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Category: Germany

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Billions of euro in cash sent from EU banks to Russia before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine – E-001344/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001344/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Tomáš Zdechovský (PPE)

    According to a recent investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Süddeutsche Zeitung, Western banks – particularly those based in Germany and Austria – transferred billions of euro in cash to Russia in the period immediately preceding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Deutsche Bank alone is reported to have sent over EUR 2 billion in cash to Russia in 2022. These transfers, allegedly driven by the demand of Western companies for Russian roubles, may have contributed to stabilising the Russian economy and currency just as the EU was imposing sweeping sanctions on Moscow.

    Given that the EU has maintained a sanctions regime against Russia since 2014, and that it significantly strengthened this following the 2022 invasion, these transfers give rise to serious concerns about their compatibility with both the letter and the spirit of EU sanctions.

    I therefore ask:

    • 1.Was the Commission informed in advance about these cash transfers to Russia, and does it consider them compatible with the EU sanctions framework?
    • 2.Has the Commission investigated whether these transfers may have helped the Russian Government finance military operations or circumvent EU financial sanctions?
    • 3.What measures does the Commission intend to take to prevent future sanctions circumvention through legal but highly problematic financial operations?

    Submitted: 2.4.2025

    Last updated: 15 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Statements by former Commissioner Thierry Breton on the upcoming parliamentary elections in Germany: a threat to democracy – E-000414/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission will not comment about statements made by former Commissioners in their private capacity.

    The Commission has no powers to intervene in national elections. The conduct and the organisation of elections, and any decisions related to the electoral process, are the competence and responsibility of the Member States, in accordance with their national legislation, international obligations and applicable EU law. National authorities and courts are primarily responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable rules.

    Free and fair elections are at the core of democracy. The Commission supports Member States on electoral matters, notably through the framework of the European Cooperation Network on Elections, which brings together national authorities with competences in electoral matters and facilitates the exchanges of information and best practices.

    The Commission is also working with Member States to support the application of EU law provisions which are relevant in national electoral contexts in the EU, such as the Digital Services Act[1], Regulation 2024/900 on the transparency and targeting of political advertising[2] (which will apply in full from October 2025), the General Data Protection Regulation[3] and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act[4] (if AI is used to influence the outcome of an election).

    In 2023, the Commission published a recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union[5].

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2065 In 2024, the Commission issued Guidelines for providers of Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines on the mitigation of systemic risks for electoral processes, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52024XC03014&qid=1714466886277
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/900/oj/eng
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj/eng
    • [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng
    • [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reco/2023/2829/oj/eng
    Last updated: 15 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why does Putin insist Ukranians and Russians are ‘one people’? The answer spans centuries of colonisation and resistance

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

    Russian president Vladimir Putin does not seem interested in peace: Sunday’s missile strike on Sumy, the worst civilian attack this year, proves he is determined to expand into Ukraine at any cost.

    This is a war of ideas, narratives and myths – one that can be traced to the mid-1500s, when Ivan the Terrible, Grand Duke of Muscovy declared himself the first “tsar” of all Russia.

    As part of his quest for power, Ivan the Terrible challenged King Sigismund I of Poland, who as Duke of Rus, ruled over territories that now comprise parts of modern-day Ukraine.

    Russian rulers have often repurposed history to build their power, according to historian Orlando Figes. Putin wrote a well known essay in 2021 that called Russians and Ukrainians “one people”. He was relying on old beliefs that Russia has the right to “restore” or reunite lands it once ruled.

    Ukraine has survived bans on its language, forced assimilation policies, and famines like the Holodomor, orchestrated by Stalin in the 1930s. The country declared independence from Russia in 1991. Now, teachers, artists and local leaders have joined soldiers in resisting Russia.

    Empire and a holy mission

    A broad expanse of the former medieval kingdom of Kyivan Rus incorporated territories in present-day Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, including Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. From 1386 until 1772, the majority of these lands came under the rule of Poland-Lithuania, governed by the Lithuanian Jagiellon dynasty, and their successors.

    Today, Russia often points to Kyivan Rus (which lasted from the 9th to the 13th century), claiming it is reuniting these ancient lands, as Ivan the Terrible claimed in the mid-1500s.

    Grand Duchy of Lithuania, ruled by the Jagiellon dynasty in the 13th to 15th centuries.
    Wikipedia, CC BY

    In 1547, Ivan declared Muscovy a tsardom and Moscow to be the “Third Rome” – in other words, the latest centre of true Christianity, after Rome and Constantinople. This idea made conquest seem like a holy mission. By the late 1700s, the Russian Empire had destroyed Poland-Lithuania in a series of territorial annexations and wars. It had spread far to the south and east, and now bordered with Prussia and Austria.

    Ukraine, with its rich farmland and cultural connection to Kyivan Rus, was a top prize. Russian leaders called Ukraine “Malorossiya”, or “Little Russia”, to claim it was just a small part of a larger, Russian whole. They banned Ukrainian-language publications, forced the Orthodox Church of Ukraine to answer to Moscow, and tried to stamp out any sense of a separate Ukrainian identity.

    However, Ukraine developed its own cultural identity, shaped by its Cossack traditions, its history under Polish–Lithuanian rule, and its separate experiences. Many Ukrainians argue their culture existed long before Muscovy evolved into an empire.

    Winter Scene in Little Russia.
    Ivan Constantinovich Aivazovsky/Wikimedia Commons

    Meanwhile, Russia had expanded into its next-door neighbours, then pretended these lands had always been part of Russia. Historian Alexander Etkind calls this process “internal colonisation”. This strategy helped Russia become a vast empire. But it also built lasting resentment, particularly in Ukraine.

    Famine and ‘fascists’

    The Soviet Union (USSR), established in 1922 in the wake of the successful Bolshevik Coup in 1917, claimed to be a union of equal republics. But in practice, Moscow stayed firmly in control.

    Ukraine had the label of “Soviet Republic”, but had little genuine independence. Soviet leaders demanded enormous amounts of grain, coal, and labour from Ukraine to support the rest of the USSR.

    A postcard printed in Germany by Ukrainian Youth Association for the 15th anniversary of Holodomor, 1933.
    Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    One of the darkest periods in Ukrainian history was the Holodomor, an orchestrated famine that spanned 1932–33, in which millions of Ukrainians died of hunger, after Stalin’s government seized huge amounts of grain from farmers. These policies aimed to break Ukrainian resistance and nationalist feelings.

    The Holodomor was an act of genocide against Ukrainians, though Russia disputes this interpretation.

    After World War II, the Soviet Union took over the Baltic states and parts of Poland, including regions now in western Ukraine. Although Ukraine became one of the more industrialised parts of the USSR, genuine displays of Ukrainian culture or independent thought were often met with harsh punishment. People who spoke out were labelled “fascists”, a term still used in Russia’s modern propaganda.

    Starved peasants on a street in Kharkiv during the famine.
    Widener Library, Harvard University

    Reclaiming Ukraine

    The USSR fell apart in 1991. Ukraine, along with other former Soviet republics, became independent nations. This was a major blow to Russia’s idea of itself as a world empire. For centuries, Moscow had seen Ukraine as central to its identity.

    The 1990s brought tough economic reforms and political changes in Russia. Then Vladimir Putin rose to power in the early 2000s, promising to restore Russia’s influence. He described the former Soviet states as the “near abroad”, suggesting Moscow still had special rights over these regions.

    In 2008, Russia went to war with Georgia. After winning, it recognised two breakaway provinces in Georgia, effectively keeping troops there.

    In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, claiming it was protecting Russian speakers. It also backed separatists in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. The United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 68/262 in March 2014, declaring Russia’s annexation of Crimea illegal. The Kremlin continued its policies regardless.

    ‘Denazifying’ Ukraine?

    In February 2022, Russia expanded the conflict by launching an invasion of Ukraine. It described its actions as a mission to “denazify” the country, accusing Ukraine’s government of being controlled by Nazis – although president Zelenskyy has Jewish heritage.

    There was no evidence to support these claims. Still, Russian leaders used these slogans to justify their aggressive push. They also spoke of “traditional values” and “Orthodox unity”, painting themselves as defenders of a shared Slavic culture.

    The military objective was to capture the Donbas completely, create a land bridge to Crimea, and maybe advance further to Transnistria in Moldova, a pro-Russian separatist region.

    What Russia hoped would be a quick victory has become a long, brutal conflict. For many Ukrainians, independence is more than just avoiding control by Moscow. It is about creating a society built on democracy, human rights and ties to Europe.

    These values inspired the Euromaidan protests in Kyiv in 2013–14, where demonstrators demanded less corruption and closer links to the European Union. Russia used these protests to justify seizing Crimea in 2014.

    A message of self-determination

    The Kremlin’s insistence that Ukrainians and Russians are the same mirrors the older imperial model: expand, absorb and claim these territories were always part of Russia. Breaking free from this “mental empire” demands a deep shift in how Russians, Ukrainians, and the world view Eastern Europe’s past and present.

    When the Soviet Union collapsed, many hoped for a new era of cooperation in Eastern Europe. Instead, authoritarian politics and old beliefs about empire have led to a devastating conflict.

    By refusing to be pulled back into Russia’s orbit, Ukrainians send a message about self-determination. They reject the claim bigger nations can absorb smaller ones simply by invoking a shared past.

    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. Why does Putin insist Ukranians and Russians are ‘one people’? The answer spans centuries of colonisation and resistance – https://theconversation.com/why-does-putin-insist-ukranians-and-russians-are-one-people-the-answer-spans-centuries-of-colonisation-and-resistance-253043

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 Finance Ministers set to meet in US

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Group of Twenty (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors are set to convene a two-day meeting on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings, taking place in the United States, later this month.

    The G20 is an international forum of both developing and developed countries, which seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues. 

    This meeting is part of the Finance Track under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, which will gather Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of G20 member countries, invited countries, and international organisations to discuss global economic challenges, financial stability, and policies aimed at fostering economic growth. 

    South Africa’s G20 Presidency commenced on 1 December 2024 and will run until 30 November 2025. It is taking place under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”

    The Finance Track is co-chaired by Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, and South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago. 

    G20 members include the world’s major economies, representing 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.

    The G20 comprises 19 countries (including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the European Union, and since 2023, the African Union.

    The two-day meeting will take place from 23-24 April 2025, in Washington, D.C.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: London Sudan Conference: Foreign Secretary opening remarks

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    London Sudan Conference: Foreign Secretary opening remarks

    The Foreign Secretary delivered opening remarks at the London Sudan conference.

