NewzIntel.com

Category: Germany

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign-funded enterprises increase investment, expand production in east China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Foreign investors have actively increased investment and expanded production in east China’s Fujian Province, expressing enthusiasm for investment and firm confidence in China.

    At the engine overhaul workshop of Taikoo Engine Services (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., an engineering branch of the multinational company Swire Group, maintenance engineers are busy repairing dozens of engines. Founded in 2008, the enterprise is a global one-stop aviation maintenance base in Xiamen.

    Simon Smith, director and general manager of the company, said that they saw revenue grow by over 30 percent in 2024. Moreover, he anticipates continued growth, projecting a compound annual growth rate of at least 5 percent for the next decade.

    According to Smith, the enterprise plans to invest around 100 million U.S. dollars in new technology and product development over the next few years. “We are going to invest in 4D inspection technologies, drone robotics, and AI technology, and build a 9,500-square-meter expansion to our facility which should be completed by January 2026,” he said.

    For Smith, the Chinese market is both huge and important, and it will continue to be central to their opportunities in the future. “The aviation market is growing in China, and it presents a lot of opportunities to grow with it,” he said.

    Alu Rehab (Xiamen) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Germany-headquartered Meyra Group, a global leader in wheelchairs and rehabilitation aids, has been a witness to China’s steady development over the years. In 2024, they enjoyed a record year in both turnover and the number of units sold.

    “The potential of China is huge. Our sales in the Chinese market over the last two years have increased. We have just talked to the distributors about this year and they are very optimistic for 2025,” said Jan Laegaard Broni, Meyra Group’s executive vice president. “So for sure, we’ll put more focus into domestic sales and activities in China.”

    “We always invest in research and development (R&D). This is what we have done for the last 15 years — investing in the future in China because we have always believed the potential is there,” he said.

    The new Xiamen Industrial Park, currently under construction and intended for rental by Schneider Electric, is more than double the size of its existing factory in Xiamen. It is expected to double its production capacity over the next five years.

    “The park will become a major R&D center, manufacturing center and supply hub for Schneider Electric to serve the global medium voltage market, which shows that the company has been optimistic about the Chinese market and we are determined to deepen the operations in Xiamen,” said Frederic Godemel, executive vice president, energy management, Schneider Electric.

    According to Godemel, China has always been an important source of innovation for Schneider Electric globally. Schneider Electric will continue to reinforce the “China Hub” strategy and continue to increase investment in innovation.

    In recent years, foreign investors have maintained strong enthusiasm for investing in Fujian, further deepening their presence in the Chinese market.

    Data show that in 2024, there were 102 newly introduced projects with an investment of more than 1 billion yuan (about 139.48 million U.S. dollars) each in Fujian Province, with the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises increasing by 9.7 percent. By the end of 2024, more than 75,000 enterprises had been set up by foreign investors in Fujian, and the actual use of foreign investment exceeded 150 billion U.S. dollars.

    In 2024, Fujian formulated and implemented a slew of measures to improve the quality and efficiency of foreign investment and protect the national treatment of foreign-invested enterprises. In February this year, China issued an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025. Per the plan, China will support pilot regions in effectively implementing opening-up policies related to such areas as value-added telecommunication, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, providing whole-journey services for foreign-invested projects in these sectors.

    “China’s proposal of high-quality development and new quality productive forces will undoubtedly bring more development opportunities for multinational enterprises. The Chinese market is very attractive. Schneider Electric is full of confidence in deepening our presence in the Chinese market,” said Godemel. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Busani Ngcaweni, Visiting Adjunct Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand

    The persistent challenge of falsified or misrepresented qualifications in South Africa exposes serious shortcomings in recruitment and appointment processes. Although the scale of the problem is difficult to quantify, it’s considered to be reaching “pandemic” levels. It is worse in the public sector.

    The problem became so serious that government introduced the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act in 2019, making it a criminal offence to misrepresent qualifications. It is punishable by up to five years in prison.

    Yet the scourge continues, despite severe personal and professional consequences for some.

    The alarmingly high number of individuals pretending to be qualified for high-profile positions undermines trust and capability in organisations.

    There have been cases involving top executives and directors of parastatals. Some major companies have not been spared.

    Once unsuitable people occupy positions of responsibility, it is difficult to remove them. Their performance seldom improves because they lack the foundation.

    Their incompetence can affect institutions severely because they can make wrong decisions that result in financial losses. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, for instance, suffered financially due to poor decisions made by unqualified executives.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s public service: real spending is falling, but demand is growing

    Some municipalities with unqualified personnel often hire expensive consultants.

    Teachers with fraudulent credentials compromise quality education. This deprives children of opportunities to better their lives.

    Unscrupulous individuals have also been caught masquerading as medical doctors, putting lives at risk.

    Important infrastructure projects have collapsed owing to fake engineers.

    I am a researcher and practitioner of public sector reforms. I also head the National School of Government, which leads the drive to make the country’s public sector professional. I argue that to deter qualifications fraud, the management of human resources in the public sector must be professional.

    South Africa can draw lessons from the private sector and other governments.

    Loopholes in the system

    The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act is aimed at deterring fraudulent qualifications. Some people have gone to jail for this crime.

    But measures to deter and punish it must be complemented by human resources management reforms.

    In my view, poor human resource screening processes, inadequate verification systems and ambiguous job descriptions and entry requirements contribute to appointing unsuitable candidates.

    The weekly public sector vacancies circular, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration, is a major source of data showing these limitations. It’s full of job advertisements where the minimum qualifications requirements are either too wide or below standard.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s public service is dysfunctional – the 5 main reasons why

    Some of the people who recruit and select staff are negligent. They fail to conduct thorough background checks or to screen applicants properly. This results in the appointment of unqualified and fraudulent candidates.

    Learning from the private sector

    The private sector, driven by competitive pressures and stakeholder expectations, developed robust systems to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of human resource functions. These systems can guide public sector reforms.

    Companies invest in advanced technologies and third-party verification services. They use agencies to check candidates’ fingerprints, verify qualifications, find references, and even do personality profiles.

    In contrast, public sector human resources personnel often rely on manual processes. These consume time and are prone to inaccuracies and manipulation. They can also be cumbersome as junior and middle management job advertisements often attract thousands of applicants.

    The private sector uses well-defined competency frameworks. These outline the skills, knowledge and experience required to evaluate a candidate.



    Read more:
    Africa should be building private-public partnerships in education

    Many private sector human resources practitioners belong to professional bodies. These enforce ethical standards. They also certify practitioners and promote ongoing professional development.

    Businesses also employ licensed and professional human resources practitioners. These are expected to be innovative, productive and ethical, and to act in the best interests of their employers. They can be dismissed if they lose their professional licence. These are guardrails against abuse.

    Learning from other governments

    India, China, South Korea, Singapore and several European nations have stringent public sector recruitment and selection methods. They emphasise merit and transparency to ensure only qualified and competent people are appointed.

    India’s Union Public Service Commission conducts a highly competitive civil services examination to recruit candidates.

    China uses the National Civil Service Examination, known as the Guokao. It evaluates candidates’ intellectual aptitude, policy knowledge and professional skills for jobs in government ministries and state-owned enterprises.

    South Korea’s Civil Service Examination system is a rigorous process which tests candidates’ analytical and managerial capabilities.

    Singapore is known for its efficient government. It employs structured assessment centres, psychometric testing and panel interviews to ensure capable people join the public sector.



    Read more:
    South Africa has a plan to make its public service professional. It’s time to act on it

    To uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity in governance, Germany and France have competitive entrance assessments for civil service roles.

    France’s Institut National du Service Public uses stringent entry requirements to prepare candidates for senior public service.

    South Africa introduced a pre-entry assessment called Nyukela/Step Up in 2020. It is applicable to public servants and citizens who wish to apply for a position in the senior management service.

    Professionalising the public sector

    Cabinet approved the National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector in October 2022. It aims to tighten pre-entry requirements and carefully screen applicants. This includes verifying qualifications, testing integrity and assessing competence. The framework requires that public sector entities develop detailed job descriptions.

    The framework will help block fraud by professionalising human resources, supply chain management and legal services, among others. It will help human resources practitioners improve their competencies and make them part of a wider professional network. This is important for continued professional development.

    There will be consequences when officials violate their professional code of ethics. This has worked for lawyers and accountants who are disbarred for ethical and professional breaches.

    The framework gives the Public Service Commission a role in recruiting of heads of departments. This step controls entry to top positions in the civil service. The commission will bring two or more subject matter sector experts into the selection panels, making the process more rigorous.

    Busani Ngcaweni is affiliated with the University of Johannesburg as Senior Research Associate and Wits School of Governance as Visiting Adjunct Professor

    – ref. South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-problem-with-people-in-the-public-service-lying-about-their-qualifications-what-needs-to-change-244942

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Busani Ngcaweni, Visiting Adjunct Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand

    The persistent challenge of falsified or misrepresented qualifications in South Africa exposes serious shortcomings in recruitment and appointment processes. Although the scale of the problem is difficult to quantify, it’s considered to be reaching “pandemic” levels. It is worse in the public sector.

    The problem became so serious that government introduced the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act in 2019, making it a criminal offence to misrepresent qualifications. It is punishable by up to five years in prison.

    Yet the scourge continues, despite severe personal and professional consequences for some.

    The alarmingly high number of individuals pretending to be qualified for high-profile positions undermines trust and capability in organisations.

    There have been cases involving top executives and directors of parastatals. Some major companies have not been spared.

    Once unsuitable people occupy positions of responsibility, it is difficult to remove them. Their performance seldom improves because they lack the foundation.

    Their incompetence can affect institutions severely because they can make wrong decisions that result in financial losses. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, for instance, suffered financially due to poor decisions made by unqualified executives.

    Read more: South Africa’s public service: real spending is falling, but demand is growing

    Some municipalities with unqualified personnel often hire expensive consultants.

    Teachers with fraudulent credentials compromise quality education. This deprives children of opportunities to better their lives.

    Unscrupulous individuals have also been caught masquerading as medical doctors, putting lives at risk.

    Important infrastructure projects have collapsed owing to fake engineers.

    I am a researcher and practitioner of public sector reforms. I also head the National School of Government, which leads the drive to make the country’s public sector professional. I argue that to deter qualifications fraud, the management of human resources in the public sector must be professional.

    South Africa can draw lessons from the private sector and other governments.

    Loopholes in the system

    The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act is aimed at deterring fraudulent qualifications. Some people have gone to jail for this crime.

    But measures to deter and punish it must be complemented by human resources management reforms.

    In my view, poor human resource screening processes, inadequate verification systems and ambiguous job descriptions and entry requirements contribute to appointing unsuitable candidates.

    The weekly public sector vacancies circular, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration, is a major source of data showing these limitations. It’s full of job advertisements where the minimum qualifications requirements are either too wide or below standard.

    Read more: South Africa’s public service is dysfunctional – the 5 main reasons why

    Some of the people who recruit and select staff are negligent. They fail to conduct thorough background checks or to screen applicants properly. This results in the appointment of unqualified and fraudulent candidates.

    Learning from the private sector

    The private sector, driven by competitive pressures and stakeholder expectations, developed robust systems to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of human resource functions. These systems can guide public sector reforms.

    Companies invest in advanced technologies and third-party verification services. They use agencies to check candidates’ fingerprints, verify qualifications, find references, and even do personality profiles.

    In contrast, public sector human resources personnel often rely on manual processes. These consume time and are prone to inaccuracies and manipulation. They can also be cumbersome as junior and middle management job advertisements often attract thousands of applicants.

    The private sector uses well-defined competency frameworks. These outline the skills, knowledge and experience required to evaluate a candidate.

    Read more: Africa should be building private-public partnerships in education

    Many private sector human resources practitioners belong to professional bodies. These enforce ethical standards. They also certify practitioners and promote ongoing professional development.

    Businesses also employ licensed and professional human resources practitioners. These are expected to be innovative, productive and ethical, and to act in the best interests of their employers. They can be dismissed if they lose their professional licence. These are guardrails against abuse.

    Learning from other governments

    India, China, South Korea, Singapore and several European nations have stringent public sector recruitment and selection methods. They emphasise merit and transparency to ensure only qualified and competent people are appointed.

    India’s Union Public Service Commission conducts a highly competitive civil services examination to recruit candidates.

    China uses the National Civil Service Examination, known as the Guokao. It evaluates candidates’ intellectual aptitude, policy knowledge and professional skills for jobs in government ministries and state-owned enterprises.

    South Korea’s Civil Service Examination system is a rigorous process which tests candidates’ analytical and managerial capabilities.

    Singapore is known for its efficient government. It employs structured assessment centres, psychometric testing and panel interviews to ensure capable people join the public sector.

    Read more: South Africa has a plan to make its public service professional. It’s time to act on it

    To uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity in governance, Germany and France have competitive entrance assessments for civil service roles.

    France’s Institut National du Service Public uses stringent entry requirements to prepare candidates for senior public service.

    South Africa introduced a pre-entry assessment called Nyukela/Step Up in 2020. It is applicable to public servants and citizens who wish to apply for a position in the senior management service.

    Professionalising the public sector

    Cabinet approved the National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector in October 2022. It aims to tighten pre-entry requirements and carefully screen applicants. This includes verifying qualifications, testing integrity and assessing competence. The framework requires that public sector entities develop detailed job descriptions.

    The framework will help block fraud by professionalising human resources, supply chain management and legal services, among others. It will help human resources practitioners improve their competencies and make them part of a wider professional network. This is important for continued professional development.

    There will be consequences when officials violate their professional code of ethics. This has worked for lawyers and accountants who are disbarred for ethical and professional breaches.

    The framework gives the Public Service Commission a role in recruiting of heads of departments. This step controls entry to top positions in the civil service. The commission will bring two or more subject matter sector experts into the selection panels, making the process more rigorous.

    – South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change
    – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-problem-with-people-in-the-public-service-lying-about-their-qualifications-what-needs-to-change-244942

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Hong Kong, Macao, overseas compatriots commemorate 20th anniversary of Anti-Secession Law

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Through a variety of events, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and overseas recently commemorated the 20th anniversary of the enforcement of China’s Anti-Secession Law.
    They commended the significance of the law in deterring separatist activities aimed at “Taiwan independence,” stemming external interference, safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
    Two decades ago, China’s top legislature voted to adopt the Anti-Secession Law. To mark the law’s enforcement since then, a symposium was held earlier this month in Beijing, stressing firm action against “Taiwan independence” separatist activities and foreign interference.
    Echoing the message sent during the Beijing symposium, Yiu Chi-shing, president of the Hong Kong Association for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, said in a seminar on March 15 that no individual or force can stop the invincible trend of China’s reunification.
    Attendees of the seminar, held by the association to mark the 20th anniversary of the Anti-Secession Law, unanimously stressed the need to understand the significant role of the law, to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and to advance the reunification of the motherland.
    On March 16, the Macao-based organization for promoting China’s peaceful reunification also held a seminar to mark the anniversary.
    Over the past 20 years, the legal framework for punishing “Taiwan independence” separatist activities has been further refined, while systems and policies in furtherance of Taiwan compatriots’ well-being have been improved, according to the seminar.
    Focusing on the same theme, the Alliance for China’s Peaceful Reunification, USA, recently held a seminar and issued a joint statement.
    The implementation of the law over the past two decades has formed a widely accepted consensus in the international community that red lines on the Taiwan question shall not be crossed, the statement said.
    From this anniversary forward, overseas Chinese in the United States will continue to make contributions to China’s cause of national reunification and rejuvenation, according to the statement.
    On March 15, the All Africa Association for Peaceful Reunification of China issued a joint statement that hails the significance of the law and condemns the separatist forces seeking “Taiwan independence” and the external forces supporting them.
    Overseas Chinese compatriots in France, Spain, Serbia, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, Indonesia and other countries also joined in the commemoration, voicing the common aspiration of Chinese both at home and abroad to oppose “Taiwan independence” and foreign interference and to advance the great cause of national reunification.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Germany

    Source:

    We’ve reviewed our travel advice for Germany and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution due to the threat of terrorism. Attacks can occur at any time. There have been multiple attacks using vehicles or knives in the last year. Be alert in public places and report suspicious activity to the police (see ‘Safety’). There are temporary border checks at all German land borders until 15 September.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: End of eternal ice: Many glaciers will not survive this century, climate scientists say

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI b

    Climate and Environment

    Glaciers in many regions will not survive the 21st century if they keep melting at the current rate, potentially jeopardising hundreds of millions of people living downstream, UN climate experts said on the first World Day for Glaciers.

    Together with ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, glaciers lock up about 70 per cent of the world’s freshwater reserves. They are striking indicators of climate change as they typically remain about the same size in a stable climate.

    But, with rising temperatures and global warming triggered by human-induced climate change, they are melting at unprecedented speed, said Sulagna Mishra, a scientific officer at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

    Hundreds of millions of livelihoods at risk

    Last year, glaciers in Scandinavia, the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and North Asia experienced the largest annual loss of overall mass on record. Glaciologists determine the state of a glacier by measuring how much snow falls on it and how much melt occurs every year, according to UN partner the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) at the University of Zurich.

    In the 500-mile-long Hindu Kush mountain range, located in the western Himalayas and stretching from Afghanistan to Pakistan, the livelihoods of more than 120 million farmers are under threat from glacial loss, Ms. Mishra explained.

    The mountain range has been dubbed the “third pole” because of the extraordinary water resources it holds, she noted.

    ‘Irreversible’ retreat

    Despite these vast freshwater reserves, it may already be too late to save them for future generations.

    Large masses of perennial ice are disappearing quickly, with five out of the past six years seeing the most rapid glacier retreat on record, according to WMO.

    The period from 2022 to 2024 also experienced the largest-ever three-year loss.

    “We are seeing an unprecedented change in the glaciers,” which in many cases may be irreversible, said Ms. Mishra.

    Ice melt the size of Germany

    WGMS estimates that glaciers, which do not include the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets, have lost more than 9,000 billion tonnes of mass since 1975.

    “This is equivalent to a huge ice block of the size of Germany with a thickness of 25 metres,” said WGMS director Michael Zemp. The world has lost 273 billion tonnes of ice on average every year since 2000, he added, highlighting the findings of a new international study into glacier mass change.

    “To put that into context, 273 billion tonnes of ice lost every year corresponds about to the water intake of the entire [world] population for 30 years,” Mr. Zemp said. In central Europe, almost 40 per cent of the remaining ice has melted. If this continues at the current rate, “glaciers will not survive this century in the Alps.”

    Echoing those concerns, WMO’s Ms. Mishra added that if emissions of warming greenhouse gases are not slowed “and the temperatures are rising at the rate they are at the moment, by the end of 2100, we are going to lose 80 per cent of the small glaciers” across Europe, East Africa, Indonesia and elsewhere.

    A trigger for large-scale floods

    Glacial melt has immediate, large-scale repercussions for the economy, ecosystems and communities.

    The latest data indicates that 25 to 30 per cent of sea level rise comes from glacier melt, according to the World Glacier Monitoring Service.

    Melting snowcaps are causing sea levels to rise about one millimetre higher every year, a figure that might seem insignificant, yet every millimetre will flood another 200,000 to 300,000 persons every year.

    “Small number, huge impact,” glaciologist Mr. Zemp said.

    © WMO

    Glacier cumulative mass balance change since 1970.

    Everyone is affected

    Floods can affect people’s livelihoods and compel them to emigrate from one place to another, WMO’s Ms. Mishra continued.

    “When you ask me how many people are actually impacted, it’s really everyone,” she stressed.

    From a multilateral perspective, “it is really high time that we create awareness, and we change our policies and…we mobilise resources to make sure that we have good, policy frameworks in place, we have good research in place that can help us to mitigate and also adapt to these new changes,” Ms. Mishra insisted.

    A day to consider world’s glaciers

    Providing added momentum to this campaign, the World Day for Glaciers on 21 March aims to raise awareness about the critical role that these massive frozen rivers of snow and ice play in the climate system. It coincides with World Water Day.

    To mark the occasion, which is one of the highlights of the 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, global leaders, policymakers, scientists and civil society representatives are due to gather at UN Headquarters in New York to highlight the importance of glaciers and to boost worldwide monitoring of the cryospheric processes of freezing and melting that affect them.

    WGMS’s Mr. Zemp, who also teaches glaciology at the University of Zurich, is already preparing for a world without glaciers.

    “If I think of my children, I am living in a world with maybe no glaciers. That’s actually quite alarming,” he told UN News.  

    “I really recommend going with your children there and having a look at it because you can see the dramatic changes that are going on, and you will also realise that we are putting a big burden on our next generation.”

    © USGS

    Scientists collecting data on South Cascade Glacier in the US state of Washington.

    Glacier of the Year

    This year’s Glacier of the Year 2025 is South Cascade Glacier in the US state of Washington.

    The body of ice, which has been continuously monitored since 1952, provides one of the longest uninterrupted records of glaciological mass balance in the western hemisphere.

    “South Cascade Glacier exemplifies both the beauty of glaciers and the long-term commitment of dedicated scientists and volunteers who have collected direct field data to quantify glacier mass change for more than six decades,” said Caitlyn Florentine, from the U.S. Geological Survey.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s Trade and Economic Outlook

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 6:10PM by PIB Delhi

     RBI Bulletin (March 2025): Navigating the Trade Deficit, Exports, and Economic Shifts

    In an era marked by escalating global trade tensions and persistent geopolitical uncertainties, the Indian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience and robust growth. The above findings are from Reserve Bank of India’s March 2025 bulletin which highlights the state of the economy in the country. The latest data-driven analysis underscores the strength of domestic fundamentals amidst a volatile global backdrop. While global economic uncertainties persist, India’s economy shows strong growth, supported by robust consumption and government spending. Inflation has moderated, and policy measures have helped stabilize market liquidity. However, foreign portfolio outflows and currency depreciation remain key risks.

    Domestic Economic Developments

    Resilient GDP Growth Amidst Global Challenges

    • India’s GDP is projected to grow by 6.5% in FY 2024-25, according to NSO’s Second Advance Estimates.
    • Quarter 3 GDP growth was 6.2%, rebounding from 5.6% in Q2 due to higher private consumption and government spending.
    • Sectors driving growth: construction, trade, and financial services.

    Foreign Portfolio Outflows & Currency Risks

    • Sustained foreign portfolio investor (FPI) outflows put pressure on stock markets and the rupee.
    • However, domestic investors increased their holdings, stabilizing market ownership structures.
    • Rupee depreciation risks remain due to external uncertainties.

    Inflation Trends: Headline Inflation Eases

    • CPI inflation fell to a 7-month low of 3.6% in February 2025, mainly due to a decline in vegetable prices.
    • However, core inflation (excluding food & fuel) rose to 4.1%, indicating persistent price pressures.

    Employment Trends

    • Manufacturing employment grew at the second-fastest rate since the PMI survey began.
    • Services sector employment also expanded significantly, reflecting strong demand.
    • Urban unemployment remains at a historic low of 6.4%.

    Trade & External Sector

     

    Import and Export Trends

    • Exports grew marginally by 0.1% to $395.6 billion from April 2024-Feb 2025 but merchandise exports declined by 10.9% YoY in February, largely due to base effects and weak global demand.
    • Top-performing export sectors: electronics, rice, and ores.
    • Weak export sectors: petroleum products, engineering goods, chemicals, and gems & jewellery.
    • Imports increased by 5.7% to $656.7 billion, driven by gold, electronics, and petroleum during April 2024-Feb 2025, however it fell by 16.3% in Feb 2025, leading to a narrowing trade deficit.
    • Oil and gold imports dropped significantly, contributing to the decline in overall imports.
    • Imports of electronic goods and machinery remained strong, reflecting domestic investment demand.

    Financial & Monetary Policies

    RBI’s Liquidity Management

    • RBI used open market operations (OMO), daily repo auctions, and dollar/rupee swaps to manage liquidity.
    • These measures helped stabilize domestic liquidity despite capital outflows.

    Sector-Specific Developments

    Agriculture Sector

    India’s foodgrain production for 2024-25 is estimated at 330.9 million tonnes, marking a 4.8% increase from 2023-24, driven by kharif production up 6.8% and rabi up 2.8%, according to second advance estimates.

    Automobile Sector

    • Car and motorcycle sales declined in February due to weaker demand.
    • Tractor sales saw double-digit growth, indicating strong rural economy demand.

    Infrastructure & Construction

    • Toll collections and E-way bills recorded double-digit growth, signalling robust infrastructure activity.
    • Government spending on infrastructure projects supported economic momentum.

    Global Setting

    Trade War & Tariffs Impacting Growth

    • The global economy entered 2025 with strong momentum but is now slowing due to increased protectionism and trade restrictions.
    • US-China tariff escalations could reduce US GDP growth by 0.6 percentage points in 2025 and shrink the economy by 0.3-0.4% in the long run.
    • OECD lowered global GDP forecasts to 3.1% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2026 due to slowing demand.

    Market Volatility & Currency Fluctuations

    • US dollar lost gains made since November 2024 due to trade policy uncertainty.
    • European bond yields surged as Germany and others increased military spending.
    • Equity markets worldwide have been volatile, reflecting fears of slowing growth.

    Commodity Markets & Inflationary Pressures

    • Global oil prices fell 15% since mid-January 2025 due to reduced demand expectations.
    • Gold prices hit a record high of $3000 per ounce due to investor flight to safety.
    • Food production outlook improved, with cereal production exceeding 2024 levels.

    Conclusion

    Despite global economic headwinds, India’s growth remains stable at 6.5%, supported by strong domestic demand. Inflation is under control, though core inflation remains sticky, necessitating careful monetary management. Trade challenges persist due to weak global demand, but a narrowing trade deficit offers some relief. While foreign investor outflows pose risks, robust domestic investment provides resilience. The RBI’s proactive policies have played a crucial role in stabilizing liquidity and inflation expectations. Overall, India’s economy is well-positioned for growth, but uncertainties in global markets, financial volatility, and trade disruptions remain key risks. Sustained policy support and domestic resilience will be essential in maintaining economic momentum.

    References:

    https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Bulletin/PDFs/0BULT19032025F9CCA0AB1F7294130A950E2FD5448B5FC.PDF

    Click here to see in PDF

    ***

    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Priya Nagar

    (Release ID: 2113316) Visitor Counter : 56

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Failure of the Federal Republic of Germany to pay EUR 289 billion in reparations owed to Greece – P-001024/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-001024/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Maria Zacharia (NI)

    The Greek Parliament has concluded that the Federal Republic of Germany owes Greece EUR 289 billion in World War II reparations and in compensation for material damage, Nazi atrocities, the forced loan exacted from occupied Greece and the return of stolen and looted archaeological treasures.

    The Federal Republic of Germany falsely claims that the matter was settled with the Treaty of London (1953), which in fact postponed the settlement, and the 2+4 Agreement (1990), which contained no relevant provision and which Greece neither participated in, signed nor ratified. Therefore, these texts neither settle nor invalidate Greece’s claims.

    In light of the fundamental principles and values the EU upholds in relation to the protection of human rights, justice and the rule of law, and given that the failure to resolve this issue is affecting the cohesion and unity of the EU, the disagreement between the two Member States needs to be resolved.

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

    • 1.How does it intend to assist and support the start of a dialogue between the two sides, with a view to achieving reconciliation and a peaceful resolution of historic differences?
    • 2.What steps does it intend to take to ensure that Member States comply with their international obligations, given that failure to resolve (the) claims constitutes a violation of international agreements supported by the EU itself?
    • 3.Does it not agree that the party responsible for the war should pay for the destruction they have caused?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron – A10-0030/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    PROPOSAL FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DECISION

    on the request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron

    (2024/2048(IMM))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron, received by letter dated 27 August 2024 from the German Federal Ministry of Justice, transmitting a request from the Munich I Chief Public Prosecutor, in connection with criminal proceedings pending before the Munich District Court, and announced in plenary on 16 September 2024,

    – having heard Petr Bystron in accordance with Rule 9(6) of its Rules of Procedure on 29 January 2025 and having regard to the documents submitted by him during the hearing,

    – having regard to Articles 8 and 9 of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union, and Article 6(2) of the Act of 20 September 1976 concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage,

    – having regard to the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union of 21 October 2008, 19 March 2010, 6 September 2011, 17 January 2013, 19 December 2019 and 5 July 2023[1],

    – having regard to Article 46 of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany,

    – having regard to Rule 5(2), Rule 6(1) and Rule 9 of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the report of the Committee on Legal Affairs (A10-0030/2025),

    A. whereas the Munich I Chief Public Prosecutor has requested the waiver of the parliamentary immunity of Petr Bystron, Member of the European Parliament, in the context of accusations brought against him under Section 86a of the German Criminal Code and in connection with Section 86 of the Code, regarding the alleged use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations;

    B. whereas the request indicates that, following the dismissal from office of the Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany on 12 July 2022, Petr Bystron allegedly published a photo montage on his Twitter account, showing clippings from pictures of persons having formerly occupied high public office, with each holding up their right or left arm with the hand outstretched and fingers pointing upwards; whereas the published collage is accompanied by the caption ‘Bye, bye […]! German politicians wave goodbye!’[2]; whereas Petr Bystron was accused of at least tacit acceptance that this photo montage would leave an objective Twitter user with the impression that the arm position depicted was the ‘Hitler salute’, as this was a form of greeting used by the Nazi regime; whereas Petr Bystron was charged with having distributed or publicly used in Germany symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organisations;

    C. whereas after carrying out investigations, the competent authorities submitted a request for waiver of the immunity of Petr Bystron, addressed to the German Bundestag, of which he was a member at the time; whereas the German Bundestag waived his immunity on 7 September 2023;

    D. whereas Petr Bystron was elected to the European Parliament at the European elections in 2024; whereas after the announcement of the final election result, the competent authorities, by decision of 9 July 2024, provisionally suspended the criminal proceedings against him in order to proceed with the request for waiver of his immunity;

    E. whereas Petr Bystron was not a Member of the European Parliament at the time of the alleged offence;

    F. whereas the alleged offence and the subsequent request for waiver of his immunity are not related to an opinion expressed or a vote cast by Petr Bystron in the performance of his duties within the meaning of Article 8 of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union;

    G. whereas Article 9, first paragraph, point (a), of Protocol No 7 on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union provides that Members of the European Parliament enjoy, in the territory of their own state, the immunities accorded to members of their parliament;

    H. whereas Article 46(2), (3) and (4) of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany provides that:

    ‘(2) A Member may not be called to account or arrested for a punishable offence without permission of the Bundestag unless he is apprehended while committing the offence or in the course of the following day.

    (3) The permission of the Bundestag shall also be required for any other restriction of a Member’s freedom of the person or for the initiation of proceedings against a Member under Article 18.

    (4) Any criminal proceedings or any proceedings under Article 18 against a Member and any detention or other restriction of the freedom of his person shall be suspended at the demand of the Bundestag.’;

    I. whereas the purpose of parliamentary immunity is to protect Parliament and its Members from legal proceedings in relation to activities carried out in the performance of parliamentary duties and which cannot be separated from those duties;

    J. whereas in accordance with Rule 5(2) of the Rules of Procedure, parliamentary immunity is not a personal privilege of the Member but a guarantee of the independence of Parliament as a whole and of its Members;

    K. whereas in this case, Parliament found no evidence of fumus persecutionis, which is to say factual elements indicating that the intention underlying the legal proceedings in question is to undermine the Member’s political activity in his capacity as a Member of the European Parliament;

    L. whereas Parliament cannot assume the role of a court, and whereas, in a waiver of immunity procedure, a Member cannot be regarded as a defendant[3];

    1. Decides to waive the immunity of Petr Bystron;

    2. Instructs its President to forward this decision and the report of its committee responsible immediately to the competent authority of the Federal Republic of Germany and to Petr Bystron.

    ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

     

     

    The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Announcement of a ‘round table’ on the elections in Poland organised by the Commission – E-001044/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001044/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Kosma Złotowski (ECR)

    A statement made by Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen regarding plans to organise a ‘round table’ on the presidential elections in Poland has raised a number of concerns. The responsibility for organising the electoral process lies exclusively with the national authorities and, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the EU must not take action unless it is more effective than action taken at national, regional or local level. This suggests that the Commission takes the view that Poland is not capable of organising elections in line with democratic standards.

    • 1.How does the Commission characterise the holding of a ‘round table’ concerning the monitoring of the organisation and conduct of the presidential elections in Poland in May 2025, and what measures are planned in this regard?
    • 2.What format will the meetings planned as part of the ‘round table’ take, who will participate in them, what will be the criteria for inviting stakeholders to participate, and will documentation from these meetings be produced and made available for review?
    • 3.Has the Commission ever undertaken similar activities falling under the concept of ‘round table’ in the context of democratic elections in Member States, and in particular in connection with recent elections in Europe: in Belgium in June 2024, in France in June and July 2024, in Romania in November and December 2024, in Croatia at the turn of 2024/2025, and in Germany in February 2025?

    Submitted: 11.3.2025

    Last updated: 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President calls for Europe to increase its collective deterrent

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

    Published on March 20, 2025

    Statement by M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, in Berlin (excerpts) (March 18, 2025)

    Check against delivery)

    Thank you very much, Chancellor, cher Olaf. (…)

    I’d like to return to a few points – first of all, to congratulate you on the Bundestag’s historic vote, which is good news for Germany and good news for Europe. It’s good news because it will enable us to do more for defence and investments, and we need that. Secondly, to get back to the issue of Ukraine, we’re continuing to support the Ukrainian army in its war of resistance against the Russian aggression, and we’re right to be doing so. We’re also in the process of raising funding that we’re fully committed to. I’m thinking of the European share of the G7 loan, and the €18 billion of revenues from frozen Russian assets to finance military support in particular. And it’s important to continue lending support at this time, when Russia has been stepping up the conflicts in recent days and again in recent hours, and continue standing by the Ukrainian people and their defence.

    You’re aware of what our position is. We were upholding peace, I would say, before the first day, because both of us did everything together in February 2022 to prevent a further operation after the annexation of Crimea and the initial, partial annexation of the Donbas that followed the operations of 2014. And so we’ve always been on the side of peace. In this regard, we mustn’t give in to any sort of inversion of values or discourse. That’s the historic role of Germany and France together and of Europe as a whole alongside the Ukrainians. The latest discussions are a step in the right direction, and indeed we want a solid, lasting settlement for Ukraine and for security in Europe.

    And in this regard, thanks to the work with the United Kingdom and Germany we have, I believe, done some useful work to persuade President Zelenskyy, and I believe he made a very good decision to have the courage to take a peace initiative with President Trump by agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire. The Chancellor has reported on the discussions we had before that conference. The first stages are being put in place, but the goal must remain the same: to have a measurable, verifiable ceasefire that is fully complied with, and to begin detailed, full peace talks that will allow for a solid, lasting peace and the guarantees that go with it. That’s still our aim. And obviously it’s inconceivable without the Ukrainians being around the table. That’s what we’ve also steadfastly argued for.

    In addition to Ukraine, on defence, tomorrow the Commission will present its White Paper, and there again our shared desire is to speed up the implementation of the plan we validated at the Council a few days ago, roll out the speediest and most efficient processes in order to have joint programmes, and basically continue defending ourselves, defending ourselves better, increasing our collective deterrence capabilities, and doing so by developing more equipment and capabilities in Europe – which means joint research, joint programmes, more simplicity and more speed. But this European added value which tends towards the strategic autonomy we both uphold is absolutely critical for us. It’s what we launched together in March 2022 with the so-called Versailles agenda, following the Russian aggression.

    We’re now in the implementation and action phase for issues of defence, production, joint procurement, simplification, standardization, and the release of available funding by the European Investment Bank and our national budgetary capabilities. On the issue of the economy – and the one doesn’t go without the other, because there’s no strategic autonomy in terms of defence and security unless Europe is also strongly competitive –, together we built in Meseberg a road map which is strategic for us, which remains totally valid as the Chancellor pointed out, which also, to a great extent, inspired the Commission’s guidelines, and which is also being rolled out, precisely with necessary reforms for simplification. And in this regard, the decisions at the end of February are a step in the right direction: regulatory simplification, lightening the burden, support for industry, clean tech, artificial intelligence, defending the plans for the automotive industry and for steel presented in recent days to our European manufacturers, and for the chemical industry of course, which all go in the same direction, which are support measures in the face of the world’s deregulation, measures of simplification, measures for greater competitiveness.

    In addition to simplification, strengthening the single market, defence policies and safeguarding clauses, we obviously built a historic agreement in Meseberg on the union of capital markets, with the desire in fact for European savings to fully finance major European innovation and investment projects. On each of these points we’re working together.

    And the Chancellor’s been very comprehensive – I don’t want to paraphrase him here – but I wanted to come back to these few points before this summit, which will essentially be about Ukraine, the implementation of our defence strategy and competitiveness. So we’ll meet again the day after tomorrow to continue this work, and certainly in the coming days and weeks, to continue not only this work for Europe but also this joint action alongside Ukraine for the sovereignty of our Ukrainian friends and the defence and security of all us Europeans. (…)./.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Oracle Database@Azure adds support for Base Database Service, Exadata Exascale and more

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Oracle Database@Azure adds support for Base Database Service, Exadata Exascale and more

    Oracle customers of all sizes rely on Oracle databases to run their mission-critical workloads, from financial systems to global supply chains. As they navigate digital transformation, they want to modernize their databases and applications in the cloud while enabling advanced AI, real-time analytics, and automation. That’s why Microsoft and Oracle partnered to create Oracle Database@Azure – and now we’re adding more options to serve customers of all sizes with Oracle Base Database Service coming soon and Exadata Exascale now generally available. Additionally, we’re expanding our regional availability for Oracle Database@Azure to the East US 2 region and adding important networking enhancements. 

    Oracle Base Database Service – coming soon!

    Not every database workload requires extreme performance. Some businesses need a simple, cost-effective way to run Oracle databases in Azure—without the overhead of managing infrastructure. 

    We are pleased to announce that Oracle Base Database Service will soon be available on Oracle Database@Azure. Base Database Service will run Oracle Database Enterprise Edition and Standard Edition 2 versions of 19c and 23ai on virtual machines. It offers automated database lifecycle management for reduced administration, low-code application development for faster deployment, and independently scalable compute and storage with pay-as-you-go pricing for flexible workload demands. 

    Base Database Service provides a low-friction, cost-effective entry point to Oracle Database@Azure so Oracle database customers can scale effortlessly and unlock agility in the cloud. 

    Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure is now generally available 

    Now workloads of any size can benefit from the performance, reliability, and availability benefits of high performance Exadata infrastructure with Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure running in Azure datacenters. 

    By leveraging Exascale’s intelligent data architecture, businesses can reduce infrastructure costs, making high-performance Oracle databases more accessible. Its highly elastic, cost-efficient solution enables organizations of any size to balance automation with control, and optimize AI, analytics, and transactional workloads. 

    Azure customers can purchase Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure through the Azure Marketplace via a custom private offer or pay-as-you-go model, with the option of using Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC). Existing Oracle Database customers can also bring their own license (BYOL) or use Unlimited License Agreements (ULAs).  

    With Exascale infrastructure, organizations only pay for the compute and storage resources used starting with a highly affordable minimum size—all within Azure’s trusted cloud ecosystem.

    Other announcements 

    In addition to the support for new Oracle database services, we’re proud to announce more capabilities and choice for our customers. 

    Bringing Oracle Database@Azure to East US 2 

    We’re pleased to announce the expansion of Oracle Database@Azure availability to the East US 2 region of Azure. With this addition,  

    Oracle Database@Azure is now available in 14 regions globally which is the highest amongst all hyperscalers – Australia East, Brazil South, Canada Central, East US, East US 2, Central US, France Central, Germany West Central, Italy North, Japan East, Southeast Asia, UK South, UK West and West US.  

    By the end of 2025, the service will expand to 18 additional regions, enhancing scalability and resilience worldwide. Eight multi-zone regions will include Central India, North Europe, South Central US, Spain Central, Sweden Central, UAE North, West US 2, and West US 3. 10 single-zone regions will include Australia Southeast, Brazil Southeast, Canada East, France South, Germany North, Japan West, North Central US, South India, West Europe, and UAE Central.  

    Microsoft is the only cloud provider offering a unique combination of multi- and single-zone regions to offer Oracle Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) at Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers for the highest levels of availability, disaster recovery, failover, and operational continuity. The global expansion of Oracle Database@Azure will continue to support alignment with Microsoft’s best practices for Disaster Recovery. For more details, please refer to Microsoft’s cross-region replication guidelines. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/reliability/regions-paired 

    Supercharging Performance with Oracle Exadata X11M  

    To help customers get even more from their Oracle databases in Azure, we’re excited to announce that Oracle Exadata Database Service on Dedicated Infrastructure on Oracle Database@Azure now supports Oracle Exadata X11M. This next-generation architecture delivers significantly increased performance for your AI, analytics, and mission-critical workloads compared to the previous generation — all without increasing infrastructure or consumption costs. 

    Enhanced networking capabilities for enterprise workloads 

    We’re continuing to enhance Oracle Database@Azure for enterprise workloads with new networking capabilities. With the addition of Network Security Groups (NSG), Private Link, Global Peering, and ExpressRoute FastPath, customers now benefit from enhanced security, higher performance, and improved connectivity to effortlessly integrate their Oracle databases with Azure services and infrastructure. 

    • Network Security Groups (NSG): Enforce fine-grained security policies, allowing customers to control access to their Oracle databases with ease. 
    • Private Link: Enable private, secure connections between Azure services and Oracle Database@Azure, reducing exposure to the public internet and enhancing compliance. 
    • Global Peering: Provide quick, high-speed interconnectivity across multiple Azure regions, improving disaster recovery and cross-region data replication. 
    • ExpressRoute FastPath: 
      • Optimize networking performance with direct, ultra-low-latency connections between apps hosted on Azure VMware Solution (AVS) and databases on Oracle Database@Azure. 
      • Accelerate migrations from on-premises environments to Oracle Database@Azure, ensuring fast, easy data transfer for mission-critical workloads like real-time analytics and financial transactions. 

    With Oracle Database@Azure running on OCI in Azure datacenters, customers benefit from: 

    • Analytics and insights – Combine Oracle and non-Oracle data with Microsoft Fabric for unified analytics, including AI-driven insights via Copilot and visualization using PowerBI. 
    • Comprehensive Data Governance & Compliance – Leverage Microsoft Purview to ensure robust data governance, security, and compliance across Oracle databases and Azure services, enabling unified data discovery, classification, and policy enforcement. 
    • AI-Powered Innovation – Build scalable, intelligent applications using Azure App Service, AKS, Azure DevOps, and AI services like Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI Service, and Azure Machine Learning. 
    • Enterprise-Grade Security– Strengthen enterprise security with Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM) for proactive threat detection and response, combined with Entra ID for robust identity protection and access management 
    • Seamless Cloud Migration & Integration – Simplify and accelerate Oracle database transitions to the cloud with Oracle Zero-Downtime Migration and Azure Migrate, ensuring seamless integration with native Azure services. 
    • Flexible & Cost-Effective Deployment – Benefit from OCI pricing parity, hybrid cloud connectivity, streamlined licensing, and enterprise agreements, ensuring predictable costs and procurement flexibility. 
    • Unified Support & High Availability – Enjoy joint Microsoft-Oracle enterprise-grade support, validated Maximum Availability Architecture (MAA) at Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers, and built-in disaster recovery and failover protections. 
    • Future-Proof Cloud Architecture – Run Oracle workloads natively on Azure with a fully tested, validated, and supported cloud service from two of the most trusted names in enterprise computing. 

    Get Started Today 

    Now is the time to unlock new possibilities. Get started today and take your enterprise workloads to the next level with Oracle Database@Azure. 

    Contact your Microsoft sales team.  

    Visit https://aka.ms/oracle to learn more. 

    Learn how to migrate and manage your Oracle databases in Azure. 

     

    MIL OSI Economics –

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

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

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

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

    This is hardly surprising given recent events.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Europe at the ready

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Putin’s options

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    About NordProtect

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

    More information: egidijus@nordsec.com

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Oral statement to Parliament

    Middle East: Foreign Secretary statement, 20 March 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    But negotiations have been gridlocked for several weeks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Hamas must release them all now.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    I commend this statement to the House.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Certification for eri silk

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 20 MAR 2025 2:50PM by PIB Delhi

    The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, has obtained Oeko-Tex certification for eri silk from Germany. Oeko-Tex is a worldwide certification for textiles such as yarns, fabrics, buttons, linens, terry cloth, thread, and other accessory materials that tests for harmful substances in raw, semi-finished and finished textile materials and products. The Oeko-Tex certification ensures that the final product is safe for human use.

    Obtaining the Oeko-Tex certification is a crucial milestone in enhancing the marketability of eri silk in the global textile industry. The certification ensures international buyers that eri silk meets international safety and quality standards, boosting consumer confidence and facilitating its acceptance in high-end markets. It also ensures that eri silk meets international compliance requirements for textile safety. This allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritize eco-friendly and chemical-free products. Additionally, Oeko-Tex certification aligns with global sustainability trends, making eri silk more attractive to brands and consumers seeking ethical and environmentally responsible textile choices.

    The eri silk industry remains largely unorganized with traditional methods still being predominant. Government of India through Central Silk Board has taken the following steps to develop & modernize the eri silk industry:

    1. Established Central Muga & Eri Research Institute at Lahdoigarh with its nested units, Assam to cater the needs of R&D, Training & extension support required to the eri silk sector.
    2. Efforts are in place through R&D Institute of Central Silk Board to modernize & upgrade the eri silk sector, through carryout innovative research required for the field and development & demonstration of improved package of practices & technologies among stakeholders to increase the production & productivity.
    3. Established Muga Eri Silkworm Seed Organization with its nested units for maintenance, production and supply of quality eri silkworm seed.
    4. Implementing Silk Samagra-2 scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26 for the overall development of sericulture industry in the country including eri silk sector.

           This information was given by the Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North     Eastern Region Dr. Sukanta Majumdar in a written reply to a question in  Rajya Sabha today.

    *****

        Samrat/Allen: donerpib[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2113212) Visitor Counter : 118

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Poland: Electricity grid to get further upgrades with EIB loan payment of over €400 million to Orlen Group

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB set for loan of 1.7 billion Polish zlotys (€405 million) for Orlen to finance investment programme of its electricity supplier Energa Operator and improve and expand Poland’s electricity network
    • Loan to make Polish power grid more reliable and green, bolstering customer service, climate action and energy independence
    • Loan marks third and final tranche of 3.5-billion-zloty EIB loan to Orlen for upgrades to Poland’s power infrastructure

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed 1.7 billion Polish zlotys (€405 million) to electricity supplier Energa to improve and expand Poland’s electricity network. This is the third and final tranche of a 3.5- billion-zloty loan to Orlen for upgrades to power distribution grid in northern and central Poland.

    With the latest EIB loan tranche, Orlen subsidiary Energa Operator will upgrade over 4,600 kilometres of existing grid infrastructure, build a further 2,300 km of power lines in Poland to accommodate around 25,000 new customers. Energa Operator will also be able to modernize its electricity network’s metering systems.

    “Our support to Orlen is a strategic investment in the sustainable and long-term growth of the Polish economy,” said EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwinska. “This underlines our strong commitment to a genuine and fair green transition, development of modern energy infrastructure and energy security for Poland and the European Union.”

    The operation advances EU goals to expand clean power such as wind and solar, become climate neutral by mid-century and reduce reliance on energy imports, outlined in RePowerEU initiative of the European Commission. It also strengthens a Polish aim of accelerating the shift to a net-zero-emissions power grid.

    “This record-high financing from the European Investment Bank is a strong vote of confidence in our growth strategy. We have an ambitious yet well-structured plan that will not only create value for our shareholders but also contribute to the broader economy. The EIB funding will be directed toward investments in our electricity distribution network, such as building new power lines and connecting new customers, including prosumers with their own renewable energy sources. These projects will be carried out by Energa Operator, which, thanks to the financing secured by ORLEN, is well-positioned to reinforce its leadership in Poland’s energy transition,” said Magdalena Bartoś, Vice President of the Management Board and Chief Financial Officer at ORLEN.

    The EIB loan supports Energa Operator long-term plans to expand the Polish national grid by 11,000 kilometres of new power lines and 7,000 kilometres of underground cables, while upgrading nearly 10,000 kilometres of existing infrastructure by the end of 2035. These investments will enable the connection of 350,000 new customers and integration of 9 GW of renewable energy sources, increasing the installed capacity of the national grid by more that 16 percent, and add energy storage facilities to further stabilise the power system.

    Background information

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    In 2024, the EIB Group financing in Poland grew to €5.7 billion. This bolstered sustainable development of cities and regions, energy transition and included the group’s largest security defence project last year.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    ORLEN Group is an integrated multi-utility energy company listed in the prestigious global Fortune Global 500. It was the first company in the region to declare achieving total emission neutrality in 2050. Thanks to the recent acquisitions and mergers, it became one of the 150 largest companies in the world. The company operates on 10 home markets: Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Canada, Norway and Pakistan. Retail sales are carried out using the largest network of 3,500 fuel stations in the region. The ORLEN Group’s offer reaches over 100 countries on 6 continents.

    By the end of this decade, ORLEN will have invested over PLN 320 billion to implement strategic projects, of which approximately 40% will be allocated to green investments, including wind energy at sea and on land, photovoltaics, biogas and biomethane, biofuels, electromobility, green hydrogen and synthetic fuels.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Continued momentum for Oxford Metrics’ smart manufacturing division

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    20 March 2025

    Oxford Metrics plc

    (“Oxford Metrics” or the “Group”)

    Continued momentum for Oxford Metrics’ smart manufacturing division

    Appointment of smart manufacturing managing director
    Industrial Vision Systems wins three contact lens inspection contracts since October 2024

    Oxford Metrics plc (LSE: OMG), the smart sensing and software company servicing life sciences, entertainment, engineering and smart manufacturing markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Simon Gunter as managing director of our smart manufacturing division. The Group also announces that Industrial Vision Systems (“IVS”) has secured three contracts for global contact lens manufacturers with a combined value of c. £1.6 million (contained within current FY25 market expectations).

    Appointment of managing director, smart manufacturing

    Dr Simon Gunter has been appointed managing director of our smart manufacturing division, to lead and build the Group’s position in this important market and growth area. Simon is an experienced c-level leader with an extensive track record of growing early-stage technology businesses and successfully implementing change through business transformation, strategy and direction, M&A, and launching innovative products.

    Simon has held executive board positions at Evinox Holding, Minibems, Nomad Digital and AlertMe and senior leadership positions at companies including Tiscali, Pirelli and 360networks, across the UK, Europe and North America.

    Contact lens inspection contracts

    IVS has secured three contracts for well-known, global, contact lens manufacturers. We are pleased to see that two of these contracts are with existing customers expanding their relationship with IVS. The third contract is with a new customer in contact lens manufacturing, as companies within IVS’ addressable market recognise the value of IVS’ specialised machine vision inspection systems for automated quality control.

    Under the contracts, IVS will supply non-contact inspection systems enabling the manufacturers to automatically detect lens defects, errors and other irregularities, ensuring ‘right first time’ products. These inspection systems offer state-of-the-art checking, guidance and sorting using machine learning AI techniques, optimising line efficiency and increasing yield, while guaranteeing contact lens production quality.

    Imogen O’Connor, CEO of Oxford Metrics, said, “Having established our presence in the smart manufacturing market, Simon, our new smart manufacturing managing director, brings a great deal of experience and will be a fantastic addition to the team as we work together to help build and capture more of this growth market.

    I am also pleased to announce the recent contract wins; as demand for machine vision inspection continues to grow, manufacturers are increasingly turning to IVS’ technology to automate complex visual tasks, detect defects, and ensure quality products. The opportunity for inspection automation in manufacturing sectors such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, automotive and aerospace is very exciting, as smart manufacturing becomes the standard.”

    For further information please contact:

    Oxford Metrics +44 (0) 1865 261860
    Imogen O’Connor, CEO  
    Zoe Fox, CFO
    Emma Colven, Head of Communications    		  
       
    FTI Consulting +44 (0)20 3727 1000
    Matt Dixon / Emma Hall / Jemima Gurney  

    About Oxford Metrics

    Oxford Metrics is a smart sensing and software company that enables the interface between the real world and its virtual twin. Our smart sensing technology helps over 10,000 customers in more than 70 countries, including all of the world’s top 10 games companies and all of the top 20 universities worldwide. Founded in 1984, we started our journey in healthcare, expanded into entertainment, winning an OSCAR® and an Emmy®, moved into defence, engineering and smart manufacturing. We have a strong track record of creating value by incubating, growing and then augmenting through acquisition, unique technology businesses.

    The Group trades through its market-leading division Vicon, Industrial Vision Systems, and recently acquired, The Sempre Group. Vicon is a world leader in motion measurement analysis to thousands of customers worldwide, including Red Bull, Imperial College London, Dreamscape Immersive, Industrial Light & Magic, and NASA. Industrial Vision Systems is a specialist in machine vision software and technology for high precision, automated quality control systems trusted by blue-chip, smart manufacturing companies across the globe including BD, DePuy, Jaguar Land Rover, Johnson & Johnson, Zytronic and Alkegen. Sempre is a measurement specialist solving manufacturing challenges across multiple industries. Through their expert in-house consultants and partnerships with over 25 well-known manufacturers including Jenoptik, Renishaw and Micro-Vu, Sempre offers an extensive range of products and software to customers in aerospace, automotive, medical, energy and precision engineering.

    The Group is headquartered in Oxford with offices in the United Kingdom, United States and Germany. Since 2001, Oxford Metrics (LSE: OMG), has been a quoted company listed on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. For more information about Oxford Metrics, visit www.oxfordmetrics.com.

    About Reach announcements

    This is a RNS Reach announcement. Reach is an investor communication service aimed at assisting listed and unlisted companies to distribute media only / non-regulatory news releases into the public domain. Information required to be notified under the AIM Rules, Market Abuse Regulation or other regulation would be disseminated as an RNS regulatory announcement and not on Reach.

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

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

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

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

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

    Why this update matters

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

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

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

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

    Key updates in the standard

    The revised UNECE Standard S-1 includes:

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

    The future of seed potato trade

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

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

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Staying READY

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    @usarmy troops from the @2DStryker conduct a Table XII field artillery certification at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. Platoon-level certifications keep soldiers current and ready to dominate in unified land operations.

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1unzANdPbrE

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Report reveals young people nearly fives time more likely to be put out of work

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New Report reveals young people nearly fives time more likely to be put out of work

    New Keep Britain Working Review report reveals an increase of 1.2 million young people with work limiting health conditions 

    • Nearly 1 in 4 people out of work due to ill health are under 35 – underlining the need for government’s employment and welfare reforms 
    • Government to consider independent recommendations on partnering with employers to keep young people in work  
    • Follows sweeping package of welfare to reforms to unlock work and boost living standards as part of the government’s Plan for Change 

    Young people with mental health conditions are nearly five times more likely to be economically inactive compared to others in their age group, according to new analysis published today [Thursday 20 March] by the Keep Britain Working Review.    

    Statistics in the report also show around a quarter of those who are economically inactive due to ill-health are under the age of 35 – illustrating how early barriers are impacting many of those who may be beginning their work journey or developing. 

    The findings are part of the review’s Discovery Phase report, as former John Lewis boss Sir Charlie Mayfield examines the factors behind spiralling levels of inactivity, and how government and businesses can work together to tackle the issue.  

    The Keep Britain Working Review was announced as part of the Get Britain Working White Paper which set out the biggest employment reforms for a generation to get Britain working and unlock growth as part of the plan for change. It also includes plans for overhauling job centres, empowering mayors and local areas to tackle inactivity, and delivering a Youth Guarantee so all young people are either earning or learning  

    Today’s report sets out the economic inactivity challenges facing the UK and how this compares to other countries. It finds that:  

    • There are 8.7 million people in the UK with a work-limiting health condition, up by 2.5 million (41 per cent) over the last decade, including 1.2 million 16 to 34-year-olds and 900,000 50 to 64-year-olds   

    • These figures show young people (16 to 34-year-olds) with mental health conditions are 4.7 times more likely to be economically inactive than their cohort   

    • Those who are out of work for less than a year are five times more likely to return to work compared to those who are out of work longer  

    The report also highlights the potential economic benefit of better prevention, retention and rapid rehabilitation: it finds that tackling sickness absence and ill-health related economic inactivity through these measures could be worth £150 billion a year to the economy.  

    Chair of the independent review, Sir Charlie Mayfield, said:       

    Our initial report published today confirms the scale of rising economic inactivity and what’s driving it. It underlines the urgency that we tackle this challenge by improving prevention and retention of those in work and by creating better pathways back into work for those who are economically inactive.   

    It’s a problem that can and must be addressed by government and employers together. Even at this initial stage of the review, we have found inspiring examples of employers making a difference that’s literally life changing for some people. We need more of these on a greater scale and, in the next stages of the review, we will be engaging with many organisations to establish how that can be achieved.  

    Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, said:   

    We must do far more to help people stay in work and get back quickly if they fall out. That’s why, as part of the reforms in our Pathways to Work Green Paper and our Plan for Change, we are making a decisive shift towards prevention and early intervention.  

    We want to help more employers to offer opportunities for disabled people, including through measures such as reasonable adjustments, and we are consulting on reforming Access to Work so it is fit for the future.  

    I want to thank Sir Charlie for this report. It shows the potential for what government and employers can do together to create healthier, more inclusive workplaces, so we build on the great work some businesses are already doing. 

    Separate research also suggests that if the UK could reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training by a third, to match Germany’s rate, UK GDP could increase by 1.8% in the long-term (equivalent to £38 billion) – underpinning why health and disability reform to get Britain working is central to unlocking growth and delivering on the Plan for Change.  

    The government has already hit the ground running on prevention to address the mental health challenges young people are facing and ensure they get the treatment they need. This includes investing £26 billion in the NHS, including in mental health services and recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult services to reduce delays and provide faster treatment. 

    We have already helped almost 70,000 people with mental health issues back into employment last year as part of the expansion of the Talking Therapies programme, up more than 60% on the year before and we are continuing to expand the programmes so more people can benefit from treatment.  

    The report sets out the main areas for the next stage of engagement – where in the coming months written submissions and face-to-face engagements with businesses and stakeholders will gather evidence to develop recommendations to come in Autumn.  

    The government has also put in place measures to make work pay and more secure, to help keep more people in work and support employers with retention. 

    This includes through the Employment Rights Bill which will strengthen workers’ rights protections, including expanding Statutory Sick Pay to 1.3 million of the lowest earners who previously received nothing, ensuring employees have the right to payments from the first day they are ill – so no one has to choose between their health or staying in work.  

    We are also increasing the National Living Wage from April, benefiting 3 million of the lowest paid full-time workers by up to £2,500 and introducing a Youth Guarantee to ensure every young person is either learning or earning.  

    This Discovery report comes as the Work and Pensions Secretary set out the largest welfare reforms for a generation this week to help those sick and disabled people who can work into jobs – backed by £1 billion investment.  

    This includes consulting on delaying access to the health top up in Universal Credit until someone is aged 22, with savings reinvested into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee.  

    These range of measures also include scrapping the controversial Work Capability Assessment that drives people into dependency and introducing the biggest package of new employment support including an early support conversation to stop an inactivity spiral.    

    The new measures are designed to ensure a welfare system that is fit for purpose and available for future generations – opening up employment opportunities, boosting economic growth and tackling the spiralling benefits bill, while also ensuring those who cannot work get the support, they need as part of the government’s Plan for Change.  

    This will end years of inaction, which has led to one in eight young people not currently in work, education or training and 2.8 million people economically inactive due to long term sickness – one of the highest rates in the G7.   

    All this has driven the spiralling benefits bill, forecast to reach £70 billion a year of spending on health and disability benefits for working age people by the end of the decade, or more than £1 billion a week.     

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: New Zscaler AI Security Report Reveals an Over 3,000% Surge in Enterprise Use of AI/ML Tools

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • ChatGPT is the most popular AI/ML application, accounting for nearly half of all AI/ML transactions (45.2%) and is also the most-blocked AI application, followed by Grammarly, and Microsoft Copilot as the second and third most-blocked applications, respectively
    • Agentic AI and open-source model DeepSeek are creating new opportunities for threat actors to weaponize AI and automate and scale their attack
    • The top five countries generating the most AI/ML transactions are the United States, India, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan
    • The Finance & Insurance and Manufacturing industries generate the most AI/ML traffic, with 28.4% and 21.6% share of all AI/ML transactions in the Zscaler cloud, respectively, followed by Services (18.5%), Technology (10.1%), Healthcare (9.6%), and Government (4.2%)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., March 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today released the ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report, based on insights from more than 536 billion AI transactions processed between February 2024 to December 2024 in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™platform, the largest in-line security cloud, which discovered real-world threat scenarios ranging from AI-enhanced phishing to fake AI platforms. This report also explores recent developments in areas that will undoubtedly influence AI in 2025 and beyond, including agentic AI, the emergence of DeepSeek, and the evolving regulatory landscape.

    The report reveals a 3,000+% year-over-year growth in enterprise use of AI/ML tools, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI technologies across industries to unlock new levels of productivity, efficiency, and innovation. Enterprises are sending significant volumes of data to AI tools, totaling 3,624 TB, underscoring the extent to which these technologies are integrated into operations. However, this surge in adoption also brings heightened security concerns. Enterprises blocked 59.9% of all AI/ML transactions, signaling enterprise awareness around the potential risks associated with AI/ML tools, including data leakage, unauthorized access, and compliance violations. Threat actors are also increasingly leveraging AI to amplify the sophistication, speed, and impact of attacks—forcing enterprises to rethink their security strategies.

    “As AI transforms industries, it also creates new and unforeseen security challenges,” said Deepen Desai, Chief Security Officer at Zscaler. “Data is the gold for AI innovation, but it must be handled securely. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange platform, powered by AI with over 500 trillion daily signals, provides real-time insights into threats, data, and access patterns—ensuring organizations can harness AI’s transformative capabilities while mitigating its risks. Zero Trust Everywhere is the key to staying ahead in the rapidly evolving threat landscape as cybercriminals look to leverage AI in scaling their attacks.”

    Key Insights from the ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report

    ChatGPT Dominates AI/ML Transactions, But Security Concerns Remain
    ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used AI/ML application, driving 45.2% of identified global AI/ML transactions in the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange. However, it was also the most-blocked tool due to enterprises’ growing concerns over sensitive data exposure and unsanctioned use. Other most-blocked applications include Grammarly, Microsoft Copilot, QuillBot, and Wordtune, showing broad usage patterns for AI-enhanced content creation and productivity improvements.

    “We had no visibility into ChatGPT. Zscaler was our key solution initially to help us understand who was going to it and what they were uploading.”
    —Jason Koler, CISO, Eaton Corporation | See the video case study

    DeepSeek and Agentic AI: Innovation Meets Escalating Threats
    AI is amplifying cyber risks, with usage of agentic AI and China’s open-source DeepSeek enabling threat actors to scale attacks. So far in 2025, we’ve seen DeepSeek challenge American giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, disrupting AI development with strong performance, open access, and low costs. However, such advancements also introduce significant security risks.

    Geographies Leading AI Adoption: US and India
    The United States and India generated the highest AI/ML transaction volumes, representing the global shift toward AI-driven innovation. However, these changes aren’t occurring in a vacuum, and organizations in these and other geographies are grappling with increasing challenges like stringent compliance requirements, high implementation costs, and shortage of skilled talent.

    Finance & Insurance Lead Enterprise AI Traffic by Industry
    The Finance & Insurance sector accounted for 28.4% of all enterprise AI/ML activity, reflecting its widespread adoption, and indicative of the critical functions supported by the industry, such as fraud detection, risk modeling, and customer service automation. Manufacturing was second, accounting for 21.6% of transactions, likely driven by innovations in supply chain optimization and robotics automation. Additional sectors, including Services (18.5%), Technology (10.1%), and Healthcare (9.6%), are also increasing their reliance on AI, while each industry also faces unique security and regulatory challenges posing new risks and possibly impacting the overall rate of adoption.

    The Zscaler AI Advantage
    Built on a true zero trust architecture, Zscaler delivers Zero Trust Everywhere, securing user, workload, IoT/OT communication using business policies, not network policies. Zscaler mitigates AI-powered threats by hiding applications and IP addresses from attackers, inspecting all traffic for threats, and ensuring users access only authorized applications—never full networks. This approach minimizes the attack surface, prevents lateral movement, and stops threats before they can cause harm. Zscaler protects its users against today’s most sophisticated AI-driven threats by implementing the following:

    • Zero Trust Foundation: Minimize the external attack surface through continuous verification and least-privilege access.
    • Real-time AI Insights: Employ predictive and generative AI to deliver actionable insights that enhance security operations and digital performance.
    • Data Classification: Leverage AI-driven classification to seamlessly detect and safeguard sensitive data across Zscaler’s Data Fabric.
    • Threat Protection: Block AI-enhanced threats through continuous monitoring and response powered by the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange.
    • App Segmentation: Restrict lateral movement and reduce the internal attack surface with AI-driven, automatic app segmentation.
    • Breach Prediction: Harness the power of Zscaler Breach Predictor that combines the power of generative AI and multi-dimensional predictive models.
    • Cyber Risk Assessments: Leverages AI-generated security reports to continuously optimize your zero trust implementation.

    Download the Full ThreatLabz 2025 AI Security Report
    Download the full version of the 2025 AI Security Report here for more information about real-world threat scenarios, AI predictions, insights into AI regulations, and AI best practices.

    Methodology
    Analysis of 536.5 billion total AI and ML transactions in the Zscaler cloud from February 2024 to December 2024. The Zscaler global security cloud processes over 500 trillion daily signals and blocks 9 billion threats and policy violations per day, delivering over 250,000 daily security updates.

    About ThreatLabz
    ThreatLabz is the security research arm of Zscaler. This world-class team is responsible for hunting new threats and ensuring that the thousands of organizations using the global Zscaler platform are always protected. In addition to malware research and behavioral analysis, team members are involved in the research and development of new prototype modules for advanced threat protection on the Zscaler platform, and regularly conduct internal security audits to ensure that Zscaler products and infrastructure meet security compliance standards. ThreatLabz regularly publishes in-depth analyses of new and emerging threats on its portal, research.zscaler.com.

    About Zscaler
    Zscaler (NASDAQ: ZS) accelerates digital transformation so customers can be more agile, efficient, resilient, and secure. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform protects thousands of customers from cyberattacks and data loss by securely connecting users, devices, and applications in any location. Distributed across more than 150 data centers globally, the SASE-based Zero Trust Exchange™ is the world’s largest in-line cloud security platform.

    Media Contact
    Natalia Wodecki
    press@zscaler.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9c2bf5d3-5720-4db8-bf1f-a9675f48840e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Germany delivers 32 trucks to support aid convoy for Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Germany on Wednesday delivered 32 trucks to the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) to join its convoy for aid delivery to Gaza.

    JHCO Secretary-General Hussein Shibli thanked Germany for its continued support, emphasizing the importance of international solidarity in delivering aid to those in urgent need.

    The German Embassy in Jordan, at the handover ceremony, said the Jordanian humanitarian corridor is a “lifeline” for Gaza and its residents, who are in dire need of assistance.

    Due to its strategic geographical position, Jordan has been playing a key role in facilitating the flow of aid into the besieged enclave.

    Additionally, the Jordan Armed Forces’ Royal Medical Services Directorate received the seventh batch of German medical aid, including treatments and equipment. German Ambassador Bertram von Moltke said Germany has supplied Jordanian field hospitals in Gaza with approximately 16 tonnes of medical supplies since 2023. 

    MIL OSI China News –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

                                                    

    Strasbourg and Düsseldorf, March 20, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    OLB, a leading bank in Germany

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    About OLB

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

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

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

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

    About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

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

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

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

    Find out more at creditmutuelalliancefederale.fr

    About TARGOBANK

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

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

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

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

    Further information: www.TARGOBANK.de

                                                    

    Strasbourg and Düsseldorf, March 20, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    OLB, a leading bank in Germany

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    About OLB

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

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

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

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

    About Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale

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

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

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

    Find out more at creditmutuelalliancefederale.fr

    About TARGOBANK

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

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

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

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

    Further information: www.TARGOBANK.de

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 8th Joint Working Group Meeting between INDIA-GERMANY on Agriculture held today.

    Source: Government of India (2)

    8th Joint Working Group Meeting between INDIA-GERMANY on Agriculture held today.

    Cooperation in digital agriculture, seeds sector, mechanization & technology, horticulture sector, animal husbandry and fisheries were discussed in detail.

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 9:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The meeting was chaired by co-chaired by Ms. AlkaUpadhyay, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ms. Silvia Bender, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Cooperation in digital agriculture, seeds sector, mechanization & technology, horticulture sector, animal husbandry and fisheries were discussed in detail.

    The 8th India-Germany Joint Working Group (JWG) Meeting on Agriculture was co-chaired by Ms. AlkaUpadhyay, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Ms. Silvia Bender, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), on 19th March 2025 at the National Agricultural Science Complex, PUSA, New Delhi.

    In her welcome address, Ms. Upadhyay underscored the strong ties between India and Germany, highlighting the robust collaboration on global issues and the strategic partnership nurtured through the Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC) since 2011. She emphasized the significance of cooperation in the agricultural sector, particularly in digital technologies, and noted the impressive agricultural trade between the two nations. She also pointed out ongoing collaborations in agroecology, seed production, and sustainable practices, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening ties and exploring new avenues for agricultural cooperation.

    Ms. Silvia Bender expressed Germany’s deep appreciation for its partnership with India and reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, especially in agriculture and allied sectors. She acknowledged the common challenges faced by both countries and stressed the importance of working together to find innovative solutions. She further reiterated Germany’s readiness to share its experience and vision to enhance cooperation in agriculture.

    Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu provided an insightful overview of India’s agricultural achievements, emphasizing its pivotal role in both domestic and global food security. He highlighted the government’s initiatives, including the Digital Agriculture Mission, the LakhpatiDidi Program, KrishiSakhi, and efforts to empower farmers through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Mr. Sahu also elaborated on programs such as Natural and Organic Farming, Crop Insurance, e-NAM, and AgriSURE, all aimed at advancing the agriculture sector and fostering rural development.

    In discussing areas of cooperation, Dr.PramodMehreda highlighted the crucial role of digital agriculture, emphasizing the importance of exchanging best practices in the use of digital technologies for pest and disease management.

    The meeting focused on critical areas of cooperation, including artificial intelligence, digitization in agriculture, mechanization, the seed sector, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries.

    The German delegation included representatives from BMEL, its subordinate authorities, and various institutions.From Indian side, Joint Secretaries of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for Horticulture, Natural Resource Management, and Mechanisation participated in the meeting along with representatives of Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

     

    ****

    MG/RN/KSR

    (Release ID: 2113081) Visitor Counter : 61

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES OTT to stream DFB-Pokal semi-finals & grand finale live in India, delivering world-class football action to fans

    Source: Government of India (2)

    WAVES OTT to stream DFB-Pokal semi-finals & grand finale live in India, delivering world-class football action to fans

    WAVES OTT launches exclusive contest for Indian fans: win a trip to Germany for the DFB-Pokal final

    India-Germany football partnership strengthens:  DFB-Prasar Bharati agreement paves the way for 20 young Indian footballers to train in Germany

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 7:01PM by PIB Delhi

    Football fans in India have exciting news as WAVES OTT, in partnership with DFB-Pokal, will stream the semi-final matches live on April 2nd and 3rd, followed by the grand finale on May 24th, 2025. To strengthen football ties between India and Germany, Prasar Bharati and DFB have signed an important agreement to bring more football content to India and launch an Under-17 talent search tournament, where 20 young Indian players will get a chance to train in Germany.

    Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati stated, “This collaboration with DFB not only brings top-tier football action to Indian audiences but also opens doors for our young footballers to gain international exposure. By integrating high-quality content with grassroots development, we are fostering a stronger football culture in India and providing our youth with unprecedented global opportunities.”

    Dr. Holger Blask, Managing Director of the DFB GmbH & Co. KG, added: “We are extremely proud and excited about this groundbreaking cooperation with Prasar Bharati. Their unparalleled free to air reach through WAVES and DD Sports sets the cornerstone of DFB’s strategy to democratize the DFB-Pokal. With its truly aspirational character and many David vs Goliath moments the DFB-Pokal fits perfectly to the Indian football fans.”

    In a landmark move to strengthen Indo-German football ties, a letter of exchange was signed between DFB and Prasar Bharati, enhancing India’s access to world-class football content. This collaboration will also pave the way for an India-wide Under-17 talent search tournament, where 20 promising young players will be selected for an exclusive training program in Germany, facilitated by DFB and its partner Brand Next.

    Adding to the excitement, an exclusive contest is launched, giving two lucky Indian fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Germany for the DFB-Pokal final in Berlin*. Participants must download the WAVES OTT app, watch the DFB-Pokal semi-final matches and answer simple questions. The winners will be announced during the last semi-final match and will have the chance to witness the thrilling finale live in Germany.

    As part of its commitment to football education and outreach, WAVES OTT will also feature a DFB-Pokal tutorial series, providing users with historical insights, archival footage, and expert analysis to deepen their understanding of Germany’s prestigious knockout tournament.
    About DFB-Pokal

    DFB-Pokal (Deutscher Football-Bund Pokal) is Germany’s premier domestic football cup competition, organized by the German Football Association (DFB).

    *****

    Dharmendra Tewari/Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2112974) Visitor Counter : 40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study of most popular ADHD TikTok content and associated perceptions of ADHD

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in PLOS One looks at ADHD TikTok content and its association with ADHD perception. 

    (From our colleagues at SMC Germany) Prof Kathrin Karsay, Assistant Professor for Entertainment Research, Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Austria, said:

    Evaluation of the study methodology

    “Pre-registration is to be positively mentioned in the sense of Open Science, as it makes the planning and execution of the study transparent in advance. The selection of the videos, on the other hand, is not representative, as it was not drawn from the population of available Tiktok videos. The chosen method of selecting the 100 most popular videos at a specific point in time with a newly created account is therefore not ideal. Under the circumstances, it is a pragmatic, but nevertheless legitimate, approach. Overall, the number of videos analyzed remains relatively low, especially considering that Tiktok users often consume many videos. Another critical point is that no information is available on coder training (training of the evaluators; editor’s note) and that an evaluation of inter-coder reliability is missing for all selected variables. This does not meet the typical standard for communication science studies, but it is not uncommon in studies outside the field.”

    Contextualization of the results

    “It is particularly noteworthy that the majority of the videos (93.9 percent) only address symptoms, while only a small minority of the videos discuss treatment options. Especially when it comes to health topics, social media is a central source of information and a place for exchange. At the same time, the algorithms favor those posts that generate a lot of interaction because they are particularly entertaining or emotional. It is therefore not surprising that the symptoms are not presented correctly or are exaggerated – similar findings already exist for other conditions, such as Tourette’s syndrome, epicondylitis (tendonitis at the elbow; editor’s note) or prostate cancer. On Tiktok, people with ADHD are often portrayed as lively, lovable and almost entertaining – a ‘cute disorder’ that is staged in short, humorous clips. Much of the content shows everyday situations and relies on self-irony and entertaining narratives. This creates a positive, sometimes trivializing, romanticized image of the disorder. It is also particularly interesting that the experts classified around two-thirds of the ADHD-related statements as normal human experiences. In other words, everyday situations are shown with which many people can identify, which can encourage self-diagnosis.”

    “This presentation can be explained, among other things, by the fact that content creators usually pursue monetary interests, as the study also shows. Half of all content creators advertise products on their profiles or ask for financial donations. This does not include sponsorships or marketing collaborations. Of course, influencers have an interest in their videos being seen by many and being considered personally relevant.”

    When asked how the results on the correlation between self-diagnosed ADHD, the extent of ADHD video consumption and the perception of the prevalence of ADHD can be explained: “Frequently consuming ADHD-related content attracts increased attention and draws focus to corresponding symptoms. Priming (improved processing of a stimulus due to it or a similar one having been presented previously; editor’s note) activates cognitive schemata that can lead people to identify more readily with these symptoms. In the long term, repeated exposure reinforces the impression that ADHD is particularly widespread, even if the actual prevalence is lower. Since the videos often stage common experiences as pathological symptoms, those affected are more likely to identify with the clinical picture. This results in a so-called ‘confirmation bias’: people tend to interpret, seek out, and remember information in a way that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses. This also fits with the study’s finding that participants with self-diagnosis significantly overestimate the prevalence of ADHD in the general population – far more than those with a formal ADHD diagnosis and those without ADHD. They also tend to rate videos with the lowest psychological ratings as more recommendable.”

     

    Practical implications

    “Those who already suspect they have ADHD perceive more matching symptoms in the videos and interpret them as confirmation. This can reinforce the belief in one’s own diagnosis without professional clarification. Constant consumption of such content can lead to overidentification: everyday difficulties are then possibly interpreted too quickly as symptoms. I would therefore recommend taking a critical look at the source of the information and considering professional diagnosis.”

    Dr Blandine French, Senior Research Fellow, School of Psychology and Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, said:

    “Due to the recent nature of social media engagement on platforms such as TikTok, very few studies have been able to evaluate the impact it has. As mentioned by the authors, the huge rise of TikTok ADHD content has only been observed in the last 5 years and little has been published on this. In fact, ADHD fell within the 10 most -viewed health related hashtags on TikTok so we really need to understand more about its impact on those viewing this content.

    “It is therefore great to see a study starting to address this. This study is very well conducted, with a thorough analysis and robust findings. The rational for the way the study was conducted is sound, well designed and well explained.

    “One limitation of the study is that the majority of participants in the second study were females (669/843) which does not represent the ADHD general population (ratios of male to female vary from 1:4 male to 1:2) so we must be cautious in generalising the findings.

    “It would also have been useful to see more detail on what they defined as misinformation. The experts rated according to DSM-V diagnosis (attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity) which is a robust and scientific way of approaching content. However, we know that many things are linked with ADHD but not part of diagnostic symptoms (emotion dysregulation, sleep, social difficulties etc). Therefore, content that would have been rated as misinformation can be relevant (and authors acknowledge this) but would not be scored as such as they are not technically linked with ADHD in terms of strict diagnosis criteria. This nuance would have been good to include and reflect a more holistic approach and understanding of ADHD that is not solely based on criteria but still has significant evidence-based studies behind.

    “Overall, this paper has some important implications and offers a balanced view of the impact on social media. On one hand it supports how much young people rely on social media, the breadth of reach of this kind of content (over 500 million views) and that there are positives from viewing such videos (sense of community, greater understanding etc). But it also raises concern about viewers relying on this content as educational and support sources. The lack of nuance, evidence-base and reliability of these video is very high. Now this doesn’t mean that it is always bad, but it is to be taken with extreme caution.

    “The findings also show that the group more prone to highly rate or engage with these videos is the group that is self-diagnosed which is interesting but potentially worrying. The diagnosed group seemed better able to tell the difference between quality of information, while self-diagnosed were not as able to do so.

    “Therefore, if any person has seen this type of content on TikTok and thinks they may have ADHD, I would say that I am glad they might have found an answer to ongoing difficulties. But I would advise to do some further research from more reliable sources and evidence-based criteria. Social media can be a great source of support but shouldn’t be a place for diagnosis as it is not made for this. It should be used alongside other more reliable methods, sources, and information.”

    Prof Philip Asherson, Emeritus Professor of Neurodevelopmental Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, said:

    “The methodology is fair as an initial investigation of the association of Tik Tok use and content related to ADHD; and is well conducted. The first study investigates the content of the top 100 Tik Tok watched videos related to #ADHD. This is a reasonable approach to understand how specific the content is to ADHD, rather than mental health more broadly. The second study is limited primarily by the sole participation of psychology students, which suggests that the findings cannot be generalised to a general (unselected) population. Further research is therefore needed. The sample sizes are reasonable for an initial investigation. It is to be commended that the study design was lodged within the Open Science Framework, increasing the robustness of the study findings.  Agreement between psychologist ratings was good.

    “The findings on symptoms in the video are not entirely ‘incorrect’; but fit with my expectations. First it is important to recognise that the TikTok videos reflect personal experience and not that of professional trained mental health specialists. Also, that not all the symptoms commonly experienced by adults with ADHD are specified as specific criteria in DSM-5. Given that, around 49% of the videos were a good reflection of specific (DSM-5) symptoms. However, non-specific symptoms are also commonly seen in people with ADHD and are an independent source of impairment. The prime example of this is emotional dysregulation which is cited as an example of 42% reflecting transdiagnostic symptoms. The paper does not list all of the other transdiagnostic symptoms but other common symptoms include sleep problems (delayed sleep onset), and low self-esteem related to the impairments of ADHD are common as part of ADHD. Without a more detailed evaluation it is not clear that these ‘non-ADHD’ symptoms may also reflect other common aspects of ADHD which are not among the 18 specific DSM symptoms of ADHD. Note that emotional dysregulation is not specific to ADHD, but it is cited in DSM-5 as a common symptom that supports the diagnosis; and is a common part of the lived experience of most adults with ADHD. 

    “So, the other symptoms may not all be ‘incorrect’ but just not specific to ADHD. However, it is possible that this could lead some people to think they might have ADHD unless they also consider the full diagnostic criteria for ADHD (which is not included as an aim in these studies).

    “It is of interest that those with a formal diagnosis access Tik Tok most, followed by those with self-diagnosis. This suggests that the main driver of looking at Tik Tok videos of ADHD is to learn more about ADHD, rather than the videos leading to excess self-diagnosis.

    “A more subtle but essential point is that many ADHD symptoms are a continuous trait/dimension in the general population. So there is no clear boundary between those with clinically significant levels of ADHD symptoms and impairments, and those with higher than average levels of ADHD symptoms. Many people who do not meet full ADHD criteria may nevertheless struggle with some ADHD symptoms at times and seek information on better to manage this aspect of their lives. The videos are therefore of more general relevance than only adults meeting full ADHD criteria. Many self-diagnosed people may fall in this category.

    “It is also true that some people with other mental health problems may conclude they have ADHD, as the videos do not detail the full diagnostic criteria. This indicates the importance of an assessment that considers ADHD alongside other mental health disorders for those that seek help. Similarly, people with ADHD might consider they have an anxiety or mood disorder or personality disorder, when ADHD is the main problem. In general the non-expert Tik Tok videos are not generally specific to ADHD. However, they usually reflect common symptoms experienced by adults with ADHD.

    “The relationship between ADHD self-diagnosis, video consumption and perception of prevalence only indicates an association but there is no information on the causal relationship. It seems likely that having ADHD or symptoms of ADHD leads to increased TikTok use as one form of information, since those without ADHD consume the less (as expected). While a causal role of watching TikTok on self-diagnosis could be implied or play a role in some cases, this publication provides no information on the causal direction – so should not be interpreted in that way without further research.

    “Watching these videos may be helpful to people with ADHD to understand the experiences of ADHD they are having. However, it would be important to discuss this with other people with ADHD (ADHD user/support groups could be helpful here) and to seek professional advice.   

    “The conflict of interests and Tik Tok algorithms are a concern and might lead to over diagnosis in some cases – but overall the greater awareness of ADHD is a benefit.”  

    ‘A double-edged hashtag: Evaluation of #ADHD-related TikTok content and its associations with perceptions of ADHD’ by Vasileia Karasavva et al. was published in PLOS One at 18:00 UK time on Wednesday 19th March.

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0319335

    Declared interests

    Prof Kathrin Karsay: “There are no conflicts of interest.”

    Dr Blandine French: Dr. BF reports personal fees and nonfinancial support from Takeda and Medice.

    Prof Philip Asherson: In the last 4 years, Asherson received payments for consultancy and/or educational talks from Takeda, Jannsen, Flynn Pharma, Medice and AGB Pharma, and royalties from PATOSS and Cambridge University. He is Honorary President of the UK Adult ADHD Network (UKAAN).

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Hybrid Software Group PLC reports 2024 results with €51.50 million revenue and €12 million EBITDA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PRESS RELEASE – REGULATED INFORMATION

    HYBRID SOFTWARE GROUP PLC REPORTS 2024 RESULTS WITH €51.50 MILLION REVENUE AND €12 MILLION EBITDA

    Cambridge (UK), 19 March 2025 (19:00 CET): Hybrid Software Group PLC (Euronext: HYSG) announces that it has published its annual report and financial statements for the financial year ended 31 December 2024.

    The full document is available to download from the financial reports section of the Company’s web site at:  https://www.hybridsoftware.group/investors/financial-reports.

    CEO Mike Rottenborn comments, “2024 was a successful year for Hybrid Software Group, with healthy growth in all business units despite difficult market conditions. We expect similar conditions in 2025, yet we are still very positive about the outlook for Hybrid Software and our customers.

    “Synergies in the business plan aren’t always realised in the market, so it’s very encouraging to see the tandem growth in both our OEM and end-user businesses, with an overall revenue growth of 7% over the previous year. In last year’s letter, I promised to focus on improving the profitability of Hybrid Software, so it’s gratifying to report that we delivered a 286% improvement in our adjusted operating result over 2023, as well as a 64% increase in our EBITDA, despite heavy marketing spending on the Drupa trade fair. We expect to deliver further improvements in the coming year.

    “2024 also saw the launch of a new business unit, Hybrid Software BrandZ, to serve brands and manufacturers of consumer packaged goods with software solutions for artwork management which facilitate downstream print production, opening a market that is potentially much larger than the print providers themselves.”

    Executive Chairman Guido Van der Schueren adds, “We enter 2025 in similar business conditions to 2024 but as a much stronger company, with revenue growth across all our business segments and an even more significant improvement in profitability.  We achieved this through careful cost management while continuing to fully fund our engineering teams and software development programs.

    “In late 2024 we instituted a share buyback program, committing €1 million to buy back and cancel shares as a sort of tax-free dividend to all shareholders. There are strict limits to the number of shares we can buy and the price we can pay for shares, but the impact on our share price has been significant already and we plan to continue this initiative throughout 2025.”

    Financial highlights

    For the year ended 31 December
    In thousands of euros 2024 2023
    Continuing operations    
    Revenue 51,501 48,043
    Operating loss (3,090) (1,161)
    Loss before tax (3,361) (1,667)
    Tax credit 653 2,986
    (Loss)/Profit from continuing operations (2,708) 1,319
    Loss on sale of discontinued operation, net of tax (120) –
    (Loss)/Profit for the period (2,828) 1,319
         
    EBITDA – continuing operations 11,989 7,306
         
    Adjusted operating profit – continuing operations 7,204 2,517
    Adjusted net profit – continuing operations 6,952 1,676
         
    Basic earnings per share (euro) – continuing operations (0.09) 0.04
    Adjusted net basic earnings per share (euro) – continuing operations 0.21 0.05
         
    Cash and cash equivalents 9,513 7,079
    Loans & borrowings (6,500) (7,800)
    Net cash/(debt) 3,013 (721)

    The consolidated pre-tax result for continuing operations was a loss of €3.36 million compared with a loss of €1.67 million in 2023. The increase in the loss of €1.69 million is due to:

    • an increase in revenue of €3.46 million;
    • a decrease in cost of sales of €0.59 million;
    • a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses of €0.58 million
    • an increase of €6.28 million impairment charge on goodwill;
    • an increase in research and development expenses of €0.17 million;
    • an increase in other operating expenses of €0.06 million;
    • a decrease in other income of €0.05 million;
    • an increase in net finance expenses of €0.02 million; and
    • a decrease in foreign exchange losses of €0.26 million.

    Revenue for the Printing Software Segment was €16.67 million for the year (2023: €14.94 million). During 2024 new contracts were agreed with two existing customers which resulted in €4.3 million of revenue being recognised. In 2023 a new contract was agreed with an existing customer which resulted in €2.6 million of revenue being recognised in that year.

    Revenue for the Printhead Solutions segment was €11.59 million for the year (2023: €11.30 million). In 2022 revenue in this segment had been severely impacted by the shortage of its most commonly used chip. In 2023 it recovered significantly throughout the year which continued into 2024 although at a slower pace.

    Revenue for the Enterprise Software segment was €23.24 million for the year (2023: €21.81 million). In 2023 the segment experienced unfavourable business conditions in its two most important markets, the United States and Germany, which improved in 2024. For the segment year-over-year license royalty income increased by €0.8 million, maintenance and after-sale support services income €0.4 million and services income by €0.2 million.

    Gross profit for the period decreased to 84% of revenue (2023: 82%), primarily due to the lower mix of printing electronics related sales during the year, which have a lower level of gross margin than software because of their manufacturing costs.

    Included in selling, general and administrative expenses is amortisation of €0.90 million (2023: €0.97 million) related to intangible assets recognised as a result of acquisitions.

    In 2024 the Group recorded a goodwill impairment charge of €6.28 million (2023: €nil) in aggregate.

    Research and development expenses includes the capitalisation and amortisation of internally generated intangible assets and the amortisation of certain intangible assets recognised as a result of acquisitions. During the period there was a net capitalisation of development expenditure of €0.53 million (2023: €1.39 million) and amortisation of acquired intangible assets of €4.57 million (2023: €4.76 million).

    The net capitalisation of development expenditure was comprised of €3.45 million (2023: €3.82 million) of capitalised expenditure less €2.92 million (2023: €2.43 million) of amortisation.

    Total operating expenses increased by €5.93 million, or 14.56% compared to the same period in the prior year. Making abstraction of the goodwill impairment of €6.28 million, total operating expenses decreased by €0.35 million, or 0.86% compared to the same period in the prior year.

    Foreign exchange gains and losses are primarily due to the revaluation of currency balances held at the balance sheet date and the change in exchange rates during the year.

    The Company presents EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) and adjusted profit when reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate the Group’s results in a manner that focuses on what the Group believes to be its underlying business operations.  The Group’s management believes that the inclusion of adjusted financial results provides consistency and comparability with past reports.

    Additional commentary and analysis of the Company’s consolidated results for the year ending 31 December 2024 can be found in the annual report and financial statements.

    Should you wish to receive a printed copy of the annual report, please send an e-mail to investor-relations@hybridsoftware.group or make your request in writing, for the attention of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to 2030 Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6DW, UK.

    Annual General Meeting
    The Company will hold its annual general meeting on Thursday 15 May 2025.  The official notice of the meeting will be available on the Company’s website at: https://www.hybridsoftware.group/investors/shareholders-annual-general-meeting.

    About Hybrid Software Group
    Through its operating subsidiaries. Hybrid Software Group PLC (Euronext: HYSG) is a leading developer of enterprise software for industrial print manufacturing. Customers include press manufacturers such as HP, Canon, Durst, Roland, Hymmen, and hundreds of packaging printers, trade shops, and converters worldwide.

    Hybrid Software Group PLC is headquartered in Cambridge UK. Its subsidiary companies are colour technology experts ColorLogic, printing software developers Global Graphics Software, enterprise software developer HYBRID Software, 3D design and modelling software developers iC3D, the industrial printhead driver solutions specialists Meteor Inkjet, and pre-press workflow developer Xitron.

    Contacts

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Earth’s lungs are choking on plastic and smoke – scientists hope to unblock them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jack Marley, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    Martin.Dlugo/Shutterstock

    A graph I saw in high school appeared to show the Earth breathing.

    It was a graph that plotted carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st. CO₂ had risen steadily, and then more rapidly, but it hadn’t gone up in a straight line. Each year it had fallen sharply before rising to a new peak, increasing over time in an upwards zig-zag.

    What explained this annual, temporary fall in CO₂, the gas that is overwhelmingly responsible for climate change? The answer was photosynthesis, my physics teacher explained – the miracle by which plants turn light and CO₂ into food.

    This is how our planet has regulated atmospheric carbon for longer than our species has existed. Fossil fuels are disrupting this equilibrium in several ways.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    Spring is dawning in the northern hemisphere, where most of the planet’s green land is situated. Trees are unfurling leaves that will soak up carbon in the air and turn it into new bark, roots and branches. On a global scale, it’s like a gigantic inhalation of carbon. In autumn, when trees shed their leaves, Earth will exhale again.

    The air we all breathe is increasingly polluted by fossil fuels. That includes products of fossil fuels, like plastic, which is now so ubiquitous that research suggests simply breathing can introduce microscopic fragments into your brain.



    Read more:
    Breathing may introduce microplastics to the brain – new study

    Something similar is happening in plants – and it could have global consequences.

    Plants are losing their appetite

    “Microplastics are hindering photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert energy from the sun into the fruit and vegetables we eat,” says Denis J. Murphy, an emeritus professor of biotechnology at the University of South Wales.

    “This threatens massive losses in crop and seafood production over the coming decades that could mean food shortages for hundreds of millions of people.”

    Photosynthetic algae feed the fish that ultimately feed us.
    Sinhyu Photographer/Shutterstock

    These are the conclusions of a recent study by researchers in China, Germany and the US. Murphy wasn’t involved, but his own research with plant cells – which the tiniest microplastics can infiltrate, and damage the organs involved in photosynthesis – has him worried.



    Read more:
    Microplastics: are they poisoning crops and jeopardising food production?

    “Given the potential (albeit speculative) risk to global food production, more priority should be given to rigorous scientific research of microplastics and their effects on both crops and the marine life that supports fish and seafood stocks,” he says.

    Not so long ago, people wondered if our fossil fuel habit might actually benefit plant photosynthesis. After all, plants eat CO₂. Flooding the atmosphere with more of it each year could only whet their appetites, right?

    “The amount of CO₂ used by photosynthesis and stored in vegetation and soils has grown over the past 50 years, and now absorbs at least a quarter of human emissions in an average year,” say ecologists Amanda Cavanagh (University of Essex) and Caitlin Moore (University of Western Australia).

    Most of this extra carbon absorption has come from crops and young trees, the pair say, less from mature forests where a lot of the world’s carbon is stored. Cavanagh and Moore say this carbon pump is slowing down, as the other necessary ingredients for photosynthesis – soil nutrients and water – have fallen or stayed the same.



    Read more:
    Carbon dioxide feeds plants, but are earth’s plants getting full?

    Microplastics could slow the rate at which plants remove carbon further. And then there are the effects of climate change, like drought, fires and floods, which will intensify as long as we continue burning fossil fuels.

    After monitoring forests and shrublands in Australia for 20 years, Moore and a team of six colleagues concluded that these ecosystems are at risk of losing their ability to bounce back, and continue absorbing carbon, after successive climate disasters.



    Read more:
    In 20 years of studying how ecosystems absorb carbon, here’s why we’re worried about a tipping point of collapse

    Hacking photosynthesis

    We may have done plenty to reduce global photosynthesis, but a team of scientists at the University of Oxford and the Fraunhofer Society in Germany is trying to turn things around. How? By hacking plants to help them get more out of the process.

    “You would be forgiven for thinking nature has perfected the art of turning sunlight into sugar,” say Jonathan Menary, Sebastian Fuller and Stefan Schillberg.

    “But that isn’t exactly true. If you struggle with life goals, it might reassure you to know even plants haven’t yet reached their full potential.”

    The team say that plants tend to convert less than 5% of sunlight into new tissue – often as little as 1%. That’s because of a mistake plants regularly make, in which an enzyme involved in photosynthesis latches on to oxygen instead of CO₂.

    “If we could prevent this mistake, it would leave plants more energy for photosynthesis,” they say.



    Read more:
    How scientists are helping plants get the most out of photosynthesis

    Cyanobacteria are Earth’s most ancient photosynthesisers. Menary, Fuller and Schillberg say these microscopic organisms could possess useful genes for better sunlight management that might benefit crops like rice and potato plants. Another technique involves helping plants recover from high light exposure quicker.

    Young potato plants in bloom.
    George Trumpeter/Shutterstock

    More efficient photosynthesis, with the help of gene editing and other tools, is not “a silver bullet”, the team stress. Certainly not while fossil fuels continue to drown our green planet in carbon it cannot metabolise.

    However, this work is likely to prove useful as farmers seek to grow more in an increasingly volatile environment, while sparing enough land for nature.

    “This research is about making sure we can grow enough food to feed ourselves,” the team say.

    – ref. Earth’s lungs are choking on plastic and smoke – scientists hope to unblock them – https://theconversation.com/earths-lungs-are-choking-on-plastic-and-smoke-scientists-hope-to-unblock-them-252549

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natalya Chernyshova, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen Mary University of London

    Germany’s ex chancellor, Angela Merkel, and France’s former president, François Hollande, were key to brokering the Minsk agreements. Sodel Vladyslav / Shutterstock

    The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days following a phone call with his American counterpart, Donald Trump. On social media, Trump said the call was “very good and productive” and came “with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a complete ceasefire”.

    This optimism is misplaced. The White House did not mention that Putin issued additional conditions for a ceasefire. The Kremlin demands that Ukraine be effectively disarmed, leaving it defenceless against a Russian takeover. Such terms would be unacceptable to Ukraine and its European partners.

    At this juncture, Trump and his negotiators would do well to ponder why previous attempts to restrain Russia and secure a lasting peace for Ukraine did not succeed.

    This war did not start when shells began to rain on Kyiv in February 2022. Russia had already been waging an undeclared war on its neighbour for nearly eight years in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas, where pro-Russian proxy forces have been stoking up trouble in the border regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

    Attempts to end the fighting there were made in September 2014 and February 2015, when Russia and Ukraine signed ceasefire agreements during negotiations in Minsk, Belarus.

    Both sets of Minsk agreements proved to be non-starters. The fighting in the region rumbled on until it culminated in Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The accords stored problems for the future.

    Russia-backed separatists have controlled the south-eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2015.
    Viacheslav Lopatin / Shutterstock

    Minsk-1 and Minsk-2

    The first Minsk protocols were signed in 2014 by Russia, Ukraine, separatists from Donbas and representatives from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The agreement provided for an immediate ceasefire monitored by the OSCE, the withdrawal of “foreign mercenaries” from Ukraine and the establishment of a demilitarised buffer zone.

    But Moscow also insisted that Kyiv grant temporary “special status” to the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, the two separatist regions in Donbas. Instead of helping Ukraine regain control over its eastern territories, the agreement allowed the Russia-backed rebels to hold local elections and legalised them as a party to the conflict.

    The ceasefire collapsed within days of signing. The provisions that sought to demarcate the lines of the conflict and give Ukraine back control over its eastern border were not observed by the rebels, and fighting intensified during the winter.

    With the death toll rising, the leaders of France and Germany rushed to broker a fresh round of negotiations in February 2015. The resulting accords, which were known as Minsk-2, also failed to bring peace.

    Russia and its proxy militants in Donbas immediately and repeatedly violated its terms. Astonishingly, Minsk-2 did not even mention Russia, despite it signing the protocols. Moscow continued to deny its involvement in eastern Ukraine, while stepping up armed assistance to the rebels.

    Kyiv was saddled with peace terms that were impossible to implement unless Ukraine was prepared to throw away its sovereignty. Minsk-2 stipulated that the “special status” of the eastern separatist regions was to become permanent, and that the Ukrainian constitution was to be amended to allow for “decentralisation” of power from Kyiv to the rebel regions.

    These regions were to be granted autonomy in financial matters, responsibility for their stretch of the border with Russia, and the right to conclude foreign agreements and hold referenda. To undercut Ukrainian independence further, a neutrality clause inserted into its constitution would effectively bar the country’s entry into Nato.

    Understandably, no one in Kyiv rushed to implement these self-destructive terms. In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel in 2023, Volodymyr Zelensky said that when he became Ukraine’s president in 2019 and examined Minsk-2, he “did not recognise any desire in the agreements to allow Ukraine its independence”.

    Russia-backed separatists in Sloviansk, a city in Donetsk Oblast, in 2014.
    Fotokon / Shutterstock

    Zelensky’s comment points to the fundamental flaw of the Minsk-2 agreement. Its western brokers failed to recognise that Russian war aims were irreconcilable with Ukrainian sovereignty. Moscow’s objective from the start was to use Donbas to destabilise the government in Kyiv and gain control over Ukraine.

    Western peacemakers searched for a compromise, but the Kremlin used Minsk-2 to advance its goals. As Duncan Allan of the Chatham House research institute noted in 2020: “Russia sees the Minsk agreements as tools with which to break Ukraine’s sovereignty.” The war in Donbas raged on and, by 2020, had claimed 14,000 lives, with 1.5 million people becoming refugees.

    Germany’s ex-chancellor, Angela Merkel, a key broker, subsequently defended the Minsk agreements. She said they bought Kyiv time to arm itself against Russia. It was a costly purchase. Minsk-2 froze the conflict in one locality rather than ended it. And it encouraged Russia, paving the way for a full-scale invasion.

    Emphasising Ukrainian sovereignty

    The existential differences between Ukraine and Russia that plagued the Minsk agreements remain today. Ukraine has demonstrated its resolve to defend its sovereignty, while Russia’s invasion in 2022 testifies to its determination to squash Ukrainian resolve. The timing of the attack so close to the seventh anniversary of Minsk-2 adds grim emphasis to that point.

    This clash of objectives must be addressed head-on in any peace negotiations. The only way to secure lasting peace in Europe is to avoid rewarding the aggressor and punishing its victim.

    The Kremlin has already openly declared that it sees Trump-led brokerage as the west’s acknowledgement of Russian strategic superiority. It needs to be disabused of this notion. As argued by Nataliya Bugayova, a fellow at the Institute for the Study of War, the war is not lost yet. Russia is far from invulnerable, and it can be made to accept defeat.

    But for any agreement to be effective, there can be no ambiguity or middle ground on the subject of Ukrainian sovereignty. It must be protected and backed by security guarantees.

    So far, the Trump administration has shown little understanding of this. But ten years down the line from Minsk-2, Europeans have finally grasped it.

    Finland’s president, Aleksander Stubbs, told reporters on March 19 that Ukraine must “absolutely” not lose sovereignty and territory. And, on the day Trump and Putin had their discussion, Germany’s parliament voted for a massive boost in defence spending – another indicator that Europeans are no longer taking Putin on trust.

    Natalya Chernyshova received funding from the British Academy during 2020-2022.

    – ref. Ukraine deal: Europe has learned from the failed 2015 Minsk accords with Putin. Trump has not – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-deal-europe-has-learned-from-the-failed-2015-minsk-accords-with-putin-trump-has-not-252540

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –