-band radar interferometer (KaRIn) instrument, a GPS science receiver, a laser retroreflector, a two-beam microwave radiometer, and NASA instrument operations. The Doppler Orbitography and Radioposition Integrated by Satellite system, the dual frequency Poseidon altimeter (developed by Thales Alenia Space), the KaRIn radio-frequency subsystem (together with Thales Alenia Space and with support from the UK Space Agency), the satellite platform, and ground operations were provided by CNES. The KaRIn high-power transmitter assembly was provided by CSA.
    To learn more about SWOT, visit:
    https://swot.jpl.nasa.gov
    News Media Contacts
    Jane J. Lee / Andrew WangJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-0307 / 626-379-6874jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov / andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov
    2025-040

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCSD’s “Hong Kong Artists” Series to showcase local art talents (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    　　The “Hong Kong Artists” Series 2025, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will launch six brilliant programmes featuring 10 distinguished local artists skilled in violin, piano, cello, guzheng and vocal arts. Among them, a cross-genre performance of music and painting will be staged to showcase Hong Kong’s unique cultural character, embracing diversity and innovation. Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10am next Thursday (March 27). 

    　　Brief introductions of the programmes are as follows:——————————————–
    Date and time: May 10 (Saturday), 8pm
    Venue: Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
    Ticket prices: $240 and $320
     
    　　Curated by renowned pianist Colleen Lee and watercolour artist Fu Man-yat, this cross-genre arts programme presents works of French composers Debussy, Saint-Saëns and Ravel. Lee, together with three vibrant musicians – Aaron Chan (violin), Letty Poon (cello) and Rhythmie Wong (piano) – will perform alongside Fu’s paintings. The concert features interactions between painting and music, enabling the audience to experience the commonalities between the two art forms. ——————————————–
    Date and time: June 11 (Wednesday), 8pm
    Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
    Ticket prices: $200 and $240——————————————–
    Date and time: July 4 (Friday), 8pm
    Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
    Ticket prices: $200 and $240——————————————–
    Date and time: September 9 (Tuesday), 8pm
    Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
    Ticket prices: $200 and $240——————————————–
    Date and time: November 13 (Thursday), 8pm
    Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
    Ticket prices: $200 and $240——————————————–
    Date and time: December 1 (Monday), 8pm
    Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
    Ticket prices: $200 and $240 
    　　The “Hong Kong Artists” Series aims to provide a platform for local artists to showcase their remarkable talents. In addition to individual performances, it also encourages cross-genre works to highlight their unique styles. For more information, please visit the above-mentioned website. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Jury delivers verdict finding Greenpeace entities liable for more than US$660 million in Energy Transfer SLAPP trial

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Free speech and right to protest on the line in the United States 

    Mandan, North Dakota — A Morton County jury of nine reached a verdict in Energy Transfer’s meritless lawsuit against Greenpeace entities in the US (Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund), and Greenpeace International, finding the entities liable for more than US$660 million, today. Big Oil Bullies around the world will continue to try to silence free speech and peaceful protest, but the fight against Energy Transfer’s meritless SLAPP lawsuit is not over. 

    “We are witnessing a disastrous return to the reckless behaviour that fuelled the climate crisis, deepened environmental racism, and put fossil fuel profits over public health and a liveable planet. The previous Trump administration spent four years dismantling protections for clean air, water, and Indigenous sovereignty, and now along with its allies wants to finish the job by silencing protest. We will not back down. We will not be silenced,” said Mads Christensen, Greenpeace International Executive Director.  

    “This case should alarm everyone, no matter their political inclinations,” said Sushma Raman, Interim Executive Director Greenpeace Inc, Greenpeace Fund. “It’s part of a renewed push by corporations to weaponise our courts to silence dissent. We should all be concerned about the future of the First Amendment, and lawsuits like this aimed at destroying our rights to peaceful protest and free speech. These rights are critical for any work toward ensuring justice – and that’s why we will continue fighting back together, in solidarity. While Big Oil bullies can try to stop a single group, they can’t stop a movement.”

    Energy Transfer’s lawsuits are clear-cut examples of SLAPPs — lawsuits attempting to bury nonprofits and activists in legal fees, push them towards bankruptcy and ultimately silence dissent.[1] Big Oil companies Shell, Total, and ENI have also filed SLAPPs against Greenpeace entities in recent years.[2] A couple of these cases have been successfully stopped in their tracks. This includes Greenpeace France successfully defeating TotalEnergies’ SLAPP on 28 March 2024, and Greenpeace UK and Greenpeace International forcing Shell to back down from its SLAPP on 10 December 2024.

    “Energy Transfer hasn’t heard the last of us in this fight. We’re just getting started with our anti-SLAPP lawsuit against Energy Transfer’s attacks on free speech and peaceful protest. We will see Energy Transfer in court this July in the Netherlands. We will not back down. We will not be silenced,” said Greenpeace International General Counsel Kristin Casper.

    In February 2024, GPI initiated the first test of the European Union’s anti-SLAPP Directive by filing a lawsuit in Dutch court against ET.[3] GPI seeks to recover all damages and costs it has suffered as a result of ET’s back-to-back, meritless lawsuits demanding hundreds of millions of dollars against GPI and the Greenpeace organisations in the US. 

    — ENDS —

    Photos and Videos can be accessed from the Greenpeace Media Library.

    Notes:

    1. ET’s first lawsuit was filed in federal court under the RICO Act – the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a US federal statute designed to prosecute mob activity. The case was dismissed, with the judge stating the evidence fell “far short” of what was needed to establish a RICO enterprise. The federal court did not decide on the state law so ET promptly filed a new case in a North Dakota state court with these and other state law claims.
    2. A report by the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) documented 1049 SLAPP suits in Europe in the period 2010-2023, with 166 lawsuits initiated in 2023.
    3. Greenpeace International files lawsuit against Energy Transfer in first use of EU anti-SLAPP Directive

    Contacts:

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

    Join the Greenpeace SLAPP Trial WhatsApp Group for our latest updates

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE discusses revisions to the standard on seed potatoes to support trade

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The quality of seed potatoes is an important factor in determining crop yield, health and productivity.  Good quality seed potatoes allow for more production with less land, thus contributing to enhanced food security with reduced environmental impact.

    During the 52nd session of UNECE’s Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes (18–20 March 2025) in Geneva, delegates agreed on revisions to the UNECE Standard for Seed Potatoes (S-1), following a three-year review process. Initially adopted in 1961, the standard helps improve seed potato quality and safety worldwide, ensure fair competition and facilitate trade.

    The review was led by the delegation of Finland and included the delegations of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Australian Seed Potato Industry Certification Authority, Euroseeds, and Potato Certification Service South Africa. Their collaboration has ensured that the standard reflects the latest industry needs and best practices.

    The revised standard will be presented for adoption by the UNECE Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards at its 80th session on 17-19 November 2025.

    Why this update matters

    The UNECE Standard S-1 sets a common terminology and minimum quality requirements for certifying high-quality seed potatoes for international trade.

    It is used by government authorities, farmers, exporters, and buyers to ensure seed potatoes meet global standards. Clear, harmonized certification rules help buyers and sellers understand seed potato quality, reducing technical barriers. At present, this standard is the only international framework covering all key aspects of seed potato certification:

    • Varietal identity and purity
    • Traceability and disease control
    • Pest prevention and quality checks
    • Labelling and record-keeping

    “This revised standard is a crucial tool for the global seed potato industry. By ensuring clear and consistent certification rules, we are helping producers, certifying agencies and traders ensure quality seed potatoes. In today’s trade environment, having a reliable framework like this is more valuable than ever,” noted Hanna Kortemaa, Chair of the Specialized Section on Standardization of Seed Potatoes and Director of the Plant Production Department at the Finnish Food Authority.

    Key updates in the standard

    The revised UNECE Standard S-1 includes:

    • Improved certification process – a more transparent system to ensure that certified seed potatoes meet strict quality standards.
    • Stronger disease and pest control measures through updated inspection rules to prevent the spread of diseases.
    • Better traceability and labelling through clearer labelling and record-keeping requirements to help track seed potatoes across the supply chain.
    • Alignment with global trade rules, including European and North American trade standards.

    The future of seed potato trade

    With global seed potato exports amounting to 1.1 billion USD or 1.7 million tons in 2023, UNECE plans to continue its work by focusing on helping countries apply the revised standard in their national systems.

    For more details on UNECE guidance on seed potato certification and inspection, see the UNECE website.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘Declare your city genocide free’ – lessons from NZ’s nuclear-free movement

    COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle

    Today I attended a demonstration outside both Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Israeli Embassy in Wellington.