    Two years on from this war starting, with frontlines shifting again, I fear many onlookers feel a sense of déjà vu. The country’s fraught history also means that some conclude that further conflict is effectively inevitable.

    Many have given up on Sudan. That is wrong. It’s morally wrong when we see so many civilians beheaded, infants as young as one subjected to sexual violence, more people facing famine than anywhere else in the world.

    We simply cannot look away. And as I speak, civilians and aid workers in El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp are facing unimaginable violence.

    With over four million refugees having fled the country, and instability spreading far beyond Sudan’s border, it’s also strategically wrong to forget Sudan. And that’s why, as Foreign Secretary, I refused to turn away. I felt a duty to confront this war’s horrors head on.

    I have been to the Sudanese border and met with survivors. I have called out attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers in the United Nations.

    And I have doubled our aid to Sudan, and today I am announcing a further £120 million worth of support. But the biggest obstacle is not a lack of funding or texts at the United Nations, it’s lack of political will.

    Very simply, we have got to persuade the warring parties to protect civilians, to let aid in and across the country and to put peace first.

    And so we do need patient diplomacy. Bringing together this group today, focusing of course on the areas where we agree and building out from there is very very important today, indeed. Today’s goal is then to do just that. We all want to see Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity upheld.

    We all want to see a united state, with functioning institutions. We all want to see Sudan’s civilians protected, and the millions of displaced people able to return to their homes.

    This is a strong basis to agree the steps needed then to relieve suffering and to end this awful war. I hope across our three sessions, we can agree a set of principles for our future diplomatic engagement.

    When I met with Sudanese refugees in Chad I was frankly humbled by their resilience.  In the face of unimaginable trauma, they had not given up on their country or the communities around them.

    For their sake, we cannot resign ourselves to inevitable conflict. We cannot be back here one year from now, having the same discussion. So today, let’s show them and the world we have not given up on them. We have not given up on Sudan.

    I am hugely grateful for the support from the African Union, and to my colleagues from France, Germany and the EU in supporting the shared endeavour.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMERICA/PARAGUAY – Appointment of vicar apostolic of Pilcomayo

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Tuesday, 15 April 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Miguel Fritz, O.M.I., until now apostolic administrator of Pilcomayo, Paraguay, as vicar apostolic of the same apostolic vicariate.The Reverend Fr. Miguel Fritz, O.M.I., was born on 10 May 1955 in Hannover, Germany. He obtained a diploma in theology from the Gutenberg University of Mainz and a licentiate in anthropology from the Universidad Politécnica Salesiana of Quito.He gave his perpetual vows in 1980 and was ordained a priest on 28 May 1981.He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (1981-1984), deputy parish priest in Colonia Independencia, diocese of Villarrica del Espíritu Santo (1985-1987), service in the O.M.I. House of Formation in Lambaré, Asunción (1987-1988), deputy parish priest of Santa María, in the apostolic vicariate of Pilcomayo (1988-1994), vicar general of Pilcomayo and parish priest of Santa María (1995-2006), superior of the O.M.I. in the province of Paraguay (2007-2010), member of the O.M.I. General Council at the General House in Rome (2010-2016), and vicar general of Pilcomayo and parish priest of San Leonardo (2016-2022).Since 2022, he has served as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the apostolic vicariate of Pilcomayo. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 15/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Albanian authorities make social media work for youth crime prevention at OSCE workshop

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Albanian authorities make social media work for youth crime prevention at OSCE workshop

    Participants in an OSCE workshop on leveraging social media for youth crime prevention in Tirana, 14 April 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    Representatives from Albanian authorities joined child-protection specialists and young people in Tirana on 14–15 April to explore how social media can be used to prevent youth involvement in crime. The workshop was organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, in co-operation with the OSCE Presence in Albania.
    “Social media can be a powerful tool for prevention,” said Klaudia Hasanllari, Director of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Center under Albania’s Ministry of Justice. “It helps de-glamorize criminal lifestyles, highlight positive alternatives, and amplify the voices of people who’ve left that life behind, as well as youth thought leaders.”
    The workshop brought together 40 participants, including professionals from the justice, law enforcement, health, social services, child protection, anti-corruption and education sectors, alongside young people themselves. They discussed current trends in youth crime, such as how criminal groups use social media for recruitment, and examined ways to turn these platforms into tools for awareness, prevention and resilience-building.
    The event also aimed to lay the groundwork for a targeted social media awareness campaign on youth crime prevention in Albania. Participants explored how to shape compelling messages, identify the right audiences, and choose the most effective online platforms. A strong emphasis was placed on involving young people in promoting a culture of integrity online.
    The workshop is part of the multi-year OSCE extrabudgetary project “Enhancing youth crime and drug use prevention through education on legality and awareness campaigns addressing threats of organized crime and corruption” funded by Italy. Other donors supporting this project are Andorra, Finland, Germany, Norway and Poland.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint Statement: 16th Ukraine Defence Contact Group – National Armaments Directors Format

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Joint Statement: 16th Ukraine Defence Contact Group – National Armaments Directors Format

    Joint Statement from Ukraine, Germany and the United Kingdom, co-chairs of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG).

    MOD Crown Copyright.

    On Friday 11 April the National Armaments Directors (NADs) from over 40 nations met at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. They were supported by multiple international government organisations.

    They agreed to ensure that the commitments made in the UDCG Ministerial Format are rapidly converted into contracts with industry and the tangible delivery of support to Ukraine to ensure Ukraine is able to sustain the resolute defence of her sovereignty and her people and negotiate a lasting and secure peace.

    MOD Crown Copyright.

    The UDCG NAD Format, co-chaired by Ukraine, Germany and the UK and building on the work of the US since its inception, will report its progress to the June ministerial meeting.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 April 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Intermex Empowers Store Owners With Launch of Intermex SOMA: A Game-Changing Mobile App for Business Management on the Go

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Money Express, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMXI), a leading money remittance provider to Latin America and the Caribbean, has officially launched a new mobile platform designed to give Intermex agents real-time visibility into their business, right from the palm of their hand.

    Intermex SOMA, short for Store Owner Management App, was built with one goal in mind: to make life easier for store owners. With just a few taps, agents can now track performance metrics, monitor commissions, stay updated on deals with real-time alerts, and even connect directly with their Intermex teams. It’s fast, intuitive, and created specifically to meet the day-to-day needs of our agent partners, most of whom are small business owners juggling multiple responsibilities.

    “At Intermex, we believe technology should work for our partners, not the other way around,” said Marcelo Theodoro, Chief Product, Marketing & Digital Officer at Intermex. “Intermex SOMA is our way of saying, ‘We see you. We hear you. And we’re building tools that make your life easier and your business stronger.’ It’s all about giving our agents more control, more clarity, and more convenience.”

    The Intermex SOMA app provides a simple yet powerful dashboard, offering monthly-to-date (MTD), year-to-date (YTD), month-over-month (MoM), and year-over-year (YoY) performance views, so agents can better understand how their Intermex services are performing. Instant push notifications alert them of important activity, while built-in contact features make it easy to get the support they need when they need it. Intermex SOMA takes everything that used to require a call, a spreadsheet, or a visit and puts it in one streamlined mobile experience.

    Intermex SOMA reflects a broader commitment from Intermex to innovate with purpose. The launch is a major step forward in the company’s digitization and omnichannel strategies. And this is only the beginning. Future updates will expand Intermex SOMA’s functionality even further, offering tools for managing deals, accessing marketing materials, and unlocking new service features.

    About International Money Express, Inc. (Intermex):
    Founded in 1994, Intermex applies proprietary technology to enable consumers to send money from the United States, Canada, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany to more than 60 countries. The company facilitates digital money movement through its website and mobile app, as well as through a vast network of retail agents and company-operated stores. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Intermex also operates international offices in Puebla, Mexico; Guatemala City, Guatemala; London, England; and Madrid, Spain. Learn more at www.intermexonline.com.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Alex Sadowski
    Investor Relations Coordinator
    ir@intermexusa.com
    305-671-8000

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LyondellBasell advances sustainability leadership in 2024 Sustainability Report: From Vision to Value

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB), a global leader in the chemical industry, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, demonstrating significant progress in circular and low-carbon solutions, climate action and operational excellence.

    “At LYB, sustainability is an opportunity to reimagine the future and create long-term value,” said Peter Vanacker, CEO of LyondellBasell. “Our 2024 report, ‘From Vision to Value,’ highlights how we are rethinking the status quo and accelerating progress towards a circular and low-carbon future by investing in innovative technologies, strengthening collaborations, and embedding sustainability into our core strategy.”

    2024 sustainability highlights:

    • Value Enhancement Program (VEP) success: The company’s employee-driven VEP initiative unlocked a cumulative $800 million in recurring annual EBITDA and generated estimated annual carbon emissions reductions of 310,000 metric tons.
    • Advancing the circular economy: LYB increased volumes of recycled and renewable-based polymers by 65% to over 200,000 metric tons, progressing toward its 2030 goal of producing and marketing 2 million metric tons annually and capturing incremental EBITDA of more than $1 billion1.
    • MoReTec-1 construction underway: To meet the rising demand for circular polymers, the company broke ground on its first commercial-scale chemical recycling plant in Wesseling, Germany, to convert hard-to-recycle plastic waste into new raw materials, including for contact-sensitive packaging.
    • Reducing carbon emissions: In Q1 2025, LYB safely completed the shutdown of refining operations at its Houston refinery. This will reduce annual Scope 3 emissions by approximately 40 million metric tons.
    • Renewable energy expansion: New power purchase agreements (PPAs) secured in 2024 will enable LYB to meet its target of sourcing at least 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
    • Safety excellence: Out of over 90+ LYB manufacturing sites, 70 achieved GoalZERO, 72 were injury-free and the company achieved its second lowest-ever total recordable incident rate (0.127).
    • Strategic growth & investments: The company acquired APK AG, adding Newcycling technology to its portfolio for solution-based recycling of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste.
    • Sustainability recognition: Ranked first among plastics producers in BloombergNEF’s 2024 circular economy company rankings and retained its AA ESG rating from MSCI.

    “As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our commitment to sustainability and innovation. Our investments in circular and low-carbon solutions, along with our dedication to safety and operational excellence, will drive our progress toward achieving our 2030 and 2050 goals. We are transforming our vision into lasting value, ensuring that we create meaningful impact for our customers, shareholders and society.” – Peter Vanacker, CEO, LyondellBasell

    For more details, read the 2024 Sustainability Report at www.lyondellbasell.com. 

