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Category: Germany

  • MIL-OSI Global: New chancellor, old constraints: Germany’s Friedrich Merz will have a hard time freeing the country from its self-imposed shackles

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mark I. Vail, Worrell Chair of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has had an uncertain start to his tenure. John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images

    Friedrich Merz received a rude shock on the morning of May 6, 2025, as he prepared to lose the “in-waiting” qualifier from his title as German chancellor.

    After weeks of negotiations following February’s federal election, Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) had struck a coalitional bargain with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), giving the bloc a thin majority of 13 seats in the 630-member Bundestag, the lower house of Germany’s parliament. Yet, Merz still struggled to ratify his chancellorship.

    He fell short of the majority he needed on the first vote, with 18 members of his coalition voting against him.

    Though he was elected on a second ballot, the initial “no” vote was unprecedented for an incoming chancellor in the postwar federal republic, with insiders claiming that some of those voting “no” were conservatives opposed to Merz’s push to loosen German fiscal rules. Aside from the immediate political embarrassment, the vote was symptomatic of something else: a more deep-seated weakness in both the new chancellor and his government. As a scholar of German politics and history and the author of a forthcoming book on German state traditions and economic governance, I see Merz’s problems, and those of his country, as having deep historical roots.

    Taking the brakes off?

    For Germany and Europe, the stakes in the run-up to the vote to ratify Merz as chancellor could not have been higher – a cascade of crises confronts both. As SPD’s parliamentary leader Jens Spahn noted in the run-up to the May 6 vote: “All of Europe, perhaps the whole world, is watching this ballot.”

    The German chancellor is looking to strengthen both Europe and Germany through firm leadership and heavier spending. He has promised a massive increase in defense outlays in order to create the “strongest conventional army in Europe,” to counter the threat from a bellicose Russia and the United States’ wavering over traditional security commitments to the continent.

    This broad vision, however, is confronted by a number of obstacles, most importantly the so-called “debt brake.” Adopted after the 2008 financial crisis, this “brake” limited annual deficits to a paltry 0.35% of gross domestic product and proscribed any debts at all for the German “Länder,” or regions.

    In March, soon after the February election but before the seating of the new Bundestag, then-presumptive Chancellor Merz called for an exemption to the debt brake for defense spending above 1% of annual gross domestic product, with a promise to do “whatever it takes” to bolster Germany’s military and verbally committing to spend up to US$1.12 trillion (1 trillion euros) over 10 years. The outgoing parliament agreed and also created a $560 billion (500 billion euros) fund dedicated to rehabilitating Germany’s crumbling infrastructure.

    But Merz’s plans to revitalize Germany’s military and infrastructure could be seriously undermined by domestic forces – both within and outside of his coalition. It runs up against long-standing German norms and ideologies that threaten to hamper the state’s capacity and the government’s ability to act decisively.

    Ambivalence about state power

    This wobbly start to the new government hearkens back to old and deeply rooted divisions about the character of the post-World War II German state.

    In the late 1960s, West German Chancellor-to-be Willy Brandt quipped that the federal republic had become an “economic giant but a political dwarf.”

    Though the phrase would become a cliché, it captured both the fraught legacies of World War II and older German ambivalence about state power, which had long been associated with authoritarian politics under both the Nazis and the Wilhelmine Reich following German unification under Bismarck in 1871.

    U.S. President John F. Kennedy, left, rides through the streets of Berlin with West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt, center, and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
    Bettmann/Contributor

    Until the 1980s, such constraints posed relatively few problems. The country’s postwar “economic miracle” legitimized the fledgling democratic state, while empowering capital and labor within the export sectors that fueled the boom. This effectively devolved political power to economically strategic actors.

    These institutional features also reflected a distinctive postwar model of German politics that weakened centralized power. Achieved in the late 1940s by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, West German sovereignty was fragmented: domestically by federalism and decentralized political institutions, and internationally through integration into NATO and the European Economic Community.

    This “semi-sovereign state,” in political scientist Peter Katzenstein’s famous formulation, helped reclaim German moral credibility from the ashes of fascism and genocide. A decentralized state with robust checks and balances was viewed as both a bulwark against authoritarianism and a recipe for export-led growth and political stability.

    Even after the restoration of full sovereignty with German reunification in 1990, German officials still trod lightly. Their concern was that a more assertive Germany would reawaken old fears about German militarism. Moreover, they were content to privilege economic rather than military power as the coin of their peculiar realm.

    A nation of Swabian housewives?

    The historical ambivalence about the German state’s role and related dilemmas about German power will not be easy for Merz to resolve.

    With respect to Germany’s capacity for decisive leadership, the past three years suggest that much work remains to be done. Confronted with a series of unprecedented shocks − from Russian military aggression in Ukraine, to the attendant energy crisis that exposed German dependence on imported Russian gas, to the rise of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) − Merz’s predecessor, Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, called in 2022 for a “Zeitenwende,” or “epochal change,” in defense and energy policy.

    But instead, Scholz’s “traffic light coalition” of (yellow) Liberals, Greens, and (red) Social Democrats dithered and bickered, eventually succumbing to a rare – in German politics – public interparty squabble that ultimately brought down the government in late 2024.

    Reluctant to send its most advanced weapons – notably long-range Taurus cruise missiles – to Ukraine, and unable to overcome the Liberals’ hostility to badly needed fiscal expansion, Scholz was criticized for leading from behind, wary of backlash from pacifist currents in the German electorate and captive to long-held German concerns over expanding the national debt.

    Merz is looking not to repeat the same mistakes. But to accomplish his vision of a revitalized and more secure Germany, he has to overcome both the debt brake and, even more important, the deep ideological currents that gave rise to it.

    These factors intensified long-standing constraints on defense spending, which had failed to keep up with inflation for much of the 2000s and remained far below the NATO norm of 2% of annual gross domestic product.

    The “brake” was subsequently embraced by governments of both left and right, from SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s “Red-Green” coalition of 1998 to 2005 to the governments of Christian Democrat Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2021. As is abundantly clear in the pages of Merkel’s recent memoir, the proverbial character of the frugal “Swabian housewife” was one that she relished rather than resisted.

    But to many observers, this fetishization of austerity has contributed to decades of underinvestment in domestic infrastructure − from roads, to schools, to public buildings, to broader public services − failures which the AfD has been eager to exploit. And as promising as it seems, Merz’s commitment of $560 billion (500 billion euros) is approximately equivalent to the country’s existing needs, without accounting for future depreciation.

    Far-right activists gather near the Ostkreuz railway station in Berlin, Germany, on March 22, 2025 .
    Omer Messinger/Getty Images

    Even Germany’s traditionally punctual train service has become a laughingstock, with jokes about late or canceled trains now standard fare for German comics.

    Going beyond rhetoric

    It remains unclear whether Merz’s rhetorical shift and a constitutional change that permits but does not in itself create more robust defense spending augur a new direction in German politics, or whether Europe’s largest economy will continue to be hobbled by self-imposed constraints and parliamentary squabbling. If the latter happens, Germany risks both continued economic decline and bolstering the AfD, whose support comes disproportionately from economically stagnant former Eastern regions, and which last month surpassed Merz’s CDU in public opinion polls.

    And despite Merz’s commitments, not a single euro of the promised military and infrastructure funds has yet been budgeted. And even if it were, that would not address the country’s yawning needs in other areas, such as state-funded research and development and education.

    Europe, too, needs Merz’s words to turn into action − and soon. The threat of Russia to the east and the turning tide of relations with Trump’s America to the west has put the EU in a bind and in need of strong leadership.

    Mark I. Vail 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. New chancellor, old constraints: Germany’s Friedrich Merz will have a hard time freeing the country from its self-imposed shackles – https://theconversation.com/new-chancellor-old-constraints-germanys-friedrich-merz-will-have-a-hard-time-freeing-the-country-from-its-self-imposed-shackles-256048

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • EU readying new sanctions to increase pressure on Russia, von der Leyen says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The European Union is working on a new package of sanctions to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday as leaders from across Europe met in Tirana.
     
    The EU, however, has already adopted 17 sanction packages – the latest one this week – and diplomats say it is increasingly difficult to get the necessary unanimity among the bloc’s 27 members to pass new measures.
     
    “He does not want peace, so we have to increase the pressure, and this is why we are working on a new package of sanctions,” von der Leyen said, referring to Putin, before the European Political Community summit in Albania.
     
    “This package will include for instance sanctions on Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2. It will include working on listing more vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and also lowering the oil price cap, and also more sanctions on the financial sector in Russia.”
     
    Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2, each consisting of two pipes, were built by Russia’s state-controlled Gazprom to pump natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea. They were ruptured by a series of blasts in 2022.
     
    “Massive” sanctions European leaders have threatened over the past days would need U.S. support to succeed, officials and diplomats have said.
     
    Meanwhile, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators were in Istanbul on Friday for what was billed as their first direct peace talks in more than three years, under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War Two.
     
    Putin on Sunday proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey, but has spurned a challenge from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to meet him in person, and instead has sent a team of mid-ranking officials to the talks.
     
    NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Putin “made a mistake by sending a low-level delegation”.
     
    “What we saw yesterday and overnight is yet more evidence that Putin is not serious about peace,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said as he arrived at the Tirana summit.
     
    “He’s been dragging his heels, and I think it’s really important therefore, that we have absolute unity with our allies. We’ll be working on that again today to be clear that there must be a ceasefire, but also to be clear that should there not be a ceasefire, then we will act together in relation to sanctions.”
     
    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Security: Migrant smugglers arrested during cross-border operation

    Source: Eurojust

    16 May 2025|

    Belgian, German and Polish authorities, supported by Eurojust and Europol, have dismantled a criminal group suspected of smuggling up to 300 migrants into the European Union. During a joint operation in Belgium and Germany on 13 May, seven suspected members of the smuggling network were arrested. An operation earlier this month in Poland led to the arrest of 10 suspected members.

    German investigations into the network began during a routine immigration check in September 2024. Irregularities in the driver’s documentation raised suspicions of attempted illegal entry. Evidence soon emerged that the driver had possibly already smuggled and dropped off illegal migrants that same day. Ongoing investigations revealed that the driver was part of a network responsible for smuggling up to 300 illegal migrants. Most of the members of the criminal group were based in Belgium and acted as a link between the suspects in Germany and a related criminal group in Poland, which was also smuggling migrants from Middle Eastern countries into the EU.

    The network organised the illegal transport of up to 12 people at a time along the Balkan route. A legitimate Polish transport company was used to conceal their activities.

    During three action days spread out over several months, 10 suspects were arrested in Belgium, Germany and Poland, and several criminal assets were seized.

    Eurojust and Europol supported the cross-border investigation from the outset. Eurojust ensured that judicial authorities were able to exchange information and develop a joint judicial strategy. On the action days, Europol facilitated the deployment of investigators between the countries. In addition, Europol sent experts into the field to help national authorities cross-check operational information in real time against Europol’s databases.

    The following authorities carried out the operations:

    • Germany: Traunstein Public Prosecutor’s Office; Freilassing Federal Police Inspectorate Bundespolizeiinspektion Freilassing
    • Belgium: Investigating judge of the Court of First Instance of West Flanders – PPO West Flanders- Federal Judicial Police West Flanders
    • Poland: Silesian Subdivision of the Department for Organized Crime and Corruption of National Prosecutor’s Office in Katowice; Karpacki Border Guard Unit in Nowy Sącz; Voivodeship Police Headquarter in Katowice

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alexia Maddox, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Education Futures, La Trobe University

    De Visu/Shutterstock

    Australia’s move to ban under-16s from social media is receiving widespread praise. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore and Japan, are also now reportedly considering similar moves.

    The ban was legislated in November 2024 and is due to take effect in December 2025. The law says social media platforms can’t use official IDs such as passports to check Australian users’ ages, and shouldn’t track Australians. But it doesn’t specify the alternative.

    To test alternative methods, the federal government commissioned a trial of currently available technologies designed to “assure” people’s age online. Run by the Age Check Certification Scheme, a UK-based company specialising in testing and certifying identity verification systems, the trial is in its final stages. Results are expected at the end of June.

    So what are the technologies being trialled? Are they likely to work? And how might they – and the social media ban itself – alter the relationship all of us have with our dominant forms of digital communication?

    Dead ends for age verification

    Age verification confirms a person’s exact age using verified sources such as government-issued IDs. Age assurance is a broader term. It can include estimation techniques such as analysing faces or metadata to determine if users meet age requirements.

    In 2023 the federal government rejected mandating verification technologies for age-gating pornography sites. It found them “immature” with significant limitations. For example, database checks were costly and credit card verification could be easily worked around by minors.

    Nonprofit organisation Digital Rights Watch also pointed out that such systems were easily bypassed using virtual private networks – or VPNs. These are simple tools that hide a user’s location to make it seem like they are from a different country.

    Age assurance technologies bring different problems.

    For example, the latest US National Academies of Sciences report shows that facial recognition systems frequently misidentify children because their facial features are still developing.

    Improving these systems would require massive collections of children’s facial images. But international human rights law protects children’s privacy, making such data collection both legally and ethically problematic.

    Flawed testing of innovative tech?

    The age assurance technology trial currently includes 53 vendors hoping to win a contract for new innovative solutions.

    A range of technology is being trialled. It includes facial recognition offering “selfie-based age checks” and hand movement recognition technologies that claim to calculate age ranges. It also includes bespoke block chains to store sensitive data on.

    There are internal tensions about the trial’s design choices. These tensions centre on a lack of focus on ways to circumvent the technology, privacy implications, and verification of vendors’ efficacy claims.

    While testing innovation is good, the majority of companies and startups such as IDVerse, AgeCheck, and Yoti in the trial, will likely not hold clout over the major tech platforms in focus (Meta, Google and Snap).

    This divide reveals a fundamental problem: the companies building the checking tools aren’t the ones who must use them in the platforms targeted by the law. When tech giants don’t actively participate in developing solutions, they’re more likely to resist implementing them later.

    Google recently proposed storing ID documents in Google Wallet for age verification.
    nitpicker/Shutterstock

    Unresponsive tech companies

    Some major tech companies have shown little interest in engaging with the trial. For example, minutes from the trial’s March advisory board meeting reveal Apple “has been unresponsive, despite multiple outreach attempts”.

    Apple has recently outlined a tool to transmit a declared age range to developers on request. Apple suggests iOS will default the age assurance on Apple devices to under 13 for kids’ accounts. This makes it the responsibility of parents to modify age, the responsibility of developers to recognise age, and the responsibility of governments to legislate when and what to do with an assured age per market.

    Google’s recent Google Wallet proposal for age assurance also misses the mark on privacy concerns and usefulness.

    The proposal would require people over 16 to upload government-issued IDs and link them to a Google account. It would also require people trust Google not track where they go across the internet, via a privacy-preserving technology that remains a promise.

    Crucially, Meta’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also do not let you login with Google credentials. After all, they are competitors. This raises questions about the usefulness of Google’s proposal to assure age across social media platforms as part of the government’s under-16s ban.

    Meanwhile, Google is also suggesting AI chatbots should be directly targeted and available to children under 13, creating something akin to a “social network of one”, which are out of scope of the ban.

    Rather than engage with Australian age verification systems, companies such as Apple and Google are promoting their own solutions which seem to prioritise keeping or adding users to their services, or passing responsibility elsewhere.

    For the targeted platforms that enable online social interactions, delay in engagement fits a broader pattern. For example, in January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg indicated Meta would push back more aggressively against international regulations that threaten its business model.

    A shift in internet regulation

    Australia’s approach to banning under-16s from using social media marks a significant shift in internet regulation. Rather than age-gating specific content such as porn or gambling, Australia is now targeting basic communication infrastructure – which is what social media have become.

    It centres the problem on children being children, rather than on social media business models.

    The result is limiting childrens’ digital rights with experimental technologies while doing little to address the source of perceived harm for all of us. It prioritises protection without considering children’s rights to access information and express themselves. This risks leaving the most vulnerable children being cut off from digital spaces essential to their success.

    Australia’s approach puts paternal politics ahead of technical and social reality. As we get closer to the ban taking effect, we’ll see how this approach to regulate social communication platforms offers young people respite from the platforms their parents fear – yet continue to use everyday for their own basic communication needs.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed – https://theconversation.com/a-trial-is-testing-ways-to-enforce-australias-under-16s-social-media-ban-but-the-tech-is-flawed-256332

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: xSuite Nordic Invites Customers to the 2025 User Conference in Copenhagen

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Under the Theme “One Team. One Journey,” the Software Provider Showcases Innovations and Solutions for the Finance Sector

    Copenhagen/Denmark, May 16, 2025 – xSuite Nordic cordially invites users and partners to its 2025 User Conference on June 12 in Copenhagen, offering an immersive experience into future-ready technologies. This one-day event will bring together IT and finance professionals to explore key developments in invoice processing, artificial intelligence, SAP S/4HANA, cloud computing, and SAP Clean Core strategies.

    Attendees will gain valuable insights into how technologies such as AI and cloud platforms are accelerating digital transformation and opening new opportunities in finance. xSuite will present its latest product innovations, share its strategic roadmap, and provide a glimpse into emerging tech trends that are reshaping the financial landscape.

    Program Highlights

    1. Deep Dive: Artificial Intelligence – Discover how xSuite’s Prediction Server delivers AI-powered support for invoice processing within SAP environments. This session will demonstrate how AI is extending its reach across financial workflows and how Large Language Models (LLMs) are revolutionizing document recognition and data extraction.

    2. Deep Dive: SAP S/4HANA and Cloud – With many organizations advancing their SAP S/4HANA migration, aligning with SAP’s Clean Core strategy is becoming critical—even within Private Cloud infrastructures—to avoid future technical debt. This session will provide insights into xSuite’s modern solution architecture, including SAP-integrated Business Solutions 6.0 and applications built on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).

    The conference will conclude with networking opportunities and open discussions about customer requirements, highlighting xSuite’s role as a trusted partner in digital transformation.

    Event Details:
    xSuite User Conference
    Date: June 12, 2025
    Location: Danish Architecture Center  | Bryghuspladsen 10 | 1473 Copenhagen

    Time: 09:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    More information and registration: xSuite User Conference 2025 in Copenhagen

    About xSuite Group

    xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including
    e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients. This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving – all delivered from a single source, including both software components and services. xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios. We take pride in the high-quality solutions we offer, as evidenced by the regular certifications we receive for our SAP solutions and deployment environments.” With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.

    Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite has around 300 staff across nine locations worldwide – in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.

    Contact:
    Barbara Wirtz
    xSuite Group GmbH
    Marketing & PR
    Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36
    barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com
    www.xsuite.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • All eyes on Doha as Neeraj Chopra launches 2025 campaign

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s two-time Olympic medallist and reigning World Champion in javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, is set to begin his 2025 Diamond League campaign in Doha, Qatar. This marks his first competitive appearance of the season in the prestigious international series.

    Aiming for the elusive 90m mark

    The elusive 90-metre barrier remains one of Chopra’s key goals heading into the season. Despite winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver at Paris 2024, the landmark distance continues to stay just out of reach.

    For the new season, Neeraj Chopra has shifted to training under Czech javelin legend Jan Železný, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and the current world record holder. This move marks the end of his successful partnership with biomechanics expert Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, under whose guidance he achieved both Olympic and World Championship glory.

    The meet in Doha carries added importance for Chopra, as it will be his only major competition in May. His next planned appearance, the NC Classic 2025 in Bengaluru, was cancelled. The meet, originally set for May 24, was being organised in collaboration with World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India.

    In Doha, Chopra will face a strong field of elite competitors. The lineup includes Anderson Peters of Grenada, a two-time world champion and 2024 Olympic bronze medallist; Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia, last year’s winner in Doha; Germany’s Julian Weber and Max Dehning; Kenya’s Julius Yego; and Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion, will be absent as he focuses on preparations for the Asian Athletics Championships in Korea.

    India will also have representation beyond Chopra. Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Kumar Jena will also compete in the men’s javelin event. On the track, national record holder Gulveer Singh will run in the men’s 5000 metres, while Parul Chaudhary will compete in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase.

    Neeraj Chopra’s event is scheduled to begin at 10:13 PM IST on Friday, May 16. The meet will not be broadcast on television but will be streamed live on the Wanda Diamond League’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page.

  • MIL-OSI: Young people are concerned they lack the green skills to effectively act on climate change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Capgemini Press contact: 
    Sereydana Oum
    Tel.: +33 6 61 42 03 59 
    Email: sereydana.oum@capgemini.com

    UNICEF Press contact:
    Anupama Saikia
    E-mail: ansaikia@unicef.org

    Young people are concerned they lack the green skills
    to effectively act on climate change

    Six in ten 16–24-year-olds globally agree that developing green skills could open up new career opportunities but less than half (44%) possess the skills required for today’s green workforce

    Paris, May 16, 2025 – The Capgemini Research Institute and UNICEF* Generation Unlimited’s report, ‘Youth perspectives on climate: Preparing for a sustainable future’ published today, explores youth perspectives on the climate crisis. It includes their take on “green skilling” and graduating to a green job, as well as how business and government can collaborate with young people to inspire climate advocacy. The report finds that despite rising climate anxiety, a majority of young people remain hopeful that there is still time to address and fix the problems caused by climate change. Young people in both, the Global South and Global North, want to be a part of the solution, with most interested in shaping environmental policy and many interested in pursuing a green job, however the report highlights a worrying lack of requisite green skills.

    According to the research, most young people worry about climate change. Over two-thirds of youth globally say they are concerned about how climate change could affect their future, representing an increase since 2023, when a UNICEF USA survey found that 57% of youth globally experienced “eco-anxiety.”1 Youth in the Global North report higher levels of climate-related anxiety (76%) compared to their peers in the Global South (65%). A rural-urban divide is also evident, with 72% of youth living in urban and suburban areas expressing concern about climate change impacts on their future, versus 58% in rural areas.

    Young people believe there is still time to fix the problems caused by climate change
    Despite their climate anxiety, most youths believe green skills are key to a brighter future, with 61% agreeing that developing green skills2 will offer them new career opportunities. They are interested in aligning their paid employment with their climate conscious values, with slightly over half (53%) globally and almost two-thirds (64%) in the Global North interested in a green job.

    “Young people across the globe, and in particular in the US, are hyperaware of the urgent challenges posed by climate change. It’s clear that they are also eager to be part of the solution,” said Sarika Naik, Group Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Capgemini. “We need to help young people turn their passion into impact by investing in green skills. This report shows how critical it is that business, governments, and education leaders work together to bridge the skills gap, empower youth voices, and create pathways to meaningful green careers.”

    “Young people are architecting climate solutions. They are designing and deploying innovative solutions that respond to the climate realities their communities are facing,” said Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO, Generation Unlimited at UNICEF. “Green Rising, with its ecosystem of public and private sector partners, is supporting young people with the skills and opportunities they need to take climate action, start green companies, access green jobs and power green solutions.”

    Youth lack the necessary green skills
    Young people provide a workforce pipeline for tackling climate change, but the green transition requires a skilled workforce. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), environmental sustainability competency relies on a strong foundation in science, an understanding of climate change, a commitment to protect the environment, the confidence to explain environmental issues, and the motivation to act sustainably3.

    However, the report finds that less than half of youth globally (44%) believe they have the green skills necessary to be successful in today’s workforce. In terms of green skills, young people in rural areas lag even further behind young people in suburban and urban areas. This percentage also differs across regions. In the Global South, around six in ten Brazilian youth say they are equipped with green skills, while only 5% of Ethiopian youth say the same.

    Since the Capgemini Research Institute’s 2023 research4, youth in several countries in the Global North have regressed in their knowledge of green skills. Among youth aged 16 to 18 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US, recycling and waste reduction remains the most commonly held green skill. But the share of youth knowledgeable about sustainable design, sustainable energy, and sustainable transportation has significantly declined since 2023. In the Global South, young people are most knowledgeable about recycling and waste reduction, energy conservation and water conservation, but least knowledgeable about climate technologies, data analysis, and sustainable design.

    The generational divide must be overcome to find solutions
    Most youth globally (71%) agree that they should have a strong influence on environmental policy and legislation. However, the majority agree that business and political leaders are not playing their part and should be contributing more to the fight against climate change. While almost two-thirds of young people feel engaged enough to want to speak with local leaders about climate action, fewer than half believe their opinions are actually heard by community leaders.

    The report urges community leaders to support young people in advancing climate solutions and green skills. According to the report, integrating green education, expanding access to training, and aligning climate goals with youth employment strategies should be part of the solution and implanted by policymakers. Whereas corporate leaders could be encouraged to co-create green job pathways, invest in youth-led initiatives, and embed young voices in CSR, ESG, and climate strategies in order to build trust and drive sustainable innovation.

    As young people seek to upskill, global movements like Green Rising aim to support 20 million young people by 2026 in taking grassroots action, offering opportunities for volunteerism, advocacy, paid work and entrepreneurship. This initiative is led by Generation Unlimited at UNICEF and supported by the public and private sector, including Capgemini.

    To read the full report: https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/global-youth-and-sustainability

    Report Methodology
    The Capgemini Research Institute carried out extensive research into youth perspectives on climate change and interest in green skills and green jobs in February and March 2025. They conducted an online survey of 5,100 youth aged 16 to 24 across 21 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. This included 4,394 youth aged 18 to 24 and 706 youth aged 16 and 17 years old. For the 14% of the sample that were minors (<18 years old), they obtained parental permission from 706 parents. The majority (83%) of the youth surveyed live in the Global South (low- and middle-income countries).5 The remaining youth respondents live in the Global North or high-income countries.

    About UNICEF
    UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

    About Generation Unlimited
    Launched by the UN Secretary-General at the 2018 UN General Assembly, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited is a leading global Public-Private-Youth Partnership on a mission to skill and connect the world’s 1.8 billion young people to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact. The partnership brings together global organisations and leaders including Heads of State, CEOs, Heads of UN agencies, and civil society champions with young people to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.

    * UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first.

    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

    1 UNICEF USA, “From eco-anxiety to eco-optimism, listening to a generation of resilient youth,” January 2023.
    2 Green skills refer to the hard and soft skills which help people take care of nature, stop pollution, and use resources wisely.
    3 OECD, Skills Outlook 2023: Skills for a resilient green and digital transition, November 6, 2023.
    4 CRI, Digital skills and technology in secondary education survey, March 2023
    5 Bank Group, Income Group Class, according to 2023 gross national income (GNI) per capita, calculated using the World Bank Atlas method.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Annual General Meeting of 17 June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOLUTIONS 30 SE (the Company) informs its shareholders that its annual general meeting (General Meeting) will be held on 17 June 2025 at 2:30 p.m. (Luxembourg time) at Sofitel Luxembourg Europe, 6 rue du Fort Niedergruenewald, L-2226 Kirchberg, Luxembourg. The General Meeting will be video broadcasted live, through the Company’s website.

    The convening notice (Convening Notice) detailing the agenda of the General Meeting was published in the Recueil Electronique des Sociétés et Associations (RESA) as well as in the Tageblatt, on 16 May 2025. The procedures for voting at this General Meeting are set out in the Convening Notice.

    This Convening Notice together with all ancillary documents and preparatory information relating to the General Meeting are available to shareholders on the Company’s website at https://solutions30.com/general-meeting/ where they can be consulted and downloaded.

    For any further information, please:

    • visit the Investor Relations / General Meetings section of the website: https://www.solutions30.com where all relevant documents are available,
    • or contact the Company by email at the following address: investor.relations@solutions30.com.


    About Solutions30 SE

    Solutions30’s mission is to make the technological developments that are transforming our daily lives accessible to everyone, individuals and businesses alike, especially with regard to the digital transformation and the energy transition. With its network of more than 16,000 technicians, Solutions30 has completed over 65 million call-outs since its inception and led over 500 renewable energy projects with a combined maximum output surpassing 1800 MWp. Every day, Solutions30 is doing its part to build a more connected and sustainable world. Solutions30 has become an industry leader in Europe with operations in 10 countries: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indices : CAC Mid & Small | CAC Small | CAC Technology | Euro Stoxx Total Market Technology | Euronext Tech Croissance.

    Visit our website to learn more: www.solutions30.com

    Contact

    Individual Shareholders:

    actionnaires@solutions30.com – Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63

    Analysts/Investors:
         investor.relations@solutions30.com

    Press – Image 7:
     Charlotte Le Barbier – Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 – clebarbier@image7.fr

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Waste-to-energy in Australia: how it works, where new incinerators could go, and how they stack up

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Abbas, Associate Dean (Research), University of Sydney

    Martin Mecnarowski, Shutterstock.

    Every year, Australia buries millions of tonnes of waste in landfills. But these sites are filling fast, recycling has its own limitations, and most waste export is banned. So councils and state governments are looking for alternatives.

    Several large-scale incinerators have been proposed, to turn municipal solid waste into electricity. One is already up and running in Perth’s outer suburbs.

    The A$1.5 billion Parkes Energy Recovery project planned for New South Wales would be Australia’s biggest. However, community backlash over potential health risks could put the plan in doubt.

    As chemical engineers, we recognise the potential benefits of this technology. Modern facilities operating around the world show these processes can be efficient, safe and environmentally controlled. However, minimal risk does not mean zero risk. Understanding both the benefits and challenges is crucial to address community concerns.

    What is waste-to-energy?

    Waste-to-energy, also known as energy-from-waste, can transform waste otherwise destined for landfill into electricity, heat or fuel.

    This does not replace recycling. Instead, it offers a solution for materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle. Care must be taken, however, to ensure waste-to-energy technologies complement rather than supplant recycling efforts.

    How does it work?

    There are three main types of waste-to-energy technologies:

    1. Thermal: use heat to generate steam, which spins turbines to create electricity. The heat can come from burning waste, producing carbon dioxide, water and ash. Alternatively, solid waste can be turned into gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide). This process is known as gasification.

    2. Biological: use microorganisms to break down organic matter in the waste stream, producing biogas, mainly methane. This is then used for power or heat generation.

    3. Chemical: use processes such as pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction to convert hard-to-recycle materials into fuels or chemicals. These can feed into industrial and manufacturing processes.

    What’s holding Australia back?

    When most Australians hear about making energy from waste, they think of
    old-fashioned incinerators. Those outdated facilities released smoke and toxins into the air.

    But modern incinerators use advanced air pollution control systems that capture harmful emissions.

    Some use static electricity to remove dust or smoke particles from the gas stream. Other pollution control systems include acid gas scrubbers, catalytic converters and fabric filters.

    This can cut emissions of fine particles by up to 99%.

    The volume of waste sent to landfill is also reduced by up to 90%. What remains includes incinerator bottom ash and fly ash. Often these can be reused in making concrete, pavement and other construction materials. But regulatory issues will need to be overcome before this can happen in Australia.

    Introducing the Parkes project

    The Parkes Energy Recovery project, announced in March, promises to process around 600,000 tonnes of waste a year. This should generate at least 60 megawatts of electricity – enough to power 80,000 homes.

    To receive development approval, the project must comply with stringent environmental and health standards. This includes preparing an Environmental Impact Statement and Human Health Risk Assessment. The NSW Environment Protection Authority may then issue an Environment Protection Licence. Such a licence requires ongoing monitoring and frequent audits.

    Extensive community consultation is underway.

    Other projects around Australia

    There are two waste-to-energy plants in Western Australia, one at Kwinana and another under construction at East Rockingham. A third plant has been given the go-ahead in Victoria, at Maryvale.

    Kwinana received its first delivery of waste in July 2024.

    Licences to build other major waste-to-energy facilities have been issued in Victoria. Various proposals are also being considered in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

    Australia’s first standalone, large-scale waste-to-energy plant in WA | ABC News.

    Taking tips from overseas

    A shortage of landfill sites in cities across Europe and Asia originally promoted investment in waste-to-energy technology. These power plants are now commonplace in Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, substantially reducing reliance on landfill.

    The Amager Bakke plant in Copenhagen shows how such facilities can also enrich a community. This award-winning building doubles as a public recreation space, complete with a rooftop ski slope.

    In China, the proposed Shenzhen East Waste-to-Energy Plant could process 5,000 tonnes of waste a day. That works out to 1.8 million tonnes of waste a year, if run continuously.

    One of the world’s largest waste-to-energy plants is in Shenzhen, China (Dezeen)

    Waste-to-energy and the circular economy

    Waste-to-energy technology is useful in the transition to a circular economy. This is an economy where resources are continually cycled through the system and never wasted.

    Reusing, recycling and reducing waste must remain top priorities. Waste-to-energy technology should then be used as a last resort, extracting value from hard- or impossible-to-recycle materials.

    It’s certainly better than sending waste to landfill. When buried underground, waste can leach toxins into soil, ground and surface water. The potent greenhouse gas methane is also released when food rots in landfill.

    Over-reliance on waste-to-energy could supplant more sustainable circular recycling efforts. But incineration plants are being scaled back in Europe, as the focus shifts to reuse.

    Copenhagen’s power plant is also a ski slope (The Impossible Build)

    The case for waste-to-energy

    Despite its potential, waste-to-energy technology remains controversial in Australia. Some local communities remain concerned about emissions and potential long-term health risks. Environmental groups also question the potential effects on recycling rates.

    Nevertheless, growing awareness of the limitations of recycling, increasing landfill levies, bans on waste exports, and ambitious federal and state circular economy strategies are making waste-to-energy a more pragmatic option. Stringent regulation and community consultation will be necessary to get these projects off the ground.

    Responsible use of modern waste-to-energy technology can generate electricity and heat for homes with minimal emissions, and can extend benefits that serve local communities. It can also complement Australia’s renewable energy targets while taking a better approach to managing waste.

    Professor Ali Abbas is Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Sydney Faculty of Engineering. He is Australia’s Chief Circular Engineer (Circular Australia), and Founder and Executive Director Innovation at Scimita Group, a Deep Tech Innovation House working in sustainable technologies. He has previously advised government and industry on energy-from-waste and circular economy topics.

    Dominic Bui Viet is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney in the Faculty of Engineering. He has previously received funding from a Cooperative Research Centre projects grant to conduct research into pyrolysis technologies for waste management.

    Eric Sanjaya is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney, Faculty of Engineering. He has previously advised government and industry on energy-from-waste and circular economy topics

    – ref. Waste-to-energy in Australia: how it works, where new incinerators could go, and how they stack up – https://theconversation.com/waste-to-energy-in-australia-how-it-works-where-new-incinerators-could-go-and-how-they-stack-up-254395

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China always firm supporter for UN peacekeeping: defense minister

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

    Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun has expressed China’s support for the reform and transformation of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations during a meeting in Berlin.

    Delivering a speech at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025 on Wednesday, Dong said China has always been a firm supporter and a constructive contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, noting that such missions have offered hope for peace to people suffering from the scourge of war.

    Highlighting China’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind and to promoting universal security and common well-being, Dong said that China supports the reform and transformation of UN peacekeeping operations. He put forward a six-point proposal aimed at strengthening global peacekeeping efforts.

    China will work with various parties to act on the Global Security Initiative, and advocate the principles of solidarity, cooperation, and universal and mutual benefits in addressing security issues, Dong said.

    He stressed the necessity of unswerving support for the UN’s central role and its important function in maintaining world peace and security.

    China will step up its efforts in UN peacekeeping operations, Dong said, calling on all countries to offer firm support.

    In addition, Dong stressed that China will support the training of professional peacekeeping personnel, adding that China will host senior-level strategic seminars and more training courses to help participating countries enhance their operational capabilities.

    China will also optimize the composition and capabilities of the Chinese peacekeeping standby force, and advance continuous innovation in UN peacekeeping operations, facilitating the utilization of new technologies.

    During his visit, Dong also held talks with the secretary-general and the under-secretary-general of the UN, and defense leaders from countries including France, Germany, Italy, and Nepal. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • India remains fastest-growing economy at ‘precarious moment’ for world: UN

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India remains the fastest-growing large economy and is expected to record a 6.3 per cent growth this fiscal year, while the global economy faces a “precarious moment,” according to the UN.

    The UN’s mid-year update of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report said India’s economy is projected to grow a tad faster next year at 6.4 per cent, even though it is also 0.3 per cent lower than the January projection.

    “The world economy is at a precarious moment,” the report warned. “Heightened trade tensions, along with policy uncertainty, have significantly weakened the global economic outlook for 2025.”

    “It’s been a nervous time for the global economy,” Shantanu Mukherjee, the director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division, said at the release of the WESP. “In January this year, we were expecting two years of stable, if subpar growth, and since then, prospects have diminished,” he added.

    Against this picture, the growth of the world’s fifth-largest economy, India, contrasts with the global rate of 2.4 per cent this year, and that of other major economies, according to the WESP.

    The projection for China is 4.6 per cent, for the US 1.6 per cent, Germany (negative) -0.1 per cent, Japan 0.7 per cent, and the European Union 1 per cent. “Resilient private consumption and strong public investment, alongside robust services exports, will support economic growth” for India, the report said.

    On inflation and employment, the WESP saw positive trends for India. “Inflation is projected to slow from 4.9 per cent in 2024 to 4.3 per cent in 2025, staying within the central bank’s target range,” it said.

    “Unemployment remains largely stable amid steady economic conditions,” it said, but added a note of caution that “persistent gender disparities in employment underscore the need for greater inclusivity in workforce participation”. The WESP drew attention to the risks to the export sector from the US tariff threats.

    “While looming US tariffs weigh on merchandise exports, currently exempt sectors- such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors, energy, and copper, could limit the economic impact, though these exemptions may not be permanent,” it said. The International Monetary Fund last month projected India’s economy to grow by 6.2 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent next year. (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI China: More tax refund stores set to open

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

    China plans to accelerate the availability of tax refund stores for eligible overseas visitors to about 10,000 shops nationwide this year, almost tripling the current number, as the country continues to boost inbound tourism and consumption, a senior official said.

    By the end of last year, China had more than 3,700 stores nationwide available for tax refunds for overseas visitors, adding more than 600 stores over the previous year, the Ministry of Commerce said.

    Promoting inbound consumption serves as an important lever to help vigorously boost consumption, and it holds great growth potential. It will also help offset the impact of additional tariffs to a certain extent, said Sheng Qiuping, vice-minister of commerce, during a conference on Thursday in Beijing.

    China will continue to optimize the layout of tax refund stores, and encourage various regions to set up such stores in major commercial complexes, shopping streets, tourist attractions, resorts, cultural and museum venues, airports, passenger ports, hotels and other places where overseas tourists gather, according to a guideline issued by the Ministry of Commerce and five other departments in late April.

    The country has lowered the starting point for tax refunds from 500 yuan ($69.3) to 200 yuan and doubled the limit for cash refunds from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan.

    In addition, the country will relax the registration requirements for retailers to become tax refund stores, allowing newly opened shops that have been established for less than a year to apply to become tax refund shops, and the filing time has been shortened to within five working days, the guideline said.

    “Tax refund stores are also encouraged to broaden product offerings to include time-honored brands, renowned Chinese consumer goods, smart devices, intangible cultural heritage items, crafts and specialty products,” Sheng said.

    Globally, Japan has more than 60,000 stores that are available for tax refunds for overseas visitors, and South Korea has some 20,000 such stores. France, Germany and Italy each have over 10,000 such stores. The number of such stores in China is far from enough, the Ministry of Commerce said.

    Last year, the total expenditure of inbound tourists in China reached $94.2 billion, accounting for 0.5 percent of China’s GDP, which is lower than the proportions of 1 percent to 3 percent for major countries in the world, said the commerce ministry.

    “Accelerating the promotion of the tax refund policy will help reduce shopping costs for overseas travelers and inject new impetus to boost consumption. This is an important measure for China to cope with external uncertainties,” Sheng said.

    China has been opening its doors wider to international travelers. In 2024, the country expanded its unilateral visa-free policy to include 38 countries, allowing visits of up to 30 days, according to the National Immigration Administration.

    Multiple favorable policies have helped significantly boost inbound consumption. During the recent five-day May Day holiday, the country saw the number of inbound and outbound passenger trips of foreign visitors exceed 1.1 million, up 43.1 percent year-on-year, said the National Immigration Administration.

    Shanghai, one of the cities with the highest concentration of foreign tourists, said inbound consumption has become an important lever for it to actively respond to the trade frictions between China and the United States, and promoting inbound consumption will help the city to build itself into an international consumption center.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM: The world has paid the price for Putin’s aggression. He must now pay for avoiding peace.

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM: The world has paid the price for Putin’s aggression. He must now pay for avoiding peace.

    Piling the pressure on the Kremlin will be the focus of discussions at the European Political Community [EPC] today, after Putin dodged US arranged peace talks in Istanbul yesterday [Thursday].

    • Prime Minister to convene leaders at EPC to drive forward response to Putin’s stalling tactics

    • Russian energy expected to be central target in widespread sanctions action in the coming weeks if Russia does not agree a ceasefire

    • Comes as around 40 leaders meet at the European Political Community summit in Tirana today

    Piling the pressure on the Kremlin will be the focus of discussions at the European Political Community [EPC] today, after Putin dodged US arranged peace talks in Istanbul yesterday [Thursday].

    More than 40 leaders will attend the Tirana summit today, discussing shared challenges facing the continent and the threat to global stability and security posed by Putin.

    It comes after President Zelenskyy underscored Ukraine’s position as the party of peace and travelled to Turkey in good faith this week, in preparation for peace talks with Russia.

    But Putin failed to attend.

    Leaders are expected to reiterate calls for a full and unconditional ceasefire today and demand Russia prove that they are serious about bringing its invasion to an end. For more than two months, Russia has failed to substantively respond to the US’ calls for a full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire and genuine peace talks.

    Work has already begun on what further sanctions can be implemented to degrade Russia’s ability to prolong the war if Russia does not agree to a ceasefire.  Today, leaders are expected to progress the conversations held in Kyiv at the weekend about sanctions, with a focus on Russian energy revenues.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    People in Ukraine and across the world have paid the price for Putin’s aggression in Ukraine and across Europe, now he must pay the price for avoiding peace.

    Putin’s tactics to dither and delay, while continuing to kill and cause bloodshed across Ukraine, is intolerable.

    For the past three years, Ukraine has been fighting for peace and security, while Russia has sent thousands of young men and women to their deaths and compromised global stability.

    Alongside the US and more than 30 other partners, we have been clear that we will not stand for Russia kicking a ceasefire down the road.

    A full, unconditional ceasefire must be agreed and if Russia is unwilling to come to the negotiating table, Putin must pay the price.

    During the summit, the Prime Minister is expected to lead a security roundtable with the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, as well as discussing with key partners including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Ukraine latest efforts with the US to secure peace and an end of the bloodbath in Ukraine. It comes as Putin repeatedly ignored requests for peace talks in Istanbul this week.

    The Kremlin’s biggest source of tax revenue is oil exports, and with forecasts cut by almost a quarter because of Western sanctions and compounding slowing global growth prices, further measures are likely to cause significant pain. Oil and gas tax revenues were already a third lower in dollar terms 2024 than in 2022, the first year of the war; and they are already down by almost 20% year-on-year in February and March.

    The Prime Minister is clear that supporting Ukraine, and degrading Russia’s economy and ability to prolong the war as they wreak havoc across Europe, is vital to protecting national and Euro-Atlantic security, and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

    Russian aggression is plain for all to see. Just this week the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that the Russia Secret Service was behind a major blaze at a Polish shopping centre, while in a landmark decision, the International Civil Aviation Organisation ruled that the Russian Federation was behind the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014, killing 298 people, including 10 UK citizens.

    Last week, the Prime Minister announced the UK’s largest ever package of sanctions on Russia’s Shadow Fleet. The sanctions will apply further pressure on the Russian economy, which is stalling as Putin’s national wealth fund starts to run out, the non-defence sector is in recession and global oil prices are falling.

    Russia’s defence and security spending is now 40% of all federal spending and 8% GDP – a post-1990 high and double the size of federal social services spending.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nashville Man Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud Fresno County

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Jafaar September Nyangoro, 52, of Franklin, Tennessee, and Peter Bah Acha, 45 of Berlin, Germany, charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud related to a scheme to defraud Fresno County, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

    According to court documents, sometime before Sept. 14, 2020, Nyangoro, Acha, and others secretly gained control of an email account used by the finance director of a Fresno nonprofit to submit fraudulent invoices to Fresno County for payment through Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions. Posing as the finance director, they fraudulently represented to the County of Fresno that the nonprofit’s bank account information had changed and that payments should be sent to an account at a different bank that Nyangoro had recently opened. The County of Fresno updated the nonprofit’s bank account information accordingly.

    According to court documents, between Sept. 24, 2020, and Oct. 13, 2020, the County of Fresno initiated several ACH transfers totaling over $1.5 million to Nyangoro’s bank account instead of the nonprofit’s bank account. At times, Nyangoro, Acha, and others communicated with each other through various means, including WhatsApp. For example, on Oct. 16, 2020, after Regions Bank reversed some of the ACH transfers for suspected fraud, Nyangoro sent a WhatsApp message: “We’re in deep s***. The last 3 transactions from County of Fresno have been reversed. Please call me ASAP!”

    This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Gappa is prosecuting the case.

    Nyangoro was ordered detained by a magistrate judge in Nashville on May 14, 2025, and will make an appearance in Fresno at a later date.

    If convicted, Nyangoro and Acha face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China has always firmly supported UN peacekeeping activities: Chinese Defense Minister

    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

    BERLIN, May 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said at a meeting in Berlin that China supports the reform and transformation of United Nations peacekeeping operations.

    Speaking at the 2025 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday, Dong Jun said China has always been a strong supporter and constructive participant in UN peacekeeping operations, noting that such missions bring hope for peace to people suffering from the chaos of war.

    Expressing China’s commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind and promoting universal security and prosperity, Dong Jun stressed that China supports the reform and transformation of UN peacekeeping operations. He put forward a six-point proposal to strengthen global peacekeeping efforts.

    The Chinese Defense Minister pointed out that China hopes to work with all parties to implement the Global Security Initiative, upholding the principles of solidarity, cooperation and common benefit in resolving security issues.

    He stressed the need for continued support for the central role of the UN and its important role in maintaining peace and security throughout the world.

    China will step up its efforts in UN peacekeeping operations, Dong Jun said, calling on all countries to provide them with firm support.

    The minister stressed that China is willing to support the training of professional peacekeepers, adding that the Chinese side will hold high-level strategic seminars and new training courses to help participating countries enhance their operational capabilities.

    China intends to optimize the composition and capabilities of its reserve peacekeeping forces and promote continuous innovation in UN peacekeeping operations by facilitating the use of new technologies, Dong Jun said.

    During his visit, the Chinese Defense Minister held talks with the UN Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General, and with defense ministers from countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Nepal. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexia Maddox, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Education Futures, La Trobe University

    De Visu/Shutterstock

    Australia’s move to ban under-16s from social media is receiving widespread praise. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore and Japan, are also now reportedly considering similar moves.

    The ban was legislated in November 2024 and is due to take effect in December 2025. The law says social media platforms can’t use official IDs such as passports to check Australian users’ ages, and shouldn’t track Australians. But it doesn’t specify the alternative.

    To test alternative methods, the federal government commissioned a trial of currently available technologies designed to “assure” people’s age online. Run by the Age Check Certification Scheme, a UK-based company specialising in testing and certifying identity verification systems, the trial is in its final stages. Results are expected at the end of June.

    So what are the technologies being trialled? Are they likely to work? And how might they – and the social media ban itself – alter the relationship all of us have with our dominant forms of digital communication?

    Dead ends for age verification

    Age verification confirms a person’s exact age using verified sources such as government-issued IDs. Age assurance is a broader term. It can include estimation techniques such as analysing faces or metadata to determine if users meet age requirements.

    In 2023 the federal government rejected mandating verification technologies for age-gating pornography sites. It found them “immature” with significant limitations. For example, database checks were costly and credit card verification could be easily worked around by minors.

    Nonprofit organisation Digital Rights Watch also pointed out that such systems were easily bypassed using virtual private networks – or VPNs. These are simple tools that hide a user’s location to make it seem like they are from a different country.

    Age assurance technologies bring different problems.

    For example, the latest US National Academies of Sciences report shows that facial recognition systems frequently misidentify children because their facial features are still developing.

    Improving these systems would require massive collections of children’s facial images. But international human rights law protects children’s privacy, making such data collection both legally and ethically problematic.

    Flawed testing of innovative tech?

    The age assurance technology trial currently includes 53 vendors hoping to win a contract for new innovative solutions.

    A range of technology is being trialled. It includes facial recognition offering “selfie-based age checks” and hand movement recognition technologies that claim to calculate age ranges. It also includes bespoke block chains to store sensitive data on.

    There are internal tensions about the trial’s design choices. These tensions centre on a lack of focus on ways to circumvent the technology, privacy implications, and verification of vendors’ efficacy claims.

    While testing innovation is good, the majority of companies and startups such as IDVerse, AgeCheck, and Yoti in the trial, will likely not hold clout over the major tech platforms in focus (Meta, Google and Snap).

    This divide reveals a fundamental problem: the companies building the checking tools aren’t the ones who must use them in the platforms targeted by the law. When tech giants don’t actively participate in developing solutions, they’re more likely to resist implementing them later.

    Google recently proposed storing ID documents in Google Wallet for age verification.
    nitpicker/Shutterstock

    Unresponsive tech companies

    Some major tech companies have shown little interest in engaging with the trial. For example, minutes from the trial’s March advisory board meeting reveal Apple “has been unresponsive, despite multiple outreach attempts”.

    Apple has recently outlined a tool to transmit a declared age range to developers on request. Apple suggests iOS will default the age assurance on Apple devices to under 13 for kids’ accounts. This makes it the responsibility of parents to modify age, the responsibility of developers to recognise age, and the responsibility of governments to legislate when and what to do with an assured age per market.

    Google’s recent Google Wallet proposal for age assurance also misses the mark on privacy concerns and usefulness.

    The proposal would require people over 16 to upload government-issued IDs and link them to a Google account. It would also require people trust Google not track where they go across the internet, via a privacy-preserving technology that remains a promise.

    Crucially, Meta’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also do not let you login with Google credentials. After all, they are competitors. This raises questions about the usefulness of Google’s proposal to assure age across social media platforms as part of the government’s under-16s ban.

    Meanwhile, Google is also suggesting AI chatbots should be directly targeted and available to children under 13, creating something akin to a “social network of one”, which are out of scope of the ban.

    Rather than engage with Australian age verification systems, companies such as Apple and Google are promoting their own solutions which seem to prioritise keeping or adding users to their services, or passing responsibility elsewhere.

    For the targeted platforms that enable online social interactions, delay in engagement fits a broader pattern. For example, in January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg indicated Meta would push back more aggressively against international regulations that threaten its business model.

    A shift in internet regulation

    Australia’s approach to banning under-16s from using social media marks a significant shift in internet regulation. Rather than age-gating specific content such as porn or gambling, Australia is now targeting basic communication infrastructure – which is what social media have become.

    It centres the problem on children being children, rather than on social media business models.

    The result is limiting childrens’ digital rights with experimental technologies while doing little to address the source of perceived harm for all of us. It prioritises protection without considering children’s rights to access information and express themselves. This risks leaving the most vulnerable children being cut off from digital spaces essential to their success.

    Australia’s approach puts paternal politics ahead of technical and social reality. As we get closer to the ban taking effect, we’ll see how this approach to regulate social communication platforms offers young people respite from the platforms their parents fear – yet continue to use everyday for their own basic communication needs.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed – https://theconversation.com/a-trial-is-testing-ways-to-enforce-australias-under-16s-social-media-ban-but-the-tech-is-flawed-256332

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King: “Siloing Innovation” Harms American Security, Entrepreneurialism

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), in a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke with Dr. William Greenwalt, the former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy, on the wide-ranging benefits of the United States’ collaboration with allies to bolster American defense modernization. During the exchange, Senator King noted that by retreating from our European, Japanese and Australian allies, we are “squandering that asset and siloing innovation.” Dr. Greenwalt agreed with Senator King, saying that cooperation with our allies is critical to the future of innovation and shared national security.
    “Dr. Greenwalt, I was struck by what you said in your opening statement. One of our asymmetric or I think our principal asymmetric advantage in terms of national security is our allies, and yet we put them through this long, arduous process. And there should be, I think you suggested a, I don’t know whether you call it an exemption or a bobtail process or something, so that we’re not, so that we can have greater cooperation with our allies. Is that? Is that a fair interpretation of what you said,” questioned Senator King.
    “Yes, I won’t even call it an easy pass lane,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I think that’s and the other piece of this, and as I travel and meet with security people in other countries, we’re missing an innovation multiplier by not working with our allies. Countries like Japan and Australia, Europe, Germany, UK, all have brilliant scientists who are working on a lot of innovative areas. And instead of having innovation be siloed by country, it’s always occurred to me that it would be much more, as I say, a multiplier, if we could work more closely and have better cooperation with the countries that are aligned with us? Is that a fair observation,” asked Senator King.
    “I think that’s a fair observation. We’re a country of 340 million, our allies together, the EU, NATO, Japan, Korea, kick us up over to over a trillion. We were close to the Chinese population,” responded Dr. Greenwalt.
    “And we’re squandering that asset by siloing innovation,” replied Senator King.
    “The number of scientists, engineers working together would be critical in the future, and unfortunately, right now, we’re all stove pipe working on these things separately,” said Dr. Greenwalt.
    “Well, I do want to, I have a visual aid in terms of the process. I’m not going to burden the committee, Mr. Chairman, by submitting it for the record, but this is the foreign military sales manual, 642 pages. I mean this to me this summarizes, in many ways, the problem of the of the process itself, which has impeded our ability to work with, again, with our allies,” finished Senator King.
    A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), Senator King is recognized as an authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy issues who has also been named a “fiscal hero” by government watchdogs for responsible spending. Last year, Senator King urged the DoD to take advantage of private sector technologies or risk losing access to innovative defense technologies. In previous SASC hearings, he has encouraged the DoD to adopt smart spending practices when it comes to developing defense technologies, and has emphasized that “new technologies win wars.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Libya, Gaza, & other topics – Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

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

    Highlights:
    – Secretary-General/Travels
    – Libya
    – Occupied Palestinian Territory
    – Security Council
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo
    – Democratic Republic of the Congo/Humanitarian
    – Sudan
    – Haiti
    – Syria
    – International Day of Families
    – Briefings
    – Financial Contribution

    SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
    The Secretary-General left Germany in the morning and is now on his way to Iraq. Earlier today, in Berlin, he met with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the Federal President of the Federal Republic of Germany. They discussed topics that included the situation in the Middle East and the partnership between the UN and Germany. 
    Yesterday, he met the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and he told reporters later that they had discussed, among other topics, the situations in Gaza and Ukraine.
    While in Iraq, Mr. Guterres will attend the Arab League Summit. He will address the Summit on Saturday. He is also scheduled to hold a number of meetings with leaders and officials attending the summit, including leaders of the host country. He is also going to meet with our UN team in Iraq.

    LIBYA
    The Secretary-General takes note of the truce reached in Tripoli yesterday and calls on all parties to take urgent steps to sustain and build upon it through dialogue.
    The rapid nature of the escalation, which drew armed groups from outside the city and subjected heavily populated neighborhoods to heavy artillery fire, was alarming. The Secretary-General is deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of at least eight civilians in the recent clashes.
    The Secretary-General reminds all parties of their obligation to protect civilians and calls on them to engage in serious dialogue in good faith to address the root causes of the conflict.
    The United Nations stands ready to provide its good offices to facilitate agreement on a path towards lasting peace and stability in Libya.

    Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Peacekeeping: Can mean difference between life and death – UN Chief | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    “Blue helmets can mean the difference between life and death,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged renewed global commitment to peacekeeping during the opening of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, warning that operations are facing unprecedented financial and political pressure.

    “My thanks to Germany for bringing us together at this consequential moment,” Guterres said. “This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations organization was founded on the conviction that peace is possible if we work as one United’s human family. That is what our peace operations are about.”

    Highlighting the symbolic and operational importance of the United Nations peacekeeping forces, the Secretary-General stated, “The UN Blue Helmets are the most globally recognized symbol of the world’s ability to come together to help countries move from conflict to peace.”

    Guterres pointed to several countries that transitioned from war to stability with the help of UN missions. “There is a long list of countries that have achieved durable peace with the support of UN peacekeeping, including Cambodia, Cote d’Ivoire, El Salvador, Liberia, Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste. Many of these countries now themselves contribute troops,” he said.

    However, he also emphasized the human cost of these missions. “Through the decades, 4400 peacekeepers have fallen in the line of duty. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” he said, inviting participants to join him in a moment of silence.

    As part of a broader reform process initiated by Member States, Guterres referenced the “Pact for the Future,” which calls for a comprehensive review of peace operations. “The review will examine how we can make peacekeeping operations more adaptable, flexible and resilient while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep,” he said.

    He acknowledged the difficulties of operating in increasingly polarized geopolitical contexts. “We see increasing differences of views around our peacekeeping operations work, and then what circumstances with what mandates they should be deploys. And for how long,” he noted.

    Guterres also addressed the challenge of shrinking financial resources. “Peace operations can only succeed when backed by robust mandates and clear, predictable and sustained contributions, both financial and logistical,” he stated. “It is crucial that we are able to use the increasingly limited resources we have and use them well.”

    Concluding his address, the Secretary-General called for continued Member State engagement. “Supported at every step by Member States, we look forward to your government’s support and ideas as we tackle these challenges together,” he said.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Revision of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 – E-001232/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Regulation (EC) No 883/2004[1] on the coordination of national social security systems, together with its implementing Regulation (EC) 987/2009, are key pieces of EU legislation that ensure the protection of social security rights for individuals moving within the EU, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. They establish common rules for determining which country’s social security system applies to individuals in cross-border situations, while respecting the competence of Member States to define the specifics of their social security systems, such as beneficiaries, levels of allowances, and eligibility criteria.

    In December 2016, the Commission proposed to modernise the current rules to ensure that they are fair, clear and easier to enforce. The negotiations between the co-legislators are ongoing.

    Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 also applies to frontier workers or other cross-border workers, including those in the Moselle department of France who worked in Germany and receive unemployment benefits in France. According to the current rules, for these groups of workers, the unemployment benefits are generally paid by the Member State of residence.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/883/oj/eng .
    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Calviño: EIB Group to provide €70 billion for tech firms and innovators

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB Group President Nadia Calviño explains how Europe can benefit from the Trump chaos, with the tech sector set to receive a massive financial boost.

    Interview by Carsten Volkery (published by Handelsblatt)

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is launching a new initiative to close Europe’s investment gap with the United States, aiming to provide €70 billion in startup funding by 2027. This will encourage private investors to get on board with projects, unlocking as much as €250 billion in investment for the European tech sector.

    “This is the largest ever programme to exclusively support European innovation and technological leadership,” EIB Group President Nadia Calviño told Handelsblatt. The goal, she explained, is to finance research projects and companies “from idea to IPO.”

    This also includes supporting the exit of company founders and venture capital investors – who often sell their stakes to US investors, who can afford to buy them. In the future, the EIB could help EU firms to acquire promising startups to prevent technologies from being sold out of Europe.

    TechEU platform to launch this year

    Set to launch later this year, the EIB’s TechEU platform is designed to provide researchers and companies with a one-stop shop for all their financing needs. Calviño says that EU support will become “larger, faster and simpler.” The EIB will work closely with the European Commission, and national promotional banks such as Germany’s KfW may also participate.

    The plan still needs to be approved by the Bank’s Board of Governors, which is made up of the finance ministers of the 27 EU Member States. The EIB Group President gave her perspective to a meeting of the finance ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, and hopes for a positive decision in June.

    She also sees an opportunity in US President Donald Trump’s erratic economic policy and the uncertainty it has caused. “The current situation in the United States creates an opportunity for Europe to attract talent, to attract investment, to attract capital,” she said. “We see strong interest in Europe from international investors.”

    Brain drain warning from US researchers

    In recent weeks and months, the US administration has massively cut research funding for institutions such as the elite Harvard and Columbia universities. US researchers are already warning of brain drain as leading scientists leave the country.

    Former President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Leo Rafael Reif wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine that the Trump administration seems intent on destroying one of the United States’ greatest strengths. The recent cuts to university funding, he writes, risk “draining a crucial source of new ideas for industry and the military.”

    Calviño emphasised that Europe is a “beacon of stability, clarity and confidence” in the current geopolitical environment. This is what investors are looking for. The EIB is also the only multilateral development bank whose shareholders are the EU Member States. “We are not confronted with the same sort of uncertainties that other multilateral development banks are going through,” she says. This enhances the international role of the EIB.

    The EIB’s goal is to back EU policy objectives. It catalyses private investment by offering only partial financing for projects, thereby mobilising public and private sector co-investors. It lent €89 billion last year, and plans to provide €95 billion this year.

    Europe’s largest venture capital financier

    Beyond guarantees and loans, the EIB also takes equity stakes in companies. It is Europe’s largest venture capital financier and its biggest venture debt provider. The various EU funding programmes for researchers and startups will be linked together on the new TechEU platform, meaning that each project will only need to be appraised once.

    The EIB’s prominent role in venture capital financing shows just how underdeveloped Europe’s private capital markets really are. Calviño says that this new initiative aims to nurture the private venture capital ecosystem in Europe. The hope is that, in time, European startups will no longer be obliged to go to the United States to meet their growth phase capital needs.

    However, critics accuse the EIB of being too conservative in its investment approach. In his report on EU competitiveness published last year, EU Special Advisor Mario Draghi called on the Bank to take on more risk to foster breakthrough innovation.

    EIB to take on more risk

    Calviño says that the EIB has already become more willing to take risks. It intends to continue on that track with the TechEU programme, supporting an extra 1 000 EU champions and innovators every year. At the same time, the EIB must ensure it preserves its AAA credit rating, which enables it to raise funds cheaply on the capital markets. It can then pass these funds on to companies.

    Calviño also promises to cut red tape, aiming to return decisions on venture capital financing applications within six months. “This would be a gamechanger.”

    The tech sector often complains that response times are too long. In the past, the EIB has always framed its thorough appraisal process as a hallmark of quality, as it keeps loan default rates very low. But it now seems to have been understood that speed is also a critical factor.

    Another innovation driver could be the defence sector. The EIB has recently made defence one of its core strategic priorities and now also finances purely military projects. “Security and defence investments can certainly help the technology agenda,” said Calviño.

    The Bank already has a pipeline of 22 projects in this sector, supporting drone manufacturers and space companies, for example, as well as several defence-focused venture capital funds.

    According to Calviño, Europe already has almost everything it needs to close the technology gap with the United States. “Europe has a very large market, 450 million citizens, excellent universities, excellent research centres and companies, and brilliant startup ecosystems. With deeper and larger capital markets, we can ensure that technologies and startups born in the European Union can be financed and scale up in Europe.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Pending approval of state aid for the biomass package – E-001850/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001850/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Schneider (PPE)

    Germany’s ‘biomass package’ (Act Amending the Renewable Energy Sources Act for Greater Flexibility and Ongoing Support for Biogas Plants) entered into force on 25 February 2025. Among other things, the act incentivises flexible electricity generation from biomass and fine-tunes requirements for agriculture. These measures can only be implemented once state aid approval is forthcoming from the Commission. The delay in approval is having significant consequences on biomass plant operators’ investment planning and undermining efforts to achieve the EU’s climate targets.

    • 1.At present, how far advanced is the state aid approval procedure for the German biomass package?
    • 2.What is the Commission specifically doing to ensure the approval procedure for the biomass package is completed in time for the new rules to be applied by the forthcoming deadline of 1 October 2025 for applications – applications submitted by the previous deadline of 1 April 2025 had to be processed under the previous legal framework since the state aid law had not yet been approved – and thus eliminate any further investment uncertainty and financial disadvantages that may affect operators in the sector?

    Submitted: 7.5.2025

    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Impact of the delay in State aid approval for Solar Package I on agri-photovoltaics and European competitiveness – E-001269/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In December 2022, the Commission declared an amendment to the German Renewable Energy Act (‘Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz’, EEG 2023) compatible with the internal market in line with the Guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy[1].

    One of the criteria for state aid approval is to limit aid to what is necessary to address an identified market failure, and thus to avoid over-compensating aid recipients for their investments. Long-term commitments (with potential aid disbursement of up to 20 years) entail significant uncertainty about market developments and thus the possibility of undue windfall profits. For that reason, Germany committed to introduce a claw-back provision (or similar mechanism) to limit eventual overcompensation, in the context of the Commission decision approving the EEG 2023. This commitment is a condition of the approval.

    The current discussions on the Solar Package I amendments include the outstanding need to incorporate this pre-existing requirement in the scheme. It falls within the responsibility of Member States to notify new aid in line with the applicable legal requirements and to ensure the timeliness and quality of information provided. The Commission is awaiting a proposal from Germany to address the requirement regarding the EEG 2023 approval condition and remains available and committed to rapidly review any such proposal once received.

    • [1] Communication from the Commission — Guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022, Official Journal of the European Union, C 80, 18 February 2022.
    Last updated: 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s defense chief outlines six proposals to support UN peacekeeping reform 2025-05-16 01:05:21 Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday laid out six proposals to support the reform and transformation of United Nations peacekeeping operations, reaffirming China’s long-standing commitment to multilateral security cooperation.

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

      By Jiang Chenglong

      Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday laid out six proposals to support the reform and transformation of United Nations peacekeeping operations, reaffirming China’s long-standing commitment to multilateral security cooperation.

      Speaking at the 6th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, Dong said peacekeeping missions offer peace and hope to people suffering in conflict zones. His remarks were released Thursday by China’s Ministry of National Defense.

      China “steadfastly promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind,” Dong said, adding that the country remains a firm supporter and constructive contributor to UN peacekeeping.

      Dong’s six-point proposal included advancing the Global Security Initiative through unity, cooperation and mutual benefit in addressing international security challenges. He also called for firm support for the UN’s central role in global peace and security.

      Additional proposals included enhancing training for peacekeeping professionals, organizing high-level strategic seminars, expanding training sessions, and improving the readiness and capabilities of China’s peacekeeping standby forces.

      On the sidelines of the conference, Dong met with senior UN officials as well as defense leaders from France, Germany, Italy and Nepal.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese defense minister holds talks with German counterpart 2025-05-15 23:02:51 The Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, who is currently on a visit to Germany at invitation, held talks with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, on May 15.

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

      BEIJING, May 15 — The Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun, who is currently on a visit to Germany at invitation, held talks with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, on May 15.

      The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, international and regional situations as well as issues of common concern, and reached a consensus on strengthening practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries.

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Aleran Software’s Digital Commerce Platform Is Certified by SAP as Built with SAP Business Technology Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MINNEAPOLIS, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aleran Software announced today that its digital commerce platform is now certified by SAP® as built with SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), SAP’s platform for the Intelligent Enterprise.

    Aleran helps mid-market B2B manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors quickly and easily orchestrate omni-channel B2B sales and commerce. It does this with an AI-fueled holistic commerce platform that simplifies complex product configuration and pricing by delivering customer portals, B2B eCommerce, end-to-end sales order management, and AI-powered catalog embedded buying – all with minimal IT support.

    “Discrete manufacturers often believe their products, pricing, or go-to-market models are too complex for online selling. In fact, it’s surprisingly easy to do,” said Aleran CEO Alex Sayyah. “We’ve focused on making it easy to implement our cloud-based platform with minimal IT, and easy for customers to find, price and buy what they need so your sales and channel partners can focus on creating sustainable, value-driven customer relationships.”

    Aleran’s cloud-based platform is available on the SAP Store and is purpose-built to support make-to-stock, make-to-order and engineer-to-order companies that have complex product, pricing or sales processes. Key capabilities include:

    • Automated native configuration, order, quote management, and pricing functionality designed to accelerate the sales process.
    • Customer portals for self-service ordering and re-ordering and viewing and managing quotes and invoices, lowering the cost of sales.
    • Simplified and improved customer experience with AI Sales Agent and catalog-embedded buying.

    One global industrial and mechatronic manufacturing company with over $1 billion in sales was able to increase its average customer spend by 20% and decrease sales operations costs by over 50% by adding Aleran’s digital commerce platform to complement its traditional sales processes.

    SAP Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC) has certified that Aleran’s digital commerce platform is built with SAP BTP, extending the capabilities of SAP S/4HANA® to orchestrate omni-channel sales through tailored B2B e-commerce features. SAP BTP helps companies connect and integrate their business processes and data with SAP and third-party applications to make well-informed decisions and meet their evolving needs.

    About Aleran

    Aleran Software provides the first holistic, all-in-one commerce platform purpose-built for discrete manufacturing, industrial distributors and wholesalers. Aleran’s connected commerce platform helps manufacturers simplify, unify, and accelerate sales online, offline and everywhere they sell. Based in Minneapolis, Aleran empowers manufacturers with the ability to sell easily, efficiently, and economically by seamlessly integrating with core business technology, including ERP, CRM, and WMS systems, while also streamlining and digitizing the entire sales process. Aleran’s full suite of features enables manufacturers to easily create e-commerce buying experiences for individual customers at scale, launch personalized pricing and promotion, leverage AI-enabled suggested selling, automate configurable pricing and quoting and much more. Learn more about Aleran at www.aleran.com.

    SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

    An image accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7c03daea-135b-4c72-821d-3cce8036010b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Solutions30 announces the appointment of three new CEOs for France, Germany and Belgium

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Solutions30, the European leader in multi-technical field services for the telecommunications, energy, and IT sectors, announces the appointment of Antoine Mirabel as CEO of its operations in France. He succeeds Amaury Boilot, who had been serving in this role on an interim basis since June 2023, in addition to his group-level responsibilities. The Group also announces the appointment of Oliver Fidorra as Co-CEO of its operations in Germany, alongside Luc Brusselaers, who also serves as the Group’s Chief Revenue Officer. Finally, in Belgium, Axel Vandevenne has been appointed Co-CEO, tasked with leading and developing local operations alongside Raf Winnelinckx.

    Antoine Mirabel was previously an Associate Partner at Bain & Company. With nearly 15 years of experience in strategy and management consulting, particularly focused on the energy sector, he brings deep expertise in performance improvement, operational excellence, integration, and extensive experience in digital transformation projects. Antoine Mirabel is a graduate of Télécom Paris and HEC. Following a transition period with Antoine Mirabel, Amaury Boilot will retain his role as Group Secretary General, which includes oversight of the Group’s administrative and financial management.

    Oliver Fidorra brings nearly 20 years of experience in the construction sector, with particular expertise in fiber optic deployment, energy infrastructure, building technical equipment, and civil engineering. Prior to joining Solutions30, he served as Regional Director North and was a member of the management team at Vitronet.

    Axel Vandevenne, with Solutions30 since 2018, has held several managerial positions within the Group, demonstrating strong operational leadership. Prior to joining the Group, he gained solid experience in the telecommunications sector, having worked for the two largest Belgian operators, Proximus and Telenet, where he served as Director of Operations. He holds both a Master of Engineering and a Master of Business. His appointment as Co-Managing Director for Belgium is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the organization in this strategic market. In this context, Jonathan Crauwels will refocus on his role as Chief Financial Officer of Solutions30 Belgium.

    Gianbeppi Fortis, Chairman of the Management Board of Solutions30, stated: “We welcome Antoine and Oliver, whose expertise and leadership will be invaluable assets in supporting the Group’s development. Antoine will lead the transformation of our French operations, successfully initiated by Amaury, with the objective of tripling revenue in energy services by 2026. Meanwhile, Oliver, alongside Luc, will drive the continued growth of our operations in Germany, where we are also targeting a threefold increase in revenue by 2026. In Belgium, Axel and Raf will work closely together to build a sustainable organizational structure and support our growth.”

    About Solutions30 SE

    Solutions30’s mission is to make the technological developments that are transforming our daily lives accessible to everyone, individuals and businesses alike, especially with regard to the digital transformation and the energy transition. With its network of more than 16,000 technicians, Solutions30 has completed over 65 million call-outs since its inception and led over 500 renewable energy projects with a combined maximum output surpassing 1800 MWp. Every day, Solutions30 is doing its part to build a more connected and sustainable world. Solutions30 has become an industry leader in Europe with operations in 10 countries: France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indices : CAC Mid & Small | CAC Small | CAC Technology | Euro Stoxx Total Market Technology | Euronext Tech Croissance.

    Visit our website to learn more: www.solutions30.com

    Contact

    Individual Shareholders:

    actionnaires@solutions30.com – Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63

    Analysts/Investors:
         investor.relations@solutions30.com

    Press – Image 7:
     Charlotte Le Barbier – Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 – clebarbier@image7.fr

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Credit Agricole Sa: Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring completes acquisition of German group Merca Leasing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Montrouge – May 15, 2025

    Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring
    completes acquisition of German group Merca Leasing

    Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring (CAL&F) announces that it has obtained all the necessary authorizations and today finalized the acquisition of 100% of Merca Leasing, a group that has been a partner to the German manufacturing industry for over three decades. This operation is fully in line with CAL&F’s development strategy and will enable it to accelerate its growth in the particularly dynamic German leasing market.

    After obtaining the necessary approvals from German BaFin1 and the German Competition Authority, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring finalized today in Frankfurt the acquisition of Merca Leasing Group, in line with the announcement made to the markets in October 2024.

    Founded in 1989, Merca Leasing is based in Kronberg, near Frankfurt, with branches in Hamburg and Berlin. The group, which is one of the top ten independent Leasing companies in Germany2, offers tailor-made leasing solutions to SMEs, with a strong expertise in financing industrial equipment through Direct Sales channels.

    With the acquisition of Merca Leasing, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring strengthens its expertise and service offering, especially in Mobility, and expands its footprint in the highly fragmented German market, which is a priority in the development strategy of its businesses.

    The impact of the transaction on Crédit Agricole S.A.’s CET1 ratio is not significant.

    “ We are delighted to welcome all the employees of Merca Leasing, whom I warmly greet on behalf of all the teams at Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring. The acquisition of Merca Leasing is an important step in Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring’s European development, and is fully in line with our strategy and the achievement of the ambitions of our 2025 Medium-Term Plan “Transitions to the Future”. This transaction offers the CAL&F and Merca Leasing teams the opportunity to pool their expertise and strengths to serve our customers and the German market.”
    Hervé VARILLON, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring

    **********
      
      
    ABOUT CRÉDIT AGRICOLE LEASING & FACTORING

    A subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole group, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring “CAL&F” has been a key player in Leasing and Factoring for more than 60 years, as well as in the financing of renewable energies and infrastructure in the territories.
    Present in 10 countries in Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland) and thus benefiting from a wide range of activities, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring offers specialised financing, more responsible mobility and second-life equipment solutions to its customers: corporates, professionals, farmers and local authorities. In this way, Crédit Agricole Leasing & Factoring supports, facilitates and accelerates their growth and their transitions towards a more inclusive world, which consumes fewer resources for the planet.

    KEY FIGURES AT THE END OF 2024 (FRANCE AND INTERNATIONAL)
    260,400 customers, including 33% abroad
    2,769 employees
    €34 billion in outstandings, including 30% abroad
    For further information: www.ca-leasingfactoring.com   

    ABOUT MERCA LEASING GMBH
    Merca Leasing was founded in 1989 by Kredietbank N.V., Brussels, Belgium, & U. Helmdach and integrated into the KBC Bank & Insurance Group in 1998. In 2012, the KBC Lease (Deutschland) Group was taken over by the management, renamed Merca Leasing again, based in Kronberg / Taunus (near Frankfurt).
    The group offers financing solutions for business-critical movable equipment focusing on production machinery through leasing, hire purchase, sale-and-lease-back, retrofitting funding services and forfaiting solutions (through Merca Vendor).
    Key figures at the end of 2024 : 37 employees – New sales €309m – Portfolio (actual outstandings) €472m
    For further information: www.merca-leasing.de

    CAL&F PRESS CONTACT
    Sophie Leplus +33 (0)1 43 23 30 87 / +33 (0)6 24 87 16 03 – sophie.leplus@ca-lf.com

    1 Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (German Federal Financial Supervision Authority)

    2 Source: BDL / Bundesverband Deutscher Leasing-Unternehmen (Federal Association of German Leasing Companies)

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint statement on UK-Germany Trinity House Agreement progress – 15 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Joint statement on UK-Germany Trinity House Agreement progress – 15 May 2025

    A joint statement between the UK and Germany, providing progress on the Trinity House Agreement, following a meeting of Defence Secretary John Healey and Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius in Berlin

    On 23 October 2024, the United Kingdom and Germany signed the Trinity House Agreement on Defence Co-operation in London. The agreement set out our shared commitment to improve and further enhance bilateral defence co-operation to better meet the common challenges of the 21st century and to best secure the common interests of both countries in defence.

    The strategic situation remains difficult, the world is more unpredictable and challenging  than ever before. At this time, it is crucial that Allies stick together. This is most true for Ukraine, where the UK and Germany are leading Europe in stepping up our support by our joint leadership of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), first on 11 April, raising nearly $23.5bn from partners so far. We will maintain our commitment and we will host the 28th UDCG in June, as well as the follow-on meetings. 

    Today we held the first Defence Ministerial Council under the Trinity House Agreement. Since we signed the agreement in October, our Ministries of Defence have worked together to take the first steps towards turning the words of the text into real, practical co-operation. Trinity House committed us to meet in key forums in military co-operation, capability and industrial collaboration, and policy coordination. We are pleased that all these, as well as our Armies, Navies, and Air Forces, have met over the last six months, driving forward Trinity House, its lighthouse projects, and co-operation between our armed forces.

    In October 2024 we announced a series of Lighthouse Projects, which provide the ambition and substance to Trinity House. Today we reviewed progress against these, and we continue to encourage our teams to accelerate progress. We are pleased to announce concrete steps we have taken, to work towards our shared ambition.

    Through Trinity House, we agreed to start work on a new Deep Precision Strike Capability. For the first time, we can confirm that we will aim for this system to have a range of over 2,000km, and are jointly leading a programme of work within the European Long Range Strike Approach.

    We agreed on a strategic partnership in land systems and will continue our close BOXER co-operation. Our armies signed a new bilateral vision statement to drive this forward, they have agreed a new Statement of Intent on Bridging, enabling Germany to purchase General Support Bridges via an existing UK contract.

    We agreed to work together to counter undersea threats. We have twice now had German crews fly on UK P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft, supporting NATO’s Baltic Sentry and helping to prepare for the German aircraft delivery later this year. And a UK P-8A will use the German Naval Air Base as a stopover shortly. Today we also signed a new agreement driving forward with a joint procurement of new Sting Ray torpedoes under development for our aircraft.

    We agreed to develop further connectivity between our Air Forces. They have now developed a detailed “Flight Plan” to make this a reality.

    Beyond these projects, work has advanced across the breadth of defence to enhance our co-operation more broadly, aiming to add joint operational value. We plan on establishing a defence industrial forum beneath Trinity House, bringing together our defence trade associations. We have a shared understanding, that digital transformation is central to the modernisation of the defence sector as it enables it to respond to evolving threats with agility, speed and precision. Consequently, we are intensifying our co-operation in the field of digitalisation and cyber. Finally, following Trinity House our governments are engaged in the development of a Bilateral Treaty, growing the strategic relationship between our nations even further.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Scam Protection Software (2025): McAfee Named Top Choice for Email, Text, and Video Scam Detection by Software Experts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK CITY, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the average person seeing 14 scam messages per day and dedicating over 90 hours each year to identifying threats*, the importance of strong digital protection is greater than ever. Today, Software Experts is proud to recognize McAfee’s Scam Detector – a key feature included at no cost with McAfee’s core plans, including McAfee+ and McAfee Total Protection – as a top scam protection tool of 2025.

    Top Scam Protection Software

    • Scam Detector – an AI-powered feature that helps users detect and block scam texts, emails, and deepfake videos in real time across their devices

    Backed by decades of cybersecurity leadership, McAfee has evolved beyond traditional antivirus to meet the needs of modern users facing sophisticated scams in their inboxes, message threads, and even social media feeds. Scam Detector answers this urgent need by using AI-powered scans to detect dangerous text, email, and video scams and alert users.

    All-in-One Scam Protection At No Extra Cost

    Included in McAfee+ and McAfee Total Protection plans, Scam Detector equips users with proactive tools to recognize and scan suspicious content across key communication channels:

    • Text Scams: Alerts users to SMS-based phishing attempts and dangerous links directly within the McAfee mobile app, available on both Android and iOS.
    • Email Scams: Users can link Gmail, Microsoft, and Yahoo Mail accounts for real-time scans in the background. McAfee identifies suspicious messages and explains why they’re risky – no guessing required.
    • Video Scams: A unique feature that uses AI to detect deepfake videos and other manipulative media designed to impersonate trusted individuals or spread disinformation. It’s the world’s first automatic deepfake detection among online protection providers.

    Scam Detector works locally for privacy and supports multiple languages, ensuring scam protection is both private and accessible to diverse users. It also integrates with McAfee’s Safe Browsing technology, which blocks risky links if accidentally clicked.

    Simple Setup, Smart Protection

     

    Scam Detector is designed to deliver powerful scam protection without the complexity. Setup is quick and seamless: to enable email scam protection, users simply connect the email account registered to their McAfee subscription or link a new one – no additional apps or extensions required. For scam texts and deepfake video detection, users activate the feature through the McAfee mobile app. There’s no need to copy and paste suspicious links or upload content for review, though users can if they want to test that functionality in the app. Once activated, Scam Detector works in the background to proactively scan incoming messages, emails, and videos, alerting users when potential threats are detected.

    But Scam Detector does more than just warn – it educates. Each time an email scam is flagged, McAfee provides a clear, contextual explanation of the risks involved, helping users understand the social engineering tactics, deceptive language, or impersonation strategies that scammers commonly use. This empowers individuals to recognize warning signs on their own, building long-term digital awareness and confidence.

    Alerts are delivered in a non-intrusive manner, whether through a mobile notification, a flagged email, or a warning overlaid on suspicious videos. The goal is to provide helpful guidance without interrupting the user experience – keeping people informed, protected, and in control at all times.

    A Response to a Growing Crisis

    The need for smarter scam protection has never been more urgent. Americans are now targeted by an average of 14 scam messages a day, losing an average of $1,471 each time they fall for one*. Worse still, these scams are becoming more sophisticated – blending AI-generated deepfake videos, realistic phishing emails, and fake text alerts that mimic real businesses. It’s not just tech novices who are falling victim, even digital-savvy individuals can be deceived.

    Part of the problem lies in the speed at which these scams unfold. According to McAfee’s research, only 17% of people recognize they’ve encountered a scam within five minutes*. That delay can be costly, leading to compromised identities, drained bank accounts, or irreversible emotional harm.

    Scam Detector was created to meet this moment – offering fast, intelligent detection that’s built directly into the tools people already use every day. By integrating scam protection into core McAfee+ and McAfee Total Protection plans, McAfee ensures users are safeguarded from the most common and costly forms of online deception, all without needing to download or juggle additional tools.

    Click here to explore McAfee’s plans. For the full review, please visit the Software Experts website.

    About McAfee

    McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee’s consumer solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protect their families, communities, and businesses with the right security at the right moment. For more information, please visit McAfee.com.

    *A McAfee survey, which focused on the topic of deepfakes, text and email scam messages, and the impact of these scams on consumers, was conducted online in December 2024. 5,000 adults, age 18+, In 7 countries (US, Australia, India, UK, France, Germany, Japan), participated in the study.

    About Software Experts: Software Experts provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. 

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