    The day before, the Israelis had blown apart 174 children in Gaza in a surprise attack that announced the next phase of the genocide.

    About 174 Wellingtonians turned up to a quickly-called protest: they are the best of us — the best of Wellington.

    In 2023, the City made me an Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian for service across a number of fronts (water infrastructure, conservation, coastal resilience, community organising) but nothing I have done compares with the importance of standing up for the victims of US-Israeli violence.

    What more can we do?  And then it crossed my mind: “Declare Wellington Genocide Free”.  And if Wellington could, why not other cities?

    Wellington started nuclear-free drive
     The nuclear-free campaign, led by Wellington back in the 1980s, is a template worth reviving.

    Wellington became the first city in New Zealand — and the first capital in the world — to declare itself nuclear free in 1982.  It followed the excellent example of Missoula, Montana, USA, the first city in the world to do so, in 1978.

    These were tumultuous times. I vividly remember heading into Wellington harbour on a small yacht, part of a peace flotilla made up of kayakers, yachties and wind surfers that tried to stop the USS Texas from berthing. It won that battle that day but we won the war.

    This was the decade which saw the French government’s terrorist bomb attack on a Greenpeace ship in Auckland harbour to intimidate the anti-nuclear movement.

    Also, 2025 is the 40th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and the death of Fernando Pereira. Little Island Press will be reissuing a new edition of my friend David Robie’s book Eyes of Fire later this year. It tells the incredible story of the final voyage of the Rainbow Warrior.

    “Eyes of Fire: the Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior” . . . a new book on nuclear-free activism on its way. Image: Little Island Press

    Standing up to bullies
     Labour under David Lange successfully campaigned and won the 1984 elections on a nuclear-free platform which promised to ban nuclear ships from our waters.

    This was a time when we had a government that had the backbone to act independently of the US. Yes, we had a grumpy relationship with the Yanks for a while and we were booted out of ANZUS — surely a cause for celebration in contrast to today when our government is little more than a finger puppet for Team Genocide.

    In response to bullying from Australia and the US, David Lange said at the time:  “It is the price we are prepared to pay.”

    With Wellington in the lead, nuclear-free had moved over the course of a decade from a fringe peace movement to the mainstream and eventually to become government policy.

    The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 was passed and remains a cornerstone of our foreign policy.

    New Zealand took a stand that showed strong opposition to out-of-control militarism, the risks of nuclear war, and strong support for the international movement to step back from nuclear weapons.

    It was a powerful statement of our independence as a nation and a rejection of foreign dominance. It also reduced the risk of contamination in case of a nuclear accident aboard a vessel (remember this was the same decade as the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine).

    The nuclear-free campaign and Palestine
     Each of those points have similarities with the Palestinian cause today and should act as inspiration for cities to mobilise and build national solidarity with the Palestinians.

    To my knowledge, no city has ever successfully expelled an Israeli Embassy but Wellington could take a powerful first step by doing this, and declare the capital genocide-free.  We need to wake our country — and the Western world — out of the moral torpor it finds itself in; yawning its way through the monstrous crimes being perpetrated by our “friends and allies”.

    Shun Israel until it stops genocide
     No city should suffer the moral stain of hosting an embassy representing the racist, genocidal state of Israel.

    Wellington should lead the country to support South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), end all trade with Israel, and end all intelligence and military cooperation with Israel for the duration of its genocidal onslaught.  Other cities should follow suit.

    Declare your city Nuclear and Genocide Free.

    Eugene Doyle is a writer based in Wellington. He has written extensively on the Middle East, as well as peace and security issues in the Asia Pacific region. He hosts the public policy platform solidarity.co.nz and is a frequent contributor to Asia Pacific Report.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Equinor presents 2024 Annual report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Equinor ASA (OSE: EQNR, NYSE: EQNR) publishes annual report for 2024, including financial and sustainability reporting.

    “2024 was marked by continued unpredictability in energy markets, with growing energy demand, political uncertainty and uneven progress in the energy transition. Our focus is on producing the energy the world needs today, and at the same time developing the energy systems needed for the future,” says Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor ASA.

    Safety

    “A systematic approach to safety over time is paying off with the best safety results to date in 2024. However, the year was marked by the fatal search and rescue (SAR) helicopter accident where we lost a dear colleague. We believe close collaboration with suppliers and shared learning in the industry is important for our continued safety improvement effort”, says Opedal.

    The twelve-month average Serious Incident Frequency (SIF) for 2024 was 0.3, down from 0.4 in 2023.

    Strong operational and financial performance

    Equinor delivered adjusted operating income* of USD 29.8 billion, and adjusted net income* of USD 9.18. Net operating income was reported at USD 30.9 billion and net income at USD 8.83 billion.

    “Our operational performance was strong, built on the dedicated efforts from employees across the company. Our role as a major supplier of energy to Europe is important and I am proud of the work we have done to provide energy security”, says Opedal.

    Strong operational performance across the portfolio contributed to an equity production of liquids and gas of 2,067 mboe per day in 2024, on par with the year before. Equity production of renewable power increased by 51% to 2,935 GWh.

    Strong financial result contributed to a return on average capital employed (RoACE)* at 21% for 2024. Capital discipline remained firm with organic capital expenditures* ending at USD 12.1 billion for the year. Equinor maintained a strong balance sheet with net debt to capital employed adjusted* of 11.9% at the end of 2024.

    The strong financial results of 2024 also led to strong contributions to society through taxes. In 2024, Equinor paid USD 20.6 billion in corporate income taxes of which USD 19.7 billion was paid in Norway, where Equinor has the largest share of its operations and earnings.

    Firm strategy and progressing industrial development

    “We have a consistent growth strategy, and our strategic direction remains firm. By adapting to market situation and opportunities, we are positioned for stronger free cash flow and growth, and set to create shareholder value for decades to come”, Opedal continues.

    Through progressing projects and portfolio shaping transactions Equinor spent 2024 high-grading the portfolio and positioning for stronger growth and cash flow.

    On the Norwegian continental shelf, the development of the portfolio continued with 39 new licences and approvals of the PDOs of Eirin, Irpa, Verdande and Andvare projects. The Johan Castberg FPSO arrived at the field and started preparations for startup.

    The international upstream portfolio was focused with the exits from our long-standing positions in Nigeria and Azerbaijan and deepened in core areas with the acquisitions of US Onshore gas assets close to premium markets. In the UK an agreement was signed to establish an incorporated joint venture with Shell UK Ltd., which will become the largest independent oil and gas company on the UK continental shelf.

    Through 2024 Equinor high-graded the renewables portfolio to ensure profitable growth, in a market challenged by cost inflation and regulatory delays. In the UK the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, continued to progress towards commercial start-up. Production was commenced at the Mendubim solar plants in Brazil.

    The long-term view on the importance of offshore wind remains firm. Through an acquisition of a 10% stake in Ørsted, Equinor got exposure to a premium portfolio of offshore wind projects and assets in operation.

    Value chains for carbon transport and storage progressed notably. In Norway, Northern Lights, the first commercial CO2 transport and storage infrastructure was completed and is expected to receive and store CO2 in 2025. In the UK, execution started for two of UK’s first carbon capture and storage infrastructure projects where Equinor is a partner.

    Progress on the Energy transition plan

    In 2024, Equinor achieved a year-on-year reduction of 5% in operated scope 1+2 greenhouse gas emissions, bringing the total down to 11.0 million tonnes CO2 equivalents. This is a 34% reduction from 2015, which is the reference year for Equinor’s ambition to reduce group-wide operated emissions by 50% on a net basis by 2030. Throughout 2024, actions were taken for further emission reductions with the partial electrification of the Sleipner field center, the Gudrun platform, as well as the Troll B and C fields.

    The average upstream CO2 intensity of Equinor’s operated portfolio was 6.2 kg of CO2 per boe in 2024 (100% basis), an improvement from 6.7kg of CO2/boe in 2023 and well below the industry average. The scope 3 GHG emissions from use of our products were 251 million tonnes in 2024, on par with the level in 2023.

    Equinor improved in the net carbon intensity of energy produced (including scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions) in 2024, which is now 2% below the 2019 baseline. The reduction was mainly driven by increased renewable energy production and lower scope 1+2 emissions.

    Equinor ambition is to to be a leading company in the energy transition. The updated Energy Transition Plan, published on March 20 2025, outlines the approach to deliver on Equinor’s strategy of creating value in the transition, while adjusting to changing external context and market realities.

    ***

    The previously announced decision of the French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), includes a requirement for Equinor to publish the following summary language:

    “Les sociétés Danske Commodities A/S et Equinor ASA ont été condamnées, par une décision n° 08-40-23 de la Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) du 20 janvier 2025, au titre de la méconnaissance de l’article 5 du règlement REMIT qui prohibe les manipulations de marché, au paiement de sanctions pécuniaires, dont les montants s’élèvent à huit millions d’euros (8.000.000 €) pour la société Danske Commodities A/S et quatre millions d’euros (4.000.000 €) pour la société Equinor ASA, pour des manipulations commises sur le marché de gros en 2019 et en 2020, en ce qui concerne les capacités de transport de gaz naturel entre la France et l’Espagne.

    Danske Commodities A/S and Equinor ASA were ordered by decision no. 08-40-23 of Commission de régulation de l’énergie (CRE) of 20 January 2025 to pay – for infringement of Article 5 of REMIT Regulation prohibiting market manipulations – financial penalties in the amount of eight million euros (€8,000,000) as regards Danske Commodities A/S and four million euros (€4,000,000) as regards Equinor ASA, for manipulations committed on the wholesale market in 2019 and 2020, with regard to natural gas transmission capacity between France and Spain.”

    The full decision is included in the attached appendix “Full decision text”. Equinor does not agree with the decision from CRE and will appeal the case to the Higher Administrative Court in France.

    * * *

    Our annual report and the subsidiary reports published separately can be downloaded from equinor.com/reports.

    * * *

    In accordance with Section 203.01 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, Equinor ASA announces that on 20 March 2025 it filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission its 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F that includes audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    The Equinor 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F may be downloaded from Equinor’s website at www.equinor.com. References to this document or other documents on Equinor’s website are included as an aid to their location and are not incorporated by reference into this document. All SEC filings made available electronically by Equinor may be obtained from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Shareholders may also request a hard copy of the annual report free of charge at www.equinor.com.

    * * *

    (*) These are non-GAAP figures. See Use and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the annual report for more details.

    Further information:

    Investor relations
    Bård Glad Pedersen, senior vice president Investor Relations,
    +47 51 99 00 00

    Press
    Rikke Høistad Sjøberg, media spokesperson financial communication,
    +47 901 01 451(mobile)

    * * *

    Cautionary Note regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect current views with respect to future events, are based on the management’s current expectations and assumptions, and are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those discussed under “Risk Factors” in the 2024 Annual report and elsewhere in Equinor’s publications. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by applicable law, Equinor undertakes no obligation to update any of these statements, whether to make them conform to actual results, changes in expectations or otherwise.

    * * *

    This information is subject to disclosure obligations pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation, ref. section 3-1 in the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, and section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 March 2025 News release Three cities honoured for public health achievements at 2025 Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Today, during the annual Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit in Paris, three cities were recognized for their achievements in preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries: Córdoba, Argentina; Fortaleza, Brazil; and Greater Manchester, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Summit, co-hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Health Organization (WHO), Vital Strategies, and the City of Paris, convened mayors and officials from 61 cities in the Partnership for Healthy Cities network to address pressing public health issues and share effective strategies for saving lives and building healthier communities at the local level.

    “Noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and injuries are responsible for more than 80% of all deaths globally, but the good news is, they are preventable,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases and Injuries, and 108th mayor of New York City. “Cities are leading the way in implementing policies that are protecting public health and saving lives. This year’s winning cities are proving that progress is possible with strong leadership and political will, and we look forward to seeing the results of their efforts.”

    The recipients of the 2025 Partnership for Healthy Cities Awards were chosen because they have made demonstrable progress in preventing noncommunicable diseases and injuries, setting an example that can be replicated in other jurisdictions.

    All three winning cities are part of the Partnership’s Policy Accelerator, which provides training and support for drafting policies and establishing the political strategies needed to develop and enact them. These cities are working with the Partnership to improve public health in the following ways:

    • Córdoba, Argentina, passed a new policy committing the city to promoting healthy school food environments by eliminating sugary and artificially sweetened beverages and ultra-processed products from all schools by 2026. The program has benefited 26 schools to date, reaching 15 000 of the city’s 138 000 primary school children.
    • Fortaleza, Brazil, established the city’s first legal framework for air quality surveillance. The 2023 decree guarantees the local monitoring of air pollutants to estimate their impact on residents’ health, along with the installation of low-cost sensors to improve data collection. Reliable data will help inform city policies that can significantly reduce air pollution.
    • Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, expanded the number of outdoor smoke-free areas as part of efforts to reduce smoking, including opening its first smoke-free park, covering 6.5 acres of public space. Greater Manchester also conducted a series of community consultations and workshops with residents to help with decision-making; launched a smoke-free toolkit and communication guidance for National Health Service (NHS) hospitals and sites; and is scaling this initiative by developing a broader smoke-free spaces toolkit for other organizations and groups that want to create smoke-free spaces.

    “Cities are at the forefront of the fight against noncommunicable diseases and injuries. The progress made in Córdoba, Fortaleza, and Greater Manchester is not only improving health today but also setting a model for others to follow,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “WHO is committed to working with cities to build healthier, safer and more resilient communities for all.”

    “Local leadership has emerged as a powerful force for addressing the complex challenges presented by noncommunicable diseases and injuries,” said Dr Mary-Ann Etiebet, President and CEO, Vital Strategies. “We applaud the work of city leaders around the globe in their efforts to create healthier, safer environments for their populations. Their efforts are having a significant impact on people’s lives and well-being, while also demonstrating to national governments that there is significant support for these policy solutions.”

    Launched in 2017, the Partnership for Healthy Cities is a global network of 74 cities working to prevent noncommunicable diseases and injuries. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with the World Health Organization and Vital Strategies, this initiative empowers cities worldwide to implement high-impact policy or programmatic interventions to reduce noncommunicable diseases and injuries in their communities. Through this network, city leaders are enacting transformative measures to improve the health of 300 million people across the globe.

    The mayors participating in the Partnership for Healthy Cities Summit include:

    • Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán, Bogotá, Colombia
    • Municipal Commissioner Palitha Nanayakkara, Colombo, Sri Lanka 
    • Intendant Daniel Passerini, Córdoba, Argentina
    • Honorable Administrator Mohammad Azaz, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    • Municipal President Verónica Delgadillo, Guadalajara, Mexico
    • Mayor Juhana Vartiainen, Helsinki, Finland
    • Mayor Erias Lukwago, Kampala, Uganda
    • Mayor Chilando Chitangala, Lusaka, Zambia
    • Intendant Mauricio Zunino, Montevideo, Uruguay
    • Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris, France
    • Mayor Pabel Muñoz López, Quito, Ecuador
    • Governor Claudio Benjamín Orrego Larraín, Santiago, Chile.

    About Bloomberg Philanthropies

    Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the arts, education, environment, government innovation, and public health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed US$ 3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for ournewsletter, or follow us onInstagram,LinkedIn,YouTube,Threads,Facebook, and X.

    About the World Health Organization
    Dedicated to the well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations – leading the world’s response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable. For more information, visit www.who.int and follow WHO on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube.

    About Vital Strategies

    Vital Strategies believes every person should be protected by an equitable and effective public health system. We partner with governments, communities and organizations around the world to reimagine public health so that health is supported in all the places we live, work and play. The result is millions of people living longer, healthier lives. To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org or follow us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contacts

    Veronica Lewin, Bloomberg Philanthropies, veronical@bloomberg.org

    Erin Pallotta, Allison Worldwide, bloomberghealth@allisonworldwide.com

    Jaimie Guerra, World Health Organization, guerraja@who.int

    Christina Honeysett, Vital Strategies, choneysett@vitalstrategies.org

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nuclear free Pacific – back to the future, Earthwise talks to David Robie

    Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

    Pacific Media Watch

    Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths of Plains FM96.9 radio talk to Dr David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report, about heightened global fears of nuclear war as tensions have mounted since US President Donald Trump has returned to power.

    Dr Robie reminds us that New Zealanders once actively opposed nuclear testing in the Pacific.

    That spirit, that active opposition to nuclear testing, and to nuclear war must be revived.

    This is very timely as the Rainbow Warrior 3 is currently visiting the Marshall Islands this month to mark 40 years since the original RW took part in the relocation of Rongelap Islanders who suffered from US nuclear tests in the 1950s.

    After that humanitarian mission, the Rainbow Warrior was subsequently bombed by French secret agents in Auckland Harbour on 10 July 1985 shortly before it was due to sail to Moruroa Atoll to protest against nuclear testing.