    About LyondellBasell

    We are LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) ― a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors, and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Nick Facchin

    Sr. Manager, Executive Communications and Media Relations

    Phone: +1 713 309 4791

    Email: nick.facchin@lyondellbasell.com

    __________________________________________________

    1 Incremental to LyondellBasell’s fossil-based O&P Americas and O&P EAI annual EBITDA

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hasan Ismaik Opens Strategic Investment Opportunity in Germany’s Historic TSV 1860 Munich

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Billionaire businessman and Chairman of HAMIC Group, Hasan Abdullah Ismaik, has announced that he is currently reviewing multiple acquisition offers for his stake in TSV 1860 Munich, one of Germany’s most iconic football clubs. The move marks a significant strategic opportunity for global investors seeking to be part of a legacy brand with strong cultural roots and untapped growth potential.

    Founded over 165 years ago, TSV 1860 Munich holds a celebrated place in German football history, having won the Bundesliga championship in 1966. The club is deeply embedded in the spirit of the city of Munich and enjoys a wide and loyal fan base, with its distinctive blue representing more than just sport—it represents identity, pride, and tradition.

    In an exclusive interview with Germany’s ARD TV channel, Ismaik stated:
    “We have received several compelling offers from investors who recognize the unique potential of 1860 Munich. We are currently evaluating the best option to ensure the club’s long-term growth and global positioning.”

    Ismaik emphasized the club’s solid foundation and remarkable capacity for expansion, noting that with a strategic investment of €300 million, TSV 1860 Munich has the potential to exceed a €2 billion market valuation in the near future.

    This development follows over a decade of successful stewardship under Ismaik, whose early investment in 2011 helped stabilize the club financially. His involvement has safeguarded its heritage and positioned it for a new era of ambitious transformation.

    In closing, Ismaik shared a powerful message of optimism:
    “We know that lions rest for long periods—but the time has come to awaken them.”

    Visit our website: www.HAMIC.com

    For more information, please contact:

    PR@hamic.com

    +971582913443

    Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/hamicgroup/

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6ac6ea67-ca0e-427b-8847-d2cbc7f90b0b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Automotive Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 15 APR 2025 3:13PM by PIB Delhi

     

    Key Takeaways

     

    • India contributes 7.1% to global GDP through its automotive sector and ranks 4th in global vehicle production.
    • Despite a strong manufacturing base, India holds only 3% share in global traded auto components, highlighting a vast scope for expansion.
    • The Vision 2030 roadmap aims to scale production to $145bn, exports to $60bn, and generate 2–2.5 million jobs.
    • Government schemes like FAME, PM E-Drive, and PLI have mobilized ₹66,000+ crore to support EVs and localization.
    • With targeted reforms and GVC integration, India can raise its global component trade share from 3% to 8% by 2030.

     

     

    On 11th April 2024, NITI Aayog released a report titled ‘Automotive Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains’, launched by Vice Chairman Shri Suman Bery, senior members, and the CEO of NITI Aayog. The report outlines India’s Global Value Chain (GVC) potential in the automotive sector and highlights strategic pathways for global leadership.

    India’s automotive industry is a cornerstone of the nation’s manufacturing and economic growth, contributing 7.1% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 49% to manufacturing GDP. As the fourth-largest automobile producer globally, India possesses the scale and strategic depth to emerge as a global leader in the automotive value chain. The sector spans a vast ecosystem, from vehicle assembly and auto component manufacturing to deep interlinkages with critical industries such as steel, electronics, rubber, IT, and logistics. In recent years, India has seen exponential growth in vehicle production, with over 28 million units manufactured in 2023–24 alone. The industry’s contribution goes beyond industrial output, and it supports millions of direct and indirect jobs, spurs innovation, and is central to India’s green mobility transition, industrial ambitions, and trade strategy.

    The global automotive component market was valued at $2 trillion in 2022, with $700 billion traded across borders. Despite India’s strong manufacturing base, its share in the globally traded auto component market remains at just 3% (~$20 billion), highlighting a vast scope for expansion. India’s trade ratio in auto components is near-neutral (~0.99), with exports and imports nearly balancing each other. This also underlines the domestic sector’s limited penetration in high-value, high-precision segments such as engine and engine components, along with drive transmission and steering systems, where India holds just 2–4% of the global trade share. Bridging this gap requires structural reforms, strategic investments, and a coordinated industrial policy approach. With the right enabling conditions, India can triple exports to $60 billion, generate a $25 billion trade surplus, and create over 2-2.5 million direct jobs by 2030, propelling it toward becoming a globally competitive, innovation-driven manufacturing hub.

    Strategic Importance of the Automotive Sector

     

    • Contributes 7.1% to India’s GDP and 49% to manufacturing GDP.
    • Employs millions and supports critical linkages across steel, electronics, and IT sectors.
    • India’s current share in globally traded auto components is approximately 3% or 20 billion.

                                            India’s Vision for Automotive Industry

     

    This vision aligns with India’s aspirations to become a global manufacturing hub under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

    Global Trends Shaping the Sector

     

    1. Rise of Electric Vehicles (EVs):

    • EVs are reshaping manufacturing priorities, with China producing over 8 million EVs in 2023.
    • The EU and the US are accelerating EV adoption through regulatory mandates and subsidies.
    • EVs are increasing the demand for batteries, semiconductors, and advanced materials.

     

    2. Digital and Advanced Manufacturing:

    • Integration of AI, robotics, digital twins, Internet of Things (IoT), and 3D printing is driving efficiency.
    • Many global automakers are investing heavily in creating smart factories, where AI, IoT, and robotics are integrated into every aspect of the production process. Countries like Germany and South Korea are leading in smart factory adoption.

     

    3. Sustainability and Circular Economy:

    • Automakers are moving toward carbon neutrality, material recycling, and energy efficiency.
    • Examples: BMW’s EV battery recycling and Volkswagen’s renewable energy sourcing.

     

    4. Sectoral Interdependence:

    • Auto industry is a major consumer of steel, electronics, rubber, glass, textiles, and IT services.
    • Increasing reliance on semiconductors and AI-driven software for innovative mobility solutions.

    Major Government Interventions

     

    1. Make in India: Launched in 2014, the Make in India initiative has provided a significant boost to the country’s manufacturing sector, particularly in automobiles. This policy promotes domestic manufacturing, reduces reliance on imports, and encourages foreign direct investment.

    2.Atmanirbhar Bharat: The Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aims to foster self-sufficiency in manufacturing and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign components. In the automotive sector, this has resulted in increased domestic production of critical components such as engines, transmissions, and EV batteries. The government has also extended support to start-ups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the automotive space, helping them integrate into global supply chains.

    3.FAME India Scheme (Phases I & II): The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme has been pivotal in promoting clean mobility in India. Phase II, with an outlay of ₹11,500 crore, focuses on demand incentives for electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, and the development of public charging infrastructure. It also aims to promote technology platforms for EVs and create a robust domestic EV ecosystem.

    4. PM E-Drive Scheme (2024–26): Launched to accelerate EV adoption and reduce urban pollution, this scheme has a budget of ₹10,900 crore and targets large-scale procurement of electric vehicles:

    • 24.79 lakh electric two-wheelers
    • 3.2 lakh electric three-wheelers
    • Procurement of 14,028 electric buses by State Transport Undertakings (STUs)/public transport agencies
    • ₹2,000 crore earmarked for national-level charging infrastructure expansion.

     

    5. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Auto and ACC Batteries: With a total allocation of ₹44,038 crore (PLI scheme- INR 25,938 crore, PLI scheme for ACC Battery Storage- INR 18,100 crores), this flagship initiative aims to boost the domestic manufacturing of advanced automotive technologies, including EVs, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and advanced battery storage solutions. It provides financial incentives to OEMs and component manufacturers for investing in cutting-edge technologies, achieving economies of scale, and integrating into global supply chains. The scheme also prioritises domestic value addition, export readiness, and job creation through technology-driven innovation.

     

     

    Key Challenges Hindering the Global Value Chain’s Integration

     

    • 10% cost disadvantage for India versus China due to:
      • Higher raw material and machinery costs
      • 100% depreciation rate vs 50% in China (~3.4% cost burden)
      • High logistics, financing, and energy costs

     

    • Underperformance in high-precision segments:
      • India’s global share: Only 2–4% in engine and engine components, along with drive transmission and steering systems
    • Inadequate R&D ecosystem and limited IP ownership

    Proposed Interventions for GVC Integration

     

    Fiscal Measures:

    1. Operational Expenditure (Opex) Support: To scale up manufacturing capabilities, with a focus on capital expenditure (Capex) for tooling, dies, and infrastructure.
    2. Skill Development: Initiatives to build a talent pipeline critical for sustaining growth.
    3. R&D, Government facilitated IP transfer and Branding: Providing incentives for research, development, international branding to improve product differentiation and empowering MSMEs through IP transfers.
    4. Cluster Development: Fostering collaboration between firms through common facilities such as R&D and testing centers to strengthen the supply chain.

     

    Non-Fiscal Reforms:

    1. Industry 4.0 Adoption: Encouraging the integration of digital technologies and enhanced manufacturing standards to improve efficiency.
    2. International Collaboration: Promoting joint ventures (JVs), foreign collaborations, and free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand global market access.
    3. Ease of Doing Business: Simplifying regulatory processes, worker hour flexibility, supplier discovery & development and improving business conditions for automotive firms.

     

    Conclusion

     

    India’s automotive sector stands at a decisive inflection point, where focused reforms, policy clarity, and industry alignment can elevate it into the league of global leaders in automotive manufacturing. With the world shifting rapidly towards clean, smart, and connected mobility, India must accelerate its integration into global value chains by building competitiveness in high-precision components, fostering innovation, and deepening its export footprint. Over the next five years, the effective execution of planned interventions—ranging from skilling and infrastructure to R&D and global partnerships- will determine whether India becomes a hub for high-value auto components or remains a low-cost player in traditional segments. With the right mix of ambition and action, India can become a globally recognised supplier of next-generation mobility solutions.

