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MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s address at the Fourth P. Parameswaran Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram (Excerpts)

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi

It is an absolute privilege and an honour to deliver the 4th P. Parameswaran lecture organised by Bharatheeya Vicharakendram in Thiruvananthapuram.The memorial lecture in the honour, in the memory of one of the greatest sons of Bharat. He happens to be in the front league of idealogues and thinkers of Hindu thought process in this century. We are celebrating by way of this lecture one of the finest intellectuals committed to social work and such a son of the soil being honoured in the land of Kerala, North zone territory.

It is a testament that our civilisational values thrive, A civilisation is known only by one fundamental consideration, does it really honour its great sons and that has been the theme in last few years. Our forgotten heroes, unsung heroes, we have remembered them.

Kerala has been the cradle of intellectual discourse, cultural enlightenment, and spiritual pursuits. This is a land that birth legends for Adi Shankharacharya who expounded the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta to Narayana Guru who led the modern message by his social reform and by his team of social reformers. We are celebrating the memory of one of them.

This land is also home to some of the most revered temples, including Sabrimala, Padmanabhaswamy temple, and Guruvayur drawing millions of devotees, they get inspired and motivated. The faith and devotion that permeates these sacred spaces reminds us of the eternal values that hold our nation together.

Our values are sublime, full of religiosity and spirituality, righteousness and self service. This fertile sacred geography also birthed Shri P. Parameswaran ji who received his values with birth. His unwavering commitment to Bharatiya values, his deep understanding of Indian ethos and his relentless pursuit of national unity continues to inspire generations.

His vision for a self-reliant Bharat, culturally rooted and spiritually awakened, resonates profoundly across the nation. When we talk about the confluence of East and West, we remember Shri Vivekananda, Swami Vivekananda and his historic address at Chicago that was rendered at the World Council of Religions in 1893. But who rekindled it? Who ignited the flame in us? Who inspired us in modern times? By the essence of that address that stirred global minds, it was none other than Shri P. Parameswaran.

In 1993, hundred years after that event, it was Parameswaran ji who invited the world to reflect on Swamiji. His life, his legacy and his message. The Government of India has rightly recognised this great son of the soil, a great ideologue of Hindu thought process.

A messenger of Bharatiya Sanskriti, an epicentre in a sense who disseminated sublimity of our values with Padma Shri in early 2000 and in 2018 with the second highest civilian award of Padma Vibhushan, but these decorations do not completely define the man in whose memory we are having this lecture.

The tribute which we can pay to such towering figures who amplify our values, epitomise our cultural essence, the best of human values, is to follow what he exemplified. We must emulate the value system that he professed.

Ladies and gentlemen, I greatly commend the subject or theme of this lecture, “Demography, Development and Democracy, Shaping the Future of Bharat”– Nothing could be more contemporaneously relevant than this theme, and this theme, when the theme is a tribute to Rashtriya Rishi who dedicated his journey to welfare of humanity through Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, an organisation spinally rooted in our cultural ethos and now in the centennial year, I appeal to everyone in two years we will be celebrating the birth centenary of this great son of the soil.

I am sure steps will be taken by the organisers in concert with similar outfits so that his message goes around to the entire country and the world. If I have to put in summation the thought process of P. Parameswaran ji, we all are Bharatiya. भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है। राष्ट्रहित हमारा धर्म है, राष्ट्र कल्याण सर्वोपरि है। कोई भी हित व्यक्तिगत हो या राजनीतिक या सामाजिक, राष्ट्रहित से ऊपर नहीं है।

And therefore, I commend the organisers for having so thought about it. The theme calls upon me to first reflect on the state of the nation. There was a time, and I had the occasion to see it, as a member of parliament in 1989, as a union minister in 1990-91, an atmosphere that did not

inspire us. That was alarmingly worrisome, full of concern, and now our Bharat is brimming with positivity and possibility.

It is full of hope and aspirations. All around, all pervasive, an ecosystem of hope and possibility we can see, and in global firmament, it is the brightest spot of investment and opportunity. The country has seen in the last decade exponential economic upsurge. Our rise from 11th position a decade ago, on the scale of economic size, we have traversed a long distance, facing headwinds, difficult terrain, overcoming hurdles created earlier, cleansing the system, making it transparent and accountable.

We are the 5th largest global economy at the moment, on way to becoming 4 trillion economy in US dollars very shortly, and with average growth over this period of about 8%. Bharat happens to be the fastest growing global economy in last decade, acclaimed, accoladed and applauded by global institutions, the IMF and the World Bank.

World Bank has appreciated our deep digitisation, technological penetration, and everyone sees it now as a ground reality. Next comes infrastructure. Phenomenal infrastructure growth has dotted our landscape. Be it on sea, deep sea, ground, sky or in space, all our accomplishments make us greatly proud, and I am happy to share with you, every year the country has added four new airports and one metro system, and on a daily basis, 14 kilometres of highways and 6 kilometres of railways are

being added.

If I reflect on scale of deep technological penetration, 85 million are benefiting with houses, 330 million with health coverage, and 29 million small businesses with loans annually. The government is hand-holding them by affirmative policies and innovative schemes. We now boast of beyond what we achieved in space. Lunar and Mars missions in medical science, vaccine production, and the nation is bound to be hub of semiconductors, engineering and manufacturing.

India’s engagement with world in green energy, urbanisation, emerging disruptive technologies, we are in the front rank. It is for the first time that the country is in big league of nations on Artificial Intelligence, on Quantum computing, on Green Hydrogen mission, and all pervasive digitisation has generated transparency, Accountability, easy service affordability.

Corruption has been neutralised from power corridors on account of technological inroads. Technological inroads have been no less than invasion on corruption and malpractices, and that is reflected in the scenario that almost half of digital transactions in the world are

emanating from this country, 6.5 billion monthly.

Let me recall what P. Parameswaran ji said on this occasion, on such an occasion, we need to reflect, remember, I quote, “The youth of Bharat are not merely inheritors of our civilisation, but the architects who will shape our nation’s future glory through their aspirations, innovations, and resilience.”

Our demographic dividend, the youth component of it, is envy of the world. India’s greatest strength is its population. We are home to one-sixth of humanity, but look at our qualitative cutting edge demographic dividend.

Sixty-five percent of the population is in working age. Our nation is an average age of 28.4 years. We are uniquely positioned as the world’s youngest major economy.

Compare this to Japan, 48.7 years. Compare it to Germany, 44.3 years, and China, 38.4 years. People-centric policies and transparent accountable governance has given buoyancy to ecosystem. Imagine the scale of it, a nation of 1.4 billion. Look at the transformative change that has impacted the rural environment.

Every house has a toilet, electric connection, water connection is on way, a gas connection.And look at the connectivity, internet, and road, rail, and handholding policies in health and education centre. These define our growth trajectory. India is no longer a nation with a promise. India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers. India is charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe.

This economic renaissance, which was beyond imagination, beyond contemplation, beyond dreams, a few years ago, has generated

what is essence of our Sanatana inclusivity. Non-discriminatory, uniform, even-handed, equitable development, results, and fruits for one

and all. Effort has been made, irrespective of any qualification, race, religion, caste, colour, that the benefit must reach those who are in the last line, and this is being done with great success.

Bharat is the only democracy in the world that has structured democracy at the village level. Constitutionally sanctified democracy at the Village level, Municipal level, State level, and the Central level. I want, on this great occasion, to everyone reflect on what is democracy.

Democracy is defined by freedom of expression and dialogue. If we enjoy freedom of expression and do not lend our ears to the other point of view, do not enter into dialogue, do not appreciate the other point of view, expression becomes authoritarianism.

प्रजातन्त्र में किसी भी व्यक्ति या संस्था के लिए अहं और अहंकार का कोई स्थान नहीं है। प्रजातन्त्र का मूल तत्व है समानता, समान अधिकार, समान अवसर।

And I therefore appeal that those who do not believe in harmony, social harmony, national harmony, must get into the thought process of Shri P. Parameswaran ji.

How can we countenance in this land that has 5,000 years of civilisational ethos? Someone says, मैं अकेला सही हूँ, मेरी बात का कोई विकल्प नहीं है, ऐसा नहीं है। These thoughts are antithetical to our civilisational ethos. They militate against the very concept of democracy, and therefore, we must focus, alongside expression, on dialogue, dialogue enables everyone to self-assess oneself, to self-audit oneself, to be open to the other idea.

And that was what P. Parameswaranji was doing all throughout. Ideologic discourse, ideologic debate, ideologic brainstorming should be dominating our discourse, not violence. What does our culture say, हमारी संस्कृति क्या कहती है? अभिव्यक्ति, वाद-विवाद और अनंतवाद, अनंतवाद का स्रोत हमारी सांस्कृतिक विरासत में है। अनंतवाद का ही नतीजा है कि भारत ज्ञान का भंडार था, जानकारी का भंडार था।

If India is today a cultural centre of the world, we owe to people like P. Parameswaranji for coming to this level. If in the past, about 1200 years ago, India was the world’s repository of knowledge and wisdom, it was on account of our institutions.

आज के दिन, कुछ हालात भयावह हैं, चिंतन और मंथन के लिए विवश करते हैं।

We are faced with an alarmingly worrisome scenario on certain aspects. Politics has become polarised. We are faced with an alarmingly worrisome scenario on certain aspects. Vertically divisive, temperatures are ever high. The core national values and civilisational values are not the central theme. In this country where diversity is reflected in unity, this country that prides in Sanatana values of inclusivity, we cannot afford ourselves to be distanced from these core values and engage in polarised, divisive activities.

Time for us to fall in the groove of Sanatana Dharma as enlightened by Shri P. Parameswaranji, and let me reflect on that concern. As meaningful dialogue fades, so do the pillars of cooperation, collaboration and consensus.

I must share with you my anguish, my pain. The largest democracy’s parliament must be role model for people. It is a platform to transform aspirations of the people into reality. It has to be impregnable citadel of dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation. And these facets were exemplified by the Constituent Assembly that worked for about three years in eighteen sessions. And what we see today? Dialogue, deliberation and others have yielded to disturbance and disruption.

Can there be sacrilege of more intense enormity when temples of democracy are ravaged by disruption and disturbance? Our democracy has to survive. And the first test is parliamentary functioning. We face situations where national interest is relegated. Anti-national narratives take wings.

We are living in very dangerous times. Political intolerance and reckless stance promoting partisan and personal interests at the cost of nationalism needs to be moderated. There is need for social counselling. Young minds and senior citizens must converge to generate an ecosystem. By becoming influencers of our mindset, we have a Constitution that remarkably depicts Gurukul.

That makes reference to Ramayana. What is the message? अधर्म पर धर्म की विजय, when in fundamental rights, Part- III of the Constitution, you have a picture of Ram, Sita and Lakshman coming to Ayodhya. अंधकार से प्रकाश, धर्म की जीत अधर्म की हार। मर्यादित आचरण का संदेश और यदि अगर कहें सबका साथ सबका विश्वास इसका अंश आपको रामायण में मिलेगा ।

भारत के संविधान में, if we go to the next part, Directive Principles of State Policy. महाभारत का वह scene है, कुरुक्षेत्र का वह दृश्य है। श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुन को उपदेश दे रहे हैं। What does it teach us? It says, लक्ष्य को ध्यान में रखो, छत को मत देखो, मछली को मत देखो, मछली की आँख को मत देखो क्योंकि आपका लक्ष्य नहीं है। आपको भेदन है। इसी तरीके से शासन का काम करते हुए, कर्तव्य निर्वहन करते हुए हमारी दृष्टि भाई-भतीजेवाद पर नहीं होनी चाहिए। The message is loud and clear. Patronism, nepotism, favouritism, are evils that cut into merit of the society. Fortunately, power corridors have been sanitised. It is obligation of every person, every Bharatiya, not only to believe in these values, but to disseminate them.

Let me now come to demography. Demography does matter. Demography should not be confused with majoritarianism. We cannot have a society divided in these two camps. But ladies and gentlemen, the nation is faced with grim challenges when it comes to demography.

The demography evolution must be organic. It must be natural. It must be soothing only then it reflects unity and diversity, but if demographic variations are brought about in the nature of virtual and earthquake, there is cause for concern.

If inorganic demographic variations take place with intent to increase demographic component with the objective to secure progress, then we have to be alarmed. This is being done. This is noticeably being done. We are at a stage crossroads, where we can neither overlook nor countenance this highly destabilising development.

We have to be extremely alert. All of you converge to preserve the pristine demographic sanctity of Bharat. The challenge is coming in varied ways. One is through allurements, temptations. Reaching out to the needy and vulnerable. Providing succour. And then, in a subtle way, suggesting change of religion which is labelled as conversions. The country allows everyone to have a religion of his or her choice. This is our fundamental right.

This is handed to us from our civilisational wealth, but if this is tampered with, it is tweaked. ऐसा बर्दाश्त नहीं हो सकता. लालच, लोभ आधार नहीं हो सकता। कोई पीड़ा में है, दिक्कत में है, जरूरतमंद है उसको hand-holding करते समय, धर्म परिवर्तन की तरफ मत खींचो. यह बर्दाश्त के लायक नहीं है, मैं कितनी ही कोशिश करूँ, I will not be able to express the gravity of the concern, enormity of the challenge that we are faced on account of these statized, orchestrated, financially fuelled misadventures to effect conversions.

The third motive, which is ill-motivation towards our nation. How can a nation suffer millions of illegal migrants? Look at the number. Look at the danger they bring to this country. Everyone in this country is fired with the dream of nationalism. These people come, they demand on our employment, on our health, on our education sectors, and then become a factor in electoral politics. It is very urgent. This has to be addressed. We are cliffhanging. We must generate awareness. The mindset of the people must be activated.

Every Bharatiya must be steered to face this challenge. And that flow is threatening our culture also. I would urge we must courageously thwart these demographic dislocations. I have indicated three. As of now in the country we have from electoral point of view areas where elections do not make much sense. We have fortresses in the country that have emerged in the last few years where the outcome of the election is always foreclosed by democratic demographic dislocations.

Addressing these challenges which are very daunting, policy interventions alone are not sufficient. We have to appreciate and recognise these challenges as existential to our nationalism and also to our democracy. True devotion to Bharat Mata means not merely celebrating its spiritual heritage but actively protecting its erosion caused by demographic transformation. I am happy to share with you that Viksit Bharat is not a dream now. It is our object. The nation is regaining past glory. We are on way to it. Our youth will play a critical role. We must gear up to do that. Everything that is happening in the country is making us proud globally.

I reflected on global institutions. Now look at what happened only a few days ago. More than twice the population of the US had footprint at Mahakumbh. The holy Mahakumbh. More than twice the population of the US. Imagine the size and scale of it. And look at the exemplary management, quick response, facilities everything for us to take pride. The world has not seen such organised handling of a situation at this mega scale. Nowhere on the planet this has been seen. Nowhere there has been congregation of humanity in that number on a daily basis. That defines Bharat. That surprises the world. Look at how the mobility was there.

How health was taken care of. How public order was maintained. How hygiene was controlled. I was there. My entire family was there. That should make us proud. This is a glorifying facet of Indian civilisation. We must ever remember. From all considerations all I can say is भारत जैसा कोई दूसरा देश नहीं है। हम अत्यंत भाग्यशाली हैं परमपिता परमेश्वर के कि हमारा जन्म यहाँ हुआ। अब हमें कर्तव्य निर्वहन करना चाहिए और कर्तव्य निर्वहन का मार्ग परमेश्वरन जी ने जीवन पर्यंत सिखाया है। आदर्श प्रचारक के रूप में, देश और दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी ideological संस्था से जुड़कर– राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ और एक रास्ता दिखाकर अहिंसा विकल्प नहीं है।

I am extremely grateful to the organisers for having made this great opportunity to me available. I feel blessed, I feel honoured, and I look forward to the centennial celebrations of his birthday be organised at the national level. I must recognise in the audience’s presence of another great son of Bharat, Padma Bhushan Dr. O. Rajagopal.

My greetings to all of you. I am grateful for your patience.

Jai Hind.

***

JK/RC/SM

(Release ID: 2107567) Visitor Counter : 82

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 3, 2025
MIL-OSI: Valour Expands Digital Asset Offerings with the Launch of Valour Dogecoin, Valour Aptos, Valour Sui, and Valour Render ETPs on Börse Frankfurt in Germany

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, March 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DeFi Technologies Inc. (the “Company” or “DeFi Technologies”) (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF), a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralised finance (“DeFi”), is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Valour Inc. (“Valour“), a leading issuer of exchange traded products (“ETPs“) that provide simplified access to digital assets, has launched of four new digital asset ETPs on the Börse Frankfurt exchange: Valour Dogecoin (DOGE) EUR ETP, Valour Aptos (APT) EUR ETP, Valour Sui (SUI) EUR ETP, and Valour Render (RENDER) EUR ETP. These new products expand Valour’s commitment to offering investors seamless, secure, and cost-effective exposure to the most innovative digital assets in the market.

Introducing New ETPs for Emerging Digital Assets

Valour Dogecoin (DOGE) EUR ETP (ISIN: CH1108679791)

Dogecoin (DOGE) is one of the most recognized and actively used cryptocurrencies, originally introduced in 2013 as a parody but now serving as a widely adopted digital currency. With a market capitalization of approximately $30.64 billion, DOGE ranks as the 8th largest digital asset globally. It is known for its strong community, fast transaction speeds, and usability for microtransactions, tipping, and merchant payments. The Valour Dogecoin ETP allows investors to gain exposure to DOGE’s performance without the complexities of direct cryptocurrency ownership, featuring a competitive management fee of 1.9%.

Valour Aptos (APT) EUR ETP (ISIN: CH1108679783)

Aptos (APT) is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain designed for scalability, reliability, and security. Powered by its innovative Move programming language, Aptos enables fast transactions and a developer-friendly ecosystem. It is focused on advancing Web3 usability and adoption, providing infrastructure for NFTs, DeFi, and beyond. With a market capitalization of $6.19 billion, Aptos ranks 31st globally among digital assets. The Valour Aptos ETP grants investors seamless exposure to the Aptos blockchain ecosystem.

Valour Sui (SUI) EUR ETP (ISIN: CH1108679080)

Sui (SUI) is an innovative blockchain designed for high throughput and instant finality, making it ideal for applications such as gaming and finance. Sui utilizes an object-centric approach that allows for the independent validation of transactions, leveraging a Byzantine fault-tolerant proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. With a market capitalization of $28.01 billion, Sui ranks 15th among digital assets worldwide. The Valour Sui ETP provides investors with access to this advanced blockchain, featuring a 1.9% management fee.