    A new edition of Dr Robie’s book Eyes of Fire The Last Voyage of the Rainbow Warrior will be released this July. The Eyes of Fire microsite is here.

    Lois opens up by saying: “I fear that we live in disturbing times. I fear the possibility of nuclear war, I always have.

    “I remember the Cuban missiles crisis, a scary time. I remember campaigns for nuclear disarmament. Hopes that the United Nations could lead to a world of peace and justice.

    “Yet today one hears from our media, for world leaders . . . ‘No, no no. There will always be tyrants who want to destroy us and our democratic allies . . . more and bigger, deadlier weapons are needed to protect us . . .”

    Listen to the programme . . .


    Nuclear free Pacific . . . back to the future.    Video/audio: Plains FM96.9

    Broadcast: Plains Radio FM96.9

    Interviewee: Dr David Robie, deputy chair of the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN) and a semiretired professor of Pacific journalism. He founded the Pacific Media Centre.
    Interviewers: Lois and Martin Griffiths, Earthwise programme

    Date: 14 March 2025 (27min), broadcast March 17.

    Youtube: Café Pacific: https://www.youtube.com/@cafepacific2023

    https://plainsfm.org.nz/

    Café Pacific: https://davidrobie.nz/

    This article was first published on Café Pacific.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why sharing meals can make people happier – what evidence from 142 countries shows

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alberto Prati, Assistant Professor in Economics, UCL

    Sharing meals can contribute to feelings of happiness, a new report suggests. Ground picture/Shutterstock

    The importance of sharing meals is recognised across cultures, from the Jewish Shabbat meal to the fast-breaking Iftar meals during Ramadan. The known link between food and social relationships is ancient. The English word companion, the French copain (friend) and the Italian compagno (partner) come from the Latin cum and pānis – literally “with-bread”. The Chinese term for companion/partner (伙伴) stems from a similar term (火伴) which literally translates to “fire mate”, a reference to sharing meals over a campfire.

    But how important is eating together to our happiness? This is the question that I and my co-authors answer in the World Happiness Report 2025. In our new data and analysis we looked at the link between how often people share meals and whether they feel good about their lives and experience positive emotions. We also documented that there was a massive difference between countries and regions when it came to how often people shared meals.

    Comparing the statistics from the 2022-23 Gallup World Poll about sharing meals with standard measures of wellbeing, we found a significant, positive relationship in almost all regions. Not only do countries where meal sharing is more common tend to report higher levels of wellbeing, but this is true even when comparing people who live in the same country.

    The Gallup poll asked more than 150,000 people from 142 countries and territories how many lunches and dinners they shared with someone they know during the past week. The scores varied widely between regions.

    Latin Americans share approximately two-third of their meals, with residents of Paraguay, Ecuador and Colombia reporting an average of more than ten shared meals per week. At the bottom of the scale, there are relatively low levels of meal sharing in south and east Asian countries – in particular India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan and South Korea, where people share less than one meal out of three, on average.

    While there is an association between sharing meals and wellbeing pretty much everywhere, this association is stronger in some regions than others. For instance, for a person who always dines alone in North America, Australia and New Zealand, the wellbeing benefit of starting to share most of their meals (eight or more times a week) in the life evaluation scale is big (the life evaluation scale is how people judge their life, with zero being the worst possible life and 10 being the best). This boost is equivalent to the effect of doubling their income.

    However, in Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa, this effect is half as great and is essentially nil in south-east Asia. The reasons for this difference is as yet unclear.

    For social scientists, the frequency of sharing meals offers an indicator for social connectedness (the ways that people interact with and relate to one another). Unlike measures that capture people’s subjective feelings about social wellbeing, the number of shared meals gives us a concrete measure on which to base our analysis.

    While interpretations of friendship or perceptions of closeness may change over time or between countries, the number of meals shared with others does not.

    Meal sharing by region and age:

    Of course, those who share more meals can differ in many other aspects, but even when we take into account characteristics such as gender, age, income, living alone and people’s ability to meet basic needs for food, the relationship between sharing meals and wellbeing still holds strong.

    While the global data we used was only introduced in 2022, some countries have collected information on meal sharing for longer. In the United States, where the American Time Use Survey has been running for more than 20 years, we find clear evidence that with every passing year, Americans are dining alone more often, particularly young adults.

    Today, 18 to 24-year-olds in the US are 90% more likely to eat every meal alone on a given day than they were in 2003. We also find that Americans who eat at least one meal with others report higher levels of happiness and lower levels of stress, pain and sadness on that day.

    How meals sharing is linked to emotions in the US:

    From our data, we can’t tell how much of a wellbeing boost sharing an extra meal
    creates, and to what extent people share more meals because they are already happy, but it is reasonable to assume that it is not just the latter. This would reflect previous research which has shown the importance of social capital (networks of social connections which are conducive to a well-functioning society) and the positive benefits of in-person interactions.

    In a world where loneliness is increasingly recognised as a public health issue, rethinking how we gather around the table, and how often, could provide practical solutions to reduce social isolation and raise wellbeing.

    Institutions where people routinely eat their meals together can play a critical role on this front. The other side of the coin is the surge in working from home, which could raise levels of solitude.

    So, if you don’t have plans for lunch tomorrow, maybe this is the good moment to message someone you would like to spend more time with.

    Alberto Prati is affiliated with the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford and the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics.

    – ref. Why sharing meals can make people happier – what evidence from 142 countries shows – https://theconversation.com/why-sharing-meals-can-make-people-happier-what-evidence-from-142-countries-shows-252352

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale expands in Germany with the acquisition of OLB, making TARGOBANK a universal bancassurer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                    

    Strasbourg and Düsseldorf, March 20, 2025

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale expands in Germany with the acquisition of OLB, making TARGOBANK a universal bancassurer

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has reached a major milestone in the development of its banking and insurance model in Europe with the signature of an agreement to acquire 100% of German bank Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB) via its subsidiary TARGO Deutschland GmbH (TARGOBANK).

    This transaction, on a scale not seen since the acquisition of Citibank in Germany in 2008 (renamed TARGOBANK), demonstrates the solidity and ambitions of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale. Already present in Germany, the mutual banking group is strengthening its foothold in Europe’s largest economy.

    This move accelerates TARGOBANK’s path to becoming a universal bancassurance player in Germany, following the model of its parent company. The consolidated group will become the tenth largest bank in Germany in terms of assets, with a comprehensive offering in corporate financing serving Mittelstand companies and in retail banking.

    The estimated impact of the transaction is -115 basis points on Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s CET1. This transaction is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, in particular the European Central Bank (ECB) and the competition authorities.

    Germany, the mutual banking group’s second-largest domestic market

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale aims to become a leading bancassurer in Europe. While it was the fifth largest banking group and tenth largest insurer in France in 2024, the group already generated 20% of its revenues internationally.

    Germany is the group’s second-largest domestic market, where it operates through several of its subsidiaries, in particular TARGOBANK, ACM Deutschland, and CIC. Thanks to its financial solidity, operating performance and technological edge, the group has major advantages to enable it to succeed in this consolidating market.

    OLB, a leading bank in Germany

    Founded in Lower Saxony, one of Germany’s largest states, where it has a strong foothold, OLB is a universal bank with operations throughout Germany. Thanks to an effective strategy of sustained growth over the past ten years, it serves one million customers. With more than €30 billion in assets, it is one of the leading financial institutions in Germany.

    OLB is active in two buoyant markets. It offers strong expertise in private banking and wealth management, providing a full range of banking and insurance services to individuals and professionals. It also stands out for its expertise in corporate financing (corporate, commercial real estate) and business acquisitions (LBO and acquisition finance).

    Togetherness Performance Solidarity: a successfully launched plan in its second year

    After the first year of the Togetherness, Performance, Solidarity strategic plan which closed with very high 2024 results for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, 2025 marks a major turning point for the mutual banking group.

    TARGOBANK’s acquisition of OLB will enable it to significantly amplify its transformation as a universal bancassurer in Germany, complementing the launch of ACM Deutschland’s commercial activities in the second half of 2025. In addition to offering rapid growth prospects for its retail mortgage lending business, TARGOBANK will be able to strengthen its position in the SME and mid-cap markets (Mittelstand companies), in wealth management and specialized financing, with the potential for synergies in revenue and cost efficiency for the medium term.

    With this transaction, TARGOBANK becomes the tenth largest bank in Germany. The consolidated group serves 4.8 million customers with total balance sheet of €79 billion.