     

    References

    · REPORT – Automotive Industry: Powering India’s participation in Global Value Chains –https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-04/Automotive-Industry-Powering-India-participation-in-GVC_Non-Confidential.pdf

    · https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2120977

    Automotive Industry: Powering India’s Participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs)

    ****

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena / Vatsla Srivastava

    (Release ID: 2121826) Visitor Counter : 122

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Announces 31st Human Exploration Rover Challenge Winners

    Source: NASA

    NASA has announced the winning student teams in the 2025 Human Exploration Rover Challenge. This year’s competition challenged teams to design, build, and test a lunar rover powered by either human pilots or remote control. In the human-powered division, Parish Episcopal School in Dallas, Texas, earned first place in the high school division, and the Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, captured the college and university title. In the remote-control division, Bright Foundation in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, earned first place in the middle and high school division, and the Instituto Tecnologico de Santa Domingo in the Dominican Republic, captured the college and university title.
    The annual engineering competition – one of NASA’s longest standing student challenges – wrapped up on April 11 and April 12, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The complete list of 2025 award winners is provided below:

    First Place: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
    Second Place: Ecambia High School, Pensacola, Florida
    Third Place: Centro Boliviano Americano – Santa Cruz, Bolivia

    First Place: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina
    Second Place: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    Third Place: University of Alabama in Huntsville

    First Place: Bright Foundation, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    Second Place: Assumption College, Brangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
    Third Place: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado

    First Place: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    Second Place: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina
    Third Place: Tecnologico de Monterey – Campus Cuernvaca, Xochitepec, Morelos, Mexico

     Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: International Hope School of Bangladesh, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    College/University Division: Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Bright Foundation, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    College/University Division: Southwest Oklahoma State University, Weatherford, Oklahoma

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Assumption College, Bangrak, Bangkok, Thailand
    College/University Division: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
    College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Bright Foundation, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
    College/University Division: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Parish Episcopal School, Dallas, Texas
    College/University Division: University of Alabama in Huntsville

    Universidad de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (Human-Powered Division)

    Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (Human-Powered Division)

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Albertville Innovation School, Albertville, Alabama
    College/University Division: Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Instituto Salesiano Don Bosco, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
    College/University Division: Tecnologico de Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: International Hope School of Bagladesh, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh
    College/University Division: Universidad Catolica Boliviana “San Pablo” La Paz, Bolivia

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
    College/University Division: Instituto Salesiano Don Bosco, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Space Education Institute, Leipzig, Germany
    College/University Division: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, Indiana

    Remote-Control

    Middle School/High School Division: Erie High School, Erie, Colorado
    College/University Division: Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina

    Human-Powered

    High School Division: Academy of Arts, Career, and Technology, Reno, Nevada
    College/University Division: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Fabion Diaz Palacious from Universidad Catolica Boliviana “San Pablo” La Paz, Bolivia

    Deira International School, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    More than 500 students with 75 teams from around the world participated in the  31st year of the competition. Participating teams represented 35 colleges and universities, 38 high schools, and two middle schools from 20 states, Puerto Rico, and 16 other nations. Teams were awarded points based on navigating a half-mile obstacle course, conducting mission-specific task challenges, and completing multiple safety and design reviews with NASA engineers. 
    NASA expanded the 2025 challenge to include a remote-control division, Remote-Operated Vehicular Research, and invited middle school students to participate. 
    “This student design challenge encourages the next generation of scientists and engineers to engage in the design process by providing innovative concepts and unique perspectives,” said Vemitra Alexander, who leads the challenge for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. “This challenge also continues NASA’s legacy of providing valuable experiences to students who may be responsible for planning future space missions, including crewed missions to other worlds.”
    The rover challenge is one of NASA’s eight Artemis Student Challenges reflecting the goals of the Artemis campaign, which will land Americans on the Moon while establishing a long-term presence for science and exploration, preparing for future human missions to Mars. NASA uses such challenges to encourage students to pursue degrees and careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
    The competition is managed by NASA’s Southeast Regional Office of STEM Engagement at Marshall. Since its inception in 1994, more than 15,000 students have participated – with many former students now working at NASA, or within the aerospace industry.    
    To learn more about the Human Exploration Rover Challenge, please visit: 
    https://www.nasa.gov/roverchallenge/home/index.html

    Taylor GoodwinMarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.256.544.0034taylor.goodwin@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Iran confirms Muscat to host 2nd round of nuke talks with US

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Iran has confirmed that Muscat, the capital of Oman, will remain the venue for the second round of “indirect” negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

    “Following consultations, it was decided that Muscat continues to be the host of the second round of the negotiations, which are scheduled to be held on Saturday,” the semi-official Mehr news agency quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei as saying early Tuesday.

    In the first round of Muscat talks on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in “indirect” discussions with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. These talks focused on Iran’s nuclear program and the potential removal of U.S. sanctions.

    The talks in Muscat followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran later agreed on indirect talks.

    Iran signed a nuclear deal in July 2015 with six major countries — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.

    However, Trump unilaterally pulled his country out of the deal in May 2018 during his first term, and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to scale back its commitments under the deal. Since then, efforts to revive the nuclear agreement have made little progress.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Canton Fair kicks off with record number of export exhibitors

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

    GUANGZHOU, April 15 — The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off on Tuesday, with the number of export exhibitors exceeding 30,000 for the first time in the history of this famous event.

    Scheduled to take place from April 15 to May 5 in the southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, this edition of the fair has attracted about 31,000 participating firms, up by nearly 900 compared with the previous fair.

    More than 200,000 overseas buyers from 215 countries and regions have preregistered, with the lineup featuring the likes of retail giants Walmart and Target from the United States, Carrefour from France, Tesco and Kingfisher from Britain, and Germany’s Metro.

    This edition of the fair is divided into three phases. The first will focus on advanced manufacturing, the second on quality home furnishings, and the third on products that promote a better quality of life.

    The event will involve 172 product zones, including, for the first time, a special zone for service robots focused on showcasing the latest achievements of China’s AI development efforts.

    Xinhua reporters at the fair witnessed an exhibition hall becoming packed with participants just after 9 a.m. Notably, the exhibition area focusing on service robots was especially busy. Many overseas buyers used their mobile phones to capture images of robotic dogs, industrial exoskeleton equipment, automatic cruise robots, coffee-making robots and other products, while asking exhibitors for more details about their functions.

    “This Canton Fair is held in the year when China’s ’14th Five-Year Plan’ nears completion — which is of great significance in promoting the innovative development of trade, thus ensuring stable foreign trade volume and improving foreign trade quality,” said Zhang Sihong, deputy director of the China Foreign Trade Center.

    He noted that the large gathering of global buyers at the fair underlined the trust of the international business community in made-in-China products.

    Guo Yanhu with Gree, a leading home appliances enterprise, said that through green technology innovation and AI intelligent upgrading, the company provides users with efficient and low-carbon solutions, having sold products to more than 190 countries and regions in 2024.

    The Canton Fair has always been an important driver of global trade, said Andre Rocha, president of the Federation of Industries of the State of Goias, Brazil. Here, people can learn about the major global development trends and cutting-edge technologies, as well as solutions that can actually boost industrial development, he added.

    Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China and has been hailed as the barometer of China’s foreign trade.

    Despite the weak momentum of global economic growth, intensified trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China’s foreign trade has maintained stable growth.

    According to the General Administration of Customs, China’s total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 1.3 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. China’s exports rose 6.9 percent to 6.13 trillion yuan (about 850.1 billion U.S. dollars) during this period, while imports fell 6 percent to 4.17 trillion yuan.

    In addition, the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, being held on the tropical island province of Hainan in south China this week, has also reaffirmed China’s position as a vital marketplace for global enterprises. It has drawn record participation from over 4,100 brands across 71 countries and regions, reflecting the expanding international appetite for engagement with China’s vast consumer market and its evolving landscape.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU and Member States pledge over €522 million to address Sudan crisis

    Source: European Commission – Justice

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 15 Apr 2025 To help address the difficult humanitarian situation in Sudan, the European Commission and Member States have pledged €522 million in aid for 2025 at the High-level Conference for Sudan, co-hosted in London today by the Commission alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the African Union.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Clarification on the Commission’s position regarding the COVID-19 lab leak theory – E-001403/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001403/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Anderson (ESN)

    Multiple Western intelligence sources and legislative bodies have revived the theory that COVID-19 may have originated from a laboratory incident in China.

    – The US Central Intelligence Agency now considers a lab leak to be a plausible origin, though with low confidence.

    – In 2020, Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service reportedly assessed that there was an 80–90 % likelihood of an accidental lab leak.

    – A 2024 US Congressional report concluded that the virus ‘likely emerged due to a laboratory or research-related mishap’, further revealing that gain-of-function research funded by the National Institute of Health was conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology prior to the outbreak.

    Although no scientific consensus has emerged so far, these developments raise serious questions about biosafety, research funding oversight and international accountability.

    In this context, I seek clarification on the following points:

    • 1.Has the Commission reviewed or reassessed its position on the origins of COVID-19 in light of recent intelligence findings by US and German authorities?
    • 2.Has any EU-funded research directly or indirectly supported the Wuhan Institute of Virology or other institutions engaged in high-risk virological work prior to the pandemic?
    • 3.What measures is the Commission taking to ensure greater transparency, traceability and safety in EU-funded research involving gain-of-function or dual-use biological experiments, both within the EU and internationally?

    Submitted: 7.4.2025

    Last updated: 15 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK announces new humanitarian funding for Sudan

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK announces new humanitarian funding for Sudan

    The UK has announced new support to Sudan ahead of the Sudan conference which will bring together international representatives.

    • The UK will commit further life-saving aid for over 650,000 people affected by the ongoing violence as Sudan faces the worst humanitarian crisis on record.
    • A one-day conference will unite foreign ministers and leading humanitarian leaders at a conference in London to mark the two-year anniversary of the brutal conflict in Sudan.   
    • International representatives will discuss how to achieve a peaceful end to the conflict and address the issues preventing aid reaching those most in need. 

    Today [15th April] the UK will co-host a conference in London alongside the African Union, EU, France and Germany to mark the two-year anniversary of the conflict in Sudan with attendees including major donors and multilateral institutions.   

    Bringing together foreign ministers from across the globe, the Foreign Secretary will step up international efforts to protect civilians and work towards an end to the conflict.   

    During a one-day conference, he will announce new life-saving aid to support over 650,000 Sudanese people. Alongside international counterparts, he will also identify steps to improve humanitarian access and find a long-term political solution.   

    Sudan is facing the worst humanitarian crisis on record, with over 30 million people in desperate need of aid, over 12 million people are displaced, and famine is spreading throughout Sudan. Over 12 million women and girls are also at risk of gender-based violence.

    The new £120 million funding announced today will deliver lifesaving food and nutrition supplies, including for vulnerable children and will provide emergency support to survivors of sexual violence. 

