NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Water (Special Measures) Act section comes into force

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New Water (Special Measures) Act section comes into force

    Water companies will now have to address the use of nature-based solutions when managing wastewater.

    Water companies will have to address how they will use nature-based solutions within their networks from 23rd June as a new legal requirement of the Water (Special Measures) Act comes into force (Section 5). 

    New rules require water companies to consider nature-based solutions within their statutory Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs) – for instance the construction of wetlands rather than water recycling centres to help clean sewage effluent before it is released back into the wider environment. Another example could be riparian buffers—a border of vegetation next to a river or stream which helps improve water quality and protect it from surface runoff while providing habitats and reducing erosion. 

    New legal requirements mean companies have to specifically explain if and how they are using nature-based solutions within their networks, the benefits these systems have and provide transparency around their decision-making process. 

    This will improve transparency in this area, so the public knows that nature-based solutions have been considered and can understand why natural solutions have or have not been proposed in each case. 

    Alongside cost-effectiveness and sustainability, nature-based solutions provide additional benefits for people and the environment—like improved water quality, reduced flood risk and new habitats for biodiversity.  

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: 

    From now on, water companies must explain how they are using natural and sustainable solutions to clean up our waterways. 

    This measure is yet another step in the Government’s plan to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: China-Central Asia News Agency Forum is a vivid embodiment of the “Central Asia-China spirit” — deputy head of China Society for Public Diplomacy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ASTANA, June 23 (Xinhua) — Holding events such as the China-Central Asia News Agency Forum is an effective step to implement the “Central Asia-China spirit” and an important element of China’s public diplomacy in the region, Qiu Xiaoqi, vice chairman of the China Society for Public Diplomacy, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua on Saturday.

    As one of the outcomes of the Second China-Central Asia Summit, the forum was initiated and hosted by the Xinhua News Agency. It was attended by the heads of the Xinhua News Agency, the Television and Radio Complex of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz National News Agency “Kabar”, the National News Agency of Tajikistan “Khovar”, the Information Agency “Media-Turkmen” and the National News Agency of Uzbekistan.

    According to Qiu Xiaoqi, the people’s aspirations are the basis for the development of interstate relations. The “Central Asia-China Spirit”, as a strategic consensus of the leaders of China and the countries of the region, should be put into practice, which the people of all countries can accept.

    He noted that the forum is a kind of “transformer” of official and unofficial narratives. “Official cooperation plans need professional explanation and vivid presentation by the media and think tanks so that they become stories that can be understood and shared,” Qiu Xiaoqi said. According to him, the forum helps to transform ideas into concrete cooperation projects.

    He also stressed that such events serve as a “glue” to strengthen mutual trust and consensus. The China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum and the 3rd Silk Road International Communication Conference hosted events to discuss important topics, including regional connectivity, geopolitics, and cooperation in artificial intelligence. “This format of direct and open dialogue between representatives of different fields helps strengthen mutual trust, social foundations, and public opinion,” he said.

    According to Qiu Xiaoqi, the news agency forum and other similar events also serve as an “incubator” for China’s public diplomacy in Central Asia, bringing together representatives from governments, media, academia and other fields. The contacts and friendships established at the forum will continue beyond the conference halls. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Thousands Gather in Moroccan Capital in Support of Palestine

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    RABAT, June 23 (Xinhua) — Thousands of Moroccans gathered in central Rabat on Sunday to express solidarity with the Palestinians amid escalating tensions in the region.

    Wearing Palestinian keffiyehs and waving Moroccan and Palestinian flags, protesters gathered outside the parliament building, chanting anti-Israel slogans and calling on Moroccan authorities to sever all political ties with Israel.

    The demonstration was organized by the National Action Group for Palestine together with local human rights organizations.

    “This march confirms the Moroccan people’s unwavering support for Palestine,” said Abdelhafid Sraiti, the organization’s coordinator.

    Some protesters also condemned Israel and the United States for their recent strikes on Iran, calling the US actions “imperialism.”

    Morocco signed an agreement to normalize relations with Israel on December 22, 2020. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Valdez to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 21, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario

    The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), made the following statement:

    “Today, I join communities across the country in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day.

    “This is a time to honour the rich histories, vibrant cultures and enduring contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. From coast to coast to coast, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of Indigenous communities.

    “Today, more than 50,000 small businesses are majority-owned by Indigenous entrepreneurs. Indigenous-led businesses are fuelling economic growth and uplifting communities across the country.

    “In 2023 alone, Indigenous tourism operators generated an estimated 34,700 jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. These numbers tell a powerful story of resilience and innovation and highlight the vital role Indigenous businesses play in our tourism economy.

    “As Minister of Women and Gender Equality, I am committed to supporting Indigenous-led efforts to end gender-based violence. Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples, our government is working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to develop policies and fund programs to end the national crisis facing Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. This work is essential to healing, justice and safety for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, wherever they live.

    “Our government is deeply committed to advancing reconciliation and to building lasting partnerships with Indigenous Peoples by supporting entrepreneurs, fostering economic opportunity and building an inclusive economy that leaves no one behind.

    “Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • Iran issues stark warning to Trump ‘the gambler’: We will end this war

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran said on Monday that the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces and called U.S. President Donald Trump a “gambler” for joining Israel’s military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

    Since Trump joined Israel’s campaign by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate.

    But while it has continued to fire missiles at Israel, it has yet to take action against the United States itself, either by firing at U.S. bases or by targeting the 20% of global oil shipments that pass near its coast at the mouth of the Gulf.

    “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said on Monday in English at the end of a recorded video statement.

    Iran and Israel traded another wave of air and missile strikes on Monday as the world braced for Tehran’s response.

    Trump’s administration has repeatedly said that its aim is solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, not to open a wider war.

    But in a social media post on Sunday, Trump openly spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 revolution.

    “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he wrote.

    Experts surveying commercial satellite imagery said it appeared that the U.S. attack had severely damaged the site of Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant, built inside a mountain, and possibly destroyed it and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, although there was no independent confirmation.

    Trump called the strike a “Bullseye!!!”.

    “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran,” he wrote. “The biggest damage took place far below ground level.”

    MORE ISRAELI STRIKES

    Israel’s airstrikes on Iran have met little resistance from Iranian defences since Israel launched its surprise attack on June 13, killing many of Iran’s top commanders.

    The Israeli military said on Monday that about 20 jets had conducted a wave of strikes against military targets in western Iran and Tehran overnight. ⁠In Kermanshah, in western Iran, missile and radar infrastructure was targeted, and in Tehran a surface-to-air missile launcher was struck, it said.

    Iranian news agencies reported air defences had been activated in central Tehran districts, and Israeli air strikes had hit Parchin, the location of a military complex southeast of the capital.

    Iran says more than 400 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, mostly civilians, but has released few images of the damage since the initial days of the bombing. Tehran, a city of 10 million people, has largely emptied, with residents fleeing to the countryside to escape attacks.

    Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on Israel have killed 24 people, all civilians, and injured hundreds, the first time a significant number of Iranian missiles have ever penetrated Israeli defences.

    The Israeli military said a missile launched from Iran in the early hours of Monday had been intercepted by Israeli defences. Air raid sirens blared overnight in Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel.

    LIMITED RETALIATION

    Beyond those missiles, Iran’s ability to retaliate is far more limited than a few months ago, since Israel inflicted defeat on Iran’s most feared regional proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose downfall was swiftly followed by that of Iran’s most powerful client ruler, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.

    Iran’s most effective threat to hurt the West would probably be to restrict global oil flows from the Gulf. Oil prices spiked on Monday at their highest since January. But they have not yet shot up to crisis levels, indicating that traders see a path out of the conflict that avoids serious disruption.

    Brent crude futures were down 0.5% to $76.64 a barrel as of 0830 GMT, after briefly jumping above $80 at the opening.

    Iran’s parliament has approved a move to close the Strait of Hormuz that leads into the Gulf, which would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Attempting to strangle the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing, derail the world economy and invite conflict with the U.S. Navy’s massive Fifth Fleet that patrols the Gulf from its base in Bahrain.

    “It’s economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

    As Tehran weighed its options, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The Kremlin has a strategic partnership with Iran, but also close links with Israel.

    Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said his country would consider all possible responses and there would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated. TASS news agency later quoted him as saying Iran and Russia were coordinating their positions.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Industrial Strategy to boost growth and jobs in Wales

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Industrial Strategy to boost growth and jobs in Wales

    Modern Industrial Strategy will make the UK the best country to invest in and grow a business and support tens of thousands of new jobs in Wales.

    The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy

    • Electricity costs for thousands of businesses to be slashed by up to 25%   
    • UK Government to establish a centre for doctoral training in semiconductors, led by Swansea University
    • Welsh businesses to benefit from innovation funding, access to finance, faster grid connections and better-equipped sites for expansion. 

    Wales is set for increased economic growth, billions in investment and tens of thousands of new jobs supported over the next decade as a result of the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which is published today (Monday 23 June).  

    The Strategy contains measures to forge a new relationship between business and government, making Wales and the UK the best place to start and scale up a business. 

    It will unlock growth across Wales, targeting areas of strength from the country’s strengths in aerospace in North Wales to the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster in South Wales.   

    More than 7,000 UK businesses are set to see their electricity bills slashed by up to 25%. British manufacturers currently pay some of the highest electricity prices in the developed world— in some cases, double the European average, while businesses looking to expand or modernise have faced delays when it comes to connecting to the grid.

    For too long these challenges have held back growth and made it harder for firms to compete globally. Today’s announcement marks a decisive shift — with government stepping in to support industry and unlock the UK’s economic potential.

    From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour for over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses in manufacturing sectors like automotive, aerospace and chemicals.

    These firms, which support over 300,000 skilled jobs across the UK will be exempt from paying levies such as the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market — helping level the playing field and make them more internationally competitive. Eligibility and further details on the exemptions will be determined following consultation, which will be launched shortly.

    The UK Government is also increasing support for the most energy-intensive firms — like steel, chemicals, and glass — by covering more of the electricity network charges they normally have to pay through the British Industry Supercharger. These businesses currently get a 60% discount on those charges, but from 2026, that will increase to 90%. This means their electricity bills will go down, helping them stay competitive, protect jobs, and invest in the future.

    These reforms complement the government’s long-term mission for clean power, which is the only way to bring down bills for good by ending the UK’s dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets.