    “The acquisition of OLB, marks a major milestone for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, fully aligned with its strategic plan Togetherness Performance Solidarity. We have the ambition to expand our activities in Europe, and specifically in Germany, largest European economy. With our subsidiaries TARGOBANK, which will integrate OLB, and ACM Deutschland, we are committed to become a bancassurer across the Rhine” said Daniel Baal, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale:

    “Our group’s history shows that it has the ability to successfully complete external growth transactions, in particular those of CIC, and, more recently, TARGOBANK and Cofidis. This strategic investment reflects our determination to become a leading bancassurer in Europe by integrating the resources and values of OLB into TARGOBANK. We are building for the long run.” added Éric Petitgand, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    “This acquisition marks a decisive step in Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s development in Germany. The respective and complementary expertise of TARGOBANK and OLB’s employees will enable us to significantly speed up our transformation as a universal bancassurer in the strategic German market. There is significant business and customer growth potential among individuals, professionals and businesses,” adds Isabelle Chevelard, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of TARGOBANK and Head of the German market for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    Stefan Barth, CEO of OLB, welcomes the transaction: “Over the past few years, OLB has pursued a dynamic growth strategy with remarkable results. We are proud to join Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, with which we share common values, to build together a stronger banking group.”

    Acquisition by Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale,
    via TARGO Deutschland GmbH,of Oldenburgische Landesbank AG (OLB)

    The Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and TARGOBANK teams, in accordance with the applicable competition laws, will work closely with the OLB teams to facilitate completion of the transaction in the interest of customers, members, elected representatives and employees.

    This project is subject to the usual conditions precedent and in particular the approval of the competent regulatory and competition authorities. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

    About OLB

    OLB is a universal bank that operates nationwide in Germany, and has over 150 years of experience in Lower Saxony. Under the OLB and Bankhaus Neelmeyer brands, the bank advises more than a million customers, in the retail, business, corporate and diversified lending segments. OLB has a network of 80 branches and nearly 1,700 employees.

    Thanks to a solid acquisition strategy over the last ten years (private banking operator Bankhaus Neelmeyer in 2017; Bremer Kreditbank, formerly KBC Bank Deutschland, in 2018; Wüstenrot Bank AG Pfandbriefbank in 2019 and more recently Degussa Bank in 2024), OLB has diversified its activities (retail banking, corporate banking serving Mittelstand companies, private banking, project finance, Pfandbrief refinancing, etc.) to become a universal bank.

    At December 31, 2024, OLB had net banking income of nearly €750 million, a cost/income ratio of less than 43%, and net income after tax of €270 million. OLB also saw its balance sheet assets surpass the €30 billion threshold, enabling it to become, in early 2025, a major financial institution supervised as such by the European Central Bank.

    Press contacts
    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale: Aziz Ridouan – +33 (0)6 01 10 31 69 – aziz.ridouan@creditmutuel.fr
    Corporate Communication Department: +33 (0)3 88 14 84 00 – com-alliancefederale@creditmutuel.fr
    TARGOBANK: pressestelle@TARGOBANK.de
    OLB: presse@olb.de

    About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

    One of France’s leading bancassurers with 77,000 employees serving 31 million customers, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has 4,200 branches which offer a diversified range of services to private individuals, local professionals and companies of all sizes.

    As the first French banking group to adopt the status of a mission-driven company, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale is made up of the following Crédit Mutuel federations: Centre Est Europe (Strasbourg), Sud-Est (Lyon), Ile-de-France (Paris), Savoie-Mont Blanc (Annecy), Midi-Atlantique (Toulouse), Loire-Atlantique et Centre-Ouest (Nantes), Centre (Orléans), Normandie (Caen), Dauphiné-Vivarais (Valence), Méditerranéen (Marseille), Anjou (Angers), Massif Central (Clermont-Ferrand), Antilles-Guyane (Fort-de-France) and Nord Europe (Lille).

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale also includes Caisse Fédérale de Crédit Mutuel, Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM) and all its subsidiaries, in particular CIC, Euro-Information, Assurances du Crédit Mutuel (ACM), TARGOBANK, Cofidis, Beobank in Belgium, Banque Européenne du Crédit Mutuel (BECM), Banque Transatlantique, Banque de Luxembourg and Homiris.

    Find out more at creditmutuelalliancefederale.fr

    About TARGOBANK

    TARGOBANK has almost 100 years of experience in the German banking market. It serves 3.8 million private, business and corporate customers.

    TARGOBANK offers simple and attractive banking products with high quality service so as to build a long term relationship with its customers. With a network of 340 branches spread in more than 250 cities in Germany aswell as a service accessible online and by telephone around the clock, TARGOBANK combines the benefits of a digital bank as well as local support whether in the local branch or at the customer’s home.

    TARGOBANK is headquartered in Düsseldorf. It employs 7,400 people throughout Germany, including 2,000 working for its customer center in Germany. There are also administrative buildings in Mainz (Factoring), Düsseldorf (Leasing & Investment Finance) and Frankfurt (Corporate & Institutional Banking).

    As a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, one of the strongest banks in Europe, TARGOBANK is a reliable partner for its customers.

    Further information: www.TARGOBANK.de

                                                    

    Strasbourg and Düsseldorf, March 20, 2025

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale expands in Germany with the acquisition of OLB, making TARGOBANK a universal bancassurer

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has reached a major milestone in the development of its banking and insurance model in Europe with the signature of an agreement to acquire 100% of German bank Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB) via its subsidiary TARGO Deutschland GmbH (TARGOBANK).

    This transaction, on a scale not seen since the acquisition of Citibank in Germany in 2008 (renamed TARGOBANK), demonstrates the solidity and ambitions of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale. Already present in Germany, the mutual banking group is strengthening its foothold in Europe’s largest economy.

    This move accelerates TARGOBANK’s path to becoming a universal bancassurance player in Germany, following the model of its parent company. The consolidated group will become the tenth largest bank in Germany in terms of assets, with a comprehensive offering in corporate financing serving Mittelstand companies and in retail banking.

    The estimated impact of the transaction is -115 basis points on Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s CET1. This transaction is subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities, in particular the European Central Bank (ECB) and the competition authorities.

    Germany, the mutual banking group’s second-largest domestic market

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale aims to become a leading bancassurer in Europe. While it was the fifth largest banking group and tenth largest insurer in France in 2024, the group already generated 20% of its revenues internationally.

    Germany is the group’s second-largest domestic market, where it operates through several of its subsidiaries, in particular TARGOBANK, ACM Deutschland, and CIC. Thanks to its financial solidity, operating performance and technological edge, the group has major advantages to enable it to succeed in this consolidating market.

    OLB, a leading bank in Germany

    Founded in Lower Saxony, one of Germany’s largest states, where it has a strong foothold, OLB is a universal bank with operations throughout Germany. Thanks to an effective strategy of sustained growth over the past ten years, it serves one million customers. With more than €30 billion in assets, it is one of the leading financial institutions in Germany.

    OLB is active in two buoyant markets. It offers strong expertise in private banking and wealth management, providing a full range of banking and insurance services to individuals and professionals. It also stands out for its expertise in corporate financing (corporate, commercial real estate) and business acquisitions (LBO and acquisition finance).

    Togetherness Performance Solidarity: a successfully launched plan in its second year

    After the first year of the Togetherness, Performance, Solidarity strategic plan which closed with very high 2024 results for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, 2025 marks a major turning point for the mutual banking group.

    TARGOBANK’s acquisition of OLB will enable it to significantly amplify its transformation as a universal bancassurer in Germany, complementing the launch of ACM Deutschland’s commercial activities in the second half of 2025. In addition to offering rapid growth prospects for its retail mortgage lending business, TARGOBANK will be able to strengthen its position in the SME and mid-cap markets (Mittelstand companies), in wealth management and specialized financing, with the potential for synergies in revenue and cost efficiency for the medium term.

    With this transaction, TARGOBANK becomes the tenth largest bank in Germany. The consolidated group serves 4.8 million customers with total balance sheet of €79 billion.

    “The acquisition of OLB, marks a major milestone for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, fully aligned with its strategic plan Togetherness Performance Solidarity. We have the ambition to expand our activities in Europe, and specifically in Germany, largest European economy. With our subsidiaries TARGOBANK, which will integrate OLB, and ACM Deutschland, we are committed to become a bancassurer across the Rhine” said Daniel Baal, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale:

    “Our group’s history shows that it has the ability to successfully complete external growth transactions, in particular those of CIC, and, more recently, TARGOBANK and Cofidis. This strategic investment reflects our determination to become a leading bancassurer in Europe by integrating the resources and values of OLB into TARGOBANK. We are building for the long run.” added Éric Petitgand, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    “This acquisition marks a decisive step in Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale’s development in Germany. The respective and complementary expertise of TARGOBANK and OLB’s employees will enable us to significantly speed up our transformation as a universal bancassurer in the strategic German market. There is significant business and customer growth potential among individuals, professionals and businesses,” adds Isabelle Chevelard, Chairwoman of the Executive Board of TARGOBANK and Head of the German market for Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

    Stefan Barth, CEO of OLB, welcomes the transaction: “Over the past few years, OLB has pursued a dynamic growth strategy with remarkable results. We are proud to join Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, with which we share common values, to build together a stronger banking group.”

    Acquisition by Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale,
    via TARGO Deutschland GmbH,of Oldenburgische Landesbank AG (OLB)

    The Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and TARGOBANK teams, in accordance with the applicable competition laws, will work closely with the OLB teams to facilitate completion of the transaction in the interest of customers, members, elected representatives and employees.

    This project is subject to the usual conditions precedent and in particular the approval of the competent regulatory and competition authorities. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

    About OLB

    OLB is a universal bank that operates nationwide in Germany, and has over 150 years of experience in Lower Saxony. Under the OLB and Bankhaus Neelmeyer brands, the bank advises more than a million customers, in the retail, business, corporate and diversified lending segments. OLB has a network of 80 branches and nearly 1,700 employees.

    Thanks to a solid acquisition strategy over the last ten years (private banking operator Bankhaus Neelmeyer in 2017; Bremer Kreditbank, formerly KBC Bank Deutschland, in 2018; Wüstenrot Bank AG Pfandbriefbank in 2019 and more recently Degussa Bank in 2024), OLB has diversified its activities (retail banking, corporate banking serving Mittelstand companies, private banking, project finance, Pfandbrief refinancing, etc.) to become a universal bank.

    At December 31, 2024, OLB had net banking income of nearly €750 million, a cost/income ratio of less than 43%, and net income after tax of €270 million. OLB also saw its balance sheet assets surpass the €30 billion threshold, enabling it to become, in early 2025, a major financial institution supervised as such by the European Central Bank.

    Press contacts
    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale: Aziz Ridouan – +33 (0)6 01 10 31 69 – aziz.ridouan@creditmutuel.fr
    Corporate Communication Department: +33 (0)3 88 14 84 00 – com-alliancefederale@creditmutuel.fr
    TARGOBANK: pressestelle@TARGOBANK.de
    OLB: presse@olb.de

    About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

    One of France’s leading bancassurers with 77,000 employees serving 31 million customers, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale has 4,200 branches which offer a diversified range of services to private individuals, local professionals and companies of all sizes.

    As the first French banking group to adopt the status of a mission-driven company, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale is made up of the following Crédit Mutuel federations: Centre Est Europe (Strasbourg), Sud-Est (Lyon), Ile-de-France (Paris), Savoie-Mont Blanc (Annecy), Midi-Atlantique (Toulouse), Loire-Atlantique et Centre-Ouest (Nantes), Centre (Orléans), Normandie (Caen), Dauphiné-Vivarais (Valence), Méditerranéen (Marseille), Anjou (Angers), Massif Central (Clermont-Ferrand), Antilles-Guyane (Fort-de-France) and Nord Europe (Lille).

    Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale also includes Caisse Fédérale de Crédit Mutuel, Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel (BFCM) and all its subsidiaries, in particular CIC, Euro-Information, Assurances du Crédit Mutuel (ACM), TARGOBANK, Cofidis, Beobank in Belgium, Banque Européenne du Crédit Mutuel (BECM), Banque Transatlantique, Banque de Luxembourg and Homiris.

    Find out more at creditmutuelalliancefederale.fr

    About TARGOBANK

    TARGOBANK has almost 100 years of experience in the German banking market. It serves 3.8 million private, business and corporate customers.

    TARGOBANK offers simple and attractive banking products with high quality service so as to build a long term relationship with its customers. With a network of 340 branches spread in more than 250 cities in Germany aswell as a service accessible online and by telephone around the clock, TARGOBANK combines the benefits of a digital bank as well as local support whether in the local branch or at the customer’s home.

    TARGOBANK is headquartered in Düsseldorf. It employs 7,400 people throughout Germany, including 2,000 working for its customer center in Germany. There are also administrative buildings in Mainz (Factoring), Düsseldorf (Leasing & Investment Finance) and Frankfurt (Corporate & Institutional Banking).

    As a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, one of the strongest banks in Europe, TARGOBANK is a reliable partner for its customers.

    Further information: www.TARGOBANK.de

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Warren Man Sentenced to Prison for Hate Crime of Defacing Predominantly Black Church

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    DETROIT – A Warren, Michigan man was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for spray-painting swastikas, the word “die,” and other graffiti on a predominantly Black church in Roseville, Michigan, Acting United States Attorney Julie Beck announced.

    Beck was joined in the announcement by Acting Assistant Attorney General Mac Warner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Chevoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    According to court documents, David Bluer, 34, pleaded guilty on December 3, 2024, to one count of damaging religious property. As part of his guilty plea, Bluer admitted that in October 2021, he spray-painted several swastikas, the word “die,” and other graffiti on the Roseville church, because of the race and color of individuals associated with the church.  Specifically, the defendant admitted that he intentionally defaced the church because the church serves a predominantly Black congregation and has a Black pastor. In addition, Bluer spray-painted swastikas, a racist slur and symbols, and other graffiti on the public bathroom of Trombly Park, in Warren, Michigan. The racist graffiti included the statement “DaviD KiLLS Ni**ERS.”

    “The defendant’s attack, motivated by race and color, instilled fear in not only the mostly Black congregants of the church, but damaged the entire community’s sense of safety. Our office will always vigorously prosecute those who commit unlawful bias-motivated acts and seek justice for the victims,” Acting U.S. Attorney Beck said.

    “The sentence of David Bluer sends a stern warning to anyone who seeks to invoke fear and hatred towards a specific group of individuals. The FBI is committed to upholding the U.S. Constitution, investigating civil rights violations and the protection of the American People,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. The hate-driven criminal acts committed by Mr. Bluer were halted through the relentless investigative efforts of members from the FBI Detroit’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, Roseville P.D., Warren P.D., as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, whose collaboration was crucial in securing this successful prosecution.”

    The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Carlson for the Eastern District of Michigan and Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: InternetNZ – Concern about AI remains high amongst New Zealanders

    Source: InternetNZ

    A recent Internet Insights survey conducted by InternetNZ has revealed that a large majority of New Zealanders (68%) are worried about the potential malicious use of AI and the lack of regulation surrounding it. While only 10% of respondents expressed more excitement than concern, 44% reported feeling more concerned than excited.
    InternetNZ Chief Executive Vivien Maidaborn believes that widespread acceptance of AI is still yet to come, but acknowledges that New Zealanders are taking the initiative to understand AI and its implications.
    Maidaborn stated, “We’re mostly still getting to grips with AI and exploring what it means to us. The concern that New Zealanders are expressing is reasonable, given the lack of awareness and education or Governmental guidance there is about it.”
    The survey also highlighted specific areas of concern, with 68% of respondents highly concerned about AI being used for malicious purposes. Other major concerns included insufficient regulation and laws (62%), inaccurate information from AI (62%), and unintended harm caused by AI (60%).
    Despite these concerns, 73% of New Zealanders admitted to knowing only ‘a little’ about AI, and 12% said they know nothing at all. Misuse of intellectual property was also a concern for 52% of respondents.
    Maidaborn emphasised the need for Government action to protect citizens from potential harm as AI continues to evolve, stating, “The New Zealand public bears the brunt of people creating tools and releasing them to the market without regulation, so we need our government to be thinking about what guidelines, policies, and laws are required to keep us safe and informed.
    “She also highlighted the importance of ensuring that AI benefits New Zealanders, stating, “The main focus for AI needs to be getting it to add value to our lives and to help us as New Zealanders, and that remains yet to be seen.”
    Currently, New Zealand is ranked 40th on the Oxford University Government AI Readiness Index. The United States, Canada, UK, France, and Australia are all in the top ten.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: North India’s first Nuclear project coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur,

    Source: Government of India (2)

    North India’s first Nuclear project coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur,

    Jaitapur Nuclear Plant to Contribute 10% of India’s 100 GW Clean Energy Goal Dr. Jitendra Singh in Lok Sabha

    Environmental Concerns Over Jaitapur Addressed, Project on Track

    In a significant policy shift, the government is also opening the nuclear energy sector to private participation to accelerate expansion.

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 5:01PM by PIB Delhi

    North India’s first Nuclear project is coming up in Haryana in a small town called Gorakhpur.

    This was revealed by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh while reaffirming the government’s commitment to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, calling it a critical step toward India’s clean energy future.

    Responding to concerns raised in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Jitendra Singh clarified that environmental clearance for the project is under renewal and that necessary safeguards are in place to address ecological and safety concerns.

     Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the government remains confident in the safety of the project despite objections from conservation groups and concerns about its location in a seismic zone. He stated that concerns about risks to marine life and local livelihoods have been raised repeatedly, and every time, the government has “tried to allay all these apprehensions that there is no such risk to the marine life, the fisheries, or the people living around, there are ample number of evidence-based studies to prove that.” He further clarified that the environmental clearance had expired in December 2022 due to procedural delays, not because of any new environmental objections. “If there were very serious environmental hazards or any apprehension or evidence, then we would not have got the environment clearance even earlier,” he explained.

    Tracing the project’s timeline, the Minister explained that while initial approvals were given in 2008, delays occurred due to shifts in agreements with French stakeholders. With technical agreements now finalized, discussions are ongoing to settle commercial terms with the French side. The Jaitapur plant, once operational, will house six nuclear reactors, each with a capacity of 1,730 MW, totaling 10,380 MW—accounting for 10% of India’s 100 GW nuclear energy target by 2047.

    Addressing concerns about nuclear liability, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) framework provides clear safeguards. The primary responsibility rests with the operator, and an insurance pool of ₹1,500 crore has been set up, with additional commitments from the government if required. Furthermore, India has aligned with global compensation mechanisms to ensure financial security in case of an incident.

    In a significant policy shift, the government is also opening the nuclear energy sector to private participation to accelerate expansion. Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the upcoming Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant in Haryana, marking India’s first nuclear project in North India, as part of this broader vision.

    With India aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070, the Jaitapur project is expected to play a crucial role in achieving the country’s clean energy ambitions while strengthening its position as a leader in nuclear technology.

     

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    NKR/PSM

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION:MATSYA-6000

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 4:26PM by PIB Delhi

    Matsya-6000 is India’s flagship human submersible aimed to carry three persons to a depth of 6000 meters, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, as part of the Samudrayaan project of the Deep Ocean Mission launched by the Government of India in 2021.

    Matsya- 6000 (2.1-meter diameter personnel sphere) which houses the crew is made of a Titanium alloy and maintains an inside pressure of 1 atmosphere (atm). Further, the personnel sphere spherical pressure hull is tested to bear 720 bars of pressure, which is 1.2 times more than the pressure expected at 6000 meters. All human safety parameters are continuously monitored during the operations and are communicated to the ship-based Mission Control Centre through an acoustic modem, with the pilot communicating updates through the Underwater Acoustic Telephone every 30 minutes. It is designed for operations of up to 12 hours, with an emergency endurance of up to 96 hours, supported by a DNV-certified Human Support and Safety System (HSSS). DNV (Det Norske Veritas) is an internationally accredited registrar and classification society headquartered in Norway. The HSSS maintains the oxygen level at 20 per cent, the CO2 level at less than 1000 ppmv (part per million by volume), and controls humidity by measurement sensors to ensure human life comfort and safety.

    The submersible is designed to perpetually float unless made to dive through water filling in its ballast tanks. It has three different combinations of weight drop mechanisms for ascending to the surface to maintain the safety. It has additional emergency power, control, and communication devices for emergency scenarios.

    Matsya-6000 is equipped with an Underwater Acoustic Telephone that has been operated and tested for operations up to 10,000 meters depth of human operation vehicles, in addition to a sub-phone rated for 500-meter depth operations. The voice communication is designed to be utilized every 30 minutes with the submersible pilot and the Mission Control Centre so that continuous communication is ensured.

    NIOT has signed MoU with the IFREMER (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea), France, facilitating scientific knowledge exchange and participation with the French human scientific submersible for 6000 meters depth named NAUTILE.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

    ******

    NKR/PSM

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Possible challenges in the multiannual financial framework and resources for agriculture and cohesion – E-001031/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001031/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Mario Mantovani (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Denis Nesci (ECR), Ruggero Razza (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR)

    A rumour is circulating that the Commission would like to reduce the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) to only four budget chapters, down from the current seven. The current 531 national programmes for territorial cohesion and agriculture would be cut to only 27, with a potential decrease in available resources. The potential challenges of the next MFF come on top of the need to repay NextGenerationEU debt, as well as the need to find fiscal space for investment in defence, competitiveness and the automotive sector, along with the recent Clean Industrial Deal, which commits to providing green policies with EUR 100 billion from the Innovation Fund, although that fund amounts to only EUR 40 billion, much of which has already been committed.

    The lack of clear, structured communication concerning the next MFF makes it difficult to start an institutional discussion on the Commission’s new policy actions.

    In view of the above, can the Commission answer the following:

    • 1.Does it not agree that, when the EU’s finances are facing difficulties, providing such significant support for green policies that have thus far been rejected by markets and consumers may amount to extremely imprudent financial management?
    • 2.Can it deny that agriculture and cohesion will face cuts in the next MFF?
    • 3.Does it not think that the scale of green investments should be reduced, to the benefit of agriculture and cohesion?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 19 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The EU’s digital transformation programmes and the European funds that have been disbursed to achieve it – E-001032/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001032/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Francesco Torselli (ECR), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Denis Nesci (ECR), Mariateresa Vivaldini (ECR), Chiara Gemma (ECR), Alberico Gambino (ECR), Sergio Berlato (ECR), Giovanni Crosetto (ECR), Francesco Ventola (ECR), Marco Squarta (ECR), Elena Donazzan (ECR), Michele Picaro (ECR), Lara Magoni (ECR), Antonella Sberna (ECR), Daniele Polato (ECR), Alessandro Ciriani (ECR), Pietro Fiocchi (ECR), Giuseppe Milazzo (ECR)

    Digital technology and infrastructure are an integral part of our daily lives, as they determine how we work and communicate and are also vital to advancing scientific progress and responding to current environmental challenges.

    The COVID-19 pandemic showed just how important it is for Europe to avoid depending on non-EU systems and solutions. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has further highlighted the vulnerabilities of our digital supply chains and the importance of investing in cybersecurity and drastically improving Europe’s digital capabilities.

    The EU has set up a number of programmes to support the digital transformation of industries, SMEs and public administrations. One of them is Digital Europe (DIGITAL), which enables the EU to respond to these challenges by funding projects in key areas such as supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced digital skills as well as initiatives which aim to ensure the widespread use of digital technologies across the economy and society.

    In view of President von der Leyen’s announcement of the launching of InvestAI (an initiative that will mobilise a further EUR 200 billion in funds, of which EUR 20 billion will be set aside for a European fund for AI gigafactories), could the Commission clarify how much has been spent so far to achieve the digital transition for European citizens and businesses?

    Supporter[1]

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    • [1] This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Stefano Cavedagna (ECR)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Long before debates over ‘wokeness’, Epicurus built a philosophy that welcomed slaves, women and outsiders

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Moran, Lecturer in the Department of English, Creative Writing and Film, University of Adelaide

    German Vizulis/Shutterstock

    If you peruse the philosophy section of your local bookshop, you’ll probably find a number of books on Stoicism – an ancient philosophy enjoying a renaissance today. But where are the Epicureans?

    Both philosophical schools were popular in the ancient world. However, while stoic works such as Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and Seneca’s letters still fill the shelves, alongside contemporary takes such as The Daily Stoic (2016), Epicureanism largely remains a historical curiosity.

    Today, the Greek thinker Epicurus (341–270 BCE) is mostly remembered as the originator of the term “epicurean”, which describes someone devoted to sensual enjoyment, particularly of fine food and drink.

    And while it’s true Epicurus argued pleasure is the highest human good, there’s a lot more to Epicureanism than merely savouring a glass of Shiraz with haute cuisine.

    Philosophers in the garden

    Epicurus was born on the island of Samos to Athenian parents. He studied philosophy in Athens before travelling to the island of Lesbos to establish a philosophical academy.

    Epicurus was born on the island Samos, a birthplace he shares with the famous polymath Pythagoras.
    Wikimedia

    Upon returning to Athens in 306 BCE, he bought a tract of land and began a philosophical community known as the Garden.

    The Garden was radically different from other philosophical communities at the time. While Plato’s Academy generally trained the children of the Athenian elite, and Aristotle tutored nobles such as Alexander the Great, Epicurus’ Garden was far more inclusive. Women and slaves were welcome to join the dialogue.

    The community led a frugal life and practised total equality between men and women, which was uncommon at the time. In this atmosphere, noblewomen and courtesans, senators and slaves, all engaged in philosophical debate.

    While many early Epicureans have disappeared from the annals of history, we know of some women, such as Leontion and Nikidion, who were early proponents of Epicurean thought.

    Away from the main city of Athens, Epicurus’ Garden became a space for his followers to seek relief.
    gka photo/Shutterstock

    Philosophy as a way of life

    It isn’t just the Garden’s inclusivity that gives it contemporary appeal, but its entirely unique notion of what constitutes a philosophical life.

    According to Epicurus, a philosopher wasn’t someone who taught or wrote philosophical tracts. A philosopher was someone who practised what the French philosopher Pierre Hadot describes, in his work on Epicureanism, as “a certain style of life”.

    Epicureanism was a daily practice, rather than an academic discipline. Anyone who strove to live a philosophical life was part of the Epicurean community and was considered a philosopher.

    The concept of philosophy Epicurus promoted was more egalitarian and all-encompassing than the narrow definition we often see used today.

    The pursuit of pleasure

    But what did it mean to be a practising Epicurean? Epicurus conceived of philosophy as a therapeutic practice. “We must concern ourselves with the healing of our own lives,” he wrote.

    This process of healing involves developing an inner attitude of relaxation and tranquillity known as anesis in Ancient Greek. To do this, Epicureans sought to turn their minds away from the worries of life and focus instead on the simple joy of existence.

    Epicurus distinguished between different types of pleasure and advocated for a life of moderate pleasure, rather than excessive indulgence.
    Wikimedia

    According to Epicurus, unhappiness comes because we are afraid of things which should not be feared, and desire things which are not necessary and are beyond our control.

    Most notably, he rejected the idea of an afterlife, arguing the soul did not continue to exist after death. He also argued it was wrong to fear death as it

    gives no trouble when it comes [and] is but an empty pain in anticipation.

    Instead of fearing punishment in the beyond, he said we should focus on the possibilities for pleasure in the here and now. But that doesn’t mean chasing every pleasure which comes our way; the task of the Epicurean is to understand which pleasures are worth pursuing.

    The highest pleasures are not those which yield the highest intensity or last the longest, but those which are the least mixed with worry and the most likely to ensure peace of mind. In this vein, Epicurus sought to cultivate feelings of gratitude and appreciation for even the simplest everyday experiences.

    While his critics cast him and his followers as unrestrained hedonists, he wrote in one letter that a single piece of cheese was as pleasurable as an entire feast.

    For Epicureans, it is precisely the brevity of life that gives us such an exquisite capacity for pleasure. As one Epicurean Philodemus wrote:

    Receive each additional moment of time in a manner appropriate to its value; as if one were having an incredible stroke of luck.

    A philosophy for outsiders

    Epicurus’ perennial appeal resides in how his philosophy gave strength and inspiration to outsiders. In the late 19th century, aesthetes such as critic Walter Pater and playwright Oscar Wilde praised Epicureanism as a way of life.

    In Wilde’s letter De Profundis (From the depths) – written in 1897 while imprisoned in Reading Gaol on charges of indecency – he wrote that Pater’s novel Marius the Epicurean (1885) had given him both intellectual and spiritual solace during his trial.

    Pater, too, had faced discrimination at Oxford for having homosexual relationships. His novel is an evocative celebration of the possibilities of a life lived in the pursuit of sensual and spiritual beauty.

    In one of his earlier texts, The Renaissance (1873), Pater paraphrases Victor Hugo, writing

    we are all under a sentence of death but with a sort of indefinite reprieve […] we have an interval, and then our place knows us no more. […] Our one chance lies in expanding that interval, in getting as many pulsations as possible into the given time.

    This profoundly Epicurean sentiment, of a life lived in the interval, remains appealing to those who seek to turn their lives into a work of art.

    Thomas Moran 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. Long before debates over ‘wokeness’, Epicurus built a philosophy that welcomed slaves, women and outsiders – https://theconversation.com/long-before-debates-over-wokeness-epicurus-built-a-philosophy-that-welcomed-slaves-women-and-outsiders-250772

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Canada and France are “peaceful powers and reliable allies”

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

    Statement by M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, ahead of the working lunch with Mr Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada (excerpts) (Paris, March 17, 2025)

    = Check against delivery =

    Prime Minister, thank you for being in Paris today; I’d like to welcome you and say how pleased we are to have you here. Firstly, because it’s your first visit and you chose France for this first visit abroad. It’s a huge honour and it also shows the importance of all the challenges we share. On a more personal note, allow me to wish you a very happy birthday, albeit a day late.

    As you powerfully said on Friday when you took office, France – through its culture, way of life and language – is an irreducible part of Canada’s identity, just like the First Peoples and the British legacy. And we’re proud of this. We’re proud of this shared history, we’re proud of having with us an ally in every battle, a nation determined to champion a fairer world, and a people driven by a humanist ideal. During the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings, we paid tribute to the courage and exceptional self-sacrifice of a generation of Canadians who came to fight right here in France, like their ancestors at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, for a certain idea of freedom. That generation continues to inspire us, and Canada is a unique friend to us.

    This has been the case since the war of aggression waged by Russia against Ukraine; your country has unfailingly stood by Europe and France and the Ukrainian people. And on Saturday morning we were together at a video conference with our friend the British Prime Minister and all the other allies and partners, to talk about this. The aim of this shared commitment to standing with the Ukrainians has always been to bring about solid, lasting peace, i.e. peace with robust guarantees that will protect Ukraine against any further Russian aggression and ensure the security of the whole of Europe.

    Canada and France are peaceful powers and reliable allies who will take part in this effort together. It is in this spirit that we’ll carry on our support for Ukraine and continue to demand clear commitments from Russia, and take all necessary initiatives to make progress together with our American, European and [other] international partners. And it’s obviously one of the issues the Prime Minister and I will discuss in a moment.

    In the current international context, we also want to be able to develop our most strategic projects with our closest, most loyal partners, because we’re convinced – I believe this goes for both of us – that we are stronger together, better able to ensure that our interests are respected and to exercise our sovereignty to the full. We must be ambitious in the defence and security sectors, but also beyond, in organizing the ecological transition, developing new technology and tightening our links as much as is needed.

    We’ve already had initial successes, as proven by the recent announcement that a consortium including French businesses had been chosen for the first stage of the planned high-speed train between Quebec and Toronto, which is symbolic in every sense. Further proof is the very strong turnout by your investors and businesses at the artificial intelligence summit, which shows Canada’s strong presence and the partnership we have together in this area. Our businesses are also talking about mutual investments in the critical-metals sector – essential building-blocks for any energy transition.

    I know how much you’re also promoting fresh ambition on nuclear energy, which is the focus of long-standing cooperation between our two countries, and on quantum, where our research centres and businesses have knowledge unique in the world, which is going to be developed as part of a bilateral agreement. And after the recent artificial intelligence summit I mentioned, we’re going to continue making active efforts together, because we’re holding successive G7 presidencies, with challenges which await you in a few weeks’ time and which we’ll continue addressing, as we did from Charlevoix to Biarritz a few years ago.

    We’ll also make sure that our friendship is useful in promoting our values and our shared commitments to defending democracies, international solidarity, development, fair trade and protecting the planet. Indeed, I think we both believe that fair trade which respects international rules is a good thing for everyone’s prosperity, and it’s certainly more effective than tariffs, which create inflation and damage production chains and the integration of our economies. We too believe that the freedom of expression so precious to our countries is not the same as an outpouring of hatred, violence, online harassment and opaque algorithms. That’s why your G7 presidency in 2025 should be an opportunity for us to make progress on each of these points and basically uphold together a fair international order, in other words something that is neither the law of the strongest nor isolationism, and that’s why we’re fighting.

    The most important part of all this is still our people-to-people ties, which are both close and warm. Prime Minister, French people love Canada. The French language unites us. (…)

    In any case, Prime Minister, cher Mark, as you’ve understood, we’re welcoming a friend here, we’re welcoming him very joyfully, creating a lot of ambitions and plans together. And having known you for many years, I also know we’re welcoming here a man who loves his country, is committed to serving its interests, and thinks you can serve your country’s interests by being a good comrade on the international stage and forging effective, respectful partnerships.

    That’s the spirit that drives us too. Welcome!./.

    MIL OSI Europe News –