    The Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:   

    Two years is far too long – the brutal war in Sudan has devastated the lives of millions – and yet much of the world continues to look away.  We need to act now to stop the crisis from becoming an all-out catastrophe, ensuring aid gets to those who need it the most.

    As I saw earlier this year on a visit to Chad’s border with Sudan, the warring parties have shown an appalling disregard for the civilian population of Sudan. This conference will bring together the international community to agree a pathway to end the suffering. 

    Instability must not spread – it drives migration from Sudan and the wider region, and a safe and stable Sudan is vital for our national security. The UK will not let Sudan be forgotten.

    African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye said:

    Achieving peace in Sudan depends on valuing every voice and everyone playing a role in building a prosperous Sudan. The African Union is committed to assisting all the people of Sudan build a brighter democratic future by working to silence the guns.

    The ongoing conflict and instability risks spilling over into the wider region, driving Sudanese people away from their homes, with some taking dangerous onward journeys to the UK and Europe. Instability in Sudan also directly impacts the UK’s national security. 

    The UK wants to help tackle instability in Sudan and reduce the level of irregular migration from the region to Europe and the UK as part of its Plan for Change.  

    In January 2025, the Foreign Secretary visited the Chad-Sudan border at Adré to see first-hand the impact of the conflict on refugees.    

    Background

    • Countries and organisations attending the Sudan conference include the United Kingdom, the African Union (AU), the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Canada, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Norway, Qatar, South Sudan, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, United States of America, alongside high-level Representatives of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations (UN).
    • On 17 November, the Foreign Secretary announced a £113 million aid package, which will support over a million people affected by violence in Sudan.  
    • The new £120 million funding announced today is for the 2025/2026 financial year and will deliver food including pulses, oils, salts and cereals.   
    • The UK welcomes the 13 February decision to keep the critical Chad-Sudan Adré border crossing open for three more months. But the Sudanese Armed Forces must keep it open permanently, and without restrictions.     

    • The parties to the conflict continue to obstruct the work of humanitarian agencies, through delaying visas for aid workers and limiting their movements throughout Sudan.

    • Funding announced today aims to reach over 600,000 people including:
    • 670,000 people reached with food assistance for three months.
    • 205,000 people reached through a cash-based response.
    • 600,000 people reached through nutrition and water and sanitation.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why is it so hard for everyone to have a house in Australia?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University

    Bilalnol/Shutterstock

    Home ownership in Australia was once regarded as proof of success in life. However, it remains elusive for many people today.

    Prices have soared beyond wage growth, rents keep rising, and even some well-intentioned government initiatives, including those announced by Labor and the Coalition at their election campaign launches on the weekend, risk driving up demand.

    What’s gone wrong?

    The Grattan Institute says increasing housing supply is essential to maintain price stability over time, but notes we are not making enough progress.

    Australia will miss its goal to build 1.2 million new homes within five years if we stick to the current housing policies and construction practices.

    Why it’s not working

    There is a wide range of reasons why Australia is failing to provide enough housing:

    Fragmented policy approach: A national approach involving all levels of government aligning their policies, rules and regulations is needed.

    Planning bottlenecks: Some projects face years of delay due to local council regulations and zoning requirements. The Productivity Commission has reported Australia’s planning system has excessive barriers to new projects, including medium-density developments.

    Land release delays: State governments are slow to release new land for housing. This is often because of community opposition, political considerations and market dynamics. This results in limited availability, which leads to higher costs for land that can be developed.

    Skills shortages: Recent immigration restrictions have worsened the shortage of skilled tradespeople in the residential construction sector.

    Demand-side subsidies: Government programs, such as first home buyer grants, help some people buy homes. However, they also make housing less affordable because they can result in increased prices.

    What could work without raising prices

    There are various changes that could be made without necessarily raising prices.

    Duplication and logjams could be removed if a national housing strategy was introduced. This should integrate policies and regulations across federal, state and local jurisdictions.

    Federal grants and incentives should be tied to states meeting targets for land release, re-zoning permits and streamlined approvals.

    Using innovative construction technologies can cut construction time by as much as 50%. These include prefabricated and modular building parts, which are made in factories and later assembled at the construction site.

    A government update of land use and zoning permits would make it easier and faster to build medium-density housing near transport and job hubs. This is a quick way to add dwellings without sprawl.

    Governments could also offer tax or planning concessions for developments that lock in affordable rents. This would help create stable, long-term rental options.

    Learning from other countries

    Australia can get ideas for increasing housing supply without raising prices from the experience of other countries.

    Through substantial investments in social housing, Finland has significantly reduced homelessness and created stable housing options for families with limited income.

    Large-scale prefab public housing originated in Singapore decades ago as a method to accelerate construction timelines and reduce expenses. Prefabrication is only used in 8% of projects in Australia at the moment.

    Prefabrication is widely used in building sectors in other countries as a cheaper and faster way of responding to housing shortages.
    brizmaker/Shutterstock

    Sweden has adopted advanced modular construction techniques, which result in 80% of homes being built off-site.

    Germany employs municipal-led housing associations along with rent controls to maintain price stability and tenant protection.

    And in the UK, inclusionary zoning regulations mandate that new developments either contain affordable housing units or contribute to a fund that supports affordable housing in different locations. This helps create diverse housing options in most neighborhoods.

    Election promises versus real change

    Significant reforms are needed – not election sweeteners. To make genuine progress, we need to invest heavily in modern construction techniques, transform housing approval processes and ensure states promptly release essential land.

    The solution requires a coordinated response from federal, state and local governments. This would enable more Australians to obtain homeownership and secure rental options.

    Our politicians must avoid short-term promises during elections because these threaten to return us to the destructive pattern of escalating prices and dissatisfied homebuyers. Long-term policy reform is what we need.

    Dr. Ehsan Noroozinejad has received funding from both national and international organisations to support research addressing housing and climate crises. His most recent funding on integrated housing and climate policy comes from the James Martin Institute for Public Policy (soon to be the Australian Public Policy Institute).

    – ref. Why is it so hard for everyone to have a house in Australia? – https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-so-hard-for-everyone-to-have-a-house-in-australia-254464

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion takes first place in Best Squad Competition in Italy

    Source: United States Army

    1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL
    3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Best NCO: Staff Sgt. Alesando Sinicropi, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL
    4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The 2025 Best Pen: Pvt. 1st Class Zion Smith, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL
    5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Top Shot: Sgt. Brad Simon, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL

    Return to

    U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

    VICENZA, Italy – Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion (173rd BSB), 173rd Airborne Brigade were announced as the winners of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy on April 11, 2025.

    “It feels great to win. We put our hearts and souls into this competition,” said Sgt. Travis Dionne, a combat medic assigned to the 173rd BSB. “The competition really validates your skills, and it proves that you are able to accomplish your goals and become the greatest version of yourself.”

    1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – From left to right, U.S. Army Sgt. Travis Dionne, Sgt. Dominic Savio, Spc. Juan Rodriguez, Spc. Michael Andress, and Spc. Gavin Hale, assigned to 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, pose for a photo after winning the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 11, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado)

    The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:

    Best Squad: Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Top Shot: Sgt. Brad Simon, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best Pen: Pvt. 1st Class Zion Smith, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best NCO: Staff Sgt. Allesando Sinicropi, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, pose for a photo after winning the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 11, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado)

    The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:

    Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Top Shot: Sgt. Brad Simon, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best Pen: Pvt. 1st Class Zion Smith, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best NCO: Staff Sgt. Allesando Sinicropi, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Sgt. Brad Simon, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, receives an award from Col. Chad Froelic, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), chief of staff, at the SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition (BSC) closing ceremony at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 11, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado)

    The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:

    Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Top Shot: Sgt. Brad Simon, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best Pen: Pvt. 1st Class Zion Smith, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best NCO: Staff Sgt. Allesando Sinicropi, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado)

    VIEW ORIGINAL

    Dionne emphasized the importance of competition in the military—it makes the individual Soldier and the squad better. Preparing for competitions like Best Squad reinforce unit and team cohesion, while also developing the individual skills of each competitor.

    Each team is composed of five Soldiers: the squad leader, a sergeant first class or staff sergeant; a team leader, a sergeant or corporal; and three squad members in the ranks of specialist or below. The three-day long competition tested their physical strength, mental fortitude, technical proficiency and ability to work as a team.

    1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Spc. Nathan Newton, assigned to 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), simulates movement under fire in the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 9, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado) VIEW ORIGINAL
    2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Pfc. Marquese Higgins, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, climbs over an obstacle during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 8, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) VIEW ORIGINAL

    “I think I can say for the entire team, it shows our dedication to each other,” said Specialist Gavin Hale, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. “This competition shows the best of a unit and to bring out the best cohesion in a team. I am really confident that my team will win in Germany for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa competition.”

    The first day of this year’s Best Squad Competition was a physical and mental gut-check consisting of an Army Combat Fitness Test, then an obstacle course event, followed by a stress-shoot and a written essay.

    U.S. Army Sgt. Cristhian Gonzalez, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, fires an M4A1 carbine during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, on April 8, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) VIEW ORIGINAL

    Day two tested their knowledge and proficiency of warrior tasks and skills. Each team was graded on their ability to execute patrolling tasks, such as buddy-team bounding, squad movements testing their ability to move, shoot and communicate cohesively. The squads were also tested on their application of tactical combat casuatly care. Each team had to assess a casualty, provide aid and conduct medical evacuation on a simulated casualty.

    Day three ended the competition with a 12-mile ruck march, weapons familiarity test and a formal board. The compressed timeline of these events tests each Soldiers’ ability to push through exhaustion and still excel at encompassing the Full-Soldier Concept, having the ability to stay professional and also be ready to execute warrior tasks and drills.

    U.S. Soldiers assigned to Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct the 12-mile ruck march during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, on April 10, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kylejian Francia) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Kylejian Francia) VIEW ORIGINAL

    The winners of this year’s SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition will represent the command in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command’s competition to take place August 20-28 in Hohenfels, Germany.

    Additionally, this year’s Best Squad awarded four individual awards. Best Pen goes to the best essay written, Top Shot for the most accurate marksmanship during the stress shoot, Best Noncommissioned Officer, awarded for the most individual points for a Noncommisioned officer and Best Soldier, awarded for the highest individual points for any Soldier in the competition.

    The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:

    • Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade
    • Top Shot: Sgt. Brad Simon, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
    • Best Pen: Pfc. Zion Smith, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
    • Best NCO: Staff Sgt. Allesando Sinicropi, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade
    • Best Soldier: Pfc. Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade

    About 173rd Airborne Brigade

    The 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe, providing rapid forces to the United States European, Africa and Central Commands areas of responsibility. Forward-based in Italy and Germany, the Brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners.