    The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to promote business investment and growth and make it quicker, easier and cheaper to do business in the UK, giving businesses the confidence to invest and create 1.1 million good, well-paid jobs in thriving industries – delivering on this government’s Plan for Change. 

    Wales is already punching above its weight in many of the growth driving sectors set out in the Industrial Strategy. 

    The key measures for Wales are: 

    • More than £4bn for the advanced manufacturing sector in the UK over the next 5 years. Wales has a leading advanced manufacturing sector with companies such as Airbus based in Broughton in north Wales. 

    • UK Government to establish a centre for doctoral training in semiconductors, led by Swansea University, building on the world-leading cluster based in south Wales.   

    • A Defence Growth Deal cluster to build on Wales’s major strengths. The top five Ministry of Defence suppliers all have a footprint in Wales. 

    • A new British Business Bank champion for the Cardiff Capital Region to connect investors with businesses and kickstart growth. 

    • £30m for a Local Innovation Partnerships Fund in Wales to work with the Welsh Government and Innovate UK to grow innovation.  

    • The National Wealth Fund working with the Development Bank of Wales to identify and secure financing for investment projects in Wales. 

    • Support for the UK’s city regions and clusters by increasing the supply of investible sites through a new £600m Strategic Sites Accelerator, enhanced regional support from the Office for Investment, National Wealth Fund, and British Business Bank, and more. 

    • Strengthened support from the Office for Investment to help identify, shape and deliver strategic investment opportunities across the UK. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:  

    This Industrial Strategy marks a turning point for Britain’s economy and a clear break from the short-termism and sticking plasters of the past.

    In an era of global economic instability, it delivers the long term certainty and direction British businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people’s pockets as part of the plan for change.

    This is how we power Britain’s future – by backing the sectors where we lead, removing the barriers that hold us back, and setting out a clear path to build a stronger economy that works for working people. Our message is clear – Britain is back and open for business.

    Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: 

    Wales has huge potential and our government’s Industrial Strategy will harness the strengths of our businesses and workforce to drive growth and create jobs. 

    The strategy will support key sectors like aerospace and compound semiconductors while developing industries of the future like floating offshore wind where Wales is well-placed to be a world leader. 

    Our modern Industrial Strategy is built to last and make Wales one of the best places to invest and do business. Working alongside Welsh Government we will boost growth, raise wages and create wealth across our country.”  

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    We’ve said from day one Britain is back in business under this government, and the £100 billion of investment we’ve secured in the past year shows our Plan for Change is already delivering for working people. 

    Our Modern Industrial Strategy will ensure the UK is the best country to invest and do business, delivering economic growth that puts more money in people’s pockets and pays for our NHS, schools and military. 

    Not only does this Strategy prioritise investment to attract billions for new business sites, cutting-edge research, and better transport links, it will also make our industrial energy prices globally competitive.  

    Tackling energy costs and fixing skills has been the single biggest ask of us from businesses and the greatest challenge they’ve faced – this government has listened, and now we’re taking the bold action needed. Government and business working hand in hand to make working people better of is what this Government promised and what we will deliver.” 

    Sarah Williams-Gardener, Chair of Fintech Wales, said:

    We are delighted to see financial services recognised as a key sector in this Industrial Strategy. We look forward to working closely with the Government to help unlock the sector’s full potential. 

    The emphasis on AI and the compute power required to support its development is particularly welcome, as we begin to see generative AI driving innovation across financial services—empowering both providers and customers through the next generation of digital banking platforms.

    Frank Holmes, Founding Partner of Gambit Corporate Finance and Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region Investment Board, said: 

    Today’s announcements mark a timely and important shift towards a connected, strategic approach to economic growth. The renewed focus on industrial strategy and SME finance speaks directly to the opportunities we are unlocking in the Cardiff Capital Region. We have backed innovative and scalable businesses like Whisper TV, showcasing how tailored regional finance can drive job creation, innovation and global reach.  

    The UK’s commitment to extending SME access to finance aligns perfectly with the ecosystem we are building  in CCR as a proven delivery partner and a model for regional economic development.” 

    Louise Harris, CEO of Tramshed Tech in Cardiff, said: 

    The launch of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy is a pivotal moment for our tech and innovation ecosystem. By aligning local strengths with national ambition, this strategy provides a powerful platform for Welsh businesses to grow, attract investment and lead in emerging sectors such as technology, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries.  

    This strategy recognises that innovation isn’t just about technology in isolation – it’s about creating sustainable, high-quality jobs while tackling real-world challenges. This approach will create the perfect environment for startups and scale-ups to thrive, knowing they have both the infrastructure, skills and strategic support to take their innovations from Wales to the world.” 

    The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to promote business investment and growth and make it quicker, easier and cheaper to do business in the UK, giving businesses the confidence to invest and create good, well-paid jobs in thriving industries – delivering on this government’s Plan for Change. 

    Investment from private companies is essential to creating new jobs, growing the economy and securing public services. That is why the Strategy will also introduce measures to make it quicker, easier and more profitable for businesses to invest in the UK, with the aim of significantly increasing businesses investment and in key growth sectors by 2035 and helping to create 1.1 million well paid jobs across all corners of the UK. 

    It will realise Wales’ economic potential and raise wages and living standards to a level that the people of Wales deserve.  

    The UK Government’s plans address the main barriers to growth, making it easier and quicker to do business and invest in Wales.  

    The Strategy’s bold plan of action includes: 

    • Slashing electricity costs by 20-25% to level the playing field for energy-hungry industries like chemicals and key growth sectors like automotive. 

    • Unlocking billions in finance for innovative business, especially for SMEs by increasing British Business Bank capacity to £25.6 billion, crowding in tens of billions of pounds more in private capital.  

    • Reducing regulatory burdens by cutting the administrative costs of regulation for business by 25% and reduce the number of regulators.   

    • Boosting R&D spending to £22.6bn per year by 2029-30 to drive innovation across the IS-8, with more than £2bn for AI over the Spending Review, and £2.8bn for advanced manufacturing over the next ten years. This will leverage in billions more from private investors. Regulatory changes will further clear the path for fast-growing industries and innovative products such as biotechnology, AI, and autonomous vehicles.

    • Attracting elite global talent to our key sectors, via visa and migrations reforms and a new the Global Talent Taskforce.  

    • Revolutionising public procurement and reducing barriers for new entrants and SMEs to bolster domestic competitiveness.  

    Five sector plans have also been published today:

    • Advanced Manufacturing – Backing our Advanced Manufacturing sector with up to £4.3 billion in funding, including up to £2.8 billion in R&D over the next five years, with the aim of anchoring supply chains in the UK – from increasing vehicle production to 1.35 million, to leading the next generation of technologies for zero emission flight.

    • Clean Energy Industries – Doubling investment in Clean Energy Industries by 2035, with Great British Energy helping to build the clean power revolution in Britain with a further £700 million in clean energy supply chains, taking the total funding for the Great British Energy Supply Chain fund to £1 billion.

    • Creative Industries – Maximizing the value of our Creative Industries through a £380 million boost for film and TV, video games, advertising and marketing, music and visual and performing arts will improve access to finance for scale-ups and increase R&D, skills and exports.

    • Digital and Technologies – Making the UK the European leader for creating and scaling Digital and Technology businesses, with more than £2 billion to drive the AI Action Plan, including a new Sovereign AI Programme and targeting R&D investment at frontier technologies such as cyber security in Northern Ireland, semiconductors in Wales and quantum technologies in Scotland. 

    • Professional and Business Services – Ensuring our Professional and Business Services becomes the world’s most trusted adviser to global industry, revolutionising the sector across the world through adoption of UK-grown AI and working to secure mutual recognition of professional qualifications agreements overseas.

    ENDS

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Talk reveals how history’s kids were stitched up by embarrassing outfits

    Source: City of Leeds

    The cringeworthy costumes and embarrassing outfits endured by children through the ages will come to light in a fashion-focused event in Leeds this week.

    During a special talk at Lotherton, visitors will have the chance to hear about the timeless trend of dressing children like adults for family pictures, while seeing first-hand some of the more unusual results inflicted on infants for more than 500 years.

    The talk will be part of the attraction’s current Fashion at Play exhibition, which explores the history of children’s fashion from the 1600s to the modern day.

    Among the outlandish outfits up for discussion will be the famous portrait of Child with Rattle, painted in 1611, which has been specially conserved for display in the exhibition.

    Depicting a boy of about two years old, just taking his first steps, the child was previously thought to be a girl but is now believed to be Henry Frederick Howard, the future third Earl of Arundel who was born in 1608.

    Dressed in an ostentatious silk gown, with a lace neck ruff and fancy lace hat, and accessorised with a hand made, lace apron, his eye-catching ensemble was specifically designed to capture the wealth and status of his family.

    Other questionable outfits featured in the event include those worn by youngsters Elizabeth and Edward, captured in a painting from around 1740.

    Aged around 12, Edward has been dressed in an adult suit, sporting a large wig and is even holding a dress sword in an effort to make him look like a proper grown-up gentleman for the portrait.

    Other outfits include a father and son in Wakefield wearing suits and riding matching penny farthing bikes, a fashion print from a Victorian women’s fashion magazine from around 1885 and a carefully posed picture of a mother and daughter from the 1860s, both wearing formal dress.

    The exhibition also features an album of photographs documenting a spectacular children’s fancy dress ball hosted at Leeds Town Hall by the mayor and mayoress of Leeds, Mr and Mrs Alf Cooke, on January 12, 1891.

    Nearly 400 children from well-to-do families attended, with each child dressed in a striking costume.

    Natalie Raw, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of costume and textiles, said: “The long tradition of children wearing grown up outfits is one that has clearly endured for hundreds of years, with youngsters of all ages being styled to essentially look like miniature versions of their parents.

    “The reasons for this have varied, from wanting to convey wealth and status in aristocratic circles, to a simple expression of affection between parents and their children.

    “Unfortunately for the children depicted in some of these family portraits, it’s probably fair to say they wouldn’t have chosen these outfits for themselves. Nevertheless, they do still tell us a lot about the evolution of children’s fashions and styles and how much they reflect wider trends over the years.”

    During the upcoming talk, which takes place on June 24, visitors will also have the chance to see a variety of historic garments up close, followed by tea in the servants’ rooms at Lotherton with the curator.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “It’s fascinating to see how the story of fashion, costumes and textiles in Leeds and beyond has developed over the centuries and to have so many remarkable images and objects in our collection which help tell that story so well.

    “Our exhibitions and events are the perfect way to get an up-close look at some of these wonderful exhibits and to find out more about the lesser known aspects of what is an amazing facet of our local heritage.”

    More details on the Tea and Talk session, including how to book, can be fund at: Tea and Talk with the Curator: Mini Adults | Leeds Museums and Galleries | Days out and exhibitions

    Fashion at Play will be at Lotherton until October 12, 2025. For more details, please visit: Fashion at Play | Leeds Museums and Galleries | Days out and exhibitions

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by President Meloni on the Jubilee of Governments

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    We will treasure the valuable lessons that Pope Leo XIV imparted to us in the Vatican this morning, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Governments.

    The Holy Father reminded us that politics should be interpreted as a mission and not as a profession, and called upon all those holding political office and positions of responsibility to never lose sight of human dignity, to always work for the good of the community, to protect the family and life, and to promote the integral education of youth.

    His reflection on natural law constituting a compass to guide legislators and political action was particularly powerful. Equally as significant were the Pope’s cautionary words regarding the huge ethical, legal and anthropological challenges triggered by artificial intelligence. Italy will continue its commitment, at both national and international level, to ensure the development of AI is human-governed and human-centred.

    We will also continue to do our part to defend religious freedom, a natural right preceding all legal formulations but which is still unfortunately suppressed in too many of the world’s nations.

    [Courtesy translation]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK’s key business groups back government’s modern Industrial Strategy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK’s key business groups back government’s modern Industrial Strategy

    Joint statement from business groups in support of the Industrial Strategy

    “The Industrial Strategy launched today marks a significant step forward and a valuable opportunity for the business community to rally behind a new vision for the UK—boosting confidence, sentiment, and enthusiasm for investment.

    “From start-ups and small businesses to large corporates, businesses need a more attractive, stable environment that enables faster, easier, and more certain investment decisions.

    “We welcome the government’s engagement with businesses across the UK. Much of what we’ve shared has been heard and reflected in this strategy. While there’s more to do, we are ready to support the next steps.

    “We encourage businesses nationwide to get behind this strategy and champion the UK as the best place to live, work, invest, and do business.”

    Joint statement from business groups on behalf of:

    Shevaun Haviland, Director General, British Chambers of Commerce

    Rain Newton-Smith, Director General, Confederation of British Industry

    Aaron Asadi, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Nation

    Tina McKenzie, Policy and Advocacy Chair, Federation of Small Businesses

    Stephen Phipson, Chief Executive Officer, Make UK

    Michelle Ovens, Founder, Small Business Britain

    Dom Hallas, Executive Director, Startup Coalition

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tech innovators backed to set up and scale up in Britain through Industrial Strategy

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Tech innovators backed to set up and scale up in Britain through Industrial Strategy

    Ambitious Digital and Technologies Sector Plan to help deliver government’s modern Industrial Strategy to drive national renewal and our Plan for Change.

    • Ambitious Digital and Technologies Sector Plan to help deliver government’s modern Industrial Strategy to drive national renewal and our Plan for Change
    • £670 million in investment to accelerate impact of quantum computers from energy to healthcare
    • Engineering biology researchers in line for £380 million to advance cutting-edge research such as in life-saving medicines and sustainable food

    Innovators driving future technologies like quantum computers to deliver new life-saving medicines and semiconductors powering the next generation of mobile phones are being backed by well over £1 billion to set up and scale up their businesses in Britain, Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has announced.

    Investment will include landmark funding for the UK’s mission to develop quantum computers that could unearth game-changing discoveries for our health and environment, the establishment of a new national semiconductor centre laser-focused on helping firms to scale-up, and new backing for engineering biology researchers working on everything from new vaccines to eco-friendly fuels.

    The package will drive the Digital and Technologies Sector Plan within our modern Industrial Strategy published today (Monday 23 June), a pivotal moment in the government’s agenda for national renewal and in supporting our mission as part of the Plan for Change to deliver the highest sustained economic growth in the G7.

    To ensure the UK is in pole position to make the most of quantum computing’s potential to improve our everyday lives, £670 million will be dedicated to accelerating the application of this revolutionary technology.

    It makes the National Quantum Computing Centre one of the first organisations to receive a 10-year funding settlement, providing long-term certainty to researchers that marks Britain as the place to do business when it comes to cutting edge tech.

    By 2035, the UK aims to develop quantum computers capable of outperforming conventional supercomputers, potentially meaning new drugs for incurable diseases or better carbon capture technologies, supporting our missions of building an NHS that is fit for the future and making Britain a green clean energy superpower as part of the plan for change.

    Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, said:

    Britain is full of ambitious risk-takers driven by a desire to innovate and improve people’s everyday lives. It is on us in government to match that boldness by investing in our country’s immense potential and embracing businesses who can drive that change and grow our economy.

    From quantum computers that could revolutionise drug discovery and make the NHS fit for the future, to sustainable fuels that can make the UK a clean energy superpower, science and technology has a key part to play in delivering our modern Industrial Strategy to renew our country and support our Plan for Change.

    In engineering biology, a £380 million investment will support researchers working on everything from new life-saving medicines to cell-cultivated meats and climate-resilient crops, to protect our environment and strengthen food security.

    Of this, £184 million will help bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and commercial applications through infrastructure supporting innovators to scale up. The remaining £196 million will be invested in research and development through the National Engineering Biology Programme, bolstering the UK’s significant strengths in this field.

    Further initial investment includes:

    The commitment of £54 million to bring the world’s top science and tech talent to the UK. As the UK competes for the highest skilled individuals in priority industries, the launch of the government’s Global Talent Taskforce signals a greater focus on targeting and attracting the brightest and best talent to supercharge growth.

    A new UK Semiconductor Centre, backed by up to £19 million, will serve as a single point of contact for global firms and governments to engage with the UK semiconductor sector, helping our ambitious firms to scale-up, form new partnerships and strengthen the UK’s role in global supply chains – benefiting us all in helping to grow the economy.

    £35 million to scale up the recently announced Semiconductor Talent Expansion Programme – including new chip design courses for students, bursaries, schools outreach, and a proposed master’s conversion course to help more people move into the sector.

    £370 million for cutting-edge, UK-developed technologies to deliver advanced connectivity improving coverage for communities, providing connectivity across transport networks, and supporting defence applications – like drones.

    It includes a £240 million Advanced Connectivity Tech R&D programme, and a further £130 million will go towards strengthening the capabilities of the UK Telecoms Lab, enhancing the security and reliability of our networks.

    Building on a successful round of semiconductor Innovation and Knowledge Centres launched earlier this year, the government is providing funding for 2 additional centres, backed by £25 million.

    £10 million to expand Cyber ASAP supporting 25 academic teams annually, plus £2 million for Belfast’s Cyber AI Hub, aiming to support 28 academic spinouts by 2030.

    £6 million to extend Cyber Runway accelerator, supporting 60 startups annually with mentoring, skills development and networking to improve survival rates and growth.

    £24 million to promote CHERI blueprint adoption for designing secure next-generation chips.

    Find the full modern Industrial Strategy here.

    Notes to editors

    Further funding set out in the strategy includes:

    • Up to £330 million investment through the National Security Strategic Investment Fund for UK security and defence capabilities, plus a second year of the Science and Technology Venture Capital Fellowship to support digital and technology investments.
    • The Sector Plan also highlights AI as a frontier technology, following £2 billion committed at the Spending Review to implement the AI Opportunities Action Plan. The investment reaffirms the government’s commitment to deliver all 50 recommendations outlined in the Plan and underpins the Industrial Strategy’s approach to prioritise frontier technologies with the greatest growth potential.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier to attend 2025 Summer Davos

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

    BEIJING, June 23 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC), also known as the Summer Davos, in Tianjin from June 24 to 25, foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun announced here on Monday.

    Premier Li Qiang will attend the opening plenary and deliver a special address, meet with foreign guests, and have a conversation with representatives of the foreign business community, Guo said.

    President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa, Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Aleshovich Kasymaliev, Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko, and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh will attend the AMNC, according to Guo.

    Over 1,700 representatives from the political, business, academic and media communities of over 90 countries and regions will also take part in the AMNC, Guo added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New INTERPOL report warns of sharp rise in African cybercrime

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    Two-thirds of African member countries said cyber-related offences accounted for a medium-to-high share of all crimes

    • Cybercrime accounts for more than 30 per cent of all reported crime in Western and Eastern Africa.
    • Online scams, ransomware, business email compromise and digital sextortion are the most reported cyberthreats.
    • 90 per cent of African countries report needing ‘significant improvement’ in law enforcement or prosecution capacity.

    LYON, France: A growing share of reported crimes in Africa is cyber-related, according to INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report.

    Two-thirds of the Organization’s African member countries surveyed said that cyber-related crimes accounted for a medium-to-high share of all crimes, rising to 30 per cent in Western and Eastern Africa.

    Online scams, particularly through phishing, were the most frequently reported cybercrimes in Africa, while ransomware, business email compromise (BEC) and digital sextortion also remain widespread.

    Neal Jetton, INTERPOL Cybercrime Director, said:

    “This fourth edition of the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment provides a vital snapshot of the current situation, informed by operational intelligence, extensive law enforcement engagement and strategic private-sector collaboration. It paints a clear picture of a threat landscape in flux, with emerging dangers like AI-driven fraud that demand urgent attention. No single agency or country can face these challenges alone.”

    Ambassador Jalel Chelba, Acting Executive Director of AFRIPOL, said:

    “Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue; it has become a fundamental pillar of stability, peace, and sustainable development in Africa. It directly concerns the digital sovereignty of states, the resilience of our institutions, citizen trust and the proper functioning of our economies.”

    Africa’s top cyberthreats

    In the past year, suspected scam notifications rose by up to 3,000 per cent in some African countries, according to data from Kaspersky – one of several private sector partners that works with INTERPOL’s cybercrime directorate.

    Ransomware detections in Africa also rose in 2024, with South Africa and Egypt suffering the highest number, at 17,849 and 12,281 detections respectively according to data from Trend Micro, followed by other highly digitized economies such as Nigeria (3,459) and Kenya (3,030).

    Incidents included attacks on critical infrastructure, such as a breach at Kenya’s Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and on government databases, such as hacks of Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    BEC-related incidents also rose significantly, with 11 African nations accounting for the majority of BEC activity originating on the continent. In West Africa, BEC fraud has driven highly organized, multi-million-dollar criminal enterprises, such as transnational syndicate Black Axe.

    Sixty per cent of African member countries reported an increase in reports of digital sextortion, where threat actors use sexually explicit images to blackmail their targets. The images can be authentic – shared voluntarily or obtained through coercion or deception – or they can be generated by artificial intelligence.

    Law enforcement challenges

    Cybercrime continues to outpace the legal systems designed to stop it, according to African law enforcement. Seventy-five per cent of countries surveyed said their legal frameworks and prosecution capacity needed improvement.

    At the same time, countries also reported struggling to enforce the existing laws on cybercrime, with 95 per cent of respondents reported inadequate training, resource constraints and a lack of access to specialized tools.

    Despite rising caseloads, most African member countries surveyed still lack essential IT infrastructure to combat cybercrime. Just 30 per cent of countries reported having an incident reporting system, 29 per cent a digital evidence repository and 19 per cent a cyberthreat intelligence database.

    While cybercrime routinely crosses national borders, 86 per cent of African member countries surveyed said their international cooperation capacity needs improvement due to slow, formal processes, a lack of operational networks, and limited access to platforms and foreign-hosted data.

    Cybercrime investigations increasingly rely on cooperation from private sector partners, yet 89 per cent of African countries said their cooperation with the private sector needed ‘significant’ or ‘some’ improvement due to unclear channels for engagement, low institutional readiness and other barriers.

    Strengthening cyber resilience

    Nevertheless, the INTERPOL report also details positive steps that many African member countries have made to strengthen their cyber resilience.

    Several African countries advanced their legal frameworks, harmonizing cybersecurity laws with international standards. Many countries also enhanced their cybercrime response capabilities, investing in specialized units and digital forensics infrastructure.

    This increased operational capacity was demonstrated in two high-impact international cybercrime operations coordinated by INTERPOL – Operation Serengeti and Operation Red Card – which collectively led to more than 1,000 arrests and the dismantling of hundreds of thousands of malicious networks.

    To further improve Africa’s cybercrime response capabilities, the INTERPOL report proposes six strategic recommendations, including improving regional and international cooperation, expanding prevention and public awareness, and leveraging emerging technologies.

    INTERPOL’s Africa Cyberthreat Assessment is part of the Organization’s African Joint Operation against Cybercrime (AFJOC) initiative, which is aimed at strengthening the capability of African law enforcement to prevent, detect, investigate and disrupt cybercrime. The AFJOC initiative is supported by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    In addition to information gathered from INTERPOL member countries in Africa, the Assessment benefits from data contributed by private sector partners Bi.Zone, Group-IB, Kaspersky and Trend Micro.

    Download the INTERPOL’s 2025 Africa Cyberthreat Assessment Report via the link below.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AI breakthroughs drive expansion of ‘Airlock’ testing programme to support AI-powered healthcare innovation

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    AI breakthroughs drive expansion of ‘Airlock’ testing programme to support AI-powered healthcare innovation

    MHRA opens second round of applications to test cutting-edge AI medical technologies following successful pilot phase.

    A £1 million boost to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) pioneering AI Airlock programme will expand access to a first-of-its-kind regulatory testing ground where companies can work directly with regulators to safely test new AI-powered medical devices and explore how to bring them to patients faster, through streamlined regulations.

    Applications for the second round of the programme open today (23 June 2025) and follow a successful pilot phase that saw four breakthrough AI technologies, including software that could help doctors create personalised cancer treatment plans, and a tool to help hospitals, AI developers, and regulators monitor AI performance in real time, tested in a regulatory ‘sandbox’ environment.

    Similar to an airlock on a spacecraft, the ‘sandbox’ testing space creates a boundary between experimental AI and fully approved medical technology used in the real world.

    This initiative builds on commitments in the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan and the government response to the Regulatory Horizons Council report on regulation of AI as a medical device to enable safe AI innovation through strategic guidance to regulators and enhance their AI capabilities.

    This programme is backed by the Government’s new Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), which is supporting regulators to test more agile, flexible ways of working that can keep pace with emerging technologies like AI. By cutting unnecessary red tape and making the UK a more innovation-friendly environment, the RIO is helping to deliver the Government’s Plan for Change – backing high-growth industries, supporting NHS innovation, and accelerating technologies that can make a real difference to people’s lives.

    Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

    “Backing innovation means backing better regulation – and that’s what the RIO is here to do.

    “Smarter, faster approaches like the AI Airlock are helping to cut red tape, bring safe new technologies to patients quicker, and ease pressure on our NHS – fuelling the Government’s Plan for Change.”

    Health Minister, Baroness Merron, said:

    “AI has huge potential to improve healthcare, and we need to use it safely and responsibly. The AI Airlock programme is a great example of how we can test new technology thoroughly while still moving quickly.

    “This £1 million investment will help bring new medical tools to patients faster and strengthen the UK’s position as a global leader in healthcare innovation.”

    Those selected for the next round of the AI Airlock programme will be able to test their AI healthcare products under careful supervision allowing for regulatory challenges to be identified early and adjustments made.

    James Pound, MHRA Interim Executive Director, Innovation and Compliance, said:

    “Traditional regulatory pathways weren’t designed with AI’s unique characteristics in mind – including its capacity to analyse large quantities of data and help automate existing manual processes. The AI Airlock programme helps address this gap by creating a supervised testing ground where these novel technologies and challenge areas can be safely investigated.

    “The technologies and devices which have been evaluated to date have shown the limitless potential of AI to improve patient outcomes, free up NHS resources, and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of healthcare services.

    “With AI, we must balance robust oversight with flexibility that doesn’t stifle innovation, and this programme achieves that balance.”

    Four projects were selected for the inaugural AI Airlock cohort, each focused on addressing critical healthcare challenges using AI. Among them was health technology multinational Philips’ Radiology Auto Impression project which tested the use of generative AI to automate the writing of radiologists’ final impressions – a critical section of radiology reports that summarises key findings from imaging procedures.

    Working directly with MHRA experts through weekly meetings, the team gained valuable insights about the need to involve their end users – radiologists – to help define testing strategies. As Yinnon Dolev, Philips’ Advanced Development NLP (Natural Language Processing) Tech Lead noted, the collaboration with regulators was “almost unheard of” and provided “a catalyst for meaningful progress expediting our development activities.”

    OncoFlow, another first round project, looked at the use of AI to help healthcare professionals create personalised management plans for cancer patients, with the potential to reduce waiting times for cancer appointments, leading to earlier treatment and the possibility of significantly increasing patients’ chances of survival. Co-founder Aruni Ghose said the Airlock programme provided his team with the chance to validate the product in a simulated clinical setting and “pressure-test it against real regulatory standards” which has helped the company accelerate its progress “from idea to a validated MVP (Minimum Viable Product).”

    Rounding out the cohort have been two projects; one by Automedica Ltd, investigating the regulatory advantages of using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technologies with verified knowledge bases and Large Language Models (LLMs); and the other by health tech startup Newton’s Tree testing its Federated AI Monitoring Service (FAMOS) to identify and mitigate AI risks in clinical settings, including performance drift or safety issues.

    Results from all four pilot projects will be published later this year, providing valuable insights that will shape the AI Airlock programme moving forward and help inform broader regulatory approaches to the effective and safe use AI in healthcare.

    Eligible candidates for the second cohort must demonstrate that their AI-powered medical device has the potential to deliver significant benefits to patients and the NHS, presents a new treatment approach, and offers a regulatory challenge ready to be tested in the Airlock programme.

    Applications for cohort two open on 23 June 2025 and will close on 14 July 2025.

    Notes to editors

    • Applications for the AI Airlock programme’s second cohort are open from 23 June – 14 July 2025. More information can be found at AI Airlock: the regulatory sandbox for AIaMD – GOV.UK.

    • The programme was launched in Spring 2024 and is the MHRA’s first regulatory sandbox for AI as a Medical Device (AIaMD) products.

    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that benefits justify any risks.

    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.

    • For media enquiries, please contact newscentre@mhra.gov.uk or call 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from the Hill: Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went out on Monday to back the United States attack on Iran, it was obvious their support was through gritted teeth.

    Albanese told their joint news conference: “The world has long agreed that Iran cannot be allowed to get a nuclear weapon. And we support action to prevent that. That is what this is.

    “The US action was directed at specific sites central to Iran’s nuclear program. We don’t want escalation and a full-scale war. We continue to call for dialogue and for diplomacy. As I’ve said for many days now, we are deeply concerned about any escalation in the region and we want to see diplomacy, dialogue and de-escalation.”

    At the news conference and in Wong’s media round beforehand, one big question was, why did they take so long to appear?

    The attack is a seismic event in the Middle East conflict. Yet on Sunday the government only put out a tepid statement attributed to a “spokesperson”, which did not endorse the American action.

    This suggests the prime minister and foreign minister are, at the very least, uncomfortable with the action.

    It is further evidence of the current distance between the Australian government and the Trump administration. Whether it affects Albanese’s attempt to get the now much-sought after bilateral remains to be seen.

    At every stage of the Middle East conflict, as the situation has progressively escalated, the Australian government has been urging restraint and/ or de-escalation.

    Albanese is caught between not wanting to repudiate the Americans, the conflicting pressures of domestic lobbies, and his Labor constituency.

    Over the years, Albanese has moved to the political centre. But he hasn’t taken down from his website a strong speech he made in 2003 opposing the Iraq war.

    “In the short term, the conflict that is now clearly about to start can only make things worse, perhaps much worse,” Albanese told parliament then. “Iraq does not represent a threat to Australia. We are, with this [Howard government] decision, supporting a pre-emptive strike, which changes forever the way that international politics works.”

    In that war and this war, some of the same issues are at play. Iraq was thought to have weapons of mass destruction – later it was found it did not. Iran has long been on the path to developing nuclear weapons, but there are varying intelligence assessments of how much progress it has made.

    One can’t help thinking Albanese probably has the same sort of reservations about the Iran strike that he did about the Iraq war.

    For Australia’s there is one big difference: there is no thought of involving Australian defence forces, as happened in Iraq.

    Former Labor senator Doug Cameron, in parliament from 2008 to 2019 and a firebrand of the left, on Monday recalled how then opposition leader Simon Crean opposed Australia’s support for and participation in the Iraq war. (Crean said, “Never allow our foreign policy to be determined by another nation. Never commit to unnecessary war when peace is possible.”)

    Cameron, now a national patron of Labor Against War, issued several tweets condemning the government’s stand, and saying “time for Labor backbenchers to speak up”.

    But the Labor backbench is far from what it once was. Hardly anyone speaks up to challenge anything. As for the left, it is a shadow of its old feisty self.

    “What has happened to the left?” Cameron asks. “To be honest I don’t understand it,” he admits to The Conversation.

    Cameron recalls how the left – and indeed the wider caucus – was up in arms when Bob Hawke in the mid-1980s wanted Australia to facilitate the Americans’ testing of MX missiles that would splash down in the Tasman Sea. Hawke had to back down.

    He wonders if it’s a matter of not wanting to contradict a “left prime minister, and a left foreign minister”. “Personal support and party solidarity have come before common sense.”

    There are many causes of the demise of the ALP left, as Cameron knew it. They include the loss of what power Labor’s rank-and-file once had, the splintering of the left more broadly to minor parties notably the Greens, and the decline of ideology within Labor (and generally). There is no current “Doug Cameron”-equivalent in the caucus. The factions no longer fight over ideas – they preside over spoils.

    Those who contest the thesis of the decline of the left argue the contemporary Labor left has been shaping the Albanese government’s agenda on key issues from within, for example on industrial relations, industry policy, climate policy, and gender issues.

    If the Albanese of 2003 could have foreseen what the caucus left of 2025 would be like, he’d have been surprised, and possibly shocked. As it is, he’s pretty pleased the left is so quietly behaved.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from the Hill: Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-albanese-supports-us-bombing-reluctantly-258967

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Development Asia: Cooling Without Warming: Policy Solutions for Asia’s Rising Cooling Demand

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Develop an effective legislative framework for climate-friendly cooling.

    For developing Asia, establishing a robust legislative framework is essential to enable climate-friendly cooling. Best practices from advanced economies, such as the European Union (EU), Japan, and the United States, can inform the development of integrated energy conservation and clean air legislation to support commitments to carbon reduction and the phaseout of high-GWP refrigerants. A strong legislative foundation allows for the phased implementation of more specific policies and measures.

    Within such frameworks, several countries and regions have developed sector-level strategies and action plans. Examples include the EU’s Heating and Cooling Strategy and the PRC’s National Green Cooling Action Plan, which enforce targeted measures and standards. Others have launched directives and programs focused on deploying low-carbon cooling technologies in buildings, households, and appliances, such as California’s Building Energy Benchmarking Program, Home Energy Rating System, and Energy Partnership Program. Some jurisdictions have also integrated cooling sector policies with renewable energy initiatives, such as the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive.

    Improve standards and labeling systems, and enhance compliance with efficiency standards.

    Governments across Asia should consider establishing minimum energy efficiency standards for cooling appliances and phasing out outdated or inefficient equipment. Japan’s Top Runner Program offers a valuable model—setting energy efficiency requirements based on the most efficient product currently available in the market. These standards should be regularly reviewed and progressively tightened. Benchmarking against the most stringent global standards and developing a clear timeline for alignment can help accelerate progress.

    Enforcing a mandatory labeling system is also highly beneficial. Energy labels provide consumers with essential information about the energy performance and refrigerant type of air-conditioning and refrigeration products, enabling more informed purchasing decisions. To be effective, this information should be prominently displayed and easily understood by the average consumer.

    Promote low-carbon cooling in public buildings.

    Governments can support this goal by implementing procurement policies that prioritize low-carbon cooling equipment in the public sector. For example, the government of the PRC maintains a catalog of recommended energy-saving products for government procurement, which includes high-efficiency air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Public institutions are encouraged to prioritize items from this list when purchasing energy-consuming equipment. Regular updates to the catalog are essential to ensure that selected products maintain optimal energy performance and continue to deliver environmental benefits.

    Governments can also introduce policies and pilot programs to integrate renewable energy into public sector cooling systems. For instance, regulations could require that a minimum percentage of available rooftop or surface area on public buildings be dedicated to photovoltaic (solar) power generation.

    Develop incentive policies to encourage behavior change.

    For low-carbon cooling projects that are not yet widely adopted but offer significant social and environmental benefits, governments should prioritize providing incentives and support to scale up their implementation. For example, the Japanese government has promoted the use of low-GWP natural refrigerants as alternatives to HFCs. However, adoption has been limited due to high upfront costs. To address this, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment offers subsidies covering a portion of the machinery and installation costs for companies that replace or install equipment using natural refrigerants, thereby encouraging the transition to more climate-friendly refrigeration technologies.

    Governments should design incentive policies that motivate individuals to adopt energy-efficient behaviors. The PRC, through its Green and High Energy Efficiency Cooling Action Plan, encourages local governments to introduce incentives for purchasing high-efficiency cooling appliances. These may include rebates for energy-efficient products and trade-in programs that allow consumers to exchange low-efficiency appliances for more efficient alternatives.

    Monitor and regulate refrigerants and cooling equipment from a life-cycle perspective

    Governments should require the registration of all stages of high-GWP refrigerant handling, including production, import, sale, and recycling. Additionally, mandatory regular leak inspections and maintenance record-keeping for existing cooling equipment should be enforced.

    Finance large-scale deployment.

    One effective strategy is to establish co-financing mechanisms through partnerships among the public sector, multilateral development banks, and private investors. By leveraging government incentive funds and concessional loans from development banks, these partnerships can unlock commercial capital and reduce financial barriers.

    Creating revolving loan funds dedicated to low-carbon cooling projects can also expand financing opportunities. These funds can provide continuous support for new initiatives by reinvesting repayments into future projects, thereby sustaining momentum and scaling up deployment across regions.

    Take an integrated approach and encourage collective efforts.

    Policy solutions for climate-friendly cooling should be designed as part of a holistic package. This means that regulations, policies, standards, and tools must be coordinated to support and reinforce one another, rather than functioning in isolation.

    For example, under its net-zero emissions commitment, the EU has implemented a suite of interconnected regulations including the Energy Efficiency Directive, Renewable Energy Directive, Industrial Emissions Directive, European Commission-mandated regulations, and governance regulations. These high-level frameworks are complemented by specific policy measures and initiatives that ensure effective implementation and alignment across sectors.

    Build capacity for low-carbon cooling.

    Capacity building and knowledge dissemination are key for promoting energy efficiency improvements. Governments in Asia can take policy measures (e.g., promoting the use of appropriate cost–benefit assessment tools) to help customers understand that the long-term economic losses from using low-efficiency equipment often outweigh the initial investment in high-efficiency alternatives.

    Poor operational management also contributes to unnecessary energy waste. Therefore, capacity-building efforts should focus on equipping users with the skills needed to manage and operate cooling equipment more efficiently.

    It is also necessary to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions to address the financing gaps that hinder the adoption of low-carbon cooling technologies.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Missile Alarms in Jerusalem as U.S.-Iran Tensions Ignite New Escalation in West Asia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Jerusalem was gripped by fresh anxiety today as a missile was spotted overhead, followed by distant explosions, according to a Reuters report. The Israeli military subsequently activated air raid sirens across central and southern Israel, citing further incoming missile threats from Iran. The development comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Over the past ten days, central Israel has sustained heavy damage, with repeated attacks also hitting the northern port city of Haifa. The ongoing conflict has significantly raised fears of a broader regional war, prompting renewed diplomatic efforts. High-level talks are reportedly underway in Moscow in a bid to defuse the crisis.

    China has called on both Iran and Israel to de-escalate hostilities. “The Chinese side urges the parties to the conflict to prevent the situation from escalating repeatedly, resolutely avoid the spillover of war, and return to the path of political resolution,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday.

    Meanwhile, Spain’s foreign minister announced plans to urge the European Union to suspend a key cooperation agreement with Israel and to consider a weapons embargo, stating that Europe “must show courage” in response to the escalating violence.

    In the U.S., President Donald Trump stirred debates by reviving talk of regime change in Iran. In a social media post, he questioned the legitimacy of the current Iranian leadership and wrote, “If they can’t MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN—why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”

    Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in the Russian capital for high-stakes talks with Russia’s top leadership. As a long-standing ally of Iran and a significant power in the region, Russia is viewed as a potential mediator in this deepening crisis.

    The discussions are expected to concentrate on de-escalation strategies, broader regional security concerns, and exploring any viable diplomatic pathways to resolve the ongoing hostilities.

    While Russian officials have indicated their readiness to play a constructive role in facilitating peace, the path forward remains highly uncertain. The international community, including the United Nations and other key global powers, continues to closely monitor the volatile situation, issuing urgent calls for restraint and dialogue from all parties involved.

  • India goes green: landmark tender to fuel fertilizers with clean ammonia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has floated a landmark tender for the offtake of green ammonia. The move marks a significant step towards decarbonizing the fertilizer sector, which is currently dependent on fossil fuel-based hydrogen for ammonia production.

    The tender, issued on June 7, 2024, invites bids for the supply of 7.24 lakh tonnes of green ammonia annually. It covers 13 fertilizer plants across the country and falls under Tranche I of Mode 2A of the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Scheme. The last date for bid submissions is June 26, 2025.

    Ammonia is a key input in the production of urea and other nitrogen-based fertilizers. At present, it is largely produced using hydrogen derived from imported natural gas, leading to considerable carbon emissions. SECI’s new tender seeks to change this by using renewable energy to produce green hydrogen and, consequently, green ammonia. The aim is to enable low-emission, domestically sourced fertilizer production.

    To make the transition financially viable, the government is offering production-linked incentives under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These include subsidies of ₹8.82 per kilogram in the first year, ₹7.06 in the second, and ₹5.30 in the third—amounting to a total support of ₹1,533.4 crore. A robust Payment Security Mechanism has also been put in place to safeguard suppliers from delays in payments by fertilizer companies.

    The tender process will follow SECI’s e-reverse auction model to ensure transparency and competitive price discovery. The contracts will run for a 10-year period, providing market certainty and encouraging long-term investment.

    India consumes approximately 17-19 million tonnes of ammonia annually, with more than 50% of its hydrogen requirement used in fertilizer production. However, most of this is derived from imported natural gas. SECI’s initiative is expected to drastically cut this dependence, reduce exposure to global gas price fluctuations, and lower the trade deficit. Producing green hydrogen emits less than 2 kg of CO₂ per kilogram, compared to up to 12 kg CO₂ from conventional grey hydrogen.

    The tender is seen as a solution to the “chicken-and-egg” problem that has stalled progress in the hydrogen sector. By aggregating demand and securing long-term offtake agreements, SECI is aiming to provide the necessary momentum to build a strong domestic green hydrogen and ammonia ecosystem. It is also expected to support investment in electrolyser manufacturing and other clean energy segments.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu Attended the First Planning Meeting of the 2025 Double Tenth Celebration Committee

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    The 2025 Double Tenth Celebration Committee held its first planning meeting today, chaired by Chairperson Michael Wu. The meeting was well attended by Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) Commissioners Johnson Hsiung and Shirley Chen, as well as community leaders and representatives from various organizations. Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu and Mrs. Wu were also invited to participate.
    Chairperson Wu expressed his hope that senior members of the Taiwanese community would continue to offer their valuable guidance and share their experiences. He also looked forward to greater involvement from the younger generation, to carry on the proud traditions of the Taiwanese community in Sydney. He also gave a briefing on this year’s National Day Gala theme: “Reflections of Culture in an Age of Technology,” which explores how Taiwan’s traditional culture continues to thrive and evolve in the digital era. From classical art forms to innovative reinterpretations, the event highlights the harmony between heritage and technology — showcasing Taiwan’s identity in a modern world.
    DG Wu first thanked last year’s Chairperson, Sophia Huang, for her dedication and hard work. DG Wu also commended Chairperson Wu for taking on the responsibility despite his busy schedule. He noted that this year’s theme, which focuses on technology, fully reflects Taiwan’s leading position in the global high-tech industry — with TSMC standing as a pinnacle of semiconductor excellence and cutting-edge research. DG Wu expressed deep appreciation for the unity of the Taiwanese community and their continued support for the government of R.O.C.(Taiwan). Finally, this year’s National Day Gala will be held on the evening of Double Ten Day, symbolizing the celebration’s anticipated success.
    The committee also presented budget requirements and outlined the plans of related events. Chairperson Wu thoughtfully prepared a selection of delicious food to thank community members for their participation and support.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Official Launch of Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP Marked by Bell Ringing in Frankfurt

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Stockholm, June 23, 2025 – Virtune, the Swedish regulated crypto asset manager, celebrated the official launch of its latest exchange-traded product, the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP, with a ceremonial bell ringing at Deutsche Börse Xetra in Frankfurt on June 17, together with Coinbase.

    The ceremony, held together with Coinbase, marks a significant milestone in Virtune’s European expansion and reinforces its position as a leading issuer of regulated, physically backed crypto ETPs. The product is available to Swedish investors via online brokers such as Avanza and Montrose.

    Virtune listed the product on Xetra on June 2, 2025, making the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP the first ETP in Europe to track the Coinbase 50 Europe Index – a broadly diversified index representing up to 50 leading crypto assets. The index is developed by Coinbase and administered by MarketVector Indexes™. Currently, the product holds 21 crypto assets, with the expansion to include all 50 assets subject to regulatory and exchange approvals.

    The Coinbase 50 Europe Index is designed to become the crypto market’s equivalent of the S&P 500, aiming to provide investors with a comprehensive and representative selection of the largest and most relevant crypto assets in the market. The product targets both institutional and retail investors seeking regulated, transparent, and professional exposure to digital assets.

    Christopher Kock, CEO of Virtune:
    “This ceremony clearly signals our long-term commitment to the European market. Standing on the podium in Frankfurt with our partners from Coinbase and MarketVector reflects the strength of collaboration, innovation, and regulated growth. We are here to help shape the future of crypto investing in Europe.”

    The Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP is available to both institutional and retail investors across Europe and is traded in EUR. The product is 100% physically backed by the underlying crypto assets, which are stored with institutional-grade security by Coinbase, and has an annual fee of 0.95%.

    Learn more about the product here:
     www.virtune.com/product/vcoin50

    Key Information about the Product:
    Exposure:     Exposure to up to 50 leading crypto assets in one product
    Underlying assets:     100% physically backed by the underlying crypto assets
    Custody:     Institutional-grade custody by Coinbase
    Management Fee:     0.95% per annum
    Trading currency:     EUR
    First day of trading:     Monday, 2nd of June 2025
    Bloomberg Ticker:     VCOIN50
    ISIN:     SE0024738389
    WKN:     A4A5D4
    Exchange ticker:     VRTC
    Exchanges:     Deutsche Börse Xetra

    For questions, contact:
    Christopher Kock, CEO & Member of the Board of Directors
    Mobile: +46 70 073 45 64
    Email: christopher@virtune.com

    About Virtune AB (Publ):
    Virtune with its headquarters in Stockholm is a regulated Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of crypto exchange traded products on regulated European exchanges. With regulatory compliance, strategic collaborations with industry leaders and our proficient team, we empower investors on a global level to access innovative and sophisticated investment products that are aligned with the evolving landscape of the global crypto market.

    Crypto investments are associated with high risk. Virtune does not provide investment advice; investments are made at your own risk. Securities may increase or decrease in value, there is no guarantee of getting back invested capital. Read the prospectus, KID, terms at virtune.com.

    The Coinbase 50 Europe Index (“Index”) is the exclusive property of MarketVector Indexes GmbH (“MarketVector”) and its Licensors and has been licensed for use by Virtune AB (Publ) (“Licensee”). MarketVector has contracted with CC Data Limited to maintain and calculate the Index. CC Data Limited uses its best efforts to ensure that the Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards MarketVector, CC Data Limited has no obligation to point out errors in the Index to third parties. In particular, MarketVector is not responsible for the Licensee and/or for Licensee’s legality or suitability and/or for Licensee’s business offerings. Offerings by Licensee, may they be based on the Virtune Coinbase 50 Europe ETP (“Product”) or not, are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by MarketVector and any of its affiliates, and MarketVector and any of its affiliates make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in Licensee and/or in Licensee’s business offerings. MARKETVECTOR AND ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES AND ANY OF ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO LICENSEE.

    The MIL Network –

  • Any Iranian closure of Hormuz Strait would be ‘extremely dangerous’, EU’s top diplomat says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be dangerous and “not good for anybody”, the European Union’s top diplomat said on Monday.

    “The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge, especially closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody,” Kaja Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers.

    Iran’s Press TV reported on Sunday that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council needed to make a final decision on whether to close the strait, after parliament was reported to back the measure. About 20% of global oil and gas demand flows through the channel.

    More to follow.

    (Reuters)

  • Any Iranian closure of Hormuz Strait would be ‘extremely dangerous’, EU’s top diplomat says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be dangerous and “not good for anybody”, the European Union’s top diplomat said on Monday.

    “The concerns of retaliation and this war escalating are huge, especially closing of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is something that would be extremely dangerous and not good for anybody,” Kaja Kallas told reporters ahead of a meeting with EU foreign ministers.

    Iran’s Press TV reported on Sunday that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council needed to make a final decision on whether to close the strait, after parliament was reported to back the measure. About 20% of global oil and gas demand flows through the channel.

    More to follow.

    (Reuters)

  • India witnessing transformational decade under PM Modi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In an exclusive interview with Doordarshan News, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the sweeping governance reforms and inclusive development initiatives undertaken during the past 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He described the period as a “transformational decade” that has democratized aspirations and expanded opportunities across regions and sectors.

    Democratisation of Civil Services and Aspirations

    Singh emphasized that the Civil Services, once dominated by select states like Bihar and Tamil Nadu, now see top performers from previously underrepresented regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana. Citing examples like Parsanjit Kour from Poonch (AIR 11, 2022) and Anmol Sher Singh Bedi from Punjab (AIR 2, 2016), he hailed this shift as proof of the system’s increasing objectivity and accessibility.

    “This is the true essence of democracy—where every mother, regardless of her socio-economic standing, has the confidence to believe her child can reach the top,” he stated.

    Start-Up India Reframed Employment Thinking

    Singh noted that PM Modi’s 2016 call for “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India” revolutionized the employment landscape. “People realized that jobs don’t just mean Sarkari Naukri—they mean innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups,” he said. He pointed to the biotechnology sector’s exponential growth from just 50 startups in 2014 to over 10,075 in 2024, with a valuation leap from $10 billion to $170 billion.

    Integration of Northeast and J&K

    Lauding the integration of the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir into India’s mainstream development, the Minister said regions long isolated now enjoy railway connectivity and are participating in sectors like aviation and hospitality. He recalled the emotional story of young women from Manipur working in airlines—tragically lost in an Ahmedabad air crash—as symbolic of the transformation these regions have undergone.

    India’s Ascent in Space and Biotech

    Singh reaffirmed India’s rising stature in space and science. He announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the mission pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, conducting biotech experiments using indigenous kits. He added that India is on track to establish its own space station—‘Bharat Antariksh Station’—by 2035.

    Revolution in Governance and Service Delivery

    Highlighting key governance reforms, Singh said India’s grievance redressal system – Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) – has evolved into a global model, handling over 26 lakh grievances in 2024 with a 96% disposal rate—compared to just 2 lakh in 2014.

    He also praised the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) system for pensioners, powered by facial recognition technology, which spares elderly citizens from bank visits. Additionally, reforms now allow women officers to nominate parents or children as pension beneficiaries, reflecting a more compassionate system.

    Zero-Corruption Record and Cultural Shift

    Singh stated that “not a single charge of corruption” has surfaced against any member of the Union Council of Ministers over the past 11 years, contrasting it with previous regimes plagued by scams. He said this clean governance, combined with 100% saturation of schemes like PM Awas Yojana—even in non-traditional voter areas—signals a shift away from vote-bank politics.

    J&K Stability and Future Prospects

    Addressing the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister said normalcy has returned, with tourism booming. “Visit Pahalgam today—you’ll find it crowded despite recent incidents,” he said, adding that youth in the region are determined to be part of India’s development journey. He also called the recent discovery of lithium reserves in J&K a potential economic game-changer.

    Towards Viksit Bharat 2047

    Concluding his remarks, Singh underscored the role of citizens in shaping the nation’s future. “The real driving force behind Viksit Bharat 2047 will be the people of India—their support, aspirations, and participation will define the next 25 years of our journey,” he said.

  • India witnessing transformational decade under PM Modi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In an exclusive interview with Doordarshan News, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the sweeping governance reforms and inclusive development initiatives undertaken during the past 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He described the period as a “transformational decade” that has democratized aspirations and expanded opportunities across regions and sectors.

    Democratisation of Civil Services and Aspirations

    Singh emphasized that the Civil Services, once dominated by select states like Bihar and Tamil Nadu, now see top performers from previously underrepresented regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana. Citing examples like Parsanjit Kour from Poonch (AIR 11, 2022) and Anmol Sher Singh Bedi from Punjab (AIR 2, 2016), he hailed this shift as proof of the system’s increasing objectivity and accessibility.

    “This is the true essence of democracy—where every mother, regardless of her socio-economic standing, has the confidence to believe her child can reach the top,” he stated.

    Start-Up India Reframed Employment Thinking

    Singh noted that PM Modi’s 2016 call for “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India” revolutionized the employment landscape. “People realized that jobs don’t just mean Sarkari Naukri—they mean innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups,” he said. He pointed to the biotechnology sector’s exponential growth from just 50 startups in 2014 to over 10,075 in 2024, with a valuation leap from $10 billion to $170 billion.

    Integration of Northeast and J&K

    Lauding the integration of the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir into India’s mainstream development, the Minister said regions long isolated now enjoy railway connectivity and are participating in sectors like aviation and hospitality. He recalled the emotional story of young women from Manipur working in airlines—tragically lost in an Ahmedabad air crash—as symbolic of the transformation these regions have undergone.

    India’s Ascent in Space and Biotech

    Singh reaffirmed India’s rising stature in space and science. He announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the mission pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, conducting biotech experiments using indigenous kits. He added that India is on track to establish its own space station—‘Bharat Antariksh Station’—by 2035.

    Revolution in Governance and Service Delivery

    Highlighting key governance reforms, Singh said India’s grievance redressal system – Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) – has evolved into a global model, handling over 26 lakh grievances in 2024 with a 96% disposal rate—compared to just 2 lakh in 2014.

    He also praised the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) system for pensioners, powered by facial recognition technology, which spares elderly citizens from bank visits. Additionally, reforms now allow women officers to nominate parents or children as pension beneficiaries, reflecting a more compassionate system.

    Zero-Corruption Record and Cultural Shift

    Singh stated that “not a single charge of corruption” has surfaced against any member of the Union Council of Ministers over the past 11 years, contrasting it with previous regimes plagued by scams. He said this clean governance, combined with 100% saturation of schemes like PM Awas Yojana—even in non-traditional voter areas—signals a shift away from vote-bank politics.

    J&K Stability and Future Prospects

    Addressing the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister said normalcy has returned, with tourism booming. “Visit Pahalgam today—you’ll find it crowded despite recent incidents,” he said, adding that youth in the region are determined to be part of India’s development journey. He also called the recent discovery of lithium reserves in J&K a potential economic game-changer.

    Towards Viksit Bharat 2047

    Concluding his remarks, Singh underscored the role of citizens in shaping the nation’s future. “The real driving force behind Viksit Bharat 2047 will be the people of India—their support, aspirations, and participation will define the next 25 years of our journey,” he said.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Climate Action ‘A Rating’ for third year running

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Dundee has been recognised as one of 112 cities worldwide for its environmental leadership and transparency.

    The list, co-ordinated by charity CDP, gives cities rankings based on their climate action with Dundee City Council being awarded an A rating for 2024 and included for the third consecutive year.

    Dundee City Council is listed alongside only three other Scottish local authority recipients, which include Glasgow City Council, City of Edinburgh Council and Perth & Kinross Council.

    CDP is a not-for-profit organisation that runs the global disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

    Climate, Environment & Biodiversity Depute Convener Cllr Nadia El-Nakla said: “Dundee is rightfully being recognised as a leader on environmental action receiving the highest possible rating from CDP for best practice in adaptation, mitigation, setting ambitious goals and progress towards those objectives.

    “The work being carried out is very positive, however the scale of the challenge we still face is considerable with no one organisation or single solution able to address the issues.

    “The Dundee Climate Leadership Group is leading the way in supporting city-wide action bringing together public, private and community organisations utilising the expertise here to achieve the reduction in carbon emissions that meet our city’s sustainability targets.”

    Hanah Paik, CDP Global Director for Cities, States and Regions said: “The cities, states and regions on CDP’s 2024 A List are setting the global benchmark for environmental leadership. Through robust disclosure and decisive action, they are ensuring that essential data is surfaced for informed decision-making across governments, markets and communities – and for unlocking access to the climate finance needed for implementation. They are not only accelerating their own progress but also charting a path for others to follow.”

    More information about the scores and A lists awarded by CDP can be found on the charity’s website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: BCC Mining cloud mining supports BTC/XRP one-click mining

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, NY, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tensions in the Middle East have increased volatility in the cryptocurrency market, and investors are looking for safer ways to hedge their investments. BCC Mining has become a popular investment option with its decentralized nature and high return potential. However, independent mining requires expertise and high upfront investment. The professional BCC Mining platform provides cloud mining services, which reduces the threshold and risk of participation and improves mining efficiency. Investors can easily participate in mining through the platform, share profits, and effectively avoid market risks. In the current complex geopolitical environment, allocating part of the funds to a reliable BCC Mining platform can help diversify investment risks and improve the stability of the overall portfolio.

    What is BCC Mining
    Founded in the UK in 2017, BCC Mining is designed specifically for cryptocurrency novices and experienced investors. Users can use computing power rented from green energy data centers without any hardware to start mining popular cryptocurrencies such as BTC, ETH, LTC, DOGE, etc.

    BCC Mining is an advanced cloud mining platform that allows users to mine cryptocurrencies and earn passive income by renting computing power. Unlike traditional mining methods that require expensive hardware, technical expertise, and ongoing maintenance, BCC Mining handles all the complexities for users. From hardware maintenance to electricity costs and cooling systems, the platform covers all technical aspects, allowing users to focus on profits.

    How does it work?
    Getting started with BCC Mining is very simple and easy. Once signed up, users can choose from a variety of mining contracts to suit different budgets and investment goals. Each plan offers a specific hashrate and term, providing flexibility for both beginners and experienced investors. Once a plan is selected and payment is made, users do not have to manage anything as the hashrate they rent validates transactions and secures the blockchain network.

    The platform’s automated system ensures that users continue to receive rewards without any extra effort. Whether you are new to cryptocurrency or an experienced enthusiast, BCC Mining offers you a seamless way to make money from home.

    Platform advantages:
    ⦁Get an instant bonus of $15 upon registration.
    ⦁High profit level and daily income.
    ⦁No other service fees or management fees.
    ⦁The platform uses more than 10 cryptocurrencies (such as: DOGE, BTC, ETH, LTC, USDC, USDT, BNB, BCH, XRP, SOL) for settlement
    ⦁The company’s affiliate program allows you to refer your friends and get a referral bonus of up to $85,000.
    ⦁McAfee® security protection. Cloudflare® security protection. 100% uptime guarantee and excellent 24/7 human online technical support.

    How to get started:
    It’s easy to start your cloud mining journey with BCC Mining. Follow these simple steps to start earning passive income:

    Register an account: Go to the BCC Mining official website to create an account.

    Choose a plan: Choose a mining plan that meets your goals.

    Start mining: Start mining immediately and let BCC Mining’s powerful hardware work for you.

    Daily payments: Enjoy the convenience of daily payments, providing a stable source of income.

    Special offer:

    Registration bonus: Sign up to get an instant bonus of $15.00, and you can also earn $0.6 for free every day, don’t miss it.

    Invite income: Invite friends to increase mining income and get 3%-4.5% continuous rewards permanently

    The contracts provided by BCC Mining are not only simple, but also varied, providing you with a variety of options to meet your investment needs. They provide stable and risk-free fixed income.

    Get a stable passive income by participating in the following contracts:

    BTC basic computing power: investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4.0, expiration income: $100 + $8
    LTC [classic computing power contract]: investment amount: $600, contract period: 6 days, daily income of $7.26, expiration income: $600 + $43.56
    BTC [classic computing power contract]: investment amount: $3,000, contract period: 20 days, daily income of $42.9, expiration income: $3,000 + $858
    DOGE [classic computing power contract]: investment amount: $5,000, contract period: 30 days, daily income of $75, expiration income: $5,000 + $2,250
    BTC [advanced computing contract]: investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 45 days, daily income of $165, expiration income: $10,000 + $7,425
    After purchasing the contract, the income will be automatically credited to your account the next day. When your account balance reaches $100, you can choose to withdraw to your digital currency wallet, or continue to purchase contracts to gain more benefits.

    Generous Affiliate Program
    BCC Mining rewards those who help promote its excellent platform. Refer others to receive unlimited bonuses and commissions, further boosting your mining income. Take advantage of this opportunity to open up more lucrative income streams.

    Real Success Story
    BCC Mining has successfully helped millions of users achieve financial independence. From individuals seeking to supplement their income to those who aspire to achieve complete financial independence, the platform has proven to be a reliable and profitable solution. Testimonials from satisfied users highlight how BCC Mining has changed their lives by providing a stable source of income with minimal effort.

    If you are looking for a way to earn a stable passive income, after reading this article, you should create an account and take advantage of the $15 welcome bonus, which you can use as an initial investment to earn $0.6 per day for free. In addition, the affiliate program is also a great way to earn passive income.

    Whether you are a novice or an experienced user, BCC Mining welcomes everyone from all over the world to participate.
    For more details, please visit the platform official website: https://bccmining.com/ or (click to download the mobile APP)
    Contact: BCC Mining
    Company: BCC Mining
    Platform official email: info@bccmining.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LightSolver Selected as 2025 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TEL AVIV, Israel , June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LightSolver, inventors of a new laser-based HPC computing paradigm, today announced that it has been named a 2025 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF). With this recognition, LightSolver joins an elite group of startups that are addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges via breakthrough technologies.

    Now in its 25th year, the WEF Technology Pioneers program honors 100 early-stage technology companies that exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and transformative potential needed to shape a more equitable, sustainable future.

    LightSolver is reimagining high-performance computing (HPC) with its all-optical Laser Processing Unit™ (LPU) by leveraging laser interactions to compute large and complex problems at the speed of light. This novel computing technology enables faster, more scalable solutions for problems that require massive number crunching, such as combinatorial optimization, computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulations, and other complex scientific computations.

    As a member of the 2025 Technology Pioneers cohort, LightSolver will join the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a premier global network advancing the application of human-centered and society-serving technologies. The program offers a unique platform for members to scale their innovations and amplify their impact. Through this opportunity, LightSolver will engage directly with leaders across the public and private sectors, contribute ideas, share insights, and help shape the global agenda on emerging technologies.

    “We look forward to joining this inspiring global community of innovators,” said Ruti Ben-Shlomi, CEO and co-founder of LightSolver. “At LightSolver, we believe the future of computing demands new paradigms that are not only faster and more efficient but also scalable and sustainable. This recognition reinforces our mission and motivates us to continue advancing optical computing to solve complex global challenges.”

    Learn more about the 2025 Technology Pioneers here.

    About The World Economic Forum
    The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. (www.weforum.org).

    About the Technology Pioneers Community
    Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneers community marks its 25th anniversary in 2025 as a leading platform for early-stage companies from around the world that are shaping the future through breakthrough technologies and innovations. These companies are selected for their potential to have a significant impact on business and society and are invited to engage with public and private sector leaders through the World Economic Forum’s global platform. The Technology Pioneers community is part of the Innovator Communities within the Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Innovator Communities convene the world’s leading global start-ups across different growth stages from early-stage Technology Pioneers to growth-stage Global Innovators and unicorn companies valued at more than $1 billion.

    About LightSolver
    LightSolver is a photonics computing company that is developing an all-optical supercomputer capable of solving complex and large computational problems at the speed of light. Utilizing the interference patterns of lasers, the Laser Processing Unit™ (LPU) can tackle challenges that were previously constrained by the limits of electronics, while fitting into a rack unit and operating at room temperature. Dr. Ruti Ben-Shlomi and Dr. Chene Tradonsky, physicists from the world-renowned Weizmann Institute, founded the company in 2020. More than 2/3 of the team are physics, math and computer science PhDs. LightSolver has secured investment from TAL Ventures, Entree Capital, IBI Tech Fund, Angular Ventures, Maverick, and Artofin. The company has also received a €12.5M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to advance its all-optical supercomputer. Connect with LightSolver @LightSolverCo on X and on LinkedIn. For more information, visit lightsolver.com or email info@lightsolver.com.

    Media Contact:
    Seth Menacker
    Fusion PR
    lightsolver@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Onboards on India’s I4C’s Sahyog Portal to Support Local Law Enforcement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW DELHI, June 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has officially onboarded onto India’s Sahyog portal, a key interface under the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) framework. The portal facilitates direct and structured communication between law enforcement agencies and digital service providers. This development marks an important step in enhancing cooperation between virtual asset platforms and Indian authorities engaged in cybercrime investigations.

    The Sahyog portal serves as a centralized system that allows law enforcement to submit legal requests for data disclosure in accordance with Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act. These provisions enable Indian authorities to seek access to digital evidence, user data, and transaction records from service providers in connection with active investigations. Bitget’s integration ensures that future requests can be managed through an established, secure, and legally compliant channel.

    Global exchanges are being actively onboarded onto the Sahyog system to improve investigative capabilities and reduce procedural delays. Alongside Bitget, other major global platforms have also been onboarded onto the Sahyog system in furtherance of the system’s robustness. The main aim is to provide investigators with aggregated access to essential data that supports timely enforcement actions in cases involving virtual assets.

    Bitget has taken multiple steps in recent months  to align with regional compliance frameworks across key jurisdictions, with India representing a particularly strategic market. Participation in official law enforcement portals is a good example of Bitget’s  proactive stance in aligning operations with local regulatory expectations. It aligns with the exchange’s broader aim to assist in creating a transparent and accountable environment for digital asset trading, particularly as authorities globally increase scrutiny of crypto transactions.

    “Operating responsibly in all jurisdictions remains a priority for Bitget. India’s regulatory and enforcement landscape around digital assets is evolving quickly, and aligning with initiatives like Sahyog highlights a practical step forward. Bitget will continue to engage constructively with local regulators to ensure that our systems deliver the legal and technical requirements to support such agencies,” said Hon NG, Chief Legal Officer at Bitget.

    As the global digital asset sector expands, increased engagement between crypto service providers and governments has become important to operate sustainably. Integration into frameworks such as Sahyog allows exchanges like Bitget to deliver timely and structured responses to legal requests, reducing friction in cross-border cooperation and ensuring that law enforcement agencies have access to the tools necessary for digital evidence collection.

    India’s growing emphasis on formalizing its approach to virtual assets has brought renewed focus on the role of foreign exchanges operating within its borders. Compliance with data disclosure provisions and participation in platforms like Sahyog are expected to play an important role in defining the future relationship between crypto firms and national authorities. Bitget’s onboarding adds to the growing list of global entities now accessible via Sahyog, signaling the broader direction of increased regulatory coordination across the industry.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform. Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0956e457-f148-4c31-b579-b6261058c890

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Guterres condemns deadly attack on peacekeepers in Central African Republic

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Download logo

    The ambush took place on Friday along the Birao-Am Dafock axis in the volatile Vakaga Prefecture, in northeastern CAR, close to the border with conflict-hit Sudan.

    According to the stabilization mission, MINUSCA, the patrol was targeted by “unidentified armed elements” in the locality of Am-Sissia.

    Attack may be a war crime

    In a statement released by his Spokesperson on Sunday, Secretary-General António Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved families, as well as to the Government and people of Zambia, and wished a swift recovery to the injured soldier.

    He stressed that attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law and urged the Central African authorities “to spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators of this tragedy so that they can be brought to justice swiftly”.

    This marks the third fatal attack against MINUSCA peacekeeping patrols since the start of 2025.

    In March, a Kenyan peacekeeper was killed in the Haut-Mbomou prefecture, and a month earlier, a Tunisian ‘blue helmet’ lost his life in the north. Earlier this week, two Nepalese peacekeepers were injured during an assault in the southwest.

    Valentine Rugwabiza, head of the UN mission, decried the “multiplication of attacks against peacekeepers” and echoed the call for justice, urging the authorities to act decisively against those responsible.

    Since its deployment in 2014, MINUSCA has suffered significant losses, with around 150 peacekeepers paying the ultimate price.

    The 17,000-strong force was established to help stabilise CAR, a country wracked by decades of political instability, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises.

    According to a February report by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), worsening insecurity across parts of the country has forced MINUSCA to step up patrols in several regions, including areas near the border with Sudan where violence and displacement have surged in recent months amid the brutal civil war between rival militaries there.

    The Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s solidarity with the people and Government of CAR, underlining the world body’s continued commitment to peace and stability in the region.

    – on behalf of UN News.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kyrgyzstan’s Black, Red, Yellow Wins Best Film at 2025 Shanghai Film Festival

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    SHANGHAI, June 23 (Xinhua) — The full-length film “Kara Kyzyl Sary” (Black, Red, Yellow), directed by Kyrgyz filmmaker Aktan Arym Kubat, won the top prize of the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, the Golden Cup.

    The closing ceremony of the festival took place on Saturday. The award in the nomination “Best Film” was presented to the Kyrgyz director by the chairman of the jury, the famous film director Giuseppe Tornatore. The performers of the leading roles Nargiza Mamatkulova and Aigul Busurmankulova also appeared on stage.

    According to Kyrgyz media, the film’s plot centers on the life of a weaver whose carpets become a reflection of the fates of the people for whom they are created. In her hands, these products turn into mirrors showing the fates of their owners. The director noted that the main character’s love story unfolds against the backdrop of the collapse of the USSR, when significant changes were taking place in both the political and spiritual spheres, which exacerbated human feelings.

    The project “Kara Kyzyl Sary” was created with the support of the National Film Studio “Kyrgyzfilm” and is based on the works of the writer Topchugul Shaidullaeva. Filming took place in the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan.

    In addition, in the competition category “Animation”, the joint project of Russia and Kazakhstan “Son” was recognized as the best animated short film.

    The main competition program of the Shanghai International Film Festival included 12 full-length films, with veteran Chinese filmmaker Cao Baoping winning the Best Director award for his action-comedy “One Wacky Summer,” the Best Actress award went to Chinese actress Wan Qian for her role in “Wild Nights, Tamed Beasts,” and the Best Actor award went to José Martins for his work in the Portuguese-Brazilian co-production “The Scent of Things Remembered.”

    The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival was held in China from June 13 to 22. During this time, more than 400 films from about 70 countries were shown in dozens of Shanghai cinemas. The festival film program consisted of five sections: main competition, new Asian talents, animation, documentary films, and short films.

    Let us recall that the Shanghai International Film Festival is the only international category “A” film festival held in China. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • India set to outpace G7 economies, says Equirus report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A recent report by wealth management firm Equirus has underlined India’s structural economic strengths, stating the country is poised to outpace G7 economies in the coming years. The report suggests that global capital can no longer afford to ignore India’s evolving economic landscape.

    According to Equirus, India’s growth is being powered by strong macroeconomic fundamentals, government-led capital expenditure, a revival in rural consumption, and a structural shift in manufacturing. These factors, the report notes, are positioning India favourably amid a globally uncertain economic environment.

    Equirus Credence Family Office CEO Mitesh Shah said India is no longer just the fastest-growing economy on paper, but is structurally better placed than most of the G7 nations. He described this as a “seismic shift” in global economic dynamics. Highlighting the shift in global macro trends, Shah pointed out that India is expected to contribute over 15 per cent to global GDP growth between 2025 and 2030, whereas traditional global investment strategies are beginning to falter.

    The report outlines how India is benefiting from critical structural trends. These include a significant uptick in rural demand, where FMCG consumption in rural areas grew by 6 per cent, compared to 2.8 per cent in urban regions. In addition, government-led capital expenditure is set to increase by 17.4 per cent, alongside a Rs 2.5 lakh crore liquidity infusion currently underway.

    Over the last decade, the monthly per capita expenditure gap between rural and urban households has narrowed from 84 per cent to 70 per cent, further supporting the case for a consumption-led recovery in the Indian economy.

    Equirus also questions the continued relevance of the traditional 60/40 portfolio strategy, which divides assets between equities and bonds. In an increasingly fragmented global financial landscape, the report argues, dynamic and geography-spanning asset allocation is not just advisable but essential for both capital preservation and alpha generation.

    India’s rising global economic stature is evident in its growing contribution to global GDP growth, which now significantly exceeds that of Japan and Germany. The report also highlights broader global shifts that support India’s rise, including a decline of around 6 per cent in the Dollar Index (DXY) from its 2025 peak and stable crude oil prices near $70 per barrel, both of which help ease India’s import burden.

    On the manufacturing front, the report notes the gradual materialisation of the ‘China +1’ strategy. With multinational corporations like Apple moving parts of their iPhone production to India, the country is gaining from favourable cost structures, lower attrition rates, and stronger geopolitical alignment.

    India’s post-election economic outlook is also bolstered by a capex push led by both central and state governments. With a 17.4 per cent rise in capital spending and liquidity support via phased CRR cuts, the report sees these developments as a key force behind India’s economic momentum.

    -IANS