Category: Germany

MIL-OSI Economics: New data release: ECB wage tracker continues to indicate that negotiated wage pressures will ease over the course of the year

Source: European Central Bank

23 April 2025

ECB wage tracker updated with agreements signed up to first week of April 2025
Forward-looking information suggests negotiated wage pressures will ease overall in 2025, consistent with data published following March Governing Council meeting

The European Central Bank wage tracker, which covers active collective bargaining agreements, indicates negotiated wage growth with smoothed one-off payments of 4.8% in 2024 (based on an average coverage of 48.8% of employees in participating countries), and 3.1% in 2025 (based on an average coverage of 46.5%). The ECB wage tracker with unsmoothed one-off payments indicates average negotiated wage growth level of 4.9% in 2024 and 2.8% in 2025. The steeply downward trend of the forward-looking wage tracker in 2025 partly reflects the mechanical impact of large one-off payments (that were paid in 2024 but drop out in 2025) and the frontloaded nature of wage increases in some sectors in 2024. The wage tracker excluding one-off payments indicates growth of 4.2% in 2024 and 3.8% in 2025. See Chart 1 and Table 1 for further details.

The ECB wage tracker may be subject to revisions, and the forward-looking part should not be interpreted as a forecast as it only captures information in active collective bargaining agreements. For a more comprehensive assessment of wage developments in the euro area, please refer to the March 2025 ECB staff macroeconomic projections for the euro area, which indicate a yearly growth rate of compensation per employee in the euro area of 4.6% in 2024 and 3.4% in 2025, with a quarterly profile for 2025 of 3.8% in the first quarter, 3.7% in the second quarter, 3.4% in the third quarter and 2.8% in the fourth quarter.

The ECB publishes four wage tracker indicators for the aggregate of seven participating euro area countries via the ECB Data Portal.

Chart 1

ECB wage tracker: forward-looking signals for negotiated wages and revisions to previous data release

2023-25	Revisions to previous data release
(left-hand scale: yearly growth rates, percentages; right-hand scale: percentage share of employees)	(percentage points)

Sources: ECB calculations based on data on collective bargaining agreements signed up to the first week of April 2025 provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, the Dutch employers’ association AWVN and Eurostat. The indicator of negotiated wage growth is calculated using data from the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social, the Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, Statistik Austria, the Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT), the Banque de France and Haver Analytics.

Notes: Dashed lines denote forward-looking information up to December 2025.

What do the four different indicators show?

The headline ECB wage tracker shows negotiated wage growth that includes collectively agreed one-off payments, such as those related to inflation compensation, bonuses or back-dated pay, which are smoothed over 12 months.
The ECB wage tracker excluding one-off payments reflects the extent of structural (or permanent) negotiated wage increases.
The ECB wage tracker with unsmoothed one-off payments is constructed using a methodology that, both in terms of data sources and statistical methodology, is conceptually similar to, but not necessarily the same as, the one used for the ECB indicator of negotiated wage growth.
The share of employees covered is the percentage of employees across the participating countries that are directly covered by ECB wage tracker data. This indicator provides information on the representativeness of the underlying (negotiated) wage growth signals obtained from the set of wage tracker indicators for the aggregate of participating countries. Employee coverage differs across countries and within each country over time (more details are provided in Table 2).

Table 1

ECB wage tracker summary

(percentages)

	ECB wage tracker			Coverage
	Headline indicator	Excluding one-off payments	With unsmoothed one-off payments	Share of employees
2013-2023	2.0	1.9	2.0	49.1
2024	4.8	4.2	4.9	48.8
2025	*3.1*	*3.8*	*2.8*	*46.5*
2024 Q1	4.1	3.8	5.2	49.0
2024 Q2	4.4	3.9	3.4	49.0
2024 Q3	5.2	4.5	6.8	48.7
2024 Q4	5.3	4.7	4.3	48.3
Jan 2025	4.9	4.3	3.0	49.4
Feb 2025	5.0	4.7	3.2	49.5
Mar 2025	4.0	4.3	1.4	49.5
Apr 2025	*4.1*	*4.4*	*4.2*	*49.3*
May 2025	*3.8*	*4.1*	*3.9*	*49.2*
Jun 2025	*3.8*	*4.0*	*3.8*	*46.9*
2025 Q3	*2.1*	*3.4*	*1.9*	*45.1*
2025 Q4	*1.6*	*3.0*	*2.9*	*42.9*

Sources: ECB calculations based on data provided by the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, AWVN and Eurostat.

Notes: See the technical details at the end of this press release. ECB wage tracker indicators reflect yearly growth in negotiated wages. Coverage is defined as the share of employees in participating countries. Rows with values in italics and bold refer to the forward-looking aspect of the respective indicators.

Table 2

Employee coverage by country

(share of employees in each country, percentages)

	Germany	Greece	Spain	France	Italy	Netherlands	Austria	Euro area
2013-2023	42.0	10.0	61.0	51.7	48.7	64.2	56.7	49.1
2024 Q1	43.7	16.0	56.8	48.3	48.2	62.7	78.6	49.0
2024 Q2	44.1	15.9	56.1	48.2	48.1	62.4	77.8	49.0
2024 Q3	44.3	15.8	54.5	48.1	47.9	62.1	77.8	48.7
2024 Q4	43.8	15.7	53.4	48.2	47.8	61.9	77.8	48.3
2025 Q1	44.0	19.5	53.1	52.9	47.8	61.3	75.9	49.4
2025 Q2	*45.0*	*16.3*	*52.0*	*52.4*	*43.4*	*60.2*	*72.2*	*48.5*
2025 Q3	*43.8*	*8.7*	*49.4*	*48.3*	*35.8*	*57.6*	*70.2*	*45.1*
2025 Q4	*42.1*	*8.3*	*49.0*	*43.4*	*35.6*	*53.3*	*65.3*	*42.9*

Sources: ECB, the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, AWVN and Eurostat.
Notes: The euro area aggregate comprises the seven participating wage tracker countries. The coverage shows the relative strength of wage signals for each country and the euro area. The historical average is calculated from January 2016 to December 2023 for Greece and from February 2020 to December 2023 for Austria. For the other countries, it is calculated from January 2013 to December 2023. Rows with values in italics and bold refer to the forward-looking aspect of the respective indicators.

For media queries, please contact Benoit Deeg, tel.: +491721683704

Notes:

The ECB wage tracker is the result of a Eurosystem partnership currently comprising the ECB and seven euro area national central banks: the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, De Nederlandsche Bank, and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. It is based on a highly granular database of active collective bargaining agreements for Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria. The wage tracker is one of many sources that can help assess wage pressures in the euro area.
The wage tracker methodology uses a double aggregation approach. First, it aggregates the highly granular information on collective bargaining agreements and constructs the wage tracker indicators at the country-level using information on the employee coverage for each country. Second, it uses this information to construct the aggregate for the euro area using time-varying weights based on the total compensation of employees among the participating countries.
Given that the forward-looking nature of the tracker is dependent on the underlying collective bargaining agreements database, the wage signals should always be considered conditional on the information available at any given point in time and thus subject to revisions.
The results in this press release do not represent the views of the ECB’s decision-making bodies.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS OF THE AMBASSADOR OF THE SWISS CONFEDERATION TO THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF SAMOA

Source:

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[PRESS RELEASE – TUESDAY 8 APRIL 2025] – His Excellency Mr. Victor Vavricker presented his Letters of Credence to the Head of State of the Independent State of Samoa, Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, at a Credentials Ceremony held this morning at the Official Residence of the Head of State at Vailele, accrediting His Excellency as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Samoa with residence in Wellington, New Zealand.

Samoa and Switzerland have enjoyed cordial relations since the establishment of formal ties on 1 August 1981. Over the years, our collaboration has grown through shared values of multilateralism, sustainable development, and in addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Ambassador Vavricka reaffirmed Switzerland’s continued support for Samoa and the Pacific region, underscoring the importance of cooperation, respect for sovereignty, and shared development goals, as well as recognizing the vital role of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the global community.

Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II welcomed the Ambassador and acknowledged the growing partnership between Samoa and Switzerland. The Head of State highlighted Switzerland’s contributions to international development initiatives, particularly those that align with Samoa’s national priorities. His Highness reaffirmed Samoa’s confidence in the strengthening of bilateral relations, noting that Ambassador Vavricka’s tenure would further enhance the strong and enduring partnership between the two countries. The Head of State also acknowledged the contributions of the Honorary Consul Mrs. Sylvie Salanoa in strengthening Samoa-Switzerland relations through small grant projects in the local community.

H.E. Mr. Viktor Vavricka holds a licentiate in Law from the University of Zurich. He entered the service of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs in 2002, where he was initially assigned as a stagiaire in Bern and Ottawa. Mr. Vavricka has held several senior positions within Switzerland’s foreign service, including heading the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Section in the Directorate of International Law and the Asset Recovery Task Force. He also held various diplomatic postings including as Deputy Head of Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bangkok, Thailand, and Berlin, Germany. In 2021, he was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to New Zealand with cross accreditation to Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu. He also serves as the Consul General to American Samoa.

END

Photo by the Government of Samoa (Jasmine Netzler-Iose)

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April 23, 2025

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Structural solutions for financing TenneT

Source: Government of the Netherlands

News item | 17-04-2025 | 16:35

The government is going to issue a guarantee to TenneT Nederland. This will enable the high-voltage grid operator to continue investing in the Dutch electricity network through attractive loans. Two options are being considered for the financing of the German branch of TenneT: a private share issue or an initial public offering. This will provide structural solutions for the financing needs of TenneT Netherlands and Germany, as ministers Heinen (Finance) and Hermans (Climate and Green Growth) write in a letter to the Parliament. All financial aspects have been incorporated into the Spring Budget.

A well-functioning transmission grid and access to electricity are essential for Dutch households and businesses. Expansion and reinforcement of the electricity grid are necessary to meet the growing demand. This requires major investments; TenneT Netherlands is expected to invest some 90 billion euros over the next ten years. The government has decided to issue a guarantee to ensure that TenneT Netherlands can finance this investment. This will enable TenneT Netherlands to take out loans with the same credit rating as the Dutch state (AAA). This means that loans can be obtained on the capital market under better conditions – and therefore more cheaply. This approach means that no additional capital contributions from the state are necessary. The intention to provide a guarantee is included in the Spring Budget 2025. This will be submitted to parliament.

For TenneT Germany, where substantial investments are also needed in the coming years, the government has chosen private funding. An initial public offering or private share issuance are the two options currently under consideration. Interest among private investors will be explored in the coming months and a decision will be made before the summer which option implemented further.

The proposed structural solutions changes TenneT’s financing structure. At the moment, TenneT raises its debt through TenneT Holding and lends it to TenneT Netherlands and TenneT Germany. In the future, the debt will be raised separately by TenneT Netherlands and TenneT Germany. All existing bondholders will be asked to agree to the transfer of the debt to TenneT Netherlands in exchange for a one-time compensation. In doing so, TenneT is working on a future-proof financing structure. If there is insufficient interest among private investors in participating in TenneT Germany or the debt restructuring does not succeed, the Dutch state will itself provide the capital needed by TenneT Germany. A reservation has therefore been included in the national budget. The Dutch state is hereby acting as a responsible shareholder.

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Urban flooding is a major problem in the global south. In west and central Africa, more than 4 million people were affected by flooding in 2024. In Ghana, cities suffer damage from flooding every year.

Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, has established a task force to find ways of improving flood resilience in the country. This is partly driven by an increase in flooding incidents in cities such as Accra and Kumasi in the last decade.

We are urban planning and sustainability scholars. In a recent paper we analysed whether flooding in Accra, Ghana’s capital, was caused by climate change or poor land use planning.

We conclude from our analysis that flooding is caused by poor and uncoordinated land use planning rather than climate change. We recommend that the physical planning department and other regulatory agencies are equipped to ensure the effective enforcement the relevant land use regulations.

Mixed push factors

The Accra metropolitan area is one of the 29 administrative units of Ghana’s Greater Accra region. It is the most populous region in Ghana, with over five million residents, according to the 2021 Housing and Population Census.

We interviewed 100 households living in areas such as Kaneshie, Adabraka and Kwame Nkrumah Circle. These areas experience a high incidence of floods. Representatives of agencies such as the Physical Planning Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Environmental Protection Agency were interviewed too, about:
- the nature and areas most prone to flooding in the study area
- the frequency of flooding
- land use planning and regulations and their influence on flooding.
About 40% of the people we interviewed attributed flooding to both weak enforcement of land use regulation and changes in rainfall patterns. Most of the households (52%) said floods in Accra were the result of weak enforcement of land use regulations, while 8% blamed changes in land use regulations.

We also analysed recorded data on flood incidence and rainfall. We found no correlation between increased rainfall and flooding. For example in 2017 there was a decrease in rainfall, but an increase in flooding.

This finding points to the fact that rainfall isn’t the only factor contributing to flooding in the city.

The agencies and city residents reported that between 2008 and 2018, they could see that more people were encroaching on the city’s wetlands by building homes and commercial infrastructure. This has changed the natural flow of water bodies. The Greater Accra Metropolitan and its environs has major wetlands such as Densu Delta, Sakumo Lagoon and Songor Lagoon.

Interview respondents noted that the siting of unauthorised buildings and the encroachment on buﬀer zones of water bodies in the city could have been averted. They blamed political interference in the enforcement of land use regulation. The government makes the situation worse in two ways, they said:
- planning standards and regulations are neglected in the development process. The processes involved in acquiring development permits are cumbersome and expensive, so people go ahead and develop without permits.
- regulatory institutions and authorities are ineffective. This is clear from the fact that planning happens chaotically. No attention is given to the ecological infrastructure that’s needed.
The way forward

We conclude that land use malpractices remain the dominant causes of flooding in Accra. They include:
- poor disposal of solid waste, which eventually blocks drains and results in water overflow during heavy rains
- building on wetlands as a result of non-compliance or non-enforcement of land use regulations.
There is an urgent need for Ghana’s cities to adopt best practices in waste management. These include recycling of plastic waste and composting for urban agriculture. An environmental excise tax was introduced in 2011 to fund plastic waste recycling and support waste management agencies.

The increasing encroachment on wetlands should be addressed through the strict enforcement of buffer regulations. Planning authorities and the judiciary can collaborate on this. The city must also encourage green infrastructure, like rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, street trees and rain harvesting systems. Research has shown these to be environmentally sustainable and cost-eﬀective approaches to managing storm water.

Another suggested approach is the introduction of the polluter pays principle in city management. This is a system where city residents who are involved in the pollution of the environment are made to pay for the cost of mitigating the impact. Residents who dispose of waste indiscriminately and encroach on wetlands would be made to pay for the cost of the environmental degradation. Cities such as Barcelona and Helsinki have applied this principle in the management of their industrial discharge and contaminated waste.

Finally, there should be incentives for city residents to promote environmental sustainability. For example, a deposit refund system has been introduced in several states in the US and Australia. In this system, consumers are made to pay a deposit after purchasing items that can be recycled, such as plastic bottles, and the deposit is reimbursed to the consumer after the return of the empty bottles to a retail store.

– Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause
– https://theconversation.com/flooding-incidents-in-ghanas-capital-are-on-the-rise-researchers-chase-the-cause-254000

MIL OSI Africa –
April 23, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Urban flooding is a major problem in the global south. In west and central Africa, more than 4 million people were affected by flooding in 2024. In Ghana, cities suffer damage from flooding every year.

Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, has established a task force to find ways of improving flood resilience in the country. This is partly driven by an increase in flooding incidents in cities such as Accra and Kumasi in the last decade.

We are urban planning and sustainability scholars. In a recent paper we analysed whether flooding in Accra, Ghana’s capital, was caused by climate change or poor land use planning.

We conclude from our analysis that flooding is caused by poor and uncoordinated land use planning rather than climate change. We recommend that the physical planning department and other regulatory agencies are equipped to ensure the effective enforcement the relevant land use regulations.

Mixed push factors

The Accra metropolitan area is one of the 29 administrative units of Ghana’s Greater Accra region. It is the most populous region in Ghana, with over five million residents, according to the 2021 Housing and Population Census.

We interviewed 100 households living in areas such as Kaneshie, Adabraka and Kwame Nkrumah Circle. These areas experience a high incidence of floods. Representatives of agencies such as the Physical Planning Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Environmental Protection Agency were interviewed too, about:
- the nature and areas most prone to flooding in the study area
- the frequency of flooding
- land use planning and regulations and their influence on flooding.
About 40% of the people we interviewed attributed flooding to both weak enforcement of land use regulation and changes in rainfall patterns. Most of the households (52%) said floods in Accra were the result of weak enforcement of land use regulations, while 8% blamed changes in land use regulations.

We also analysed recorded data on flood incidence and rainfall. We found no correlation between increased rainfall and flooding. For example in 2017 there was a decrease in rainfall, but an increase in flooding.

This finding points to the fact that rainfall isn’t the only factor contributing to flooding in the city.

The agencies and city residents reported that between 2008 and 2018, they could see that more people were encroaching on the city’s wetlands by building homes and commercial infrastructure. This has changed the natural flow of water bodies. The Greater Accra Metropolitan and its environs has major wetlands such as Densu Delta, Sakumo Lagoon and Songor Lagoon.

Interview respondents noted that the siting of unauthorised buildings and the encroachment on buﬀer zones of water bodies in the city could have been averted. They blamed political interference in the enforcement of land use regulation. The government makes the situation worse in two ways, they said:
- planning standards and regulations are neglected in the development process. The processes involved in acquiring development permits are cumbersome and expensive, so people go ahead and develop without permits.
- regulatory institutions and authorities are ineffective. This is clear from the fact that planning happens chaotically. No attention is given to the ecological infrastructure that’s needed.
The way forward

We conclude that land use malpractices remain the dominant causes of flooding in Accra. They include:
- poor disposal of solid waste, which eventually blocks drains and results in water overflow during heavy rains
- building on wetlands as a result of non-compliance or non-enforcement of land use regulations.
There is an urgent need for Ghana’s cities to adopt best practices in waste management. These include recycling of plastic waste and composting for urban agriculture. An environmental excise tax was introduced in 2011 to fund plastic waste recycling and support waste management agencies.

The increasing encroachment on wetlands should be addressed through the strict enforcement of buffer regulations. Planning authorities and the judiciary can collaborate on this. The city must also encourage green infrastructure, like rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, street trees and rain harvesting systems.
Research has shown these to be environmentally sustainable and cost-eﬀective approaches to managing storm water.

Another suggested approach is the introduction of the polluter pays principle in city management. This is a system where city residents who are involved in the pollution of the environment are made to pay for the cost of mitigating the impact. Residents who dispose of waste indiscriminately and encroach on wetlands would be made to pay for the cost of the environmental degradation. Cities such as Barcelona and Helsinki have applied this principle in the management of their industrial discharge and contaminated waste.

Finally, there should be incentives for city residents to promote environmental sustainability. For example, a deposit refund system has been introduced in several states in the US and Australia. In this system, consumers are made to pay a deposit after purchasing items that can be recycled, such as plastic bottles, and the deposit is reimbursed to the consumer after the return of the empty bottles to a retail store.

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. Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause – https://theconversation.com/flooding-incidents-in-ghanas-capital-are-on-the-rise-researchers-chase-the-cause-254000
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aid to Gaza: E3 foreign ministers’ statement, 23 April 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

Aid to Gaza: E3 foreign ministers’ statement, 23 April 2025

Joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and the UK on more than 50 days of Israel’s block on aid to Gaza
Israel has now fully blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza for over fifty days. Essential supplies are either no longer available or quickly running out. Palestinian civilians – including one million children – face an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death. This must end. We urge Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all civilians. During the last ceasefire, the UN and INGO system was able to deliver aid at scale. The Israeli decision to block aid from entering Gaza is intolerable. Minister Katz’s recent comments politicising humanitarian aid and Israeli plans to remain in Gaza after the war are unacceptable – they harm prospects for peace. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change. Israel is bound under international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.

Humanitarians must be able to deliver aid to those who need it most, independent of parties to the conflict and in accordance with their humanitarian principles. Israel must ensure unhindered access for the UN and humanitarian organisations to operate safely across Gaza. Hamas must not divert aid for their own financial gain or use civilian infrastructure for military purposes.

We reiterate our outrage at recent strikes by Israeli forces on humanitarian personnel, infrastructure, premises and healthcare facilities. Israel must do much more to protect the civilian population, infrastructure and humanitarian workers. This includes restoring deconfliction systems, allowing humanitarian workers free movement within Gaza. And Israel must prevent harm to medical personnel and premises in the course of their military operations. They must allow the urgent healthcare needs of the population to be met, while allowing the sick and wounded to temporarily leave the Gaza Strip to receive treatment.

Crucially, we urge all parties to return to a ceasefire. We continue to call on Hamas for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages, who are enduring terrible suffering. We must all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution, which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security to both Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in the region.

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Published 23 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at St George’s Day reception: 22 April 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

PM remarks at St George’s Day reception: 22 April 2025

Prime Minister’s remarks from the St. George’s Day reception in Downing Street.

Maro, it’s fantastic to see you up here and to hear you talk about the pride of pulling on an England jersey.

I think it’s something we’ve dreamt of doing all our lives, though I only got to pulling on a replica.

But it’s really important, that sense of pride that you described by the simple act of putting on a shirt, a sports shirt, and I think that pride and joy is hugely important.

And as for your reminder of St George I’ve got a few ideas about what we could feed the dragon.

But look it’s amazing just to look out and see so many people here, Tony Adams here in his red suit.

He won’t remember this, but Vic and I drove along the Cotswolds years ago and he was out for a walk and I screeched to halt and insisted on shaking his hand, so it’s great to see you again.

But it’s a really fantastic group of people and thank you so much for coming here to be in Downing Street with us.

This is where I work and live just upstairs but it’s also your building and I’m really keen to get across this sense that this isn’t just a remote place where the government is, but that we are here to serve our communities and serve our country.

So this is your place just as much as it is mine, it’s your right to be here and my privilege to invite you here as guests, so you are very welcome, to test and push us and to tell us what your ideas are and have the opportunity to put your fingerprints on everything we’re doing as a government.

And of course – as a proud Englishman, this is a particularly special occasion: St. George’s Day. And it’s the eve of the day to revel in all the wonder and joy of our country.

You see that reflected in this reception and I think it’s one of the biggest we’ve had here in Downing Street running all the way through to the rooms at the back with some fantastic people.

We’ve got Pimms, we’ve got English sparkling wine and we’ve got our brilliant showcases with Melton Mowbray pork pies, Lancashire Eccles cakes, Bakewell tarts and gin from Exmoor distillery. We were going to have Morris Dancers too at one point, but we’re saving them for the next Cabinet away day instead.

Because one of the great things about this country is we have so many wonderful traditions and so many individual, personal reasons that make us proud to be English.

For me – it always starts with football of course. I was there at Wembley in Euro 1996. I was there at Wembley in 2021 and I was there also last year when we went to Germany, where we came so close again.

But that still makes the nation proud. Though whatever it is, whether it’s football, festivals, cricket, Shakespeare – his birthday tomorrow of course, or our music – from Elgar to the Rolling Stones, our art – from Tracy Emin to Turner or our universities, inventions and innovations – the world’s first vaccine was an incredible moment, the world wide web, the computer and of course our landscape.

Everyone in this room will have their favourite spots. Whether it’s rocky coves and beaches in Cornwall or the incomparable beauty of the Lake District.

My late mum struggled to walk, so she decided to have all her holidays in the Lake District where the only thing you can do is walk, but that summed her up.

And we still go there with our children now. But you also have the Chalk Hills of the North Downs where I grew up: this is a beautiful country, rich with pride, potential and creativity.

It’s also a country where a person like me who grew up working class and a person like the previous occupant, Rishi Sunak, an English Hindu, can both become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. That for me is something I think we should always be proud of and never take for granted.

Because, while this is a day for celebration, we cannot be under any illusions that there is a never-ending fight for our flag and what it represents. I’ll put it this way, when I was standing in the old Wembley in 1996 – not many people sat down that day, it felt like that whole tournament embodied the best of our country.

Yet now – there are people trying to sow division in our communities, people taking the red and white of our flag, like the bunting downstairs, with them, as they throw bricks at businesses…

The day after the terrible Southport incident last year, I went up to take the opportunity to shake the hands of the first respondents of police and ambulance workers, you’ll now have seen what they all faced.

As I simply said thank you, almost all said to me they were just doing their job, but of course they weren’t, and it’s just incredible to think about what they were doing, and they were all back in work the next day to help clear up.

By the time I got back to London that very day, we had people throwing bricks at the very same police officers I was shaking hands with.

And that’s why the battle for our flag is really important because that is what happened and that was only last year. So, we have to fight for our flag and for our values.

Because it was the aftermath of the riots that showed what it means to be English. It marked the coming together of a country.

People who got together the morning after, all across Britain with shovels, brooms, and brushes, to clean up their communities. Rebuilding walls, repairing damage and it’s in that spirit that we reclaim our flag and that was incredibly uplifting to go from rioting to people coming out to do what they could for our country.

So that’s what we must do for our country, for English decency, honour and fairness. Wrench it out of the hands of those who want to divide this nation and reclaim it for good.

Because that flag doesn’t belong to me as Prime Minister or any group or political party and that is the point.

It belongs to all of us to England, in all its wonder and diversity. And we should be proud of that flag, we must never concede it, because it is an expression of our values and our patriotism.

And patriotism – for me is about serving the country we love. That’s what drove me when I was Chief Prosecutor, serving people who’d faced appalling crimes and injustice. People like John and Penny Clough who are with us today – they lost their daughter in an appalling crime and came to see me many years ago in their journey for justice and have become friends of mine.

And it’s what drives me today – when I say I want to make working people’s lives better.

It’s at the heart of this Government, what’s written through our Plan for Change: putting money in people’s pockets; getting public services back on their feet so they serve the public in the way that people deserve; making our streets safer so we can all enjoy our communities; building the homes working people need, which are an aspiration and opportunity for so many; breaking down barriers to opportunity and honouring Britain’s veterans – by making sure there are “homes for heroes”.

As we also protect our national security with the biggest defence investment since the end of the Cold War.

We know this won’t be easy and we’re living through a time of uncertainty which I’m sure everyone in this room can feel that over the past six months. Whether that’s through defence, national security or the global economy.

But moments like this, as we come together to celebrate St. George’s Day are a reminder of all our nation has been through over generations and the values that have endured.

The creativity, resilience and good will and humour that have remained a constant through the ages and will endure for generations to come.

So, let’s be proud of our national identity, let’s pay tribute to all those who keep our country going from the generations who laid down their lives to keep us free, to those serving our country today. Our armed forces, our NHS staff, our teachers and the small businesses who serve their community.

Let’s remember our shared history, our shared inheritance and the values that have endured. And most of all, let’s hear it for England and for St. George! Thank you very much.

Updates to this page

Published 23 April 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: New data release: ECB wage tracker continues to indicate that negotiated wage pressures will ease over the course of the year

Source: European Central Bank

23 April 2025

ECB wage tracker updated with agreements signed up to first week of April 2025
Forward-looking information suggests negotiated wage pressures will ease overall in 2025, consistent with data published following March Governing Council meeting

The ECB publishes four wage tracker indicators for the aggregate of seven participating euro area countries via the ECB Data Portal.

Chart 1

ECB wage tracker: forward-looking signals for negotiated wages and revisions to previous data release

2023-25	Revisions to previous data release
(left-hand scale: yearly growth rates, percentages; right-hand scale: percentage share of employees)	(percentage points)

Notes: Dashed lines denote forward-looking information up to December 2025.

What do the four different indicators show?

The headline ECB wage tracker shows negotiated wage growth that includes collectively agreed one-off payments, such as those related to inflation compensation, bonuses or back-dated pay, which are smoothed over 12 months.
The ECB wage tracker excluding one-off payments reflects the extent of structural (or permanent) negotiated wage increases.
The ECB wage tracker with unsmoothed one-off payments is constructed using a methodology that, both in terms of data sources and statistical methodology, is conceptually similar to, but not necessarily the same as, the one used for the ECB indicator of negotiated wage growth.
The share of employees covered is the percentage of employees across the participating countries that are directly covered by ECB wage tracker data. This indicator provides information on the representativeness of the underlying (negotiated) wage growth signals obtained from the set of wage tracker indicators for the aggregate of participating countries. Employee coverage differs across countries and within each country over time (more details are provided in Table 2).

Table 1

ECB wage tracker summary

(percentages)

	ECB wage tracker			Coverage
	Headline indicator	Excluding one-off payments	With unsmoothed one-off payments	Share of employees
2013-2023	2.0	1.9	2.0	49.1
2024	4.8	4.2	4.9	48.8
2025	*3.1*	*3.8*	*2.8*	*46.5*
2024 Q1	4.1	3.8	5.2	49.0
2024 Q2	4.4	3.9	3.4	49.0
2024 Q3	5.2	4.5	6.8	48.7
2024 Q4	5.3	4.7	4.3	48.3
Jan 2025	4.9	4.3	3.0	49.4
Feb 2025	5.0	4.7	3.2	49.5
Mar 2025	4.0	4.3	1.4	49.5
Apr 2025	*4.1*	*4.4*	*4.2*	*49.3*
May 2025	*3.8*	*4.1*	*3.9*	*49.2*
Jun 2025	*3.8*	*4.0*	*3.8*	*46.9*
2025 Q3	*2.1*	*3.4*	*1.9*	*45.1*
2025 Q4	*1.6*	*3.0*	*2.9*	*42.9*

Table 2

Employee coverage by country

(share of employees in each country, percentages)

	Germany	Greece	Spain	France	Italy	Netherlands	Austria	Euro area
2013-2023	42.0	10.0	61.0	51.7	48.7	64.2	56.7	49.1
2024 Q1	43.7	16.0	56.8	48.3	48.2	62.7	78.6	49.0
2024 Q2	44.1	15.9	56.1	48.2	48.1	62.4	77.8	49.0
2024 Q3	44.3	15.8	54.5	48.1	47.9	62.1	77.8	48.7
2024 Q4	43.8	15.7	53.4	48.2	47.8	61.9	77.8	48.3
2025 Q1	44.0	19.5	53.1	52.9	47.8	61.3	75.9	49.4
2025 Q2	*45.0*	*16.3*	*52.0*	*52.4*	*43.4*	*60.2*	*72.2*	*48.5*
2025 Q3	*43.8*	*8.7*	*49.4*	*48.3*	*35.8*	*57.6*	*70.2*	*45.1*
2025 Q4	*42.1*	*8.3*	*49.0*	*43.4*	*35.6*	*53.3*	*65.3*	*42.9*

For media queries, please contact Benoit Deeg, tel.: +491721683704

Notes:

The ECB wage tracker is the result of a Eurosystem partnership currently comprising the ECB and seven euro area national central banks: the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Bank of Greece, the Banco de España, the Banque de France, the Banca d’Italia, De Nederlandsche Bank, and the Oesterreichische Nationalbank. It is based on a highly granular database of active collective bargaining agreements for Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria. The wage tracker is one of many sources that can help assess wage pressures in the euro area.
The wage tracker methodology uses a double aggregation approach. First, it aggregates the highly granular information on collective bargaining agreements and constructs the wage tracker indicators at the country-level using information on the employee coverage for each country. Second, it uses this information to construct the aggregate for the euro area using time-varying weights based on the total compensation of employees among the participating countries.
Given that the forward-looking nature of the tracker is dependent on the underlying collective bargaining agreements database, the wage signals should always be considered conditional on the information available at any given point in time and thus subject to revisions.
The results in this press release do not represent the views of the ECB’s decision-making bodies.

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Appiah Takyi, Senior Lecturer, Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

Urban flooding is a major problem in the global south. In west and central Africa, more than 4 million people were affected by flooding in 2024. In Ghana, cities suffer damage from flooding every year.

Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, has established a task force to find ways of improving flood resilience in the country. This is partly driven by an increase in flooding incidents in cities such as Accra and Kumasi in the last decade.

We are urban planning and sustainability scholars. In a recent paper we analysed whether flooding in Accra, Ghana’s capital, was caused by climate change or poor land use planning.

We conclude from our analysis that flooding is caused by poor and uncoordinated land use planning rather than climate change. We recommend that the physical planning department and other regulatory agencies are equipped to ensure the effective enforcement the relevant land use regulations.

Mixed push factors

The Accra metropolitan area is one of the 29 administrative units of Ghana’s Greater Accra region. It is the most populous region in Ghana, with over five million residents, according to the 2021 Housing and Population Census.

We interviewed 100 households living in areas such as Kaneshie, Adabraka and Kwame Nkrumah Circle. These areas experience a high incidence of floods. Representatives of agencies such as the Physical Planning Department of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Environmental Protection Agency were interviewed too, about:
- the nature and areas most prone to flooding in the study area
- the frequency of flooding
- land use planning and regulations and their influence on flooding.
About 40% of the people we interviewed attributed flooding to both weak enforcement of land use regulation and changes in rainfall patterns. Most of the households (52%) said floods in Accra were the result of weak enforcement of land use regulations, while 8% blamed changes in land use regulations.

We also analysed recorded data on flood incidence and rainfall. We found no correlation between increased rainfall and flooding. For example in 2017 there was a decrease in rainfall, but an increase in flooding.

This finding points to the fact that rainfall isn’t the only factor contributing to flooding in the city.

The agencies and city residents reported that between 2008 and 2018, they could see that more people were encroaching on the city’s wetlands by building homes and commercial infrastructure. This has changed the natural flow of water bodies. The Greater Accra Metropolitan and its environs has major wetlands such as Densu Delta, Sakumo Lagoon and Songor Lagoon.

Interview respondents noted that the siting of unauthorised buildings and the encroachment on buﬀer zones of water bodies in the city could have been averted. They blamed political interference in the enforcement of land use regulation. The government makes the situation worse in two ways, they said:
- planning standards and regulations are neglected in the development process. The processes involved in acquiring development permits are cumbersome and expensive, so people go ahead and develop without permits.
- regulatory institutions and authorities are ineffective. This is clear from the fact that planning happens chaotically. No attention is given to the ecological infrastructure that’s needed.
The way forward

We conclude that land use malpractices remain the dominant causes of flooding in Accra. They include:
- poor disposal of solid waste, which eventually blocks drains and results in water overflow during heavy rains
- building on wetlands as a result of non-compliance or non-enforcement of land use regulations.
There is an urgent need for Ghana’s cities to adopt best practices in waste management. These include recycling of plastic waste and composting for urban agriculture. An environmental excise tax was introduced in 2011 to fund plastic waste recycling and support waste management agencies.

The increasing encroachment on wetlands should be addressed through the strict enforcement of buffer regulations. Planning authorities and the judiciary can collaborate on this. The city must also encourage green infrastructure, like rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavement, street trees and rain harvesting systems.
Research has shown these to be environmentally sustainable and cost-eﬀective approaches to managing storm water.

Another suggested approach is the introduction of the polluter pays principle in city management. This is a system where city residents who are involved in the pollution of the environment are made to pay for the cost of mitigating the impact. Residents who dispose of waste indiscriminately and encroach on wetlands would be made to pay for the cost of the environmental degradation. Cities such as Barcelona and Helsinki have applied this principle in the management of their industrial discharge and contaminated waste.

Finally, there should be incentives for city residents to promote environmental sustainability. For example, a deposit refund system has been introduced in several states in the US and Australia. In this system, consumers are made to pay a deposit after purchasing items that can be recycled, such as plastic bottles, and the deposit is reimbursed to the consumer after the return of the empty bottles to a retail store.

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. Flooding incidents in Ghana’s capital are on the rise. Researchers chase the cause – https://theconversation.com/flooding-incidents-in-ghanas-capital-are-on-the-rise-researchers-chase-the-cause-254000
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
April 23, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

The death of Pope Francis this week marks the end of a historic papacy and the beginning of a significant transition for the Catholic Church. As the faithful around the world mourn his passing, attention now turns to the next phase: the election of a new pope.

This election will take place through a process known as the conclave. Typically held two to three weeks after a pope’s funeral, the conclave gathers the College of Cardinals in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Here, through prayer, reflection and secret ballots, they must reach a two-thirds majority to choose the next Bishop of Rome.

While, in theory, any baptised Catholic man can be elected, for the past seven centuries the role has gone to a cardinal. That said, the outcome can still be unpredictable – sometimes even surprising the electors themselves.

Read more:
How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave

An unlikely candidate

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who became Pope Francis – wasn’t among the front-runners in 2013. Nonetheless, after five rounds of voting, he emerged as the top candidate. Something similar could happen again.

This conclave will take place during a time of tension and change within the church. Francis sought to decentralise Vatican authority, emphasised caring for the poor and the planet, and tried to open dialogue on sensitive issues such as LGBTQIA+ inclusion and clerical abuse. The cardinals must now decide whether to continue in this direction, or steer towards a more traditional course.

There is historical precedent to consider. For centuries, Italians dominated the papacy. Of the 266 popes, 217 have been Italian.

However, this pattern has shifted in recent decades: Francis was from Argentina, John Paul II (1978–2005) from Poland, and Benedict XVI (2005–2013) from Germany.

The top papabili

As with any election, observers are speaking of their “favourites”. The term papabile, which in Italian means “pope-able”, or “capable of becoming pope”, is used to describe cardinals who are seen as serious contenders.

Among the leading papabili is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, aged 70, the current Secretary of State of Vatican City. Parolin has long been one of Francis’ closest collaborators and has led efforts to open dialogue with difficult regimes, including the Chinese Communist Party.

Parolin is seen as a centrist figure who could appeal to both reform-minded and more conservative cardinals. Yet some observers argue he lacks the charismatic and pastoral presence that helped define Francis’ papacy.

Another name to watch is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. At 60, he is younger than many of his colleagues, but brings extensive experience in interfaith dialogue in the Middle East. His fluency in Hebrew and his long service in the Holy Land could prove appealing.

Then again, his relative youth may cause hesitation among those concerned about electing a pope who could serve for decades. As the papacy of John Paul II demonstrated, such long reigns can have a profound impact on the church.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines is also frequently mentioned. Now 67, Tagle is known for his deep commitment to social justice and the poor. He has spoken out against human rights abuses in his home country and has often echoed Francis’ pastoral tone. But some cardinals may worry that his outspoken political views could complicate the church’s diplomatic efforts.

Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, now 76, was a prominent figure during the last conclave. A strong voice on environmental and economic justice, he has served under both Benedict XVI and Francis.

Turkson has largely upheld the church’s traditional teachings on matters such as male-only priesthood, marriage between a man and a woman, and sexuality. He is also a strong advocate for transparency, and has spoken out against corruption and in defence of human rights.

Though less widely known among the public, Cardinal Mykola Bychok of Melbourne may also be considered. His election would be as surprising (and perhaps as symbolically powerful) as that of John Paul II in 1978. A Ukrainian-Australian pope, chosen during the ongoing war in Ukraine, would send a strong message about the church’s concern for suffering peoples and global peace.

Other names that may come up are Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cardinal Jaime Spengler of Brazil – both of whom lead large and growing Catholic communities. Although news reports don’t always list them among the top contenders, their influence within their regions – and the need to recognise the church’s global demographic shifts – means their voices will matter.

On the more conservative side is American Cardinal Raymond Burke, who had been one of Francis’ most vocal critics. But his confrontational stance makes him an unlikely candidate.

More plausible would be Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary, aged 71. Erdő is a respected canon lawyer with a more traditional theological orientation. He was mentioned in 2013 and may reemerge as a promising candidate among conservative cardinals.

Cardinal Péter Erdő was ordained as a priest in 1975 and has a doctorate in theology. He will be a top pick among conservatives.
Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

One tough act to follow

Although Francis appointed many of the cardinals who will vote in the conclave, that doesn’t mean all of them supported his agenda. Many come from communities with traditional values, and may be drawn to a candidate who emphasises older church teachings.

The conclave will also reflect broader questions of geography. The church’s growth has shifted away from Europe, to Asia, Africa and Latin America. A pope from one of these regions could symbolise this change, and speak more directly to the challenges faced by Catholic communities in the Global South.

Ultimately, predicting a conclave is impossible. Dynamics often change once the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel and begin voting. Alliances shift, new names emerge, and consensus may form around someone who was barely discussed beforehand.

What is certain is that the next pope will shape the church’s future: doctrinally, diplomatically and pastorally. Whether he chooses to build on Francis’ legacy of reform, or move in a new direction, he will need to balance ancient traditions with the urgent realities of the modern world.

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

– ref. Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders – https://theconversation.com/who-will-the-next-pope-be-here-are-some-top-contenders-255006

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Darius von Guttner Sporzynski, Historian, Australian Catholic University

The death of Pope Francis this week marks the end of a historic papacy and the beginning of a significant transition for the Catholic Church. As the faithful around the world mourn his passing, attention now turns to the next phase: the election of a new pope.

This election will take place through a process known as the conclave. Typically held two to three weeks after a pope’s funeral, the conclave gathers the College of Cardinals in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel. Here, through prayer, reflection and secret ballots, they must reach a two-thirds majority to choose the next Bishop of Rome.

While, in theory, any baptised Catholic man can be elected, for the past seven centuries the role has gone to a cardinal. That said, the outcome can still be unpredictable – sometimes even surprising the electors themselves.

Read more:
How will a new pope be chosen? An expert explains the conclave

An unlikely candidate

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who became Pope Francis – wasn’t among the front-runners in 2013. Nonetheless, after five rounds of voting, he emerged as the top candidate. Something similar could happen again.

This conclave will take place during a time of tension and change within the church. Francis sought to decentralise Vatican authority, emphasised caring for the poor and the planet, and tried to open dialogue on sensitive issues such as LGBTQIA+ inclusion and clerical abuse. The cardinals must now decide whether to continue in this direction, or steer towards a more traditional course.

There is historical precedent to consider. For centuries, Italians dominated the papacy. Of the 266 popes, 217 have been Italian.

However, this pattern has shifted in recent decades: Francis was from Argentina, John Paul II (1978–2005) from Poland, and Benedict XVI (2005–2013) from Germany.

The top papabili

As with any election, observers are speaking of their “favourites”. The term papabile, which in Italian means “pope-able”, or “capable of becoming pope”, is used to describe cardinals who are seen as serious contenders.

Among the leading papabili is Cardinal Pietro Parolin, aged 70, the current Secretary of State of Vatican City. Parolin has long been one of Francis’ closest collaborators and has led efforts to open dialogue with difficult regimes, including the Chinese Communist Party.

Parolin is seen as a centrist figure who could appeal to both reform-minded and more conservative cardinals. Yet some observers argue he lacks the charismatic and pastoral presence that helped define Francis’ papacy.

Another name to watch is Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. At 60, he is younger than many of his colleagues, but brings extensive experience in interfaith dialogue in the Middle East. His fluency in Hebrew and his long service in the Holy Land could prove appealing.

Then again, his relative youth may cause hesitation among those concerned about electing a pope who could serve for decades. As the papacy of John Paul II demonstrated, such long reigns can have a profound impact on the church.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines is also frequently mentioned. Now 67, Tagle is known for his deep commitment to social justice and the poor. He has spoken out against human rights abuses in his home country and has often echoed Francis’ pastoral tone. But some cardinals may worry that his outspoken political views could complicate the church’s diplomatic efforts.

Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, now 76, was a prominent figure during the last conclave. A strong voice on environmental and economic justice, he has served under both Benedict XVI and Francis.

Turkson has largely upheld the church’s traditional teachings on matters such as male-only priesthood, marriage between a man and a woman, and sexuality. He is also a strong advocate for transparency, and has spoken out against corruption and in defence of human rights.

Though less widely known among the public, Cardinal Mykola Bychok of Melbourne may also be considered. His election would be as surprising (and perhaps as symbolically powerful) as that of John Paul II in 1978. A Ukrainian-Australian pope, chosen during the ongoing war in Ukraine, would send a strong message about the church’s concern for suffering peoples and global peace.

Other names that may come up are Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cardinal Jaime Spengler of Brazil – both of whom lead large and growing Catholic communities. Although news reports don’t always list them among the top contenders, their influence within their regions – and the need to recognise the church’s global demographic shifts – means their voices will matter.

On the more conservative side is American Cardinal Raymond Burke, who had been one of Francis’ most vocal critics. But his confrontational stance makes him an unlikely candidate.

More plausible would be Cardinal Péter Erdő of Hungary, aged 71. Erdő is a respected canon lawyer with a more traditional theological orientation. He was mentioned in 2013 and may reemerge as a promising candidate among conservative cardinals.

Cardinal Péter Erdő was ordained as a priest in 1975 and has a doctorate in theology. He will be a top pick among conservatives.
Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

One tough act to follow

Although Francis appointed many of the cardinals who will vote in the conclave, that doesn’t mean all of them supported his agenda. Many come from communities with traditional values, and may be drawn to a candidate who emphasises older church teachings.

The conclave will also reflect broader questions of geography. The church’s growth has shifted away from Europe, to Asia, Africa and Latin America. A pope from one of these regions could symbolise this change, and speak more directly to the challenges faced by Catholic communities in the Global South.

Ultimately, predicting a conclave is impossible. Dynamics often change once the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel and begin voting. Alliances shift, new names emerge, and consensus may form around someone who was barely discussed beforehand.

What is certain is that the next pope will shape the church’s future: doctrinally, diplomatically and pastorally. Whether he chooses to build on Francis’ legacy of reform, or move in a new direction, he will need to balance ancient traditions with the urgent realities of the modern world.

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

– ref. Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders – https://theconversation.com/who-will-the-next-pope-be-here-are-some-top-contenders-255006

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FREMONT, Calif., April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today financial results for the first quarter of 2025, which included the summary below from its President and CEO, Badri Kothandaraman.

We reported quarterly revenue of $356.1 million in the first quarter of 2025, along with 48.9% for non-GAAP gross margin. We shipped approximately 1.53 million microinverters, or 688.5 megawatts DC, and 170.1 megawatt hours (MWh) of IQ^® Batteries.

Highlights for the first quarter of 2025 are listed below:

Completed IQ^® Meter Collar testing with PG&E and four other U.S. utilities
Strong U.S. manufacturing: shipped approximately 1.21 million microinverters and 44.1 MWh of IQ Batteries
Revenue of $356.1 million
GAAP gross margin of 47.2%; non-GAAP gross margin of 48.9% with net IRA benefit
Non-GAAP gross margin of 38.3%, excluding net IRA benefit of 10.6%
GAAP operating income of $31.9 million; non-GAAP operating income of $94.6 million
GAAP net income of $29.7 million; non-GAAP net income of $89.2 million
GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.22; non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.68
Free cash flow of $33.8 million; ending cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities of $1.53 billion

Our revenue and earnings for the first quarter of 2025 are provided below, compared with the prior quarter:

(In thousands, except per share and percentage data)

	GAAP									Non-GAAP
	Q1 2025			Q4 2024			Q1 2024			Q1 2025			Q4 2024			Q1 2024
Revenue	$	356,084		$	382,713		$	263,339		$	356,084		$	382,713		$	263,339
Gross margin		47.2	%		51.8	%		43.9	%		48.9	%		53.2	%		46.2	%
Operating expenses	$	136,319		$	143,489		$	144,607		$	79,423		$	83,322		$	82,587
Operating income (loss)	$	31,922		$	54,804		$	(29,099	)	$	94,637		$	120,434		$	38,994
Net income (loss)	$	29,730		$	62,160		$	(16,097	)	$	89,243		$	125,862		$	47,956
Basic EPS	$	0.23		$	0.46		$	(0.12	)	$	0.68		$	0.94		$	0.35
Diluted EPS	$	0.22		$	0.45		$	(0.12	)	$	0.68		$	0.94		$	0.35

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was $356.1 million, compared to $382.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Our revenue in the United States for the first quarter of 2025 decreased approximately 13%, compared to the fourth quarter. The decline was the result of seasonality and softening in U.S. demand, partially offset by safe harbor revenue of $54.3 million. Our revenue in Europe increased approximately 7% for the first quarter of 2025, compared to the fourth quarter. The increase in revenue was primarily due to higher battery sales as we ramped shipments of our IQ^® Battery 5P with FlexPhase.

Our non-GAAP gross margin was 48.9% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 53.2% in the fourth quarter, primarily due to lower bookings of 45X production tax credits and product mix. Our non-GAAP gross margin, excluding net benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), was 38.3% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 39.7% in the fourth quarter, primarily due to product mix.

Our non-GAAP operating expenses were $79.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $83.3 million in the fourth quarter. The decrease was the result of restructuring actions initiated in the fourth quarter of 2024. Our non-GAAP operating income was $94.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $120.4 million in the fourth quarter.

We exited the first quarter of 2025 with $1.53 billion in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities and generated $48.4 million in cash flow from operations in the first quarter. During the first quarter of 2025, we paid off the entire principal amount of $102.2 million in convertible senior notes that matured on March 1, 2025. Our capital expenditures were $14.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

In the first quarter of 2025, we repurchased 1,594,105 shares of our common stock at an average price of $62.71 per share for a total of approximately $100.0 million. We also spent approximately $12.1 million by withholding shares to cover taxes for employee stock vesting that reduced the diluted shares by 203,358 shares.

We shipped 170.1 MWh of IQ Batteries in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 152.4 MWh in the fourth quarter. More than 10,900 installers worldwide are certified to install our IQ Batteries, compared to more than 10,300 installers worldwide in the fourth quarter of 2024.

During the first quarter of 2025, we shipped approximately 1.21 million microinverters from our contract manufacturers in the United States that we booked for 45X production tax credits. We continued to ship our IQ8HC™ Microinverters, IQ8P-3P™ Commercial Microinverters, and IQ^® Battery 5Ps from our contract manufacturers in the United States. When paired with other U.S.-made solar components, our products enable lease and power purchase agreement (PPA) providers to qualify for the domestic content bonus tax credit under the IRA.

We continued to make progress with recent product introductions. We are now shipping our IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase into Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Poland. Customers appreciate the reliable backup power the product delivers for both single-and three-phase installations. Our IQ^® EV Charger 2, currently shipping to 14 countries in Europe, is our most advanced residential charger to date. This product can support up to 22 kW of three-phase charging and operate either as a standalone charger or fully integrated with Enphase microinverters and batteries. Finally, our customers are enjoying the plug-and-play simplicity of our IQ^® PowerPack 1500, our first foray into the portable consumer market.

In the second quarter of 2025, we expect to introduce our fourth-generation IQ^® Battery 10C, IQ Meter Collar, and IQ^® Combiner 6C products in the United States. Together, these products will make backup installations easy and help reduce costs. We also expect to launch our IQ^® Balcony Solar Kit, a simple and efficient solution for harnessing solar energy from panels installed on apartment balconies, in Germany and Belgium.

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

On April 8 and 9, 2025, Enphase Energy announced the launch of its IQ Battery 5P with FlexPhase with backup capability for customers in Luxembourg and Poland.

On April 3, 2025, Enphase Energy announced the introduction of its IQ^® System Controller in France and the Netherlands, enabling backup power.

On April 1, 2025, Enphase Energy announced that more than 2,500 SunPower customers have transitioned to Enphase monitoring since SunPower’s bankruptcy filing in August 2024.

On March 18, 2025, Enphase Energy welcomed Brazil’s ABNT NBR 17193 fire safety standard, which outlines stringent recommendations like rapid shutdown requirements for solar installations in all buildings.

On March 11, 2025, Enphase Energy announced production shipments of its newest electric vehicle (EV) charger, the IQ EV Charger 2, in 14 European markets.

On March 3, 2025, Enphase Energy announced increased deployments of its solution for expanding legacy net energy metering (NEM) solar energy systems in California as utilities streamline their approval process.

On Feb. 11, 2025, Enphase Energy announced the launch of an expanded IQ Battery 5P product with support for both single-phase 120/208 V and split-phase 120/240 V, for new home projects in California.

On Feb. 6, 2025, Enphase Energy announced that it is expanding its support for grid services programs – or virtual power plants (VPPs) – in Puerto Rico, Colorado, and Nova Scotia, Canada, powered by the IQ Battery 5P.

SECOND QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

For the second quarter of 2025, Enphase Energy estimates both GAAP and non-GAAP financial results as follows:

Revenue to be within a range of $340.0 million to $380.0 million, which includes shipments of 160 to 180 MWh of IQ Batteries. The second quarter of 2025 financial outlook includes approximately $40.0 million of safe harbor revenue. We define safe harbor revenue as any sales made to customers who plan to install the inventory over more than one year.
GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 42.0% to 45.0% with net IRA benefit, including approximately two percentage points of new tariff impact.
Non-GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 44.0% to 47.0% with net IRA benefit and 35.0% to 38.0% excluding net IRA benefit, including approximately two percentage points of new tariff impact. Non-GAAP gross margin excludes stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related amortization.
Net IRA benefit to be within a range of $30.0 million to $33.0 million based on estimated shipments of 1,000,000 units of U.S. manufactured microinverters.
GAAP operating expenses to be within a range of $136.0 million to $140.0 million.
Non-GAAP operating expenses to be within a range of $78.0 million to $82.0 million, excluding $58.0 million estimated for stock-based compensation expense, acquisition related expenses and amortization, restructuring and asset impairment charges.

For 2025, Enphase expects a GAAP tax rate of 21-23% and a non-GAAP tax rate of 15-17%, including IRA benefits.

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Use of non-GAAP Financial Measures

Enphase Energy has presented certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure can be found in the accompanying tables to this press release. Non-GAAP financial measures presented by Enphase Energy include non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, operating expenses, income from operations, net income, net income per share (basic and diluted), net IRA benefit, and free cash flow.

These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same captions and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with Enphase Energy’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. As such, these non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Enphase Energy uses these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its operating performance and future prospects, develop internal budgets and financial goals, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. Enphase Energy believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of its operations that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting its business.

As presented in the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” tables below, each of the non-GAAP financial measures excludes one or more of the following items for purposes of calculating non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of Enphase Energy’s current operating performance and a comparison to its past operating performance:

Stock-based compensation expense. Enphase Energy excludes stock-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash in nature. Moreover, the impact of this expense is significantly affected by Enphase Energy’s stock price at the time of an award over which management has limited to no control.

Acquisition related expenses and amortization. This item represents expenses incurred related to Enphase Energy’s business acquisitions, which are non-recurring in nature, and amortization of acquired intangible assets, which is a non-cash expense. Acquisition related expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets are not reflective of Enphase Energy’s ongoing financial performance.

Restructuring and asset impairment charges. Enphase Energy excludes restructuring and asset impairment charges due to the nature of the expenses being unusual and arising outside the ordinary course of continuing operations. These costs primarily consist of fees paid for cash-based severance costs, accelerated stock-based compensation expense and asset write-downs of property and equipment and acquired intangible assets, and other contract termination costs resulting from restructuring initiatives.

Non-cash interest expense. This item consists primarily of amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of debt discount because these expenses do not represent a cash outflow for Enphase Energy except in the period the financing was secured and such amortization expense is not reflective of Enphase Energy’s ongoing financial performance.

Non-GAAP income tax adjustment. This item represents the amount adjusted to Enphase Energy’s GAAP tax provision or benefit to exclude the income tax effects of GAAP adjustments such as stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangibles, and other non-recurring items that are not reflective of Enphase Energy ongoing financial performance.

Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted. Enphase Energy excludes the dilutive effect of in-the-money portion of convertible senior notes as they are covered by convertible note hedge transactions that reduce potential dilution to our common stock upon conversion of the Notes due 2025, Notes due 2026, and Notes due 2028, and includes the dilutive effect of employee’s stock-based awards and the dilutive effect of warrants. Enphase Energy believes these adjustments provide useful supplemental information to the ongoing financial performance.

Net IRA benefit. This item represents the advanced manufacturing production tax credit (AMPTC) from the IRA for manufacturing microinverters in the United States, partially offset by the incremental manufacturing cost incurred in the United States relative to manufacturing in Mexico, India, and China. The AMPTC is accounted for by Enphase Energy as an income-based government grants that reduces cost of revenues in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Free cash flow. This item represents net cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment.

Conference Call Information

Enphase Energy will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its first quarter 2025 results and second quarter 2025 business outlook today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time). The call is open to the public by dialing (833) 634-5018. A live webcast of the conference call will also be accessible from the “Investor Relations” section of Enphase Energy’s website at https://investor.enphase.com. Following the webcast, an archived version will be available on the website for approximately one year. In addition, an audio replay of the conference call will be available by calling (877) 344-7529; replay access code 9557806, beginning approximately one hour after the call.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to Enphase Energy’s expectations as to its second quarter of 2025 financial outlook, including revenue, shipments of IQ Batteries by MWh, gross margin with net IRA benefit and excluding net IRA benefit, estimated shipments of U.S. manufactured microinverters, operating expenses, and annualized effective tax rate with IRA benefit; its expectations regarding the expected net IRA benefit; its expectations on the timing and introduction of new products and updates to existing products, including the IQ Battery 10C, IQ Meter Collar, and IQ Combiner 6C products in the United States, and the IQ Balcony Solar Kit in Germany and Belgium; its expectations regarding the domestic content bonus tax credit for its product offerings; and the capabilities, advantages, features, and performance of its technology and products. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy’s current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Enphase Energy’s actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other documents on file with the SEC from time to time and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law.

A copy of this press release can be found on the investor relations page of Enphase Energy’s website at https://investor.enphase.com.

About Enphase Energy, Inc.

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power—and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 81.5 million microinverters, and approximately 4.8 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in over 160 countries. For more information, visit https://investor.enphase.com.

© 2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, IQ8, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact:
Zach Freedman
Enphase Energy, Inc.
Investor Relations
ir@enphaseenergy.com


ENPHASE ENERGY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
Net revenues	$	356,084		$	382,713		$	263,339
Cost of revenues		187,843			184,420			147,831
Gross profit		168,241			198,293			115,508
Operating expenses:
Research and development		50,174			50,390			54,211
Sales and marketing		48,948			51,799			53,307
General and administrative		34,035			31,901			35,182
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		3,162			9,399			1,907
Total operating expenses		136,319			143,489			144,607
Income (loss) from operations		31,922			54,804			(29,099	)
Other income, net
Interest income		17,032			18,417			19,709
Interest expense		(2,047	)		(2,252	)		(2,196	)
Other income (expense), net		(14	)		(1,270	)		87
Total other income, net		14,971			14,895			17,600
Income before income taxes		46,893			69,699			(11,499	)
Income tax provision		(17,163	)		(7,539	)		(4,598	)
Net income (loss)	$	29,730		$	62,160		$	(16,097	)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.23		$	0.46		$	(0.12	)
Diluted	$	0.22		$	0.45		$	(0.12	)
Shares used in per share calculation:
Basic		131,869			133,815			135,891
Diluted		136,208			138,128			135,891


ENPHASE ENERGY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) (Unaudited)

	March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	350,077	$	369,110
Restricted cash		65,013		95,006
Marketable securities		1,116,780		1,253,480
Accounts receivable, net		225,625		223,749
Inventory		144,025		165,004
Prepaid expenses and other assets		295,725		220,735
Total current assets		2,197,245		2,327,084
Property and equipment, net		142,219		147,514
Intangible assets, net		37,408		42,398
Goodwill		212,359		211,571
Other assets		211,447		205,542
Deferred tax assets, net		305,408		315,567
Total assets	$	3,106,086	$	3,249,676
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	115,374	$	90,032
Accrued liabilities		212,169		196,887
Deferred revenues, current		167,771		237,225
Warranty obligations, current		33,298		34,656
Debt, current		630,677		101,291
Total current liabilities		1,159,289		660,091
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred revenues, non-current		333,704		341,982
Warranty obligations, non-current		170,149		158,233
Other liabilities		61,032		55,265
Debt, non-current		571,214		1,201,089
Total liabilities		2,295,388		2,416,660
Total stockholders’ equity		810,698		833,016
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	3,106,086	$	3,249,676


ENPHASE ENERGY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	29,730		$	62,160		$	(16,097	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		19,915			20,665			20,137
Net accretion of premium (discount) on marketable securities		3,512			(7,490	)		2,825
Provision (benefit) for doubtful accounts		62			2,206			(130	)
Asset impairment		27			4,702			332
Non-cash interest expense		1,679			2,188			2,132
Net gain from change in fair value of debt securities		(323	)		(3,697	)		(942	)
Stock-based compensation		55,633			51,830			60,833
Deferred income taxes		8,560			(30,675	)		(8,292	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		1,760			2,684			77,359
Inventory		20,979			(6,167	)		5,702
Prepaid expenses and other assets		(75,553	)		(16,487	)		(10,897	)
Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities		54,232			(27,396	)		(66,284	)
Warranty obligations		10,558			8,657			(11,923	)
Deferred revenues		(82,357	)		104,112			(5,554	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		48,414			167,292			49,201
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment		(14,608	)		(8,064	)		(7,371	)
Investment in tax equity fund		(6,904	)		—			—
Purchases of marketable securities		(200,826	)		(93,138	)		(472,268	)
Maturities and sale of marketable securities		335,398			351,843			497,373
Net cash provided by investing activities		113,060			250,641			17,734
Cash flows from financing activities:
Settlement of Notes due 2025		(102,168	)		—			(2	)
Repurchase of common stock		(99,964	)		(199,666	)		(41,996	)
Payment of excise tax on net stock repurchases		—			(2,773	)		—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee equity plans		67			4,719			1,186
Payment of withholding taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards		(12,110	)		(5,012	)		(60,042	)
Net cash used in financing activities		(214,175	)		(202,732	)		(100,854	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		3,675			(7,410	)		(1,177	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		(49,026	)		207,791			(35,096	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—Beginning of period		464,116			256,325			288,748
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash—End of period	$	415,090		$	464,116		$	253,652


ENPHASE ENERGY, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (In thousands, except per share data and percentages) (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
Gross profit (GAAP)	$	168,241		$	198,293		$	115,508
Stock-based compensation		4,239			3,678			4,182
Acquisition related amortization		1,580			1,784			1,891
Gross profit (Non-GAAP)	$	174,060		$	203,755		$	121,581

Gross margin (GAAP)		47.2	%		51.8	%		43.9	%
Stock-based compensation		1.2			0.9			1.6
Acquisition related amortization		0.5			0.5			0.7
Gross margin (Non-GAAP)		48.9	%		53.2	%		46.2	%

Operating expenses (GAAP)	$	136,319		$	143,489		$	144,607
Stock-based compensation⁽¹⁾		(50,885	)		(47,884	)		(56,651	)
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		(2,849	)		(2,884	)		(3,462	)
Restructuring and asset impairment charges⁽¹⁾		(3,162	)		(9,399	)		(1,907	)
Operating expenses (Non-GAAP)	$	79,423		$	83,322		$	82,587

⁽¹⁾Includes stock-based compensation as follows:
Research and development	$	21,647		$	20,951		$	24,550
Sales and marketing		16,396			15,893			18,178
General and administrative		12,842			11,041			13,923
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		509			267			—
Total	$	51,394		$	48,152		$	56,651

Income (loss) from operations (GAAP)	$	31,922		$	54,804		$	(29,099	)
Stock-based compensation		55,124			51,563			60,833
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		4,429			4,668			5,353
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		3,162			9,399			1,907
Income from operations (Non-GAAP)	$	94,637		$	120,434		$	38,994

Net income (loss) (GAAP)	$	29,730		$	62,160		$	(16,097	)
Stock-based compensation		55,124			51,563			60,833
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		4,429			4,668			5,353
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		3,162			9,399			1,907
Non-cash interest expense		1,678			2,188			2,132
Non-GAAP income tax adjustment		(4,880	)		(4,116	)		(6,172	)
Net income (Non-GAAP)	$	89,243		$	125,862		$	47,956

Net income (loss) per share, basic (GAAP)	$	0.23		$	0.46		$	(0.12	)
Stock-based compensation		0.42			0.39			0.45
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		0.04			0.03			0.04
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0.02			0.07			0.01
Non-cash interest expense		0.01			0.02			0.02
Non-GAAP income tax adjustment		(0.04	)		(0.03	)		(0.05	)
Net income per share, basic (Non-GAAP)	$	0.68		$	0.94		$	0.35

Shares used in basic per share calculation GAAP and Non-GAAP		131,869			133,815			135,891

Net income (loss) per share, diluted (GAAP)	$	0.22		$	0.45		$	(0.12	)
Stock-based compensation		0.42			0.39			0.44
Acquisition related expenses and amortization		0.04			0.04			0.04
Restructuring and asset impairment charges		0.03			0.07			0.01
Non-cash interest expense		0.01			0.02			0.02
Non-GAAP income tax adjustment		(0.04	)		(0.03	)		(0.04	)
Net income per share, diluted (Non-GAAP)	$	0.68		$	0.94		$	0.35

Shares used in diluted per share calculation GAAP		136,208			138,128			135,891
Shares used in diluted per share calculation Non-GAAP		132,133			134,053			136,730

Income-based government grants (GAAP)	$	53,631		$	68,040		$	18,617
Incremental cost for manufacturing in U.S.		(15,773	)		(16,123	)		(4,882	)
Net IRA benefit (Non-GAAP)	$	37,858		$	51,917		$	13,735

Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)	$	48,414		$	167,292		$	49,201
Purchases of property and equipment		(14,608	)		(8,064	)		(7,371	)
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	33,806		$	159,228		$	41,830

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

The MIL Network –

April 23, 2025

MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Opens One Hundred and Fifteenth Session in Geneva

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination this morning opened its one hundred and fifteenth session in Geneva, during which it will review anti-discrimination efforts by Gabon, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Republic of Korea and Ukraine under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Committee heard from a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and adopted the session’s agenda.

Antti Korkeakivi, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and representative of the Secretary-General, opening the one hundred and fifteenth session, paid tribute to the important work of the Committee in promoting and protecting the human rights of all people without discrimination. With the Convention marking its sixtieth anniversary this year, it was an opportunity to explore avenues to generate greater political will and concrete action to fight racial discrimination.

Mr. Korkeakivi said a heavy programme of work was before the Committee over the next three weeks, with five major State party reviews; the consideration of five follow-up reports for Croatia, Germany, Morocco, Tajikistan and Uruguay; a half-day of general discussion on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, which would inform a new general recommendation on the topic; consideration of cases under the early warning and urgent action and individual complaints procedures; and meetings with various stakeholders. He wished the Committee a fruitful and productive session.

Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chairperson, congratulated Mr. Korkeakivi on assuming his position, and expressed hope that he could help navigate the treaty body system through the stormy weather it was currently facing. Mr. Balcerzak also said he hoped that, during the session, the Committee would have fruitful interactive dialogues with Ukraine, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea, Gabon and Kyrgyzstan. He thanked the members of the Committee’s secretariat for their help in facilitating Committee Experts’ work during and between sessions.

The programme of work and other documents related to the Committee’s one hundred and fifteenth session can be found here. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

The Committee will next meet in public on Wednesday, 23 April at 3 p.m. to consider the combined twenty-fourth to twenty-sixth periodic reports of Ukraine (CERD/C/UKR/24-26).

Statements

ANTTI KORKEAKIVI, Chief, Human Rights Treaties Branch, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and representative of the Secretary-General, opening the one hundred and fifteenth session, said the international system was going through a tectonic shift, and the human rights edifice that was built up so painstakingly over decades had never been under so much strain. Everyone needed to make an all-out effort to ensure that human rights and the rule of law remained foundational to communities, societies and international relations. Otherwise, the picture would be very dangerous.

The Secretary-General, in his message on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, warned that “The poison of racism continues to infect our world – a toxic legacy of historic enslavement, colonialism and discrimination. It corrupts communities, blocks opportunities, and ruins lives, eroding the very foundations of dignity, equality and justice. Forged amidst the civil rights, anti-apartheid, and decolonisation movements of the 1960s, the Convention sets out concrete steps countries must take to combat racist doctrines, promote understanding, and build a world free from racial discrimination. Today, it remains a beacon of hope to guide us in dark times.”

Mr. Korkeakivi paid tribute to the important work of the Committee to monitor the implementation of the Convention and its significant contributions in promoting and protecting the human rights of all people without discrimination. With the Convention marking its sixtieth anniversary this year, it was an opportunity to explore avenues to generate greater political will and concrete action to fight racial discrimination.

In this connection, several events were held to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the sixtieth anniversary. The Committee Chair, Mr. Balcerzak, participated in person in commemorative events at the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, presenting a joint statement led by the Committee together with 10 other mechanisms. The Office of the High Commissioner would continue to support the Committee in its objectives for the yearlong anniversary campaign. It had created a website on the anniversary, which presented a list of commemorative activities that would be updated throughout the year.

The High Commissioner’s annual report on the rights of persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities, presented to the fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council last month, extensively referenced the Committee’s assessment of the realisation of minority rights and acknowledged the important contribution made by the Committee in advancing the adoption of comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation worldwide. Last December, the United Nations Network on Racial Discrimination and Protection of Minorities organised a community-of-practice on the Committee’s general recommendation 37 to discuss how countries could use it to eliminate racial discrimination in the context of health.

Further, the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in its 2024 study on mechanisms to achieve the United National Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, underscored the relevance of the Committee’s jurisprudence in protecting the political and cultural rights of indigenous peoples. The study highlighted how the Committee’s work reinforced the principles of the Declaration and strengthened the role of international treaty bodies in holding States accountable for respecting the collective rights of indigenous peoples.

In December 2024, the General Assembly proclaimed 2025-2034 as the Second International Decade for People of African Descent, with the theme “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. The Office of the High Commissioner had continued consultations to inform the implementation of its agenda towards transformative change for racial justice and equality.

The session of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent in December 2024 also focused on reparatory justice. Their report would be presented at the Human Rights Council session in September 2025. The Working Group organised yesterday a panel to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention. Also, in December 2024, the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent held its first regional consultation on the draft United Nations Declaration on the Human Rights of People of African Descent in Barbados. The fourth session of the Permanent Forum held last week focused on “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence”.

Additionally, the International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement would hold its fourth session from 5 to 9 May 2025 in Geneva. It would discuss “addressing systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system” in preparation of its thematic report on the same topic.

In March 2025, the Office of the High Commissioner organised a regional consultation for Europe on racism in sports in Belgium. The second consultation for the Latin American region would take place in Mexico. The outcomes of these regional consultations would inform the High Commissioner’s report on a world of sport free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, to be presented at the Human Rights Council’s September session.

The fifteenth session of the Ad Hoc Committee on the elaboration of complementary standards to the Convention was continuing efforts to elaborate an additional protocol to the Convention aiming at criminalising acts of a racist and xenophobic nature. This session would focus on concrete provisions related to the prohibition and criminalisation of such acts, procedural guarantees for indicted persons and the protection of victims. The session also included a commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Convention.

The Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance would present two thematic reports on intersectionality from a racial justice perspective, and combatting the glorification of Nazism, as well as a report on her country visit to Brazil, at the fifty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council in June 2025.

The past year had been particularly challenging for the treaty body system. In addition to chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis continued to hamper the planning and implementation of the Committee’s work. The Office was doing its utmost to ensure that this Committee and other treaty bodies could implement their mandates, including by highlighting the direct impact that resource limitations had on human rights protection on the ground. Nevertheless, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future. While all treaty bodies had been able to hold their first sessions, the outlook for the rest of the year remained uncertain, both in terms of plenary meeting and visits. The Office would inform the Committee when it received information regarding its second session for the year.

Despite these challenges, the treaty body strengthening process remained active. It reached a key moment with the adoption in December of last year of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly, which invited the treaty bodies and the Office to continue to work toward a regularised schedule for reporting and to further use digital technologies. However, the biennial resolution did not endorse the proposal for an eight-year predictable schedule of reviews.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Korkeakivi said a heavy programme of work was before the Committee over the next three weeks, with five major State party reviews; the consideration of five follow-up reports for Croatia, Germany, Morocco, Tajikistan and Uruguay; a half-day of general discussion on reparations for the injustices from the transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans, and the ongoing crimes against people of African descent, which would inform a new general recommendation on the topic; consideration of cases under the early warning and urgent action and individual complaints procedures; and meetings with various stakeholders. He wished the Committee a fruitful and productive session.

MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chairperson, congratulated Mr. Korkeakivi on assuming his position. The Committee hoped that he could achieve his mandate and navigate the treaty body system through the stormy weather it was currently facing. Mr. Balcerzak expressed hope that, during the session, the Committee would have fruitful interactive dialogues with Ukraine, Mauritius, the Republic of Korea, Gabon and Kyrgyzstan. He thanked the members of the Committee’s secretariat for its help facilitating Committee Experts’ work during and between sessions.

NOUREDDIN AMIR, Committee Expert, said that he had been fighting all forms of racial discrimination for half a century, including as the Committee’s former Chair. Despite his failing eyesight, he would continue to breathe life to the Committee’s struggle against racial discrimination. The world was in a sorry state, Mr. Amir said. The Committee needed to ensure that the international community was fully cognisant of what was happening in the world today. Murders were being committed in Palestine, in Gaza. What could the Committee do to put an end to these crimes against women and children. This situation beggared belief, yet it continued. People needed to be held accountable. The Committee had a responsibility to continue to fight for its mandate.

___________

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

CERD25.001E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Ecobat’s Seculene Sets New Flame-Retardant Standards for Recycled Polypropylene

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DALLAS, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ecobat, a global leader in sustainable energy solutions, today announced that its proprietary Seculene line of high-performance recycled polypropylene (PP) compounds was named a finalist in the prestigious Plastics Recycling Awards Europe (PRAE). The recognition marks a major milestone for Seculene, affirming its role as a trailblazing solution in the circular economy and in advanced polymer engineering.

Developed in-house by Ecobat and produced entirely from 100% post-consumer waste, Seculene represents a leap forward in recycled plastic technology. With over a decade of expertise behind its development, Seculene has been engineered to rival, and in many cases exceed, the performance of virgin polypropylene—delivering both environmental and functional excellence across demanding industrial applications.

“Our Seculene polypropylene, derived entirely from post-consumer recycled materials, is a high-quality alternative to virgin polymers,” said Erich Esser, Vice President of Global Polypropylene and Managing Director for Ecobat Resources Germany/Austria. “This achievement reflects years of investment in innovation, resulting in materials that meet the highest industry standards for safety, reliability, and sustainability. Our flame-retardant grades, in particular, represent a new frontier in circular materials technology.”

Flame-Retardant Innovation That Raises the Bar

At the heart of Seculene’s PRAE recognition is its flame-retardant variant—the only recycled polypropylene compound certified to UL 94 V0 (Yellow Card) standards. In fire exposure scenarios, this grade forms a protective foam layer that insulates and protects internal components, making it ideal for high-risk environments such as e-bike battery housings and electrical enclosures.

This advanced fire safety performance, combined with Seculene’s virgin-like density, impact strength, and processability, positions Ecobat at the intersection of circular economy leadership and technical material excellence.

Automotive-Grade Materials Backed by Industry Validation

In another major milestone, Ecobat recently secured DBL 1000 approval for its glass-fiber-reinforced Seculene (with 35% glass fiber content), certifying the compound for automotive interior use. A leading German automotive supplier has already adopted this grade for precision control unit housings—validating Seculene’s consistency and structural integrity under real-world manufacturing conditions.

This recognition underscores the growing demand for high-performance, sustainable alternatives in the automotive sector, where lightweighting, durability, and environmental accountability are increasingly essential.

Built for Versatility and Circularity

Seculene is available in over 30 specialized grades tailored to a wide range of use cases—from UV-stabilized components for outdoor applications to mineral-filled variants designed for increased rigidity. Engineered for injection molding, extrusion, and other processing techniques, Seculene enables seamless integration into modern manufacturing environments.

Use cases span automotive parts (wheel arch liners, cable conduits), electrical components, industrial systems, and consumer goods—making it one of the most versatile recycled polypropylene lines available on the market today.

Every Seculene batch is manufactured at Ecobat’s recycling facilities, where closed-loop systems minimize waste and reduce energy use. These plants employ rigorous sorting, cleaning, and compounding processes to ensure material purity, consistent melt flow rates, and mechanical properties that meet or exceed industry benchmarks.

Driving Toward a Circular Future

The recognition by PRAE not only affirms the quality and innovation of Seculene, but also highlights Ecobat’s broader mission to lead the global transition to a circular economy. By replacing virgin polymers with 100% recycled alternatives, Seculene significantly reduces the environmental footprint of plastic-intensive industries while enabling compliance with rising regulatory and sustainability demands.

About Ecobat
With operations throughout Europe and the United States, Ecobat is a leader in the collection, recycling, production and distribution of energy storage solutions, lead and polypropylene products. Ecobat is now applying its global capability, infrastructure, and market knowledge towards recycling lithium-ion battery materials. For more information on how we are transforming energy storage, visit www.ecobat.com.

Media Contact:
Chelsey Berend
Press@Ecobat.com
1-888-317-4687 ext. 703

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e61f4d9-c65c-48e8-98e2-fbec8c0acdf2

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe4dfdec-0ee5-42b7-8f6a-64d8d2eefa31

The MIL Network –

April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: From Paris to Washington: The Jessup Journey of a Remarkable Team

Source: Universities – Science Po in English

Maria (Marysia) Szuster, Gabrijela Papec, Linn Junge, Fanny Burdin-Egloffe, Tatiana Van den Haute

Each year, the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition brings together thousands of law students from across the globe, challenging them to tackle the most complex and contested issues in public international law.

For five first-year students at Sciences Po Law School, the 2025 edition was more than just a competition — it was an intense, transformative experience that pushed them to their intellectual and personal limits.

From winning the French national rounds to representing France on the world stage in Washington D.C., this remarkable team not only proved their legal acumen but also exemplified resilience, teamwork, and passion. In this article, they reflect on what it took to get there, the lessons they learned along the way, and the advice they would give to those ready to take on the Jessup challenge.

« The Sciences Po Law School warmly thanks Clifford Chance for its valuable support in the 2025 Jessup Moot Court Competition. This contribution helped our team reach the top 16 worldwide, a remarkable achievement. It reflects both the talent of our students and the value of strong academic-professional partnerships. »

Sébastien Pimont, Dean, and Julie Babin d’Amonville, Executive Director

Can you introduce yourself?

Linn Junge, a first-year student in Economic Law, did Jessup for the second time this year, having won the French championship and advanced to the round of 16 in 2023 with Sciences Po Reims. Hailing from Germany but having also lived in the US, Linn was the team’s captain, and oralist for both Respondent and Applicant.

Gabrijela Papec from Croatia was a world-renowned debater in high school and during the undergraduate degree, skills she leveraged to the best effect in her role as oralist for the Applicant. She is in the English track, alongside Linn and Maria.

Tatiana Van den Haute is a Lebanese first year law student in Droit Économique. After completing her undergraduate degree at Sciences Po, Campus du Havre with an exchange in Taipei, she spent another year working there as a policy analyst. She was able to apply her analytical and public speaking experiences in her role as an oralist for Respondent.

Fanny Burdin-Egloffe is a French student in the first year of the French track in Droit Économique. After a year as a research assistant at the University of Sydney, she brought her analytical and legal research skills to her role as of counsel for this year’s Jessup team.

Maria (Marysia) Szuster is a Polish fist year student in Economic Law with a particular passion for human rights and refugees’ access to education. The skills she gained as a research assistant at Yale University and a writer for the American Bar Association on grave human rights violations she applied in research and finding arguments in Jessup this year.

What motivated you to participate in the 2025 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition?

For many of us, law and politics are equal passions and two sides of the same coin. International law as a field combines these two disciplines like perhaps no other arena—international law is most closely based on, after all, the political decisions of states. The Jessup Competition perfectly embodies this intersection, standing as the world’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious moot court competition.

What makes Jessup particularly valuable is the opportunity it provides students to spend eight months conducting deep research on widely debated and unresolved topics in international law. Beyond being a rare luxury within our fast-paced curriculum, this extended engagement allows participants to dive autonomously into aspects of public international law that fall outside the ordinary courses, exploring issues we would otherwise never encounter. The challenge of doing that in itself while going through our first year of law school called to all of us. Along with this intellectual challenge, participating in the Jessup opens doors to connecting with a community of like-minded people in all stages of their careers who share a passion for the competition and public international law as a whole.

Can you tell us about your preparation process for the competition?

Our first major task was learning how to balance our considerable coursework with researching public international law and this year’s problem, from scratch. The first phase of research culminated in the memorial writing phase, which was all the more complicated given that our team was spread across the world when the deadline came nearing in January 2025 during our Winter break. Nevertheless, we managed to submit two excellent memorials before returning to Paris, where we earnestly began preparing for the oral rounds.

Knowing how much effort it takes to learn, within a month, to become distinguished oralists and researchers, we met and practiced our pleading between three and five times a week until the national rounds at the end of February.

To our immense joy, we were crowned French national champions of the Jessup on March 1, having gone undefeated throughout all of the rounds. Despite the stress and fatigue that had worn on us over the course of the rounds, we managed to convince a unanimous jury to send us to Washington as the French representative team—a privilege that Sciences Po Law School has not been able to enjoy in seven years.

With that in mind, the preparation period for Washington was, if anything, even more intense than that for the nationals. On the one hand, we knew competition would be even more stiff, seeing that only the best of the best would be in Washington, and on the other, we had to arrange travel, accommodation, and funding in close collaboration with the Sciences Po Law School. All along, however, we continued to reach out to countless professors, friends, and connections whose advice and critiques were absolutely invaluable in continuously augmenting the quality of our performance as a team. The reward was significant. We advanced to the Octofinals in Washington, putting us within the 16 best teams in the world out of the more than 800 that competed this year. Only once in Jessup history has France advanced further than this.

Gabrijela Papec, Linn Junge received awards during the national rounds. Could you tell us more about that experience and what it meant to your team?

Jessup is 100% a team effort, but watching two of our team members get the recognition they deserve for all their hard work and talent was incredibly satisfying. The fact that both of the top speaker awards at the national rounds went to our team demonstrated what a resounding victory our team collectively enjoyed. So while Gabrijela and Linn are undoubtedly deserving of this award individually, we all felt it was more of a collective accolade.

Gabrijela also got 17th best oralist in the world at the international rounds, which is an incredible achievement in itself and felt like a validation both of her exceptional performance and all of our efforts.

Do you have any advice for future students who might want to participate in the next edition of the Jessup Moot?

When starting out, read and re-read the problem at length – then make sure you understand how international law works. Read commentaries on treaties and cases, know the histories of the institutions, conventions and treaties that you’re dealing with and why they are relevant. The issues that the Jessup will throw at you are qualified as ‘hard problems’ in international law, meaning that they are by nature unresolved and can be argued both ways. Stand on the shoulders of those who studied those problems in depth before you, in order to gain as holistic an understanding as possible of what they represent and the implications your arguments have.

Be passionate about it. This competition will take a big part of your life for 8 months, so might as well be obsessed with it. On this note, the team dynamic is everything. It starts on a personal level: because of the intensity, it is imperative that you get along with your team members. Knowing each other well will be invaluable in understanding how to best support one another over the course of the journey—from initial research to competing. From there, you need to stay accountable to one another, because everyone has to do their job, especially in the written drafting phase. And lastly: open communication is key. Again, the timeframe of the competition is too large to let slight frustrations and issues between team members fester until they become proper problems. If you accept the intensity and commitment, it will be a ride that you will be forever grateful for!

MIL OSI Europe News –

April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: WSO2 Launches Ambassador Program to Empower Tech Advocates
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WSO2, the leader in enterprise digital infrastructure technology, today announced the launch of the WSO2 Ambassador Program, a global initiative that celebrates and supports the most passionate voices in its tech community, including developers and architects. This program is designed to recognize individuals who actively share knowledge, inspire innovation, and contribute to the growth of the open-source ecosystem powered by WSO2 technologies.

At the heart of the digital era are developers and architects—the problem-solvers and builders of the digital experiences we use every day. WSO2 recognizes that its success is deeply tied to the passion and ingenuity of its developer community. Developers are not only consumers of WSO2’s open-source platforms for API management, integration, identity and access management and WSO2’s internal developer platform, Choreo; they are also co-creators, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, improving the products through feedback, and building impactful solutions that serve millions. Architects, on the other hand, play a critical role in shaping the bigger picture—designing scalable, secure, and future-ready digital architectures that bring developer innovations to life.

“Developers are the driving force behind innovation,” said Isabelle Mauny, Chief Developer Advocate at WSO2. “They are not merely users of our products—they are instrumental in shaping them. Architects help ensure that solutions built on WSO2’s platforms are robust, cohesive, and aligned with long-term business goals. The WSO2 Ambassador Program is our way of acknowledging their contributions and supporting their continued growth. Whether through leading community meetups, publishing technical tutorials, or contributing to our codebase, our ambassadors play a vital role in empowering others to succeed with WSO2.”

WSO2’s commitment to open source goes beyond code—it’s about people. The Ambassador Program is a natural extension of that commitment. By offering mentorship, visibility, and support, WSO2 aims to empower developers to become leaders in their communities and advance their personal and professional growth.

What Ambassadors can expect:
- Skill-building opportunities in community leadership, developer advocacy, and public speaking
- Sponsorship for local events, meetups, and conferences to grow regional communities
- Visibility and recognition through WSO2’s digital channels and media
- Access to exclusive WSO2 events, tools, and swag
- Direct collaboration with WSO2 teams, providing feedback and influence on product direction
The program is open to developers, architects, and technical leaders with experience using WSO2 technology and a passion for empowering others through content, events, and code. Ambassadors can contribute at their own pace, with flexible engagement levels.

“Being a WSO2 Ambassador is not about holding a title—it is about making a meaningful impact,” Mauny explained. “It recognizes those developers who dedicate their time to writing tutorials, answering questions in forums, and mentoring the next generation of technologists. Our goal is to support their efforts, elevate their contributions, and connect them with a global community of peers and innovators.”

Visit the WSO2 Ambassadors Page to learn more about the program, meet our 2025 ambassadors, and find out how you can get involved.

About WSO2
Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) to thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence and APIs for securely delivering the next generation of AI-enabled digital services and applications. Our open-source, AI-driven, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in and enables rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has more than 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with over USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

The MIL Network –
April 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Primech AI Showcases HYTRON Cleaning Technology at Global Innovation Summit 2025 in Germany

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, April 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech AI Pte. Ltd. (“Primech AI” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Primech Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: PMEC), recently participated in the prestigious Global Innovation Summit (GIS) 2025 held at HANNOVER MESSE in Hannover, Germany on April 1-2, 2025. The Company was invited by Enterprise Singapore to join a select group of innovative Singaporean companies representing the nation’s technological capabilities on the global stage.

Picture 1: Charles Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Primech Ai presenting at the Global Innovation Summit

The Global Innovation Summit, one of the world’s premier platforms for industrial technology innovation, provided Primech AI with the opportunity to showcase its groundbreaking HYTRON, AI-powered autonomous bathroom cleaning robots to an international audience of industry leaders, potential partners, and investors.

“Our participation at the Global Innovation Summit represents a significant milestone in our international expansion strategy,” said Mr. Charles Ng, Chief Operating Officer of Primech AI. “Being invited by Enterprise Singapore to represent Singapore’s innovation ecosystem at such a prestigious global event validates our technological achievements and opens doors to potential collaborations across European markets.”

During the two-day summit, the Primech AI team presented its innovation pitch focused on the HYTRON, AI-powered autonomous bathroom cleaning robot technology, highlighting its advanced AI capabilities, 3D-cleaning functionality, and the use of electrolyzed water for enhanced sanitation. The presentation demonstrated how Primech AI’s solutions address critical challenges in the facility services industry, including labor shortages, increasing hygiene standards, and sustainability requirements.

A key enabler behind HYTRON’s performance is the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super, a cutting-edge System-on-Module (SoM) designed for robust edge AI and robotics applications. By integrating NVIDIA’s advanced hardware and software technologies—including CUDA, TensorRT, cuDNN, and the NVIDIA Driver—Primech AI has significantly boosted HYTRON’s real-time data processing capabilities, enabling greater autonomy, precision, and responsiveness in demanding cleaning environments.

The Company engaged with numerous potential partners and customers from various sectors, including commercial property management, healthcare, hospitality, and public transportation, exploring opportunities to implement its autonomous cleaning solutions across European markets.

The Global Innovation Summit served as a platform for Primech AI to connect with international technology partners, distributors, and end-users interested in next-generation cleaning solutions. These engagements have already resulted in several promising partnership discussions that could accelerate the Company’s European market entry strategy.

“The response to our technology at HANNOVER MESSE exceeded our expectations,” said Mr. Kin Wai Ho, Chief Executive Officer of Primech Holdings. “We identified significant interest from European facility management companies seeking to integrate autonomous cleaning solutions into their operations. The connections made at this event will be instrumental in our international growth plans.”

About the Global Innovation Summit 2025
The Global Innovation Summit is Eureka’s flagship event organised as part of HANNOVER MESSE, the world’s leading trade fair for industrial technology. The summit brings innovators, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors together to explore emerging technologies and foster international collaborations. The 2025 edition focused on sustainable industrial solutions, AI applications, and automation technologies transforming traditional industries.

About Primech AI
Primech AI is a leading robotics company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation in technology. With a team of passionate individuals and a commitment to collaboration, Primech AI is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with groundbreaking solutions that make a meaningful impact on society. For more information, visit www.primech.ai.

About Primech Holdings Limited
Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

Company Contact:
Email: ir@primech.com.sg

Investor Relations Contact:
Matthew Abenante, IRC
President
Strategic Investor Relations, LLC
Tel: 347-947-2093
Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

The MIL Network –

April 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Correction to stock exchange release: Siili Solutions Plc: Business review, 1 January – 31 March 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Correction to stock exchange release: Siili Solutions Plc: Business review, 1 January – 31 March 2025

Siili Solutions Plc Stock exchange release 22 April 2025 at 14:10 EEST

This is a correction to the stock exchange release published by Siili Solutions Plc on 22 April 2025 at 9:30 am by which the company published its business review for the period 1 January – 31 March 2025. In the key figures table there was “Total full-time employees and subcontractors (FTE) at the end of the period” instead of two separate key figures “Number of full-time employees (FTE) at the end of the period” and “Number of full-time subcontractors (FTE) at the end of the period”.

The corrected release is stated below as a whole and the revised report is attached to this release.

Q1 2025 for Siili: Siili continued AI strategy implementation and actions for profitability improvements, revenue at the previous year’s level

January-March 2025

We completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Intergrations Group Oy
We launched an Advisory service to accelerate our clients’ digital business and use of artificial intelligence
We adjusted our competence profile to match our strategy and the current market situation
The revenue for the first quarter was EUR 29.9 (29.8) million, representing increase of 0.3% year on year. Organically, revenue decreased by 1.6% from the comparison period.
Adjusted EBITA for the first quarter was EUR 1.3 (1.6) million, which corresponds to 4.2% (5.3%) of revenue

EUR million	Q1/2025	Q1/2024
Revenue	29.9	29.8
Revenue growth, %	0.3%	-11.3%
Organic revenue growth, %	-1.6%	-11.3%
Share of international revenue, %	27.1%	27.7%
Adjusted EBITA	1.3	1.6
Adjusted EBITA, % of revenue	4.2%	5.3%
EBITA	1.2	1.4
EBIT	0.9	1.1
Earnings per share, EUR	0.05	0.07
Number of employees at the end of the period	957	973
Average number of employees during the period	950	990
Number of full-time employees (FTE) at the end of the period	931	950
Number of full-time subcontractors (FTE) at the end of the period	144	137

Outlook of 2025

Revenue for 2025 is expected to be EUR 108-130 million and adjusted EBITA EUR 4.7-7.7 million.

CEO Tomi Pienimäki:

The first quarter of this year was challenging for Siili as the sluggish market conditions prevailed, and we took concrete steps to improve the profitability of our operations. However, many positive developments also occurred during the initial months of the year while we focused with determination on the implementation of our strategy.

The Group’s revenue in January-March amounted to just under EUR 30 million, broadly at the previous year’s level. Adjusted EBITA for the first quarter amounted to EUR 1.3 million, 4.2% of revenue. Profitability came in slightly weaker than last year, in line with our expectations. However, when comparing to the previous year’s result, it is worth noting that the adjusted EBITA for the comparison period was improved by the temporary layoffs implemented during Q1 2024.

During the initial months of the year, we have seen encouraging developments in the market, with our customers moving from testing artificial intelligence to firm transition programmes. In March, we launched a new Advisory service to accelerate our customers’ digital business and adoption of AI.

An example of how we support our customers on their AI journey is an AI-assisted training programme we delivered for Alma Media at the beginning of the year. It is a tailored solution that helps Alma Media to integrate AI seamlessly into its operations and culture.

Siili also worked with Varma to modernise a key system. The objective of the modernisation was to simplify the maintenance of the system and improve its scalability and development potential, ensuring it continues to meet Varma’s business needs reliably into the future. The work was carried out in stages and in close cooperation with the client, ensuring the continuous operability of the system.

During the opening months of the year, we have also built new cooperation networks that allow extensive utilisation of Siii’s expertise. In March, Siili was accepted as a member in the Digital Defence Ecosystem, which brings together Finland’s leading technology companies to support national defence capabilities and the security of supply. Siili also became an NVIDIA partner earlier this year as part of the NVIDIA Partner Network (NPN), which significantly supports us in bringing scalable, production-ready AI solutions to our customers.

In February–March, we adjusted our competence profile to align with the strategy we released last year, and current market conditions. Following change negotiations started in February, we will reduce 25 roles from Siili Finland’s functions and 8 from Siili Auto Finland. Actions affecting personnel are always difficult for the organisation, but we believe these adjustments will strengthen Siili’s competitiveness and profitability. With these measures, we estimate that we will achieve a total of 2.2 million euros in annual cost savings.

To strengthen Siili’s competence profile, we concluded the acquisition of a majority stake in Integrations Group Oy at the beginning of the year. Integrations Group is now part of Siili, and the collaboration has started strongly. We continue to strengthen our competence profile in line with the strategy also through recruitment and human resources development.

I want to thank all our customers and partners for the past few months, but above all, I extend my thanks to the Siili team for their commitment and outstanding work during the quarter.

—

This is not an interim report under IAS 34. The company complies with the half-yearly reporting requirements of the Securities Markets Act and publishes business reviews for the first three and nine months of the year, which present key information on the company’s financial performance. The financial information presented in this business review is unaudited.

Further information:
CEO Tomi Pienimäki
Tel: +358 40 834 1399, email: tomi.pienimaki(at)siili.com
CFO Aleksi Kankainen
Tel: +358 40 534 2709, email: aleksi.kankainen(at)siili.com

Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Main media
www.siili.com/en

Siili Solutions in brief:
Siili Solutions Plc is a forerunner in AI-powered digital development. Siili is the go-to partner for clients seeking growth, efficiency and competitive advantage through digital transformation. Our main markets are Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Siili Solutions Plc’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange. Siili has grown profitably since its founding in 2005. www.siili.com/en

Attachment

Siili Solutions_Q1_2025_corrected_EN

The MIL Network –

April 22, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: The European Main Battle Tank Development (FMBTech) project has been launched to develop the technologies behind the tank of the future

Source: Thales Group

Headline: The European Main Battle Tank Development (FMBTech) project has been launched to develop the technologies behind the tank of the future

22 Apr 2025

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The Technologies for Existing and Future Main Battle Tanks (FMBTech) project has been officially launched. This European project aims to revolutionise Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) for modern hybrid warfare. Coordinated by Thales, the initiative brings together a consortium of 26 companies from 13 European Union (EU) Member States and Norway.

Funded by the European Commission under the European Defence Fund (EDF, 2023 edition) and the consortium, this three-year initiative will develop modular and adaptable solutions to ensure readiness for diverse and complex battlefields. By using innovative technology bricks, the project aims to build a future of agile, intelligent, and cooperative MBTs to address the limitations of aging fleets in the EU and Norway.

FMBTech positions the EU at the forefront of advanced, cutting-edge defence technologies, reinforcing military innovation and collaboration within European defence. The project will enhance the effectiveness, safety, and cost-efficiency of both existing and future MBTs, ensuring they remain pivotal assets on the battlefield while bridging the gap to emerging 5^th-generation capabilities.

About FMBTech

A European Consortium with 26 participating entities, FMBTech features 8 SMEs and 7 RTOs from 13 EU Member States and Norway.

The FMBTech project was selected by the European Commission for funding under the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2023. The project has been allocated a total budget of €19 million.

The EDF is the Commission’s instrument for supporting research and development actions in the defence sector. Its main objectives are to foster cooperation between companies, including SMEs, and Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) throughout the Union, to promote the development of defence capabilities through investment, and to help EU companies develop advanced and interoperable defence technologies and equipment.

The partners are:

THALES SIX GTS FRANCE SAS France

ARQUUS France

C&V CONSULTING Belgium

CY4GATE SPA Italy

ENVIRONICS OY Finland

EIGHT BELLS HELLAS I.K.E Greece

GMV AEROSPACE AND DEFENCE SA Spain

GUARDIARIS RACUNALNISKE APLIKACIJE IN SIMULACIJE D.O.O Slovenia

HENSOLDT FRANCE SAS France

ISD AEROSPACE LIMITED Ireland

MBDA FRANCE France

MSM LAND SYSTEMS S.R.O Slovakia

KNDS France

OŚRODEK BADAWCZO-ROZWOJOWY URZĄDZEŃ MECHANICZNYCH OBRUM SP. Z O.O. Poland

POLITECNICO DI MILANO Italy

SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE France

SAVOX COMMUNICATIONS OY Finland

SCERTAS GMBH Germany

SKYLD SECURITY AND DEFENCE LIMITED Cyprus

SOPRA STERIA AS Norway

TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY Finland

THALES ITALIA SPA Italy

VETRONICS RESEARCH CENTRE EU LTD Cyprus

VOJENSKÝ VÝZKUMNÝ ÚSTAV SP Czech Republic

WOJSKOWA AKADEMIA TECHNICZNA IM. JAROSLAWA DABROWSKIEGO Poland

WOJSKOWY INSTYTUT TECHNIKI PANCERNEJ I SAMOCHODOWEJ Poland

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies.

Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: HERE partners with ECARX to launch Next-Generation, In-Car Navigation at Auto Shanghai 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- The collaboration leverages HERE’s next-generation navigation platform, and ECARX’s full-stack capabilities to deliver an industry-leading navigation solution for leading Chinese automakers.
- By integrating HERE SDK and compliant location data across 200+ countries, the solution significantly shortens development cycles for international vehicle platforms.
- A production-ready solution, along with a demo, will debut at Auto Shanghai 2025.
Shanghai, Auto Shanghai 2025 – HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology platform, today announced its strategic partnership with ECARX, global mobility technology company ECARX (Nasdaq: ECX), on co-developing a new-generation navigation system with multi-scenario adaptability, integrating the HERE SDK navigation platform with ECARX’s full-stack solutions.

HERE SDK offers the latest, complete navigation and location services experience for connected vehicles. It stands out for its multi-scenario adaptability, data accuracy, coverage breadth, technical performance, and developer-friendly features, making it ideal for high-precision mapping, real-time navigation, and cross-platform support.

By combining HERE’s world-class AI-powered location technology with ECARX’s automotive technologies, the collaboration will empower global automotive OEMs, including Lotus, Lynk & Co, Smart and Hongqi, to deliver advanced navigation solutions that are reliable, dynamic, and personalized, offering drivers across the world an unparalleled driving experience while supporting the global shift towards intelligent, connected vehicles.

Mike Nefkens, CEO of HERE Technologies, shared: “Together with ECARX, we’re combining cutting-edge AI-powered mapping and location services with next-generation intelligent vehicle platforms, making it easier than ever for leading automakers to deliver connected, intuitive and globally scalable navigation experiences. Our partnership is focused on increasing the speed at which automakers bring the latest in-car navigation solutions to market.”

Ziyu Shen, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of ECARX, added: “This deep technical collaboration fuses HERE’s world-class mapping expertise with ECARX’s full-stack software and hardware co-development platform. By standardizing HERE’s SDK—supporting compliant map data for over 200 countries and multidimensional parameter interfaces—we significantly shorten the development cycle for automaker navigation systems. This allows global vehicle models to meet data regulations across major markets and provides a plug-and-play global navigation development framework for OEMs.”

As HERE strengthens its presence in the Chinese automotive sector, this collaboration is testament to the company’s role in powering next-generation mobility solutions for global automotive leaders. HERE Technologies is also showcasing its innovative location technology at Auto Shanghai 2025 at Booth #2B A052, demonstrating its commitment to driving the future of mobility and smart cities.

Media contacts
HERE Technologies
Jordan Stark
+1 312 316 4537
jordan.stark@here.com

Dr. Sebastian Kurme
+49 173 515 3549
sebastian.kurme@here.com

About ECARX
ECARX (Nasdaq: ECX) is a global automotive technology provider with capabilities to deliver turnkey solutions for next-generation smart vehicles, from the system on a chip (SoC), to central computing platforms, and software. As automakers develop new electric vehicle architectures from the ground up, ECARX is developing full-stack solutions to enhance the user experience, while reducing complexity and cost. Founded in 2017 and listed on the Nasdaq in 2022, ECARX now has over 1,900 employees based in 12 major locations in China, UK, USA, Sweden, Germany and Malaysia. To date, ECARX products can be found in over 8.1 million vehicles worldwide.

About HERE Technologies
HERE has been a pioneer in mapping and location technology for 40 years. Today, HERE’s location platform is recognized as the most complete in the industry, powering location-based products, services and custom maps for organizations and enterprises across the globe. From autonomous driving and seamless logistics to new mobility experiences, HERE allows its partners and customers to innovate while retaining control over their data and safeguarding privacy. Find out how HERE is moving the world forward at here.com.

Attachment
- HERE partners with ECARX to launch Next-Generation, In-Car Navigation at Auto Shanghai 2025
The MIL Network –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Webcast details for Orrön Energy’s Q1 presentation
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Orrön Energy AB (“Orrön Energy”) will publish its financial report for the first quarter 2025 on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 at 07:30 CEST, followed by a webcast at 14:00 CEST.

Listen to Daniel Fitzgerald, CEO and Espen Hennie, CFO commenting on the report and describing the latest developments in Orrön Energy at a webcast on 6 May 2025 at 14:00 CEST, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Registration for the webcast presentation is available on the website and the below link:
https://orron-energy.events.inderes.com/q1-report-2025

For further information, please contact:

Robert Eriksson
Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
Tel: +46 701 11 26 15
robert.eriksson@orron.com

Jenny Sandström
Communications Lead
Tel: +41 79 431 63 68
jenny.sandstrom@orron.com

Orrön Energy is an independent, publicly listed (Nasdaq Stockholm: “ORRON”) renewable energy company within the Lundin Group of Companies. Orrön Energy’s core portfolio consists of high quality, cash flow generating assets in the Nordics, coupled with greenfield growth opportunities in the Nordics, the UK, Germany and France. With significant financial capacity to fund further growth and acquisitions, and backed by a major shareholder, management and Board with a proven track record of investing into, leading and growing highly successful businesses, Orrön Energy is in a unique position to create shareholder value through the energy transition.

Forward-looking statements
Statements in this press release relating to any future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections, are forward-looking statements. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek”, “will”, “would” or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that could occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to several factors, many of which are outside the company’s control. Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which the statements are made and the company has no obligation (and undertakes no obligation) to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Attachment
- Orrön Energy – Press Release -Webcast details Q1 Results – ENG
The MIL Network –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Politicians must not legitimise far right hatred

Source: Scottish Greens

22 Apr 2025 Equality

You can’t take on the far right by copying them.

More in Equality

Holyrood politicians must not legitimise the hateful policies of the far right ahead of the 2026 election, warns Scottish Green Co-Leader Patrick Harvie MSP.

Mr Harvie said:

“Instead of opposing and challenging the ideas of the far right, the truth is too many in politics have tried to defeat them by imitating them, no matter how many times this tactic fails.

“Across the world, we have seen centrist politicians usher in more brutal immigration systems, water down environmental policies, and stigmatise minorities, but the result has only given more political space to the far right.

“You can’t beat the far right by acting like them; legitimising their toxic rhetoric simply makes them louder and draws more media attention.

“In Germany we’ve seen the AfD legitimised by mainstream parties who have pandered to them on immigration; in the US the Democrats have stuck to a broken status quo rather than offering a radical alternative to Trump and the far right. And here in the UK, Labour and the Tories have plummeted in the polls despite fawning to Trump and trying to copy Reform’s hostility to asylum seekers, their anti-European stance, their transphobia, and so much else.

“Mimicking the hateful and authoritarian policies of the far right is not just a politically bad strategy, it’s morally wrong. People across Scotland need real change to improve their lives in the face of a broken economic system that is entrenching inequality.

“We need real investment in public services, action to lower daily costs like energy, rent, and bus and train fares. Most urgently we need to make sure that action to tackle the climate emergency works for people and communities, not for the super-rich who have raked in the profits while causing the greatest threat our society has ever faced.

“The Scottish Greens are standing our ground as a party that will always put people and planet before profit; I hope that this week’s summit can change the tune of politicians so that, ahead of 2026, we can discuss building a fairer, greener Scotland for all.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 22, 2025

MIL-OSI: Siili Solutions Plc, Business review, 1 January–31 March 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Q1 2025 FOR SIILI: Siili continued AI strategy implementation and actions for profitability improvements, revenue at the previous year’s level

Siili Solutions Plc Stock Exchange Release 22 April 2025 at 9:30 am EEST

January-March 2025

We completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Intergrations Group Oy
We launched an Advisory service to accelerate our clients’ digital business and use of artificial intelligence
We adjusted our competence profile to match our strategy and the current market situation
The revenue for the first quarter was EUR 29.9 (29.8) million, representing increase of 0.3% year on year. Organically, revenue decreased by 1.6% from the comparison period.
Adjusted EBITA for the first quarter was EUR 1.3 (1.6) million, which corresponds to 4.2% (5.3%) of revenue

EUR million	Q1/2025	Q1/2024
Revenue	29.9	29.8
Revenue growth, %	0.3%	-11.3%
Organic revenue growth, %	-1.6%	-11.3%
Share of international revenue, %	27.1%	27.7%
Adjusted EBITA	1.3	1.6
Adjusted EBITA, % of revenue	4.2%	5.3%
EBITA	1.2	1.4
EBIT	0.9	1.1
Earnings per share, EUR	0.05	0.07
Number of employees at the end of the period	957	973
Average number of employees during the period	950	990
Total full-time employees and subcontractors (FTE) at the end of the period	1,075	1,087

Outlook of 2025

Revenue for 2025 is expected to be EUR 108-130 million and adjusted EBITA EUR 4.7-7.7 million.

CEO Tomi Pienimäki:

I want to thank all our customers and partners for the past few months, but above all, I extend my thanks to the Siili team for their commitment and outstanding work during the quarter.

—

FURTHER INFORMATION:
CEO Tomi Pienimäki
Tel: +358 40 834 1399, email: tomi.pienimaki(at)siili.com
CFO Aleksi Kankainen
Tel: +358 40 534 2709, email: aleksi.kankainen(at)siili.com

DISTRIBUTION:
Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Main media
www.siili.com/en

SIILI SOLUTIONS IN BRIEF:
Siili Solutions Plc is a forerunner in AI-powered digital development. Siili is the go-to partner for clients seeking growth, efficiency and competitive advantage through digital transformation. Our main markets are Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Siili Solutions Plc’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki Stock Exchange. Siili has grown profitably since its founding in 2005. www.siili.com/en

Attachment

Siili Solutions_Q1_2025_EN

The MIL Network –

April 22, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Photos: Kaine Highlights Need to Continue Support for America’s Alliances on Official Visits to Poland, Ukraine, and Germany

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, concluded a week-long trip of official visits in Poland, Ukraine, and Germany to highlight his support for America’s transatlantic partnerships and Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s brutal invasion. The visit came amid Russia’s horrific Palm Sunday attack on the Ukrainian town of Sumy, which killed dozens of innocent civilians, including children; global fallout from the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff regime that not only punishes allies, but also severely inhibits defense cooperation; and reported plans to shrink America’s diplomatic presence abroad—even as China moves to expand its own footprint.
“America has always been strongest and safest when we link arms with our allies. I traveled to Poland, Ukraine, and Germany this week to highlight the importance of that principle, especially in the face of Russia’s continued illegal invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s horrific Palm Sunday attack in Sumy was a disturbing—yet unsurprising—sign that Russia is not negotiating in good faith to stop the fighting. It’s more important than ever that we strengthen our relationships across the Atlantic. I know that I have colleagues on both sides of the aisle who see how the Trump Administration’s chaotic tariff regime and insulting comments about our friends abroad make that harder, and will keep doing all that I can to urge them to stand up for the alliances that keep America safe.”
Photos of Kaine’s trip are available here.
Kaine traveled to Poland to:
Meet U.S. servicemembers stationed at the Logistical Support Area (LSA) in Jasionka, which has played a critical role in delivering security assistance to Ukraine since 2022.
Visit Remote Maintenance Distribution Cell-Ukraine, a U.S. Army sustainment initiative that provides direct maintenance and repair support to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Meet with Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijolek. Rzeszów was given the distinction of “Rescuer City” by President Zelenskyy in honor of the humanitarianism, charity, and solidarity it has offered the Ukrainian people. Kaine is a former mayor and the meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm U.S.-Polish cooperation on regional security, especially at the local level.
Meet with Head of the National Security Bureau Lt. General Dariusz Lukowski, Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz to discuss support for Ukraine and NATO.
Visit the POLIN Museum, which is dedicated to telling the history of Jewish life in Poland, including the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Movement of 1943, in which Jewish insurgents in the Nazi-created ghetto resisted German troops and police who entered it to deport its surviving inhabitants.
Then, Kaine traveled to Ukraine to:
Meet with David Arakhamia, a leader of the Servant of the People political party in the Verkhovna Rada, and Sergiv Boyev, Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration.
Visit wounded Ukrainian veterans undergoing rehabilitation treatment at a NextStep Ukraine facility. NextStep Ukraine offers prosthetics, brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation to veterans. The organization receives U.S. funding.
Tour the Kyiv Combined Heat and Power Plant No. 5, a major infrastructure site that supplies both electricity and heat to five districts of the city, to highlight U.S. support for energy infrastructure in Ukraine. The facility was severely impacted by Russian missile strikes in October 2022 and again in March 2023. USAID provided the funding and expertise to restore the plant’s operations.
Lay flowers at the Bucha Memorial that honors the civilians and prisoners of war killed by Russian forces during their occupation of the town in early 2022.
Lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, which honors the lives of thousands of soldiers and volunteers who have died defending Ukraine. The Wall of Remembrance was created through a collaboration between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, the National Military History Museum, and civic memory organizations.
Visit the site of the 1941 massacre at Babyn Yar, a ravine near Kyiv.
Meet with Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, a leading civil society coalition dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Ukraine and pursuing accountability for Russian war crimes.
Then, Kaine traveled to Germany to:
Meet with Norbert Röttgen, a member of the German Bundestag who has long led on German foreign affairs issues; Deputy Director-General of the German Ministry of Defense Major General Stefan Schulz; and the German State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Susanne Baumann.
Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a place of remembrance and commemoration for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
Visit United States European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart.
Visit U.S. servicemembers assigned to United States Air Force Europe and Special Operations Command Europe in Ramstein.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Iran ready for deal with US if national interests respected

Source: China State Council Information Office

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Iran is open to reaching an agreement with the United States in ongoing indirect talks, provided that the country’s national interests are preserved.

“In the negotiations with the United States, we are ready for an agreement within a defined framework and while ensuring our national interests,” Pezeshkian said during a meeting in Tehran.

“However, if they (U.S. representatives) refrain from negotiating with us on equal terms, we will continue on our own path,” the Iranian president warned.

He added that, as previously stated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran remains “neither optimistic nor pessimistic” about the negotiations.

Pezeshkian also reiterated that Tehran does not seek conflict but would resist any attempt at coercion. “We do not want confrontation with anyone, but we will not tolerate pressure or bullying,” he said.

His comments followed the second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States, held in Rome on Saturday with mediation from Oman. The first round took place in Muscat on April 12, and a third session is scheduled to be held in the Omani capital again this coming Saturday.

At a weekly news conference in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the removal of U.S. sanctions remained Iran’s principal demand in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump described the recent talks as “very good.” Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump said, “We had very good meetings actually on Iran,” adding, “The next step is we need a little time.”

The discussions came in the wake of a letter sent by Trump to Iran’s leadership in early March, proposing talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Trump later warned of military action should Iran reject his offer for talks.

Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with six world powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States — in 2015. Under the deal, Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

The United States, led by Trump during his first term, unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, prompting Iran to gradually reduce compliance with its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the agreement have not achieved substantial progress.

MIL OSI China News –

April 22, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Golding, Professor and Chair of the Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology

Lucasfilm Ltd™

Premiering today, the second and final season of Star Wars streaming show Andor seems destined to be one of the pop culture defining moments of the second Trump presidency.

Andor, which began airing in 2022, tells the story of the early days of the Rebel Alliance before the adventures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. The series is the most politically articulate of the Star Wars franchise.

Where older Star Wars entries focused on lightsaber battles and dogfights in space, Andor shows a world of political manifestos, fractious alliances between rebel groups, and surreptitious fundraising for revolution.

Season one of the show followed the political awakening of the titular Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), who progresses from troubled thief to total ideological commitment to fighting the Empire. The show also follows a covert revolutionary leader (Stellan Skarsgård), an ineffective politician who secretly finances the rebellion (Genevieve O’Reilly), and two Imperials manoeuvring for power (Denise Gough and Kyle Soller).

Showrunner Tony Gilroy has so far taken inspiration for Andor from a variety of real historical revolutionary events, from Stalin’s bank robbery in Tiflis of 1907 to the Baader-Meinhof group in West Germany.

Aesthetically, Andor has more in common with the political filmmaking of the likes of The Battle of Algiers (1966), the films of Costa-Gavras, or early Paul Greengrass than the central Flash Gordon-inspired Star Wars saga.

As authoritarian governments and conflicts loom large globally, the final season of Andor in 2025 is perfectly timed to articulate anxieties much closer to home than the galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars has always been political

Andor is far from the first time that Star Wars has captured the political zeitgeist. In fact, much of the franchise’s success stems from the way it provides us with a pop culture language to talk about politics.

In 2016, Trump’s first election win coincided with the release of Rogue One, the Star Wars precursor to Andor.

Within days, two Star Wars creatives made public comparisons between Trump and Rogue One’s villains, with writer Chris Weitz posting on Twitter “the Empire is a white supremacist (human) organization”. Writer Gary Whitta replied: “Opposed by a multi-cultural group led by brave women”.

They were officially reprimanded by the studio. “This is a film that the world should enjoy,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger at the time. “It is not a film that is, in any way, a political film.”

Under the ownership of a risk averse corporation like Disney, Star Wars is supposed to be family friendly, apolitical entertainment.

However, since its very conception, Star Wars has been political.

Inspired by anti-Vietnam war protests, director George Lucas described Darth Vader and the Empire as “Nixonian gangsters” in early drafts of the original film’s script. Lucas, who had developed Apocalypse Now before Francis Ford Coppola ultimately directed the film, has consistently claimed to have thought of the Rebel Alliance as similar to North Vietnamese fighters resisting United States forces.

When it came time for the prequel trilogy in the 2000s, Lucas told a story of democracy willingly falling to dictatorship (beginning with a trade war, something not lost on contemporary observers). In 2005, Lucas even had Darth Vader paraphrase George W. Bush.

It has also shaped politics. Scholars and critics like Andrew Britton and Robin Wood argued Star Wars was so escapist and disconnected from politics here on earth that it set the scene for Ronald Reagan’s good-versus-evil rhetoric.

A galaxy not so far away

It is precisely Star Wars’ apolitical image that gives it so much political utility. A series with such strong heroes and villains inevitably invites comparison.

Almost immediately after its release in 1977, Star Wars became a pop culture language for understanding politics.

When Maggie Thatcher won government in the United Kingdom on May 4 1979, the Conservative Party took out an advertisement in the London Evening News congratulating her with the words “May the Fourth Be With You”.

When Ronald Reagan proposed a “Strategic Defense Initiative” missile system in 1983, critics immediately and famously labelled it “Star Wars” (something Lucas tried unsuccessfully to stop). Reagan himself eventually joined in, too, claiming in a speech in 1985 that “the Force is with us”.

It is easy to find examples of politicians of all stripes being likened to Star Wars villains like Darth Vader (most enduring was Dick Cheney who claimed to not mind the comparison).

Composer John Williams’ Imperial March has even been played at protests as a way to antagonise opponents.

The enduring currency of the political language of Star Wars is in part due to its generalities. In any political conflict it helps to have a way to describe an archetypal evil puppet master (the Emperor), his henchman (Darth Vader), and the soulful heroes putting their lives on the line (the Jedi).

The real trick to Star Wars’ ongoing relevance, however, lies in its very real inspirations. Whether it is George W. Bush, the Viet Cong, or the Bolsheviks, Star Wars has time and again turned the specifics of political history into mythology.

At a time where many see global politics as having set the stage for the Empire to Strike Back, the final season of Andor may give many a language to articulate A New Hope.

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

– ref. Since its very conception, Star Wars has been political. Now Andor will take on Trump 2.0 – https://theconversation.com/since-its-very-conception-star-wars-has-been-political-now-andor-will-take-on-trump-2-0-254208

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 22, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Penny Van Bergen, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Education, Macquarie University

If you have a child born at the start of the year, you may be faced with a tricky and stressful decision. Do you send them to school “early”, in the year they turn five? Or do you “hold them back” and send them in the year they turn six?

Media reports refer to parents who want to “hold children back”. This is particularly the case for boys. Some parents express concerns boys may develop more slowly and school activities may favour girls.

Our new study surveyed Australian parents to understand their reasons for sending children to school early or on time or holding them back.

School entry in Australia

State regulations for the age of starting school vary across Australia, and between public, Catholic and independent schools.

Typically, however, children born in the first part of the year can be sent to school in either the year they turn five or the year they turn six. This can lead to big age caps in a school year level.

Public school cutoff dates are April 30 in Victoria, May 1 in South Australia, June 30 in Queensland and July 31 in New South Wales.

A 2019 study of more than 160,000 NSW students showed overall, 26% of children were held back, although there was variation between different regions. This is much higher than in many other countries. For example, delayed entry is as low as 5.5% in the United States and 6% in Germany.

Read more:
A push to raise the school starting age to 6 sounds like good news for parents, but there’s a catch

Our research

In our research published in Early Education and Development, we surveyed 226 Australian parents who had a choice about whether to send their child to school in the year they turned five or six. Parents were from a mix of states and recruited via social media and a variety of other media, including parenting magazines.

We found 29% of parents intended to send their child to school in the first year they were eligible and 66% planned to start later. About 5% were unsure. Consistent with trends in other countries, parents were almost four times as likely to report they intended to start boys later than girls.

There were five key factors guiding their decisions.

1. Money and work

One group of factors, which we labelled “practical realities”, meant parents were more likely to send a child on time or early.

This included high early childhood education costs (it is much cheaper to send a child to a government school than pay for daycare) and parents’ work demands (and the benefits of regular school hours). As one parent said:

School is a cheaper option for many parents and community preschool (which is cheaper, depending on the number of days) is not a practical option for many working families.

2. A child’s size

Parents also considered their child’s physical size relative to their peers. Other studies suggest parents worry smaller boys will be bullied and will struggle to demonstrate sporting prowess.

Reflecting on this trend, one parent said:

I would prefer that my child wasn’t starting school with children well over a year older just because other parents think boys need a bit more time to mature. They are then significantly older and bigger by then.

3. Social readiness

Another group of factors involved children’s social, emotional and behavioral readiness for school. This includes their ability to pay attention and sit still, follow instructions, regulate and manage emotions and show empathy and consideration for others.

One parent sending their child to school in the year they turn five said:

Our child will be fine […] He is able, social and confident and hopefully this will mean he will have a positive school experience irrespective of what year he starts.

Another who chose to hold their child back suggested:

I want my child to be introduced to formal schooling as late as possible to ensure his brain development and emotional regulation are mature enough to handle the transition.

4. Family time

Another set of reasons influencing parents’ decisions was a desire to spend time together with their child before formal schooling. As one parent said:

I always hear that no one ever regrets sending their child a bit later but they often regret sending early. I can afford for her to have an extra year of preschool and time at home and that is a luxury I acknowledge not everyone has.

5. Milestones

Parents also looked to the future and considered their child’s age relative to peers. This included when they would be starting high school or completing teenage milestones, such as driving, drinking, managing friendships and finishing school. This might explain why rates of holding children back vary by region. As one parent told us:

The people around me having a choice (and holding their children back) ended up influencing my choice. She [my daughter] could have started school but would have been in a peer group that had been held back.

What about academic concerns?

Interestingly, parents did not typically express academic concerns or motivations (such as a desire to see their child move ahead of others academically) as a factor in their decision. Indeed, as one parent said:

I have very strong beliefs about what school readiness means and for me it is much more than just being academically ready.

Although there is evidence older children have a developmental advantage over younger children when entering school, academic benefits dissipate over time. For example, older children do better on Year 3 and 5 NAPLAN numeracy and literacy tests, but benefits fade or disappear by Year 9.

What does this mean?

Our research suggests the reasons why parents start a child early or hold them back are complex – and very much based on the needs of individual families and children.

Taken together they suggest teachers not only need to accommodate a wide range of ages starting school but a sizeable portion of families who will have “delayed” school for a variety of personal reasons.

Penny Van Bergen receives funding from the ARC, Google and the Marsden Fund.

Naomi Sweller receives funding from the ARC.

Rebecca Andrews receives funding from NSW Department of Education and the Australian Children’s Early Childhood Quality Authority.

Anne McMaugh and Kay Bussey 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. Parents delay sending kids to school for social reasons and physical size. It’s not about academic advantage – https://theconversation.com/parents-delay-sending-kids-to-school-for-social-reasons-and-physical-size-its-not-about-academic-advantage-254076

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Zero Downtime, Full Transparency: UCFX Markets Raises the Industry Standard
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

London, UK, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a time when traders are demanding clarity, performance, and accountability, UCFX Markets has emerged as a beacon of trust, efficiency, and modern trading architecture. With its recent announcement of zero system downtime and full trade transparency, the platform is drawing praise from analysts, high-volume traders, and everyday investors alike.

This dual milestone—infrastructure reliability and complete visibility into trades, pricing, and fees—has elevated UCFX Markets into a category of its own, especially as global platforms continue to suffer from lag, withdrawal delays, and policy confusion. As noted in a series of recent independent UCFXMarkets reviews, the company is delivering not just promises, but measurable performance.

Technology That Doesn’t Sleep

Since the beginning of 2025, UCFX Markets has achieved and maintained 100% operational uptime, a metric that few competitors can match. During major market events—including January’s unexpected altcoin surge and March’s Bitcoin correction—the platform experienced no outages or slowdowns, enabling traders to enter, manage, and exit positions in real time without risk of system-related loss.

“Our clients never have to worry about platform failure during volatile conditions,” said a senior infrastructure engineer at UCFX Markets. “Whether they’re day-trading, swing-trading, or holding long-term, they know the system will be there. No blackout windows. No server crashes.”

This commitment to consistency has sparked a surge in UCFXMarkets reviews, particularly from traders who have grown frustrated with unreliable platforms that freeze or disconnect during peak demand hours.

Full Transparency: From Fees to Execution

Beyond stability, UCFX Markets is also setting the bar for transparency. Clients now have access to:
- Live trade audit logs
- Real-time spread visibility
- Instant fee breakdowns
- AI-generated trade rationale reports
This level of openness has resonated with both retail and professional traders, many of whom have spent years navigating platforms with hidden charges or unclear execution histories.

“Transparency builds trust. And in 2025, trust is everything,” said a spokesperson for UCFX Markets. “We believe that traders deserve to see exactly how every trade is processed—and exactly what it costs.”

According to one recent financial report, over 78% of new clients cited transparency and system stability as the key reasons for moving to the platform. This has led to an influx of glowing UCFXMarkets reviews from users across Europe, Australia, and Asia.

What Traders Are Saying

Below are four real-world testimonials from verified clients now actively trading with UCFX Markets:

Liam H. – Manchester, UK
“I’ve used at least six trading platforms in the past five years. None come close to the stability and transparency of UCFX Markets. I don’t have to guess what’s happening with my orders. Everything’s logged and clear. I’ve already written multiple UCFXMarkets reviews because they earned it.”

Amelia W. – Sydney, Australia
“During the last flash crash, my previous platform froze completely. I lost over $4,000. That’s when I switched to UCFX Markets. Their uptime is unmatched, and the risk monitoring tools helped me protect every position. Highly recommend.”

Jonas L. – Berlin, Germany
“As someone managing multiple accounts, transparency is non-negotiable. I’ve had platforms lock me out, delay withdrawals, or hide spreads. With UCFX Markets, it’s all laid out. Nothing hidden. My team and I now manage all of our trades here.”

Rachel T. – Toronto, Canada
“It’s the only platform I’ve used where everything works exactly as promised. From deposits to withdrawals to reporting—it’s seamless. I’ve shared UCFXMarkets reviews with friends and colleagues because people deserve better options in crypto trading.”

The Industry Takes Notice

UCFX Markets’ consistent execution and operational integrity have not gone unnoticed. Independent rating firms and fintech publications are beginning to highlight the platform as a rising force in crypto and forex, especially among self-managed traders, portfolio managers, and regulated institutional desks.

The company is also gaining attention for its no-nonsense approach to compliance, offering streamlined KYC processes that meet international standards without unnecessary delays or hurdles. Combined with its real-time trade audit tools, UCFX Markets is positioning itself as a regulation-ready alternative for both individual and enterprise clients.

Looking Ahead: Smarter, Safer, Faster

UCFX Markets’ roadmap for 2025 includes:
- Advanced AI-driven trade strategy modeling
- Multilingual, around-the-clock support based in EU and APAC
- Custom dashboard environments for fund managers and quant traders
- Launch of smart trading alerts integrated with mobile apps
These innovations are expected to further boost user satisfaction and enhance already glowing UCFXMarkets reviews seen across fintech communities and trust platforms.

Conclusion

In a market flooded with short-lived platforms and empty promises, UCFX Markets is raising the bar through performance, clarity, and total reliability. With zero downtime and fully transparent operations, it offers a clear path forward for traders who demand both trust and results.

The MIL Network –
April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Francis, a pope of many firsts: 5 essential reads

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Molly Jackson, Religion and Ethics Editor

A mourner holds a portrait of Pope Francis at the Basílica de San José de Flores in Buenos Aires, a church where the pope worshipped in his youth. AP Photo/Gustavo Garello

Pope Francis, whose papacy blended tradition with pushes for inclusion and reform, died on April, 21, 2025 – Easter Monday – at the age of 88.

Here we spotlight five stories from The Conversation’s archive about his roots, faith, leadership and legacy.

1. A Jesuit pope

Jorge Mario Bergoglio became a pope of many firsts: the first modern pope from outside Europe, the first whose papal name honors St. Francis of Assisi, and the first Jesuit – a Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century.

Those Jesuit roots shed light on Pope Francis’ approach to some of the world’s most pressing problems, argues Timothy Gabrielli, a theologian at the University of Dayton.

Gabrielli highlights the Jesuits’ “Spiritual Exercises,” which prompt Catholics to deepen their relationship with God and carefully discern how to respond to problems. He argues that this spiritual pattern of looking beyond “presenting problems” to the deeper roots comes through in Francis’ writings, shaping the pope’s response to everything from climate change and inequality to clerical sex abuse.

Read more:
Francis is the first Jesuit pope – here’s how that has shaped his 10-year papacy

2. LGBTQ+ issues

Early on in his papacy, Francis famously told an interviewer, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” Over the years, he has repeatedly called on Catholics to love LGBTQ+ people and spoken against laws that target them.

An LGBTQ couple embrace after a pastoral worker blesses them at a Catholic church in Germany, in defiance of practices approved by Rome.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

But “Francis’ inclusiveness is not actually radical,” explains Steven Millies, a scholar at the Catholic Theological Union. “His remarks generally correspond to what the church teaches and calls on Catholics to do,” without changing doctrine – such as that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

Rather, Francis’ comments “express what the Catholic Church says about human dignity,” Millies writes. “Francis is calling on Catholics to take note that they should be concerned about justice for all people.”

Read more:
It shouldn’t seem so surprising when the pope says being gay ‘isn’t a crime’ – a Catholic theologian explains

3. Asking forgiveness

At times, Francis did something that was once unthinkable for a pope: He apologized.

He was not the first pontiff to do so, however. Pope John Paul II declared a sweeping “Day of Pardon” in 2000, asking forgiveness for the church’s sins, and Pope Benedict XVI apologized to victims of sexual abuse. During Francis’ papacy, he acknowledged the church’s historic role in Canada’s residential school system for Indigenous children and apologized for abuses in the system.

But what does it mean for a pope to say, “I’m sorry”?

Members of the Assembly of First Nations perform in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on March 31, 2022, ahead of an Indigenous delegation’s meeting with Pope Francis.
AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

Annie Selak, a theologian at Georgetown University, unpacks the history and significance of papal apologies, which can speak for the entire church, past and present. Often, she notes, statements skirt an actual admission of wrongdoing.

Still, apologies “do say something important,” Selak writes. A pope “apologizes both to the church and on behalf of the church to the world. These apologies are necessary starting points on the path to forgiveness and healing.”

Read more:
Pope Francis apologized for the harm done to First Nations peoples, but what does a pope’s apology mean?

4. A church that listens

Many popes convene meetings of the Synod of Bishops to advise the Vatican on church governance. But under Francis, these gatherings took on special meaning.

The Synod on Synodality was a multiyear, worldwide conversation where Catholics could share concerns and challenges with local church leaders, informing the topics synod participants would eventually discuss in Rome. What’s more, the synod’s voting members included not only bishops but lay Catholics – a first for the church.

Participants arrive for a vigil prayer led by Pope Francis and other religious leaders before the 2023 Synod of Bishops assembly.
Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The process “pictures the Catholic Church not as a top-down hierarchy but rather as an open conversation,” writes University of Dayton religious studies scholar Daniel Speed Thompson – one in which everyone in the church has a voice and listens to others’ voices.

Read more:
The worldwide consultations for the global synod reflect Pope Francis’ efforts toward building a more inclusive Catholic Church

5. Global dance

In 2024, University of Notre Dame professor David Lantigua had a cup of maté tea with some “porteños,” as people from Buenos Aires are known. They shared a surprising take on the Argentine pope: “a theologian of the tango.”

Pope Francis drinks maté, the national beverage of Argentina, in St. Peter’s Square on his birthday on Dec. 17, 2014.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

Francis does love the dance – in 2014, thousands of Catholics tangoed in St. Peter’s Square to honor his birthday. But there’s more to it, Lantigua explains. Francis’ vision for the church was “based on relationships of trust and solidarity,” like a pair of dance partners. And part of his task as pope was to “tango” with all the world’s Catholics, carefully navigating culture wars and an increasingly diverse church.

Francis was “less interested in ivory tower theology than the faith of people on the streets,” where Argentina’s beloved dance was born.

Read more:
At 88, Pope Francis dances the tango with the global Catholic Church amid its culture wars

This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

– ref. Francis, a pope of many firsts: 5 essential reads – https://theconversation.com/francis-a-pope-of-many-firsts-5-essential-reads-250500

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Joel Hodge, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, Australian Catholic University

Pope Francis has died on Easter Monday, aged 88, the Vatican announced. The head of the Catholic Church had recently survived being hospitalised with a serious bout of double pneumonia.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell’s announcement began:

Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.

There were many unusual aspects of Pope Francis’ papacy. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas (and the southern hemisphere), the first to choose the name “Francis” and the first to give a TED talk. He was also the first pope in more than 600 years to be elected following the resignation, rather than death, of his predecessor.

From the very start of his papacy, Francis seemed determined to do things differently and present the papacy in a new light. Even in thinking about his burial, he chose the unexpected: to be placed to rest not in the Vatican, but in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome – the first pope to be buried there in more than 300 years.

Vatican News reported the late Pope Francis had requested his funeral rites be simplified.

“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

Straddling a line between “progressive” and “conservative”, Francis experienced tension with both sides. In doing so, his papacy shone a spotlight on what it means to be Catholic today.

The day before his death, Pope Francis made a brief appearance on Easter Sunday to bless the crowds at St Peter’s Square.

Between a rock and a hard place

Francis was deemed not progressive enough by some, yet far too progressive by others.

His apostolic exhortation (an official papal teaching on a particular issue or action) Amoris Laetitia, ignited great controversy for seemingly being (more) open to the question of whether people who have divorced and remarried may receive Eucharist.

He also disappointed progressive Catholics, many of whom hoped he would make stronger changes on issues such as the roles of women, married clergy, and the broader inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Catholics.

The reception of his exhortation Querida Amazonia was one such example. In this document, Francis did not endorse marriage for priests, despite bishops’ requests for this. He also did not allow the possibility of women being ordained as deacons to address a shortage of ordained ministers. His discerning spirit saw there was too much division and no clear consensus for change.

Francis was also openly critical of Germany’s controversial
“Synodal Way” – a series of conferences with bishops and lay people – that advocated for positions contrary to Church teachings. Francis expressed concern on multiple occasions that this project was a threat to the unity of the Church.

At the same time, Francis was no stranger to controversy from the conservative side of the Church, receiving “dubia” or “theological doubts” over his teaching from some of his Cardinals. In 2023, he took the unusual step of responding to some of these doubts.

Impact on the Catholic Church

In many ways, the most striking thing about Francis was not his words or theology, but his style. He was a modest man, even foregoing the Apostolic Palace’s grand papal apartments to live in the Vatican’s simpler guest house.

He may well be remembered most for his simplicity of dress and habits, his welcoming and pastoral style and his wise spirit of discernment.

He is recognised as giving a clear witness to the life, love and joy of Jesus in the spirit of the Second Vatican Council – a point of major reform in modern Church history. This witness has translated into two major developments in Church teachings and life.

Love for our common home

The first of these relates to environmental teachings. In 2015, Francis released his ground-breaking encyclical, Laudato si’: On Care for Our Common Home. It expanded Catholic social teaching by giving a comprehensive account of how the environment reflects our God-given “common home”.

Consistent with recent popes such as Benedict XVI and John Paul II, Francis acknowledged climate change and its destructive impacts and causes. He summarised key scientific research to forcefully argue for an evidence-based approach to addressing humans’ impact on the environment.

He also made a pivotal and innovative contribution to the climate change debate by identifying the ethical and spiritual causes of environmental destruction.

Francis argued combating climate change relied on the “ecological conversion” of the human heart, so that people may recognise the God-given nature of our planet and the fundamental call to care for it. Without this conversion, pragmatic and political measures wouldn’t be able to counter the forces of consumerism, exploitation and selfishness.

Francis argued a new ethic and spirituality was needed. Specifically, he said Jesus’ way of love – for other people and all creation – is the transformative force that could bring sustainable change for the environment and cultivate fraternity among people (and especially with the poor).

Synodality: moving towards a Church that listens

Francis’s second major contribution, and one of the most significant aspects of his papacy, was his commitment to “synodality”. While there’s still confusion over what synodality actually means, and its potential for political distortion, it is above all a way of listening and discerning through openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It involves hierarchy and lay people transparently and honestly discerning together, in service of the mission of the church. Synodality is as much about the process as the goal. This makes sense as Pope Francis was a Jesuit, an order focused on spreading Catholicism through spiritual formation and discernment.

Drawing on his rich Jesuit spirituality, Francis introduced a way of conversation centred on listening to the Holy Spirit and others, while seeking to cultivate friendship and wisdom.

With the conclusion of the second session of the Synod on Synodality in October 2024, it is too soon to assess its results. However, those who have been involved in synodal processes have reported back on their transformative potential.

Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge, explained how participating in the 2015 Synod “was an extraordinary experience [and] in some ways an awakening”.

Catholicism in the modern age

Francis’ papacy inspired both great joy and aspirations, as well as boiling anger and rejection. He laid bare the agonising fault lines within the Catholic community and struck at key issues of Catholic identity, triggering debate over what it means to be Catholic in the world today.

He leaves behind a Church that seems more divided than ever, with arguments, uncertainty and many questions rolling in his wake. But he has also provided a way for the Church to become more converted to Jesus’ way of love, through synodality and dialogue.

Francis showed us that holding labels such as “progressive” or “conservative” won’t enable the Church to live out Jesus’ mission of love – a mission he emphasised from the very beginning of his papacy.

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. Pope Francis has died, aged 88. These were his greatest reforms – and controversies – https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-has-died-aged-88-these-were-his-greatest-reforms-and-controversies-229111

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 21, 2025

Category: Germany

Chart 1

What do the four different indicators show?

Table 1

Table 2

Mixed push factors

The way forward

Mixed push factors

The way forward

Aid to Gaza: E3 foreign ministers’ statement, 23 April 2025

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PM remarks at St George’s Day reception: 22 April 2025

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Chart 1

What do the four different indicators show?

Table 1

Table 2

Mixed push factors

The way forward

An unlikely candidate

The top papabili

One tough act to follow

An unlikely candidate

The top papabili

One tough act to follow

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1. Money and work

2. A child’s size

3. Social readiness

4. Family time

5. Milestones

What about academic concerns?

What does this mean?

1. A Jesuit pope

2. LGBTQ+ issues

3. Asking forgiveness

4. A church that listens

5. Global dance

Between a rock and a hard place

Impact on the Catholic Church

Love for our common home

Synodality: moving towards a Church that listens

Catholicism in the modern age