    About SETAF-AF

    SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

    Follow SETAF-AF on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn & DVIDS

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: International Summit on the Future of Energy Security Partners

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    International Summit on the Future of Energy Security Partners

    Government welcomes Official Partners of International Summit on the Future of Energy Security.

    • The Official Partners sponsoring the International Energy Agency and UK Government’s energy security summit are Iberdrola/ScottishPower, National Grid, SSE and Urenco 

    • Ministers and industry leaders from around the world will gather in London in April to discuss the future of energy security 

    • Summit will be hosted by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and International Energy Agency Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol

    The government has today (Monday 14 April) announced the four Official Partners sponsoring the upcoming summit marking a new era for energy security.  

    Energy ministers and key energy sector decision makers from around the world will convene at the UK Government and International Energy Agency’s Summit on the Future of Energy Security, co-hosted by the Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol, at Lancaster House, London, on 24-25 April.   

     Sponsorship from Iberdrola/ScottishPower, National Grid, SSE and Urenco will help deliver the summit at a lower cost to UK taxpayers and demonstrates their ongoing commitment to delivering clean energy and energy security in the UK and around the world.   

    In recent years, energy security has risen up the global agenda as countries act to respond to today’s challenges and protect themselves from future energy shocks. The summit is an opportunity to cooperate on rising to the challenges the world faces on energy security and seizing the opportunities to act. It comes as the UK sets a global example by accelerating to a new era of clean electricity by 2030.  

    The Official Partners  

    Iberdrola/ScottishPower   

    Iberdrola is the largest utility in Europe, with a market capitalization of £85 billion, and serves 100 million people worldwide thanks to a diversified portfolio of businesses across the electricity value chain in the UK, the US, Spain, France, Germany, Brazil and Australia. In the UK, Iberdrola is investing £24 billion up to 2028 through ScottishPower, mainly in transmission and distribution networks and offshore wind. Overall, the Group is dedicating around 70% of its investments to power networks to accelerate electrification as a way to increase energy security and competitiveness, create new industries and jobs, and improve sustainability. Around two thirds of Iberdrola’s global investments are allocated to the UK and to the US   

    Iberdrola Executive Chairman Ignacio Galán said:  

    Energy security is the first step towards overall security. Digitalization, big data, AI and the industries of the future rely on a secure power supply, driving demand growth not seen for decades, and network infrastructures are the backbone of a resilient power system.  Driven by the UK Government’s clear and stable energy policies, Iberdrola is investing £24 billion to 2028 in the UK in transmission, distribution and offshore wind to guarantee energy security, growth and competitiveness. We welcome the IEA and UK Government bringing together key policy makers and energy companies to analyse how best to enhance energy security globally.

    National Grid  

    National Grid is investing £60 billion in energy networks over the next five years in the UK and the northeastern United States. This represents nearly double the investment of the previous five years. Its commitment will unlock significant economic growth, create thousands of new jobs, reduce energy bills in the long term, increase energy security, and support an increasingly decarbonised, electrified economy.  

    National Grid Chief Executive Officer John Pettigrew said:   

    National Grid is investing £60 billion in energy networks to 2029, boosting energy security, driving economic growth, and supporting 60,000 more jobs across the UK and US. Innovation and investment will be essential to unlocking the benefits of the energy transformation for customers and communities; it is essential that events like this exist to enable the sector to collaborate and drive progress forwards.

    SSE  

    SSE is a UK-listed and headquartered company investing £20 billion over five years to 2027 in renewable energy, electricity networks, and flexible power generation. Harnessing some of Europe’s best renewable resources with projects like Dogger Bank – the world’s largest offshore wind farm – SSE generates homegrown clean energy, protecting billpayers from overdependence on imported fossil fuels. It also builds and operate vital transmission and distribution grids to connect and transport more secure power to homes and businesses. At the same time, through its fleet of flexible generation and storage assets across hydro, batteries and efficient gas-fired power stations, it provides the balance required to ensure an increasingly renewable energy system is not only cleaner but more secure.  

    SSE Chief Executive Officer Alistair Phillips-Davies said:   

    It has never been clearer that energy security equates to national security – and achieving it requires countries to focus both on developing their own homegrown energy sources and on international cooperation to ensure increased flexibility and resilience. This principle is at the heart of the UK Government’s Clean Power Mission, and we are proud to be playing our part in delivering mission-critical investments across renewables, networks, and system flexibility. But there is more we can and must do, and we are therefore thrilled to be partnering with the UK Government and the IEA to advance this crucial agenda.

    Urenco  

    Urenco is a global uranium enrichment company, fuelling nuclear power plants to ensure a secure, reliable, and low carbon supply of energy. With four facilities in different countries within the Western world, it is providing customers with choice of where to receive their supply from and are rapidly ramping up capacity to meet increased demand.  

    Urenco Chief Executive Officer Boris Schucht said:  

    There are now well-established drivers for an enhanced role of nuclear power: the need to meet climate change goals; and the need for countries to have a secure and independent energy supply. As a long-standing and integral part of the global nuclear industry, Urenco sees it as our responsibility to make a valuable contribution to meeting world-wide energy needs, complementing other low carbon sources through a 24/7 supply which is cost effective over the lifetime of a reactor. We will continue to collaborate with partners across the energy sector and beyond to help ensure the reliable, clean energy system our world needs are achieved.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 Development Working Group meeting to get underway

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The South African Presidency of the Group of Twenty (G20) is this week convening the second Development Working Group (DWG) meeting in the Western Cape.

    “The G20 DWG plays a pivotal role in shaping global development priorities, focusing on reducing inequalities, promoting sustainable growth, and strengthening international partnerships,” the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation said.

    Starting on Monday, 14 April and ending on Wednesday, 16 April, the meeting will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions on key development challenges and cooperative solutions.

    The G20 is an international forum of both developing and developed countries, which seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues. 

    South Africa’s G20 Presidency commenced on 1 December 2024 and will run until 30 November 2025. 

    The gathering will bring together representatives from G20 member states, invited countries, and international organisations to deliberate on policies that foster inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. 

    In alignment with the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, the discussions will focus on three high-level priorities:
    •    High-Level Principles on Global Public Goods and Global Public Investment.
    •    Mobilising Finance for Development and Means of Implementation.
    •    Building Resilience through Universal Social Protection Floors.

    The G20 members represent around 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

    It comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States) and two regional bodies, namely the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU).

    The three-day meeting is taking place at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset. –SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: ARRAY Technologies Appoints Nick Strevel as Senior Vice President of Product Management and Technical Sales

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) (“ARRAY” or the “Company”), a leading provider of tracker solutions and services for utility-scale solar energy projects, announced the appointment of Nick Strevel as senior vice president of product management and technical sales, effective today.

    In this dual leadership role, Strevel will be responsible for driving ARRAY’s global product strategy and building a high-performing technical sales function that strengthens ARRAY’s relationships with customers and partners worldwide.

    “Nick brings a rare blend of technical depth, commercial acumen, and international experience that will accelerate ARRAY’s innovation and customer engagement,” said Kevin G. Hostetler, chief executive officer at ARRAY. “Nick’s leadership will help ensure our products and solutions are contributing to driving the renewable energy sector and positioned for long-term success.”

    Strevel joins ARRAY from First Solar, where he spent more than a decade in increasingly senior roles across product management, technical sales, and technology development. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Product, responsible for driving the global product roadmap and aligning technology development with customer needs and market opportunities. Prior to that, he led First Solar’s global technical sales team and held multiple engineering and leadership positions in the U.S. and Germany.

    At ARRAY, Strevel will lead the development and execution of the company’s product strategy, promoting cutting-edge innovations and solutions for our customers. He will also oversee the creation of ARRAY’s technical sales function, empowering teams with the tools, knowledge, and processes needed to deliver high-impact, solution-based selling around the globe.

    “I’m thrilled to join ARRAY at such a transformative time for the solar industry,” said Strevel. “ARRAY’s commitment to innovation and customer success will allow us to help shape the next generation of solar tracking solutions that drive value for our customers and accelerate the clean energy transition.”

    With over 15 years of experience in the renewable energy and automotive electrification sectors, Strevel brings deep expertise in thin-film photovoltaics, semiconductor manufacturing, and custom equipment development. He began his career at United Solar Ovonic as a semiconductor process engineer and later served as a senior application engineer based in Frankfurt, Germany.

    Strevel holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University and studied at RWTH Aachen University in Germany.

    About ARRAY
    ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) is a leading global provider of solar tracking technology to utility-scale and distributed generation customers who construct, develop, and operate solar PV sites. With solutions engineered to withstand the harshest weather conditions, ARRAY’s high-quality solar trackers, software platforms and field services combine to maximize energy production and deliver value to our customers for the entire lifecycle of a project. Founded and headquartered in the United States, ARRAY is rooted in manufacturing and driven by technology – relying on its domestic manufacturing, diversified global supply chain, and customer-centric approach to design, deliver, commission, train, and support solar energy deployment around the world. For more news and information on ARRAY, please visit arraytechinc.com.

    Forward Looking Statement
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections regarding its business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business and operations, particularly those described in more detail in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the SEC, each of which can be found on our website www.arraytechinc.com. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.  

    Media Contact
    Nicole Stewart
    505.589.8257
    nicole.stewart@arraytechinc.com

    Investor Relations Contact
    Array Technologies, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    investors@arraytechinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Unimot establishes a board of strategic advisors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WARSAW, Poland, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On April 14, Unimot, a multienergy capital group and a leader among independent importers of liquid and gaseous fuels in Poland with a strong international presence, officially inaugurated the establishment of the Board of Strategic Advisors. The Board consists of international experts: Mark Brzezinski, PhD, Prof. Jim Mazurkiewicz, Prof. Boguslaw Pacek, Prof. Karl Rose and Isaac Querub, and is led by Andreas Golombek, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Unimot. The establishment of the Board of Strategic Advisors strengthens the Unimot Group’s competence in the face of the growing importance of geopolitics, global challenges in the energy sector, and dynamic economic changes. The initiator of the Board of Strategic Advisory is Adam Sikorski, PhD, President of the Management Board of Unimot.

    Unimot has over 30 years of experience in the industry and operates internationally, with branches in Poland, China, Switzerland, and Ukraine; it also operates an LPG terminal in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, under a lease agreement. In response to the evolving global energy landscape and the growing significance of strategic expertise, the company has established its Board of Strategic Advisors, consisting of renowned experts with extensive professional experience in areas crucial for the energy sector – from strategic management, through energy security, raw material geopolitics, to advanced technologies and investments.

    “We are aware that success in the dynamic and unpredictable energy market requires the ability to anticipate trends and manage risk boldly. This is especially important in the face of geopolitical and economic challenges that go far beyond national or regional interests. Considering the long-term interests of our shareholders and the future of the entire group, we have deliberately established the Board of Strategic Advisors. This is a group of world-class experts whose extensive connections and unique experience will allow us to continuously monitor the market situation and draw appropriate conclusions based on this, ultimately building a competitive advantage, ensuring stable and sustainable development, and responsibly managing risk in an era when geopolitics determines the future of the energy industry,” says Dr. Adam Sikorski, President of the Management Board of Unimot.

    “Uncertainty is a constant in the energy sector, but success comes to those who are able to see opportunities where others only see threats. I would like to thank UNIMOT’s Management Board for the invitation to join the Board – our role will be to provide knowledge and tools that will help the company not only adapt to changes but actively shape the future of the market,” says Prof. Karl Rose, Member of the Board of Strategic Advisors.

    The establishment of the Board of Strategic Advisors is another step in the consistent strengthening of the Unimot Group’s position as an independent leader in the energy sector. All activities will be carried out in line with the current strategy of sustainable development, corporate responsibility, and care for the long-term interests of shareholders.

    About Unimot:

    Unimot is a multi-energy capital group and a leader among independent importers of liquid and gaseous fuels in Poland, listed on the main market of the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The company specializes in the wholesale of diesel oil and the distribution of other liquid fuels. It ranks third in the fuel storage market and second in asphalt production in Poland, operating nine fuel terminals and two bitumen production plants. Furthermore, Unimot is developing its photovoltaic segment and invests in additional renewable energy sectors. The company also manages the AVIA fuel station network in Poland and Ukraine.

    Source: Unimot

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/394ff6c4-2087-414b-83d2-8d5b8a438445

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Remegen eyes competitive DMT market as telitacicept shows promise in gMG, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Remegen eyes competitive DMT market as telitacicept shows promise in gMG, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    At the recently held 2025 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting, Remegen presented positive Phase III results for telitacicept in patients with AChR+ or MuSK+ generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). The B cell-targeting therapy demonstrated a favorable efficacy and safety profile over 24 weeks, showing clinically meaningful improvement. These findings position telitacicept as a potential challenger to the existing disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Telitacicept, given once weekly, demonstrated significant improvements‌ in myasthenia gravis activities of daily living (MG-ADL) and quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) scores after just four weeks of treatment compared to placebo. The improvements were sustained through to week 24 of the trial. These data demonstrated that patients treated with telitacicept‌ achieved ‌clinically meaningful reductions in disease severity.

    Telitacicept was also shown to be well-tolerated, with an overall adverse event (AE) incidence like that of the placebo group and an incidence of infection-related AEs that was lower than that of the placebo group.

    Jos Opdenakker, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Displaying improvements in disease control, as measured by MG-ADL and QMG scores across a broad population that is seropositive for AChR or MuSK autoantibodies, is essential as most marketed therapies are indicated for AChR+ patients with gMG. As a DMT, telitacicept will be entering a highly competitive space in the market.”

    According to GlobalData’s Drugs database, there are six DMTs currently marketed across the seven major pharmaceutical markets (7MM: The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan) for AChR+ patients. These include complement inhibitors and neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) inhibitors, both of which are treatment pathways that are well-established in the MG treatment paradigm.

    Opdenakker continues: “The late-stage pipeline (Phase IIb–III) is also crowded, with five other late-stage pipeline agents targeting both AChR+ and MuSK+ patients. Furthermore, there are also highly effective treatments for MuSK+ patients that are currently used off-label. Remegen will have to make an astute decision as to where it positions telitacicept in the MG treatment landscape.”

    The key opinion leaders (KOLs) previously interviewed by GlobalData have noted that rituximab is a first-line treatment for patients who are MuSK+ and can induce complete remission in MG patients. If Remegen wants to position telitacicept as a first-line DMT for MuSK+ MG patients, it will be competing against the well-established rituximab, which is also available as a cheap biosimilar.

    Opdenakker concludes: “With clinically meaningful improvements in MG-ADL and QMG scores, telitacicept offers hope for both AChR+ and MuSK+ patients. However, Remegen faces challenges as it enters a highly competitive market with established DMTs and several late-stage pipeline agents. Conducting head-to-head trials against these treatments can help telitacicept differentiate itself further. Telitacicept has the potential to become a valuable addition to the gMG treatment paradigm, offering new possibilities for disease management. Its success, however, depends on Remegen successfully navigating the complexities of market competition.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: OX40 inhibitors may transform atopic dermatitis landscape, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    OX40 inhibitors may transform atopic dermatitis landscape, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    The atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment landscape is witnessing intensified competition with several novel therapies nearing market entry. While biologics like dupilumab have already transformed care, emerging drug classes such as OX40 inhibitors are showing promise in clinical trials. Their potential for long-lasting efficacy and favorable safety profiles may significantly advance treatment options for moderate-to-severe AD patients, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s report, “Atopic Dermatitis (AD) Epidemiology Analysis and Forecast to 2033,” reveals that the diagnosed prevalent cases of AD will register an annual growth rate of less than 1% during 2023-2033 across the seven major markets (7MM: The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan).

    Following the introduction of Sanofi/Regeneron’s Dupixent (dupilumab), biologics have had a dramatic impact on the AD space, offering targeted treatments with minimal side effects to patients with AD, who have previously exhibited inadequate responses to topical or immunomodulatory treatments.

    Although oral treatments such as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors have entered the market and are paving the way for other oral therapies, they have demonstrated a strong side-effect profile that may not allow them to have a similar impact to Dupixent. A new drug class that is currently being investigated is OX40 inhibitors, which target OX40 receptors and ligands, providing an anti-inflammatory effect.

    Filippos Maniatis, Healthcare Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “OX40 inhibitors may be promising as AD treatments, as the key opinion leaders interviewed by GlobalData have shared their excitement about the effects that these drugs may bring to patients with AD. At the moment, Amgen/Kyowa Kirin’s rocatinlimab is at the forefront of OX40 inhibitors for AD, followed by Astria Therapeutics’ telazorlimab, and Sanofi’s amlitelimab, the readouts of which are highly anticipated by the community.”

    Rocatinlimab has previously demonstrated significant improvement in disease severity, with a durable long-lasting effect, as seen in the Phase IIb, results. In addition, the recent topline results of one of the six Phase III clinical trials that have further reinforced rocatinlimab’s position, showing that 42.3% of patients who received a high dose met the improvement criteria of ≥75% improvement from baseline based on the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75), brings rocatinlimab closer to a potential approval for AD.

    Maniatis adds: “Rocatinlimab is currently ahead of the other OX40s being investigated in AD, showing very promising results. Nevertheless, as Sanofi’s OX40 inhibitor amlitelimab is also in Phase III with a primary completion date in October 2025, it will be interesting to see what the outcomes reported for amlitelimab will be and how they compare to rocatinlimab’s studies.”

    Telazorlimab, which is another OX40 inhibitor in the pipeline within AD developed by Astria Therapeutics, is currently behind on development, as its Phase IIb trial has been completed and the results have demonstrated a well-tolerated and clinically significant profile. Nevertheless, the excitement around this new drug remains, with the experts in the field awaiting further results to understand their potential positioning in the AD market.

    Maniatis concludes: “OX40 inhibitors offer a new mechanism of action to a crowded market, with the potential of resulting in a shift in clinical practice. The potential long-lasting effects of these pipeline agents, as seen with rocatinlimab, and their good clinical profiles may offer a significant advancement in AD management, addressing current unmet needs and increasing the anticipation for these potential therapies in the AD market.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Consumer goods expo highlights China’s growing allure for global brands

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

    HAIKOU, April 14 — The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), held on the tropical island province of Hainan, has reaffirmed the country’s position as a vital marketplace for global enterprises.

    This year’s expo has drawn record participation from over 4,100 brands across 71 countries and regions, reflecting the expanding international appetite for engagement with China’s vast consumer market and its evolving landscape.

    The UK, this year’s guest country of honor, brought 27 companies spanning fashion, beauty, and other fields. Flagship brands like Burberry and Bentley showcased their latest offerings, with a strong emphasis on green technology and sustainable development.

    “I have seen the tremendous innovation and growth taking place within China’s economy in recent years, not least in digital technologies, life sciences and green energy,” said Douglas Alexander, minister of state of the UK’s Department for Business and Trade.

    These areas present significant opportunities for both economies, he said, emphasizing the UK’s commitment to deepening economic ties with China.

    Burberry Greater China President Josie Zhang noted the value of the expo in facilitating foreign firms to engage with local partners. “By deepening cooperation with various stakeholders, we aim to explore new market opportunities and achieve mutual growth,” she said in a written interview with Xinhua.

    Slovakia also made a notable debut with its first-ever national pavilion. Andrea Jancekova, CEO of Slovak brand Truscada, praised the expo’s global reach. “You can have a good connection also with people from all over the world.”

    Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Denisa Saková highlighted the expanding trade ties between the two countries. “China is one of our most important trading partners outside the European Union,” she said. “The growing volume of trade is a testament to the strength and dynamism of our economic relationship.”

    Among the newcomers was Japan’s Eda Livestock Co., Ltd., known for its premium Wagyu beef. “We plan to establish a foreign trade company in Hainan as our strategic entry point into the Chinese market,” said Rei Tanaka, the firm’s chief operating officer, who participated in the CICPE for the first time.

    This year’s expo also gathered an array of top-tier global luxury brands. Richemont’s TimeVallée debuted as an independent exhibitor, while LVMH and Kering Group brands made notable appearances, reflecting confidence in China’s premium consumption growth.

    “Luxury consumers in China are significantly younger than those in many overseas markets, and that presents a major opportunity for us,” said Nancy Liu, president of luxury travel retailer DFS China. The company has introduced tailored services to cater to the expectations of these emerging consumer groups.

    Beyond luxury, sectors like automotive and technology are repositioning China from being a mere sales destination to a research and innovation hub.

    Amid China’s technological innovation momentum, this year’s expo for the first time introduced dedicated zones for artificial intelligence and the low-altitude economy, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and products from leading tech companies around the world.

    “Since 2020, Volkswagen has invested over 10 billion euros in China. In particular, we have established a research and development center in China in 2023, the largest outside Germany,” said Su Bahong, vice president of Volkswagen Group China. “This shows the trend where China is becoming the global technological innovation hub.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Liberation of Bergen-Belsen: how a lack of protective clothing cost lives

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Susan L. Carruthers, Professor of History, University of Warwick

    Clothing can kill. So, too, can the absence of personal protective equipment. For decades, the medical establishment has understood the role of fabric in both spreading contagion and guarding against its transmission — but never with greater urgency than 80 years ago.

    On April 15 1945, British troops liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp near Celle in northern Germany. Shocking scenes awaited behind the barbed wire.

    On entry, British personnel found an epidemic of typhus decimating the camp’s surviving population. Thousands of unburied corpses, appallingly overcrowded huts, the absence of running water and chronic emaciation contributed to the rapid spread of this louse-borne disease. So too did unwashed garments into which lice burrowed and deposited their contaminated faeces.

    For warmth, some camp inmates removed clothing from corpses, heedless of the danger of contagion. Others feared infection so acutely that they went unclothed rather than risk contamination. Anne Frank died, just weeks before the camp’s liberation, in a state of naked terror.

    For military and medical personnel, burying bodies and burning garments was imperative, along with triaging survivors and moving the fittest from the camp’s corpse-strewn huts to a hastily established hospital area. To transform a site of mass death into a place of recovery wasn’t easy. Staff lacked supplies of every sort, substituting newspaper for mackintosh sheeting and commandeering dog bowls for use as bedpans.

    Protective clothing was also in desperately short supply. There, too, improvisation was the order of the day. Around 100 British medical students drafted into action at Belsen sported a motley assemblage of British military and appropriated German Wehrmacht apparel. They, like everyone else in the camp, were liberally sprayed with DDT. This pesticide was later proven to be carcinogenic.

    Female British Red Cross workers modified their uniforms, ditching regulation skirts. “I always go about in slacks and battle dress, trousers being a greater protection against the louse!” Margaret Ward wrote home to her mother with forced bravado.

    Meanwhile, members of the Royal Army Medical Corps, better provisioned than anyone else at Belsen, wore “typhus suits” as they stretchered patients from the huts to the hospital. These outfits – complete with drawstring hoods, gauntlets and gaiters, but no masks – helped keep contagion at bay, though their alien appearance terrified some patients.

    British authorities “solved” their protective equipment crisis at Belsen by compelling captured German SS personnel to undertake the most dangerous work. Sometimes, prisoners were given rubberised capes. But more often, as numerous photographs taken by British military photographers attest, German prisoners handled corpses without any protection at all.

    Dressed in their SS uniforms, German men and women set to work (under armed guard) removing piles of contaminated clothing and dead bodies from the huts. With uncovered mouths and bare hands, they carried corpses to mass graves.

    In April and May 1945, anti-Nazi feelings ran understandably high among allied personnel, particularly those who just participated in the camps’ liberation. Few found anything ethically wrong with the decision to expose German prisoners to a high risk of infection.

    War crimes trials, with the prospect of execution for defendants found guilty, awaited SS prisoners. Forcing German camp personnel to confront the deadly consequences of their actions – in the most visceral way possible – struck most uniformed Britons as an entirely warranted form of retribution. A moral corrective for SS prisoners was also a medical expedient made necessary by the camp’s dire shortage of protective equipment.

    At Belsen, the consequences were predictable. Seven of the British medical students contracted typhus, though none seemingly died of the disease.

    The brunt was borne by the captured enemies. Reuters reported on June 28 1945 that 20 SS guards had “died of typhus before their trials by the war crimes court could be held”, adding that it was “believed that they caught the disease when they were forced to bury the bodies of some of the prisoners”.

    Meanwhile, Belsen’s survivors urgently required garments and footwear. Retributive justice played a role here too. British military personnel ordered German civilians in the environs of the camp to surrender clothing, shoes and bedding for use by survivors. Here was postwar redress at its most literal. People stripped of so much by the Third Reich would begin life anew in apparel removed from Germans.

    Susan L. Carruthers 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. Liberation of Bergen-Belsen: how a lack of protective clothing cost lives – https://theconversation.com/liberation-of-bergen-belsen-how-a-lack-of-protective-clothing-cost-lives-252838

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Loanboox accelerates the digitalization of real estate financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, Switzerland, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The digitalization of commercial real estate financing is gaining momentum – and Loanboox is establishing itself as a key technology partner for real estate companies across Europe. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution for the real estate industry, which was launched in 2022, is enjoying strong demand: the financing volume tendered via the Loanboox software now amounts to more than five billion euros, around 50 percent of which has been processed since the beginning of 2024 alone.

    “The real estate industry is local and highly fragmented. It is therefore under particular pressure to digitize processes and make them more transparent – especially when it comes to financing,” says Urs Meier, CEO of Loanboox. “With our software, we offer exactly the right tool at the right time: a comprehensive solution that efficiently brings borrowers and lenders together and maps the entire process from the tender to portfolio management.”

    A study conducted by Loanboox in collaboration with Fresenius University of Applied Sciences shows that 67% of the real estate companies surveyed see digitalization deficits in their core processes, especially in financing. Three out of four users explicitly want specialized industry software instead of general “office applications” – a clear sign of the need for tailor-made solutions.

    Loanboox’s software specifically addresses this need: Borrowers can manage the financing process digitally with their chosen lenders. The success in the commercial real estate financing segment speaks for itself: the average annual growth rate of user access is over 100 percent. In addition, around 90 percent of financing requests are successfully completed. In total, Loanboox’s technology has already processed well over EUR 100 billion in financing volumes across all customer segments since the company’s launch in 2016.

    Loanboox on its way to becoming pan-European financing software in real estate

    Loanboox customers have made financings in 16 European countries already, with Germany, Switzerland, France and Austria being the key markets. The company has recently seen a sharp increase in demand. In Germany in particular, Loanboox has signed up tier 1 real estate asset managers and project developers. And in the last six months alone they have already published financing requests in the three-digit million range via Loanboox’s software.

    “Today, we have more than 500 lenders in Europe using our software, who particularly appreciate the ease of use, the multilingualism and the quality of the tendering process. This means that Loanboox has one of the largest networks of lenders and the high number of repeat deals shows the very solid level of acceptance of our technology,” says Dominique Hügli, CPO (Chief Product Officer) at Loanboox. The large network of lenders is also particularly attractive for companies looking to finance real estate projects in the DACH region from other European countries.

    Debt Management module allows customers to manage their capital efficiently

    Another growth driver is the integrated debt management module: European asset managers, real estate companies, project developers and housing companies currently use the software to manage a loan volume of more than five billion euros via the software – and the trend is rising.

    “Our solution offers a 360-degree view for financing experts – from relationship management with lenders and financing processes to comprehensive loan management, evaluation and scenario planning,” explains Hügli.

    2025: Digitalization is advancing – broad market comparison for financing necessary

    With banks still reluctant to lend and the cost of managing loans rising, digital financing processes with a broad network of lenders are becoming increasingly important. Loanboox intends to take advantage of this momentum and the ongoing digitalization of the real estate industry and systematically expand its reach in Europe.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is of course also finding its way into the real estate industry and will in the future help finance teams to process complex data efficiently, identify suitable financing options more quickly and facilitate the exchange with lenders. Whether it is the automated extraction of information from loan agreements and term sheets, the creation of teaser documents or the targeted analysis of portfolio data, AI opens up new efficiency potential along the entire financing process. AI also significantly simplifies the intelligent search in the data room of a tender – a function that has already been successfully implemented at Loanboox. The continuous integration of AI will continue for Loanboox in 2025 to enable even more effective and data-driven collaboration between borrowers and lenders.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8038b456-146d-46c6-9430-8e7ab54b3663

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Tourism turbocharge takes New Zealand to the world

    Source: New Zealand Government

    A major drive boosting New Zealand as an international travel destination will kick off with a $13.5 million turbocharge for global marketing activity, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston has announced. 

    “We’re a Government relentlessly focused on growing the economy so Kiwis can get ahead. All the stats show tourism will play a leading role as that growth continues,” Louise Upston says.

    “Today I’m delighted to announce a $13.5 million investment for Tourism New Zealand to encourage more international visitors across multiple markets.

    “Encouraging more visitors means more people staying in our hotels, eating in our cafés, spending in our shops and visiting our attractions, creating jobs and driving economic growth.

    “The initial investment will include a focus on encouraging visitors from China, Australia, the United States, India, Germany and South Korea. In these countries and beyond there are millions of people actively considering coming here and experiencing all New Zealand has to offer. 

    “We know international marketing works, with around 14 per cent of international holiday visitors already being directly influenced by Tourism NZ’s marketing activity. 

    “We want to grow that influence. Our international visitor spending and visitor numbers have been rebuilding strongly, and we must make the most of that momentum. 

    “The $13.5 million announced today is estimated to result in more than 23,000 additional international visitors and spending an extra $100 million across the country. 

    “That will be a major boost, not just for tourism and hospitality providers, but in regions and communities throughout the country.

    “We have encouraging signs coming through from our ‘Everyone Must Go!’ campaign focused on Australia, but we won’t stop there.

    “2025 is our chance to reinforce the value of tourism and show what our humming, vibrant country has on show. New Zealand tourism is open for business. 

    “We already know our country has so much going for it. Now we need the global marketing to push that story even wider,” Louise Upston says.

    Specific campaigns will be announced as they continue to be developed during 2025.

    Notes for Editors

    Tourism’s key numbers

    • Tourism now contributes 7.5 per cent of GDP and continues to be our second highest export.
    • The Tourism Satellite Account shows total tourism expenditure in New Zealand of $44.4 billion for the year ending March 2024, an increase of $5.6 billion or 14.6 per cent compared to March 2023.
    • Overseas visitor expenditure increased by $6.3 billion (59.9 per cent) to $16.9 billion
    • International expenditure grew almost 60 per cent in the year ending March 2024.

    Tourism initiatives, funded through the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy, in 2025 include:

    • $500,000 for marketing New Zealand as the ‘go now’ destination for Australians
    • $9 million for New Zealand Cycle Trail Fund to enhance the Great Rides
    • $3 million for a Regional Tourism Boost
    • $3 million to secure more business events for New Zealand
    • $2.45 million for the second round of the Regional Events Promotion Fund
    • And an additional $30 million to support conservation visitor related experiences

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –