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Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Regional workshop on anti-money laundering co-organised by Hong Kong Customs and University of Hong Kong concludes (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The four-day Regional Workshop on AML Frameworks: Tackling Traditional and Modern Challenges in the Digital Age (Workshop), co-organised by Hong Kong Customs and the University of Hong Kong (HKU), started on June 9 and concluded today (June 12). This Workshop brought together over 60 participants from customs administrations, government agencies, international organisations, law enforcement agencies and academia across Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific (A/P) region.
     
    Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with HKU at the International Forum on Combating Money Laundering and Transnational Organized Crimes in December last year, the Workshop was held to further strengthen Customs’ capacity in anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement with particular focus on risks and trends of virtual assets.   
     
    In his closing remarks today, the Assistant Commissioner of Customs and Excise (Intelligence and Investigation), Mr Wong Ho-yin, highlighted the Workshop’s success in enriching knowledge, fostering regional co-operation, and building critical connections among law enforcement agencies, academia, and industry. He reaffirmed that adaptability, international collaboration and capacity building were crucial to mitigating the risks of financial crimes. Participants should work on the groundwork laid for closer regional partnerships by the Workshop to promote intelligence sharing and support cross-boundary investigations and enforcement co-operation.
     
    The Dean of Engineering of HKU, Professor David Srolovitz, emphasised the timeliness of this Workshop in the age of rapid digital transformation and the importance of uniting academia, technology developers, law enforcement authorities, government, and the financial industry to address the complexities of financial crimes today. HKU Engineering, he said, remains dedicated to driving innovation and education to empower professionals to create a secure and transparent financial future.
     
    The Workshop featured a comprehensive programme with leading experts and practitioners delivering lectures on a wide range of topics including AML strategies and emerging typologies, regulation of virtual assets, crypto-related crime investigations, application of regtech in financial crime prevention, and international co-operation in AML/counter-terrorist financing.
     
    As the World Customs Organization (WCO) Vice-Chair for the A/P region and the WCO Regional Training Centre in the A/P region, Hong Kong Customs strives to connect with local and overseas law enforcement agencies to foster knowledge exchanges and capacity building in AML, contributing to a safer and more resilient financial environment across the A/P region.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs special operation combats use of counterfeit devices by beauty parlours to provide beauty and slimming treatments (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs special operation combats use of counterfeit devices by beauty parlours to provide beauty and slimming treatments (with photo) 
    Customs earlier received information alleging that suspected counterfeit devices were being used by beauty parlours to provide beauty and slimming treatments for customers. After an in-depth investigation and with the assistance of the trademark owner, Customs officers took enforcement action and raided three beauty parlours in Lai Chi Kok, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday. Three suspected counterfeit beauty and slimming devices were seized at the beauty parlours.
     
    During the operation, four women aged between 27 and 56 were arrested for being suspected of contravening the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Two of them are shop owners and two are employees. An investigation is ongoing, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
     
    Customs will continue to take stringent law enforcement action and collaborate with relevant trademark owners to closely monitor the market situation with a view to fighting against the use of counterfeit goods for the purpose of trade.
     
    Customs reminds traders to be cautious and prudent in merchandising since possession of counterfeit goods for any purpose of trade is a serious crime, and offenders are liable to criminal sanctions. Consumers are also reminded to make purchases at reputable shops and to check with the trademark owners or their authorised agents if the authenticity of a product is in doubt.
     
    Under the Ordinance, any person who possesses for the purpose of trade any goods with a forged trademark commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 15:35

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: From Talent to Success: Axi Select Announces Fourth Pro M Trader, Now Managing $1 Million USD of Axi Funds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Following the recent announcements that three Axi Select traders reached the top milestone of the program, leading online FX and CFD broker Axi has proudly announced the promotion of its fourth overall – Pro M trader: Looi Sook Yen from Asia.

    This breakthrough reflects the broker’s ongoing commitment to empower ambitious and talented traders through a program that is designed to unlock and maximise their full trading and profit potential.

    Louis Cooper, Chief Commercial Officer at Axi, shares his excitement for the program’s latest success, noting “We’re proud to see our program continue to elevate traders, helping them trade and improve their trading skills all the way to the top. Since launching Axi Select in 2023, we’ve been confident in its ability to harness the talent of all traders to new heights – regardless of gender or experience level. Today, we celebrate a landmark moment: our fourth Pro M trader and the first woman to reach the program’s top stage and secure a $1M allocation. Ms. Looi demonstrated outstanding skill, talent, and discipline – and with the right tools and support, she now manages $1M of Axi funds.”

    A few months ago, Axi Select announced its first three $1M funded traders: Francisco Quesada Godines, Daniel Gutiérrez Viñas, and 21-year-old trader, Kayan Freitas. The program offers traders the opportunity to access capital funding up to $1,000,000 USD and earn up to 90% of their profits, as well as the advantage to join the program with zero registration or monthly fees*. Moreover, Axi Select uses a Standard or a Pro live account, unrestrictive trading conditions, an exclusive trading room, and more. Recently, the broker was recognised with the ‘Best Funded Trader Programme’ award by the ADVFN International Financial Awards, and, among others, was honoured by Finance Feeds with the ‘Most Innovative Proprietary Trading Firm’ award.

    The Axi Select program is only available to clients of AxiTrader Limited. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. In our dealings with you, we will act as a principal counterparty to all of your positions. This content is not available to AU, NZ, EU and UK residents. For more information, refer to our Terms of Service. *Standard trading fees apply.

    Watch announcement video here.

    About Axi

    Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more.

    For more information or additional comments from Axi, please contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da30a690-7ae0-4ccb-b753-b387e16c7313

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Black Gold Confirms Multiple Pay Zones at Fritz 2-30

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, B.C., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Black Gold Exploration Corp. (the “Company” or “BGX”) (CSE: BGX) (OTCQB: BGXCF) (FRA: BLGX) is pleased to announce another significant development in its Illinois Basin operation. Through its joint venture partner LGX Energy Corp. (“LGX”), the Company has confirmed the presence of four discrete, hydrocarbon- bearing formations within a single vertical column at the now-producing Fritz 2-30 oil and gas well (the “Well”) in Clay County, Indiana, highlighting the potential for multi-zone development at the Well.

    Stacked Pay Zones: Four Formations, One Platform

    In addition to the Geneva Dolomite zone, which is currently in production, three additional pay zone formations have now been identified within the same platform, including the Jeffersonville Limestone Formation, the North Vernon Formation, and the Carper Sand Formation.

    “This is the kind of stacked pay profile we hoped for as a Company, where it is not just one pay zone but the opportunity for up to four pay zones from just one well,” said Francisco Gulisano, CEO of BGX.

    “We are now setting ourselves up to systematically unlock the multiple pay zones of value sitting beneath the Fritz platform, formation by formation.” continued Mr. Gulisano.

    A Platform for Scalable, Repeatable Growth

    The multi-zone architecture of the Well allows for selective perforation and staged stimulation, minimizing risk and maximizing reservoir management. Also, the platform’s data-rich profile will guide the Company’s next wave of wells, giving the Company a clear runway for development of additional offset wells across these new formations.

    “I believe we are just starting to unlock the potential in this region and we at LGX are delighted to have BGX as a partner in the Basin,” stated Howard Crosby, CEO of LGX.

    On behalf of the Company, Francisco Gulisano
    236-266-5174
    Chief Executive Officer

    About BGX

    BGX is an oil and gas exploration and production company dedicated to creating shareholder value in the Illinois Basin. With an experienced technical team and a growing asset base, BGX is unlocking value using modern drilling and completion technologies. For more information visit https://www.bgxcorp.com.

    Joint Venture with LGX

    The Company has a joint-venture agreement with LGX which gives it a 30% interest in strategically positioned parcels of 911 acres located in the Illinois Basin. The Company has a 10% interest in the Fritz 2-30 well and has the ability to take a 10% interest across a 210 acre Area of Mutual Interest surrounding the Fritz well.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management’s view of future events, expectations, plans, and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. It should be noted that there are inherent risks and uncertainties in oil and gas exploration. Forward- looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to statements respecting: (i) the confirmation of additional pay zones highlighting the potential for multi- zone development at the Well; (ii) the Company setting itself up to systematically unlock the value sitting behind the Fritz platform; (iii) the platform’s data-rich profile guiding the Company’s next wave of wells, giving the Company a clear runway for development of additional offset wells across the new formations; (iv) Mr. Crosby’s statement that the parties are just scratching the surface of unlocking the potential in the region. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statement will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements, or otherwise. For a comprehensive overview of all risks that may impact the Company, please see the Company’s continuous disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+.

    Neither the CSE nor the CSE’s Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accept responsibility for the accuracy of this release.

    SUITE 2400 | 1055 WEST GEORGIA STREET | VANCOUVER, BC | V6E 3P3 | TEL. +1 (236) 266-5174 | info@bgxcorp.com | bgxcorp.com
    1412-7791-5927, v. 1

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The Eclipse Foundation Launches the S-CORE Project: The Automotive Industry’s First Open Source Core Stack for Software-Defined Vehicles

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BRUSSELS, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Eclipse Foundation, one of the world’s largest open source software foundations, today announced the upcoming 0.5 release of the Safety Open Vehicle Core (S-CORE) project, the first open source core software stack specifically designed for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Targeting embedded high-performance Electronic Control Units (ECUs), S-CORE represents a significant milestone in the automotive industry’s transition toward open, community-driven software platforms.

    With support from a growing group of major industry leaders, including BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz, Bosch, ETAS, QNX, Qorix, and Accenture, the S-CORE project is building an open source foundation that allows automakers and suppliers to accelerate the development of next-generation automotive software, while allowing them to concentrate on building their own differentiated features and applications.

    “Open collaboration is key to managing complexity in modern vehicle software architectures,” said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. “With S-CORE, we’re providing developers with a reliable, safety-grade runtime environment that allows the industry to focus on innovation while reducing duplication of effort. This project offers the entire sector a jumpstart in building the custom solutions that will define the future of mobility.”

    Often described as “middleware,” S-CORE sits between the operating system and application layer, delivering core, non-differentiating services that all software-defined vehicles require. By providing a common set of baseline functions, such as application orchestration, inter-process communication (IPC), logging, and data persistence, S-CORE aims to streamline development, lower costs, and accelerate time-to-market for companies building software-defined vehicles.

    The 0.5 release, targeted for availability in October 2025, will mark the project’s first public milestone, providing an initial set of functional building blocks for industry adoption and feedback. The reference platform for this release will run on QNX SDP 8.0, which is available for non-commercial prototyping and experimentation via the company’s recently launched QNX Everywhere program. Additional operating system support, including Linux, is planned for future releases.

    In parallel, the S-CORE development process, currently under audit by a certification agency, aims to define a methodology for producing open source software suitable for safety-critical automotive standards such as ISO 26262.

    As software increasingly defines vehicle functionality, S-CORE’s open approach helps address one of the automotive industry’s most pressing challenges: developing complex, high-performance vehicle software that is safe, cost-effective, and scalable, while still allowing room for innovation. By enabling automakers, suppliers, and technology companies to collaborate on shared core components, S-CORE allows development teams to focus their efforts on areas that create the most value, such as differentiated features, enhanced customer experiences, and brand-defining innovations.

    Join the Eclipse SDV Community
    The Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Working Group is a global hub for open source collaboration in automotive software. Our diverse membership of automakers, suppliers, and technology leaders is driving real-world innovation that is shaping the future of mobility. We provide an inclusive platform where companies of all sizes can contribute on equal footing. Learn more about participation opportunities at sdv.eclipse.org/membership.

    For additional details on the S-CORE project and its upcoming release, visit Eclipse Safe Open Vehicle Core

    About Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle
    Eclipse Software Defined Vehicle (SDV), a working group within the Eclipse Foundation, supports the open source development of cutting-edge automotive technologies that power the programmable vehicles of the future where software defines features, functionality, and operations. With over 50 members, including leading automotive manufacturers, global cloud providers, technology innovators, and key supply chain partners, the initiative has strong industry backing. The working group’s mission is to provide a collaborative forum for developing and promoting open source solutions tailored to the global automotive industry. Adopting a “code first” approach, Eclipse SDV focuses on building the industry’s first open source software stacks and associated tools that will support the core functionalities of next-generation vehicles.

    About the Eclipse Foundation
    The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organisations with a business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. We host the Eclipse IDE, Adoptium, Software Defined Vehicle, Jakarta EE, and over 420 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, specifications, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, open processor designs, and many others. Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, the Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 300 members. To learn more, follow us on social media @EclipseFdn, LinkedIn, or visit eclipse.org.
    Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

    Media contacts:
    Schwartz Public Relations (Germany)
    Julia Rauch/Marita Bäumer
    Sendlinger Straße 42A
    80331 Munich
    EclipseFoundation@schwartzpr.de
    +49 (89) 211 871 -70/ -62

    514 Media Ltd (France, Italy, Spain)
    Benoit Simoneau
    benoit@514-media.com
    M: +44 (0) 7891 920 370

    Nichols Communications (Global Press Contact)
    Jay Nichols
    jay@nicholscomm.com
    +1 408-772-1551

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Radware Cyber Survey Uncovers Critical Weaknesses in Application Security Measures

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Only 8% of organizations use AI-based protection solutions
    • Just 6% of respondents have full documentation for all their APIs
    • Half of respondents don’t know what third-party code is being used by their apps
    • Only 29% of security staff are fully trained to handle API business logic attacks

    MAHWAH, N.J., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, today released its new report, 2025 Cyber Survey: Application Security at a Breaking Point. The survey reveals threat areas of rapidly growing concern as organizations’ cyber defenses lag well behind. This includes a major lack of protection against AI threats, as well as API and business logic attacks, among others.

    “The weaponization of AI by malicious actors is intensifying cybersecurity threats and drawing even more attention to areas where companies are simply ill-protected,” said Shira Sagiv, Radware’s vice president of product portfolio. “Internal alarms should be sounding. Companies openly admit to major concerns about gaps in cyber protection and lack of readiness, especially around web applications and APIs; yet their usage continues to climb creating even more risk and exposure.”

    KEY FINDINGS

    The scramble is on to catch up with AI
    According to the report, the use of AI to improve and intensify hacking tradecraft is of greatest concern. Organizations have significant concerns about threat actors using AI to generate new attacks at a faster cadence, bypassing existing defenses and compromising areas that were previously too difficult to attack.

    • Top concerns: The following percentage of respondents are highly or extremely concerned about hackers using AI:
      • To create/improve hacking tools – 70%.
      • To generate a larger volume of cyberattacks – 67%.
      • To launch new zero-day attack vectors – 66%.
    • Large readiness gap: Despite the concerns about hackers embracing AI, only 8% of organizations are currently using AI-based solutions for defenses.
    • AI adoption: Four out of five organizations plan to implement AI-based cybersecurity solutions within the next 12 months.

    Security fails to keep up with sprawling API ecosystems
    APIs are in a constant state of fluctuation. Organizations are increasing their use of APIs even while they remain ill-protected.

    • Surge in API usage and updates: In 2025, API usage is up 42% compared to the highest rate of usage in 2023, with multiple daily updates to APIs surging 6X during the same time frame.
    • Widespread third-party usage: On average, organizations are using 19 third-party APIs per application, which introduces new types of threats around data compromise that cannot be mitigated at a coding level.
    • Poor business logic attack mitigation: Business logic attacks, a common form of API attacks, represent a threat area of rapidly growing concern. While 81% of respondents say it is very or extremely important to have real-time protection measures in place:
      • Just half have deployed runtime business logic protections.
      • Only 29% have security staff fully trained to detect and mitigate these attacks.
    • Lack of preparedness:
      • On average, only 6% of respondents have full documentation for all their APIs.
      • Half of respondents don’t know what third-party code is being used by their web applications, which data is being leaked to third-party services, and when malicious scripts and services are introduced.

    Risks to resilience continue to rise
    Survey respondents expressed a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of their defensive posture against growing threats.

    • Third-party breaches: Only 16% of respondents are confident in their current protection against data breach attempts of third-party services code running on their web applications.
    • Costly DDoS disruptions: Downtime caused by an application DDoS attack averages $6,100 per minute or $366,000 per hour.
    • High compliance pressures: An average of 54% of respondents express high or extreme concern about a range of regulations, including NIS2, HIPAA, SEC, PCI DSS 4, GDPR, DORA, and SOX.

    Methodology
    The survey, which was conducted with Osterman Research, includes responses from compliance, chief risk, and data privacy officers; vice presidents of research and development; senior network security administrators; senior DevOps and DevSecOps administrators; cloud security; API architects; among other titles. The survey was conducted in nine countries across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM.

    Radware’s complete 2025 Cyber Survey: Application Security at a Breaking Point can be downloaded here.

    About Radware
    Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.

    Radware encourages you to join our community and follow us on: Facebook, LinkedIn, Radware Blog, X, and YouTube.

    ©2025 Radware Ltd. All rights reserved. Any Radware products and solutions mentioned in this press release are protected by trademarks, patents, and pending patent applications of Radware in the U.S. and other countries. For more details, please see: https://www.radware.com/LegalNotice/. All other trademarks and names are property of their respective owners.

    THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE 2025 CYBER SURVEY: APPLICATION SECURITY AT A BREAKING POINT ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THESE MATERIALS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN INDICATOR OF RADWARE’S BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OR OPERATING RESULTS FOR ANY PRIOR, CURRENT, OR FUTURE PERIOD.

    Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.

    The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.

    Safe Harbor Statement
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” For example, when we say in this press release that the weaponization of AI by malicious actors is intensifying cybersecurity threats and drawing even more attention to areas where companies are simply ill-protected and that their usage continues to climb creating even more risk and exposure, we are using forward-looking statements. Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, tensions between China and Taiwan, financial and credit market fluctuations (including elevated interest rates), impacts from tariffs or other trade restrictions, inflation, and the potential for regional or global recessions; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cybersecurity and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, or if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; our use of AI technologies that present regulatory, litigation, and reputational risks; risks related to the fact that our products must interoperate with operating systems, software applications and hardware that are developed by others; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns; our net losses in the past and the possibility that we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cybersecurity and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; complications with the design or implementation of our new enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) system; our reliance on information technology systems; our ESG disclosures and initiatives; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website at www.radware.com.

    Media Contact:
    Gerri Dyrek
    Radware
    Gerri.Dyrek@radware.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5342914-5ae1-430e-a838-b75e663c5eb4

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83a75b37-0294-485f-a2b8-c968fd9fce15

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08209312-e0da-48d4-a5aa-aa7deea6b77d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Cenovus Energy restores full production at Christina Lake

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CALGARY, Alberta, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX: CVE) (NYSE: CVE) has now safely ramped up production at its Christina Lake oil sands asset following wildfire activity in the area. Production operations restarted on June 3 and production was ramped up over the course of the week.

    Site inspections confirmed there was no damage to Cenovus infrastructure. The company continues to closely monitor the overall wildfire situation in Alberta, with a focus on the safety of its people and assets. It appreciates the continued efforts of its teams who are working to keep the company’s people and assets safe, and for the provincial emergency management teams and firefighters keeping communities safe.

    Cenovus Energy Inc.
    Cenovus Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company with oil and natural gas production operations in Canada and the Asia Pacific region, and upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States. The company is committed to maximizing value by developing its assets in a safe, responsible and cost-efficient manner, integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into its business plans. Cenovus common shares and warrants are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges, and the company’s preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. For more information, visit cenovus.com.

    Find Cenovus on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

    Cenovus contacts

    Investors Media
    Investor Relations general line
    403-766-7711    		 Media Relations general line
    403-766-7751

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Zinemx Exchange Upgrades Security Architecture to Safeguard User Assets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DENVER, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, Zinemx Exchange has upgraded its platform security architecture, introducing a more rigorous multi-layer protection system to further enhance the security of assets and transactions. Multiple security measures, such as cold and hot wallet segregation and real-time security monitoring, ensure the platform is protected against hacker attacks and malicious operations. In the face of increasingly severe security challenges in the crypto market, Zinemx will continue to strengthen its technical defenses and compliance risk controls, providing investors with a safer and more stable trading environment.

    This upgrade focuses on optimizing the cold and hot wallet segregation mechanism of Zinemx Exchange to ensure user assets receive the highest level of protection. The cold wallets employ multi-signature technology and are isolated from external networks, mitigating the risk of hacker attacks. Hot wallets implement strict fund management strategies, retaining only the necessary liquidity, and are combined with real-time fund monitoring and approval mechanisms to prevent unauthorized large fund transfers.

    Zinemx Exchange adopts advanced Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology to optimize private key storage solutions, further enhancing account security. The intelligent risk control system of the platform monitors trading activities around the clock. When abnormal trading behavior is detected, the system immediately issues an alert and takes necessary protective measures to maximize the security of user assets. The intelligent anti-scam system automatically scores user trading behavior, accurately identifying malicious attacks and preventing account theft.

    To meet the diverse trading needs of investors, Zinemx Exchange offers a wide range of trading products, including spot, futures, and options. This upgrade also optimizes API interfaces, improving trading execution efficiency for institutional investors and enabling the efficient completion of large trades.

    Looking ahead, Zinemx Exchange will continue to increase investment in security technology, further optimize its trading system, enhance anti-scam capabilities, and collaborate with leading international security institutions. The platform will strengthen multi-dimensional security measures, including data encryption, identity authentication, and market surveillance, to provide investors with a trustworthy crypto trading environment.

    Media Contact: support@zinemx.org

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by Zinemx Exchange. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/87d0bd4b-ab93-45b6-9317-8dc82993b2c2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Wood Mackenzie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 with Senior Delegation, Driving Investment and Insight Across Africa’s Energy Sector

    Energy research and consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie will participate in the African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies conference, with a senior delegation comprising Mansur Mohammed, Head of New Business Development, Africa; Gavin Thompson, Vice Chairman, EMEA; David Parkinson, Head of Exploration; and Ian Thom, Research Director, Upstream. The team will speak across multiple sessions, contributing data-led insights and strategic analysis on upstream investment, exploration trends and Africa’s energy transition planning.  

    With over five decades of experience, Wood Mackenzie has become a central player in global energy markets. In Africa, the firm’s work has been particularly impactful in supporting the development of long-term energy planning and project structuring. Its collaboration with national governments and state-owned oil companies has helped shape policy frameworks, evaluate exploration potential and guide infrastructure development. 

    One of the firm’s most notable recent contributions has been its support to the Republic of Congo in developing the country’s first Gas Master Plan, in partnership with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons. The plan outlines strategies for monetizing gas resources, expanding domestic access and establishing export mechanisms that will contribute to economic diversification. In line with this work, Wood Mackenzie has provided analysis for key projects such as the Marine XII LNG development, which recently delivered its first cargo and is progressing toward expansion with a second 3.5 billion-cubic-meter-per-year facility. 

    In the broader upstream sector, Wood Mackenzie tracks and forecasts capital investment trends across the continent. The firm’s research highlights a stabilization of upstream spending around $40 billion annually, with particular emphasis on gas and LNG-led growth. Countries such as Namibia and Mozambique are attracting heightened interest from international investors, while established producers including Angola and Nigeria continue to recalibrate their upstream portfolios in response to global energy dynamics. Wood Mackenzie’s data and modelling are often used by governments and private operators alike to assess fiscal terms, licensing strategy and project economics. 

    The firm is also playing a leading role in contextualizing Africa’s energy transition. According to its long-term energy outlooks, Africa is expected to see electricity demand double by 2050. While renewables will form an increasing share of generation, Wood Mackenzie maintains that oil and gas will remain vital to meeting the continent’s industrial and energy access needs. The firm projects that Africa will account for just 3–6% of global emissions by mid-century, underscoring the argument that continued hydrocarbon development can coexist with climate responsibility. 

    “Wood Mackenzie brings the rigorous data and applied insight necessary to unlock Africa’s energy potential. At AEW 2025, their contributions will help shape a narrative that highlights investment opportunity, energy security and the responsible pursuit of development across the continent,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. 

    The delegation’s participation at AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies comes at a time when African states are intensifying their focus on exploration licensing rounds, domestic gas utilization and large-scale LNG developments. With deep experience in asset valuation, fiscal benchmarking and upstream project modelling, Wood Mackenzie remains a trusted partner to investors, ministries and NOCs seeking to maximize returns and mitigate risk across the continent. 

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SA concerned at measures taken against ICC judges by US government

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The South African Government has expressed its “deep concern” at the decision of the United States to sanction four judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    This is after the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced sanctions against four ICC judges for alleged “illegitimate transgressions against the United States and Israel”.

    According to reports, the sanctions are in response to the ICC issuing arrest warrants for top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and its investigation into alleged United States war crimes in Afghanistan. 

    The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) believes that this move represents a direct affront to the principles of international justice and the rule of law. 

    “Such punitive actions against judicial officers performing their mandated duties are regrettable and they undermine the independence of the ICC, and threaten the integrity of international legal institutions. 

    “They furthermore hinder the Court and its personnel in the exercise of their independent judicial functions.” 

    The department said South Africa, as a founding member of the ICC, views these sanctions and previous threats as an attempt to intimidate and obstruct the Court’s efforts to hold accountable perpetrators of the most serious crimes. 

    “The ICC operates under the Rome Statute, to which 125 States are parties, and its mandate is to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression when national jurisdictions are unwilling or unable to do so.”

    DIRCO is of the view that these sanctions on ICC judges sets a dangerous precedent that could embolden those who seek to evade accountability for egregious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. 

    “It also poses a significant challenge to the global fight against impunity and the enforcement of international norms.” 

    South Africa has since reaffirmed its commitment to the principles enshrined in the Rome Statute and will continue to work with like-minded nations to safeguard the integrity of international legal institutions.

    “In this regard, we highlight our participation in the Hague Group, a coalition of countries dedicated to defending the rulings and authority of the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

    “The pursuit of justice for victims of the gravest crimes must not be compromised by political considerations. Upholding the rule of law and ensuring accountability are essential for the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as a rules-based international order based on international law,” DIRCO said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – How can nature power Africa’s present and future?

    Source:  Global Landscapes Forum (GLF)

    On 19 June, join experts and community leaders for the hybrid event GLF Africa 2025: Innovate, Restore, Prosper. Explore opportunities for the continent to reverse land degradation, biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.

    Nairobi, Kenya (12 June 2025) – GLF Africa, hosted by the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and CFOR-ICRAF, returns for its 7th edition on 19 June, held online and in person in Nairobi, Kenya, in English, French and Swahili.

    Bringing together leading voices from diverse sectors and backgrounds, this hybrid conference will spotlight Africa’s progress, priorities and possibilities in building healthy, resilient and prosperous landscapes, communities and economies.  

    Africa holds two-thirds of the world’s arable land and the youngest population on Earth. GLF Africa 2025: Innovate, Restore, Prosper will highlight how science and traditional knowledge are guiding local action towards an economy that keeps the continent’s land healthy for future generations.  

    The event will cover four key themes:  

    • Forest and landscape restoration
    • Land and tree use rights and livelihoods 
    • Natural capital and sustainable finance  
    • AI, technology and data for intelligent landscapes 

    Building Africa’s nature economy  

    Africa faces a triple environmental crisis of land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change, but current policies, funding and land rights fall short of what’s needed.

    Time is running out to tackle these challenges – which is why the continent must start building a powerful nature economy today. This means unlocking its vast natural capital –its forests, biodiversity, land and water – combined with its deep knowledge systems, good governance, meaningful partnerships, AI and big data.

    How to join the conversation

    Everyone is invited to register for free at bit.ly/GLFAfrica2025.

    The event will feature more than 60 inspiring speakers, including:

    • Balbina Andrew, Indigenous community leader from Tanzania, Executive Director of Nourish Africa and Coordinator of the locally-led initiative GLFx Mwanza.
    • Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Amini AI, recognized for expanding access to technology across Africa and named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI.
    • Ngobi Joel, Co-Founder of the School Food Forest Initiative, 2025 GLF Forest Restoration Steward and activist focused on climate, education and rural development in Uganda.
    • Peter Minang, Africa Director at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and an expert in climate-smart landscapes.
    • Rekia Foudel, Founder and Managing Partner of Barka Fund, one of the GLF’s 8 Women with a New Vision for Earth 2025, bringing innovative financing to African startups.
    • Sellah Bogonko, Co-Founder and CEO of Jacob’s Ladder Africa, working to activate 30 million green jobs across Africa by 2033.
    • Solange Bandiaky-Badji, President of the Rights and Resources Group (RRG) and Coordinator of the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI), who spearheaded RRI’s Gender Justice program.

    These leaders will be joined by many other changemakers in youth-led action, research, storytelling, academia, gender equity, sustainable finance and policy to discuss topics such as:

    • Powering Africa’s future – the promise of nature-centered economies 
    • Confronting challenges to secure rights, land restoration and livelihoods 
    • Scaling up farmer-managed natural regeneration: Action in Ethiopia and Kenya 
    • Bridging knowledge domains for inclusive landscape restoration 
    • Financing frontline action for climate, nature and livelihoods 
    • How Africa can lead agri-tech transformation 
    • From vision to action – A roadmap for Africa’s nature economy. 

    Explore the full agenda here: (ref. https://connect.globallandscapesforum.org/e/africa-2025#agenda)

    NOTES

    Alongside GLF Africa 2025, the GLF will engage youth and local leaders from across the continent in collaborative in-person experiences during:

    • Africa Restoration Week (20–21 June)
    • The Stakeholder Engagement with Evidence training (23–25 June) 
    • The Landscape Leadership Camp (16–18 June) 

    The workshops, interactive learning and peer networking will bridge community experience, scientific research and regional insights on policy, evidence-based restoration action, inclusive decision making, landscape approaches, breaking silos, climate justice, fundraising and more.

    ABOUT THE GLF

    The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world’s largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting people with a shared vision to create productive, profitable, equitable and resilient landscapes. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank, and its charter members. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Request for clarification concerning France’s possible interference in the 2025 Romanian presidential election – P-002053/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002053/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)

    Following the recent presidential election in Romania, the runner-up, nationalist candidate George Simion, publicly made accusations of foreign interference. He spoke of external influence, in particular from France, which affected the conduct and fairness of the ballot.

    These statements have been backed up in remarks made by Valérie Hayer, Chair of Parliament’s Renew Europe Group, who admitted to having organised meetings in France for the Romanian diaspora to encourage them to vote[1].

    Furthermore, according to Pavel Durov, founder of the platform Telegram, there has been pressure coming from Paris to censor certain conservative Romanian voices. If these accusations prove to be true, it would pose a serious problem with regard to the principles of non-interference and democratic equality between candidates in a Member State or EU candidate country.

    In view of the above:

    • 1.Has the Commission been informed of such actions by French politicians or institutions?
    • 2.Do such initiatives align with the principles of neutrality and non-interference promoted by the EU?
    • 3.Will it request official explanations from the French authorities or open an independent investigation to assess the impact of these incidences on the electoral process in Romania?

    Submitted: 21.5.2025

    • [1] https://x.com/franceinfo/status/1921096329398190324
    Last updated: 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network – E-001728/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    A listing of a group or entity under any EU regime of restrictive measures has certain legal and political requirements.

    As regards the possibility of a listing under Council Common Position of 27 December 2001 on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (2001/931/CFSP)[1], the main legal requirement is a decision by a national competent authority for the involvement of the group or entity in terrorist acts as defined by the same Common Position.

    If that legal requirement is met, a proposal to list a group or entity is adopted only if there is unanimous agreement by the Member States in the Council. Discussion on such proposals are confidential.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/compos/2001/931/oj/eng.
    Last updated: 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Need for sanctions and embargo on the sale of military equipment in response to Türkiye’s threats to invade Cyprus – E-001809/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations (UN) agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis. It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and actively contributes to such a peaceful settlement, including its external aspects.

    As per the conclusions of the Special European Council of 17-18 April 2024, the EU attaches particular importance to resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks in further enhancing EU-Türkiye cooperation[1].

    As per latest Council conclusions on Enlargement, welcoming the recent steps taken by the UN Secretary-General towards a resumption of settlement talks, the EU remains ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all appropriate means at its disposal[2]. These messages are continuously communicated to Turkish authorities.

    The EU remains committed to continue cooperation in areas of common interest on the basis of an equal commitment on Türkiye’s side to advance on a path of cooperation and de-escalation.

    Concerning restrictive measures, under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union[3], it is strictly the prerogative of the Council, through its Member States, to take, with unanimity, decisions to adopt, renew or lift sanctions regimes.

    The EU will continue to call on Türkiye to comply with its international obligations, and with the EU values, as a candidate country for EU accession.

    It should be recalled that accession negotiations with the country remain at a standstill since 2018, in line with the decision of the Council[4].

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/m5jlwe0p/euco-conclusions-20240417-18-en.pdf.
    • [2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-16983-2024-INIT/en/pdf.
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum:25_1.
    • [4] ‘35. The Council notes that Turkey has been moving further away from the European Union. Turkey’s accession negotiations have therefore effectively come to a standstill and no further chapters can be considered for opening or closing and no further work towards the modernisation of the EU-Turkey Customs Union is foreseen’, Brussels, 26 June 2018 (OR. en) 10555/1.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Türkiye’s violation of Cyprus’s sovereignty – E-001827/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The EU is fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the United Nations (UN) agreed framework, in accordance with all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis.

    It remains crucial that Türkiye commits and actively contributes to such a peaceful settlement, including its external aspects. As per the conclusions of the Special European Council of 17-18 April 2024, the EU attaches particular importance to resumption of and progress in the Cyprus settlement talks in further enhancing EU-Türkiye cooperation[1].

    As per the Council conclusions on Enlargement of 2024, welcoming the recent steps taken by the UN Secretary-General towards a resumption of settlement talks, the EU remains ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led process, with all appropriate means at its disposal[2]. These messages are continuously communicated to the Turkish authorities.

    Concerning restrictive measures, under Article 29 of the Treaty on European Union, it is strictly the prerogative of the Council of the EU, through its Member States, to take, with unanimity, decisions to adopt, renew or lift sanctions regimes.

    The EU will continue to call on Türkiye to comply with its international obligations, and with the EU values, as a candidate country for EU accession.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/m5jlwe0p/euco-conclusions-20240417-18-en.pdf.
    • [2] https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-16983-2024-INIT/en/pdf.
    Last updated: 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Clarification on the participation of HTS representatives at the conference of donor countries for Syria and condemnation of the ongoing violence – E-001103/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    On 17 March 2025, the EU hosted the ninth Brussels Conference ‘Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition’.

    The Syrian Interim Foreign Minister was invited and attended the conference, alongside international and regional partners and Syrian civil society.

    This invitation reflected the EU’s engagement in supporting an inclusive and peaceful transition guided by the respect of international law, human rights, pluralism and non-discrimination, and addressing Syria’s humanitarian and economic needs.

    Gravely alarmed by the violence in Syria’s coastal region on 6 March 2025, on 11 March 2025, the High Representative/Vice-President issued a statement[1] on behalf of the EU, strongly condemning the horrific crimes committed against civilians.

    The EU welcomed the transitional authorities’ establishment of an investigative committee, and called for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice and to prevent any such crimes from happening again.

    It further called on the transitional authorities to allow the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate all violations.

    The EU continues to be a staunch supporter of accountability mechanisms in Syria, including the Impartial and Independent Mechanism and the Independent Institution on Missing Persons.

    The EU continues to call for an end of violence across Syria, urges all parties to protect all Syrians without any form of discrimination, notably on the basis of ethnic and religious background, and advocates an inclusive, peaceful, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led transition built on the respect of international law and human rights.

    • [1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/03/11/syria-statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-recent-wave-of-violence/

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The 2 059 Meta content moderator redundancies in Barcelona, viewed in light of the Digital Services Act – E-002137/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002137/2025/rev.1
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Laura Ballarín Cereza (S&D)

    On 3 April 2025, Meta announced that it was terminating its content moderation contract with Telus, which provided Barcelona-based moderation for Facebook and Instagram. As a result, on 28 April, Telus laid off 2 059 employees at its office in Barcelona. This decision followed January’s revelation that Meta was ending its fact-checking programme and relaxing its content moderation.

    Article 35(1) of the Digital Services Act requires large online platforms to implement effective measures to reduce systemic risks, which may include improving content moderation, with expeditious content removal or blocking, in particular in respect of hate speech or cyber violence.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission consider that these redundancies, given Meta’s decision, could constitute a breach of Article 35 of the Digital Services Act?
    • 2.Will the redundancies be included in the ongoing investigation into Meta, and when will the results of that investigation be published?
    • 3.If a breach of Article 35 is established, what consequences does the Commission envisage for Meta under the Digital Services Act?

    Submitted: 28.5.2025

    Last updated: 12 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – BUDG-ECON – Scrutiny of the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility – Committee on Budgets

    Source: European Parliament

    Members from the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs will hold on 16 June the 19th Recovery and Resilience Dialogue (RRD) with Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President responsible for Cohesion and Reforms, and Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification.

    After a presentation by the Commission of the latest state of implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the exchange of views is expected to focus, inter alia, on Member States’ progress towards achieving agreed milestones and targets and compliance with transparency requirements, disbursed amounts, including partial payments, latest payment requests, and pending challenges, notably implementation delays.

    The Recovery and Resilience Dialogue is organised under Article 26 of the Regulation establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility to ensure greater transparency and accountability in implementation of the Facility.

    The dialogue will be preceded by a presentation of the report of the RRF working group mission to Athens, which took place from 14 to 16 April 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Vote – Budgetary assessment on mid-term review of cohesion policy – 16.06 – Committee on Budgets

    Source: European Parliament

    © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

    The Committee will vote on the budgetary aspects of the proposal for a regulation amending ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review.

    The budgetary assessment analyses if the act provides for sufficient financial and human resources, assessing the alignment with the EU’s long term budget (Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027) and the budgetary principles outlined in the Financial Regulation.
    Ms Danuše Nerudová (EPP, Czechia) is the rapporteur for the file.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Review of the EU securitisation framework – The Securitisation Regulation and the Capital Requirements Regulation – 12-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    ‘Securitisation’ is the process of pooling financial assets (such as loans, mortgages and consumer credit) and turning them into tradable securities. This process allows banks to transfer the risk of some loans to other banks or long-term investors, such as insurance companies and asset managers. Banks are then allowed to use the capital which was set aside to cover the risk of those same loans to create and sell new loans. In the European Union (EU), the space freed up in banks’ balance sheets through the securitisation process can be used to support the Union’s priorities, such as the green and digital transitions. However, if left unregulated, the process of securitisation can increase vulnerabilities across the financial system, as it did in the United States with the subprime mortgage crisis which began in 2007. As part of its Capital Markets Union initiative, launched in 2015, the EU relaunched the framework establishing an EU securitisation market, helping the development of finance and the economy without creating risks to financial stability; this is the securitisation framework, which came into force in 2019. According to the Commission’s 2022 review report, while the EU’s current securitisation framework has made the EU’s market safer, it has also resulted in higher costs for issuers and investors, preventing the development of the EU’s securitisation market. The capital requirements it introduced may have reduced incentives to participate in or issue securitisations, and some stakeholders have stated that the EU’s due diligence requirements have created entry barriers or disincentives for participation by some investors. With the start of the 10th legislative term, the intention of accelerating work on all European savings and investments measures, including securitisation, was confirmed in Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines of July 2024; in the mission letter of the Commissioner for Financial Services, Maria Luís Albuquerque, of September 2024; and in the 2025 Commission work programme. The European Parliament has remained supportive of securitisation as a tool for funding the EU’s economy but has remained critical of any dilution of regulatory standards that could raise systemic risk. This briefing focuses on the two legal acts of the securitisation framework that the Commission proposes to review in June 2025: the Securitisation Regulation and the Capital Requirements Regulation. These two regulations govern the general rules for securitisation, and the capital requirements for banks and investment firms that hold securitisation positions, respectively.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ‘I thought we’d arrived at a town rather than a hospital’

    Source: European Investment Bank

    From as early as 4 years old we knew that our daughter, Josephine, would most likely need an operation to correct her scoliosis. The thought of the procedure, which involves screwing metal rods into the vertebrae down most of the spine to straighten it out, filled us with terror. We did everything to avoid it — physical therapy twice a week, horse-riding, swimming, and even an innovative dynamic spine brace that was much more comfortable than the traditional hard braces.

    But after the pandemic disrupted travel to London for her regular brace adjustments, the scoliosis got worse and even the classic hard brace that went down to her hips did nothing. When it became clear that surgery was the only option to stop the S-shaped curve of her spine getting worse and compressing her organs, we set out to find the best orthopaedic surgeon. We met several excellent surgeons in Brussels before trying UZ Leuven, a university hospital about 30 kilometres east of Brussels in Flanders.

    With roots that trace back to 1160, UZ Leuven is one of the largest and oldest teaching hospitals in Europe. KU Leuven, the 600-year-old university to which it is attached, is the oldest in the low countries and considered the most prestigious in Belgium. Turning off the motorway and seeing the massive campus for the first time, I thought we’d arrived at a town rather than a hospital. Impressed by the doctor and the facilities, and relieved that the staff were happy to communicate in English and French, we chose to go ahead with the procedure.

    Some months later in 2024, when my daughter was recovering from her successful operation in the new paediatric wing, I remember looking around at the great facilities, which included a rooftop playground, and a well-appointed playroom with events for patients led by staff, and thinking, “I wonder if this place has had EIB funding? It looks like the sort of thing we’d do…”

    I didn’t know at the time that the Bank would soon sign a €230 million loan to help fund the hospital’s Health Sciences Campus 2.0 Masterplan. This gave me the chance to write about the plan and have many of my own questions answered about the whole hospital.

    Yes, the building that my daughter spent five days in had received EIB funding. The paediatric wing was financed in part with a €325 million loan from the Bank in 2008 under the first phase of the university hospital’s redevelopment. The new loan signed in 2025 is for the second phase of that vision.

    In his office. Dr Wim Tambeur, operations director at UZ Leuven, explained the hospital’s Health Sciences Master Plan. “About 20 years ago, we started to think about and redefine our vision of what a university hospital should be and how we envisioned our role,” he says.

    “We clearly said that a university hospital is quite unique in its setting because it creates innovation by R&D. We should invent better healthcare and better healthcare models, implement them in daily care, and teach the innovation to our students.”

    UZ Leuven is not just a hospital campus but a “city of innovation” integrating clinical care, research, and teaching, he said.

    This approach is reflected in many ways that we noticed during our stay. Our daughter’s doctor, for example, was also a professor at KU Leuven. “A lot of our medical staff are also appointed as professors at the university, so that already creates close interaction,” explained Dr Tambeur. “The real innovation is that our research is really focused on how we can improve clinical practice.”

    As a practical example, Dr Tambeur pointed to the nuclear medicine building on the campus, which will be expanded with funding from the new loan as one part of the plan. The centre develops specialised radioactive molecules for scans that help doctors in the hospital and scientists from the pharmaceutical industry with which they work to get a precise view of the targets where drugs are working in the body. Such molecules have very short lifespans so need to be produced on site to reduce transport times.

    Back at the paediatric wing where my daughter stayed was another great example of how the university hospital combines clinical research with innovation in patient care. The hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit has a unique design in which each baby gets its own quiet little room where parents and family can visit.  

    Typically, neonatal units, such as the one where my daughter spent five weeks after being born in Brussels, are like busy intensive care wards for adults with bright lights and machines constantly beeping. Access even for families is tightly controlled to limit crowding.

    “Neonatal care has improved dramatically in recent decades but has become a lot more intensive,” says Dr Tambeur. “The babies are so surrounded by technical equipment you can barely see them and all the noise and activity is very disturbing for them.”

    Dr Tambeur’s ward is designed in concentric circles, with a bay of individual rooms around a central staffing zone and an outer ring of rooms where brothers, sisters, grandparents and so can visit. “It allows for a lot of family involvement without disturbing the care processes,” he says. “And the monitors beep at the nurse’s station rather than the baby’s bed.”

    Health outcomes for the newborns seem to have improved and the neonatal care department is studying the long term effects of the new care process design, says Dr Tambeur.

    About one year on from the operation, Josephine, who is 15, is rid of her brace, her back is straight, her scar is discreet, and she’s four centimetres taller. We’ve been back to UZ Leuven several times and each time I feel proud to know that the European Investment Bank supports this kind of project.     

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Energy policy: general principles – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    EU energy policy is based on the principles of decarbonisation, competitiveness, security of supply and sustainability. Its objectives include ensuring the functioning of the energy market and a secure energy supply within the EU, as well as promoting energy efficiency and savings, the development of renewable energies and the interconnection of energy networks. A variety of measures aiming to achieve a complete Energy Union is at the core of the EU’s energy policy.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – The Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaties – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The Maastricht Treaty altered the former European treaties and created a European Union based on three pillars: the European Communities, the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs (JHI). With a view to the enlargement of the Union, the Amsterdam Treaty made the adjustments needed to enable the Union to function more efficiently and democratically.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Energy efficiency – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Energy efficiency measures aim to achieve a sustainable energy supply, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve security of supply, lower import bills, and promote European competitiveness. In 2023, the co-legislators decided to decrease EU final energy consumption by at least 11.7% by 2030, compared to projections made in 2020.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Policy for research and technological development – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    EU policy for research and technological development (RTD) has been an important area of European legislation since the start, and was extended in the 1980s with a European framework programme for research. In 2014, most EU research funding came under the umbrella of Horizon 2020, which covered the period 2014-2020 and aimed at ensuring the EU’s global competitiveness. Its successor Horizon Europe, the current EU research and innovation programme, was launched in 2021 for the period 2021-2027.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Combating climate change – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Union (EU) is among the leading major economies in terms of tackling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2020, EU GHG emissions were down by 31% from 1990 levels, exceeding the EU’s target of reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. Led by international treaties, such as the Kyoto Protocol, the EU adopted many climate policies, such as the EU Emissions Trading System. In 2019, the Commission presented the European Green Deal. Since then, many measures have been agreed on with the aim of increasing the EU’s GHG emission reduction target to 55% by 2030 and decarbonising its economy by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Housing Crisis in the European Union – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The housing crisis is a growing problem in Europe. In fact, 10% of EU households are spending over 40% of their income on housing. While housing policy is primarily a national competence, the EU’s role in internal market, social, cohesion and environmental policy underpins EU action in this sector. The European Pillar of Social Rights and the Renovation Wave strategy sanctioned more EU action to specifically tackle homelessness and ensure affordable and decent housing and living conditions.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Latin America and the Caribbean – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The European Union’s relations with Latin America and the Caribbean are multifaceted and conducted at different levels. Guided by the New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean, the EU seeks to strengthen and modernise the bi-regional strategic partnership. The EU interacts with the entire region through summits with the heads of state and government and through parliamentary diplomacy, while agreements and political dialogue bind the EU and the Caribbean, Central America, the Andean Community, Mercosur and individual countries.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – The mutual recognition of diplomas – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    The freedom of establishment and the freedom to provide services are cornerstones of the single market, enabling the mobility of businesses and professionals throughout the EU. In order to implement these freedoms, diplomas and qualifications issued nationally need to be widely recognised. Various measures for harmonisation and mutual recognition have been adopted.

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU Fact Sheets – Digital agenda for Europe – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Digital service platforms and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are profoundly reshaping our society. They have transformed how we communicate, shop and access information online, making them integral to daily life. The European digital agenda for 2020-2030 responds to these changes by seeking to establish secure digital spaces, ensure fair competition in digital markets and enhance Europe’s digital sovereignty, in line with both the digital and green transitions.

    MIL OSI Europe News –