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Category: France

  • Perricard exits Wimbledon but makes mark with fastest serve

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard departed Wimbledon as a first-round loser but the Frenchman left his mark on the Grand Slam with the fastest serve recorded in the tournament’s history – a 153 mph (246 kph) missile against Taylor Fritz on Monday.

    Perricard, whose match was later suspended due to the local 11pm curfew and resumed on Tuesday, was beaten 6-7(6) 6-7(8) 6-4 7-6(6) 6-4 but much of the talk in his press conference was about his status as a “serve-bot” in the men’s game.

    That was largely due to the 21-year-old’s reputation for consistently hitting huge serves and his record-breaking effort in the opening game of the contest which eclipsed the previous tournament mark of 148 mph set by American Taylor Dent in 2010.

    “I didn’t check the speed, to be honest. I saw that last night. I lost the point. I’m not doing some special technique to have a big serve or a fast serve. I’m serving like I’m supposed to do,” Perricard told reporters.

    “We don’t train a lot to be honest on this part of my game. It comes naturally.”

    Australian Sam Groth hit the fastest recorded serve at a professional event with a 163.7 mph (263.4 kph) rocket at the Busan Challenger in 2012, a match he lost in straight sets to prove big serves can be blunt weapons in the modern game.

    Perricard, whose thundering deliveries are greatly aided by him being 6ft 8in, said he expected serves to only get faster in the future as players push the limits of their physicality.

    “Players are stronger,” he added. “They have bigger shoulders, so I don’t know, 260 (kph), 270 (kph) maybe the next one is going to be.”

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian President V. Putin held a telephone conversation with French President E. Macron

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, July 1 (Xinhua) — The Kremlin press service said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron had a telephone conversation. They discussed the situation around Ukraine, the Iranian-Israeli confrontation and the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    This is the first conversation between the presidents in nearly three years. The last time they spoke by phone was on September 11, 2022.

    The heads of the two states discussed in detail the situation in the Middle East in the context of the Iranian-Israeli confrontation and the American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. It is noted that V. Putin and E. Macron pointed out the special responsibility of Russia and France as permanent members of the UN Security Council in maintaining peace and security, including in the Middle East region, as well as in preserving the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. “In this regard, the importance of respecting Tehran’s legitimate right to develop peaceful nuclear energy and continuing to fulfill its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, including cooperation with the IAEA, was emphasized,” the statement said.

    “The leaders expressed their support for the resolution of the crisis around the Iranian nuclear program, as well as the resolution of other contradictions in the Middle East, to be achieved exclusively by political and diplomatic means. It was agreed to continue contacts for the purpose of possible coordination of positions,” the Kremlin press service added.

    Speaking about the prospects for a peaceful settlement, the Russian president confirmed the fundamental approaches to possible agreements, which should be comprehensive and long-term, provide for the elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on “new territorial realities.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: General Assembly Endorses Nice Ocean Conference Declaration, Adopts $5.38 Billion Peacekeeping Budget

    Source: United Nations 4

    The General Assembly today endorsed the political declaration of the United Nations Ocean Conference, which establishes multilateral ocean governance.  It also adopted the $5.38 billion peacekeeping budget for the year starting 1 July. 

    Titled “Our Ocean, Our Future:  United for Urgent Action” (A/79/L.97), the declaration was adopted by acclamation at the close of the Conference held earlier this month in Nice, France.  However, today’s formal endorsement by the 193-member Assembly required a recorded vote, with 162 in favour to 1 against (United States), with no abstentions.  

    Several delegations objected to the vote, with the representative of France, co-host of the Conference along with Costa Rica, highlighting its strong political declaration and robust initiatives for the future as “a victory for the ocean”.  “The ocean doesn’t know borders” and neither should “our efforts to protect it”, said Costa Rica’s delegate, noting his country’s “steadfast” commitment to protecting the oceans.  He welcomed the momentum generated at the Conference for an early entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).  He also hailed promises to accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement to end subsidies for overfishing and decisive support for a plastic pollution convention as soon as possible.

    Brazil’s representative noted that the seas are “the planet’s main climate regulator” but “are running a fever”, while Australia’s delegate saw the adoption of this text as a testament to a collective commitment to address the urgency of climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean pollution.  The United States’ delegate said the focus on implementing Sustainable Development Goal 14 is inconsistent with its position on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

    Iraq’s delegate, speaking for the Group of 77 and China, noted that implementing Goal 14 requires more ambitious financial action, fulfillment of commitments made through intergovernmental agreements, and increased resources for small island developing States (SIDS) and least developed countries. 

    For her part, Venezuela’s delegate noted she had joined the consensus, while reiterating that it was not a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is “not the only single legal and regulatory framework for oceans and seas” — a position echoed by representatives of Iran, Türkiye, and El Salvador.

    Meanwhile, Argentina’s representative disassociated his delegation from all paragraphs referring to the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future, as well as all paragraphs contradicting the guiding principles of the protection of life, liberty, and private property. 

    The Russian Federation’s delegate disassociated from the consensus on paragraph 26 of the declaration, which emphasizes the importance of the early entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement.  The instrument would undermine the provisions of the Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks, with its norms allowing for impingement on the mandates and competencies of fisheries organizations.

    Japan’s representative hailed the adoption as “not the end but just the beginning of our renewed commitment to achieving SDG 14”, while Singapore’s delegate stated that the Convention on the Law of the Sea remains the “constitution for the oceans”, calling on Member States to fully respect it. 

    $5.38 Billion Budget for Peacekeeping Operations

    Acting on the recommendations of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), the Assembly also allocated a budget of $5.38 billion to 11 UN peacekeeping operations, the support account for these operations, the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe, and the Logistics Base in Brindisi.  These resolutions were adopted without a vote, with the exception of the resolution on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (A/C.5/79/L.36/Rev.1), which was adopted by 147 votes in favour to 3 against (Argentina, Israel, United States), with 1 abstention (Paraguay), after an oral amendment proposed by Israel was rejected by 5 votes in favour (Argentina, Canada, Israel, Paraguay, United States) to 83 against, with 57 abstentions. 

    The Assembly further adopted a draft resolution on the “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects” (A/79/424/Add.1), which was approved and forwarded by its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization).

    Tackling Illicit Trafficking in Wildlife

    The Assembly then adopted, by 157 votes in favour to 1 against (United States), with no abstentions, a draft resolution (A/79/L.96) submitted by the representative of Germany, by which the Assembly urges Member States to reinforce their efforts and adopt effective measures, as necessary, including by using special investigative techniques, consistent with article 20 of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, to prevent, investigate, prosecute and punish crimes that affect the environment, such as illicit trafficking in wildlife and wildlife products, which encompasses poaching and illegal harvesting of timber, including fauna and flora as protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

    Speaking in explanation of position, the United States delegate noted that the text contained matters that “should be discussed in Vienna-based anti-crime fora rather than in the General Assembly”. Further, he opposed the use of the term “gender mainstreaming,” insisting on the “biological reality of sex”. For his part, Argentina’s representative dissociated his delegation from all paragraphs concerning the 2030 Agenda and those that go against the protection of life and private property, including preambular paragraphs 1, 2, 18, 34 and operative paragraph 27.

    Promoting Interreligious, Intercultural Dialogue, Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech

    The Assembly also adopted a draft resolution (A/79/L.98) on combating hate speech, introduced by Morocco, by a recorded vote of 111 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 44 abstentions.  By the text, the Assembly called upon Member States to increase understanding about the spread and impact of hate speech, while continuing to adhere to relevant international human rights law obligations, as well as relevant United Nations instruments, in particular the Rabat Plan of Action.  Further, the Assembly called upon digital technology companies and developers to continue to develop solutions and publicly communicate actions to counter potential harms, including hate speech, bias and discrimination, from artificial intelligence-enabled content, including such measures as ensuring data integrity, incorporation of safeguards into artificial intelligence model training processes, identification of artificial-intelligence-generated material, authenticity certification for content and origins, labelling, watermarking and other techniques.

    Poland’s delegate, speaking for the European Union, whose members abstained from voting, emphasized that freedom of belief and religion applies to individuals, not objects or symbols, expressing reservations about preambular paragraph 14.

    The wording of that paragraph presents “serious concerns” in terms of freedom of expression and religious pluralism, noted the representative of Costa Rica, which further emphasized that combating hate speech cannot be achieved at the expense of freedom of expression.

    Hungary’s delegate indicated she could not support operative paragraph 23, which highlights one specific group, migrants, while the representative of the United Kingdom, who also abstained, refused to consider a text criticizing religion as incitement to hatred.

    Any restriction on freedom of expression must be circumscribed by law, necessary, and proportionate, argued Switzerland’s delegate, emphasizing that human rights protect individual beings, not religions or objects.  Furthermore, defamation of religions or religious defamation are not legal concepts recognized under international law.  For all these reasons, she voiced regret over the wording of preambular paragraph 14.

    For his part, Brazil’s delegate dissociated itself from paragraphs 11, 12, and 13, given that there is no agreed definition of hate speech and that this concept could be politicized.  Canada’s representative remained committed to the principle that everyone can exercise their freedom of belief and religion without fear of violence, also welcoming the attention paid to new technologies, while voicing concern over the wording of preambular paragraph 14 on acts directed against religious symbols and holy books.

    The Wiphala for Living Well in Harmony, Balance, Complementarity with Mother Earth

    The Assembly further adopted, by a recorded vote of 139 votes in favour to 2 against (United States, Israel), with 5 abstentions (Canada, Georgia, Paraguay, Peru, Türkiye), a draft resolution (A/79/L.95) introduced by Bolivia, who noted the Wiphala is “an age-old symbol born out of the deepest roots of Indigenous Peoples,” an expression of “the seven colors of the rainbow” and living in harmony with Mother Earth.  By the text, the Assembly called upon the international community to advance in the understanding, tolerance and solidarity among all peoples and cultures, and to strengthen efforts to eradicate manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, including against Indigenous Peoples, and promote respect for the diversity of their cultural manifestations, traditions, practices and knowledge systems.

    The United States representative, speaking before the vote, noted his delegation opposed the resolution’s focus on a single Indigenous community, further stating that the symbol remains controversial.  

    Mexico’s representative voiced regret that the Wiphala is limited to Bolivia and nearby regions, while Peru’s delegate pointed out that the text does not sufficiently detail the exact cultural origin of the symbol, and that the concept does not have a defined definition in a UN context. 

    While recognizing the cultural importance of the Wiphala for certain peoples of the Andean region, Canada’s delegate considered it inappropriate for the Assembly to designate a symbol specific to a geographical area as representing all Indigenous Peoples internationally.  This choice must be made by the Indigenous Peoples themselves, not by the UN, he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Rays of Hope Forum: Bringing Hope in Africa and Beyond

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    The IAEA’s Rays of Hope Forum returned to Ethiopia, where the cancer care initiative was launched in 2022.

    Cancer patients around the world are being given better access to life-saving care thanks to support from the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative, participants at a Rays of Hope Forum heard.

    Rays of Hope aims to widen access to life-saving cancer care where there is the most need; by helping low- and middle-income countries establish or expand medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine services. Since its launch in Ethiopia three years ago, more than 90 countries have requested support under the initiative.

    “Cancer is a top cause of death in Africa, taking 2000 lives a day,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking at the Forum opening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday. “Three years ago, here at the African Union Headquarters, we launched Rays of Hope. Today, we are bringing cancer care to countries that had none.”

    Temesgen Tiruneh, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, said: “Let this Forum be a call to collective action. Let it inspire deeper cooperation, bolder investments, and unwavering solidarity — so that no child dies from a treatable cancer, no mother waits endlessly for a diagnosis, and no nation is left behind simply because of geography or GDP.”

    The Minister of Health of Ethiopia, Mekdes Daba Feyssa and the Chief of Staff of the African Union Mohamed Al- Amine Souef also gave opening remarks at the Rays of Hope Forum.

    During the morning sessions, representatives from countries that have received support under the Rays of Hope initiative shared their experiences.

    These included Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health in Benin, Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, Minister of Scientific Research and Technology in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mekdes Daba Feyssa, Minister of Public Health in Ethiopia, Selibe Mochoboroane, the Minister of Health in Lesotho, lbrahima Sy, Minister of Health and Social Action in Senegal, Lawrence Ookeditse, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health in Botswana and Fredrick Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

    Countries which have donated to the Rays of Hope also spoke of the importance of the initiative. Speakers included Jens Hanefeld, Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia and Permanent Observer to the African Union in Ethiopia, Maurizio Busanelli, Permanent Representative of Italy to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia, Tsutomu Nakagawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the African Union and Julien Voituriez, First Counsellor, Embassy of France to Ethiopia and to the African Union.