Valour Render (RENDER) EUR ETP (ISIN: CH1108679783)

Render (RENDER) is the native cryptocurrency of the Render Network, a decentralized GPU-based rendering platform that optimizes computational power for visual effects, gaming, and digital design. The Render Network enables cost-effective and scalable rendering solutions, fostering innovation across the creative industries. With a market capitalization of $2.26 billion, Render ranks 49th globally among digital assets. The Valour Render ETP offers investors exposure to the expanding world of decentralized computing and digital content creation.

Bringing Innovation to European Investors

With the introduction of these four new ETPs, Valour continues to expand its portfolio of digital asset investment products, offering European investors diversified and institutional-grade access to the cryptocurrency market. Valour’s ETPs provide a seamless entry point for investors looking to gain exposure to emerging blockchain technologies without the need for direct ownership or complex custody solutions.

“We are excited to bring Valour Dogecoin, Valour Aptos, Valour Sui, and Valour Render ETPs to the Börse Frankfurt exchange,” said Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of Valour. “These new listings underscore our commitment to delivering innovative and accessible digital asset investment solutions to the European market. By offering secure and transparent exposure to some of the most promising protocols, we continue to drive the adoption of digital assets among institutional and retail investors alike.”

“After successfully launching 20 products in the Nordics in December, we are now enhancing our product range in Germany with the most sought-after underlying digital assets. Investor demand for diversified crypto exposure continues to rise, and Aptos, Sui, Render, and Dogecoin stand out as some of the most compelling assets in the market. This launch reinforces our commitment to providing institutional-grade access to the digital asset space, aligned with market trends and investor needs.” said Johanna Belitz, Head of Nordics

About DeFi Technologies
DeFi Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF) is a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralized finance (DeFi). With a dedicated focus on industry-leading Web3 technologies, DeFi Technologies aims to provide widespread investor access to the future of finance. Backed by an esteemed team of experts with extensive experience in financial markets and digital assets, we are committed to revolutionising the way individuals and institutions interact with the evolving financial ecosystem. Follow DeFi Technologies on Linkedin and Twitter, and for more details, visit https://defi.tech/

About Valour
Valour Inc. and Valour Digital Securities Limited (together, “Valour”) issues exchange traded products (“ETPs”) that enable retail and institutional investors to access digital assets in a simple and secure way via their traditional bank account. Valour is part of the asset management business line of DeFi Technologies Inc. (CBOE CA: DEFI) (GR: R9B) (OTC: DEFTF). For more information about Valour, to subscribe, or to receive updates, visit valour.com.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information:
This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the listing of ETPs; the development and prospects of the underlying digital assets; investor confidence in Valour’s ETPs; investor interest and confidence in digital assets; the regulatory environment with respect to the growth and adoption of decentralized finance and digital assets; the pursuit by the Company and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited the growth and development of decentralised finance and digital asset sector; rules and regulations with respect to decentralised finance and digital assets; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

THE CBOE CANADA EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

For further information, please contact:

Olivier Roussy Newton
Chief Executive Officer
ir@defi.tech
(323) 537-7681

The MIL Network –

March 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: NSU student wins silver award at prestigious International Youth Mathematical Competition

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

The International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC) is a prestigious competition that provides students with the opportunity to test their knowledge of mathematics and become part of a global community of young mathematicians. The competition is coordinated by Edu.Harbour from Heidelberg, Germany and is held annually. Since its inception in 2018, IYMC has attracted more than 30,000 participants from around the world.

Alam Md Mustaqim Bin, master’s student Physics Department of NSU from Bangladesh, was among the top 8% of the best performers and won the silver award. A total of 5,280 students from all over the world competed for the victory this year. Alam Md Mustaqim Bin also won the national award of second degree.

The main objective of IYMC is to create an innovative platform for students to learn mathematics in depth and develop problem solving skills. The final round of the competition is highly competitive, with participants required to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a timed online exam.

— I am interested in astrophysics and astronomy, I am interested in mathematics, so I participated in IYMC for the second time. I also wanted to test my skills. The competition was held online all over the world and consisted of three stages: selection, pre-final and final. All stages were monitored using proctoring (a special monitoring system for conducting an online exam or testing), — said Alam Md Mustaqim Bin.

The competition required solving various typical mathematical problems and analyzing scientific papers.

— In 2020, I represented Bangladesh and won a bronze award. This year, I won silver and the second national award (second result in the country). It is a great honor for me to represent NSU, and I am proud to be a student of this university, — the student shared his impressions.

Mathematics is not just numbers and formulas, it is a way of thinking. It helps to understand not only the laws of physics, but also many phenomena in life.

On behalf of the university, we congratulate the winner!

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: EU+ asylum applications decrease by 11% in 2024, and some changing trends established

Source: European Asylum Support Office

The number of asylum applications received in the EU+ decreased by over one tenth (11 %) in 2024, with applications from Syrians, Afghans and Turks all decreasing significantly. While Germany continued to receive the most applications in the EU+, these were down by one third last year. Cyprus continued to receive the most applications per capita. In 2024, almost half of all received applications (48 %) were from citizenships for which the recognition rate is low (≤ 20 %).

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has just published its annual analysis of asylum trends in 2024. Some 1 014 000 asylum applications were received in the EU+, an 11 % decrease year-over-year. Several of the main citizenships of asylum applicants in the EU+ each recorded a significant decrease in 2024. Applications from Syrians (151 000), Afghans (87 000), and Turks (56 000), each decreased by 17 %, 24 % and 45 %, respectively, compared to 2023.

Latin American citizenships also recorded notable changes in protection requests in 2024. Venezuelans (74 000) lodged a record number of applications, up by around a tenth (9 %) compared to 2023; while applications from Colombians (52 000) decreased by almost a fifth (- 18 %) in 2024. Taken together, not only did these two nationalities account for a majority of all visa-free applicants in the EU+, they also represented over three fifths of applicants in Spain. After a surge of boat arrivals in the Canary Islands, Malians (17 000) and Senegalese (14 000) both lodged more than twice as many applications in the EU+, compared to 2023.

Changing trends in key receiving EU+ countries

In 2024, Germany (237 000) again received the most asylum applications in the EU+, though the number was a third lower (- 29 %), year-over-year. While Spain (166 000), Italy (159 000) and France (159 000) received rather similar numbers of asylum applications in 2024, at around 16 % of the EU+ total, each; these Member States were faced with new dynamics. For example, Peruvians (27 000), who continued to lodge significant numbers of applications in the EU+, shifted to applying mostly in Italy in 2024, where they became the 2nd most populous citizenship.

However, the number of asylum applications received does not convey the full measure of protection needs in the EU+. In December 2024, around 4.4 million persons displaced from the Russian invasion of Ukraine were receiving temporary protection. Ukrainians (27 000) lodged significantly more asylum applications in 2024 in the EU+, up by 90 % compared to 2023; half did so in France and one quarter in Poland. The number of Ukrainian applications received in 2024 was reminiscent of initial figures in 2022, after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began.

Evaluating which EU+ countries receive the most applications for asylum is important, but a simple like-for-like comparison is not always appropriate because their asylum and reception capacities can vary. Cyprus (6 800) has long been the recipient of the most applications per capita. By the end of 2024, Greece (74 000) received the 2nd most applications per capita. In 2024, both countries received around 1 application for every 140 residents.

State of decision-taking on international protection

In 2024, the EU+ recognition rate remained stable at 42 %, though this aggregate figure masks significant variations across nationalities and a tendency to grant subsidiary protection, rather than refugee status.

The Syrian recognition rate has been above 90% for most of the last two years. However, while recognition rates for Syrians remained relatively aligned among decision-making countries including Greece (90 %), Germany (92 %), and Austria (95 %), there was significant variation in the type of protection granted.

On the other hand, the Afghan recognition rate stood at 63 % at EU+ level, and there was significant variation across EU+ countries including Belgium (39 %), Germany (41 %), France (67 %), Austria (76%), Switzerland (90 %), and Greece (98 %). However, EU+ countries tended to grant refugee status more often than subsidiary protection.

The EUAA notes that in 2024 almost half of all applications received (48 %) were from citizenships for which the recognition rate is low (≤ 20 %). Citizenships in this group included Bangladeshi, Moroccan and Tunisian nationals. The future Asylum Procedure Regulation provides that applications from applicants from countries with a low recognition rate should be subjected to an accelerated examination procedure, and to an asylum border procedure when the relevant conditions are met.

For more information and a series of interactive data visualisations, please visit the EUAA Latest Asylum Trends

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 3, 2025

MIL-OSI: Exosens delivers very strong full-year 2024 results, overperforming on its IPO guidance; Sustained growth dynamic anticipated for 2025-2026

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

EXOSENS DELIVERS VERY STRONG FULL-YEAR 2024 RESULTS, OVERPERFORMING ON ITS IPO GUIDANCE

SUSTAINED GROWTH DYNAMIC ANTICIPATED FOR 2025-2026

FY 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

Strong revenue growth of +35.0%, above IPO guidance, to €394.1m in 2024, reflecting dynamic like-for-like growth (+24.9%) and successful integration of bolt-on acquisitions
Significant increase in profitability, with adjusted EBITDA of €118.5m in 2024 (+37.8%), representing a best-in-class margin of 30.1% (vs. 29.5% in 2023), above IPO guidance and above top range of estimated landing given in January 2025
Net profit of €30.7m in 2024, recording a strong growth of +66.7% over 2023
Robust balance sheet with a net leverage of 1.2x at year-end 2024, enabling the execution of our growth strategy
Proposed payment of a €0.10 cash dividend per share for the 2024 fiscal year, for the first time since Exosens’ IPO

OUTLOOK FOR 2025 AND THE 2024-2026 PERIOD: SUSTAINED GROWTH DYNAMIC DRIVEN BY DEFENSE TAILWINDS

Continued strong performance expected in 2025, with revenue growth in the high-teens and adjusted EBITDA growth in the low twenties
Global market demand is higher than initially expected, with NATO and Tier-1 allies continuing to ramp up their procurement of night vision systems further improving the perspectives, which implies a high-teens 2024-2026 adjusted EBITDA CAGR
In order to meet this demand Exosens decided to invest €20m to expand its production capacity not only in Europe but also in the US with, for the first time, a new production plant in the US, which will give us additional market opportunities

Mérignac (France), 3 March 2025 – Exosens (EXENS; FR001400Q9V2), a high-tech company focused on providing mission and performance-critical amplification, detection and imaging technology, today publishes its results for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024. At its 28 February 2025 meeting, Exosens’ Board of Directors approved the consolidated financial statements for 2024.

“We are pleased to announce our first results as a publicly-listed company, with 2024 performance exceeding our IPO guidance. In a dynamic defense market, driven by rising geopolitical tensions and increasing defense budgets across NATO countries and Tier-1 allies, Exosens fully benefited from these structural trends and is well-positioned to continue doing so. 2024 was a pivotal year, we flawlessly executed our strategy, reinforcing our leadership in mission-critical technologies, surpassing expectations, and further enhancing our best-in-class margins, that set us apart from our peers.

Amplification remains a key driver of our growth with higher-than-expected market demand, necessitating capacity expansion. As a result, we have decided to scale up capacity in Europe and enter the US market, anticipating sustained mid-term demand and emerging opportunities.

We are also accelerating the growth of D&I segment, which achieved +7% like-for-like growth in 2024, driven by an improved product mix, market share gains, and successful acquisitions. These markets are benefiting from AI-driven advancements in industrial control, nuclear energy, and healthcare research.

With a focus on sustainable growth, we remain committed to customer satisfaction, innovation, operational excellence, and disciplined acquisitions. Backed by a strong balance sheet and a dynamic market environment, we are well-positioned to accelerate expansion and create value for both customers and shareholders, including our first dividend payment.”, commented Jérôme Cerisier, CEO of Exosens.

Key financial indicators

In € millions	FY 2023	FY 2024	Change (%)	LFL¹(%)
Revenue	291.8	394.1	+35.0%	+24.9%

Adjusted gross margin	131.1	189.6	+44.7%	–
As a % of revenue	44.9%	48.1%	+320bps	–

Adjusted EBITDA	86.0	118.5	+37.8%	–
As a % of revenue	29.5%	30.1%	+60bps	–

Adjusted EBIT	66.1	95.3	+44.1%	–
As a % of revenue	22.7%	24.2%	+150bps	–

Operating income	48.3	73.0	+51.2%	–
As a % of revenue	16.5%	18.5%	+200bps	–

Net profit	18.4	30.7	+66.7%	–
Net profit ex. PPA amortization	27.8	41.5	+49.2%	–

Free cash flow	20.5	55.4	+170.0%	–
Cash conversion (%)	69.3%	74.1%	+480bps	–

Net debt	302.3	144.1	(47.7)%	–
Leverage ratio (x)	3.3x	1.2x	(2.1)x	–
¹Like-for-like.

Strong revenue performance in FY 2024 in a dynamic market environment, outperforming our IPO guidance

In € millions	FY 2023	FY 2024	Change (%)	Like-for-like (%)
Amplification	209.9	280.2	+33.5%	+33.5%
Detection & Imaging	82.5	117.5	+42.5%	+6.8%
Eliminations & Other	(0.6)	(3.7)	n/a	n/a
Total revenue	291.8	394.1	+35.0%	+24.9%

Exosens posted a strong performance in FY 2024, outperforming its IPO guidance and continuing its strong growth trajectory, with consolidated revenue totaling €394.1 million, which represented a significant growth of +35.0% (or +€102.3 million) compared to FY 2023, of which+24.9% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis, mainly driven by a strong demand in Defense end-markets.

Amplification revenue reached €280.2 million in FY 2024, reflecting a significant growth of +33.5% compared to FY 2023, driven by stronger sales volumes and increased share of higher-performance image intensifier tubes for Defense’s night vision applications.

The global night vision market is benefiting from growing demand, driven by increasing defense budgets and the need for armies worldwide to enhance their night fighting capabilities, including the ongoing shift from monocular to binocular goggles. The return of high-density combat has underscored the critical importance of night operation abilities as a key tactical advantage. NATO and Tier-1 allies continued to ramp up their procurement of night vision systems in 2024, though they are still far from reaching the targeted equipment rate.

Reflecting this increasing market demand, Exosens, worldwide leader, has benefited from its position as the strategic supplier of NATO and Tier-1 allies for night vision image intensifier tubes with a number of major business wins in markets such as Germany, the UK, Poland, Belgium, Finland, France or Australia, among others.

On the M&A front, the Group announced agreement to acquire NVLS, a specialist in man-portable night vision and thermal devices, in October 2024, which will accelerate Exosens’ mid-term capability to develop next gen googles with innovative solutions combining night vision and thermal devices. Closing is expected to occur in the coming months, pending customary clearances and approvals.

Detection & Imaging revenue totaled €117.5 million in FY 2024, representing an increase of +42.5% compared to FY 2023, mainly driven by a positive product mix and accelerated growth from 2023 bolt-on acquisitions (Telops, El-Mul, and Photonis Germany¹).

Like-for-like growth reached +6.8% in FY 2024, accelerating from the +6.0% recorded in 9M 2024. This strong performance was driven by market share gains following new product launches, as well as growing demand in our key high-growth end markets (Life Sciences, Nuclear and Defense). These factors more than offset the softness in Industrial Control markets (China, machine vision).

Throughout the year, Exosens continued to execute on its disciplined bolt-on strategy with two synergistic acquisitions: Centronic (radiation detection solutions), in July, reinforcing our position as the key European leader in nuclear instrumentation, and LR Tech (FTIR spectrometry) in September, complementing Telops’ products to strengthen our position in high-end spectroscopy instruments. Additionally, in November, Exosens announced the acquisition of Noxant, a specialist in high-performance cooled infrared cameras, set to close in Q1 2025.

Significant improvement in adjusted gross margin in FY 2024

	FY 2023		FY 2024		Change
	In €m	% of sales	In €m	% of sales	In %
Amplification	93.3	44.4%	132.4	47.3%	+42.0%
Detection & Imaging	37.7	45.7%	57.1	48.6%	+51.6%
Eliminations & Other	0.1	n/a	0.1	n/a	n/a
Adjusted gross margin	131.1	44.9%	189.6	48.1%	+44.7%

Exosens posted a strong increase in adjusted gross margin at Group level and across both segments in FY 2024, mainly due to higher sales volumes, improved yields and a favorable product mix. The Group’s adjusted gross margin stood at €189.6 million in FY 2024, reflecting a growth of +44.7% compared to FY 2023. Adjusted gross margin rate reached 48.1% in FY 2024, marking a significant improvement of 320 basis points year-on-year.

Adjusted gross margin of the Amplification segment totaled €132.4 million in FY 2024 (+42.0% vs. FY 2023), representing a margin of 47.3% (vs. 44.4% in FY 2023). This strong increase in margin rate mainly reflected higher sales volumes, improved yields and a favorable product mix.

Adjusted gross margin of the Detection & Imaging segment amounted to €57.1 million in FY 2024 (+51.6% vs. FY 2023), representing a margin of 48.6% (vs. 45.7% in FY 2023). This improved margin rate was mainly driven by a positive product mix, improved yields and supply-chain cost synergies.

Continued strong operational execution driving further profitability increase in FY 2024

Exosens reported a further increase of its profitability at Group level in FY 2024, reinforcing best-in-class margin, driven by strong business momentum and continued operational excellence.

Adjusted EBITDA amounted to €118.5 million in FY 2024, representing a sharp growth of +37.8% (or +€32.5 million) compared to €86.0 million in FY 2023. As a result, adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 60 basis points to reach 30.1% in FY 2024 (vs. 29.5% in FY 2023).

Adjusted EBIT totaled €95.3 million in FY 2024, posting a strong growth of +44.1% (or +€29.2 million) compared to €66.1 million in FY 2023. As a result, adjusted EBIT margin increased by 150 basis points to reach 24.2% in FY 2024 (vs. 22.7% in FY 2023).

The Group’s recorded an operating income of €73.0 million in FY 2024, representing a significant increase of +51.2% (or €24.7 million) compared to €48.3 million in FY 2023. As a percentage of sales, operating margin improved by 200 basis points to reach 18.5% (vs. 16.5% in FY 2023).

Significant growth in net income, up +67% in FY 2024

Exosens recorded a significant increase in net profit, reaching €30.7 million in FY 2024, up by +66.7% (or €12.3 million) compared to FY 2023. Adjusted for PPA amortization, net profit was €41.5 million in FY 2024, representing a growth of +49.2% (or €13.6 million) compared to FY 2023.

Strong increase in free cash flow, up +€35 million in FY 2024

Exosens recorded a significant increase in free cash flow to €55.4 million in FY 2024 (vs. €20.5 million in FY 2023). This strong increase was achieved despite one-off expenses related to IPO consulting fees. In addition, the Group achieved a higher cash conversion rate of 74.1% in FY 2024 compared to 69.3% in FY 2023, with increased investment towards the end of the year to support future growth.

Sustained R&D efforts in FY 2024 to support long-term growth and market leadership

R&D expenses grew by +35.0% to €30.4 million (7.7% of sales) in FY 2024 compared to €22.5 million (7.7% of sales) in FY 2023. Continued efforts in R&D like the development of 5G image intensifier tubes for Defense’s night vision applications, or next gen detectors for Life Sciences and Nuclear will sustain the group’s future growth and maintain its leading positions.

Completion of the first phase of capacity expansion

Capital expenditure reached €27.9 million in FY 2024 compared to €23.7 million in FY 2023, marking a reduction in capex to sales ratio to 7.1% (vs. 8.1% in FY 2023) following the completion of capacity expansion resulting from investments started in 2022-2023.

Strengthened capital structure, fully supporting our growth strategy

Following Exosens’ successful IPO in June 2024, which included a capital increase of €180 million and a full debt refinancing (securing two new credit facilities of a total amount of €350 million), the Group has significantly deleveraged, with its net debt more than halving to €144.1 million as at 31 December 2024 compared to €302.3 million as at 31 December 2023. Accordingly, the leverage ratio decreased significantly to 1.2x as at 31 December 2024, as compared to a ratio of 3.3x as at 31 December 2023, providing the Group with ample capacity to pursue its investments in growth.

Dividend

The Company’s Board of Directors decided, during its meeting on 28 February 2025, to propose the payment of a €0.10 cash dividend per share for the 2024 fiscal year. This amount will be subject to the approval of the Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting, which will take place on 23 May 2025.

Outlook for 2025 and the 2024-2026 period: Sustained growth dynamic driven by defense tailwinds

Exosens expects a continued strong performance in 2025, with revenue growth in the high-teens and adjusted EBITDA growth in the low twenties compared to 2024.

The Group expects a high-teens 2024-2026 adjusted EBITDA CAGR and a cash conversion²ratio in the range of 70%-75% over the period, taking into account capacity investment in Europe and in the US.

Furthermore, the Group intends to pursue its growth strategy, at a pace consistent with historical trend, while maintaining a leverage ratio³of around 2x.

Webcast

Jérôme Cerisier, CEO and Quynh-Boi Demey, CFO will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss Exosens’ full-year 2024 results on Monday, 3 March 2025 at 9:00am CET. This presentation will be followed by a Q&A session and can be accessed via the following link:
https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/exosens-en/20250303_1/

The press release and the presentation will be available in the Investor Relations section on Exosens’ website at https://www.exosens.com/investors.

Audit procedures in respect of the consolidated financial statements are complete and the corresponding audit report of the auditors is in the process of being delivered.

Financial Calendar

28/04/2025: Q1 2025 revenue & adj. gross margin (publication before market opening);
29/04/2025: Publication of 2024 Universal Registration Document;
23/05/2025: Annual general meeting;
31/07/2025: H1 2025 results (publication before market opening);
27/10/2025: Q3 2025 revenue & adj. gross margin (publication before market opening).

About Exosens

Exosens is a high‐tech company, with more than 85 years of experience in the innovation, development, manufacturing and sale of high‐end electro‐optical technologies in the field of amplification, detection and imaging. Today, it offers its customers detection components and solutions such as travelling wave tubes, advanced cameras, neutron & gamma detectors, instrument detectors and light intensifier tubes. This allows Exosens to respond to complex issues in extremely demanding environments by offering tailor‐made solutions to its customers. Thanks to its sustained investments, Exosens is internationally recognized as a major innovator in optoelectronics, with production and R&D carried out on 12 sites, in Europe and North America and with over 1,700 employees. Exosens is listed on compartment A of the regulated market of Euronext Paris ﴾Ticker: EXENS – ISIN: FR001400Q9V2﴿. Exosens is a member of Euronext Tech Leaders segment and is also included in several indices, including CAC All-Tradable, CAC Mid & Small, FTSE Total Cap and MSCI France Small Cap. For more information: www.exosens.com.

Investor Relations

Laurent Sfaxi, l.sfaxi@exosens.com

Media Relations

Brunswick Group, exosens@brunswickgroup.com
Laetitia Quignon, + 33 6 83 17 89 13
Nicolas Buffenoir, + 33 6 31 89 36 78

APPENDICES

Reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBIT

In € millions	FY 2023	FY 2024
Operating profit	48.3	73.0
Depreciation, amortization and impairment – net	29.2	34.1
Other income and expenses	4.6	3.9
EBITDA	82.0	111.0
Share-based payments	1.6	2.9
One-off costs	2.4	4.5
Adjusted EBITDA	86.0	118.5
Depreciation, amortization and impairment ex. PPA amortization	(19.9)	(23.3)
Adjusted EBIT	66.1	95.3

Reconciliation of free cash flow and cash conversion

In € millions	FY 2023	FY 2024
Adjusted EBITDA	86.0	118.5
Capitalized research and development costs	(8.6)	(11.0)
Adjusted EBITDA after capitalized R&D costs	77.4	107.5
Change in working capital⁴	(21.4)	(10.7)
Tax paid	(6.9)	(6.7)
Maintenance capital expenditure⁴	(6.4)	(12.5)
Others	(4.9)	(7.0)
Free cash flow before growth	37.8	70.7
Growth capital expenditure⁴	(17.3)	(15.3)
Free cash flow after growth	20.5	55.4

Adjusted EBITDA after capitalized R&D costs and capital expenditure ^(A)	53.7	79.6
Adjusted EBITDA after capitalized R&D costs ^(B)	77.4	107.5
Cash conversion (%) ^{(A) / (B)}	69.3%	74.1%

Consolidated statement of income

In € millions	FY 2023	FY 2024
Revenue	291.8	394.1
Cost of sales	(76.0)	(103.0)
Other purchases and external expenses	(54.1)	(65.5)
Taxes and duties other than income tax	(1.6)	(1.6)
Employee benefits expenses	(81.3)	(110.8)
Other operating income / (expenses)	4.4	2.0
Depreciation, amortization and additions to provisions	(30.4)	(38.2)
o/w PPA amortization	(9.5)	(10.8)
Current operating profit / (loss)	52.8	76.9
*Current operating profit / (loss) ex. PPA amortization*	*62.3*	*87.8*
Other income / (expenses)	(4.5)	(3.9)
Operating profit / (loss)	48.3	73.0
*Operating profit / (loss) ex. PPA amortization*	*57.7*	*83.8*
Net financial result	(28.0)	(31.2)
Profit / (loss) before tax	20.2	41.8
*Profit / (loss) before tax ex. PPA amortization*	*29.7*	*52.6*
Income tax	(1.8)	(11.1)
Net profit / (loss)	18.4	30.7
*Net profit / (loss) ex. PPA amortization*	*27.8*	*41.5*

Consolidated statement of cash flows

In € millions	FY 2023	FY 2024
Net profit / (loss)	18.4	30.7
Net financial results	28.0	31.2
Income tax	1.8	11.1
Charges net of reversals to depreciation and amortization	30.9	36.9
Other income / (expenses)	(0.2)	2.5
Income tax received / (paid)	(6.9)	(6.7)
Change in net working capital	(21.7)	(9.5)
Net cash flow from / (used in) operating activities	50.5	96.2
Net investments in assets	(31.4)	(41.3)
Net acquisition of equity investments	(69.3)	(31.4)
Investment grant received and other flows	1.1	(0.0)
Net cash flow from / (used in) investment activities	(99.6)	(72.7)
Capital increases / (decreases)	0.0	180.0
Acquisitions and disposals of treasury shares	0.0	(0.3)
Change in financial liabilities and IFRS 16 leases	57.6	(65.1)
Interest payments (including IFRS 16 leases)	(24.4)	(24.2)
Other	2.3	(14.1)
Net cash flow from / (used in) financing activities	35.5	76.3
Effect of changes in exchange rates	0.2	0.4
Increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(13.5)	100.2
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	29.0	15.5
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	15.5	115.6

Consolidated balance sheet – Assets

In € millions	31-Dec-2023	31-Dec-2024
Goodwill	174.3	189.5
Intangible assets	202.4	204.9
Tangible assets	72.1	93.6
Right-of-use of leases	10.8	10.6
Investment in associates	3.4	3.4
Financial assets and other long-term investments	0.7	0.9
Deferred tax assets	0.0	(0.0)
Non-current assets	463.7	502.8
Inventory	78.5	93.0
Accounts receivable	69.2	71.0
Derivative financial instruments	0.2	0.0
Financial assets and other short-term investments	29.4	33.0
Cash and cash equivalents⁵	15.5	117.2
Current assets	192.7	314.2

Total assets	656.4	817.0

Consolidated balance sheet – Equity and liabilities

In € millions	31-Dec-2023	31-Dec-2024
Share capital	1.9	21.6
Additional paid-in capital	188.1	342.5
Reserves	14.1	48.5
Total equity	204.1	412.6
Long-term financial debt	300.8	247.8
Long-term lease liabilities	7.7	8.2
Pension liabilities	7.6	7.5
Provisions and other long-term liabilities	8.6	13.4
Deferred tax liabilities	17.6	20.6
Non-current liabilities	342.3	297.4
Short-term financial debt	7.0	2.5
Short-term lease liabilities	2.4	2.7
Derivative financial instruments	–	0.1
Accounts payable	32.3	26.0
Provisions and other short-term liabilities	68.4	75.6
Current liabilities	110.1	107.0

Total equity and liabilities	656.4	817.0

Definitions

Like-for-like growth is the revenue growth achieved by the Group excluding currency impact and scope effect, which corresponds to revenue recorded during period “n” by all the companies included in the Group’s scope of consolidation at the end of period “n-1” (excluding any contribution from the companies acquired after the end of period “n-1”), compared with revenue achieved during period “n-1” by the same companies. Like-for-like growth for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024 therefore excludes the contribution of Telops, El-Mul and Photonis Germany (formerly ProxiVision), acquired by the Group in October 2023, July 2023 and June 2023, respectively, as well as Centronic and LR Tech, acquired by the Group in July 2024 and September 2024, respectively.

Adjusted gross margin is equal to the difference between the selling price and the cost price of products and services (including notably employee benefits).

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating profit, less (i) additions net of reversals to depreciation, amortization and impairment of non-current assets; (ii) non-recurring income and expenses as presented in the Group’s consolidated income statement within “Other income” and “Other expenses”, and (iii) the impact of items that do not reflect ordinary operating performance (in particular business reorganization and adaption costs, costs relating to acquisition and external growth transactions, as well as the IFRS 2 share-based payment expense).

Adjusted EBIT is defined as operating profit, less (i) non-recurring income and expenses as presented in the Group’s consolidated income statement within “Other income” and “Other expenses”, and (ii) the impact of items that do not reflect ordinary operating performance (in particular business reorganization and adaption costs, costs relating to acquisition and external growth transactions, as well as the IFRS 2 share-based payment expense). Depreciation, amortization and reversal of impairment losses on non-current assets, included in adjusted EBIT, exclude the amortization of the part of non-current assets corresponding to purchase price allocation.

Cash conversion is calculated as follows: (adjusted EBITDA – capitalized research and development costs – capital expenditure) / adjusted EBITDA – capitalized research and development costs).

Leverage ratio is calculated as net debt / adjusted EBITDA as defined in the Group’s New Senior Credit Facilities Agreement entered into as part of the refinancing executed in the frame of the IPO.

Forward-looking statements

Certain information included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions, including, without limitation, assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Exosens operates, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the forward-looking statements included in this press release. These risks and uncertainties include those set out and detailed in Chapter 3 “Risk Factors” of the registration document approved on 22 May 2024 by the French financial markets’ authority (“Autorité des marchés financiers”) under number I. 24-010. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Forward-looking information and statements are not guarantees of future performances and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Group. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, forward-looking information and statements. This press release is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute and should not be deemed to constitute an offer to the public of securities.

1 Formerly ProxiVision.
2 Cash conversion is defined as (adjusted EBITDA – capitalized R&D – capex) / (adjusted EBITDA – capitalized R&D).
3 Leverage ratio is defined as net financial debt / adjusted EBITDA.
4 Capital expenditures not paid at year-end 2024 were reclassified in working capital.
5 As at 31 December 2024, cash and cash equivalents balance sheet position amounts to €117.2 million. Adjusted for bank overdrafts for €0.3 million and interests to be received for €1.2 million, cash and cash equivalents amount to €115.6 million as reported in the cash flow statement.

Attachment

Exosens_Press Release_FY 2024_VA_FINAL

The MIL Network –

March 3, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice-President’s address at the Colloquium on ‘International Arbitration: Indian Perspective’ organised by India International Arbitration Centre (Excerpts)

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 2:41PM by PIB Delhi

Good Morning all of you,

When Chairman, International Arbitration Centre of India extended invitation to me, I had a very frank, forthright thought exchange with him.

I indicated to Justice Gupta that he has a daunting task to impart much needed credibility to the Indian arbitral system. I was so happy and delighted when he reflected that some step has to be taken. I still recall what he told me. Realistic assessment of a malice and authentic diagnosis is fundamental and quintessence to find a resolution. My response was not encouraging.

Justice Gupta was insistent. I reacted. Justice Gupta, when UNCITRAL Model came in 1994, UK and India were two countries that had historical connect and had legislation in the same year-1996, but look at the kind of jolts our Act has had ever since then. And compare it with what happened in the United Kingdom, and therefore, to impart credibility and to undertake this very daunting task, there will have to be convergence of stakeholders.

Those stakeholders are in the legislature, in the executive, in the judiciary, and in the bar. I am so happy and delighted that he has taken the first step, and in the process, though I may be blowing out of proportion, but for a country that is home to one-sixth of humanity, this may be that step which Neil Armstrong took on 20th of July, 1969, when man landed on the moon for the first time. So my best wishes to you.

I continue to have my concerns and reservations that every inch you will traverse will be difficult. And therefore, my caveat to what the Attorney General reflected, we are not in the global room of arbitration. We are far distant from it. We have to go much beyond our words. Our convergence will have to be on realistic fabric.

Each one of us will have to contribute, and when we’ll self-assess, we will find we have been in neglect, and therefore, Justice Gupta, I have known him for a very long time. He means business. I therefore compliment him for getting sponsors, Baker, McKinsey, Miss Samantha Mobley, Miss Minnie Van De Pol. Your presence matters because it was in late 90s I had the occasion to attend a conference in your organisation about the state of arbitral position.

Our Attorney General is as much in law as in academics, and my expectations from him are always more. But I can tell you and share with you, my expectations from the Attorney General are realistic. And I am sure he would carry a message from this place that he will use his office to catalyse the change, particularly with respect to legislation that is ailing our arbitral process with painful interventions that evade finality and expedition.

I am happy to greet your Secretary General, Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation, Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol. I recall vividly what happened in G20. It was Prime Minister Modi’s vision and he succeeded in getting African Union as a permanent member of G20. European Union was already a member. When we examine this development in historical perspective, we will realise the qualitative import of it.

Added to this, an attorney was keenly involved with that process also to put on global radar the concerns of Global South. You were there in some conferences involving members of Judiciary in the past, and therefore, indeed, a good convergence, soothing convergence Asian-African aspect. This forum has brought together accomplished minds, but I find absence of some as impactful as presence of those who are here.

I had expected there will be greater participation of those who are reaping the harvest, those who are occupying the century stage, who happen to be your peers. In a country like ours, change takes place only when we slightly depart from formality and talk straight. But I have no doubt that this step that has generated confidence and optimism in me and I would be certainly a soldier of your agenda that the deliberations would go a long way and I would urge let the deliberations not end with this colloquium.

Let there be extension of brainstorming sessions between individuals. We have some of the finest minds here. When I look around, when I look at my friend senior advocate, Gaurav Bannerjee look at his lineage, how many times we have discussed passionately in mission mode and then rested because handholding has to be by government stakeholders. Handholding has to be by law. Handholding has to emanate from people whose pen matters, and therefore, Justice Gupta has taken a big challenge and every challenge has inbuilt potential opportunity.

I have no doubt we will so convert. I need not underscore the relevance of arbitral process, its need, but in our country and I can say with modest exposure to global arbitral process, I think being in the International Court of Arbitration for about three years and associated with the commission of that outfit for about nine years. Here, we are not to regain credibility. We have to establish credibility of arbitration. There is a moment subterranean where people in commerce fear arbitral process and that has to be overcome. Arbitrators play as much critical role as members of the board associated with arbitral process.

Surprisingly, there is, I’m saying it with utmost restraint, absolute tight-fist control of a segment of a category that is involved with arbitral process determination and this tight-fist control emanates out of judicial fields and if we examine it on an objective platform, it is excruciatingly painful. This country has a rich human resource in every facet, Oceanography, Maritime, Aviation, Infrastructure and what not and the disputes are relatable to the experience which is sectoral.

Unfortunately, we have taken in this country a very myopic view of arbitration as if it is adjudication. It is much beyond adjudication. It is not conventional adjudication as historically evaluated globally. I am enthused in making these observations because Justice Gupta’s mind is stirred by these thoughts. With all my intent not to come here, I have to yield under the pressure of his determination. Now if any country needs smoothest of judicial process, it is India, and India needs it more than any other country for several reasons.

And why? We are a country that is on the rise. The rise is unstoppable. The rise is incremental. Ladies and gentlemen, let me reflect on the state of the nation at the moment, and I do it on some authority because I had the occasion to be in Parliament in 1989, in seat of governance as a Minister, 1991. I therefore know what the scene was then and what the scene is now.

Exponential economic upsurge that we are witnessing. India has transformed from 11th economy a decade ago to the 5th largest global economy on way to becoming the 3rd largest ahead of Japan and Germany very shortly.

We have 8% growth heading towards 4 trillion economy US dollars. Get little away from it. Phenomenal infrastructure growth. Those who have been to this country a decade ago and now and this very place you can see how swiftly it came or Yashobhoomi, or Indian Parliament building newer even in the phase of COVID our Highways, our Aviation sector, our Space sector, our Deep sea sector. So we have phenomenal infrastructure growth. We have 4 new airports and 1 metro system built every year. Which country in the world can do it?

Daily 14 km of highways and world class Highways and 6 km of Eailways. A nation of 1.4 billion has deep technological penetration. 85 million have been benefited with affordable housing. 330 million with health coverage and 29 million small businesses with loans annually.

I am giving out these figures because they have rational and rational to the extent arbitral process is concerned. Where the nation is heading? We boast of lunar and mars missions, vaccine productions, we are focussing on Semiconductors, Quantum Computing, green Hydrogen Mission. We are in single digit countries least that is focussing on artificial intelligence. We are one of the few countries in the world that is on way to exploitation of 6G commercially. And look at our spread of 4G all over the country. Every village has it. And therefore, we have all pervasive digitisation. 6.1 billion monthly digital transactions.

Third largest global ecosystem and the largest Unicorn–Well spread out. People centric policies. Toilet in the house, gas connection in the house, electricity connection in the house, internet connection in the house, road connection, everything is there. And therefore, this development of a decade has converted India as the most aspirational nation in the world. People are now rest even in restlessness. They want more. They want more because they have tasted development. They have benefited from people centric policies. All this can come up only with the surge in economic activity. And every economic activity will have differences, disputes, requiring quick solutions.

Sometimes, disputes and differences arise on account of perceptional variations, inadequate support, or helplessness. In this situation, it is very significant that we focus on adjudication. Now is the time when India is emerging in every field globally. Why not India should emerge as a global dispute resolution centre? If I reflect to myself and I enormously benefited by my stay as a member in the International Court of Arbitration.

What do they have which we don’t? Their infrastructure is hardly comparable to what we have. There are cultural centres where arbitrators can really engage. Go to Kolkata, go to Jaipur, go to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, any part, get away from the metro then you’ll have. I have seen in 10 years growth of arbitral centres with credibility in Dubai and Singapore on self-assessment without fear of contradiction. For this reason, I can say we are nowhere.

We are not in the mind of people who are having commercial relationship with us if it is international commercial arbitration. There was a time when this country had for the first time a power purchase agreement. My friend Gaurav Banerjee will bear me out. The agreement was settled by a law firm outside the country, but Justice Gupta, it provided for tariff on three terms. One tariff was A, if arbitration is in India as per Indian law, then the tariff will be cheaper by A minus 1. If the arbitration is in India but not according to Indian law. It will still be cheaper if the arbitration was outside India and under outside legal regime. That we have to change, and this finds reflection in power purchase agreement of UNRWA.

We when are particularly suited naturally, culturally and otherwise the richest human resource on the globe with highest adaptability of Indian mind to highly skilled required techniques and that is why you will find formal economy taking place on account of digital transactions, therefore, time for us to get into a groove to be part of the marathon march that is taking place in the country for India to be a developed nation and India is no longer a country with potential and developed nation status is not our dream it is our destination, and all world organisations that in ‘90 when I was a part of the government were absolutely on us are accolading us global centre favourite centre of Investment and opportunity– International Monetary Fund says World Bank has applauded us that our digitisation accomplished in about six years is not otherwise attainable even in more than four decades we have done it.

And therefore we will have to go to certain basics I can suggest some, A Former Chief Justice of this country, I am not concerned about the legacy left or the footprints, the nature of which he left but he did make an observation process has become old boys club he was referring to retired judges participation arbitral process.

I should not be misunderstood even for a moment retired judges of this country are an asset to arbitral process they lend credibility to us. I know some of the former Chief Justices and Judges being absolutely appreciated globally for international commercial arbitration – Justice Lodha, Justice Thakur.

Let me tell you amazing all of the judges justice everyone is doing I am not for a moment saying keep away from them, No!

But there are areas where the arbitral tribal needs to be supplemented by experts in the field of Oceanography in Aviation in Infrastructure our judges are perhaps the best in the world. They apply mind, and therefore not for a moment, I should be misunderstood. I do not share the observation of the former Chief justice of old boys’ club. Justice Gupta is immediately suited going by his passion and commitment for bringing about a big change, but I am taking a critic’s view and critic’s view is that the Attorney General of the country can really reflect and make a big change this country in the world tell me has suo-moto cognisance by the highest court.

I am sure I can’t look around, and Article 136 intervention was supposed to be a narrow slit. The wall has been demolished with anything and everything under the sun including what a Magistrate has to do, What a Sessions Judge as to do, what a District Judge has to do, what a High Court judge has to do, that wall demolition is also hurting Arbitral process.

All I am suggesting in all humility and a concerned citizen of this country that the issue which you are debating is of critical importance to Micro-small industries they want facile easy arbitral process. For want of time I would not be able to say all I wish to say, and since I have shared my thoughts in private with Justice Gupta, I would concludingly sum up.

Let us navigate because it is time for us to navigate step by step from alternative resolution to amicable resolution. Why should it be alternative it must be first option why should it be substitute to litigation so amicable resolution from dispute resolution to difference resolution why do we label it, dispute these are differences these are differences because a new person has taken to a particular enterprise in Make in India, he has engaged in a startup. there is some difference this difference he wants to iron out because he is not all in all.

He can’t have various departments and therefore, let us convert it from dispute resolution to difference resolution and then why resolution? Why not make it from resolution to settlement and why look for judicially enforceable package of Awards. Let us get into consensual convergence.

All these in my modest assessment will secure commercial partnerships. They will not break partnerships. They will nurture partnerships in commerce, business, trade and industry they will ensure their blossoming. This will augur well for the economic growth and this will also place us in the global arbitration room where presently we are far distanced.

At the moment, ladies and gentlemen, I have no doubt, let me make my mind clear in a concluding sentence: the arbitral process in our country is just an additional burden to the normal hierarchical mechanism of adjudication. I am grateful to the opportunity accorded to me by Justice Gupta. I wish him good luck and I stand committed to be at your disposal in any manner you feel appropriate or expedient.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for your time and patience.

******

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 3, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Companies expand footprint overseas

Source: China State Council Information Office

Cargo ships carrying steel products are heading toward African ports from Zhangjiagang Port in East China’s Jiangsu province, and canned beans from Yancheng, Jiangsu, are reaching the dining tables of Middle Eastern families, as local Chinese enterprises continue to expand their businesses overseas, according to Nanjing Customs.

Chinese companies nationwide, not just enterprises in Jiangsu, are revving up their efforts to expand their footprint overseas and strengthen international cooperation.

In the two weeks following the Spring Festival holiday, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said it arranged for eight groups of Chinese entrepreneurs to travel abroad for economic and trade activities.

Representatives from more than 200 companies visited Kazakhstan, Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Beijing-based council said on Friday.

“During the visits, the willingness of foreign companies to cooperate with China exceeded our expectations, and 33 cooperation intent agreements were reached, covering sectors such as finance, energy, infrastructure, automobile manufacturing and the digital economy,” said Yang Fan, a spokeswoman for the CCPIT.

“This has fully demonstrated the strong desire and broad prospects for pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and foreign business communities,” she said.

The more difficult the times, the more determined the global business community is to work together and achieve win-win cooperation, Yang said, noting that this is the greatest certainty that balances many uncertain factors in global economic growth.

Unilateralism and protectionism can’t interfere with the main theme of economic globalization, she added.

In mid-February, a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs visited Kazakhstan and achieved better-than-expected results. During the two-day visit, representatives of enterprises from China and Kazakhstan signed eight cooperation agreements, including an energy strategic cooperation agreement and an agricultural products import and export agreement.

The visit was aimed at deepening trade, investment and industrial and supply chain cooperation between China and Kazakhstan and further consolidating the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the CCPIT said.

Chinese entrepreneurs were also warmly welcomed in other countries, and Chinese and foreign business communities engaged in enthusiastic talks.

In South Africa, the country’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile met with a Chinese business delegation in person, while in Germany, the management teams of major multinational corporations, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Bosch, held in-depth talks with Chinese entrepreneurs, Yang said.

In the UAE, officials from government departments and major business associations actively engaged in dialogues with Chinese entrepreneurs, she added.

In the past few years, Chinese enterprises have shown strong willingness to promote industrial and supply chain cooperation with their foreign counterparts.

Last year, the CCPIT organized a total of 2,249 business groups to visit 102 countries and regions, which means on average six Chinese delegations went abroad for business talks each day.

Jiangsu Kanghui New Material Technology Co, an affiliate of Hengli Group, which focuses on the full production chain in oil refining, petrochemicals, polyester new materials and textiles, is a leading company in producing wide polyester films. A variety of polyester film products have rolled off its production line for exports.

In particular, the company has been actively expanding its business in emerging markets such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to Nanjing Customs.

“Last year, our products exported to ASEAN countries enjoyed preferential tariffs and received an exemption of 8.47 million yuan ($1.16 million), thanks to the China-ASEAN free trade agreement,” said Zhang Liping, director of imports and exports at Jiangsu Kanghui New Material Technology.

“With preferential tariffs, our products have become more competitive in overseas markets. In 2024, the company’s export value in the ASEAN market reached $24 million,” Zhang added.

MIL OSI China News –

March 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Marks a Step Forward With AI for Everyone with New Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled Galaxy A56 5G1, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G, the latest Galaxy A series smartphones. For the first time, the Galaxy A series is integrating Awesome Intelligence — including some of Galaxy’s fan-favorite, AI-powered features to reimagine creativity — while bringing enhanced durability and longevity, as well as robust security and privacy protections to provide a safe and long-lasting mobile experience.
“The new Galaxy A series marks an important step in our mission of AI for all, by opening Galaxy’s incredible mobile AI experiences to even more people around the world,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. “With these awesome new features and capabilities, we are excited to unlock limitless creativity on the Galaxy A series while ensuring a safe, reliable and fun mobile experience.”
Awesome Intelligence for Advanced Search and Creativity
Awesome Intelligence is the first comprehensive mobile AI experience available on Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A35 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G and brings users powerful, fun, and easy-to-use AI tools. Powered by One UI 7, the new Awesome Intelligence features offer amazing search and visual experiences to Galaxy A series users.
A fan-favorite on Galaxy A series devices last year, Google’s enhanced Circle to Search2 makes it easier than ever to search and discover from the phone’s screen. With the latest upgrades, users can now get even more done on their phone. Circle to Search will quickly recognize phone numbers, email addresses and URLs on the screen so users can take action with minimal actions.
With the recent enhancements to Circle to Search, users can also instantly search their favorite songs they hear without switching apps. Whether it’s a song playing on social media from their phone or music that’s playing from speakers near them, just long press the navigation bar to activate Circle to Search, then tap the music button to effortlessly identify the song name and artist.

The Galaxy A series also takes the camera experience to a new level with creator-focused tools, starting with a powerful triple-camera system featuring a 50MP main lens on all devices and 10-bit HDR front lens recording on Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G for bright and crisp selfies. Galaxy A56 5G features a new 12MP ultra-wide lens, while the entire Galaxy A series empowers creativity in new and exciting ways through intelligent visual editing.
Exclusively available on Galaxy A56 5G, Best Face3 makes it easier than ever to capture the perfect group shot by selecting and combining the best expressions or features for up to five people from a motion photo. Whether someone blinked or looked away, Best Face ensures everyone looks their best in a single, seamless shot. Galaxy A56 5G also brings enhancements to Nightography, with Low Noise Mode making its way to the 12MP selfie camera and additional wide camera support to capture stunning content in low-light settings.

Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A26 5G all bring refined Object Eraser4, allowing users to remove unwanted distractions from photos. Users can manually or automatically select objects to erase, achieving a cleaner, more polished final image with just a few taps. Moreover, Filters5enables custom filter creation by extracting colors and styles from existing photos for users to apply for a unique and personalized effect depending on mood and taste. With these intelligent tools, users can refine and enhance their photos effortlessly, bringing a new level of creativity to every shot.

Built To Last with Upgraded Displays and Software Longevity
Now with up to six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades and six years of security updates, the Galaxy A series reinforces its software longevity even more. These updates add additional support toward optimizing the device’s lifecycle, ensuring users can enjoy a smooth and reliable experience for years to come.
Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G also come with larger displays designed for a high-quality, immersive viewing experience. Both devices feature a 6.7-inch6 FHD+ Super AMOLED display with brightness levels reaching up to 1200 nits7, allowing for a more vibrant and immersive entertainment experience. Frontline workers can also take advantage of the bright screens when working outside — allowing them to easily work from anywhere. New stereo speakers further enhance the experience with rich, balanced sound.
A 5,000mAh battery included with every device in the lineup enables the new Galaxy A series’ design to keep up with users’ daily routines. Galaxy A56 5G and Galaxy A36 5G support 45W charging power8 and Super Fast Charge 2.0 technology, delivering even faster charging. Both models also deliver enhanced performance, as Galaxy A56 5G is powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset and Galaxy A36 5G features the Snapdragon® 6 Gen 3 Mobile Platform. A larger vapor chamber in both devices helps sustain performance, ensuring smooth gameplay, video playback, and effortless multitasking. For B2B customers, Super Fast charging optimizes battery life to allow workers to stay connected to their device during their shift.

Beyond performance, the new Galaxy A series is built to withstand life’s unpredictable moments. For the first time, Galaxy A26 5G features an IP67 dust and water resistance rating for strong protection against the elements such as dust and water, matching the IP67 rating on Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A56 5G.9 Additionally, an advanced Corning® Glass cover material adds a layer of durability against scratches and cracks.10
Expanded Protections for Enhanced Security and Privacy
Thanks to the integration of One UI 7.0 on the Galaxy A series for the first time, Samsung is further supporting robust security and privacy. With Samsung Knox Vault, the Galaxy A series provides an extra, fortified layer of device safety, transparency, and user choice. Equipped with the latest One UI 7 security and privacy features, Galaxy A series users benefit from holistic protection — including enhancements in Theft Detection, More Security Settings and other features.
To maintain freedom of choice, accessibility, and transparency, Galaxy A series users can easily select their desired security features through the Knox Matrix dashboard, and can also be deployed and managed in the enterprise through the Knox suite of cloud solutions.

Pricing and Availability
Galaxy A26 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, and Galaxy A56 5G join A16 5G as the newest devices in the A series portfolio. Galaxy A36 5G starts at $399.99, available in Awesome Black and Awesome Lavender, with Awesome Lime exclusively available at Best Buy beginning March 26. Galaxy A26 5G starts at $299.99, available in Black beginning March 28. Galaxy A56 5G will be available later this year starting at $499.99.
Upon release, Digital Key will be available on Galaxy A56 5G11 and Galaxy A36 5G devices12 in select markets including Asia, Europe, and North America with more to follow.
To find out more about Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G, Galaxy A26 5G, Galaxy A16 5G, and other Galaxy smartphones, please visit: Samsung Newsroom, Samsung Mobile Press, Samsung.com, and Samsung.com/business.

Galaxy A56 5GGalaxy A36 5GGalaxy A26 5G
Display6.7-inch FHD+
Super AMOLED Display
120Hz refresh rate
Vision Booster
*Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7-inch in the full rectangle and 6.5-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight162.2 x 77.5 x 7.4mm, 198g162.9 x 78.2 x 7.4mm, 195g164.0 x 77.5 x 7.7mm, 200g
*Device weight may vary by market.
Camera12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2
50MP Main Camera
• F1.8, AF, OIS
5MP Macro Camera
• F2.4
12MP Front Camera
• F2.28MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2
50MP Main Camera
• F1.8, AF, OIS
5MP Macro Camera
• F2.4
12MP Front Camera
• F2.28MP Ultra-Wide Camera
• F2.2
50MP Main Camera
• F1.8, AF, OIS
2MP Macro Camera
• F2.4
13MP Front Camera
• F2.2
Memory & Storage8GB + 128GB6GB + 128GB6GB + 128GB
*Storage options and availability may vary by carrier, market or region. Actual storage availability may vary depending on pre-installed software.
Battery5,000mAh (typical)
*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,905mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
OSAndroid 15
One UI 7.0
SecuritySamsung Knox, Samsung Knox Suite Management, six generations of Android OS and One UI upgrades, six years of security updates
Water & Dust ResistanceIP67
1 5G speeds vary and require optimal network and connection (factors include frequency, bandwidth, congestion); see carrier for availability.
2 Works with compatible apps. Requires internet connection; results may vary by uniqueness, clarity and framing of circled image and related factors. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed. Google is a trademark of Google LLC.
3 Best Face feature is available exclusively on the Galaxy A56 5G device from the Galaxy A series.
Best Face is only available for photos taken with Motion Photo turned on. The feature does not generate new facial expressions but selects from frames within the Motion Photo video clip. Resulting image up to 12MP.
4 Results may vary based on the images and the object you’re trying to remove.
5 Filter availability may vary based on resolution and aspect ratio settings.
6 Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.7″ in the full rectangle and 6.5″ accounting for the rounded corners. Actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and the camera hole.
7 1,200 nits at HBM (High Brightness Mode).
8 Charger and compatible 45W cable sold separately.
9 IP67 rating for water and dust resistance. Water resistance based on laboratory test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach or pool use. Dust resistance based on laboratory test conditions for airflow of up to 8 hours.
10 Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus®+ is applied to the front and rear of Galaxy A56 5G, Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G. Frame does not include volume and side keys or SIM tray.
11Digital Key rollout for Galaxy A56 5G begins in Korea, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. Features may vary depending on each country or region.
12Digital Key rollout for Galaxy A36 5G begins in Korea, UAE, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and the United States. Features may vary depending on each country or region.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer to host leaders summit on Ukraine
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Prime Minister Keir Starmer to host leaders summit on Ukraine

The Prime Minister will intensify his efforts in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine by convening international leaders at a summit in London today [2 March 2025].
The Prime Minister will intensify his efforts in pursuit of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine by convening international leaders at a summit in London today.

The Prime Minister has this weekend reiterated his unwavering support for Ukraine and is determined to find a way forward that brings an end to Russia’s illegal war and guarantees Ukraine a lasting peace based on sovereignty and security.

The summit rounds off a week of intense diplomacy for the Prime Minister, which has seen him raise UK defence spending and travel to Washington D.C. for productive talks with President Trump in support of UK and European security. The Prime Minister spoke again with both President Trump and President Zelenskyy on Friday evening following the events of yesterday at the Presidents’ meeting in Washington D.C.

The Prime Minister will welcome Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Downing Street this morning, before being joined at the summit in central London by the leaders of Ukraine, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Canada, Finland, Sweden, Czechia and Romania. The Turkish Foreign Minister, NATO Secretary General and the Presidents of the European Commission and European Council will also attend.

The Prime Minister has been clear that there can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, a determination he reiterated when he warmly welcomed President Zelenskyy to Downing Street on Saturday evening ahead of the summit.

Discussions at the summit will focus on:

Strengthening Ukraine’s position now – including ongoing military support and increased economic pressure on Russia.

The need for a strong lasting deal that delivers a permanent peace in Ukraine and ensures that Ukraine is able to deter and defend against future Russian attack.

Next steps on planning for strong security guarantees.

Following the announcement earlier this week that the UK will spend 2.5% of its GDP on defence by 2027, the Prime Minister will be clear on the need for Europe to play its part on defence and step up for the good of collective security.

The UK has already been clear it is willing to support Ukraine’s future security with troops on the ground.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Three years on from Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, we are at a turning point. Today I will reaffirm my unwavering support for Ukraine and double down on my commitment to provide capacity, training and aid to Ukraine, putting it in the strongest possible position.

In partnership with our allies, we must intensify our preparations for the European element of security guarantees, alongside continued discussions with the United States.

We have an opportunity to come together to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine that secures their sovereignty and security.

Now is the time for us to unite in order to guarantee the best outcome for Ukraine, protect European security, and secure our collective future.

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Published 1 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Foreign powers have long profited from Ukrainian resources – Trump’s minerals grab is no exception

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Victoria Donovan, Professor of Ukrainian and East European Studies, University of St Andrews

Donald Trump and Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, meet outside the Élysée Palace in Paris. Frederic Legrand – COMEO / Shutterstock

Donald Trump’s grab for Ukraine’s minerals, which the US president is demanding as compensation for his country’s wartime assistance to Kyiv, might seem like a new low in a week of US-Ukraine relations lows.

The latest draft of Trump’s “minerals deal” would grant the US substantial control of a new fund that would invest in Ukrainian reconstruction. The fund would receive 50% of the profits from the future monetisation of government-owned Ukrainian natural resources such as lithium and titanium, as well as coal, gas, oil and uranium.

This deal, despite offering no guarantee of continued US military support, is a slight improvement on Trump’s first offering. That bid would have imposed financial conditions on Ukraine harsher than those forced on Germany after the first world war.

However, the deal will still require future generations of Ukrainians to shoulder the cost of a war for which they bear no responsibility. Commentators, including British foreign minister David Lammy, have noted that it would be more just to seize frozen Russian assets and use them to cover the cost of repairing the damage Russia has wreaked across the country.

But, while many in the west have balked at Trump’s barefaced extractivism, his actions are entirely in line with the way western capitalists have approached Ukraine and its resources since the 19th century.

The Donbas region of Ukraine is a major coal mining and industrial area.
deniks315 / Shutterstock

Ukraine’s east, referred to as Donbas, is often thought to have been industrialised in the 1930s, when Joseph Stalin was leading the Soviet Union. At this time, Donbas was marketed to the world as a symbol of proletarian superabundance. It was a place where miners and steelworkers exceeded their production quotas by 30 or 40 times.

But the development of industrial extraction in eastern Ukraine dates back much earlier and was powered, in part, by European capital and technology.

In the mid-19th century, when this part of Ukraine was controlled by the Russian empire, the Russian tsars opened the country’s borders to foreign capital investment in the hopes of accelerating its industrialisation drive. A series of fiscal measures were introduced that made it more attractive to foreigners to invest in the empire’s emerging industrial markets.

This encouraged a wave of economic migration from western Europe to all regions of the multinational state. Foreign capitalists often partnered with Russian business elites based in Saint Petersburg and other major cities and set about generating huge amounts of profit from the extraction of the empire’s valuable resources.

Donbas, with its wealth of minerals, was a region of particular interest for foreign capitalists. French, Belgian, German, Dutch and British industrialists all relocated to the region in the second half of the 19th century hoping to make their fortunes by excavating the region’s salt, chalk, gypsum, and coal. In fact, there was so much Belgian capital circulating at one point that Donbas became known as “the tenth Belgian province”.

Despite the paternalism of some foreign managers, the extraction of Ukraine’s minerals did little to improve the life of local communities. Rather, it contributed to the displacement of indigenous people and caused massive environmental and ecological damage.

Urban planning often replicated the segregated conditions of European colonies in Africa and India. Foreign settlers lived apart from local workers, in privileged housing located in better provisioned parts of town downwind of the toxic fumes of the blast furnaces and the chimney stacks.

In the settlement of Hughesovka (now known as Donetsk), which was named after the Welsh industrialist John Hughes, Welsh settlers attempted to reconstruct the trappings of British life on the Ukrainian steppe.

They built tennis courts and an Anglican church, arranged tea parties, and even had an amateur dramatics society. Meanwhile, the local workforce lived in abject poverty, often accommodated in barracks or mud dugouts.

In these dismal conditions, infectious disease and dissatisfaction were widespread. There are several reports of riots following large-scale outbreaks of cholera and local hospitals were reportedly overflowing.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this period of European capitalist exploitation was drawing considerable interest from researchers.

The “European” industrial heritage of Donbas was being used to tell different stories about the region and to highlight its complex, multicultural history. This heritage was seen to hold potential as a counter-narrative to the toxic “Russian world” propaganda emanating from the occupied territories, which maintains that Ukraine is an integral part of Russia’s historic sphere of cultural influence.

But there is a danger in being too romantic about this chapter in history. Foreign capitalist investment in the extraction of Ukrainian minerals was not a classic example of settler colonialism. However, it bore many similarities to western European colonial practices in other parts of the world at this time.

What this history reminds us is that Ukraine has long been located at the intersection of empires. And these empires have often collaborated to plunder the country’s resources, offering little or nothing in return.

We can see this kind of predatory collaboration of imperial and neo-imperial regimes once again taking shape. Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, is trying to tempt Trump away from a deal with Ukraine with promises of access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in the occupied territories.

We must continue to gather and protest, as many of us did on the three-year anniversary of the full-scale invasion this week, to resist such politics of resourcification.

Victoria Donovan’s research has received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council, 2019-2023.

– ref. Foreign powers have long profited from Ukrainian resources – Trump’s minerals grab is no exception – https://theconversation.com/foreign-powers-have-long-profited-from-ukrainian-resources-trumps-minerals-grab-is-no-exception-250811

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Concludes Seventy-Seventh Session after Adopting Concluding Observations on Reports of Croatia, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda and the United Kingdom

Source: United Nations – Geneva

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon concluded its seventy-seventhsession after adopting concluding observationson the reports of Croatia, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda and the United Kingdom under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights .

The concluding observations will be transmitted to the States concerned and made available on the webpage of the session on the afternoon of Monday, 3 March.

Laura-MariaCraciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, said that during the intense session, in addition to engaging with five States parties, the Committee had considered two follow-up reports; adopted three lists of issues on Cabo Verde, North Macedonia and Turkmenistan; conducted work on communications under the Optional Protocol; and discussed one draft and two future general comments and one statement.

Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said that this session, the Committee had welcomed four new members, and would formally welcome its fifth, Peijie Chen (China), in its next session. Despite the discontinuance of formal hybrid meetings, the Committee continued to engage with a wide range of stakeholders in person and remotely outside of formal meeting time. Ms. Craciunean-Tatu expressed thanks to all those who worked to promote and protect the rights enshrined in the Covenant.

During the session, she said, the Committee adopted assessments on the follow-up reports to concluding observations for Serbia and Uzbekistan. The assessments would be transmitted to the States concerned and made available publicly in the weeks to come. The Committee urged other States to submit follow-up reports which were overdue or due.

Under the Optional Protocol, the Committee adopted decisions relating to 48 individual communications. It found violations of the Covenant in three cases concerning the right to housing; declared admissible one case on alleged violation of the right to work of a human rights defender; and declared inadmissible two cases on alleged unequal pay for overtime in teaching-related activities and alleged wage discrimination. The Committee further discontinued the consideration of 42 cases concerning the right to housing. Finally, it adopted a follow-up progress report on individual communications.

Ms. Craciunean-Tatu saidthe Committee had adopted a Statement on Tax Policy and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. It hoped that this statement would guide States parties, both domestically and in the context of international tax cooperation, to observe increasingly inclusive and transparent tax policy-making processes, thus encouraging the implementation of tax systems that supported the enjoyment of the rights enshrined in the Covenant, with a focus on disadvantaged and marginalised groups.

Regarding general comments, the Committee completed a second reading of the draft general comment on the environmental dimension of sustainable development, and continued discussing the scope of two general comments on drug policy and on armed conflict as they related to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. These discussions would continue at the next session.

During the session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, the Committee held an informal meeting with States on 20 February and engaged in discussion on all aspects of its work. In addition to the numerous contacts the Committee had with civil society organizations, it also held this morning its annual meeting with non-governmental organizations, in which it heard their views on several important topics, including strategic litigation and the right to a clean and healthy environment.

Ms. Craciunean-Tatu also said that the Committee had held informal meetings with other stakeholders, including with treaty body members, United Nations agencies and the Special Rapporteurs on climate change and in the field of cultural rights. The engagement of all concerned was deeply appreciated.

In its next session, she said, in addition to reviewing the reports of seven States parties, the Committee would adopt lists of issues on the reports of Eswatini, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova and Tunisia. It would also adopt assessments on the follow-up reports of El Salvador and Luxembourg.

This session, the Committee reaffirmed its decision to implement a simplified reporting procedure and had requested the Secretariat to prepare a structured implementation plan, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said. However, until such a plan was operationalised, she encouraged States parties to submit reports under the regular reporting procedure, including long overdue reports.

The Committee had not yet held dialogues with 24 States parties that had not submitted their initial reports, of which five were overdue for more than 10 years. In total, 51 States’ periodic reports were also overdue, at least 16 of which for more than 10 years. The capacity building programme established pursuant to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/268 (2014) was available to offer support to States requiring technical assistance in this regard, including with respect to the establishment of national mechanisms for reporting implementation and follow-up.

Ms. Craciunean-Tatu invited all States to ratify the Covenant and encouraged States that were parties to the Covenant but had not acceded to or ratified the Optional Protocol to do so, and to enter the declarations for its articles 10 and 11. She welcomed the accession, two weeks ago, of Albania to the Optional Protocol.

In closing, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu thanked the Committee and all who had contributed to the busy session. The Committee looked forward to, in its next session, holding dialogues with States, pursuing other work, and engaging with a wide variety of stakeholders to achieve the effective promotion and protection of all the rights enshrined in the Covenant.

In its seventy-eighth session, to be held from 8 September to 3 October 2025, the Committee will review the reports of Australia, Chile, Colombia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Netherlands, Russian Federation and Zimbabwe.

___________

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

CESCR25.007E

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Keir Starmer at the White House: what ‘progressive realism’ now means in relation to Ukraine and Donald Trump

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jason Ralph, Professor of International Relations, University of Leeds

Flickr/Number 10, CC BY-NC-ND

Since the Labour government came to power in the UK past year, its international relations have been pursued under the banner of what foreign secretary David Lammy calls “progressive realism”. This involves “using realist means to pursue progressive ends”, including taking “pragmatic steps” to improve relations with other states.

Lammy rejects the notion that “idealism has no place in foreign policy” but also argues that the UK should be “realistic about the state of the world and the country’s role in it”.

The visit of the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, to the White House to meet US president Donald Trump has been the biggest test of this approach. Outlining a set of foreign policy principles is one thing, acting on them is another.

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In practice, progressive and realist foreign policies can pull in different directions. Combining them might be a form of “cakeism” – you usually can’t be a realist and have your progressivism too. Sometimes, however, clever diplomacy can find a way.

Did Starmer find that way in his response to Trump’s ideas on negotiating with Russia without a defined role for Ukraine?

Progressive realism in action

Progressivism is associated with a commitment to the rule of international law. In the case of Ukraine, that would mean opposing any peace deal that rewarded Russia’s aggression or the concession of land to Russia.

Progressivism is also associated with a support for international criminal law. The progressive in this case might be opposed to any peace deal that did not see Russian president Vladimir Putin hauled before the International Criminal Court (the same court that Trump has sanctioned).

An invitation from the king.
Flickr/Number 10, CC BY-NC-ND

Realism, on the other hand, is sometimes associated with a foreign policy committed to the promotion of self-interest, defined narrowly as the material wellbeing of the nation. Faced with the threat of further US tariffs, and the impact they would have on the government’s economic priorities, the realist would probably recommend that the UK do absolutely nothing to upset Trump.

Starmer has so far managed to walk this particular tightrope with a “pragmatic” form of progressivism. He remains committed to the vision of a world order based on international law and so is not realist in that sense. He was not willing to betray Ukraine just to be friends with Trump and avoid US tariffs, for instance.

But he was pragmatic because he realised the only way to advance progressive principles was to persuade Trump that they set out the path to a sustainable peace. For this reason, my colleague Jamie Gaskarth and I have argued UK policy might better be described as “progressive pragmatism”.

Starmer has a broader definition of the national interest than that sometimes associated with realism. It is in the UK’s interest to maintain an international order based on laws that codify the progressive principles of national self-determination and international justice.

From this perspective, the UK is right not to turn its back on Ukrainian self-determination by jumping on Trump’s bandwagon. That is a slippery slope. It can lead to a world order that is unstable because it is dictated by the great powers. Ukraine today, Greenland, Palestine, Taiwan tomorrow.

His pragmatism was very much on display in Washington, however. It meant staying close to the US not just to avoid tariffs, which Starmer appears to have done with the help of an invitation from King Charles for a state visit to the UK. It meant working with Trump’s ideas on Russia to persuade him that supporting Ukraine is the way to a “durable” peace.

Starmer and Trump give a joint press conference.
Flickr/Number 10, CC BY-NC-ND

Durable peace here is not simply a question of satisfying Russia and having sufficient military force on the ground (the so-called US “backstop”) to deter future Russian aggression. It must also respect the political power of a progressive principle: national self-determination.

To conclude a peace that does not include the Ukrainian people is not just a moral betrayal, it is politically imprudent because it creates grievances, which become causes of conflict. That does not mean the only way forward is to return to the pre-2014 status quo, but it does mean Kyiv’s involvement in peace negotiations has to be meaningful, not symbolic.

In 1990 the transatlantic positions were reversed. UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher was troubled by the fall of Berlin wall. She proposed that the occupying powers that had divided Germany in 1945 decide the terms of reunification.

The administration of the then US president, George Bush senior, had a broader understanding of history and the future. They realised that a dictated peace after the first world war contributed to the grievances that led to the second.

On that occasion the US approach prevailed. Germany was allowed to reunify on its own terms and choose its own alliances. It was a progressive and pragmatic solution that was committed to national self-determination and it set the foundations for the durable peace that self-described realists thought would never happen.

Starmer made a point in Washington of congratulating Trump for breaking the impasse. He was rewarded when the president suggested that a trade deal is now on the table. As he flies back across the Atlantic, Starmer might continue the flattery by comparing Trump’s actions to the way Ronald Reagan sowed the seeds of the new world order in the 1980s.

He should recall, however, that the details of that new order were subsequently worked out by the administration of George Bush Snr., which had a pragmatic respect for national self-determination. That now means supporting Ukraine in any upcoming negotiation.

Jason Ralph has in the past received funding from Research Councils UK and the EU. He does not currently hold a research grant. He is a member of the UK Labour Party.

– ref. Keir Starmer at the White House: what ‘progressive realism’ now means in relation to Ukraine and Donald Trump – https://theconversation.com/keir-starmer-at-the-white-house-what-progressive-realism-now-means-in-relation-to-ukraine-and-donald-trump-250722

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Three Videos to Better Understand the German Elections

Source: Universities – Science Po in English

Following the collapse of Olaf Scholz’s “traffic light” coalition in November 2024 (the “yellow” liberal Free Democratic Party – FDP and the “green” Grüne Party led by the “red” Social Democratic Party – SPD), citizens of Germany went to the polls on 23 February 2025 to choose a new government.

One of the ten partner universities from our European alliance CIVICA, the Hertie School (Berlin, Germany), set up a dedicated webpage to provide “data-driven analysis and expert commentary” in order to “navigate the complexities of this pivotal moment”.

Find below three videos with Hertie School experts.

Germany has voted – what comes next?

With Professor of Public Policy Anke Hassel.

[embedded content]

How effective was social media in the German election?

With Professor of data science and Public Policy Simon Munzert.

[embedded content]

What’s next for German family policy?

With Professor of Sociology and Family Policy expert Michaela Kreyenfeld.

[embedded content]

Cover image caption: Paragliding, Berlin, Germany, December 2019. (credits: Christian Lue / Unsplash)

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Aptean Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Germanedge from Alpina Partners and Private Shareholders

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ALPHARETTA, Ga., Feb. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Aptean, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase Germanedge, a provider of industry-leading industrial software for discrete and process manufacturers from funds managed by Alpina Management GmbH (Alpina, Alpina Partners) and private shareholders. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Germanedge’s product portfolio includes Advanced Planning & Scheduling, Intelligent Production Management (MES), Statistical Quality Management, and Connected Worker (Shopfloor Management) solutions. These manufacturing focused solutions are accessible through Germanedge’s Edge.One platform, a no-code SaaS platform that is highly configurable to optimize the digital factory operations of its customers. The addition of Germanedge will greatly expand Aptean’s manufacturing and supply chain management capabilities, enabling Aptean to better serve the needs of its global ERP customer base while also providing existing Germanedge customers with access to its broad portfolio of manufacturing focused solutions.

Headquartered in Munich, Germany, Germanedge delivers all of the components needed to power the next generation of Digital Factory operations. Germanedge’s innovative cloud-based platform, Edge.One was designed to meet the unique and growing needs of its enterprise and mid-market customers, providing real-time visibility and IoT capabilities. The firm currently employs 200+ full-time employees that serve 300+ customers across 20 countries.

“Aptean is very excited to announce the acquisition of Germanedge, a pioneer in next generation manufacturing capabilities” said TVN Reddy, CEO at Aptean. “Through the addition of Germanedge, Aptean further establishes itself as a leader in industrial software solutions designed specifically for complex discrete and process manufacturing needs.”

“The merger of Germanedge and Aptean presents a fantastic opportunity for us to expand our businesses globally and continue serving our customers’ digital factory operations, while also granting them access to Aptean’s extensive suite of complementary ERP and SCM solutions. By leveraging Germanedge as a platform, we ensure that the current strategy proceeds at an accelerated pace,” said Christian von Stengel, CEO of Germanedge. “We are closely aligned with Aptean regarding our long-term vision of developing software for Industry 4.0, enabling our customers to manufacture their products more efficiently, flexibly, and sustainably.”

“Germanedge is a perfect example for a highly innovative software company providing mission-critical applications to its blue-chip customer base. With its Edge.One platform Germanedge is able to offer digital factory solutions from the cloud. Alpina is extremely proud to have supported the management team on its growth path” said Florian Strehle, a Partner at Alpina.

About Germanedge
Germanedge provides a comprehensive portfolio of software solutions supporting the next generation of Digital Factory, including machine and process data acquisition, tracking and tracing, APS, CAQ, SCM, digital asset management, digital shift books and checklists as well as digital shop floor management. Germanedge is headquartered in Munich, Germany and has offices across Europe and the United States. www.germanedge.com

About Aptean
Aptean is one of the world’s leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Aptean’s products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now^®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

About Alpina Partners
Alpina Partners is an owner-managed investment firm based in Munich, Germany that invests in small and medium sized technology businesses with strong technical USPs. www.alpinapartners.com

For Media Inquiries Please Contact
MediaRelations@Aptean.com

The MIL Network –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Presidential Lecture: Angela Merkel, Former Chancellor of Germany

Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)

As part of the WTO’s Presidential Lecture Series, the WTO welcomes Angela Merkel, Former Chancellor of Germany, on the eve of International Women’s Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eA5avwzm3o

MIL OSI Video –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: European Consortium Launches PQC4eMRTD Project to Enhance Security of Electronic Passports in the Quantum Era

Source: Thales Group

Headline: European Consortium Launches PQC4eMRTD Project to Enhance Security of Electronic Passports in the Quantum Era

28 Feb 2025

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Munich, Germany – February 28, 2025 – A significant European initiative, the PQC4eMRTD (Post-Quantum Cryptography for electronic Machine-Readable Travel Documents) project, has officially commenced today. Funded by the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme, the two-year project aims to address the security challenges posed by the rise of quantum computing, focusing on the standardization and promotion of quantum-resistant (QR) cryptographic protocols for electronic machine-readable travel documents (eMRTDs).

Quantum computing is advancing rapidly with substantial investments from both public and private sectors. By 2026, the number of quantum bits (qubits) is expected to grow tenfold compared to the roughly 400 qubits achieved at the end of 2022, dramatically expanding the processing capacity of quantum computers and enabling them to solve increasingly complex problems. These advancements pose a threat to classical cryptography, making it essential to develop QR standards and infrastructures.

Represented by Eurosmart, the European digital security industry emphasizes the urgent need to transition to QR infrastructures, particularly for eMRTDs such as electronic passports, which are vulnerable to quantum threats. The PQC4eMRTD project aims to support this transition by advocating for the development and promotion of standardization in QR cryptographic protocols.

The project is coordinated by Infineon Technologies AG from Germany and includes key partners Thales and CryptoNext Security from France, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center from Spain, and the Institute for Comparative Law at the Faculty of Law in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The PQC4eMRTD project will focus on pushing existing PQC research results towards international standardization working groups to facilitate the adoption of QR protocols.

Additionally, the PQC4eMRTD project will promote cooperation across different sectors transitioning to PQC by addressing common challenges and fostering synergies. It aims to provide a detailed blueprint for Europe’s transition to PQC, serving as a model for other regions. By actively engaging and supporting the broader European PQC community through knowledge sharing and collaborative initiatives, the project ensures that all stakeholders can benefit from the latest research and developments.

Stakeholders, including industry experts, policymakers, and academic researchers, are invited to join this vital project. Their participation and support are crucial as the consortium works towards securing the future of electronic travel documents and digital identities against emerging quantum threats.

“We at Thales are committed to driving innovation and ensuring the highest level of security for electronic documents and digital identities”, commented Nathalie Gosset, VP Identity & Biometric Solutions at Thales. “Our involvement in the post-quantum cryptography European consortium underscores our proactive approach to safeguarding sensitive data and critical systems against emerging quantum threats. By collaborating with industry leaders, we aim to responsibly anticipate and address future challenges, paving the way for a secure and resilient digital ecosystem.”

For more information about the project and opportunities for collaboration, please contact the respective partner organizations. Together, we can build a secure, quantum-resistant future for electronic travel documents.

About the PQC4eMRTD Project

The PQC4eMRTD project is a European initiative aimed at enhancing the security of electronic machine-readable travel documents (eMRTDs) by promoting the standardization of quantum-resistant cryptographic protocols. Funded by the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme, the project brings together leading European organizations to address the challenges posed by quantum computing and ensure the future security of digital identities and eMRTDs.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 28 February 2025 Donors making a difference: community engagement to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of all

Source: World Health Organisation

WHO defines community engagement as “a process of developing relationships that enable stakeholders to work together to address health-related issues and promote well-being to achieve positive health impact and outcomes”.

WHO’s partners and donors support the Organization to work in this area as there are undeniable benefits to engaging communities in promoting health and well-being. At its core, community engagement enables changes in behaviour, environments, policies, programmes and practices within communities.

Below are some country stories that demonstrate the breadth of community engagement work that WHO conducts, resulting in more positive health outcomes for the people in these communities than before.

Uganda trains district health workers on community-based approach to Ebola

^{Uganda trains Community Health workers from Kole, Mukono and Wakiso districts on community-based approach to Ebola. Photo by: WHO/Sadat Kamugisha}

Uganda’s Ministry of Health conducted a training on Ebola disease detection and management for Community Health Workers representatives from Kole, Wakiso, and Mukono districts. Participants focused on multi-sectoral action to safeguard communities from emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential such as Ebola.

Communities play an integral role in raising awareness, supporting case identification, tracing contacts, and maintaining essential health services. The emphasis on collaboration with local leaders, volunteers, and health workers is vital for effective responses to public health emergencies. Building on lessons learned from past health crises, Uganda has already made substantial advancements in emergency preparedness.

The three-day event was supported by WHO, and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST), which is a UK aid project funded by the Department of Health and Social care. The community protection approach is a central component of WHO’s new Health emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience framework.

Visit the WHO/Uganda web page to read the full story.

Community engagement for access to health services in Lao PDR

^{CONNECT team members discuss community health priorities in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. Photo by: WHO/Enric Catala}

Developed by the Lao Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs in response to COVID-19 with the support of WHO and partners, the CONNECT initiative enhances local governance and community engagement for equitable access to public services, particularly health.

Supported by USAID, the Australian Government and Luxembourg, as of July 2024, CONNECT reached over 230 villages across 10 provinces (including Vientiane Capital) and support already in-place for expansion to all provinces.

An external evaluation of implementation in 12 villages found an increase in essential service uptake for maternal health and improved attitudes towards using primary care; increased trust in health providers; increased sense of ownership of health at community level; and increased vaccination uptake and confidence, especially among ethnic groups and previously unreached communities.

Visit the WHO/WPRO web page to read the full story.

Côte d’Ivoire community radios boost public awareness on mpox outbreak

^{Community radios, pillar of the fight against mpox. Photo by: WHO/Toiherou De Marfere Sidibe}

A network of community radio stations, known as Radio Santé, comprises 350 stations in West African, with over half based in Côte d’Ivoire. Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with major support from WHO, Radio Santé has become a preferred channel for disseminating reliable, verified health information. It brings together nearly 1000 journalists and communications specialists.

Radio Santé is an interactive and accessible tool for mobilizing communities around health issues, throughout Côte d’Ivoire and across borders. Health authorities use Radio Santé to counter rumours and misinformation, and to strengthen community engagement, which is crucial to curbing the spread of diseases such as mpox.

After WHO declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, Radio Santé devoted its health talk show to mpox. 185 Ivorian community radio stations have since broadcasted messages on mpox. Over 50 programmes have been produced and broadcast in eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Visit the WHO/Côte d’Ivoire web page to read the full story.

Bolivia strengthens social participation in health for indigenous population

^{Indigenous organizations are clear about their requests. They want free and equitable access to health care, an improved indigenous health network, incorporation of traditional medicine, and the consideration of the indigenous population’s culture, customs, and practices. Photo by: WHO/PAHO}

The Ministry of Health and Sports of Bolivia is engaging indigenous populations in community participation processes, creating space for them to discuss health topics, share concerns, and contribute to a health improvement plan.

The meaningful inclusion and engagement of indigenous populations in health policy planning, taking into account the social determinants of health, is critical to ensure context-specific interventions, uptake of guidance and services, and positive health outcomes for all.

PAHO/WHO, through the Universal Health Coverage Partnership, has supported the Ministry of Health and Sports of Bolivia in this endeavour since 2021. The UHC Partnership operates in over 125 countries, representing over 3 billion people. It is supported and funded by Belgium, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and WHO

Visit the PAHO/AMRO web page to read the full story.

Weaving hope in Honduras: the community wisdom that saves lives

^{Maternal health in Honduras Hermelinda shares her experience. Photo by: WHO/Honduras}

In Honduras, high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality are often the result of multiple factors, including socioeconomic barriers, lack of access to adequate healthcare services, gaps in education and awareness about maternal and child health, and cultural differences.

Hermelinda Hernández, who is familiar with the local practices and beliefs of her community and also recognizes the value of professional medical interventions, participated in the “Knowledge Dialogues Methodology” workshop organized by the Honduran Ministry of Health with the support of PAHO/WHO and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

The workshop aimed to promote mutual understanding between midwives and healthcare providers to reach agreements that improve the health of women, and adolescent girls in situations of vulnerability within the community.

Visit the PAHO/AMRO web page to read the full story.

Grassroots heroes in Cambodia

^{Mrs Say Sa with her Baby in Cambodia’s Principal of Health Centre Kok Chuk. Photo by: Aforative media}

In Cambodia, village chiefs stepped up to create a healthier future for their communities. In villages across 25 provinces, 2000 village chiefs and nearly 5400 village health support groups received trainings, organised by the Ministry of Heath with support from WHO and the EU.

This equipped the chiefs with knowledge and skills necessary to control transmission of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory diseases, and collaborate with authorities more closely on health issues facing their communities.

The chiefs then shared their newfound knowledge during community dialogues, which then transformed how community members adopted healthier practices. Empowered with accurate information, communities embraced protective measures during times of high COVID-19 transmission.

Visit the WHO/WPRO web page to read the full story, and more on EU’s support to WHO in ASEAN region.

Bolstering public awareness to help curb mpox spread in Uganda

Dr Kenneth Kabali, WHO Field Coordinator for Busoga Sub-region sensitizes the community on mpox in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda. Photo by: WHO/Abdu Mutwalibu Seguya

Uganda witnessed an upsurge in mpox cases, with laboratory-confirmed cases increasing from 24 as of 21 September to 413 as of 7 November 2024. Health authorities, with support from WHO and partners, worked closely with communities to raise awareness about the dangers of the disease and how to stay safe, and address misinformation and stigma.

The risk communication and community engagement team reached more than 100 fishmongers, fisherfolk, boda boda (motorbike taxi) riders, 8000 school children and 30 sex workers. In addition, 500 teachers in the district have been oriented on mpox.

WHO is also using mass media to expand the reach of mpox response communication. With funding from USAID, WHO has contracted 10 regional radio stations and 2 national TV stations to raise awareness and promote preventative behaviour.

Visit the WHO/AFRO web page to read the full story.

Combating measles: a comprehensive community-centred approach in Ethiopia

^{Combating measles, a comprehensive community-centred approach in Ethiopia. Photo by: WHO/Hassen Ali}

In the districts of Sidama, Central, and South Ethiopia, access to healthcare is often challenging, exacerbated by various health emergencies. A community-led initiative made remarkable progress in combating measles, malaria, and malnutrition through collaborative efforts between local health facilities, community health workers, and government agencies.

The initiative received significant financial support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) bolstering community-based intervention efforts.

By leveraging collaboration between healthcare facilities, community health workers, and local communities, this initiative represents a beacon of hope in improving healthcare access and outcomes in regions of Ethiopia.

Visit the WHO/Ethiopia web page to read the full story.

WHO races to contain malaria resurgence in southeastern Iran

^{Malaria resurgence in Iran. Photo by: WHO/Iran}

A race against time is underway in southeastern Iran, where the resurgence of malaria threatens to undo years of progress. The dramatic rise in cases has been attributed to the devastating floods in neighbouring Pakistan in September 2022 which led to an expansion of malaria breeding sites.

WHO, with crucial support from the Government of Japan, is on the ground in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, battling this public health emergency and working to protect vulnerable communities. Japan’s generous contribution provided 4902 mosquito dome tents offering families protection from infected mosquitos, 50 000 malaria rapid diagnostic tests enabling health care workers to quickly identify and treat infected individuals, and 1655 kg of insecticides, deployed to contain mosquito populations at their source. The combined resources are estimated to benefit 77 400 people in the province.

In December 2024, a WHO mission observed a proactive approach to malaria control demonstrated by local health workers as they conducted house-to-house screenings, distributed mosquito nets and educated communities on how to use them.

Visit the WHO/Iran web page to read the full story.

Mali: screening for malnutrition in affected children to avoid complications

^{Screening for malnutrition in affected children to avoid complications, Mali. Photo by: WHO/Razzack Saizonou}

Malnutrition among children is one of the main health problems that the affected populations of Ségou had to face after severe floods hit Mali between July and October 2024. Having lost everything including their food reserves and their means of subsistence, people found themselves in a very precarious situation.

Among the more than 370,000 people affected by these floods, children, who represent 45% of the affected population, are particularly vulnerable. To enable access to health care, WHO, with thanks to the Central Emergency Response Fund, supported the deployment of mobile clinics on relocation sites.

In the Ségou region, three sites were set up and equipped with medical tents. Medical staff go there five times a month. Between July and October 2024, nearly 700 children suffering from malnutrition were identified in the three health districts of the Ségou region.

Visit the WHO/Mali web page to read the full story in French.

Effective community engagement saving lives in Tanzania during cholera outbreak

^{Abdul Zachari, a young man is washing his hands. Photo by: WHO/Clemence Eliah}

The recurrence of Cholera outbreaks has been a threat to many lives in the United Republic of Tanzania for decades now. In mid-2024, situation reports from the Ministry of Health indicated that, the outbreak have been reported in 19 regions of Tanzania Mainland. Thanks to flexible funding available for responding to outbreaks such as this, WHO has been able to support the Government’s efforts to control cholera outbreaks. Risk Communications and Community Engagement (RCCE) Experts worked on the ground delivering an intensive community sensitization in over 92 households and 32 villages . The joint and community-based action plan against Cholera outbreak was built jointly, this way enhancing 54 community members and local authorities from the affected wards and districts. The community engagement strategies adopted generate local solutions tailored to control and prevent further transmissions in these areas. In addition, WHO applied behavioral science approaches to guide tailored interventions to community protection and resilience – and as a result, enhancing many lives in Tanzania.

Visit the WHO/Tanzania web page to read the full story.

* * * *

Read more about the WHO’s community engagement work.

The donors and partners acknowledged in this story are (in alphabetical order) Australia, Belgium, Canada, the European Union (ECHO), France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, and the USA Agency for International Development.

WHO’s work is made possible through all contributions of our Member States and partners. WHO thanks all donor countries, governments, organizations and individuals who are contributing to the Organization’s work, with special appreciation for those who provide fully flexible contributions to maintain a strong, independent WHO.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ECB Consumer Expectations Survey results – January 2025
Source: European Central Bank

28 February 2025

Compared with December 2024:
- median consumer perceptions of inflation over the previous 12 months decreased, as did median inflation expectations for the next 12 months, while median inflation expectations for three years ahead remained unchanged;
- expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months decreased, while expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months increased;
- expectations for economic growth over the next 12 months became less negative, while the expected unemployment rate in 12 months’ time decreased;
- expectations for growth in the price of homes over the next 12 months increased, while expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead declined.
Inflation

The median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months decreased slightly in January to 3.4%, from 3.5% in December. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months also decreased, to 2.6% from 2.8%. In both instances, these decreases reversed the increases observed in the December 2024 data. Median expectations for inflation three years ahead were unchanged at 2.4% in January 2025. Inflation expectations at the one-year and three-year horizons thus remained below the perceived past inflation rate. Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months remained unchanged, for the sixth month in a row, at its lowest level since February 2022. While the broad evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations remained relatively closely aligned across income groups, expectations for lower income quintiles were slightly above those for higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (those aged 35-54 and 55-70), albeit to a lesser degree than in previous years. (Inflation results)

Income and consumption

Consumers’ nominal income growth expectations over the next 12 months decreased to 0.9% in January from 1.1% in December. The drop in income growth expectations was mainly driven by the lowest income quintile, while the income growth expectations of the two highest quintiles remained unchanged. Perceived nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months decreased to 5.1% in January, from 5.2% in December, while expected nominal spending growth over the next 12 months increased to 3.6%, from 3.5% in December. (Income and consumption results)

Economic growth and labour market

Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months were less negative, standing at -1.1%, compared with -1.3% in December. Expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead decreased to 10.4%, from 10.5% in December. Consumers continued to expect the future unemployment rate to be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (9.9%), implying a broadly stable labour market. Quarterly data showed that unemployed respondents reported a decrease in their expected probability of finding a job over the next three months, which declined to 25.1% in January, from 29.3% in October. Employed respondents, by contrast, reported that their expected probability of job loss over the next three months decreased to 8.6% in January, from 9.0% in October. (Economic growth and labour market results)

Housing and credit access

Consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 3.0% over the next 12 months, which was slightly higher compared than in December (2.9%). Households in the lowest income quintile continued to expect higher growth in house prices than those in the highest income quintile (3.4% and 2.8% respectively), although the difference narrowed compared with earlier months. Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead declined slightly to 4.5%, their lowest level since July 2022. As in previous months, the lowest income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (5.1%), while the highest income households expected the lowest rates (3.9%). The net percentage of households reporting a tightening (relative to those reporting an easing) in access to credit over the previous 12 months increased, as did the net percentage of those expecting a tightening over the next 12 months. The share of consumers who reported having applied for credit during the past three months, which is measured on a quarterly basis, declined to 15.0% in January from 15.9% in October. (Housing and credit access results)

The release of the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) results for February is scheduled for 28 March 2025.

For media queries, please contact: Nicos Keranis, Tel: +49 172 758 7237

Notes
- Unless otherwise indicated, the statistics presented in this press release refer to the 2% winsorised mean. For further details, see ECB Consumer Expectations Survey – Guide to the computation of aggregate statistics.
- The CES is a monthly online survey of, currently, around 19,000 adult consumers (i.e. aged 18 or over) from 11 euro area countries: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Finland. The main aggregate results of the CES are published on the ECB’s website every month. The results are used for policy analysis and complement other data sources used by the ECB.
- Further information about the survey and the data collected is available on the CES web page. Detailed information can also be found in the following two publications: Bańkowska, K. et al., “ECB Consumer Expectations Survey: an overview and first evaluation”, Occasional Paper Series, No 287, ECB, Frankfurt am Main, December 2021; and Georgarakos, D. and Kenny, G., “Household spending and fiscal support during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from a new consumer survey”, Journal of Monetary Economics, Vol. 129, Supplement, July 2022, pp. S1-S14.
- The survey results do not represent the views of the ECB’s decision-making bodies or staff.
MIL OSI Europe News –
March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: New EU Commission proposal turns supply chain law into empty shell

Source: Oxfam –

The EU Commission has just presented its plans for the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) as part of the omnibus legislation.

In response, Franziska Humbert, lawyer and Policy Advisor at Oxfam Germany, said:

“The removal of civil liability equates to a loss of hard-fought legal recourse for survivors, who would finally have been able to litigate for years of human rights violations. For instance, they could have taken companies to court over health damage caused by pesticide use on banana plantations.

“With the omnibus package, Commission President Von der Leyen is taking a chainsaw to environmental and human rights protections. The Directive is a milestone. Without binding due diligence obligations, companies will not take responsibility – something the disasters of recent years have made painfully clear: collapsing textile factories, dam failures in mining, and pesticide poisoning on banana plantations.

“A retreat from responsibility would be disastrous. The CSDDD is a response to decades of turning a blind eye and sends a clear message: those who profit from international markets must also protect people and the environment. Undermining the law’s core obligations would harm not only the people in producing countries but also the EU’s credibility as an economic partner.”

The proposal includes catastrophic changes to civil liability provisions and a shift away from climate protection legislations – ultimately dismantling the core of the EU’s Supply Chain Directive. The proposal put forward by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen significantly weakens existing European supply chain regulations, affecting both environmental standards and human right obligations that companies must uphold along their global supply chains.

Joint NGO statement: “Omnibus proposal will create costly confusion and lower protection for people and the planet.”

Giulia Melchionda | Brussels, Belgium | giulia.melchionda@oxfam.org

Jade Tenwick | Brussels, Belgium | jade.tenwick@oxfam.org | mobile +32 473 56 22 60 | WhatsApp only +32 484 81 22 94  (currently on leave)      

For more information on our work and to see our latest press releases, please visit oxfam.org/eu.     

For updates, follow us on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.      

MIL OSI NGO –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE helps Kyrgyz law enforcement develop strategic approaches to training on cybercrime and electronic evidence

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

Headline: OSCE helps Kyrgyz law enforcement develop strategic approaches to training on cybercrime and electronic evidence

Workshop participants discuss in groups a competencies matrix on investigating cybercrimes and handling electronic evidence for different criminal justice roles in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, 27 February 2025. (OSCE/Juraj Nosal) Photo details

The OSCE Transnational Threats Department held a national workshop for 15 senior representatives of Kyrgyz law enforcement agencies in Bishkek on 27 and 28 February. The event aimed at building the agencies’ capacities to provide systematic and sustainable professional training and development on investigating cybercrimes and other crimes involving electronic evidence.
“The complex nature of digital technologies and electronic evidence makes it impossible for all law enforcement practitioners to be experts in this field. For professional training and development to be effective, it is thus essential to first define what types of competencies are necessary for each law enforcement role. Training and educational programmes then need to be adjusted to these requirements,” said Konstantin Bedarev, Head of the Politico-Military Department of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, during his opening remarks.
The participants from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Office of the Prosecutor General, State Committee for National Security and their respective educational institutions discussed the development of two strategic documents in this regard: a competency framework and a training strategy. The competency framework defines skill sets and skill levels for different law enforcement roles involved in the investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes and other crimes involving electronic evidence. The training strategy then outlines a plan for the development and provision of professional training to build the necessary competencies amongst law enforcement practitioners.
“Today, nearly all crimes include some sort of electronic evidence. Developing adequate skills and competencies in this area among law enforcement and judiciary actors is necessary for effective and efficient criminal investigations and prosecutions in every country,” emphasized Ion Gaina, a digital forensic expert from Moldova and keynote speaker at the event.
The workshop followed the regional event on this topic held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 5-6 December 2024 and was implemented under the second phase of the OSCE’s regional capacity-building project on combating cybercrime in Central Asia, launched in September 2024 and funded by Germany and the United States of America.

MIL OSI Europe News –

March 1, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Ancient Chinese bronzes on display in New York

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

A comprehensive collection of Chinese bronzes from the 12th to 19th centuries will be on display in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) starting Friday for a period of seven months.

Co-organized by The Met and the Shanghai Museum, the exhibition will showcase around 100 collections from The Met and nearly 100 loans from major institutions in China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Germany, France, and Britain.

Titled Recasting the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100-1900, the exhibition aims to be the most comprehensive study of Chinese bronzes during this period.

Featured in the exhibition are around 60 loans from eight institutions in China, including major works such as a monumental 12th-century bell with imperial procession from the Liaoning Provincial Museum, documented ritual bronzes for Confucian temples from the Shanghai Museum, and luxury archaistic vessels made in the 18th-century imperial workshop from the Palace Museum in Beijing, according to a release by The Met.

“While bronze as an art form has long held a significant role throughout China’s history, this exhibition explores an often-overlooked time period when a resurgence of craftsmanship and artistic achievements revitalized the medium,” said Max Hollein, director and chief executive officer of The Met.

“Bringing together major loans from institutions in China alongside works from The Met collection, this exhibition offers viewers an important opportunity to better understand the lasting aesthetic and cultural impact of bronze objects,” said Hollein.

The exhibition includes five thematic and chronological sections that explicate over 200 works of art — an array of bronze vessels complemented by a selection of paintings, ceramics, jades, and other media.

“This exhibition attempts a long-overdue reevaluation of later Chinese bronzes by seeking to establish a reliable chronology of this art form across the last millennium of Chinese history. The exhibition will also distinguish outstanding works from lesser examples based on their artistic and cultural merits,” said Lu Pengliang, curator of Chinese Art at The Met.

The cooperation and partnership among institutions from different countries also allows antiques with close ties to appear together to give people a more holistic view.

The Shanghai Museum’s “Lady reclining over an incense cage,” a painting by Chen Hongshou in the Ming dynasty, demonstrates people’s elegant life in the mid-17th century and how an incense burner in the form of a duck was used, said Lu.

Lu put a bronze incense burner of this kind from The Met together with the painting.

Lu also discovered a Daoist ritual cauldron from the Cernuschi Museum (Museum of the Asian arts of Paris) and a Daoist ritual vessel from the Saint Louis Art Museum, which share the same mark and are believed to be from the same user in Qing Dynasty.

“Our studies show that the two items must once belong to the same person and they have specific functions in Daoism,” Lu told Xinhua.

It’s interesting to put them together in the exhibition and the two items also would be displayed in Shanghai later this year, said Lu.

“This whole project is a project of partnership, of friendship, of collegiality, of an ability (on) what we can achieve when you do something together,” said Hollein at a press preview of the exhibition on Thursday.

“This exhibition marks another milestone in the collaboration between our two museums. I am also very pleased to share that this is an exchange exhibition, which will meet Chinese audiences at the Shanghai Museum in November this year,” said Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum.

The exhibition will be open to the public in New York from Feb. 28 to Sept. 28, 2025 and the Shanghai Museum will host the exhibition from Nov. 12 to March 16, 2026.

In today’s world, dialogue and mutual trust are more precious than ever, where cultural exchanges play an irreplaceable role, said Chu, who noted that museums are the most inclusive and diverse platforms for cultural exchanges.

“We look forward to deepening partnerships, expanding collaborations, fostering friendships, and strengthening our shared commitment with global colleagues, to preserving and celebrating the beauty of human civilizations,” said Chu at the press preview of the exhibition.

MIL OSI China News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Yes, paper straws suck. Rather than bring back plastic ones, let’s avoid single-use items

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bhavna Middha, ARC DECRA Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University

Dragon Images/Shutterstock

When US President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to return to plastic straws, claiming the paper version is ineffective and “disgustingly dissolves in your mouth”, he was widely criticised for setting back efforts to reduce plastic pollution. But many alternatives designed to help phase out single-use plastics don’t really solve the problem at all.

It’s not unusual to see plastic bans challenged or overturned. However, a government ban on the substitute is altogether new.

It’s true paper straws can disintegrate and become soggy before we finish a drink. Problems with finding viable substitutes to single-use plastics is one of the many challenges involved in phasing them out.

Sometimes, swapping one single-use item for another really is more trouble than it’s worth. A better approach would be to change our society’s single-use and disposal mindset.

The problem with plastic

Plastic pollution is an urgent problem for the environment and human health. Microplastics are everywhere, from Antarctica to our brains.

Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and so contributes to global warming. What’s more, plastic production is forecast to triple by 2050.

But recycling is difficult. Less than 10% of the world’s plastic has been recycled.

So we need to reduce our use of plastic in the first place, rather than trying to clean it up afterwards.

Substituting plastic straws for paper still involves using virgin materials.
JeniFoto/Shutterstock

Poor substitutes and other traps

Trump rejected paper straws, saying they “don’t work” as well as plastic straws. The poor consumer experience of drinking through a soggy straw is one thing, but there are other problems too.

Swapping one problematic or hazardous material for another is sometimes called “regrettable substitution”, because the replacement has its own issues. For example, one harmful chemical used to make plastics is often replaced with others that are as bad or worse.

Paper straws, like paper cups, are often coated with plastics such as polyethylene or acrylic resin. This makes them difficult to recycle but also raises the risk of pollution. Some paper straws have been shown to contain more “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) than plastic.

Along with paper, other plant-based materials such as corn starch and bamboo are increasingly replacing single-use plastics – especially in food packaging. These substitutes carry a cost that is passed down to consumers, and many are more expensive to produce than plastic.

Some are labelled “compostable” or “biodegradable”. The term compostable suggests they will break down in home compost heaps or green waste bins, but that has been called into question.

Unfortunately, the term “biodegradable” does not necessarily mean a material will break down in home compost, or even landfill. It may require heat or pressure – in an industrial setting – for it to disintegrate enough to be harmless or safely used on your garden.

When it comes to straws, paper, bamboo, metal and glass have all been adopted as substitutes. Metal and glass straws could be dangerous for kids and less able-bodied people. They can also be hard to clean. Again, “biodegradable plastic” products have been accused of greenwashing and have been banned from organic composting bins in New South Wales and potentially Victoria because they don’t disintegrate well or are contaminated.

Meanwhile, thicker plastic bags labelled “reusable” have been introduced following bans on lightweight “single-use” plastic bags. While these durable bags may be reused for months at a time, they will eventually wear out and then they are even harder to break down in landfill.

Plastic bans can be problematic

Governments all over the world have attempted to ban single-use plastic. Often these bans are introduced without considering how the products are used in daily life and how those services will be replaced. The changes may disadvantage certain groups and new supply chains need to be created.

Often, governments wanting to be seen as protecting the environment target the low-hanging fruit such as plastic straws and plastic bags, rather than packaging as a whole.

So it’s no surprise these bans have faced opposition. Many have already been repealed or diluted.

In India, for example, the plastic ban was criticised for shifting the burden of waste management away from larger, more polluting industries on to smaller businesses. Larger establishments were also accused of passing the costs of substitute packaging, such as more expensive paper and cloth, to consumers.

Better to avoid single-use items

It’s time to stop searching for the perfect substitute. Let’s instead focus on getting rid of single-use items altogether.

Remember, straws were originally used for very specific cases and places: very young children and others unable to drink straight from a cup. They might still need straws.

Single-use bottles are unnecessary. We should learn from Germany’s glass bottle reuse system and set up circular loops of production and distribution.

Get serious about reducing plastic packaging

While some packaging – even some plastics – is needed for food safety and freshness, an overhaul of unnecessary packaging would go a long way.

In the United Kingdom, anti-waste charity WRAP examined fresh produce in supermarkets and called for the government to ban packaging on 21 fruits and vegetables sold in supermarkets by 2030. These included cucumbers, bananas and potatoes.

Removing unnecessary packaging and plastics involves reconfiguring social rules, knowledge, standards and expectations such as making items without packaging affordable and widely available. We must challenge our disposable society by creating spaces and practices that allow reuse.

Better policies and regulations

Policies that prevent plastics from reaching consumers in the first place would be better than bans on single-use items.

Governments should put the onus on the corporations that have profited from plastic and their role in plastic pollution.

Supermarkets and the food industry as a whole must also take responsibility for their part in the plastic waste problem.

Voluntary codes have not worked. Government regulation levels the playing field, but industry expertise and technical and social knowledge is needed to ensure systems work. While not without its challenges, Australia’s tyre recycling system has addressed many similar issues. The scheme’s approach to developing a national market for used tyres could be replicated for plastics, packaging and glass.

Meaningful change for our environment and health requires government regulations done well and fairly. It also requires coordinated waste infrastructure and industry practices that build on technical expertise and consumers’ lived experience.

Bhavna Middha receives funding from the Australian Research Council through the Discovery Early Career Research Award.

Ralph Horne receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and a range of industry and government partners from time to time, to support research activities relevant to this article. In particular, he is a Chief Investigator on the ARC Research Hub Transformation of Reclaimed Waste Resources to Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy (TREMS).

Kajsa Lundberg 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. Yes, paper straws suck. Rather than bring back plastic ones, let’s avoid single-use items – https://theconversation.com/yes-paper-straws-suck-rather-than-bring-back-plastic-ones-lets-avoid-single-use-items-250266

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Scientific readings “Worlds of the Russian intelligentsia in the 20th century: profession, society, power” took place

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

The scientific readings “Worlds of the Russian intelligentsia in the 20th century: profession, society, power”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the honorary professor of the Novosibirsk State University Varlen Lvovich Soskin (1925-2021), took place at Novosibirsk State University on February 26. The readings were attended by scientists from Novosibirsk, Omsk and Tomsk state universities, Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Law, several institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Among those present were numerous students and former colleagues of the scientist. Also present at the event were V.L. Soskin’s relatives – daughter Marina Guseva, as well as granddaughter Maria and great-granddaughter Anna.

Moderator of the readings, candidate of historical sciences, associate professor Vladimir Mindolin noted that Varlen Soskin was always characterized by attention to detail and the ability to make strong logical generalizations, for which his colleagues highly valued him. As a humanities scholar, he organically fit into the life of Akademgorodok: at a time when disputes raged between “physicists” and “lyricists”, strong friendly relations connected him with mathematicians, physicists and representatives of natural sciences. Varlen Soskin did a lot to ensure that humanities scholars integrated into the complex scientific environment of the newly created Akademgorodok. He also actively participated in educational activities and was distinguished by outstanding organizational skills.

Rector of NSU, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Mikhail Fedoruk said that Varlen Soskin’s students carefully preserve his memory. NSU initiated a great deal of significant research in the field of humanities, which received all-Union, and then all-Russian and world recognition.

— Varlen Lvovich was the first full-time employee of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences working in the field of history — he was hired on February 1, 1959, when NSU had not yet opened — the first lecture at our university took place only on September 28 of the same year. From the very beginning, Varlen Soskin linked his life with teaching at NSU, where he had a large number of students. Under his scientific supervision, 37 young scientists defended their candidate dissertations. His influence on the development of the humanitarian direction at the university and in Akademgorodok was enormous. In addition, he was strong in spirit, lived a long life, a significant part of which was associated with the war period, which was reflected in his memoirs and recollections of the times when he was a cadet at the Rostov Military School, and right up to the Great Patriotic War. The scientific readings we are opening today are further evidence that this man was loved, respected and will always be remembered at our university. His memory will live on in his many students, noted Mikhail Fedoruk.

Participants in the readings recalled that Varlen Soskin, along with historian, academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences, professor Alexey Okladnikov, was one of the founders of humanitarian research at the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences). The professor’s students call the subject of his research “explosive” for the Soviet era. He viewed the intelligentsia not as a social stratum, but as the most important social force. Varlen Soskin discussed the fate of the intelligentsia and the cultural policy of the state with the maximum amount of freethinking allowed at that time. Each of his articles and especially his books caused a furor. The entire university attended his lectures, the students loved him, and his colleagues recognized that it was precisely such teachers who determined the university’s noosphere.

Chairman of the Committee on Traditions of the Union of the NSU Graduates Association “NSU Union”, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Sergei Netesov emphasized that the traditions that Varlen Soskin brought to NSU are still alive and well.

– Varlen Leonidovich made a significant contribution to the development of our university and became its legend. The traces he left in the history of Siberia, in the history of NSU, in the history of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences will never be overgrown, they remained in many historical testimonies, – said Sergei Netesov.

Director of the Humanities Institute of NSU, Professor Andrey Zuyev noted that Varlen Soskin was one of the organizers of humanitarian education at the university, under his scientific supervision 131 students of the Humanities Faculty and then the Humanities Institute wrote and defended their final qualification works. Many of them later became doctors of science, now make a significant contribution to the development of science and occupy quite serious positions in various fields of science and education.

Director of the Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Historical Sciences Vadim Rynkov shared his memories of Varlen Soskin’s lectures and admitted that during his student years he underestimated them, citing the differences between the generations of teachers and students.

— Varlen Lvovich probably felt the age difference between him and the students, and each year he gave us a little less of the main material, and told us a little more about himself and his life experience. Only many years later I began to understand how important it was. Nowadays, studying not only the history of science, but also scientific everyday life is very widespread. And he passed on the history of this everyday life of science to us. Varlen Lvovich was a unique person, a bright representative of Siberian, Akademgorodok science, — said Vadim Rynkin and showed the audience Varlen Soskin’s personnel file, which is kept at the Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. At the same time, he noted that this is the bureaucratic side of the biography of the honorary professor, but, in addition, it is also a unique source of information from the history of scientific everyday life.

In the memorial part of the readings, the chief researcher of the sector of history of social and economic development of the Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Sergei Krasilnikov presented a substantive presentation “Varlen Lvovich Soskin: the life of a scientist, organizer of science, mentor”. There was also a presentation of the book “From the personal perspective of the fate of a historian: on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Professor Varlen Lvovich Soskin”. A specialized issue of the electronic scientific journal of the Institute of History of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Historical Courier” was presented, dedicated to this significant date. The opening of the exhibition “Life as a Vocation” prepared by the staff of the Museum of History of NSU took place.

The scientific readings were held within the framework of two sections: “After the Empire: Intellectual Labor in Early Soviet Society: People, Ideas, Fates” and “Scientists and Power: Role in the Development and Implementation of Large Scientific and Technical Projects”. The reports were heard from scientists from NSU, the Institute of Economics and Industrial Organization of the SB RAS, the A.P. Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems of the SB RAS, the Institute of History of the SB RAS, Tomsk State University, the Historical Archive of the Omsk Region, the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Ural Branch of the RAS, and the Novosibirsk State University of Economics and Law. Various topics were considered: continuity and gaps in intellectual activity, Tomsk University in the era of transformations of the early Soviet period, the struggle to preserve university autonomy, the role of scientists in the field of theory and practice of domestic planning, and the adaptation of the intelligentsia to the conditions of Siberian exile in the 1920s.

Reference:

Varlen Lvovich Soskin is a participant in the Great Patriotic War: a cadet of the artillery school (1943-1944), fought in the active army (1944-1945), was wounded. He graduated from the history department of Leningrad State University (1952) and completed his postgraduate studies at the Novosibirsk State Pedagogical Institute (1956) under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. P. D. Chaplik. Candidate of Historical Sciences (1957); dissertation topic: “The role of the city’s patronage over the village in the CPSU’s struggle to strengthen the alliance of the working class and the peasantry during the recovery period (1921-1925)”. Doctor of Historical Sciences (1969); dissertation topic: “Cultural construction in Siberia (1917-1923)”. Senior Researcher (1962). Associate Professor (1966). Professor (1970). Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation (1997). Honored Worker of Higher Education of the Russian Federation (2012). Honorary Professor of NSU (2012).

He worked in general education institutions and universities in Kemerovo and Novosibirsk (1952–1959). Since 1959, he has been an employee of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences / Russian Academy of Sciences: senior research fellow of the Standing Commission on Social Sciences of the Presidium of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences (since 1959); senior research fellow of the Department of Humanities Research at the Institute of Economics and Industrial Organization (since 1961); senior research fellow (since 1967), head of the sector for the history of cultural construction (1970–1995), chief research fellow (1995–2012) of the Institute of History, Philology and Philosophy / Institute of History.

He worked at NSU part-time since 1964. One of the founders of historical training at the Faculty of Humanities. Associate Professor (1964–1969), Professor (1969–2017) of the Department of History of the USSR/Russian History.

State awards: Order of the Patriotic War, 2nd class, medals “For Courage”, “For Victory over Germany”, “For the Capture of Königsberg”, “For Valiant Labor”, etc.

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s new scientific marvel: A world-class extreme conditions lab

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

The Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF), a Chinese “super lab,” has passed a national acceptance review, marking its readiness for advanced materials’ scientific research. The SECUF combines extreme conditions such as ultra-low temperatures, ultra-high pressure, strong magnetic fields and ultra-fast optical fields into one facility.

Open to the global scientific community, the SECUF has hosted experiments from 13 universities and research institutions across 10 countries, including Denmark, Germany, France and Japan, leading to new scientific adventures.

MIL OSI China News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Budget 2025: Investing in Alberta’s future
As Alberta continues work to address increasing domestic and international economic pressures, Budget 2025 works to strengthen Alberta’s economy. This budget helps build communities, secure Alberta’s southern border and boost investments in the province’s economic future.

“While we work closely with partners to find solutions to a possible trade conflict, we will continue our work to make sure Alberta’s economy is strong – in and outside of the energy sector – so that we can manage any turbulence that comes our way. Budget 2025 carves our path forward in the face of this uncertainty.”

Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

Budget 2025: Supporting a strong workforce

Alberta’s workforce is the backbone of the provincial economy. Budget 2025 continues the commitment to training and developing a skilled and resilient labour force to further grow Alberta’s economy and help businesses succeed, including:
- $26.1 billion over three years from the Capital Plan, to support about 26,500 direct and 12,000 indirect jobs each year through 2027-28.
- $135 million for skilled trade programs such as apprenticeship and adult learning initiatives to help Albertans gain the skills and training needed for successful careers, and support access to job opportunities.
- $2 billion in 2025-26 to support and expand early learning and child-care system so parents and caregivers can participate in training, education or work opportunities.
Budget 2025: Securing our borders
- Alberta’s government is committed to being a good neighbour and trading partner, and part of this commitment involves taking measures to secure the Alberta-US border. Budget 2025 includes $29 million in 2025-26 for a new Interdiction Patrol Team within the Alberta Sheriffs to tackle illegal drug and gun smuggling, human trafficking, apprehension of persons attempting to cross the border illegally, and other illegal activities along Alberta’s international land border. Budget 2025 also includes a $15 million investment over two years for three new vehicle inspection stations located near borders to the USA.
Budget 2025: Investing in post-secondary education

Budget 2025 invests a total of $7.4 billion in post-secondary education, with an operating budget of $6.6 billion in 2025-26. This includes:
- $78 million per year over the next three years to create more seats in apprenticeship classes across the province to build skilled trades and apprenticeship education that will respond to the needs of industry, support the economy and connect Albertans with jobs.
- $113 million to support greater demand for scholarships and the Alberta Student Grant, with $60 million funded from the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund.
- $4 million to the First Nations Colleges Grant which is distributed equally across five colleges in rural and remote Indigenous communities.
“Our government is ensuring that Alberta students have the skills and training they need to meet the needs of today while preparing for the economy of the future. Budget 2025 makes foundational investments to meet the challenge of a rapidly growing population while supporting a sustainable post-secondary education system.”

Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

Budget 2025: Building communities

Alberta’s vibrant communities make Alberta the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family. Budget 2025 invests in stronger communities across Alberta, including:
- $17.2 million to increase grants made to municipalities in lieu of property taxes on government-owned property to 75 per cent, up from the current 50 per cent. By next year, the province will cover 100 per cent of the amount that would be paid if the property was taxable.
- $820 million this year and $2.5 billion over three years in Local Government Fiscal Framework capital funding to help fund local infrastructure priorities.
Budget 2025: Supporting trade and diversification

Alberta continues to champion economic growth and policies that support productivity. Through Budget 2025, Alberta’s government will continue to build on current successes through:
- Attracting more investment through low corporate income taxes. At eight per cent, Alberta’s corporate income tax rate is 30 per cent lower than the next lowest province.
- Providing greater incentive for small- and medium-sized firms that increase their spending on research and development, with Alberta’s Innovation Employment Grant.
- Promoting Alberta as a reliable partner in supporting North American and global energy security to investors. The province will optimize new and existing infrastructure to access new markets for Alberta’s energy and mineral resources.
- Supporting Alberta’s agriculture producers and value-added processors, addressing barriers to trade by cultivating export markets, and working to increase market access for Alberta products.
- Reinforcing Alberta as a critical contributor to North American energy security by continuing to advocate for our remarkable energy sector across Canada, the U.S., Germany, Japan and the rest of the world.
Budget 2025: Investing in business and industry

Budget 2025 continues to find ways to help Alberta’s economy grow through investments in business and industry and help our economy grow, including:
- Support to attract investment in Alberta’s energy and mineral resource sector to accelerate opportunities in emerging resources.
- $45 million over three years for the Investment and Growth Fund to attract investment into Alberta’s economy.
- $1.8 million in Western Crop Innovations for industry-leading crop research.
- $780,000 to support small- and medium-sized meat processors.
- $3.1 million for the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to expand toward a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory. This will give livestock producers and vets access to quicker, more affordable livestock diagnostics closer to home.
“Budget 2025 builds a stronger Alberta by growing industries, creating high-quality jobs and expanding opportunities for workers and families. With strategic investments in innovation, infrastructure and workforce development, Alberta is rising to the challenge, strengthening our province for many years to come.”

Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

“We are advancing cutting-edge research in agriculture and supporting small and medium-sized businesses. Additionally, we are strengthening our agricultural infrastructure, ensuring quicker and more affordable services for livestock producers and veterinarians. We’re supporting innovation, attracting investment, and building a resilient economy for the future.”

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

Related information
- Budget 2025
Related news
- Budget 2025: Meeting the challenge (Feb 27, 2025)
- Budget 2025: Meeting the challenge in health and education (Feb 27, 2025)
Multimedia
- Watch the Budget address
- Watch the news conference
- Listen to the news conference
MIL OSI Canada News –
February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Grassley Secures Argentine President Milei’s Partnership in Credit Suisse Investigation into Nazi-Linked Accounts

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley

WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is welcoming Argentine President Javier Milei’s commitment to support Grassley’s ongoing investigation into Credit Suisse and its historic servicing of Nazi-linked accounts. This includes providing archival records documenting the use of Nazi “ratlines.” Ratlines were monetary and logistic pathways Nazis used to escape justice and flee to Latin America, including Argentina, following World War II.

“In order to continue this work, I respectfully request possession of Argentina’s archival records relating to Nazi ratlines. This includes records dating to the time before, during, and following World War II that will help shed light on the planning and carrying out of the Nazi ratlines. The great people of Argentina’s support in helping the Senate Judiciary Committee obtain possession would assist the committee in advancing its corresponding oversight of this matter,” Grassley wrote to Milei.

Grassley will chair a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing next week focused on stemming the tide of antisemitism.

Read additional background from the Times of Israel.

Argentine president opening files on Nazi ‘ratlines’ that trafficked Eichmann, Mengele

By Matt Lebovic

February 24, 2025

Argentinian President Javier Milei promised officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center his full cooperation in granting access to documents related to the financing of so-called “ratlines” that helped Nazis escape Europe after the Holocaust. The promise was made in Buenos Aires at the presidential palace, Casa Rosada, during a meeting with Milei and activists on Tuesday.

For decades, organizations including the Simon Wiesenthal Center, named after the famed Nazi hunter, have sought records related to unofficial escape routes taken by thousands of Nazis during the years after World War II. Up to 10,000 Nazis and other fascist war criminals escaped justice by fleeing to Argentina and other countries.

“While some previous leaders promised full cooperation to get to the hard truths that involved Argentina’s past, Milei is the first to act with lightning speed to enable the SWC to uncover important pieces of the historic puzzle, especially as it related to involvement with Nazis before, during and after the Holocaust,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told The Times of Israel.

…

During the SWC meeting on Tuesday, Jonathan Missner, managing partner at Stein, Mitchell, Beato & Missner, brought a letter from US Senator Charles Grassley, chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The letter — which was handed to Milei — requested the Argentinian leader’s assistance in uncovering how the ratlines were organized and funded. A copy of the letter was sent to US President Donald Trump.

…

Nazis’ escape routes

Several countries in the Americas received Nazis, including Canada, the US, and Mexico. Nazis also fled to Australia, Spain, and Switzerland. In some cases, US intelligence officials used ratlines to pluck top Nazi scientists away from Soviet orbits.

One of two primary escape routes went through Germany and Spain, then across the Atlantic to Argentina…

Up to 5,000 Nazis are said to have settled in Argentina, including Holocaust “architect” Adolf Eichmann and Josef Mengele, one of the most recognizable — and wanted — Nazis. Traveling along a ratline in 1948, the notorious Auschwitz physician used the new identity of Helmut Gregor when fleeing Europe.

“These files will be instrumental in obtaining justice, which is instrumental to honoring the memory of those who suffered and died in the Holocaust,” said Cooper. “Especially in a post-October 7 world, those who financed, facilitated, or otherwise assisted these ratlines must be held accountable,” he said.

…

“Words are one thing — actions are another. President Milei’s historic decision signals his unequivocal allyship with the Jewish community while reinforcing his commitment to accountability and transparency at home,” Missner told The Times of Israel.

Support for harboring Nazi war criminals went right to the top in Argentina, according to historians. President Juan Peron was angered by the Nuremberg Trials and authorized key facets of the escape routes, making them a state affair. In addition to German Nazis, the Peron regime and other South American governments aided war criminals from Hungary, Croatia and elsewhere.

“President Milei is a staunch ally of the global Jewish community and was eager to open these archives. He knows that confronting Argentina’s history of Nazi collaboration requires nothing less than full transparency, and the same principle undergirds his pursuit of justice for the AMIA bombing,” said Missner.

-30-

MIL OSI USA News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Costs and risks arising from de facto permanent border controls in Germany – E-000055/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
The Schengen Borders Code[1] allows Member States to temporarily reintroduce internal border control to address serious threats to public policy or internal security as a measure of last resort.

The Commission is engaged in an ongoing dialogue with all Member States concerned by the reintroduction of internal border to ensure that these controls remain necessary and proportionate, that Member States exchange information, and that they adopt mitigating measures to limit the effect of control on the movement across internal borders and the functioning of cross-border regions.

The Commission also supports the use of alternative measures to internal border controls, as listed in the Commission’s Recommendation of November 2023[2].

On 10 July 2024, the amended Schengen Borders Code entered into force. It provides a revised framework for the reintroduction of internal border control, with clearer deadlines and stricter reporting and monitoring obligations for both the Member States and the Commission.

In line with Article 27a(3) of the amended Schengen Borders Code, the Commission will issue an opinion after receipt of a notification that prolongs internal border control to a period of 12 months in total.

[1] Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a EU Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code); OJ L 77, p. 1-52.

[2] Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/268 of 23 November 2023 on cooperation between the Member States with regard to serious threats to internal security and public policy in the area without internal border controls, OJ L, 2024/268, 17.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reco/2024/268/oj
Last updated: 27 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Commission action to encourage Germany to engage in dialogue with Poland on access to justice for Polish WWII victims and their families – P-000819/2025

Source: European Parliament

Priority question for written answer P-000819/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Arkadiusz Mularczyk (ECR)

In its answer to my question of 10.12.2024 (P-002838/2024), the Commission states that ‘it is primarily a Member State’s responsibility to deal with the sensitive and complex issue of addressing the horrors and crimes committed in the past by totalitarian regimes. Within its competence, the Commission can facilitate the process of remembrance by encouraging discussion and sharing of experiences, as well as promoting best practices.’

Point 2 of the Polish Government’s diplomatic note of 3.10.2022 urges the German Government to engage in dialogue on the issue of reparations for Polish victims and their families for harm caused during WWII, in light of the lack of access to justice for war victims and their families. In a letter of 3.1.2023, the German Government declined to do so, without providing any formal or substantive justification for its decision and despite the fact that this issue has never previously been the subject of negotiations between Poland and Germany.

In accordance with its answer of 19.2.2025, will the Commission take steps to encourage a dialogue between the German Government and Poland on allowing Polish WWII victims and their families to access justice with a view to obtaining reparations for harm caused during the war?

Submitted: 23.2.2025

Last updated: 27 February 2025

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines – E-000623/2025
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000623/2025/rev.1
to the Council
Rule 144
Fabio De Masi (NI)

A suspected terrorist, who is allegedly responsible for attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, is being sought by the German Federal Public Prosecutor under a European arrest warrant. Is it true that Germany has not entered that suspected terrorist in the Schengen Information System?[1]

Submitted: 11.2.2025

[1] https://rsw.beck.de/aktuell/daily/meldung/detail/nord-stream-anschlag-eu-haftbefehl
Last updated: 27 February 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
February 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: NZ’s barriers to economic growth: short-term thinking, political concentration and policy flip-flops

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Nicholls, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, Auckland University of Technology

Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Economic growth took centre stage during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s recent State of the Nation speech.

Yet in amongst the discussion and criticism of the government’s plans, many have got locked into a one-dimensional debate centred on reducing regulation to encourage economic growth.

This ignores a deeper discussion on the actual sources of New Zealand’s economic growth in the 21st century and, potentially, what we need to do to shift from one model of growth to another.

What drives growth?

Emerging partly out of the 2007–09 global financial crisis, thinking about economic growth has become dominated by something known as the growth model framework.

The framework contrasts countries such as Germany that base their growth on exports – partly through wage restraint – with those in which growth is led by consumption. This group includes the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand.

New Zealand’s growth model

How can this framework be used to understand economic growth in our local context?

New Zealand’s economy is dominated by domestic demand – with the service industry making up around two-thirds of the gross domestic product, putting us squarely in the consumption-led camp.

Local analysts have often reflected on the drivers and pitfalls of this growth model, revolving as it does around property investment and related industries such as banking and insurance.

And yet, this is not how we tend to think of ourselves at all.

Whether aspirational or wishful thinking, countless political speeches and policy documents refer to New Zealand as something of an export platform, a trading nation, or a (potential) knowledge-based innovator on the world stage.

New Zealand has long viewed itself as an export economy. But economic indicators tell a different story.
Kritsana Laroque/Shutterstock

The politics of New Zealand’s growth model

It is also difficult to imagine a New Zealand political leader standing up to announce how proud they are to be overseeing a service and consumption-driven economy.

In fact, it could be argued the past couple of decades have represented a series of failures to shift the growth model from where we are to where we want to be.

What is more, many of the barriers to doing so are political rather than strictly economic.

The growth model perspective identifies not only the varied national growth strategies but also the coalition of political and business groups that support each model.

Possible – but difficult – change

Shifts in national growth models can occur. But doing so requires forging a consensus around a new or evolving growth model through political institutions or through the expansion of the growth coalition’s base to include new economic players including, in some cases, trade unions.

Ireland, for example, underwent a major shift from the late 1980s toward a growth model infused with foreign direct investment. This happened, in part, through social partnership, where most aspects of public policy were negotiated between state, business and organised labour, along with some input from the community and voluntary sector. It was also due to an overwhelmingly centrist political culture and it’s structure of government.

Sweden’s gradual shift toward more information-technology intensive manufacturing and the Netherlands’ to business services and finance, representing more balanced or mixed growth models, can also be traced to consensus-driven politics.

Barriers to change

Back in Aotearoa New Zealand, we face a series of political barriers to similar change.

Above all, politics in New Zealand is notably short-term in nature, driven by a host of factors including the three-year electoral term. There is also an absence of an Irish or Swedish-style social partnership-type tradition in which key societal groups are included in policy negotiations that survive changes of government.

Compounding this, power in New Zealand politics is still concentrated in the hands of the incumbent government despite the adoption of the mixed member proportional (MMP) system. This means a considerable degree of ideological yo-yoing and policy flip-flops.

Most difficult perhaps is finding a way to override entrenched economic interests with a vested interest in the status quo.

For example, while there is widespread support for a capital gains tax in New Zealand, implementing one has proven out of political reach.

This is likely due, in part, to the oversized role that property plays in our economy, but also because we lack consensus-forging institutions through which to channel a will to change.

Somehow broadening the base of support may help to address this issue, as will ensuring that the government is able to exercise its own autonomy – connected to economic interests yet able to rise above rather than relying on them to make change happen.

Kate Nicholls 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. NZ’s barriers to economic growth: short-term thinking, political concentration and policy flip-flops – https://theconversation.com/nzs-barriers-to-economic-growth-short-term-thinking-political-concentration-and-policy-flip-flops-249007

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 28, 2025

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Inflation

Income and consumption

Economic growth and labour market

Housing and credit access

Notes

The problem with plastic

Poor substitutes and other traps

Plastic bans can be problematic

Better to avoid single-use items

Get serious about reducing plastic packaging

Better policies and regulations

Budget 2025: Supporting a strong workforce

Budget 2025: Securing our borders

Budget 2025: Investing in post-secondary education

Budget 2025: Building communities

Budget 2025: Supporting trade and diversification

Budget 2025: Investing in business and industry

Related information

Related news

Multimedia

What drives growth?

New Zealand’s growth model

The politics of New Zealand’s growth model

Possible – but difficult – change

Barriers to change