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Category: Transport

  • MoS Harsh Malhotra inaugurates India Energy Storage Week 2025, highlights roadmap for electric mobility

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, on Thursday inaugurated a session on India’s Roadmap for Vehicle Electrification at India Energy Storage Week 2025, held at Yashobhoomi, Delhi.

    In his address, the Minister reiterated Modi Government’s strong commitment to green mobility and the development of a robust electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing ecosystem. He cited the PM E-Drive and FAME-II schemes as crucial initiatives driving this transition.

    Malhotra emphasized that India’s journey towards clean mobility is not just a technological shift but a national imperative to meet climate targets, boost economic resilience, and ensure energy security. He noted that as the fastest-growing major economy, India is well on track with its sustainable mobility goals.

    Highlighting supportive policies like EV retrofitting regulations and toll tax exemptions, he said these measures aim to make electric transportation more accessible and affordable.

    The Minister also spoke about the Multi-Modal Logistics Parks being developed by the Ministry, which now include green energy infrastructure and EV-friendly facilities, contributing to reduced logistics costs, lower emissions, and positioning India as a clean and connected transport hub.

    He reaffirmed the government’s target to generate 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, calling on stakeholders to help build a future that is electric, inclusive, safe, and environmentally responsible.

    Stressing the importance of battery technologies suited to India’s unique climate and transport needs, Malhotra urged the industry to invest in R&D, promote local manufacturing, and adopt circular solutions such as battery recycling and reuse.

    Concluding his remarks, the Minister said that the industrial and business growth witnessed in the past 11 years is now being directed towards achieving India’s Net Zero target by 2070, which remains a pivotal focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Results of monthly survey on business situation of small and medium-sized enterprises for June 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (July 10) the results of the Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) for June 2025.
     
    The current diffusion index (DI) on business receipts amongst SMEs decreased from 42.1 in May 2025 in the contractionary zone to 41.6 in June 2025, whereas the one-month’s ahead (i.e. July 2025) outlook DI on business receipts was 45.4. Analysed by sector, the current DIs on business receipts for many surveyed sectors dropped in June 2025 as compared with previous month, particularly for the business services (from 45.2 to 43.5) and retail trade (from 41.3 to 39.8).
      
    The current DI on new orders for the import and export trades increased from 44.0 in May 2025 to 45.0 in June 2025, whereas the outlook DI on new orders in one month’s time (i.e. July 2025) was 47.6.
     
    Commentary

    A Government spokesman said that overall business sentiment among SMEs weakened slightly in June. The overall employment situation also softened somewhat. Nonetheless, expectations on the business situation in one month’s time remained stable.
     
    Looking ahead, the ongoing uncertainty in trade policies in the external environment would continue to affect business sentiment. Nonetheless, the resilient local economy and sustained steady growth in the Mainland economy should provide support. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely.
     
    Further information
     
    The Monthly Survey on Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises aims to provide a quick reference, with minimum time lag, for assessing the short-term business situation faced by SMEs. SMEs covered in this survey refer to establishments with fewer than 50 persons engaged. Respondents were asked to exclude seasonal fluctuations in reporting their views. Based on the views collected from the survey, a set of diffusion indices (including current and outlook diffusion indices) is compiled. A reading above 50 indicates that the business condition is generally favourable, whereas that below 50 indicates otherwise. As for statistics on the business prospects of prominent establishments in Hong Kong, users may refer to the publication entitled “Report on Quarterly Business Tendency Survey” released by the C&SD.
     
    The results of the survey should be interpreted with care. The survey solicits feedback from a panel sample of about 600 SMEs each month and the survey findings are thus subject to sample size constraint. Views collected from the survey refer only to those of respondents on their own establishments rather than those on the respective sectors they are engaged in. Besides, in this type of opinion survey on expected business situation, the views collected in the survey are affected by the events in the community occurring around the time of enumeration, and it is difficult to establish precisely the extent to which respondents’ perception of the business situation accords with the underlying trends. For this survey, main bulk of the data were collected around the last week of the reference month.
     
    More detailed statistics are given in the “Report on Monthly Survey on the Business Situation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises”. Users can browse and download the publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1080015&scode=300).
     
    Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact Industrial Production Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7246; email: sme-survey@censtatd.gov.hk).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Care centres and services units remain open (2)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

    Please broadcast the following special announcement immediately, and repeat it at frequent intervals:

         The Social Welfare Department announces that while the Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, all units providing child care centre services, services under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, and after school care programmes for pre-primary or primary school children, elderly services centres, day pre-school rehabilitation services units and day rehabilitation units including sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres, integrated vocational training centres and day activity centres will remain open during their normal operating hours. If necessary, members of the public can contact the centres or services units to make arrangements for the safe return home of their children and family members.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary for Health to depart for Nanjing tomorrow

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, will depart for Nanjing tomorrow (July 11) to meet with health officials of Jiangsu Province and introduce them to the latest developments of various healthcare policies in Hong Kong as well as attend the 13th Nanjing Academic Symposium on Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, with a view to deepening exchanges and collaboration on healthcare-related areas with the Mainland.

    During his visit to Nanjing, Professor Lo will also visit local pharmaceutical companies and hospitals to introduce the latest progress in enhancing Hong Kong’s drug approval mechanism and registration regime, and share the city’s experiences in strengthening hospital management and services respectively.

    Accompanying Professor Lo on the visit are the Assistant Director of Health (Drug), Mr Frank Chan; the Director (Quality and Safety) of the Hospital Authority (HA), Dr Michael Wong; and the Cluster Chief Executive of Hong Kong West Cluster of the HA, Dr Theresa Li.

    Professor Lo will return to Hong Kong in the afternoon on July 12. During his absence, the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, will be the Acting Secretary for Health.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EMSD announces test results of LPG quality in June 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (July 10) announced that the department collected 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in June 2025 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
     
    The detailed test results are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/gas_safety/lpg_vehicle_scheme/publications/general/results_of_lpg_sample_analysis/index.html). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD’s hotline on 2333 3762.
     
    In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Expert panel to put science and tech at the heart of clean power

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Expert panel to put science and tech at the heart of clean power

    A new Science and Technology Advisory Council has been set up, to provide expert advice.

    Science and evidence-informed policy will be at the heart of the government’s clean power mission and acceleration to net zero.  

    A group of prestigious scientific leaders has been appointed to the Science and Technology Advisory Council, which met for the first time yesterday (Wednesday 9 July).  

    The Council will provide robust, scientific, evidence-based information to support key decisions as we overhaul our energy system to reach clean power by 2030. 

    It will also offer independent viewpoints and cutting-edge research on topics from climate science, energy networks and engineering, to the latest technologies and artificial intelligence. 

    Their expert advice will allow ministers to access the most up-to-date and well-informed scientific evidence, improving decision-making and effectiveness of policy implementation.  

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    Evidence-based decision-making is fundamental to the drive for clean power and tackling the climate crisis, with informed policymaking the key to securing a better, fairer world for current and future generations. 

    To give our mission the very best chance of success, the Science and Technology Advisory Council will draw on the knowledge and wisdom of some of the finest scientific minds of the nation – because clean power offers a huge prize of energy security, lower bills and good jobs.

    DESNZ Director General Chief Scientific Adviser Paul Monks said: 

    Robust scientific research and evidence is vital to inform decisions, as we break new ground with the mission for clean power by 2030 and accelerate to net zero. 

    I look forward to working with some of the country’s most esteemed climate and energy scientists, engineers and mathematicians, to provide comprehensive and considered advice to government on some of the greatest challenges of our time.

    The team of 16 highly esteemed academic and industry experts will be co-chaired by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Director General Chief Scientific Adviser, Paul Monks, and Professor David Greenwood, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult at Warwick Manufacturing Group.   

    The group will be commissioned for advice as required and will meet quarterly. They will assist the Energy Secretary and the wider department.  

    Science and Technology Advisory Council members

    • Professor Paul Monks CB, FRMetS, FRSC, FInstP – STAC Co-Chair and Chief Scientific Adviser & Director General, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)   
    • Professor David Greenwood FREng – STAC Co-Chair and CEO of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centre  
    • Professor Julian Allwood FREng – Professor of Engineering and the Environment, University of Cambridge  
    • Professor Feargal Brennan – Professor of Offshore Engineering, University of Strathclyde  
    • Professor Richard Dawson CEng FICE FREng – Professor of Earth Systems Engineering, Newcastle University  
    • Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer FRSE, FEI, FIChemE, FRSA, FRSC – Director, UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) and Deputy Principal (Global Sustainability), Heriot-Watt University  
    • Professor Nicholas Pidgeon MBE FBA – Professor of Environmental Psychology and Risk, Cardiff University  
    • Dr Fiona Rayment OBE, FREng, FRSE – Government Advisor, Non-Executive Director and Visiting Professor at University of Manchester  
    • Professor Nilay Shah OBE FREng -Professor of Process Systems Engineering, Imperial College London  
    • Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE – Director, Cambridge Zero  
    • Professor Benjamin Sovacool Ph.D. FAcSS, FRSA, MAE – Professor of Energy Policy, University of Sussex  
    • Dr Erica Thompson – Associate Professor of Modelling for Decision Making, University College London  
    • Professor Elizabeth Patricia Thornley BSc, DPhil, FREng – Professor of Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University  
    • Professor Sara Walker SFHEA – Director of Birmingham Energy Institute 
    • Mr Jonathan Wood C. Eng FRSA – Vice President & Chief Technical Officer, Cummins Inc  
    • Dr David Wright FREng, FIET, MIGEM (Ex-Officio STAC Member) – Co-Chair Energy Research Partnership

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israel’s military says it intercepted a rocket fired from Yemen

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    JERUSALEM, July 10 (Xinhua) — The Israeli army said it intercepted a rocket fired from Yemen toward Israel early Thursday morning, after air raid sirens went off in several areas including Tel Aviv.

    Israel’s national health service, Magen David Adom, said it had received no reports of casualties.

    The Houthis have not yet commented on this information.

    The missile was fired days after Israel launched massive airstrikes on Sunday against Houthi-controlled targets, including three Red Sea ports, a power plant and a ship.

    Israel has carried out a barrage of strikes on key ports and infrastructure in Yemen in recent months, while the Houthis continue to fire rockets into Israel, claiming to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: English-dubbed ‘Ne Zha 2’ featuring Michelle Yeoh to debut in August

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

    A new English-language version of “Ne Zha 2,” already the world’s highest-grossing animated film, is set to open in cinemas in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand from Aug. 22, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh joining the English voice cast.

    A still from “Ne Zha 2.” [Image courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    A24 and CMC Pictures will distribute the English-language version, the companies announced Wednesday. The film will be released in IMAX, 3D and other premium large formats.

    “I’m honored to be part of ‘Ne Zha 2,’ a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”

    The announcement did not say which character Yeoh will voice or disclose other members of the English cast.

    Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film follows mythological figures Ne Zha and Ao Bing, who are reborn in lotus-formed bodies after a catastrophe and must unite against vengeful dragon kings and a scheming god. 

    The film combines traditional Chinese mythology with action, humor and advanced visual effects. The production took five years, with a crew of 4,000 and the involvement of 138 Chinese animation and special effects companies.

    “Ne Zha 2” has emerged as a box office sensation since its release earlier this year, ending its China run on June 30 with 15.45 billion yuan ($2.13 billion) to become the highest-grossing Chinese film ever.

    Its worldwide total has reached $2.19 billion, making it the top-grossing animated film globally, the highest-grossing non-English-language film and the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Titanic.”

    The film is the highest-rated animated feature of 2025, earning a 96% approval rating from critics and a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also ranks among the top-rated releases on Letterboxd. Critics have called it “animated cinema on a scale rarely seen” and “a technical marvel that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.”

    CMC Pictures, the film division of CMC Inc., released a Chinese-dubbed, English-subtitled version of “Ne Zha 2” overseas in February, grossing more than $20 million in North America. The English-dubbed version is expected to further boost the film’s global box office.

    Chinese Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh at an Olympic event in 2023. [File photo/Xinhua]

    “Children, teenagers and families in international markets rarely watch subtitled foreign-language films, and the language barrier remains a key distribution challenge,” said Catherine Ying, vice president of CMC Inc. and president of CMC Pictures. “The English-dubbed version of ‘Ne Zha 2’ is aimed at reaching mainstream audiences and building long-term franchise potential.”

    CMC Pictures has operated internationally since 2016, handling film development, production, investment and distribution in 100 countries.

    A24, the entertainment company behind Oscar-winning films such as “Moonlight” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and the series “Euphoria,” has a catalogue of more than 150 films and 50 television series, with 21 Academy Awards, 18 Golden Globes and 18 Emmys. CMC Pictures said the partnership aims to expand the franchise’s global reach, promote Chinese culture and attract a broader international audience.

    Wang Changtian, chairman of Beijing Enlight Media and producer of “Ne Zha 2,” said at a forum during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 15 that he expects the film’s final international box office receipts to exceed $100 million.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Treasury allocates emergency funding of R750m towards HIV and TB after US funding cuts

    Source: Government of South Africa

    National Treasury has allocated R753 million to the Department of Health — under Section 16 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) — to help bridge the shortfall caused by the United States’ decision to cut HIV and tuberculosis (TB) grants.

    Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement on Wednesday during the Budget Vote presentation in Parliament.

    According to the Minister, R590 million of the total of R753 million will be allocated for service delivery in the provinces, distributed through the comprehensive HIV/Aids component of the District Health Programme Grant.

    In addition, R32.1 million will be given to the National Department of Health to support the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) Programme, as well as pharmaceutical supply chain management.

    Furthermore, R132 million will be transferred to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to enhance health research across the country.

    “This is how it is going to work: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust have pledged R100 million each. 

    “They put a condition that each R100 million they contribute be matched by R200 million from our own Treasury, and that money be given to researchers. Treasury duly agreed.” 

    This means South Africa will receive a total of R600 million allocated to researchers, even though the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has withdrawn support. 

    The United States government’s withdrawal of funding to key health initiatives, including PEPFAR, which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003, led to a loss of R7.9 billion spent on HIV/Aids programmes annually.

    “Hence, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust will together immediately release R200 million. On the other hand, the matching R400 million by Treasury will be released over three years, hence the first tranche of R132 million I have mentioned.“

    According to the Minister, these funds are meant to address the most urgent needs, with the possibility of additional allocations being considered later.

    This week, he stated that the South African Medical Research Council , along with researchers from various institutions and universities, are discussing how they will distribute funds, which will be transferred to the SAMRC.

    “We are determined more than ever before to end the scourge of HIV/Aids as a public health threat. Today is a historic day in this regard. As I am speaking to you now, the Global Fund in Geneva is announcing… that it has signed an access agreement with Gilead Sciences to procure lenacapavir,” the Minister said. 

    The Minister has referred to lenacapavir, a long-acting injection for HIV prevention, as one of the most significant advancements in HIV prevention in decades. 

    This is the first long-acting injectable treatment for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), administered twice a year. 

    According to the Minister, lenacapavir significantly expands the options available for HIV prevention, offering the most choices ever.

    “For South Africa, we regard this as a game changer in our fight against HIV/Aids.

    “As such, as South Africa, we have agreed to be one of the first countries in the starting blocks for lenacapavir.” 

    According to the Minister, the first shipment is expected to arrive in at least one African country by the end of 2025.

    “We intend to be such a country, and we have already started putting the plan together. We plan to offer lenacapavir to young women and everyone at risk to stay HIV-free.

    “We all know that for far too long, women and girls in our country have carried the greatest burden of this epidemic.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SAPS warns young women of drug trafficking syndicates

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned young women not to fall prey to drug trafficking syndicates, as this can have dire consequences. 

    This follows the sentencing of a 30-year-old female Namibian drug mule by the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court. She was sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment for drug dealing, of which three years were wholly suspended.

    Pauline Mbangula was arrested on 22 September 2024 shortly after landing at OR Tambo International Airport from São Paulo, Brazil.

    At the time, she was found to have swallowed at least 68 bullets – packets filled with cocaine. A medical examination confirmed that there were drugs in her stomach, which she was later made to release.

    “At the time of her arrest, she claimed that she was taken to Brazil by a man she recently met under false pretenses that they were going on holiday,” the South African Police Service said in a statement. 

    Upon arrival in Brazil, she was forced to swallow the drugs and traffic them to South Africa. 

    More than 22 drug mules have been arrested by police at OR Tambo International Airport in the past year. 

    “The regular arrests of drug mules at the OR Tambo International Airport should send a stern warning that police in South Africa, and in particular at this port of entry, are always on high alert to clamp down on criminality,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ambitious strategy to help nature recover and thrive launches

    Source: City of Leicester

    A BOLD new strategy making space for nature across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland has been officially launched.

    The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been developed by Leicestershire County Council and partners to protect nature and allow it to recover by conserving and improving habitats and biodiversity.

    The launch, at Brooksby College in Melton on Tuesday 8 July, marks a major milestone in the commitment to nature recovery, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in a collective effort to restore and protect the natural environment.  

    These include farmers, landowners, conservation groups, community organisations and representatives from local authorities – all involved in helping to shape the future of nature and make the vision of the LNRS a reality.

    It sets out practical actions to boost the area’s wildlife and natural spaces including:

    • Tackling habitat loss and shrinking species population – by expanding woodland cover, connecting rivers to their floodplains and controlling invasive plant species
    • Identifying habitats and species that need urgent attention – including barbastelle bats, hazel dormice, adders, palmate newts, European eels and water voles.
    • Building a healthier, more connected natural environment – by protecting existing hedgerows and new native hedgerows and creating wildlife-friendly road verges with native wildflowers and grasses.

    Assistant city mayor for environment, Cllr Geoff Whittle, said: “This strategy and the action plan that will follow are very important to Leicester. They will support the recovery of nature, improve people’s access to it, and help to bring about improvements in health and wellbeing for people.

    “They also support the city’s response to climate change by identifying opportunities for nature-based solutions to the problems we face.”

    Cllr Adam Tilbury, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for Environment and Flooding, said: “This is about taking positive, practical action to recover nature in every corner of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland – from our rivers and woodlands to our farmlands and towns.

    “The strong support we’ve received shows that the people of Leicestershire. Leicester and Rutland care deeply about the environment and are ready to work together for a greener, healthier future.”

    Cllr Virge Richichi, cabinet member for communities and rural issues, said: “Nature recovery is not something we can do alone – and that’s why this strategy is built on partnership. Everyone in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland has a role to play. Together, we can deliver real change for people, wildlife, and the places we all cherish.”

    Penny Sharp, Strategic Director for Places at Rutland County Council, said: “We know many people in Leicestershire and Rutland feel a strong connection to nature and the rural landscape, which form part of the area’s unique character and identity. This goes hand in hand with an appreciation of climate issues and a desire to protect the environment.

    “Development of this strategy has been welcomed by local communities, who also understand that nature plays a key role in our quality of life and the health of our rural economy. We now have a clear set of priorities that reflect the views of our residents and can support action to bring about positive change.”

    Now, Leicestershire County Council will work with partners to create a delivery plan to:

    • Provide support for farmers delivering nature friendly farming practices and habitat creation.
    • Protect communities from flooding using solutions such as tree planting, re-meandering rivers and connecting rivers to their floodplains.
    • Expand woodland cover and maintain wildlife corridors linking woodlands with other habitats.
    • Safeguard and enhance natural spaces in existing and future urban areas.
    • Create ‘nature corridors’ along historic rail lines and canals allowing wildflower verges, trees, and hedgerows to thrive.
    • Manage grasslands to increase their species richness, providing homes for pollinators, reptiles and rare plants.
    • Deliver tailored management plans to save threatened priority species from extinction.
    • Educate everyone on the importance of local nature recovery and how they can get involved.

    Just under 1,200 responses were received during a consultation held earlier this year with 97 per cent of participants supported the strategy’s aims. Feedback helped to shape the final version of the LNRS, ensuring it reflects local priorities and ideas.

    The most popular suggestions for action were the creation of new habitats, the restoration or expansion of existing habitats and the need to make space for nature in housing, industrial and other developments.

    For more information and to read the strategy, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/what-is-a-lnrs

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maximum Contribution Applying in Each Region From 1 July 2025

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    Background

    Under section 53 of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018, the Director-General of Health has determined the maximum contribution that applies in each region for long-term aged residential care.

    The maximum contribution is the maximum weekly amount (inclusive of GST) that a resident assessed as requiring long-term residential care (through a needs assessment and service coordination agency) is required to pay for contracted care services provided to them in the region in which their rest home or continuing care hospital is located.

    The maximum contribution is the same for all residents regardless of the type of contracted care services they receive. It is equivalent to the rest home contract price applying to residential care facilities in each region.

    The maximum contribution set by this notice applies from 1 July 2025 and replaces the previous maximum contribution notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 September 2024, Notice No. 2024-go4265.

    Description of Regions

    The appendix of this notice sets out the maximum contribution rates. The appendix contains two parts:

    • Part 1, which sets out the rates that apply within Territorial Local Authority (TLA) boundaries; and
    • Part 2, which sets out the rates that apply within specific Statistical Areas, which are smaller subregions within the TLA boundaries specified in Part 1.

    The rate specified for the relevant region in Part 1 applies unless the facility is in a statistical area region set out in Part 2, in which case the rate specified in Part 2 applies. This reflects that a higher maximum contribution rate applies in the isolated rural localities represented by the Statistical Area Regions in Part 2 of the Table.

    Statistics New Zealand has a geographic boundary viewer that displays the TLA areas and statistical areas in the appendix on a map of New Zealand. See here for more information: Geographic Boundary Viewer.

    Health New Zealand will notify residences of the maximum contribution rate that applies to their facility. The facility will inform residents.

    Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) Agencies, Specialised Processing Services, the Ministry of Social Development and residential care providers will also be able to advise the maximum contribution rate for a facility.

    Dated at Wellington this 18th day of June 2025.

    Audrey Sonerson, Director-General of Health.

    Appendix: 2025-26 Maximum Contribution rates

    Part 1: Territorial Local Authority Region Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
    Far North District $1,460.27
    Whangarei District $1,491.84
    Kaipara District $1,502.48
    Rodney District $1,527.33
    North Shore City $1,566.32
    Waitakere City $1,535.24
    Auckland City $1,571.57
    Manukau City $1,555.96
    Papakura District $1,527.33
    Franklin District $1,487.85
    Thames-Coromandel District $1,508.08
    Hauraki District $1,465.87
    Waikato District $1,465.87
    Matamata-Piako District $1,465.87
    Hamilton City $1,502.55
    Waipa District $1,465.87
    Otorohanga District $1,497.37
    South Waikato District $1,455.16
    Waitomo District $1,502.55
    Taupo District $1,491.84
    Western Bay of Plenty District $1,487.85
    Tauranga City $1,509.97
    Rotorua District $1,491.84
    Whakatane District $1,481.34
    Kawerau District $1,502.48
    Opotiki District $1,502.48
    Gisborne District $1,463.28
    Wairoa District $1,528.73
    Hastings District $1,486.52
    Napier City $1,486.52
    Central Hawke’s Bay District $1,486.52
    New Plymouth District $1,486.52
    Stratford District $1,460.27
    South Taranaki District $1,465.87
    Ruapehu District $1,502.55
    Wanganui District $1,465.87
    Rangitikei District $1,502.48
    Manawatu District $1,460.27
    Palmerston North City $1,481.34
    Tararua District $1,460.27
    Horowhenua District $1,460.27
    Kapiti Coast District $1,491.84
    Porirua City $1,491.84
    Upper Hutt City $1,481.34
    Lower Hutt City $1,512.28
    Wellington City $1,535.66
    Masterton District $1,463.28
    Carterton District $1,460.27
    South Wairarapa District $1,460.27
    Tasman District $1,517.95
    Nelson City $1,517.95
    Marlborough District $1,481.34
    Kaikoura District $1,487.85
    Buller District $1,497.37
    Grey District $1,455.16
    Westland District $1,497.37
    Hurunui District $1,508.08
    Waimakariri District $1,487.85
    Christchurch City $1,496.88
    Banks Peninsula District $1,539.09
    Selwyn District $1,530.06
    Ashburton District $1,470.98
    Timaru District $1,465.87
    Waimate District $1,455.16
    Waitaki District $1,455.16
    Central Otago District $1,460.27
    Queenstown-Lakes District $1,512.91
    Dunedin City $1,481.34
    Clutha District $1,455.16
    Southland District $1,497.37
    Gore District $1,455.16
    Invercargill City $1,460.27
    Part 2: Statistical Area Region Statistical Area code 2 2023 Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
    Kaeo 101900 $1,502.48
    Kaitaia 100800 $1,502.48
    Hokianga South 102100 $1,502.48
    Kaikohe 103501 $1,502.48
    Wellsford 110501 $1,569.54
    Cape Rodney 110400 $1,569.54
    Glenbrook 162400 $1,530.06
    Te Kauwhata East 171101 $1,508.08
    Raglan 171601 $1,508.08
    Matarawa 186400 $1,497.37
    Athenree 190400 $1,530.06
    Tokomaru 205000 $1,505.49
    Opunake 220700 $1,508.08
    Te Roti-Moeroa 221201 $1,508.08
    Pātea 222201 $1,508.08
    Pahiatua 233600 $1,502.48
    Tākaka 300500 $1,560.09
    Waitohi (Marlborough District) 306801 $1,523.48
    Oxford 313200 $1,530.06
    Methven 336901 $1,513.12
    Danseys Pass 343300 $1,497.37
    Palmerston 344700 $1,497.37
    Alexandra North 345500 $1,502.48
    Teviot Valley 345800 $1,502.48
    Lindis-Nevis Valleys 344800 $1,502.48
    Cromwell West 344900 $1,502.48
    Wānaka West 346800 $1,555.12
    Wānaka Central 347000 $1,555.12
    Balclutha South 356500 $1,497.37
    Balclutha North 356600 $1,497.37
    West Otago 355800 $1,497.37
    Milton 356400 $1,497.37

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Development of San Tin Technopole (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (First Phase)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Lands Department (LandsD) today (July 10) posted land resumption notices and acquisition notices for the developments of San Tin Technopole (STT) (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (SPS WCP) (First Phase), in accordance with relevant ordinances.

    Section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) and section 4 of the Land Acquisition (Possessory Title) Ordinance (Chapter 130) will be invoked.

    For STT (Phase 1) (First Batch), 1 309 private lots with an area of about 62 hectares will be resumed by the Government. Government land occupied by 20 graves and 42 urns, as well as 25 fishponds of about 700 square metres and about 7.5 hectares respectively, will also be acquired. In addition, for the establishment of SPS WCP (First Phase), about 85.2 hectares of government land occupied by 110 fishponds will be acquired by the Government. The land will revert to and vest in the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. October 11, 2025).

    The abovementioned land reversion date and land vesting date are not the departure deadlines for the affected households and business undertakings. The LandsD will post notices in relevant areas about three months before the departure deadlines for the affected parties. According to the project programmes, the affected parties are scheduled to depart in batches. The estimated departure date for STT Phase 1 Stage 1 works will be in batches mainly from the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter of 2027, whereas the estimated departure date for SPS WCP (First Phase) will be in batches mainly from the fourth quarter of 2026 to 2027. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will closely liaise with the affected parties to handle compensation and rehousing matters.

    The STT (excluding the Loop), with an area of about 540 hectares, will be developed in two phases, with Phase 1 development of about 365 hectares. The works for Phase 1 development are subdivided into two stages, with an area of about 158 hectares for Stage 1 works and about 207 hectares for Stage 2 works. The Stage 1 works commenced late last year. As previously stated publicly, the Government will not carry out pond filling works before commencing works for SPS WCP in 2026/2027. Upon full development, the STT will provide about 50 000 residential flats, accommodating a new population of more than 150 000. It will also create about 160 000 employment opportunities. The first population intake of about 18 000 under Phase 1 Stage 1 development will start progressively from 2031 onwards.

    SPS WCP, spanning over 300 hectares, will also be developed in two phases. The works of SPS WCP (First Phase) covering an area of about 150 hectares will commence in 2026/2027 (including the abovementioned proposed acquisition of land of about 85.2 hectares) for completion in 2031. The park serves multi-functions to conserve the Deep Bay wetlands, facilitate the modernisation of the aquaculture industry, as well as create environmental capacity and compensate for the impact on ecology and fisheries resources. The entire park is expected to be completed by 2039 to align with the estimated time for full operation of the STT.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Development of San Tin Technopole (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (First Phase)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Lands Department (LandsD) today (July 10) posted land resumption notices and acquisition notices for the developments of San Tin Technopole (STT) (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (SPS WCP) (First Phase), in accordance with relevant ordinances.

    Section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) and section 4 of the Land Acquisition (Possessory Title) Ordinance (Chapter 130) will be invoked.

    For STT (Phase 1) (First Batch), 1 309 private lots with an area of about 62 hectares will be resumed by the Government. Government land occupied by 20 graves and 42 urns, as well as 25 fishponds of about 700 square metres and about 7.5 hectares respectively, will also be acquired. In addition, for the establishment of SPS WCP (First Phase), about 85.2 hectares of government land occupied by 110 fishponds will be acquired by the Government. The land will revert to and vest in the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. October 11, 2025).

    The abovementioned land reversion date and land vesting date are not the departure deadlines for the affected households and business undertakings. The LandsD will post notices in relevant areas about three months before the departure deadlines for the affected parties. According to the project programmes, the affected parties are scheduled to depart in batches. The estimated departure date for STT Phase 1 Stage 1 works will be in batches mainly from the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter of 2027, whereas the estimated departure date for SPS WCP (First Phase) will be in batches mainly from the fourth quarter of 2026 to 2027. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will closely liaise with the affected parties to handle compensation and rehousing matters.

    The STT (excluding the Loop), with an area of about 540 hectares, will be developed in two phases, with Phase 1 development of about 365 hectares. The works for Phase 1 development are subdivided into two stages, with an area of about 158 hectares for Stage 1 works and about 207 hectares for Stage 2 works. The Stage 1 works commenced late last year. As previously stated publicly, the Government will not carry out pond filling works before commencing works for SPS WCP in 2026/2027. Upon full development, the STT will provide about 50 000 residential flats, accommodating a new population of more than 150 000. It will also create about 160 000 employment opportunities. The first population intake of about 18 000 under Phase 1 Stage 1 development will start progressively from 2031 onwards.

    SPS WCP, spanning over 300 hectares, will also be developed in two phases. The works of SPS WCP (First Phase) covering an area of about 150 hectares will commence in 2026/2027 (including the abovementioned proposed acquisition of land of about 85.2 hectares) for completion in 2031. The park serves multi-functions to conserve the Deep Bay wetlands, facilitate the modernisation of the aquaculture industry, as well as create environmental capacity and compensate for the impact on ecology and fisheries resources. The entire park is expected to be completed by 2039 to align with the estimated time for full operation of the STT.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Andrew Bailey: The meaning of reserve currency

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to make some remarks this afternoon. This is not just to be able to follow a fascinating and timely lecture, but also because I worked for Andrew Crockett at the Bank of England nearly 40 years ago. Andrew was inspiring to work for, one of the deepest thinkers about international economic policy and central banking. He also had a quite incautious side too. He was a practitioner of one of his favourite phrases – “if you have never missed a plane, you obviously arrive at airports too early”. Andrew was also the creator of the Financial Stability Forum, and its first chair.

    I want to spend my time developing a theme that has run though Maury’s lecture, namely what has been the meaning of the term reserve currency, and what does it mean today. My conclusion is that it is best to think of the term as one that has evolved with the times, and continues to do so. Thinking of it as a constant term does not help to understand its meaning.

    I will start with the nineteenth century meaning of the term. The monetary regime was the classical gold standard, and convertibility of domestic currency into gold at a fixed price was the nominal anchor of the system. The term reserve therefore referred to the gold reserves that were held to enable convertibility and the promise thereof.

    The nineteenth century Bank of England spent time managing that reserve balance to create confidence in the promise of convertibility. Today, our banknotes still carry the words “I promise to pay the bearer on demand, the sum of”. Nowadays, it means that someone can have another banknote, but under the gold standard it meant much more. This system did not put as much emphasis on financial stability, with the consequence that when crises occurred (as they did in that time), they were managed with a certain degree of adhocery. Hence, Walter Bagehot wrote his famous critique of the Bank.

    There was rather more to the concept of reserve currency in this period. Sterling was the premier currency of international trade, built on trade with the British Empire, but extending further over time to the countries of the so-called Sterling Area. It is one of the questions in central bank Trivial Pursuit to name countries in the Sterling Area.

    The collapse of this system between the wars led to the Bretton Woods system coming into existence and its heyday once full convertibility was restored. This system had the joint dollar-gold anchor in the form of a fixed dollar-gold rate and pegging of the major currencies. The consequence was a substantial growth of official dollar reserves, and the further emergence thus of the dollar as the reserve currency.

    The system therefore had a joint anchor. Because Bretton Woods solved the so-called Trilemma by restricting capital flows, the threat of countries exhausting reserves was limited, but not sufficiently so to prevent difficult devaluations at times. Moreover, I tend to think of the Triffin Dilemma as posing the question – what if the bluff of the dollar-gold tie had been called, and what would be the consequence?

    From the early 1970s that system broke down. Countries moved to free float, with periodic attempts at management, and a lifting of restrictions on capital controls. Alongside this was the emergence of the domestic anchor of monetary policy, usually an inflation target. The dollar had become the predominant currency of international trade and payments.

    The role and nature of reserves had changed. No longer were they a nineteenth century description of the central bank’s balance sheet and its liquidity under the classical gold standard. Rather, they became a description of so-called official reserves typically, but not always, held by governments, though often managed by central banks. Their role was different, reflecting the changes to the solution of the Trilemma. As foreign exchange intervention to influence exchange rates came to an end, the role of reserves in many countries was to act as a bulwark against pressures from capital flows, as seen in the Asian crisis of the late 1990s.

    A few numbers help here. The stock of FX reserves relative to global GDP increased from 3% to 11% between 1976 and last year.

    During that period, foreign currency reserves as a proportion of global reserve assets including gold increased from 50% to 90%, while the dollar’s share of foreign currency reserves declined from 80% to 57%. I take four points from these figures: the total stock of FX reserves has increased; the share of gold fell; the dollar’s share fell as it moved from being the anchor currency to the largest currency; and the evidence further supports the view that the meaning of the term reserve currency has changed over time.

    Today, with domestic monetary anchors, financial stability has become the focus of international co-ordination, the opposite of the gold standard arrangements. The meaning of reserve currency has changed again as a consequence. I would point to two important features of today’s system.

    First, the concept of reserve currency has a lot more to do with the supply and denomination of safe assets which act as security in the financial system, and are increasingly at the heart of it. This version of the concept of reserve currency has as much to do with the role of US Treasuries as a safe asset, that is present not just in official reserves but also to provide security and collateral in financial markets.

    Second, these arrangements are backed up by the provision of contingent liquidity insurance in the form of central bank swaps and a repo facility. These arrangements underpin the role and primacy of the reserve currency.

    I will end with two points which strike me as unfinished or emerging. First, at least for the large economies, it could be asked today, what is the point of official reserves? My view is that today their use is more to do with preserving financial stability in the event of stress. They may be needed to support financial system liquidity in situations of extreme stress.

    My second point, as BIS colleagues have emphasised, is that we need to watch carefully the evolution of payments forms and whether innovation here introduces fragility into what I would call the “money system”.

    If, for instance, stablecoins emerge as a new form of money, we have to decide how to ensure the singleness of money and therefore trust in money in this world, and what role the notion of reserve currency should play here.

    To finish, thank you Maury for such a stimulating lecture. You pushed me to think further about the meaning of reserve currency. The conclusion I draw was that we need to emphasise more its adaptable nature, but thereby be very clear what it means in the world of today and tomorrow.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Vasileios Madouros: Opening statement – Oireachtas Select Committee on Budgetary Oversight

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good afternoon Chair and Members of the Committee. Thank you for inviting us to appear before the Committee today.

    I am joined by my colleagues Martin O’Brien, Head of our Irish Economic Analysis Division and Thomas Conefrey, Deputy Head in the same Division. We very much welcome the opportunity to engage with you on the outlook for the economy and the public finances.

    In my opening statement, I will cover briefly our latest assessment of the economic outlook, as outlined in our June Quarterly Bulletin, as well as our latest economic advice to the Government, as outlined in the Governor’s pre-Budget letter (PDF 3.04MB), published last week.

    The economic outlook

    Let me start with the global context, because the key factors shaping the domestic outlook stem from developments abroad, but with important implications for Ireland.

    Since the start of the year, we have seen a material shift in trade policy, with rising tariffs between the US and its trading partners, as well as a sharp increase in policy uncertainty.

    In light of these developments, the global growth outlook has weakened. Short-term forecasts for world trade and economic activity have been revised downwards. And uncertainty around these forecasts is particularly elevated, given the range of potential outcomes around trade policy.

    The openness of the Irish economy and the prominent role that FDI and multinational firms play domestically mean that Ireland is particularly exposed to changes in the global economic outlook as well as shifts in trade policy, and broader economic policy, in the US.

    Given uncertainty over the future direction of US trade policy, our June Quarterly Bulletin presented projections for the economy under a baseline and a more adverse scenario.

    These were based on different assumptions around the level and coverage of tariffs, the level and persistence of uncertainty and the future path of financing conditions.

    In the baseline scenario, we expected Modified Domestic Demand to grow by 2.0 per cent in 2025 and by 2.1 per cent per annum on average in 2026 and 2027.

    This is a downward revision to the growth outlook relative to our previous projections – but the central outlook is still consistent with a full-employment economy.

    The adverse scenario assumed persistently higher and broader tariffs, including due to retaliation from the EU. It also assumed that policy uncertainty would remain higher for longer and that financing conditions would be tighter.

    In this scenario, annual average MDD growth would almost halve compared to the baseline, illustrating the sensitivity of economic activity to an escalation of trade tensions.

    The trade-offs facing the public finances

    The economy and public finances are entering this period of heightened uncertainty from a strong position. But there are also underlying vulnerabilities that need to be managed carefully.

    The exceptional growth in corporation tax receipts since 2015 and the strong pace of economic expansion in recent years have resulted in a marked increase in government revenues.

    As a result, even with the substantial rise in government spending and some tax cuts, the headline budget balance has run substantial surpluses in recent years.

    However, external developments mean that this benign combination of factors, namely, a rapidly growing economy and exceptional corporate tax receipts, could be at risk in the coming years.

    In particular, risks to the fiscal position from lower corporate taxes and other MNE-dependent taxes have increased given recent international developments.

    And, excluding estimated “excess” corporation tax (and the impact of the Apple State Aid case), the budget balance has been in a persistent deficit position for 17 consecutive years.

    At the same time, in the current juncture, an important public policy priority is the need for higher investment, both to address infrastructure deficits and to support the transition to net zero.

    Indeed, these infrastructure deficits have become an increasingly significant factor constraining the supply side of the economy.

    Addressing infrastructure deficits will not only help meet important societal and economic needs today, but also enable our economy to remain competitive amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.   

    Finally, looking further into the future, there are known future funding needs that the State needs to prepare for today.

    Given demographic trends, Ireland is expected to see the largest increase in age-related spending, on areas such as pensions, healthcare and long-term care, amongst the EU by 2050.

    And we know already that the Future Ireland Fund, the establishment of which has been a very positive public policy intervention, will not be sufficient, on its own, to finance the higher level of public expenditure that will be required to meet the needs of an older population.

    Overall, the current environment presents important trade-offs for fiscal policy. Between investing in infrastructure, but not adding excessively to demand in a capacity-constrained economy. Between addressing the funding needs of today, but also preparing for the funding needs of the future.

    Managing those trade-offs

    While undoubtedly this presents a difficult balancing act, careful management of the public finances can contribute to achieving these multiple aims. So let me finish off by summarising our economic policy advice outlined in the Governor’s pre-budget letter, in light of those trade-offs.

    I will focus on three areas in particular.

    First, it is important that the Government commits, and adheres to, a credible fiscal anchor that results in sustainable increases in net government expenditure over time. In the current context of the economy operating at capacity, it is important, from a macro-stabilisation perspective, that the overall fiscal policy stance does not add excessively to demand.  

    Second, within that overall fiscal envelope, the public finances need to prioritise investment. Sustainably achieving the necessary rise in public investment requires creating sufficient economic and fiscal space, through offsetting choices in terms of current spending or taxation. Beyond demand management considerations, broadening the tax base is also important for addressing future funding needs and mitigating the reliance of the public finances on corporate tax receipts.

    Third, public investment alone will not be sufficient to address the economy’s infrastructure gaps. Measures that reduce delays, and, therefore, the ultimate costs, in the planning and building of infrastructure are needed to help ensure that the benefits of public investment for long-term growth are realised fully.  Measures that incentivise scale and investment in new machinery, equipment and technologies in the construction sector can also help enhance productivity and enable more sustainable delivery of housing and infrastructure. These structural policies can have an outsized impact on strengthening the supply side of the economy, complementing, and adding to the effectiveness of, additional public investment in infrastructure.

    Thank you for your attention and we look forward to your questions.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Gent Sejko: Bolstering credit to the agriculture sector

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Dear Minister Minister of Finance,

    Dear representatives of the banking sector,

    Let me start by conveying my heartfelt thanks for your participation in this important roundtable discussion, co-organized with the Ministry of Finance. This event aims to identify the appropriate pathways and instruments for opening a new chapter regarding credit to the agricultural sector in Albania.

    As we have emphasized in many previous discussions and communication platforms, lending to the agricultural sector has been-and continues to be-a structural weakness for both our economy and banking sector.

    The comparison of the significant role that agriculture plays in the Albanian economy with the limited level of credit this sector receives from the banking sector, clearly illustrates this weakness. Agriculture accounts for around 20% of GDP of Albania and employs around 1/3 of population, yet it benefits less than 2% of total bank credit. Moreover, recent trends in the agricultural lending have not been encouraging.

    The underlying reasons of the low level of credit to the agricultural sector-ranging from property ownership issues and high levels of informality, to the relatively high business risk and low productivity due to the absence of economies of scale-have been consistently discussed. Some of these problems still remain relevant, while others are gradually being addressed.

    However, even in this challenging context – credit to the agricultural remains low. This deficiency must be addressed without further delay if we aim at boosting the stable development of this sector that is crucial for the Albanian economy.

    Against this backdrop, the Bank of Albania has aligned its Financing Programme to Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises to emphasize the growth of credit to the agricultural sector.
    This program, that involves all stakeholders in the banking sector, offers a reliable and sustainable source of low-cost funding to support lending of development projects in the agricultural sector, including agrotourism and the agro-food industry.

    Last, the Government of Albania has undertaken concrete steps in this regard, by making available a sovereign guarantee scheme for loans granted to the agriculture sector.  This guarantee significantly mitigates the credit risk related with this sector, in turn considerably reducing one of the fundamental problems we have discussed, and the collateral.

    We deem that both development projects provide a solid platform for progressing further as we make a new qualitative step in lending to the agriculture. Nevertheless, the success of this platform considerably dependents on the involvement and the commitment to utilising its instruments.

    In this context, allow me to draw your attention to three important points.

    • First, from the narrower perspective of the business interests you represent, I would like to highlight that the low level of lending to the agricultural sector should be considered equally both as a reflection of existing structural and operational problems, and as a potential indicator for the high returns you may have from investments in this sector. In light of this, I encourage you to give agricultural sector the attention and expertise it rightly deserves.
    • Second, from the perspective of the overall economic development, the growth of the agricultural sector-aligned and progressing in parallel with other sectors of the economy-should be regarded as a crucial pillar for the long-term and sustainable development of Albania. From this standpoint, as primary actors in Albania’s economic and financial landscape, you are encouraged to view lending to the agricultural sector as a strategic investment that yields positive returns for the country’s sustainable and inclusive growth.
    • Third, as key actors in the social life of the country, the support to the agriculture sector should also be viewed as a moral obligation toward Albania, the country where you safely carry out your business and in a profitable manner. Supporting the food supply chain industry remains a factor of vital importance for a country and its population.

    Dear representatives of the banking sector,

    I kindly invite you to consider the issues addressed above more as an appeal to your rational judgement than to your emotions. The Bank of Albania will not, under no circumstances, take measures that would jeopardise the soundness of your financial positions or undermine the financial stability interests of Albania in the long term.

    That said, while safeguarding financial stability, I believe it is appropriate to engage in an open and transparent dialogue aimed at rethinking our approach to lending in the agricultural sector, in line with the long-term interests of the social and economic development of Albania.

    Thank You!

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Survey reveals high parental confidence in children’s vaccines

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Survey reveals high parental confidence in children’s vaccines

    UKHSA data shows 85% of parents are confident childhood vaccines are safe, effective and trustworthy.

    New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows continued high levels of confidence in the UK’s childhood vaccination programme.

    The Childhood vaccines: parental attitudes survey 2025, which tracks parental attitudes towards childhood immunisations across the UK found that most parents believe that childhood vaccines are safe (85% up from 84% in 2023) that they trust them (84% up from 82% in 2024) and they work (87% compared to 89% in 2024).

    Parents had a strong awareness of the risks posed by vaccine-preventable diseases, with over 90% (compared to 86% last year) agreeing that pneumonia, meningitis, hepatitis, polio and septicaemia were serious.

    The survey also captured parental attitudes towards newer additions to the vaccination schedule. An important new pregnancy vaccine was introduced in September 2025 to help protect babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and 85% of parents of babies and younger children also rated RSV infection as serious.

    Healthcare professionals, in particular GPs, health visitors and nurses, continue to be the most trusted source of vaccine information. 76% of parents had seen or heard information about children’s vaccines in the past year, predominantly from trusted sources including healthcare professionals and official NHS websites. Only 7% ranked the internet and 3% social media in their top three most trusted sources.

    Most parents (79%) had already decided that their baby would have all the vaccines offered before they spoke to a health professional. However, following a discussion with a health professional more than half of these parents (53%) said they felt even more confident about their decision, and of those who had decided not to vaccinate 15% changed their mind in favour of vaccination. This is positive news, given the declines in uptake over recent years, and highlights the vital role that knowledgeable health care professionals can play in reversing that decline.

    Most parents (80%) reported that they had not seen or heard any concerning information about childhood vaccines, with 12% reporting mixed information and just 3% reporting hearing or seeing information that undermines vaccines. 86% of all parents felt they had received enough information to make an informed decision about vaccines offered to their children.

    Dr Julie Yates, UK Health Security Agency’s Deputy Director for Immunisation Programmes:

    The findings from our latest survey are encouraging and show that most parents across the UK continue to trust the NHS childhood vaccination programme and understand its importance in protecting our children. It’s particularly reassuring that parents identify healthcare professionals and NHS resources as their most trusted sources of vaccine information. Having questions about vaccines is a normal part of the parental journey. Our survey highlights the crucial role that healthcare professionals play in providing parents with accurate information about vaccines and the serious diseases they protect against, and in building confidence in these programmes. We urge parents with any concerns to speak with a trusted NHS professional such as their GP, Health Visitor, Midwife or Practice Nurse.

    However, childhood vaccination rates are still not where we want them to be, and we cannot be complacent. We know that many parents and carers have busy lifestyles, and that finding time to ensure your child attends their appointment can be a challenge. That is why we are working with the NHS and partners to improve access to childhood vaccination services. Getting our rates up to the 95% WHO target required to eliminate these diseases will take sustained effort and a long-term commitment across the public health system, and we are working together and with families and communities to do this.

    Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said:

    Today’s findings reflect the essential work being done by GPs, health visitors and nurses to reliably inform parents about childhood vaccinations, with more than half of parents saying they felt more confident in getting their children vaccinated after speaking to a healthcare professional, with vaccination one of the best ways to boost public health and prevent illnesses.

    Our childhood immunisation programmes are available for free on the NHS as we want to make sure as many children as possible are protected against becoming seriously unwell, and NHS England continues to work closely with vaccination teams, schools and GP services to make it as easy as possible for young people to get their jabs.

    Our 10 Year Health Plan aims to build an NHS fit for the future which includes improving access to vaccinations to help put people in control of their own health and I would encourage all parents to act on invites or check vaccination records if they think they may have missed their child’s vaccination.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Career Trajectory “Intern”: Polytechnic University Raises New Generation of Teachers

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    60 young teachers — representatives of all 12 SPbPU institutes — have become graduates of the retraining program “Pedagogical Start”. The program is a mandatory part of the career trajectory “Intern”, intended for master’s students and final-year specialists, as well as postgraduate students planning their professional career as a teacher or researcher.

    The program participants successfully defended their final theses and received diplomas of professional retraining. Many of them will continue their teaching activities in the new academic year as assistants.

    “The career trajectory “Intern” was launched for the first time at the Polytechnic University this academic year as part of the implementation of the policy in the field of forming career trajectories for the professional development of teaching staff from among the faculty,” said Lyudmila Pankova, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities at SPbPU. “Graduates of the “Pedagogical Start” program are our successor, who will help current teachers transform the university’s educational programs to achieve technological leadership in our country.”

    The professional retraining program “Pedagogical Start” included a large block of theoretical training, allowing to master modern educational technologies, regulatory foundations of pedagogical activity, methods of working in the digital environment of SPbPU, as well as pedagogical internship under the guidance of mentors – leading teachers of higher schools and departments of the university.

    The pedagogical internship became the core of the entire retraining program, allowing the interns, on the one hand, to adopt the experience of the best teachers in the relevant professional field, and on the other hand, to apply all the theoretical knowledge they had acquired in practice, trying themselves out as teachers, noted Elena Zima, Director of the SPbPU Education Quality Center and Head of the Pedagogical Start program.

    During the defense of their final theses, the interns presented their experience of implementing the chosen teaching method and the developed fragment of the online course in the electronic information and educational environment of the Polytechnic. It is especially valuable and worthy of respect that the newly-minted teachers mastered the program in parallel with the preparation of diplomas in the main educational programs.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Govt prepares for adverse weather

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    With adverse weather conditions forecast for Hong Kong, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today chaired a meeting of the steering committee for the handling of extreme weather.

     

    The meeting was convened to review and steer cross-departmental preparations and response plans with respect to typhoons, rainstorms and thunderstorms.

     

    Tropical Cyclone Danas, now over Fujian, is forecast to enter Guangdong tomorrow and weaken gradually. An active southwest monsoon to its south will generally affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Estuary tomorrow and Friday, and there will be torrential rain and squally thunderstorms over Hong Kong, with the weather possibly becoming relatively severe by then.

     

    Members of the public are advised to pay attention to the latest weather forecasts and warnings from the Observatory.

     

    At the meeting, the Drainage Services Department reported that it had made special arrangements to inspect and carry out clearance at about 240 locations which are prone to flooding due to blockages. 

     

    The “just-in-time” arrangement will continue, with 180 emergency response teams conducting inspection and clearance of drainage channels in different districts across the city.

     

    The Highways Department will inspect flood warning systems installed at road tunnels and pedestrian subways with a higher risk of flooding. Locations include the Kwun Tong Road Underpass and pedestrian subways along the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin, the Lam Tsuen River in Tai Po and the Tai Po River. 

     

    Meanwhile, District Offices have also initiated relevant response measures, including co-ordinating with other departments and organisations to enhance preparedness. They will mobilise District Council members, members of “the three committees” and Care Team members to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas, reminding them to make necessary preparations.

     

    The Security Bureau’s Emergency Monitoring & Support Centre (EMSC) will be fully activated from 5pm tomorrow to monitor the situation in the city.

     

    Utilising the Common Operational Picture, the EMSC will conduct real-time citywide monitoring, and integrate updates from various departments to swiftly assess risks and formulate response plans and measures.

     

    Various emergency response teams – including the Fire Services Department, the Police Force, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service – have completed all necessary preparatory work and are on standby in order to handle possible emergencies during heavy rainstorms and high winds, and to provide assistance to those in need.

     

    Moreover, the Transport Department’s Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre will operate round-the-clock to closely monitor traffic and transport conditions in co-operation with public transport agencies. It will disseminate emergency traffic information and public transport service arrangements to the public in a timely manner.

     

    The Education Bureau will also closely monitor the weather conditions and announce arrangements for schools and for Primary Six students’ registrations with their allocated secondary schools in a timely manner to allow parents and students to make early preparations.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK outstanding in maritime audit

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Hong Kong, China has achieved outstanding results in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme, the Transport & Logistics Bureau announced today.

     

    The audit was conducted to examine the relevant obligations Hong Kong fulfilled in relation to the mandatory IMO instruments.

     

    The audit was carried out from November 4 to 13, 2023, and the results, which were recently published, showed the outstanding performance by Hong Kong in multiple audit areas, especially its shipping registry.

     

    The bureau said that the audit result testifies to Hong Kong’s commitment to go above and beyond in fulfilling international obligations.

     

    It added that Hong Kong, as an IMO associate member, will continue to maintain its outstanding performance and consolidate its position as a leading international maritime centre.

     

    The bureau also noted that the Hong Kong Shipping Registry ranks fourth in the world in terms of gross tonnage, and the fleet of Hong Kong-registered ships is renowned globally for its good quality.

     

    It highlighted that the consistently low detention rate of Hong Kong-registered ships under worldwide Port State Control inspections at 0.69% is significantly lower than the global average of 3.30%, reflecting Hong Kong’s constant effort in maintaining and enhancing the safety, reliability and credibility of its fleet.

     

    The audit scrutinised Hong Kong in fulfilling its flag, coastal and port obligations.

     

    The audit team appreciated that Hong Kong had well-documented procedures on fulfilling its obligations related to the mandatory IMO instruments, and implemented the relevant requirements through local legislation and guidance dissemination in a timely manner.

     

    The Marine Department (MD) also carried out periodic management reviews as well as internal and external audits for effective implementation of those instruments.

     

    The audit further revealed several areas of positive development and good practices of Hong Kong, which demonstrated a drive to promote safety awareness and a pollution prevention culture among stakeholders in the maritime sector.

     

    One of the good practices is to ensure the compliance of ships flying the Hong Kong flag with the mandatory IMO instruments by requiring their regular and appropriate completion of pre-arrival checklists.

     

    The MD also disseminated useful information through such means as holding regular meetings and seminars with stakeholders, and issuing circulars and Merchant Shipping Information Notes to notify stakeholders of the latest mandatory IMO requirements in a timely manner.

     

    Meanwhile, the audit identified two findings and one observation on areas where Hong Kong could improve, including the need to more comprehensively monitor the communication of mandatory information to the IMO and track the attendance of government surveyors at trainings.

     

    Soon after the audit, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government proposed and took actions, which were accepted by the IMO, to address the findings and observation.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Schools suspended on Jul 11

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Education Bureau announced today that classes of all day schools will be suspended tomorrow as the weather conditions are expected to remain severe due to the impact of the torrential rain and squally thunderstorms brought by the remnants of Tropical Cyclone Danas.

    The steering committee on handling extreme weather, led by the Chief Secretary, announced the decision in response to the development of weather conditions.

    The move was made to ensure the safety of students, and considering that schools across the city may have already started their summer break, the actual impact of a class suspension on students’ learning and teaching is relatively small.

    The Secondary One registration procedures were originally scheduled for today and tomorrow at the allocated secondary schools. Considering that some parents may have already made arrangements to register at the schools today, the original whole-day registration arrangements for today will remain unchanged.

    If parents choose to register their child at the allocated secondary school today, they should pay attention to the weather conditions and ensure safety. For safety reasons, parents should not bring their children to the school for registration.

    The registration originally scheduled for tomorrow will be rescheduled to July 14. If parents are unable to register in person or through an authorised representative on the above dates, they should contact the allocated secondary school or the Education Bureau’s School Places Allocation Section at 2832 7700 or 2832 7740 to make appropriate registration arrangements.

    Additionally, units under the Social Welfare Department providing child care centre services, services under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, and after school care programmes for pre-primary or primary school children will not be open to the public tomorrow.

    Citizens in need may contact the centres or services units concerned for assistance.

    The Home Affairs Department is ready to activate the Emergency Co-ordination Centre as soon as necessary and open temporary shelters for people in need of temporary accommodation.

    The Drainage Services Department (DSD) has made special arrangements to inspect and carry out necessary clearance at about 240 locations prone to flooding due to blockages. 

    Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding to the DSD by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline at 2300 1110.

    The committee urges people to remain alert, stay away from dangerous places such as rivers and slopes in adverse weather conditions, refrain from water sports, and to pay attention to the latest news released by the Government.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: NUCLIDIUM Closes CHF 79 Million (EUR 84 Million) Series B Financing to Advance Clinical Development of its Copper-based Radiopharmaceutical Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Proceeds will fund further clinical development of the company’s true theranostic pipeline and expansion of the global production and manufacturing network for copper-based radiopharmaceuticals.
    • Initial clinical data presented at SNMMI 2025 by Dr. Gary Ulaner, MD, PhD show a solid safety profile and potentially improved performance of 61Cu-NuriPro in metastatic prostate cancer imaging.
    • The financing round was led by Kurma Growth Opportunities Fund, Angelini Ventures, Wellington Partners, and Neva SGR (Intesa Sanpaolo Group), with participation from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Bayern Kapital, Eurazeo, Vives Partners, NRW.BANK and HighLight Capital, with existing investors.
    • Alongside Tony Rosenberg, who recently joined as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, David Meek joins as an additional new Independent Director; Oliver Sartor, MD and Bela Denes, MD join as additional Scientific Advisors.

    Basel, Switzerland / Munich, Germany, July 10, 2025 – NUCLIDIUM AG, a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company developing a proprietary copper-based theranostic platform, today announced the successful closing of its Series B financing round, raising CHF 79 million (EUR 84 million). The round was led by Kurma Growth Opportunities Fund, Angelini Ventures, Wellington Partners, and Neva SGR (Intesa Sanpaolo Group), with participation from DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), Bayern Kapital, Vives Partners, Eurazeo, NRW.BANK and HighLight Capital, as well as existing investors. The proceeds will be used to advance the clinical development of NUCLIDIUM’s Copper-61/Copper-67 (61Cu/67Cu) theranostic pipeline across multiple oncology indications. In parallel, the company will expand its production and manufacturing capabilities through a global production network.

    NUCLIDIUM’s differentiated platform links tumor-targeting molecules with copper isotopes – Copper-61 for diagnostics and Copper-67 for therapeutics – to address current limitations in radiotheranostics, such as suboptimal clinical efficacy and complex manufacturing. Diagnostic results from initial clinical trials in these indications show superior lesion detection and higher tumor-to-background ratios compared with clinically approved tracers. Initial data were recently presented at SNMMI 2025 by Dr. Gary Ulaner, MD, PhD highlighting a favorable safety profile and potentially improved imaging performance of 61Cu-NuriPro™ compared to current PET imaging standards, suggesting strong clinical promise and broader potential for 61Cu/67Cu theranostic pairing. Early therapeutic data from the two lead compounds, NuriPro™ and TraceNET™, show strong tumor-to-background ratios in metastatic prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumors including breast cancer.

    “NUCLIDIUM is entering the next clinical phases with its lead compounds to diagnose and treat metastatic prostate, neuroendocrine tumors and breast cancer,” said Leila Jaafar, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder of NUCLIDIUM. “Our copper-based radiotheranostics are developed for seamless use in hospital workflows, care delivery and waste management, making these therapies more accessible worldwide. Our groundbreaking next generation copper theranostic platform also allows us to rapidly develop new targets across a wider range of cancers, particularly those highly relevant to women’s health.”

    With this financing, NUCLIDIUM will continue expanding its worldwide production and manufacturing network for diagnostics and therapeutics, growing its international team, and strengthening strategic collaborations with hospitals and academic centers, initially across Europe and North America.

    In conjunction with the financing round, Daniel Parera, MD, Partner at Kurma Partners, Regina Hodits, PhD, Managing Director at Angelini Ventures, and Liliana Nordbakk, Partner Life Sciences at Neva SGR, will join NUCLIDIUM’s Board of Directors.

    “This significant Series B financing reflects the confidence of our investors in NUCLIDIUM’s vision and the transformative potential for the diagnostic and therapeutic industry in oncology and nuclear medicine,” said Tony Rosenberg, Chairman of the NUCLIDIUM Board. “With this backing, we are positioned to accelerate clinical development, broaden patient access globally, and reinforce our commitment to innovation in precision oncology. I am delighted to welcome our new Board and advisory members, whose deep expertise will further strengthen NUCLIDIUM’s leadership in radiopharmaceuticals.”

    “NUCLIDIUM’s platform stands out in a rapidly evolving field and will change how radiotheranostic care is delivered. This investment reflects our strong conviction in the future of precision medicine and our belief in NUCLIDIUM’s potential to scale as a next-generation company — an ambition shared across a strong European syndicate,” added Daniel Parera, MD, Partner at Kurma Partners, Regina Hodits, PhD, Managing Director at Angelini Ventures, and Liliana Nordbakk, Partner Life Sciences at Neva SGR for all participating investors.

    The Series B financing transaction was advised by VISCHER AG, and Walder Wyss, Switzerland as legal counsels.

    About NUCLIDIUM
    NUCLIDIUM AG is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of next-generation copper-based radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Leveraging copper isotopes – Copper-61 for diagnostics and Copper-67 for therapeutics – NUCLIDIUM is creating a differentiated platform with the potential to overcome existing limitations in radiotheranostics. The company’s operations in Switzerland and Germany combine innovative chemistry, deep clinical expertise, and strategic manufacturing capabilities to deliver scalable, accessible, and clinically superior theranostic solutions to patients worldwide. NUCLIDIUM is committed to expanding the reach and efficacy of radiotheranostics, including addressing critical unmet medical needs in oncology and women’s health.

    For more information, please contact:

    NUCLIDIUM
    Leila Jaafar, PhD, CEO
    Email: info@nuclidium.com

    Investor/Media Contact NUCLIDIUM
    Trophic Communications
    Stephanie May
    Email: nuclidium@trophic.eu
    Phone: +49 171 1855682

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Online Personal Loans for Bad Credit with Guaranteed Approval Now Available in the US via 50KLoans (2025)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 50KLoans has officially announced the launch of its all-new platform offering personal loans for bad credit guaranteed approval, giving financially underserved Americans a faster, more reliable way to access emergency funds online. This new service is specifically designed for individuals struggling with low credit scores who often face rejection from traditional banks.

    With its advanced online lending network, 50KLoans now provides access to personal loans for bad credit with instant approval. The platform matches borrowers with direct lenders for bad credit personal loans based on income and recent banking activity, not just credit history. It aims to redefine how consumers find easy personal loans for bad credit, offering a streamlined process that prioritizes speed, transparency, and flexibility.

    Start Your Application for Personal Loans Now >>

    Why Choose 50KLoans for Personal Loans for Bad Credit?

    • Instant Loan Approval: Get matched with lenders offering personal loans for bad credit instant approval and no credit check.
    • Fast Funding: Access same-day personal loans for bad credit with eligible direct lenders.
    • Secure & Transparent: All terms for unsecured personal loans for bad credit and secured personal loans for bad credit are shown upfront—no hidden fees.

    Types of Personal Loans Offered by 50kLoans

    1. Small Personal Loans for Bad Credit: Borrow amounts from $100 to $5,000 for urgent expenses like medical bills, car repairs, or rent.
    2. Personal Installment Loans for Bad Credit: Ideal for those who need to repay in multiple fixed payments over several months.
    3. No Credit Check Loans up to $50000: For borrowers worried about hard credit pulls, 50KLoans partners with lenders that offer personal loans for bad credit instant approval no credit check.
    4. Online Personal Loans for Bad Credit: Apply from home with a 100% digital process. No branch visits, no paperwork delays.
    5. Personal Loans for Bad Credit Near Me: The platform filters lenders based on your location, ensuring access to options in your area.
    6. Low Interest Personal Loans for Bad Credit: Where available, users can compare offers to find the most affordable rates, even with subprime credit.
    7. Easy Personal Loans for Bad Credit: 50KLoans minimizes documentation, helping you apply in minutes using just your ID, income proof, and bank info.

    How to Get Guaranteed Approval for No Credit Check Loans with 50KLoans

    1. Apply Online: Complete a simple form on 50kLoans with your personal and financial details. Takes less than 3 minutes.
    2. No Hard Credit Check: Many lenders use a soft credit check or none at all, protecting your credit score.
    3. Get Matched Instantly: Receive personalized offers from direct lenders for bad credit personal loans.
    4. Compare & Accept: Choose from legit, transparent offers tailored to your income and loan needs.
    5. Receive Funds Fast: Enjoy same day personal loans for bad credit with direct deposit in as little as a few hours.

    Start Your Application for Personal Loans Now >>

    FAQs

    Are these personal loans really guaranteed?

    Approval depends on lender criteria, but 50KLoans specializes in personal loans for bad credit guaranteed approval online by matching users with high-approval lenders.

    Is there a credit check involved?

    Some lenders offer personal loans for bad credit instant approval no credit check, though others may perform soft checks.

    Are these loans safe?

    Yes. 50KLoans works only with legit personal loans for bad credit providers and shows full terms before you commit.

    Media Contact
    Mukesh Bhardwaj
    mukesh@paydayventures.com

    Disclaimer: 50KLoans is not a lender and does not make credit decisions. Loan offers are provided by third-party lending partners. Approval, terms, and funding timelines vary by lender and applicant eligibility.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitcoin Solaris Price Rollback Ignites Market Momentum Ahead of Major Exchange Launch

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TALLINN, Estonia, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crypto winters come and go, but few events wake the market up like a perfectly timed price rollback. And Bitcoin Solaris just pulled off a surprise move that has investors scrambling. With major exchange listings on the horizon and a short-lived drop in presale price, analysts are calling it the most generous window of 2025. It is not just a coin anymore, it is a momentum machine.

    If there was ever a moment to pay attention, this is it.

    Bitcoin Solaris: Built to Dominate the Next Cycle

    Bitcoin Solaris, or BTC-S, is a next-generation crypto project designed to extend Bitcoin’s legacy into high-performance, real-world utility. It achieves this through a layered dual-consensus design that merges Proof of Work and Delegated Proof of Stake in a way few others have dared.

    Its architecture splits into a Base Layer that runs SHA-256 mining and a Solaris Layer that executes 15-second block finality with blazing-fast transaction speeds of over 10,000 TPS. Together, they balance speed, decentralization, and energy savings at 99.95 percent less consumption than traditional Bitcoin mining.

    More than just a tech demo, BTC-S is delivering tangible user value through:

    • The upcoming Solaris Nova App brings mobile-first mining to the masses.
    • A reward structure that includes validator rotation, adaptive load balancing, and secure finality.
    • Rust-based smart contracts ready for DeFi, enterprise apps, and more.

    And with recent security audits completed by both Cyberscope and Freshcoins, confidence in the protocol’s integrity has never been higher.

    A lot of crypto enthusiasts have taken notice, and according to the detailed review from Token Galaxy, the structure behind Bitcoin Solaris is what sets it apart. Even Token Empire released a breakdown that highlights why the community and investor base keep growing every week.

    This Isn’t Just Another Presale. It’s a Launchpad for Wealth.

    Here’s what the current presale phase looks like:

    • Current Price: $11
    • Next Phase: $11
    • Launch Price: $20
    • Presale Raised: Over $6.6 million
    • Users Joined: 14,150+
    • Timeline: Ends July 31, 2025

    This presale is short, explosive, and closing fast. What’s more, Bitcoin Solaris has introduced something that almost never happens in crypto: a rare Price rollback, dropping the cost per token to $5 instead of $11. It’s not a discount. It’s a once-only reversal, and only for a limited time.

    Get Paid to Participate in Mobile Mining Starts With BTC-S

    This move has reignited FOMO among those who nearly missed earlier phases. For those watching from the sidelines, this is your moment.

    Wallets like Trust Wallet and Metamask are recommended for seamless token delivery on launch day, ensuring a smooth transition when the project hits exchanges.

    Mobile Mining with Real Yield

    Bitcoin Solaris is not just scalable. It’s portable. Thanks to the upcoming Solaris Nova App, BTC-S introduces a mining system that fits in your pocket.

    With mining tools optimized for mobile devices and cross-platform functionality, users can generate passive income from:

    • CPU-mining tasks on mobile or desktop
    • Optimized PoW mechanics that adapt to low-power environments
    • Real-time earning estimates based on your device’s performance

    This allows anyone to tap into Bitcoin-level value accrual without investing in expensive hardware.

    You are not stuck hoping for a bull run. You’re earning now.

    Liquid Staking Reinvented

    Another pillar of the Bitcoin Solaris economy is its liquid staking model. Instead of locking assets away, staked BTC-S tokens are converted into sBTC-S, which can be traded or deployed across DeFi apps.

    This liquid staking upgrade brings new layers of accessibility:

    • Rewards without compromising liquidity
    • Compatibility with governance, lending, and DeFi protocols
    • Full integration with the Solaris Nova App
    • Increased decentralization and validator diversity

    This approach puts capital efficiency and usability back in the hands of users.

    Why This Rollback Changes the Game

    This isn’t your typical hype cycle. The price rollback came at the exact moment momentum was peaking. Community sentiment is at an all-time high, exchanges are circling, and developers are pushing regular upgrades.

    Add to that the fact that BTC-S is positioning for a 150 percent exchange gain from $5 to $20, and it’s not hard to see why analysts are calling it the best crypto to buy now.

    You can also check out the expanding conversation across platforms like Telegram and X. The buzz is real, and it’s growing louder by the day.

    Meanwhile, the official site is already receiving surging traffic from both retail and institutional visitors.

    Conclusion

    Bitcoin Solaris is positioning itself as a high-performance, user-focused ecosystem with cutting-edge technology, mobile-first tools, and a rare rollback opportunity.

    This presale window may be short, but the potential impact is long-lasting. With high scalability, advanced staking, a mobile-first mining model, and a rare rollback offer, BTC-S is not only redefining utility but rewriting the entry point for retail investors.

    For more information on Bitcoin Solaris:
    Website: https://www.bitcoinsolaris.com/
     Telegram: https://t.me/Bitcoinsolaris
     X: https://x.com/BitcoinSolaris

    Media Contact:
    Xander Levine
    press@bitcoinsolaris.com
    Press Kit: Available upon request

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e409f96b-450e-4927-b0d0-ad73f28de003

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eb2b2d29-ad7c-4a2c-9e18-0e4cd8ac8d40

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fd009aa-d54a-4556-b503-23e4c229dc6a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fc8e8f72-2701-4b99-8d27-dfe7c2fafc78

    The MIL Network –

  • Global stocks climb on AI and rate cut optimism, unfazed by Trump’s tariff moves

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Global stocks advanced on Thursday, underpinned by optimism around artificial intelligence and the prospect of upcoming interest rate cuts, while investors kept a cautious eye on U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing assault on international trade.

    U.S. copper futures widened their premium to the London benchmark overnight after Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on copper imports. He said the levies would come into effect on August 1.

    Trump also threatened a punitive 50% tariff on Brazil’s exports to the U.S. on Wednesday and issued tariff notices to seven minor trading partners.

    The latest tariff moves did little to rattle markets as European stocks gained, with Germany’s DAX up 0.1% and UK’s FTSE 100 rising 1% to their respective all-time highs.

    MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added 0.5%. U.S. stock futures took a breather, with Nasdaq futures down 0.1% after the tech-heavy index closed at a record high on Wednesday.

    The market reaction to Trump’s tariff developments this week was less severe than in April, and Jeff Ng, SMBC’s head of Asia macroeconomic strategy, said investors had grown somewhat “numb” to the ever-changing situation.

    “They know that there is still room for negotiation. A lot of these announcements, they start off with eye-catching numbers, but they are not totally final, and they are still subject to changes. Even if they are implemented, they could also be reversed in the coming few months to year,” he said.

    Meanwhile, investors digested upbeat quarterly results from TSMC that reflected strong demand for the world’s largest contract chipmaker’s products, kept alive by surging interest in artificial intelligence applications.

    TSMC’s report came a day after AI chip giant Nvidia became the world’s first public company to hit a $4 trillion market value. Other tech-related stocks in Korea and Japan further got a boost.

    Also keeping stocks supported were expectations of at least two interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve this year.

    Minutes released on Wednesday showed “most participants” at the Fed’s meeting last month anticipated rate cuts would be appropriate later this year, with any price shock from tariffs expected to be “temporary or modest.”

    “Our view remains that in the balance of risks between employment and inflation, Fed would be more sensitive to employment than to inflation. Hence, if our view holds, and we get some weakness in the employment numbers over summer, Fed will respond by cutting rates in September,” said Mohit Kumar, an economist at Jefferies.

    DOLLAR EASES

    The dollar was on the back foot on Thursday against the euro, but holding its own against the yen JPY=EBS at 146.35, after a sharp rise earlier this week when Trump slapped Japan with 25% tariffs.

    The euro was up 0.17% to $1.1734 and sterling gained 0.15% to $1.36110.

    An exception was the Brazilian real, which languished near a one-month low at 5.5826 per dollar owing to Trump’s tariff threat on Latin America’s largest economy.

    The real’s volatility gauges spiked to the highest since late April when markets were still trying to get to grips with Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariff threats.

    “Without a clear path yet to de-escalation, the real is likely to continue to trade on a softer footing in the near-term. The initial real sell-off was exacerbated by the unwind of popular carry trades,” Lee Hardman, a senior currency economist at MUFG said.

    “The risk is that carry trades continue to be unwound on the back of heightened trade risks and higher financial market volatility triggering a further reversal of real gains.”

    In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin was pinned near a record high and was last at $111,207, while ether was up 1.8% to $2,790.9.

    Elsewhere, crude prices were steady with Brent futures hovering at $70.2 per barrel, while U.S. crude was flat at $68.33 a barrel.

    Spot gold rose 0.22% to $3,320.59 an ounce.

    (Reuters)

  • OpenAI to release web browser in challenge to Google Chrome

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    OpenAI is close to releasing an AI-powered web browser that will challenge Alphabet’s market-dominating Google Chrome.

    The browser is slated to launch in the coming weeks, three of the people said, and aims to use artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how consumers browse the web. It will give OpenAI more direct access to a cornerstone of Google’s success: user data.

    If adopted by the 500 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s browser could put pressure on a key component of rival Google’s ad-money spigot. Chrome is an important pillar of Alphabet’s ad business, which makes up nearly three-quarters of its revenue, as Chrome provides user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably, and also gives Google a way to route search traffic to its own engine by default.

    OpenAI’s browser is designed to keep some user interactions within a ChatGPT-like native chat interface instead of clicking through to websites, two of the sources said.

    The browser is part of a broader strategy by OpenAI to weave its services across the personal and work lives of consumers, one of the sources said.

    OpenAI declined to comment.

    The sources declined to be identified because they are not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

    Led by entrepreneur Sam Altman, OpenAI upended the tech industry with the launch of its AI chatbot ChatGPT in late 2022. After its initial success, OpenAI has faced stiff competition from rivals including Google and startup Anthropic, and is looking for new areas of growth.

    In May, OpenAI said it would enter the hardware domain, paying $6.5 billion to buy io, an AI devices startup from Apple’s AAPL.O former design chief, Jony Ive.

    A web browser would allow OpenAI to directly integrate its AI agent products such as Operator into the browsing experience, enabling the browser to carry out tasks on behalf of the user, the people said.

    The browser’s access to a user’s web activity would make it the ideal platform for AI “agents” that can take actions on their behalf, like booking reservations or filling out forms, directly within the websites they use.

    TOUGH COMPETITION

    OpenAI has its work cut out – Google Chrome, which is used by more than 3 billion people, currently holds more than two-thirds of the worldwide browser market, according to web analytics firm StatCounter. Apple’s AAPL.O second-place Safari lags far behind with a 16% share. Last month, OpenAI said it had 3 million paying business users for ChatGPT.

    Perplexity, which has a popular AI search engine, launched an AI browser, Comet, on Wednesday, capable of performing actions on a user’s behalf. Two other AI startups, The Browser Company and Brave, have released AI-powered browsers capable of browsing and summarizing the internet.

    Chrome’s role in providing user information to help Alphabet target ads more effectively and profitably has proven so successful that the Department of Justice has demanded its divestiture after a U.S. judge last year ruled that the Google parent holds an unlawful monopoly in online search.

    OpenAI’s browser is built atop Chromium, Google’s own open-source browser code, two of the sources said. Chromium is the source code for Google Chrome, as well as many competing browsers including Microsoft’s Edge and Opera.

    Last year, OpenAI hired two longtime Google vice presidents who were part of the original team that developed Google Chrome. The Information was first to report their hires and that OpenAI previously considered building a browser.

    An OpenAI executive testified in April that the company would be interested in buying Chrome if antitrust enforcers succeeded in forcing the sale.

    Google has not offered Chrome for sale. The company has said it plans to appeal the ruling that it holds a monopoly.

    OpenAI decided to build its own browser, rather than simply a “plug-in” on top of another company’s browser, in order to have more control over the data it can collect, one source said.

    (Reuters)

  • Shravani Mela begins in Deoghar, lakhs of Kanwariyas embark on 108 km pilgrimage

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Shravani Mela commenced on Thursday at Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, with lakhs of Kanwariyas thronging the sacred town to begin their month-long pilgrimage during the holy month of Sawan.

    The fair was formally inaugurated at Dumma, on the Jharkhand–Bihar border, in a traditional ceremony marked by Vedic chants. Jharkhand ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepika Pandey Singh, and Sanjay Prasad Yadav jointly inaugurated the event.

    Baba Baidyanath Dham, home to Kamna Mahadev, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, is considered one of the holiest Shaivite shrines in India. As per tradition, Kanwariyas fetch holy water from the Uttarvahini Ganga in Sultanganj, Bihar, and undertake a 108-kilometre barefoot pilgrimage to offer it at the Deoghar shrine.

    This annual Kanwar yatra, one of the largest in Asia, covers 108-km route from Sultanganj to Deoghar.

    This year’s pilgrimage began on Guru Purnima, adding to its spiritual significance. The roads were filled with thousands of Kanwariyas chanting “Bol Bam”, creating an electrifying and devotional atmosphere.

    The Jharkhand government has estimated that 50 to 60 lakh devotees from across India and abroad are likely to attend the fair this year.

    To manage the enormous footfall, the state government has made elaborate arrangements for accommodation, security, sanitation, and information dissemination. Tent cities equipped with essential amenities have been established at Kothiya and Baghmara along the Deoghar-Sultanganj route to provide rest stops for pilgrims.

    Facilities such as bathing rooms, toilets, medical camps, and information centres have been set up at key locations throughout the mela zone.

    For the first time, the fair has adopted a digital format, enabling devotees to access real-time updates through QR codes on their mobile phones. A dedicated chatbot service is also available to assist pilgrims with queries.

    Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh said that in view of the heavy influx of devotees, all VIP, VVIP, and out-of-turn darshan privileges have been suspended for the entire month of Sawan to ensure smooth crowd flow and fairness.

    Additionally, touch worship of the Jyotirlinga has been restricted. Devotees are required to offer holy water through the Argha, a ritual vessel placed inside the temple for this purpose.

    To further assist pilgrims, shuttle services have been launched for those arriving by bus. Holding points, clean drinking water, accommodation facilities, sanitation services, and healthcare camps are being closely monitored by authorities.

    Officials, magistrates, and police personnel have been deployed across the area and instructed to carry out their responsibilities diligently, ensuring a safe and peaceful experience for all devotees.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Toxic lead ammunition banned to protect Britain’s countryside

    New ban on use of lead in ammunition to protect iconic wildlife and clean up the nation’s waterways

    Red kite perched in a tree

    Red kites and white-tailed eagles will receive greater protection thanks to new restrictions on the use of lead in ammunition, Environment Minister Emma Hardy announced today (Thursday 10 July 2025).

    To protect iconic British wildlife and clean up the nation’s waterways, new measures will ban shot containing more than 1% lead and bullets with a lead content of more than 3%. Beyond limited exemptions, these types of ammunition will no longer be sold to the public.

    The ban will prevent the release of an estimated 7,000 tonnes of the toxic metal into fields, forests and wetlands each year. Up to 100,000 wildfowl, including ducks, swans and waders, die from lead poisoning annually, with birds often confusing the scattered shot for grit and consuming it.

    Evidence from the Health and Safety Executive shows lead poses a risk to at least 1 million birds over the coming decades if usage continues at its current rate, while around 40,000 birds of prey such as red kites and white-tailed eagles are at risk from ingesting lead through carrion.

    Introducing restrictions will also stop lead from contaminating soil and leaching into rivers when guns are discharged and spread the harmful metal, ensuring ecosystems thrive for both wildlife and people alike.

    Environment Minister Emma Hardy said:

    Britain is a proud nation of nature lovers, but our rivers are heavily polluted, and majestic birds are declining at an alarming rate.

    This new ban on lead in ammunition for most uses will help reverse this – rejuvenating pride in our countryside by protecting precious birdlife and cleaning up rivers.

    Non-lead alternatives are readily available, and we’ll continue to work closely with the shooting sector throughout this transition.

    Following extensive public engagement, a three-year transition period will support the shooting and hunting sectors to shift to more environmentally friendly alternatives. There will also be a two-year period for outdoor shooting ranges where lead is used to implement measures that prevent pollution from entering the environment.

    Alternatives to lead shot have become more efficient and widely available in recent years, with steel and tungsten-based shot being two popular options. The government will continue to engage with the shooting industry to support the transition to alternative ammunition types.

    In December 2024, the Health and Safety Executive published their Final Opinion proposing restrictions on the supply and outdoor uses of lead in ammunition – and the government has now taken action to reduce toxic substances from entering the environment.

    As part of the restrictions, there will be exemptions in place for the military, police, elite athletes, outdoor target shooting ranges with risk management measures in place, museum collections and other minor uses. Small calibre bullets for live quarry shooting – the outdoor shooting of live animals – and airguns are not in scope of the restriction.

    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and France partner on navigation systems to protect critical infrastructure from hostile threats

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK and France partner on navigation systems to protect critical infrastructure from hostile threats

    UK and French researchers join up to shield critical infrastructure, including power supplies and emergency services, with more resilient navigation and timing systems. 

    • UK and French researchers join up to shield critical infrastructure, including power supplies and emergency services, with more resilient navigation and timing systems. 
    • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing systems are critical to everything from banking to transport – and the Ukraine war has shown how these systems can be targeted by malign actors. 
    • Partnerships on AI supercomputing infrastructure, and AI research, to be agreed when French President and UK Science and Tech Secretary meet in London. 

    UK and French experts will work more closely to increase the resilience of both countries’ critical infrastructure to the signal-jamming seen in the war in Ukraine, as part of a suite of joint science and tech work being announced today (Thursday 10 July).  

    From our electricity infrastructure, to transport, to financial transactions, the tech we rely on for everyday life depends on reliable Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), often provided via satellites. The conflict in Ukraine has shown how new technologies – in some cases, just small hand-held devices – can be used to disrupt PNT services, potentially causing major disruption to the vast areas of life and the economy reliant on them. 

    As part of a raft of UK-France joint science and tech efforts being announced today, researchers from both countries will work together on technologies complementary to the likes of GPS, which are highly resistant to this sort of jamming.  

    An example is e-LORAN, a program driven by the UK government, working closely with the National Physical Laboratory and private sector companies. The system uses ground-based radio towers, which are much more challenging to block, for a reliable “backup” to GPS, so that UK infrastructure can keep running even when GPS fails.  

    The UK’s Science and Tech Secretary used a joint visit to Imperial College London, with President Macron, to set out how this sort of collaboration makes both the UK and France stronger and safer. Whilst speaking at Imperial, Peter Kyle also pointed out the tens of millions of pounds in investment being brought into the British tech sector through UK-French trade, as well as the new jobs and growth that this partnership creates.

    These are efforts that will bolster our economic and national security, which are foundational pillars of the Plan for Change. 

    UK Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle said: 

    France and the UK both have huge ambitions for technology to boost economic growth and strengthen national security. It is vital we work with natural partners like our French neighbours in these endeavours, particularly as the threats from hostile state actors only grows.

    Today we build on the Entente Cordiale with an Entente Technologique, celebrating and renewing our longstanding and historic partnership so that together we can face down the challenges of tomorrow.

    Additionally, the UK and France are launching a partnership on supercomputing. The partnership will be led by the Bristol Centre for Supercomputing, the home of Isambard-AI, and the French computing centre GENCI, who lead France’s AI Factory.  

    Closer ties between both nations’ world-leading compute power, and sharing AI best practice, will turbocharge the breakthroughs in AI, transforming public services and improving lives. These efforts build on the AI Opportunities Action Plan, the UK government’s blueprint to fuel the use of AI across the economy. 

    This builds on the strong existing UK-France cooperation on AI. The UK’s AI Security Institute and France’s INESIA have committed to further technical workshops to deepen their collaboration on frontier AI research, in order to support our national security. 

    Some of the UK and France’s leading research institutions are also committing to closer work. Collaboration agreements were signed today when President Macron and Science and Tech Secretary Peter Kyle visited Imperial College London, where they witnessed first-hand some of the cutting-edge uses of AI being pioneered in the UK, from health to clean energy.

    The spotlight will shine on the vast opportunities for UK-France science and tech collaboration again on Friday, when the UK’s AI Minister Feryal Clark and her French counterpart Minister Clara Chappaz will tour Diamond Light Source in Oxford.

    Diamond is one of the most advanced scientific facilities in the world. Researchers here are harnessing light 10 billion times brighter than the sun to study new scientific samples, like previously unknown virus structures, to pioneer new medicines and treatments for diseases. 

    Notes to editors

    The 3 UK-France science and technology agreements being signed are between: 

    • Imperial and CNRS Ayrton Blériot Engineering Lab (ABEL)
    • University College London (UCL) and National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology (Inria)
    • Oxford-Cambridge and HEC, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Université Paris-Saclay

    UK-French export and investment announcements

    British tech unicorns are winning tens of millions of pounds in significant contracts with French corporates, driving jobs and growth at home. This includes Synthesia’s new partnership with Decathlon to create a pioneering AI avatar lab which the global sports retailer will use to communicate with customers and employees, building on Synthesia’s existing work with over half of France’s CAC40 (equivalent to FTSE 100). Other deals include ElevenLabs’ collaboration with M6 and TV5 Monde and Darktrace’s contract with GL Events, a French major events operator.

    BT’s operations in France totalled approximately £130 million last financial year, connecting more than 80 French-headquartered companies, from Alstom to Michelin. BT has supported French telecoms, communications, cyber security and banking operations for 55 years. BT has invested more than £24 billion domestically so far this decade, with plans to invest a further £20 billion by 2030. BT’s investment into digital infrastructure projects also boosts the UK’s attractiveness for French investment and act as an enabler of British exports to France.  

    Thales, in conjunction with partners, is planning £40 million of AI-focussed R&D investment as part of its CortAIx UK AI Accelerator – which will employ 200 people and serve as a focal point for Thales’ AI innovation in the UK. This initiative will further enhance AI cooperation between France and the UK, ss well as help both countries to stay ahead of evolving threats, unleashing the potential of AI to increase mission success for both countries.

    Comand AI are investing £35 million over the next 5 years to set up an office in the UK, in their first step to becoming a pan-European defence company. This investment will create around 40 highly skilled jobs in tech, bringing the best of software engineering to defence. These jobs would represent half of their global engineering team. They aim to build the future of defence technology between the UK and France, from capability assessment to mission planning and execution for our Allied nations.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 10 July 2025

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