    Watch the live stream here.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: In Dialogue with North Macedonia, Experts of the Human Rights Committee Commend Anti-Discrimination Measures, Raise Concerns about Reports of Excessive Use of Force by Border Officials and Attacks on Journalists

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Committee today concluded its consideration of the fourth periodic report of North Macedonia on how it implements the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, with Committee Experts commending the State’s efforts to address discrimination, and raising issues concerning reports of border officials’ excessive use of force against asylum seekers and attacks on journalists.

    A Committee Expert acknowledged the positive efforts made by the State towards strengthening the rule of law and addressing discrimination, pursued in the context of North Macedonia’s candidacy for membership of the European Union.

    One Committee Expert cited reports of excessive use of force carried out by border officials against asylum seekers.  How did the State party ensure that such reports were investigated in a timely and effective manner?

    Another Committee Expert said there had been an increase in attacks on journalists in recent years; how was the State working to prevent such attacks?  What training was provided to public officials on the right to freedom of expression?

    Nikola Prokopenko, State Counsellor for Criminal Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, said North Macedonia had been committed to implementing the Committee’s recommendations, which had been integral to strategic priorities in reforming the legal system, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing democracy in alignment with European standards.

    On measures to prevent discrimination, the delegation said the State was harmonising the law on the prevention of discrimination with relevant European Union directives.  The national commission monitoring discrimination had been strengthened; it had helped to develop national policies on preventing discrimination and to raise civil servants’ awareness of the issue.

    There were internal mechanisms within the police service that investigated complaints of excessive use of force and torture by police officers, the delegation said.  When evidence was found, criminal proceedings were instituted against the accused officer, who was also sanctioned.  There had been no reports of excessive use of force against migrants and asylum seekers between 2022 and 2024.

    The delegation also said recent amendments to the Criminal Code allowed for the ex-officio prosecution of attacks on journalists.  The State had worked to raise the visibility of crimes against journalists and increase punishments for such crimes.  There were four crimes committed against journalists in 2024; all these cases had been prosecuted.

    In concluding remarks, Mr. Prokopenko expressed appreciation for the constructive dialogue, saying that the Committee’s recommendations would serve as valuable guidance for strengthening laws and policies. The State would leave the dialogue motivated to build a more just and equitable human rights-based society.

    Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, in concluding remarks, commended North Macedonia on its ratification of international treaties, legal norms on gender-based violence, and policies on gender equality.  However, he said concerns remained related to issues such as hate speech, prison conditions, and the limited protection framework for asylum seekers.  Mr. Soh closed by expressing sincere gratitude to all those who had contributed to the dialogue.

    The delegation of North Macedonia was made up of representatives of the Ministry for Inter-Community Relations; the Agency for Audiovisual Media Services; the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Education and Science; and the Permanent Mission of North Macedonia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Human Rights Committee’s one hundred and forty-fourth session is being held from 23 June to 17 July 2025.  All the documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m., Tuesday 1 July to begin its consideration of the fourth periodic report of Latvia (CCPR/C/LVA/4).

    Report

    The Committee has before it the fourth periodic report of North Macedonia (CCPR/C/MKD/4).

    Presentation of the Report

    NIKOLA PROKOPENKO, State Counsellor for Criminal Legislation at the Ministry of Justice of North Macedonia and head of the delegation, said North Macedonia had been committed to implementing the Committee’s recommendations over the reporting period.  These recommendations had been integral to strategic priorities in reforming the legal system, strengthening the rule of law, and advancing democracy in alignment with European standards.

    In 2022, the State signed the Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime; in 2023, it ratified the European Convention on Human Rights; in November 2024, it ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents; in December 2024, it ratified the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products; and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure was in its final parliamentary reading.  In October 2024, North Macedonia was elected a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term.

    During the reporting period, North Macedonia completed implementation of the justice sector reform strategy 2017–2022, which laid the foundation for a more transparent, efficient, and accountable justice system; and adopted a development strategy for the justice sector 2024–2028, aimed at further advancing the rule of law and access to justice.

    According to the strategy for Roma inclusion 2022–2030, dedicated funds had been allocated from the national budget to support the implementation of targeted projects in areas of employment, housing, social inclusion, healthcare, and persons lacking personal documentation.  In parallel, the implementation of the strategy for combatting human trafficking and illegal migration (2021–2025) was in the evaluation process.  The State was developing the national action plan for the rights of the child (2025–2029), and the strategy and national action plan for the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (2026–2033).

    Over the past period, notable progress had been made in the legislative sphere, including through the harmonisation of the Criminal Code with the provisions of the Istanbul Convention; and the adoption of the law on audio and audiovisual media services, the new law on the media, and the law on the execution of sanctions, aimed at enhancing legal clarity and institutional effectiveness.  The State was also actively engaged in drafting amendments to the law on the Judicial Council, the law on the courts, the law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the law on the Council of Public Prosecutors.  These reforms were an integral part of the development sectoral strategy for the judiciary, aiming to further strengthen judicial independence, transparency, and accountability.

    The Government had partnered with the United Nations Children’s Fund to identify the most vulnerable groups of children and conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing services and programmes aimed at addressing child poverty and social exclusion.  It had enacted the law on justice for children and adopted a declaration on the prevention of and fight against violent extremism, which was jointly signed by religious communities and civil society organizations in the country.

    The consistent and effective implementation of reforms in the field of education remained a national priority.  Several reform-oriented laws on education had been adopted, aimed at enhancing accessibility, inclusiveness, and quality of education across all levels.

    The State party was actively implementing the second national action plan to support the women, peace and security agenda.  It had also focused efforts on strengthening institutional capacities for support to and protection of victims of gender-based violence, while intensifying activities aimed at the prevention of discrimination and violence against women and domestic violence.

    North Macedonia remained fully committed to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.  In December 2024, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a final resolution confirming the closure of two cases against the country, thus acknowledging its efforts in implementing the Court’s decisions.

    The fight against corruption and organised crime remained a high national priority.  The State was steadfastly implementing the national strategy for the prevention of corruption and conflict of interests, which set a comprehensive framework for transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity.  The Interdepartmental Body for Coordination of Anti-Corruption Activities played a vital role in fostering inter-institutional cooperation and ensuring the effective implementation of anti-corruption measures across all sectors. 

    The State party was currently drafting a new law on internal affairs, which introduced mandatory professional integrity checks for all personnel at the Ministry of the Interior.  In addition, it had adopted the plan for the prevention of corruption in the penitentiary system (2022–2026), as well as a sector-specific integrity policy.

    Towards the continuous development of staff in the penitentiary sector, the State had established a functional training and education centre, currently staffed with 31 certified trainers, which played a pivotal role in building institutional capacity, improving service delivery, and aligning penitentiary practices with European and international standards.

    In support of freedom of expression, the State had taken concrete steps to strengthen criminal law protection for journalists, thereby reinforcing a safe and enabling environment for independent journalism.

    The State party was prioritising both the enhancement of the legal framework and the strengthening of institutional capacities to prevent and protect against acts of torture and other forms of ill-treatment.  It had established the Commission for Monetary Compensation to Victims of Violent Crime, in accordance with the law on payment of monetary compensation to victims of violent crimes, which was adopted in 2022.  This mechanism envisaged a crucial form of redress and recognised the State’s responsibility to support victims on their path to recovery.

    In the period ahead, North Macedonia would intensify reform efforts and take more decisive, accelerated steps to ensure timely and effective implementation of the planned reform agenda.  Fully-fledged membership of the European Union would serve as a powerful catalyst for the effective realisation, advancement, and sustained protection of human rights in the country.  The State’s reform agenda for 2024 to 2027 promoted reforms that were integral to completing the European Union integration journey.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said the dialogue was taking place in the context of North Macedonia’s candidacy for membership of the European Union and membership of the Human Rights Council.  The Committee acknowledged the positive efforts made by the State towards strengthening the rule of law and addressing discrimination.

    North Macedonia had not provided information on the application of the Covenant in its report.  Was the Covenant used by national courts?  How did the State party ensure dissemination of the Committee’s general comments?  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the State party had adopted measures that derogated from the Covenant without reporting them.  Why was this?  The Committee had registered less than five individual communications from North Macedonia. What was being done to ensure that individuals were aware of the Committee’s communications procedure?

    The national human rights institution had “B” status under the Paris Principles and lacked resources.  The role of the national human rights institution as the national preventive mechanism had not been formalised.  Would the State party adopt a law to ensure that the Ombudsperson had sufficient resources and independence, and that its reports were followed up on by the authorities?

    The reform of the Criminal Code in 2023 reportedly made it more difficult to prosecute cases of corruption.  What results had been obtained in prosecuting cases of corruption and money laundering?  Had proceedings involving the former Prime Minister concluded? What was the mandate of the State’s Anti-corruption Commission and how was it funded?

    Another Committee Expert said North Macedonia had made many attempts to address discrimination, including the 2020 law on the prevention of discrimination and the establishment of the Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination.  However, this Commission reportedly operated with only a fifth of the resources it needed.  What challenges did the State party face in ensuring the effective implementation of the legal framework on discrimination?  How effective were remedies available to victims of discrimination?  How was the State party addressing barriers that prevented the reporting of discrimination?

    The national action plan on the Roma for 2014 to 2022 reportedly had achieved limited progress, indicating structural issues. What measures were in place to combat de facto segregation of the Roma in housing and education?  How was the State party empowering Roma women?  What steps had been taken to facilitate access to birth registration for all Roma persons?

    One Committee Expert asked about the results of the strategy for equality and non-discrimination for 2022 to 2026.  The State party needed to recognise discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as grounds for hate speech and hate crimes within the Criminal Code.  Would this be done?  Some 32 cases of hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex peoples had been brought to courts, but only two had reached convictions.  Was the State party considering measures to increase the conviction rate?

    Why did the State party impose long pre-trial detention periods of up to 180 days?  Would it revise its practices and ensure that pre-trial detention was used only as a last resort?  Could judicial sentences imposing pre-trial detention be appealed?  Did detained persons have access to a lawyer from the moment of their arrest, and did the State party implement alternatives to pre-trial detention?

    A Committee Expert said North Macedonia adopted a national gender equality strategy in 2017, but no progress had been made on the draft law on gender equality.  Why was this?  It was welcome that the State party had appointed its first woman President in 2024. North Macedonia had a comparatively high percentage of women members of parliament for the region, but had a low representation of ethnic minority women.  How was the State party addressing this?  Only three out of 18 ministers were women; only two out of 82 mayors were women; and women represented 36 per cent of managerial positions in the public sector.  What were the obstacles to improving women’s representation in decision-making?

    New gender-based violence and domestic violence legislation was commendable, but it did not recognise psychological violence and cyber violence.  Would the State party amend the Criminal Code to address these forms of violence? Violence against female journalists and human rights defenders had increased recently.  What measures had the State party taken to implement existing laws and protect these women from violence?  Women involved in court procedures related to gender-based violence were often unaware of their right to free legal aid.  Underaged mothers who were victims of violence were unable to access support shelters.  Cases of gender-based violence had increased in recent years, but there was a low number of criminal convictions of perpetrators.  How was the State party addressing these issues?  Had sufficient funds been allocated to implementing the national action plan on preventing gender-based violence, including to collect data on the issue?

    During the reporting period, North Macedonia had adopted a law permitting abortion from 12 to 17 weeks of pregnancy and regulations on abortion procedures.  However, abortion medications had not been registered and procedures were not available in rural areas.  Would the State party address these issues?

    A Committee Expert noted the establishment of accountability measures within the Ombudsperson’s Office to investigate complaints against police officers on acts of torture and ill-treatment.  Most investigations of complaints had not led to prosecutions; however, there were continued reports of police using violence to obtain forced confessions, and of excessive use of force carried out by border officials against asylum seekers.  How did the State party ensure that complaints of excessive use of force by the police were investigated in a timely and effective manner? 

    The Roma community reportedly continued to face violence and threats from police officers, and not enough was being done to investigate such cases in an impartial manner.  How would the State party ensure the effective investigation of such cases and the punishment of perpetrators?  How would the State party promote the effectiveness of investigative mechanisms, including the national preventive mechanism?

    There were reports of a lack of implementation of prison reform.  The prison system was reportedly severely overcrowded and understaffed.  Some prisons struggled to provide sufficient access to clean water and food, including for juvenile detainees.  What measures would the State party take to address prison overcrowding, provide adequate health and sanitation services in all prisons, and ensure that prison staff were trained on international standards on the treatment of prisoners?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that according to the Constitution of North Macedonia, ratified international treaties were part of the domestic legal order.  The State party had undertaken activities to raise awareness of the Committee’s individual communications procedure, and would work to raise the awareness of members of the judiciary about the Committee’s jurisprudence.

    In 2016, the State party adopted legislative amendments to strengthen the Ombudsperson, and a committee was now developing further measures to expand its mandate to monitor the rights of persons with disabilities and trafficking in persons.  National authorities had implemented 74 per cent of the Ombudsperson’s recommendations.  The State was considering measures to strengthen the degree of implementation of the recommendations.

    The State had increased the budget of the National Commission against Corruption by 47 per cent in recent years, and had developed an electronic platform for reporting cases of money laundering and organised crime, which included indicators for monitoring the anti-corruption policy.  It was also drafting amendments to the law on the prevention of corruption and conflicts of interest, which would make sanctions for misdemeanours stricter.  A law on the protection of whistleblowers was adopted in 2022, which had led to three related cases being brought to the courts.  The National Commission against Corruption produced annual reports, proposing initiatives for holding officials responsible and for institutions to respond to cases of corruption.  In 2025, 65 corruption cases were opened, most relating to violations of the Electoral Code involving non-reporting of conflicts of interest by political candidates.

    The State party had incriminated psychological violence in article 144 of the Criminal Code, recognising such violence as an aggravating circumstance.

    The civil oversight mechanism for torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment granted individuals the right to protection against ill-treatment.  Twenty-five complaints of ill-treatment by police were filed in 2024. There had been three complaints related to torture over the reporting period.  The Ombudsperson had established that there were no violations of rights in most of the cases.  Eight cases related to excessive use of force by the police were still under examination.

    Legal remedies were available to victims of discrimination, including civil lawsuits.  The State party sought to build the capacities of relevant entities within the judiciary to respond to cases of discrimination.  Discrimination was a subject in curricula at the judicial academy.

    North Macedonia had undertaken many activities to fight corruption within the prison system as part of the plan for the fight against corruption 2022-2025.  Amendments to the law on the execution of sanctions had been drafted, under which all prison staff would be obliged to make asset declarations.  In the second half of 2024, the State party increased the number of prison inspections.  Around 100 disciplinary actions had been imposed against prison staff in 2024, and proceedings had been initiated against two former prison wardens who were accused of abusing their authority.

    The State party had advanced the legislative framework to address prison overcrowding, while also developing prison infrastructure.  New laws concerning the Probation Service were being developed, which would increase the Service’s staff.  There had been more than 700 probation cases in 2024 and thus far had been more than 500 in 2025.  The State was promoting the use of probation instruments by the courts and had procured electronic bracelets for house arrests.  There were plans to increase funding for the reconstruction of the prison system.

    The Ombudsperson registered complaints of torture and violence in prisons, and there were plans to establish a registry of injuries among inmates.  The State party had increased the number of disciplinary proceedings against prison staff and had organised visits to prisons by non-governmental organizations. 

    In 2022, the State drafted the second cycle of the strategy for the Roma.  A coordinating unit for the strategy had been set up, and the budget for its implementation had been increased.  The strategy’s main focuses were healthcare, education, housing, employment and civil registration.  Most projects adopted under the former strategy had been completed.  The number of Roma who applied for social housing had increased, as had the number of Roma employees in the public administration. All Roma children born in the State had the right to birth registration, including children born to undocumented parents.

    The State party had developed measures to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, including measures to prevent the segregation of Roma students in primary schools.  The State party had increased the number of Roma education mediators, who were working on keeping Roma individuals in the education system and preventing discrimination.  Some 97 per cent of Roma students now progressed from primary to secondary school.

    North Macedonia had appointed gynaecologists in the municipality with the largest number of Roma.  There were health care mediators who supported Roma persons’ access to health care procedures.  Ante- and neo-natal screenings for the Roma were funded by the State.  Door-to-door vaccination campaigns were conducted in Roma settlements.

    The State party had adopted clinical guidelines for medically induced abortions and procured medications for abortions, but these had yet to be approved for use.  The State had, in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, trained doctors in one hospital to perform the procedure.

    Analysis was being conducted on the level of harmonisation of the law on the prevention of discrimination with relevant European Union directives, with a view to revising this law. The national commission monitoring discrimination had been strengthened; it had helped to develop national policies on preventing discrimination and to raise civil servants’ awareness of the issue. A research centre for the design of gender responsive budgets and policies was being set up and a report on the implementation of the national strategy for gender equality was being prepared.  Shelters for victims of gender-based violence and domestic violence had been set up across the country.

    There were internal mechanisms within the police service that investigated complaints of excessive use of force and torture and ill-treatment by police officers.  When evidence was found, criminal proceedings were instituted against the accused officer, who was also sanctioned.  A specialised department of the Public Prosecutor was mandated to prosecute police officers who had used excessive force.  There had been no reports of excessive use of force against migrants and asylum seekers between 2022 and 2024.

    The Criminal Code included provisions on cyber bullying, stalking, abuse of personal data, and sexual harassment. The State party had adopted amendments to the Criminal Code that included journalists within the group of professions performing in the public interest and increased penalties for crimes against journalists.  Defamation was decriminalised in 2017 and changed to an administrative offence.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on the strategy to bring the Ombudsperson to “A” status under the Paris Principles; progress in investigations into corruption cases involving high-ranking officials; the results of measures implemented by the commission to combat corruption and the national strategy to combat corruption; whether the national strategy against gender-based violence included measures for the collection of data on domestic violence; measures to address the anti-gender movement in the State; the share of the Roma in the national population and in public bodies; and investigations into cases of ill-treatment against the Roma community.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party was planning measures to strengthen the implementation of the Ombudsperson’s recommendations, including a deadline for reporting on implementation.  It would take into consideration the Ombudsperson’s financial independence and the status of its employees in upcoming legal reforms.

    From 2017 to 2024, 412 cases of corruption were opened, including 62 cases involving high-profile officials, including the former Prime Minister, and former mayors and prosecutors.  Some 110 indictments had been instituted related to abuse of official power, bribery and corruption.  Offenders had been sentenced to up to 15-year prison sentences, and assets had been confiscated, including more than 800,000 euros in one case.

    The State party had achieved great progress in prosecuting hate crimes.  The Criminal Code had been amended to expand the types of hate crimes and grounds for discrimination addressed, including discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  Training had been provided for the judiciary on the amended legislation.

    Hate speech was currently defined in eight different criminal laws.  The State party was preparing a revision to its Criminal Code that would establish a stand-alone offence of hate speech.

    In 2025, one case of an attack against a woman human rights defender had been brought before the courts.  There were a few cases of such attacks brought before the courts each year in the past three years.

    Pre-trial detention could be renewed for longer periods depending on the severity of the crime.  For most crimes, it could be renewed up to 90 days, but it could be renewed for up to two years for crimes punishable with life imprisonment.

    The State party was working to harmonise all national laws with the law on the prevention of discrimination and to raise public awareness of discrimination.  The Commission for the Protection of Discrimination lacked human resources, but had achieved great results, organising public awareness campaigns on international instruments related to discrimination.  Many citizens filed complaints with the Commission.  The draft law on gender equality was being analysed in cooperation with non-governmental organizations.

    The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy collected data from social work centres on domestic violence.  There had been 319 newly registered victims of domestic violence in the first quarter of 2025.  In 2024, there was a 14 per cent increase in reported cases of domestic violence. Awareness raising campaigns on the prevention of domestic violence had been carried out, which included information on the mechanism for reporting such violence.

    Gender-based attacks against women were widespread. Policies in North Macedonia were implemented with an obligatory gender analysis.  The State party was championing institutional support for women and their promotion to management positions.  Anti-gender equality movements had appeared in North Macedonia in 2023.  The State party had raised public awareness about gender equality in response.  Some 39 per cent of members of Parliament were women.  Under the new strategy for the prevention of gender-based violence and domestic violence, there were provisions on countering digital violence.

    The police did not keep data on the ethnic affiliations of persons filing reports on excessive use of force by law enforcement. Laws were equally applied when processing all reports.

    Refugees and asylum seekers were housed in open accommodation centres, but were free to leave those centres.  Refugees often transited through the country.  No asylum seekers’ applications had been rejected without reasonable grounds.  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees controlled the process of assessing asylum applications.  Asylum seekers who wished to report excessive use of force by the police or challenge decisions on asylum could lodge complaints with the appeals court or the European Court of Human Rights.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, presidential decrees were issued to enforce a state of emergency.  These decrees did not suspend constitutional rights, beyond enforcing a strict regime regarding movement.  A Constitutional Court ruling that invoked the Covenant had reversed a decision, which had banned certain persons’ from exiting the country.

    Alternative measures to detention, such as house arrest and bail, were applied by the State, and judges were provided with training on these measures.  Remand imprisonment was often stopped on appeal; in 2023, 3.6 per cent of cases were ceased after a court appeal.

    The State party was working to improve legal provisions governing excessive use of force, torture and abuse of office.  New amendments removed the statute of limitations on cases of torture and excessive use of force by the police.  The public prosecutor’s office had investigated 424 cases of excessive use of force by law enforcement officers.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert said North Macedonia had made huge efforts in combatting trafficking in persons, with a national action plan for 2021 to 2025 and a specific plan addressing child trafficking. Severe penalties had been introduced for the exploitation of children, and measures ensuring the non-punishment of victims and the provision of compensation and shelter had been introduced. There was a rise in the number of victims of trafficking identified in 2021 and reports of ongoing complicity by the police regarding trafficking.  How was this complicity being addressed?  How did the State party ensure victims had access to support and compensation in line with international standards?  How was it addressing the root causes of trafficking, including poverty, lack of education and social marginalisation?  How would the State party enhance identification of adult victims of trafficking?

    The legal framework on political representation had been updated, which had led to increased representation of minority groups in Parliament.  However, there were no representatives of the Roma community.  The Ombudsperson had also reported an increased representation of minorities in the public sector from 2007 to 2020.  There was a lack of funds and staff for the agencies working for the rights of minorities.  How would this be addressed?  How was the State party collecting data on the needs of minorities, and promoting their cultural identities and participation in cultural life?  What measures were in place to promote the Macedonian cultural identity?

    One Committee Expert welcomed that the Constitutional Court passed a decision in 2012 repealing articles of the law on travel documents, granting every citizen the right to freedom of movement. However, several complaints had been filed at the European Court of Human Rights regarding legal limitations on the rights of freedom of movement of the Roma.  In 2023, the Court found that Romani citizens’ freedom of movement had been violated, ordering the State to provide remedies.  What measures were in place to ensure that the right of freedom of movement of the Roma was protected, and that all persons who restricted that right in border areas were held to account?  How had the decision of the European Court of Human Rights been implemented?

    Asylum seekers faced prolonged waits for biometric identification, which restricted their access to basic services.  Reports of detention of asylum seekers were also concerning.  Two temporary transit centres in North Macedonia reportedly operated without State regulation.  How would the State party expedite the issuance of biometric identification to asylum seekers and refugees to facilitate their freedom of movement and access to services?  How would it ensure that detention of asylum seekers was implemented only as a last resort and prevent the detention of women and children asylum seekers?  There were reports of pushbacks of asylum seekers, in violation of the principle of non-refoulement.  Had these incidents been investigated?

    The Committee welcomed several positive measures by the State party to address statelessness, including ratification of the 1963 Statelessness Convention and efforts to provide stateless persons with documentation.  However, there was no official statelessness determination procedure, and some regions had insufficient birth registration systems.  How would the State party strengthen measures to register undocumented persons and ensure that all Roma persons were registered?  Would it establish an effective and fair statelessness determination procedure?

    One Committee Expert asked about the status of the bill amending witness protection measures.  There were significant delays in court cases on corruption and allegations of a lack of transparency in the appointment of judges on the Judicial Council. Could the delegation comment on these issues?  Had implementation of the strategy to strengthen the justice system improved access to justice for marginalised persons?  There was a significant backlog of administrative dispute cases; how was this being addressed?

    A bill on religious groups had been developed which sought to harmonise religious laws with provisions of the Criminal Code and punish antisemitism and the glorification of fascism.  What was the status of this bill?  Had measures been adopted to identify cases of hate speech against religious groups online and punish perpetrators?

    How many journalists had been punished under the law on slander?  There had been an increase in attacks on journalists in recent years; how was the State working to prevent such attacks?  What training was provided to public officials on the right to freedom of expression?  What activities were undertaken by the prosecutor’s office to monitor threats against journalists?

    A Committee Expert asked about legal guarantees offered to persons who were subject to illegal surveillance.  How did judges intervene in such cases?  Was there an exclusion regime in courts for evidence which had been obtained illegally?  What progress had been made in reforming police guidelines related to the collection and treatment of detainees’ data?  What measures were implemented through the State’s digital transformation strategy?

    Another Committee Expert said that in 2024, North Macedonia adopted a law on justice for children that incorporated the best interests of the child.  This was a positive step.  However, only 22 per cent of families with children in North Macedonia were receiving family cash benefits, and more than 7,000 children with disabilities did not receive disability benefits.  What plans were in place to improve social support for children with disabilities and their families?

    What measures were in place to abolish child and forced marriages?  Violence against children remained a problem in the State.  Almost three-quarters of all children were exposed to violent discipline at home, with higher rates for children with disabilities.  Roma children made up 75 per cent of children in correctional facilities, where they were subjected to solitary confinement. What could be done to protect all children in the country?

    It was welcome that measures were taken to improve the accessibility of the voting process for persons with disabilities. How did the State party support the candidacy of persons with disabilities in elections?  What had been done to support undocumented persons and detained persons to exercise their voting rights?  The Constitutional Court had struck down amendments to the electoral code in 2025.  How would the State party ensure that future legal amendments to electoral laws did not infringe on voting rights?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the national action plan on trafficking in persons included measures to increase the police’s capacity to address trafficking cases.  The State party applied the principle of non-refoulement for victims of trafficking; it did not forcibly return them to their places of origin.  It was setting up a working group to develop the next iteration of the national action plan on trafficking for 2026 to 2030.  A law on compensation for victims of trafficking was adopted in 2022.  North Macedonia was part of a working group on combatting trafficking in the Western Balkans.  The State conducted awareness raising campaigns on identifying trafficking victims. A roadmap for treating victims of trafficking had also been developed, as had guidelines for their legal representation and reintegration.

    The national strategy on cohesion and multiculturalism included policies promoting culture, education and media representation.  The Ministry for Inter-Community Relations had allocated funds for marking national days for different communities’ celebrations.  The State provided funds to 33 non-governmental organizations to implement activities promoting multiculturalism, ethnic coexistence and minority languages.

    Instruction in primary schools was provided in Macedonian and communities’ local languages, including Albanian, Bosnian and Serbian.  Some 64,000 pupils received instruction in their mother tongues.  All students could learn the minority language of their community, which was taught as an optional subject.  Teaching programmes for Macedonian as a second language had been implemented. The State provided grants to primary and secondary schools to facilitate programmes promoting ethnic harmony. Criteria for developing textbooks written in minority languages had been lowered to facilitate their development.

    Amendments had been made to the Criminal Code to prevent impunity for trafficking crimes.  The criminal procedural law included provisions on the protection of witnesses, which applied to all vulnerable witnesses.  The State party was working to amend this law in line with relevant European Union directives.  The law on witness protection, which was adopted in 2005, was in line with international standards.

    The State party had implemented reforms to the law on surveillance of communications and had established the operative technical agency. These efforts aimed to ensure that regulation of surveillance was in line with international standards.  In 2023, five officers were charged for the destruction of surveillance equipment and were issued prison sentences.

    Amendments to the Criminal Code in 2022 had resulted in the statute of limitations expiring for certain cases related to organised crime and corruption, leading to reduced sentences.  The State party was working to address this shortcoming in its ongoing revision of the Criminal Code.  The average time for the conclusion of administrative cases was 188 days.

    North Macedonia had developed a law prohibiting antisemitism and the glorification of genocide and fascist crimes.  It had also amended the law on the Judicial Council that required the Council to provide explanations for the election of all judges; it would be adopted soon.  The law envisaged the inclusion of non-governmental organizations in the process of electing judges.

    As part of judicial reform efforts, the State had taken steps to address shortcomings in the judiciary that led to cases being passed back and forth between courts, and had set up an electronic case register.  It was also reforming its legal aid system and had provided increased training to legal aid practitioners.

    Recent amendments to the Criminal Code allowed for the ex-officio prosecution of attacks on journalists.  The State had worked to raise the visibility of crimes against journalists and increase punishments for such crimes.  There were four crimes committed against journalists in 2024; all these cases had been prosecuted.  In 2024, there were 15 lawsuits filed against journalists for defamation.  Measures had been implemented to reduce the amount of compensation ordered in these cases, and alternatives to compensation, such as public apologies, were promoted.

    The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy would soon adopt a national action plan on children’s rights, which would address issues such as child poverty and protection from violence.  There was also a strategy for deinstitutionalisation which ensured that no children were placed in institutions; more than 600 children had been placed in foster families.  The State sought to increase healthcare coverage for preschool children.  To combat poverty, the State provided guaranteed minimal child benefits and benefits for children with disabilities and the families that cared for such children.  Measures were in place to support access to the labour market for disadvantaged persons.  Inspections were carried out to identify cases of child abuse and neglect. Amendments to the law on the family were planned to prohibit child marriage.

    The State party was implementing measures to support the participation of persons with disabilities in elections.  North Macedonia had adopted a national strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities and a related action plan. Some 75 experts had been trained to recognise difficulties in child development.  The State party was expanding the network of social protection services for persons with disabilities, including family-based care services.

    In 2018, the State incriminated violence against children, including cyberviolence, which was punished with up to three years imprisonment.  Trafficking of children was considered an aggravating circumstance.  The State party would work to raise public awareness to prevent child marriages.

    Under the national strategy on the Roma, data was collected on areas such as housing and employment.  Around 1.9 per cent of the Roma community was part of the public administration.  All births could be registered, regardless of whether the parents were documented or not. North Macedonia sought to eradicate statelessness.  There were 100 unresolved cases of unregistered persons, but their cases would be resolved through the law on foreigners.  Asylum seekers waited only 15 days to receive identification documents; there were no cases of forced expulsion.  Amended regulations prescribed time limits for keeping biometric materials.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on how biometric data was stored by the police; measures to prevent non-refoulement and to investigate alleged cases of pushbacks, including those involving Greece; efforts to legally recognise religious groups that were not recognised in the Constitution; efforts to implement European Court of Human Rights decisions related to the freedom of movement of Roma individuals; statistics on compensation paid to victims of abuse by law enforcement officials; quotas for representation of women and minority ethnic groups in elections in North Macedonia in 2025 and 2026; the voter turnout rate for the most recent election and mechanisms promoting voter participation; whether the State party had any pending ratifications of international human rights treaties; and whether it investigated reports by non-governmental organizations of pushbacks at the border.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said there were no recent reports of pushbacks of asylum seekers at the border.  Greek authorities reacted to problems at the border with Greece.  A period had been set for the storage of biometric materials and guidelines had been developed on storage methods.

    The law on witness protection established a witness protection unit within the Ministry of Interior and the Council for Witness Protection.  Witness protection measures included identity changes, which were implemented in cooperation with other countries.

    The judgement of the European Court of Human Rights related to the freedom of movement of Roma persons had been executed. No legislative amendments had been adopted, as legislation allowed for freedom of movement of the Roma.  A law on prevention from discrimination had been adopted, which placed the burden of proof on the alleged perpetrator.  Around 113 civil lawsuits had been filed against the Ministry of Interior related to the freedom of movement; assessment of those cases had been completed.

    The State party had not registered cases of discrimination of the Roma at border crossings.  Persons with expired or damaged travel documents were not allowed to exit the country; this measure applied to all citizens.  Parents were not allowed to take children out of the country if they did not have the permission of the other parent.  Police officers who violated the rights of citizens were prosecuted.  The State party investigated every report of pushbacks that it received, including reports from non-governmental organizations.

    Asylum reception centres accommodated asylum seekers whose applications were being considered and unaccompanied minors, who were provided with special care and immediately appointed social workers as ex-officio guardians.  The State worked to shorten the period of accommodation in such centres.  Asylum seekers’ rights were ensured by the State. They were provided with food, healthcare, sanitation facilities, interpretation services, and free legal aid.

    State law guaranteed religious freedom for all religious groups.  The law envisaged civil oversight of the registration of religious groups. Reasons for not granting registration needed to be provided.  The State party had mechanisms for processing hate speech against religious communities.

    The State party was in the process of ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure.  It had harmonised legislation with international standards in 2019 to prohibit solitary confinement of children.

    There had been no explicit application of the Covenant or the Committee’s jurisprudence over the reporting period. The State party would work to strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in this regard.  The Constitutional Court regularly applied the European Convention on Human Rights.

    Closing Statements

    NIKOLA PROKOPENKO, State Counsellor for Criminal Legislation at the Ministry of Justice and head of the delegation, expressed appreciation for the constructive dialogue.  The State party valued the Committee’s efforts in reviewing the application of the Covenant in North Macedonia.  The State faced challenges related to corruption, independence of the judiciary and the protection of marginalised groups.  These challenges tested the State party’s resolve to uphold the human rights of all.  The Committee’s recommendations would be given due consideration and would serve as valuable guidance for strengthening laws and policies.  The review was a step in the State’s ongoing journey toward strengthening human rights protections.  North Macedonia was dedicated to cooperating with the human rights treaty bodies and to promoting justice and rights globally.  The State would leave the dialogue motivated and encouraged to build a more just and equitable human rights-based society.

    CHANGROK SOH, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for its thoughtful and thorough responses to the Committee’s questions.  The dialogue addressed key aspects of implementation of the Covenant. The Committee commended the State’s ratification of international treaties, legal norms on gender-based violence, and policies on gender equality, among other measures.  However, concerns remained related to issues such as hate speech, prison conditions, implementation gaps in protective legislation, and the limited protection framework for asylum seekers.  Mr. Soh closed by expressing sincere gratitude to all those who had contributed to the dialogue.

    __________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

    __________

     

    CCPR25.012E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – North Western Waters Advisory Council’s advice concerning the negative impact of offshore wind farms – E-002568/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002568/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    France Jamet (PfE), Virginie Joron (PfE), Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), Pierre Pimpie (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE), Séverine Werbrouck (PfE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Anne-Sophie Frigout (PfE)

    In its Advice of 3 June 2025, the North Western Waters Advisory Council highlights the negative impact of offshore wind farms on our marine areas.

    It underlines the strategic inconsistencies across the Commission’s various guidelines and notes that wind farm projects could undermine the EU’s objectives.

    The advice also refers to the report by the European Court of Auditors, which raises concerns about the social, economic and environmental challenges for fisheries, caused in particular by fishers’ reduced access to fishing areas.

    Among its recommendations, the advice advocates greater involvement of fishers in decision-making processes and management bodies.

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to take specific measures to ensure that fishers are no longer systematically penalised as a result of usage conflicts linked to uncontrolled development of offshore wind farms?
    • 2.Will it take account of the advice of the North Western Waters Advisory Council and the report by the European Court of Auditors, which cast doubt on its energy strategy?
    • 3.Will it give proper consideration to consultations of local stakeholders who are overwhelmingly opposed to offshore wind farms?

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Withdrawal of the ‘standard essential patents’ proposal – E-001708/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission has reviewed all pending proposals with the European Parliament and the Council, particularly those that have been blocked for a long time or that lack realistic prospects for progress and where an agreement is unlikely.

    Based on this review, it has identified 37 proposals that it intends to withdraw — including the proposal for a regulation on standard-essential patents[1].

    In line with the interinstitutional agreement on better law making, the Commission will take due account of the positions of the Parliament and the Council before deciding on the withdrawal of the proposal.

    The Commission and its services took good note of discussions at the Competitiveness Council on 22 May 2025 in which the Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Romanian, Slovak and Spanish delegations communicated that they do not agree with the proposed withdrawal of the ‘standard essential patents’ file. The Commission looks forward to receiving the formal position of the Council in due course.

    The Commission remains open to exploring, together with the co-legislators and stakeholders, the most suitable way to ensure that Europe stays at the forefront of technological innovation and industrial competitiveness.

    • [1] See Annex IV to the Commission work programme 2025 — https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/7617998c-86e6-4a74-b33c-249e8a7938cd_en?filename=COM_2025_45_1_annexes_EN.pdf.
    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Rays of Hope Forum: Bringing Hope in Africa and Beyond

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    The IAEA’s Rays of Hope Forum returned to Ethiopia, where the cancer care initiative was launched in 2022.

    Cancer patients around the world are being given better access to life-saving care thanks to support from the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative, participants at a Rays of Hope Forum heard.

    Rays of Hope aims to widen access to life-saving cancer care where there is the most need; by helping low- and middle-income countries establish or expand medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine services. Since its launch in Ethiopia three years ago, more than 90 countries have requested support under the initiative.

    “Cancer is a top cause of death in Africa, taking 2000 lives a day,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking at the Forum opening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday. “Three years ago, here at the African Union Headquarters, we launched Rays of Hope. Today, we are bringing cancer care to countries that had none.”

    Temesgen Tiruneh, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, said: “Let this Forum be a call to collective action. Let it inspire deeper cooperation, bolder investments, and unwavering solidarity — so that no child dies from a treatable cancer, no mother waits endlessly for a diagnosis, and no nation is left behind simply because of geography or GDP.”

    The Minister of Health of Ethiopia, Mekdes Daba Feyssa and the Chief of Staff of the African Union Mohamed Al- Amine Souef also gave opening remarks at the Rays of Hope Forum.

    During the morning sessions, representatives from countries that have received support under the Rays of Hope initiative shared their experiences.

    These included Benjamin Hounkpatin, Minister of Health in Benin, Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, Minister of Scientific Research and Technology in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mekdes Daba Feyssa, Minister of Public Health in Ethiopia, Selibe Mochoboroane, the Minister of Health in Lesotho, lbrahima Sy, Minister of Health and Social Action in Senegal, Lawrence Ookeditse, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health in Botswana and Fredrick Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Health in Kenya.

    Countries which have donated to the Rays of Hope also spoke of the importance of the initiative. Speakers included Jens Hanefeld, Ambassador of Germany to Ethiopia and Permanent Observer to the African Union in Ethiopia, Maurizio Busanelli, Permanent Representative of Italy to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia, Tsutomu Nakagawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the African Union and Julien Voituriez, First Counsellor, Embassy of France to Ethiopia and to the African Union.

    Watch the live stream here.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Energy costs of energy-intensive industries – E-002485/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002485/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Yannis Maniatis (S&D)

    A recent article in the Greek press[1] presents the national measures of several Member States (Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, France) to limit energy costs in energy-intensive industries, as well as opinions from representatives of Greek industries, who are under the impression that they are not benefitting from equivalent measures from the Greek Government.

    In view of this, can the Commission say:

    • 1.In the last three years of the crisis (2022-2024), has it seen an increase either in the number of suspected cases of breaches of EU law by national measures in support of energy-intensive industries or in the number of notifications of national measures for adoption?
    • 2.Taking into account also the Italian measure ‘Energy Release 2.0’, as well as possible Greek measures, are there recent examples of Member States implementing legal measures to support energy-intensive industries, which may not require a notification procedure to DG Competition, such as measures implementing the revised electricity market design (PPAS, CfD)?
    • 3.How does it intend to address the unfair competition that the Greek energy-intensive industries say the internal market creates for them, with there being different energy prices in the various European markets as well as the inability – or even unwillingness – of national governments to design and implement effective measures to correct the phenomenon?

    Submitted: 20.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.kathimerini.gr/economy/563642806/i-akrivi-energeia-vythizei-tin-egchoria-viomichania/
    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in first phone call in nearly three years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Middle East crisis including Iran and the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, their first such exchange since September 2022.

    In Paris, Macron’s office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations on ending the conflict.

    According to the Kremlin press service, Putin said it was necessary to respect Iran’s right to the peaceful development of nuclear energy as well as its continued compliance with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

    Putin also reiterated to Macron his view that the war in Ukraine was “a direct consequence of the West’s policy”, which he said had “ignored Russia’s security interests” over the past few years.

    Any possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should have a “comprehensive and long-term character” and be based on “new territorial realities”, the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.

    Putin has previously said Ukraine must accept Russia’s annexation of swathes of its territory as part of any peace deal.

    Macron’s office said the French president had also stressed the need for Iran to comply with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Macron and Putin agreed to coordinate their efforts and to speak again soon, the Elysee statement said.

    (Reuters)

  • Putin, Macron discuss Iran, Ukraine in first phone call in nearly three years

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “substantial” phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on the Middle East crisis including Iran and the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, their first such exchange since September 2022.

    In Paris, Macron’s office said the call lasted two hours and that the French leader had called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations on ending the conflict.

    According to the Kremlin press service, Putin said it was necessary to respect Iran’s right to the peaceful development of nuclear energy as well as its continued compliance with its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

    Putin also reiterated to Macron his view that the war in Ukraine was “a direct consequence of the West’s policy”, which he said had “ignored Russia’s security interests” over the past few years.

    Any possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine should have a “comprehensive and long-term character” and be based on “new territorial realities”, the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying.

    Putin has previously said Ukraine must accept Russia’s annexation of swathes of its territory as part of any peace deal.

    Macron’s office said the French president had also stressed the need for Iran to comply with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Macron and Putin agreed to coordinate their efforts and to speak again soon, the Elysee statement said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Education on legal awareness and protecting the land in the cross-border Alpine environment – E-002506/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002506/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Giuseppe Antoci (The Left)

    The municipality of Borgo San Dalmazzo (Cuneo), located in a mountainous area near the French border and affected by extreme weather events like Storm Alex, has launched an initiative to create the ‘Cittadella a protezione del territorio delle Alpi Marittime’ (‘Citadel for the protection of the land in the Maritime Alps’). The aim is to host facilities for civil protection teams and the AIB volunteer corps[1].

    At the same time, the municipality plans to run educational projects to promote legal awareness and active citizenship, aimed particularly at young people, through interinstitutional partnerships, including at cross-border level.

    In the light of the above, can the Commission please answer the following:

    • 1.Are there any EU programmes and/or structural funds that can support local initiatives to promote legal awareness and active citizenship in mountain communities?
    • 2.Is there any funding for integrated projects for preventing hydrogeological instability, managing natural risks and enhancing natural capital in cross-border areas such as the Maritime Alps?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    • [1] Corpo Volontari Antincendi Boschivi (‘Forest Fire Volunteer Corps’).
    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Eje Transversal Ferroviario (‘Crosslink Railway Corridor’) – E-002496/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002496/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE)

    The Eje Transversal Ferroviario (‘Crosslink Railway Corridor’), or ETF, is a strategic piece of infrastructure to connect Lleida with Girona and France via the interior of Catalonia, with branches to the ports of Tarragona and Barcelona. Designed for passenger and freight transport, it would ease congestion on the Catalan coast, which is currently saturated by mixed traffic on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Mediterranean Corridor. The ETF would allow freight trains to be diverted from densely populated areas to a more efficient route compatible with local mobility. It would contribute to territorial rebalancing by giving a boost to inland districts and reducing the concentration in Barcelona.

    The project has had an approved plan since 2010, with estimated investment of EUR 7 000 million and phased development. The Catalan Parliament agreed to start a preliminary study. A number of institutional and social actors are calling for the project to be taken forward in the drive for more sustainable transport.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Would the Commission welcome it if the ETF made it possible to separate passenger and freight transport and promote the shift from road to rail, in line with the objectives of the EU’s 2020 sustainable and smart mobility strategy as part of the European Green Deal?
    • 2.Could the ETF be eligible for EU funding through the Connecting Europe Facility (Mediterranean Corridor framework)?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Misuse of foundations for tax and asset-optimisation purposes – E-002550/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002550/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Arash Saeidi (The Left)

    Despite the warnings made in a 2008 Commission-ordered study on the feasibility of a European Foundation Statute (ETD/2007/IM/F2/80), no harmonised framework has been put in place to prevent certain foundations being misused for tax purposes.

    In several Member States, foundations can be used as a tax-exempt way to transfer assets, without there being any real scrutiny of how they serve the public interest. For example, the Netherlands had over 60 000 foundations in 2016, many of which had no clearly identifiable philanthropic mission, compared to only 660 public-benefit foundations in France in 2021. Some jurisdictions allow foundations to be set up without precise requirements for their non-profit purpose, transparency or governance, which makes tax avoidance easier.

    • 1.Does the Commission have any data on, or analyses of, the use of foundations in some Member States to circumvent inheritance tax or to hold family assets without effective public scrutiny?
    • 2.Does the Commission have any plans to fund an EU-wide comparative study on tax-exemption criteria and mechanisms for supervising foundations in Member States, particularly in order to assess the degree to which they are being misused?
    • 3.Does the Commission consider that, without a binding EU definition of ‘public-benefit purpose’, a potential European Foundation Statute could become an instrument of harmful tax competition or a means of circumventing national laws on wealth taxation?

    Submitted: 25.6.2025

    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Students’ course choices are forced rather than desired – E-002497/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002497/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Marie Toussaint (Verts/ALE)

    On 4 June 2025, France announced that it was making educational guidance a national priority. This reflects a growing awareness in several Member States: that students’ course choices, especially at the end of lower secondary, are based on social factors rather being an informed decision.

    In several European education systems, the guidance process ends up limiting opportunities of access, going against the principles of lifelong guidance defined in the Council Resolution of 21 November 2008, which promotes a person-centred, ongoing and inclusive approach.

    Careers guidance should give everyone a better understanding of their skills, talents, interests and aspirations, based on the principles of self-identity and social justice.

    • 1.What specific action does the Commission intend to take to support the development of policies for guidance that is focused on students choosing their preferred course rather than being forced into an undesired option?
    • 2.Does the Commission intend to promote a common quality framework for guidance services that ensures they have trained professionals to provide the services, have suitable pedagogical tools at their disposal and offer students a personalised follow-up?
    • 3.Under the European Semester framework, does the Commission intend to explicitly encourage Member States to close the gap in access to educational pathways by developing guidance mechanisms?

    Submitted: 23.6.2025

    Last updated: 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in $8-Million Federal Emergency Assistance Benefits Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)

    Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Newton Ofioritse Jemide, 47, a Nigerian national extradited from France, to 41 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain federal benefits. Jemide will also serve three years of supervised release, pay $520,431.83 of restitution, and a forfeiture money judgment was entered against him in the amount of $311,036.64. Jemide executed his part of the criminal scheme from Nigeria where he resided when he committed the offense.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the plea with Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Colleen Lawlor, Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General – Philadelphia Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge William McCool, U.S. Secret Service – Washington Field Office.

    As a result of the conspiracy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided emergency benefits and compensation for damages to victims affected by declared national emergency disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires. Among other benefits, an individual in an affected area was immediately eligible for Critical Needs Assistance (CNA) to purchase life-saving or life-sustaining materials.  Victims could decide how to receive assistance payments, including deposits on pre-paid debit cards.

    According to his guilty plea, in 2016 and 2017, Jemide and others from Nigeria directed co-conspirators living in the United States to purchase hundreds of Green Dot Debit Cards. Co-conspirators living in Nigeria then registered the cards with Green Dot using stolen personal information from identity theft victims around the United States.  Jemide and his co-conspirators used an encrypted messaging application and other means to communicate.

    In 2017, following Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria — and the California wildfires — Jemide and other co-conspirators from Nigeria used stolen personal information to apply online for FEMA and CNA benefits.  FEMA dispersed $500 per claim on the Green Dot Debit Cards that the co-conspirators purchased for a total of at least $8 million.

    In addition to filing false disaster-assistance claims with FEMA, Jemide and co-conspirators also submitted false online claims for Social Security benefits, IRS tax refunds, and other government benefits using stolen identities of multiple individuals, including names, addresses, Social Security Numbers (SSN), and other personal identifiers.

    As a result of fraudulent submissions, FEMA and other federal agencies deposited benefits onto the Green Dot Debit Cards.  The funds were deposited on the debit cards using multiple stolen identities, including identities different from the identities used to register the cards. Jemide and select co-conspirators informed other co-conspirators when the fraudulent funds became available on the debit cards and gave them information to cash out the funds from the cards in exchange for a commission.  Additionally, the co-conspirators took steps to conceal their identities by enlisting others to make purchases and withdrawals; utilizing multiple store and bank locations and methods of withdrawal; and making money orders payable to other individuals and/or corporate entities.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended DHS OIG, SSA OIG, and the USSS for their work in the investigation and thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service for their valuable assistance in securing the extradition of Jemide to the United States.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Darren Gardner who are prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Banco Santander Chile: Second Quarter 2025 Analyst and Investor Webcast / Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTIAGO, Chile, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — You are cordially invited to participate in Banco Santander Chile’s (NYSE: BSAC) conference call-webcast on Tuesday August 5, 2025, at 11.00 AM (ET time) where we will discuss 2Q 2025 financial results. The Bank’s Officers participating in the conference call are: Patricia Pérez, CFO, Cristian Vicuña, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of IR and Andrés Sansone, Chief Economist. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

    The Management Commentary report will be published on July 31, 2025, before the market opens. The quiet period begins on July 17.

    To participate, the webcast presentation can be viewed at: https://mm.closir.com/slides?id=720987

    Or please dial in using any of the below numbers:
    United Kingdom +44 203 984 9844
    USA +1 718 866 4614
    Austria +43 720 022981
    Brazil +556120171549
    Canada +1 587 855 1318
    Chile +56228401484
    Czech Republic +420 910 880101
    Estonia +372 609 4102
    Finland +35 8753 26 4477
    France +33 1758 50 878
    Germany +49 30 25 555 323
    Hong Kong +852 3001 6551
    Mexico +52 55 1168 9973
    Peru +51 1 7060950
    Poland +48 22 124 49 59
    Russia +7 495 283 98 58
    Singapore +65 3138 6816
    South Africa +27872500455
    South Korea +82 70 4732 5006
    Sweden +46 10 551 30 20
    Turkey +90 850 390 7512
    Ukraine +380 89 324 0624

    Participant Passcode: 720987
    Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the starting time of the conference.

    If you have any questions, please contact Cristian Vicuña at Banco Santander Chile at Cristian.vicuna@santander.cl, Rowena Lambert at Rowena.lambert@santander.cl or María Magdalena Rosende at Maria.rosende@santander.cl

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    Cristian Vicuña
    Investor Relations
    Banco Santander Chile
    Bandera 140, Floor 20
    Santiago, Chile
    Email: irelations@santander.cl
    Website: www.santander.cl

    Banco Santander Chile is one of the companies with the highest risk classifications in Latin America with an A2 rating from Moody’s, A- from Standard and Poor’s, A+ from Japan Credit Rating Agency, AA- from HR Ratings and A from KBRA. All our ratings as of the date of this report have a Stable Outlook.

    As of March 31, 2025, the bank had total assets of Ch$67,059,423 million (US$70,284 million), total gross loans (including those owed by banks) at amortized cost of Ch$41,098,666 million (US$43,075 million), total deposits of Ch$30,607,715 million (US$32,080 million), and bank owners’ equity of Ch$4,400,233 million (US$4,612 million). The BIS capital ratio was 16.9%, with a core capital ratio of 10.7%. As of March 31, 2025, Santander Chile employed 8,712 people and had 237 branches throughout Chile.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Equasens: General meeting – Results of the votes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Villers-lès-Nancy, 1st July 2025 – 07:00 p.m. (CET)

    PRESS RELEASE

    RESULTS OF THE VOTES ON THE RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED
    TO THE ORDINARY ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
    OF 25 JUNE 2025

    Number of shares comprising the share capital: 15,174,125

    Number of shares with voting rights: 14,830,415

    Number of shares with voting rights possessed by shareholders presents or represented or having voted by mail: 13,173,125

    That means a quorum of 88.83% of the 14,830,415 shares with voting rights: the Ordinary Annual General Meeting was able to deliberate.

    The Ordinary Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Company’s headquarters and approved the separate parent company and consolidated financial statements for the 2024 financial year. The results of the votes on the resolutions proposed at this meeting by the Board of Directors were as follows:

    Resolutions

    Results of the votes
    • RESOLUTION ONE

    Approval of the annual financial statements

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,170,684 votes in favour
    • 0 vote against
    • 2,441 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION TWO

    Discharge of directors and discharge of the Statutory Auditors for the performance of their engagement

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 12,831,312 votes in favour
    • 339,266 votes against
    • 2,547 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION THREE
      Approval of the consolidated financial statements
    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,170,684 votes in favour
    • 0 vote against
    • 2,441 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION FOUR

    Appropriation of earnings, setting the dividend

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,138,631 votes in favour
    • 34,494 votes against
    • 0 abstention
    • RESOLUTION FIVE

    Agreements and commitments governed by Articles L. 225-38 of the French Commercial Code

    		 Resolution adopted by (*):

    • 13,101,211 votes in favour
    • 59,549 votes against
    • 12,365 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION SIX

    Approval of the information on the compensation of corporate officers paid in or granted for fiscal 2024 and mentioned in Article L. 22-10-9 of the French Commercial Code

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 12,507,815 votes in favour
    • 665,242 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION SEVEN

    Approval of the components of compensation paid in 2024 to Mr. Thierry CHAPUSOT, Chairman of the Board of Directors

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,115,547 votes in favour
    • 57,510 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION EIGHT

    Approval of the components of compensation paid in 2024 to Mr. Denis SUPPLISSON, Chief Executive Officer

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 10,782,118 votes in favour
    • 2,390,939 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION NINE

    Approval of the components of compensation paid in 2024 to Mr. Grégoire DE ROTALIER, Deputy CEO

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 10,782,118 votes in favour
    • 2,390,939 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION TEN

    Approval of the components of compensation paid in 2024 to Mr. Damien VALICON, Deputy CEO (non-Board member), as from 01/04/2024

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 10,762,253 votes in favour
    • 2,410,804 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION ELEVEN

    Approval of the compensation policy for Mr. Thierry CHAPUSOT, Chairman of the Board of Directors, for 2025

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,115,547 votes in favour
    • 57,510 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION TWELVE

    Approval of the compensation policy for Mr. Denis SUPPLISSON, Chief Executive Officer, for 2025

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 10,545,572 votes in favour
    • 2,454,875 votes against
    • 172,678 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION THIRTEEN

    Approval of the compensation policy for Mr. Grégoire de ROTALIER, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, for 2025

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 10,537,207 votes in favour
    • 2,463,240 votes against
    • 172,678 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION FOURTEEN

    Approval of the compensation policy for Mr. Damien VALICON, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, for 2025

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 10,537,207 votes in favour
    • 2,463,240 votes against
    • 172,678 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION FIFTEEN

    Approval of the compensation policy for Directors

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,127,845 votes in favour
    • 45,212 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION SIXTEEN

    Setting total annual compensation for Directors for 2025

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,127,845 votes in favour
    • 45,212 votes against
    • 68 abstentions
    • RESOLUTION SEVENTEEN

    Authorisation by the Company to repurchase its own shares

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 11,297,178 votes in favour
    • 1,875,947 votes against
    • 0 abstention
    • RESOLUTION EIGHTEEN

    Powers for formalities

    		 Resolution adopted by:

    • 13,173,125 votes in favour
    • 0 vote against
    • 0 abstention

    (*)After deduction of excluded voting rights

    Upcoming financial communications

    • 31 July 2025: Q2 2025 revenue – After the close of trading
    • 26 September 2025: H1 2025 results: 26 September 2025

    About Equasens Group

    Founded over 35 years ago, Equasens Group, a leader in digital healthcare solutions, today employs over 1.300 people across Europe.
    Equasens Group’s specialised business applications facilitate the day-to-day work of healthcare professionals and their teams, working in private practice, collaborative medical structures or healthcare establishments. The Group also provides comprehensive support to healthcare professionals in the transformation of their profession by developing electronic equipment, digital solutions and healthcare robotics, as well as data hosting, financing and training adapted to their specific needs.
    And reflecting the spirit of its tagline “Technology for a More Human Experience”, the Group is a leading provider of interoperability solutions that improve coordination between healthcare professionals, their communications and data exchange resulting in better patient care and a more efficient and secure healthcare system.

    Listed on Euronext Paris™ – Compartment B

    Indexes: MSCI GLOBAL SMALL CAP – GAÏA Index 2020 – CAC®SMALL and CAC®All-Tradable
    Included in the Euronext Tech Leaders segment and the European Rising Tech label

    Eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (“Service à Réglement Différé” – SRD) and equity savings accounts invested in small and mid-caps (PEA-PME).
    ISIN: FR 0012882389 – Ticker Code: EQS

    Get all the news about Equasens Group www.equasens.com and on LinkedIn

    CONTACTS

    EQUASENS Group
    Analyst and Investor Relations:
    Chief Administrative and Financial Officer: Frédérique Schmidt
    Tel: +33 (0)3 83 15 90 67 – frederique.schmidt@equasens.com

    Financial communications agency:
    FIN’EXTENSO – Isabelle Aprile

    Tel.: +33 (0)6 17 38 61 78 – i.aprile@finextenso.fr

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Bear season 4: this meaty restaurant drama is still an enticing bingeable prospect

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jane Steventon, Course Leader, BA (Hons) Screenwriting; Deputy Course Leader & Senior Lecturer, BA (Hons) Film Production, University of Portsmouth

    Take a soupçon of identity crisis, a pinch of perfectionism, a scoop of burnout and mix thoroughly with a large measure of fraternal grief and sear over a hot grill and voilà! You have The Bear, a perfectly blended drama about a chef on the edge, driven by relentless ambition and exacting standards as he turns his family’s humble sandwich shop into a fine-dining restaurant.

    This intoxicating family drama was eaten up by critics and audiences alike in 2022, its first season garnering a rare perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the subsequent two reaching scores of 99% and 89% respectively. It’s certainly a hard act to follow for season four.

    The first ten minutes of The Bear’s pilot episode thrillingly defined what was to come in high-octane style and scene-setting detail. The first season delivered a clever mix of authentic dialogue and setting, relatable family dysfunction and dynamic production style.

    Showstopping scenes of stressful kitchen heat were served up alongside a delectable range of new and established talent in the form of Jeremy Allen White (Carmy), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Richie), Ayo Edebiri (Sydney) and Oliver Platt (Cicero/Uncle Jimmy).

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

    In charge is showrunner Christopher Storer, who came up with the concept after being inspired by his friend’s father Chris Zucchero, the owner of Chicago sandwich joint Mr Beef.

    With his professional chef sister also serving as a consultant, Storer succeeded in creating a deliciously authentic and intensely real drama. Buoyed along the way by 21 Emmys and five Golden Globes, Storer also watched his cast ascend, the tortured-soul performance of White garnering particular praise.

    Testing the parameters of a long-running show, Storer focused in on the entire cast of characters and their backstories, a successful tactic used by shows such as Orange is the New Black to keep the drama – largely confined to a kitchen set – fresh.

    Pulling in Hollywood die-hards Oliver Platt and Jamie Lee Curtis for familial tough-love roles further enriched the mix, often using a non-chronological timeframe to go back to moments of family turbulence and tension. This made for three-dimensional characters and enabled evolution around difficult themes such as the aftermath of suicide and generational trauma.

    The Bear has come a long way in three seasons, starting with a spit and sawdust establishment serving up the lunchtime beef sandwiches for its working customers.

    Carmy’s experience and longing for the high-end restaurant of his dreams hurtled forward in season two, as he sent his core crew off in different directions to hone their skills and help form his vision. A restaurant trying to win success but plagued with challenges, there were exhausting familial tensions embedded in every episode of season three.

    Several themes play out in The Bear: love, family, loyalty, community and purpose. The relationship between Carmy and cousin Richie (not a real cousin, but a term of endearment) is key to linking past and future. Richie provides some of the highlights of comedy and pathos as he spits truth bombs, most frequently at talented sous-chef Syd.

    It is Syd who follows Carmy’s aspirations for gastronomic perfection but can’t abide the lack of order or the intense highs and lows that inevitably go hand in hand with his talent. And this is one central question to consider for the latest series: just how long will the audience remain loyal to Carmy and his endless quest for artistry in a high-failure rate industry?

    It’s all in the sauce

    Storer begins season four with a ghost. Carmy and his dead brother Mikey (Jon Berthal) banter in a seven-minute scene, with Carmy ultimately confiding the dream of a restaurant as Mikey watches him make tomato sauce (“too much garlic”). The tomatoes resonate: Mikey left behind money hidden in tomato cans that ended up saving Carmy’s sanity and his dream of a proper restaurant.

    Just as oranges represent death to Frances Ford Coppola, Storer uses tomatoes to underscore themes; here they symbolise familial loyalty and history, a solid base to a meal, a core ingredient. Mikey was one of the core ingredients in Carmy’s life, and now he’s gone.

    Carmy awakens to a rerun of Groundhog Day on late-night TV and fittingly, we too are back – same dish, now more seasoned and enriched with its core ingredients and ready to serve up a big bowlful of family, love, ambition, strife and grief.

    The episode furthers the theme of loyalty as the restaurant receives The Tribune’s review – the cliffhanger of the season three finale. Naturally, Storer doesn’t let up – the food critic highlights “dissonance” and Carmy is back in emotional chaos, with Syd urging him to lighten up and lose the misery.

    In truth, this series could do with adding some more humour in the mix; the teasing and frivolous banter of season one has got somewhat lost in the seasons that followed.

    Storer ramps up the tension, setting several ticking clocks in place: chiefly Uncle Jimmy’s notice period for the business to turn a profit is literally installed on a digital clock in the kitchen. Then Syd’s headhunter calls, offering her desired autonomy and an exit strategy from the chaos.

    And Carmy raises the stakes with an intention to gain a Michelin star. Thus a heroic journey is set in place for the whole cast, with future battles both internal and external laid out.

    There’s too much going on at this feast and the feeling of being stuffed full of story is tangible by the end of the first episode. Still, with a season lining up more emotional turbulence steered by White, more celebrity cameos (Brie Larson and Rob Reiner are lined up) and the excellent cinematography and performances that we have come to expect, Storer stirs his secret sauce.

    The Bear still offers an entertaining and enticing proposition, bingeable and mostly satisfying.

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

    – ref. The Bear season 4: this meaty restaurant drama is still an enticing bingeable prospect – https://theconversation.com/the-bear-season-4-this-meaty-restaurant-drama-is-still-an-enticing-bingeable-prospect-260143

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Combined General Meeting of July 22, 2025 Conditions for Obtaining the Preparatory Documents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COMBINED GENERAL MEETING
    OF JULY 22, 2025

    CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING THE PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS

    Bernin (Grenoble), France, on July 1, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext Paris) reminds that the Company’s shareholders are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Tuesday July 22, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. (Paris time), in the Auditorium of the VERSO conference Center located at 52 rue de la Victoire, 75009 Paris, France.

    The preliminary meeting notice serving as convening notice as provided for in Article R. 225-73 of the French Commercial Code, including the agenda and the draft resolutions to be submitted to the shareholders’ vote during this Annual General Meeting as well as the information on how to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting, has been published in the French legal gazette (Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (BALO)) of June 13, 2025, bulletin No 71.

    The convening notice for this Annual General Meeting will be published in the French legal gazette “Les Affiches de Grenoble et du Dauphiné” on July 4, 2025.

    All the documents related to this Annual General Meeting are available on the Company’s website (www.soitec.com), in the section Investors/Shareholders & Analysts/Shareholders’ General Meetings/ 2025 Annual General Meeting, in accordance with laws and regulations in force.

    In accordance with article R. 225-88 of the French Commercial Code, shareholders may also obtain the documents provided for in articles R. 225-81 and R. 225-83 of the French Commercial Code, on written request made no later than five days before the date of the General Meeting, i.e. no later than Thursday July 17, 2025. This request shall be sent to the Company’s registered office by post, to the attention of the General Secretary, “AG 22 juillet 2025” Parc Technologique des Fontaines – Chemin des Franques – 38190 Bernin – France, or by e-mail to the following address: shareholders-gm@soitec.com. Requests from bearer shareholders must be accompanied by a shareholding certificate delivered by their financial intermediary mentioned in Article L. 211-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.
        
    Shareholders are invited to consult regularly the section dedicated to the 2025 Annual General Meeting on the Company’s website.

    This General Meeting will be broadcast live on Soitec’s website and will also be available for replay.

    # # #

     

    Agenda

    First-quarter 2025-2026 revenue: July 22, 2025, after market close.

    # # #

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech 40 Paris), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has for more than 30 years developed cutting-edge products that combine technological performance and energy efficiency. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions. The company occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three strategic markets: mobile communications, automotive and industry, and smart devices. Soitec draws on the talent and diversity of its 2,300 employees, of 50 different nationalities, across its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. More than 4,100 patents have been registered by Soitec.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/

    # # #

                             

    Investor Relations: Media contacts:

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  • MIL-OSI: PROACTIS SA – PR ( update on BoD members) 01.07.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release

    Evolution of PROACTIS SA Governance

    PARIS, France – (1st July 2025) — Under the terms of the Board of Directors of the company PROACTIS SA (ISIN code : FR0004052561) held on the 25th of June, Mr Andrew REARDON has been appointed as Director in replacement of Mr Monsieur Adrian MCSHANE-CHAPMAN, resigning.
    Shareholders will be asked to approve this appointment at the next Annual General Meeting called to approve the financial statements.

    Andrew Reardon joined the group Proactis in January 2025 as Group Chief Operating Officer. He has considerable experience in the fields of operational leadership, complex transformational change management, large scale project management and revenue growth programs whose leadership skills and management aptitude have been repeatedly tested under the most demanding circumstances.

    As a result of these changes, the Board of Directors of PROACTIS SA is now composed as follows:

    Member Functions Mandate expiry date
    Stephen LINE Chairman of the Board of Directors
    Chief Executive Officer    		 Annual General Meeting to approve the financial statements for the year ending January 31, 2028
    Lucy FOX Director Annual General Meeting to approve the financial statements for the year ending January 31, 2028
    Bonnie MITCHELL Director Annual General Meeting to approve the financial statements for the year ending January 31, 2030
    Andrew REARDON Director Annual General Meeting to approve the financial statements for the year ending January 31, 2028

    Contacts
    Tel: +33 (0)1 53 25 55 00
    E-mail: investorContact@proactis.com

    * * * *

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  • MIL-OSI: Coface SA: Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares in the capital as at June 30, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    COFACE SA: Disclosure of total number of voting rights and number of shares in the capital as at June 30, 2025

    Paris, July 1st, 2025 – 17.45

    Total Number of
    Shares Capital    		 Theoretical Number of Voting Rights1 Number of Real
    Voting Rights2
    150,179,792 150,179,792 149,327,732

    (1)   including own shares
    (2)   excluding own shares

      Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.
     

    About Coface

    COFACE SA is a société anonyme (joint-stock corporation), with a Board of Directors (Conseil d’Administration) incorporated under the laws of France, and is governed by the provisions of the French Commercial Code. The Company is registered with the Nanterre Trade and Companies Register (Registre du Commerce et des Sociétés) under the number 432 413 599. The Company’s registered office is at 1 Place Costes et Bellonte, 92270 Bois Colombes, France.

    At the date of 31 December 2024, the Company’s share capital amounts to €300,359,584, divided into 150,179,792 shares, all of the same class, and all of which are fully paid up and subscribed.

    All regulated information is available on the company’s website (http://www.coface.com/Investors).

    COFACE SA. is listed on Euronext Paris – Compartment A
    ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

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  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Entrepreneurship in Motion: IOM Exhibition Highlights the Power of Migration to Transform Lives

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva, 1 July 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is proud to announce the opening of a new exhibition along Geneva’s iconic Quai Wilson, titled Strengthening Resilience, Transforming Lives. Open to the public from 1 July to 3 August 2025, the exhibition features a virtual platform and is presented by the IOM Development Fund, with contributions from the Enterprise Development Fund and IOM Goodwill Ambassador Paul Choy.

    “Migration is not just about crossing borders. It is about the determination to rebuild, to contribute and to thrive,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “The people featured in this exhibition have faced real challenges, yet they have found ways to turn ideas into businesses and businesses into opportunities, not just for themselves, but for those around them. Their stories remind us what is possible when people are given the chance to start over.”

    Displayed across 30 large-scale double-sided panels, the exhibition focuses on how entrepreneurship can support recovery, strengthen communities, and offer durable solutions for displaced people. It sheds light on the ways in which host communities, potential migrants, migrants, and returnees are building businesses, creating jobs, and contributing to local development.

    The people featured come from a wide range of countries and contexts, each bringing a story of resilience and initiative. Visitors are invited to discover the personal journeys of entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Iraq, Lebanon, the Marshall Islands, Pakistan, Paraguay and Türkiye.

    Each of them received support through the IOM Development Fund and IOM’s Enterprise Development Fund. The former backed pilot initiatives designed for scale, while the latter provides financial and technical assistance to help small and medium-sized businesses grow. Their experiences are documented through striking visuals and interviews captured by IOM missions worldwide and professional photographers, including IOM Goodwill Ambassador Paul Choy.

    The exhibition is part of a broader effort by IOM to support sustainable development through migration-focused initiatives. Since its establishment in 2001, the IOM Development Fund has supported more than 1,000 projects in over 125 countries. It provides seed funding to help governments strengthen migration management and pilot innovative ideas.

    Complementing this work, IOM’s Enterprise Development Fund is an innovative programme that supports livelihoods at the community level through private sector revitalization and economic development by targeting small and medium-sized enterprises, with the objective of post-conflict economic recovery and inclusive economic development.

    The exhibition is open to the public along the lakeside between the Bains des Pâquis and Parc Mon Repos, directly across from the Palais Wilson. All panel content is available in English and French, with QR codes linking to a virtual platform where visitors can access videos, photographs, and extended stories, also available in Spanish.

    Visit the exhibition: Quai Wilson, Geneva – 1 July to 3 August 2025

    Explore online:

    For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Euronext statement regarding recent press speculations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Euronext statement regarding recent press speculations

    Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 1 July 2025 – Euronext notes recent speculations. Euronext confirms that it has entered into discussions with the board of directors of HELLENIC EXCHANGES-ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE S.A. (“ATHEX”), the Greek capital markets operator, about a possible offer to acquire up to 100% of the shares of ATHEX. This potential offer would be structured as a share exchange valuing ATHEX at €6.90 per share, leading to a fixed conversion rate of 21.029 ATHEX ordinary shares for each new Euronext share. Based on Euronext’s share price of €145.10 as of 30 June 2025, the potential offer would value the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital1 of ATHEX at €399 million on a fully diluted basis. The submission of an offer would be subject notably to due diligence.

    As the leading European market infrastructure, Euronext is positioned as the backbone of the European Savings and Investments Union, in the context of a growing need to enhance the European Union’s global competitiveness. A potential combination with ATHEX would deliver on Euronext’s ambition to consolidate European capital markets with growth and synergy opportunities. The combined Group would foster the harmonization of European capital markets, running on a unified trading and post-trade technology and operating on a cross-border clearing framework.

    Euronext is the largest liquidity pool in Europe, managing approximately 25% of cash equity trading activity in Europe and operating markets in major financial hubs such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris. A potential combination would allow Greek financial markets participants to join a network of over 1,800 listed companies with a combined market capitalisation exceeding €6 trillion. Euronext’s unique track record of integrating market infrastructures positions it ideally to boost the development and attractivity of Greek markets internationally and to generate efficiencies and competitiveness across the Group.

    The interest of Euronext for ATHEX reflects the strong confidence of Euronext in the development of the Greek economy and the growth potential coming from further integration of Greek capital markets into the Eurozone and the European Union. There can be no certainty, at this stage, that this would result in any agreement or transaction nor any offer being made. Euronext confirms that it will stick to its financial discipline and investment criteria policy as defined in its strategic plan. Euronext will communicate material information, if any, in due course.

    CONTACTS – EURONEXT

    ANALYSTS & INVESTORS – ir@euronext.com

    Investor Relations        Aurélie Cohen         +33 6 85 99 86 76         

            Judith Stein             +33 6 15 23 91 97          

    MEDIA – mediateam@euronext.com 

    Europe        Aurélie Cohen         +33 1 70 48 24 45   

            Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13 

    Belgium        Marianne Aalders         +32 26 20 15 01                 

    France, Corporate        Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella        +33 1 70 48 24 45                 

    Ireland        Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13                 

    Italy         Ester Russom         +39 02 72 42 67 56                 

    The Netherlands        Marianne Aalders         +31 20 721 41 33                 

    Norway         Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund        +47 41 69 59 10                 

    Portugal         Sandra Machado        +351 91 777 68 97                

    GREECE – V+O Communication

    ao@vando.gr        Argyro Oikonomou        +30 6936026335

    ia@vando.gr        Ioanna Alexopoulou        +30 6977403050           

    About Euronext  

    Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

    As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices. For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    Disclaimer

    This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided “as is”, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext’s subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

    © 2025, Euronext N.V. – All rights reserved. 

    The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the “Purpose”). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com.

    1 Based on a total number of shares as at 30 June 2025 of 57,850,000, which exclude the number of treasury shares of 2,498,000

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – 14 priests ordained by Pope Leo from the Pontifical Urban College “de Propaganda Fide”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 1 July 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the occasion of the XXIX World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, instituted by John Paul II in 1995, Pope Leo XIV ordained 32 new priests in the Vatican Basilica, 14 of whom come from the Pontifical Urban College “de Propaganda Fide.” Among them Andige Channindu (Colombo, Sri Lanka), Gbatar Emmanuel (Makurdi, Nigeria), Ham Francesco (Seoul, South Korea), Joseph Abishek (Sultanpet, India), Lakew Deribe (Harar, Ethiopia), Lee Angelo (Seoul, South Korea), Llamango Ndouloukoli Eusèbe Marius (Bossangoa, Central African Republic), Maria James Ajith (Kottar, India), Menounga Ngonoi Claude (Batouri, Cameroon), Mombai De-Kpilima Christ Friedrich (Bangui, Central African Republic), Ngalo Felicien (Mbaiki, Central African Republic), Ngo Giovanni Battista (Vinh, Vietnam), Santos Daniel (Mbanza Kongo, Angola) and Tika Gilbert (Damongo, Ghana).”The priests recently ordained by Pope Leo XIV come from ten different countries in Africa and Asia,” Armando Nugnes, rector of the Pontifical Urban College “de Propaganda Fide,” explained to Fides. “They have experienced this opportunity with profound gratitude toward God and the Church, feeling the responsibility to bear witness to the richness of Catholicism in their countries through the generosity of the service that will be asked of them.”This year, the Pontifical Urban College welcomed 168 students, including seminarians and deacons, along with nearly 300 priests from the Colleges of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as about 100 nuns from the Mater Ecclesiae College in Castel Gandolfo. “This gift has been great,” emphasizes Rector Nugnes, “not only for the candidates who received the grace of the ministerial priesthood from the Holy Father in the context of the Jubilee Year, but also for the entire community that was able to accompany these brothers, exceptionally, until the day of their ordination, with prayer and sharing in the joy. Normally, the Urban College’s formative plan provides that deacons, after completing their licentiate studies, return to their dioceses of origin to receive priestly ordination and begin their missionary ministry.” (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 1/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Valerie M. Fridland, Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno

    ‘I’ll have a coke – no, not Coca-Cola, Sprite.’ Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    With burgers sizzling and classic rock thumping, many Americans revel in summer cookouts – at least until that wayward cousin asks for a “pop” in soda country, or even worse, a “coke” when they actually want a Sprite.

    Few American linguistic debates have bubbled quite as long and effervescently as the one over whether a generic soft drink should be called a soda, pop or coke.

    The word you use generally boils down to where you’re from: Midwesterners enjoy a good pop, while soda is tops in the North and far West. Southerners, long the cultural mavericks, don’t bat an eyelash asking for coke – lowercase – before homing in on exactly the type they want: Perhaps a root beer or a Coke, uppercase.

    As a linguist who studies American dialects, I’m less interested in this regional divide and far more fascinated by the unexpected history behind how a fizzy “health” drink from the early 1800s spawned the modern soft drink’s many names and iterations.

    Bubbles, anyone?

    Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s.

    An 1878 engraving of a soda fountain.
    Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

    The process of carbonating water was first discovered in the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, this carbonated water had become popular as a health drink and was often referred to as “soda water.” The word “soda” likely came from “sodium,” since these drinks often contained salts, which were then believed to have healing properties.

    Given its alleged curative effects for health issues such as indigestion, pharmacists sold soda water at soda fountains, innovative devices that created carbonated water to be sold by the glass. A chemistry professor, Benjamin Stillman, set up the first such device in a drugstore in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1806. Its eventual success inspired a boom of soda fountains in drugstores and health spas.

    By the mid-1800s, pharmacists were creating unique root-, fruit- and herb-infused concoctions, such as sassafras-based root beer, at their soda fountains, often marketing them as cures for everything from fatigue to foul moods.

    These flavored, sweetened versions gave rise to the linking of the word “soda” with a sweetened carbonated beverage, as opposed to simple, carbonated water.

    Seltzer – today’s popular term for such sparkling water – was around, too. But it was used only for the naturally carbonated mineral water from the German town Nieder-Selters. Unlike Perrier, sourced similarly from a specific spring in France, seltzer made the leap to becoming a generic term for fizzy water.

    Many late-19th-century and early 20th-century drugstores contained soda fountains – a nod to the original belief that the sugary, bubbly drink possessed medicinal qualities.
    Hall of Electrical History Foundation/Corbis via Getty Images

    Regional naming patterns

    So how did “soda” come to be called so many different things in different places?

    It all stems from a mix of economic enterprise and linguistic ingenuity.

    The popularity of “soda” in the Northeast likely reflects the soda fountain’s longer history in the region. Since a lot of Americans living in the Northeast migrated to California in the mid-to-late 1800s, the name likely traveled west with them.

    As for the Midwestern preference for “pop” – well, the earliest American use of the term to refer to a sparkling beverage appeared in the 1840s in the name of a flavored version called “ginger pop.” Such ginger-flavored pop, though, was around in Britain by 1816, since a Newcastle songbook is where you can first see it used in text. The “pop” seems to be onomatopoeic for the noise made when the cork was released from the bottle before drinking.

    A jingle for Faygo touts the company’s ‘red pop.’

    Linguists don’t fully know why “pop” became so popular in the Midwest. But one theory links it to a Michigan bottling company, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works – today known as Faygo Beverages – that used “pop” in the name of the sodas they marketed and sold. Another theory suggests that because bottles were more common in the region, soda drinkers were more likely to hear the “pop” sound than in the Northeast, where soda fountains reigned.

    As for using coke generically, the first Coca-Cola was served in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta and the founder of the company. In the 1900s, the Coca-Cola company tried to stamp out the use of “Coke” for “Coca-Cola.” But that ship had already sailed. Since Coca-Cola originated and was overwhelmingly popular in the South, its generic use grew out of the fact that people almost always asked for “Coke.”

    No alcohol means not ‘hard’ but ‘soft.’
    Nostalgic Collections/eBay

    As with Jell-O, Kleenex, Band-Aids and seltzer, it became a generic term.

    What’s soft about it?

    Speaking of soft drinks, what’s up with that term?

    It was originally used to distinguish all nonalcoholic drinks from “hard drinks,” or beverages containing spirits.

    Interestingly, the original Coca-Cola formula included wine – resembling a type of alcoholic “health” drink popular overseas, Vin Mariani. But Pemberton went on to develop a “soft” version a few years later to be sold as a medicinal drink.

    Due to the growing popularity of soda water concoctions, eventually “soft drink” came to mean only such sweetened carbonated beverages, a linguistic testament to America’s enduring love affair with sugar and bubbles.

    With the average American guzzling almost 40 gallons per year, you can call it whatever you what. Just don’t call it healthy.

    Valerie M. Fridland 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. Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate – https://theconversation.com/pop-soda-or-coke-the-fizzy-history-behind-americas-favorite-linguistic-debate-259114

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Indo-French joint military exercise ‘Shakti 2025’ concludes in France

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The eighth edition of the Indo-French Joint Military Exercise ‘Shakti’ concluded on Tuesday after two weeks of intensive training and cooperation between the Indian and French armed forces.

    Held from June 18 to July 1 in France, the exercise was hosted by the 13th French Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade (13 DBLE) and involved more than 500 personnel from various units of the French Army, Foreign Legion, Navy, and the French Air and Space Force.

    India was represented by a 90-member contingent, including a Battalion from the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles and troops from other arms and services. The exercise featured approximately 50 armoured and tactical vehicles, along with fighter jets from both sides.

    The exercise was conducted in two phases with the first one, held from June 18 to 21 in Aveyron’s Monclar district, focused on joint training in weapon handling, combat drills, and command coordination.

    The second phase, from June 22 to 26 in Herault, saw the deployment of the Monclar Combined Arms Tactical Group (GTIA) in an open-field semi-urban combat exercise that tested troops during both day and night operations.

    This year’s drill emphasised tactical interoperability, use of modern military technology, and refining combat strategies. French legionnaires had previously participated in Shakti 2024 in India, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen military collaboration and share best practices.

    “Exercise Shakti was a vital opportunity for Indian and French military personnel to boost joint operational preparedness for facing the toughest combat situations in a sub-conventional environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, with training being conducted in a realistic semi-urban terrain, while strengthening ties with a strategic partner”, said a press statement from the French Embassy in New Delhi.

    “Serving as an effective platform for exchanging best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPS), Exercise SHAKTI will pave the way for deeper cooperation and mutual respect between the French and the Indian armed forces as well as significantly reinforcing the Indo-French defence partnership”, it added.

    The Indo-French Shakti exercise serves as a key platform for enhancing tactical, technical, and procedural synergy between the two nations. Alongside other bilateral defence exercises such as Garuda (Air Forces) and Varuna (Navies), Shakti reflects the evolving and robust strategic partnership between India and France.

    These regular joint exercises are seen as a testament to the nations shared commitment to global peace, security, and stability.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General Highlights Industry Partnership in Toulouse Visit

    Source: NATO

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Toulouse, France, today (1 July 2025), engaging with Airbus leaders to strengthen ties with the defence industry. Speaking at the Airbus Top Executive Forum, Mr Rutte emphasized the shared goal of ensuring security and prosperity across all NATO nations. “We share the same objective: to ensure the prosperity and security of our economies and societies – across Europe and North America,” he said, stressing the critical need for NATO and industry to work together in a rapidly changing security landscape.

    The Secretary General, welcomed by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, addressed the urgent need for enhanced defence capabilities amid growing global threats. “There is no strong defence without a strong defence industry,” he stated, praising Airbus for contributions like the A400M aircraft and the MRTT [in full]. One week after the agreement on a 5% GDP defence spending target reached by Allies at NATO’s Summit in The Hague, he urged the industry to innovate and scale up production to meet NATO’s ambitious capability targets and keep our one billion people safe. 

    Following his address, Secretary General Rutte held a bilateral meeting with CEO Mr Faury and his team, and visited the A321 Final Assembly Line, interacting with Airbus employees. The visit underscores NATO’s commitment to fostering transatlantic industrial cooperation to deliver critical capabilities for the years to come.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Secretary General Highlights Industry Partnership in Toulouse Visit

    Source: NATO

    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Toulouse, France, today (1 July 2025), engaging with Airbus leaders to strengthen ties with the defence industry. Speaking at the Airbus Top Executive Forum, Mr Rutte emphasized the shared goal of ensuring security and prosperity across all NATO nations. “We share the same objective: to ensure the prosperity and security of our economies and societies – across Europe and North America,” he said, stressing the critical need for NATO and industry to work together in a rapidly changing security landscape.

    The Secretary General, welcomed by Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury, addressed the urgent need for enhanced defence capabilities amid growing global threats. “There is no strong defence without a strong defence industry,” he stated, praising Airbus for contributions like the A400M aircraft and the MRTT [in full]. One week after the agreement on a 5% GDP defence spending target reached by Allies at NATO’s Summit in The Hague, he urged the industry to innovate and scale up production to meet NATO’s ambitious capability targets and keep our one billion people safe. 

    Following his address, Secretary General Rutte held a bilateral meeting with CEO Mr Faury and his team, and visited the A321 Final Assembly Line, interacting with Airbus employees. The visit underscores NATO’s commitment to fostering transatlantic industrial cooperation to deliver critical capabilities for the years to come.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fourth-generation family funeral director recognised at business awards

    Source: City of Winchester


    Winchester City Council has awarded the Millennium Egg to Iain Steel, company director at local funeral director Richard Steel and Partners, at the 2025 Winchester Business Excellence Awards. 

    The Egg recognises individuals and organisations who have made an outstanding contribution to the economy of the district. It was presented to Iain by Winchester City Council Chief Executive Laura Taylor at the award ceremony on Thursday 20 June in Winchester Cathedral. 

    Richard Steel and Partners has been serving Winchester, Bishop’s Waltham, Alresford and Meon Valley for over 160 years, and is one of the region’s longest established family businesses: it is still under family ownership after four generations. The company directly employs over 30 staff and has also remained committed to sourcing services and supplies locally, doing their bit towards helping businesses within their community thrive. 

    Iain first joined the business as a teenager nearly 40 years ago, working alongside his father Richard. Since taking the reins as company director, Iain has led and developed the business, including the use of Chesil House as a prestigious riverside venue for funeral services and family gatherings. The company opened an Alresford office opened in 2021 to better serve families in the Arle and Candover valleys. 

    Iain is an avid supporter of the local community with direct involvement in a number of Winchester charities. As trustee of Winchester Hospice, he took on the challenge of trekking across the Sahara in November 2024, raising money for this local charity – and he also donated to the regeneration of St Maurice’s Covert. 

    This year, he has been instrumental in establishing the inaugural Legacy Action Week in Winchester and is already working on 2026, helping Winchester charities benefit from local bequests in wills.  

    Iain Steel, Company Director at Richard Steel and Partners, said: “Our family business has been serving Winchester and the wider Hampshire community for four generations since 1860.  

    “We are proud to be one of the longest established private businesses in the city to remain in the same family ownership, and recognition of our work within the local community means everything to everyone associated with our company, both current and former staff. Each generation has dedicated themselves to helping the city, both professionally and through charitable and community involvement”. 

    Laura Taylor, Chief Executive of Winchester City Council, said: “It is an honour to present our lifetime achievement award to Iain Steel of Richard Steel and partners, a fourth-generation family business that has been a mainstay of the Winchester district economy for over 160 years, serving our residents across the district, from Bishop’s Waltham to Alresford and between. 

    “Not only committed to providing compassionate and exceptional care in the business, using local suppliers where possible, Iain is well known for his commitment to the local community, with active involvement in a number of Winchester charities including St John’s Ambulance, Trinity Winchester and Winchester Hospice, as well as being Chair of Winchester Theatre Trust. 

    “Iain and his team are a valued addition to our district’s business community and the way in which they serve our residents – with compassion, professionalism and dedication to the community – make them a truly worthy recipient of this year’s award.” 

    The Millennium Egg, a crafted ornament, was originally donated to the council by Jeremy France of Jeremy France Jewellers. 

    The annual Winchester Business Excellence Awards are organised by the Hampshire Chronicle in association with Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) and Hampshire Chamber of Commerce. 

    Winchester City Council also sponsored the Sustainable Business Award which was presented on the night to Stem and Green Flower Farm by the Leader of the council, Councillor Martin Tod.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –