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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Beware of fraudsters posing as HKMA staff

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

    ​The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has received enquiries from members of the public about fraudsters posing as HKMA senior staff, issuing forged documents falsely claiming that certain securities or investment companies are “recognised financial institutions”, in an attempt to deceive members of the public into placing funds with these securities companies as a prerequisite for loan approval.

    The HKMA wishes to clarify that the above schemes are fraudulent, and the HKMA will not contact individual members of the public regarding personal financial matters.

    Should members of the public wish to verify whether an institution is authorized by the HKMA, they should refer to the Register of Authorized Institutions and Local Representative Offices available on the HKMA website.

    The HKMA has reported the case to the Hong Kong Police Force.

    Members of the public who suspect that they have become victims of any fraudulent acts should contact the Police or the Commercial Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012 for follow-up actions and investigation by the Police.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Import of poultry meat and products from Kirklees District of West Yorkshire County in UK suspended

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Import of poultry meat and products from Kirklees District of West Yorkshire County in UK suspendedIssued at HKT 18:12

    ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (June 13) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in the Kirklees District of West Yorkshire County in the United Kingdom (UK), the CFS has instructed the trade to suspend the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the area with immediate effect to protect public health in Hong Kong.

    A CFS spokesman said that according to the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong imported about 210 tonnes of chilled and frozen poultry meat, and about 440 000 poultry eggs from the UK in the first three months of this year.

    “The CFS has contacted the British authority over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the WOAH and the relevant authorities on the avian influenza outbreak. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation,” the spokesman said.

    Ends/Friday, June 13, 2025
    Issued at HKT 18:12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video) “Reasoning from the Orangutans” animation.Eyebrows and Eyes (Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video) “Reason from the Orangutans” animation. Eyebrows and eyes (Chinese version only)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo to consider Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LegCo to consider Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025Issued at HKT 15:20

    The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

    The Legislative Council (LegCo) will hold a meeting next Wednesday (June 18) at 11am in the Chamber of the LegCo Complex. During the meeting, the Second Reading debate on the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 will resume. If the Bill is supported by Members and receives its Second Reading, it will stand committed to the committee of the whole Council. After the committee of the whole Council has completed consideration of the Bill and its report is adopted by the Council, the Bill will be set down for the Third Reading.

    On Members’ motions, Mr Sunny Tan will move a motion on “Stimulating the vigorous development of Hong Kong’s small and medium enterprises with new quality productive forces and actively dovetailing with the country’s high-quality ‘going global’ strategy”. The motion is set out in Appendix 1. Mr Erik Yim will move an amendment to Mr Tan’s motion.

    Mr Adrian Ho will move a motion on “Boosting the local consumption market to inject impetus into economic development”. The motion is set out in Appendix 2.

    Ms Elizabeth Quat will move a proposed resolution under section 34(4) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance to extend the period for amending subsidiary legislation. The proposed resolution is set out in Appendix 3.

    Members will also ask the Government 22 questions on various policy areas, six of which require oral replies.

    The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the LegCo Website (www.legco.gov.hk). Members of the public can watch or listen to the meeting via the “Webcast” system on the LegCo Website. To observe the proceedings of the meeting at the LegCo Complex, members of the public may call 3919 3399 during office hours to reserve seats.

    Ends/Friday, June 13, 2025
    Issued at HKT 15:20

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth about $1.4 million (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth about $1.4 million

    Hong Kong Customs on May 28 seized 690 suspected counterfeit mobile phones with an estimated market value of about $1.4 million at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Hong Kong Port. Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 24- year-old male lorry driver was subsequently arrested. An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit mobile phones would have been transhipped to overseas regions. The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation. Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis. Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years. Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its 13/06/2025, 11:37 Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit mobile phones worth about $1.4 million (with photo) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/13/P2025061300433p.htm 1/2 dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002). Ends/Friday, June 13, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:25 NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST made positive progress with signing of CDTA with Norway during his visit

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SFST made positive progress with signing of CDTA with Norway during his visit  
         To unlock new opportunities in the area of maritime finance, Mr Hui met with the Chief Customer Officer, Ms Line Dahle, and Vice President and Head of Analytics, Mr Sigvald Fossum, of Norwegian marine and energy insurance provider Gard, which has a strong presence in Hong Kong’s marine insurance market and provides services to manage maritime risk for clients. He also met with the Vice-President and Director of Group Government and Public Affairs of DNV, Mr Lars Almklov. The global assurance and risk management company DNV has been recognised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority as an approved external reviewer for the Green and Sustainable Finance Grant Scheme.
     
         Mr Hui told management members of the two companies that Hong Kong and Norway possess complementary strengths that can create a compelling case for financial co-operation. While Norway’s maritime industry is the cornerstone of its economy, Hong Kong’s maritime services industry is also a valued brand in the international arena. Joint ventures in maritime insurance could combine Norway’s expertise in marine risk management with Hong Kong’s accessibility, creating comprehensive solutions for the sector and addressing the new demands arising from geopolitical and climatic challenges. He highlighted that Hong Kong has a sophisticated ecosystem for ship financing and leasing, supported by tax incentives and its strategic location along global trade routes.
     
    On June 12 (Oslo time), Mr Hui paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway, Ms Hou Yue.
     
    He also had a meeting with the Director of Politics and Society of Finance Norway, Mr Jan Erik Fane, and other management staff. Finance Norway is the industry organisation for the financial sector in Norway, representing banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions on regulatory, policy and industry developments.
     
         Mr Hui noted that the Norwegian sovereign fund is one of the largest funds in the world and is positioned as a pioneer in responsible investing with a strong emphasis on Environmental, Social and Governance principles. He said that the shared focus of Hong Kong and Norway on sustainability creates significant opportunities for collaboration.
         At a dinner reception co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, and the Norway-Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce on June 11 (Oslo time), Mr Hui said that even though there is a geographical distance of around 8 600 kilometres between Norway and Hong Kong, the two places share more commonalities in the financial market than perceived.
     
         The first one is the commitment to green and sustainable developments. Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, and the Government launched a roadmap last December to require publicly accountable entities (PAEs) to adopt the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards) and to provide a well-defined pathway for large PAEs to fully adopt the ISSB Standards no later than 2028.
     
         Just last week, Hong Kong issued a new round of Government green bonds and infrastructure bonds to channel market capital to support green projects and promote sustainable developments in Hong Kong. This round of bonds amounts to a total of around US$3.5 billion, denominated in Hong Kong dollars, Renminbi, US dollars and euros. The offering attracted participation from a wide spectrum of investors from more than 30 markets across Asia, Europe, Middle East, and the Americas, with total orders amounting to an equivalent of around US$30 billion, representing a subscription ratio of almost nine times.
     
         The other commonality is expertise in wealth management. Mr Hui noted that Norway’s expertise in long-term asset management driven by its sovereign fund aligns seamlessly with Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s premier wealth management centre. Capitalising on Hong Kong’s advantages of having a solid financial infrastructure and an extensive international client base, abundant co-investment opportunities are available for Norwegian capital in the Asian markets, particularly in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
     
         More commonalities lie in fintech and digital finance. Norway is a highly digitalised economy that has fostered advancements in mobile payment systems, blockchain technology, and digital asset management. At the same time, Hong Kong is home to around 1 100 fintech companies and start-ups. The Government endeavours to boost fintech developments through measures such as enhancing fintech infrastructures, nurturing talent, establishing regulatory regimes for digital assets such as the stablecoin regulatory regime to be enacted on August 1. The second edition of a policy statement on digital assets will also be promulgated soon. By combining Norway’s technological innovation with Hong Kong’s access to Asian markets, the partnership could drive cutting-edge solutions that redefine digital finance on a global scale.
     
        Mr Hui has returned to Hong Kong in the evening of June 13.
    Issued at HKT 18:33

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDONESIA – Bishop of the Moluccas uses TikTok to proclaim the faith

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Amboina (Agenzia Fides) – “The geographical difficulties of the vast Moluccas, for example, are no longer an obstacle: thanks to technology, distance is no longer a serious problem; we have a bridge that unites the entire Catholic community of the Diocese of Amboina,” Seno Ngutra, Bishop of Amboyna told Fides. In a diocese made up of countless small islands, he uses mass media and social media as a means of connection in his pastoral work.However, these means do not replace human contact and direct relationships with the various communities, which is why the bishop travels extensively: he celebrates Masses and administers the sacraments in parishes scattered throughout the Moluccas archipelago in eastern Indonesia. On these islands, where evangelization began in 1546 with the work of the Spanish missionary Saint Francis Xavier, the Diocese of Amboina, which encompasses the entire archipelago, has a population of more than three million (Christians and Muslims) and 117,000 Catholics distributed among 64 parishes. Also due to their geographical location, “parish communities are called to maintain their autonomy and independence, not only in terms of administration, but also in pastoral and spiritual life,” Bishop Ngutra emphasized.Each parish, even those in remote areas, the bishop explained, is therefore encouraged, on this path of autonomy—always lived in mutual communion—to become active in the three areas of pastoral care: liturgy, catechesis, and charitable works. And where there are particular needs, the bishop himself becomes active and raises awareness among donors who wish to support the Church in its development. The parish receiving the donations responds to the donors with a message or a video message via smartphone: “Even if it is a simple gesture, the donors are very happy because they feel appreciated and happy,” the bishop notes, adding another useful function of modern technology. Bishop Ngutra is convinced of the “great potential of social media for spreading the faith in an island nation like ours. The media has a profound impact on human life. It can have negative effects, but it can also be an extraordinary means of proclamation,” he says. Bishop Ngutra has been accustomed to using technology in his pastoral ministry, using various digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, WhatsApp, and TikTok, which is very popular among young people. This habit continues: now the bishop regularly shares his daily faith reflections every morning, known as “Spiritual Morning Dewdrops,” which are viewed by the faithful, priests, religious, and young people throughout the territory. And in the evening, he publishes “the Night Blessing” in the form of short videos that illuminate aspects of the spiritual life. His social media messages are eagerly awaited by many of the faithful of the Diocese of Amboina, who joyfully accept the short daily word from their Pastor. In recent weeks, the bishop has also begun offering content on TikTok about questions of faith and catechesis on specific topics. “Young people spend a lot of time in the digital world. If we do not engage with them on these platforms, we miss the opportunity to share the Good News of the Gospel,” he says. He wants to convey to social media users how close their bishop is. “Even when I was elected Bishop of Amboina, I received the news of my appointment via the Zoom platform,” he recalls. “For me, this is a sign that media and digital technologies will be an important part of the proclamation and service of the new evangelization,” he notes. Today, the faithful call him the “online bishop” because, they say, “even through these platforms the message of Christ can reach the hearts of his people.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 13/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Peter ToRot will be canonized on October 19, the vice-postulator: “He is the Saint the Church needs in these times”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 13 June 2025

    by Fabio BerettaPort Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – Peter ToRot, the first Saint of Papua New Guinea (see Fides, 31/3/2025), will be canonized on October 19, 2025, the Sunday during which the 99th World Mission Day will be celebrated. This was decreed today by Pope Leo XIV during the celebration of his first Ordinary Public Consistory. A Consistory, held in the Vatican, which was announced last March by Pope Francis while he was hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital due to bilateral pneumonia.”The Pope decreed that Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, together with Blessed Carlo Acutis, be inscribed in the Book of Saints on Sunday 7 September 2025, while Blesseds Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan, Peter To Rot, Vincenza Maria Poloni, María del Monte Carmelo Rendiles Martínez, Maria Troncatti, José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros and Bartolo Longo be inscribed in the Book of Saints on Sunday 19 October 2025″, reads the bulletin released by the Holy See at the end of the Consistory.Catechist-martyr, ToRot represents, as Father Tomas Ravaioli, missionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and vice-postulator, told Fides, “a compass to look at” in these times when “marriage and family are under attack and suffer all kinds of distortion”. And “Pope Francis wanted to canonize him already during the Apostolic Journey of September 2024 in our country”.In the following interview, the vice-postulator also explains the many difficulties encountered in certifying the miracle and why the dispensation was requested.Peter ToRot was martyred with an injection of lethal poison. Why was he killed in prison? What drove his jailers to kill him? During the Japanese invasion of Papua New Guinea in World War II, the Japanese sought to gain the favor and friendship of the local population. To do so, they legalized polygamy, which had previously been forbidden by Catholic missionaries. Consequently, a large number of men began practicing this immoral custom. Peter ToRot, who was barely 30 years old at the time, opposed this infamous law. He preached with all his might about the unity and indissolubility of marriage, emphasizing these as characteristics of marriage willed by God. He successfully convinced many young women who had been taken as “second wives” to escape the men who had taken them and return to living in God’s grace. This, understandably, earned him a great many enemies. Many of these lustful enemies of To Rot were men of power. They managed to imprison him and ultimately assassinate him, silencing his prophetic voice.What does ToRot’s life tell the universal Church today? What can his story teach us? When Pope Francis first heard about Blessed Peter To Rot, he said: “This is the saint the Church needs in these times.” And it’s true: he was a lay man, married, father of 3 children, who died at 33 years old in defense of marriage and family. In these times, where marriage and family are so attacked and suffer all kind of distortions, the figure of this saint is a compass to look to, to remember once again God’s original plan for family and marriage.A dispensation for a miracle was requested for his canonization: what does this mean? Why was this path chosen? There are two important things to say about this point. First, an impressive number of signs and graces are attributed to Peter To Rot’s intercession. We shouldn’t think there are no miracles, although we prefer to call them “signs” because miracles require ecclesiastical approval. In Papua New Guinea, people receive all sorts of signs through the Blessed’s intercession. Second, in Papua New Guinea, there are no hospitals, doctors, or professionals who can testify or show evidence to these signs, nor are there written or documented records. This is because the people in the villages are very simple, and an oral culture is maintained. This lack of resources made it very difficult for us to “demonstrate” or “prove” a miracle. For this reason, we have asked Pope Francis for a dispensation from the miracle requirement, as it would have been almost impossible to fulfill. Even so, it’s necessary to mention and reiterate that the signs attributed to our martyr’s intercession are multiplying.During Pope Francis’ Apostolic Journey, the Church of Papua New Guinea asked for the intervention of the Pontiff to speed up the process… The request for a dispensation from the miracle was made at the beginning of 2024, with the hope that the canonization would take place during the Papal visit in September. While the favorable response regarding the dispensation arrived within a few weeks, there was still much work to be done in preparing the Positio and other matters. During Pope Francis’s visit in September 2024, I had the opportunity to speak with him along with the other Argentinian priests here in Papua for almost one hour, and I thanked him for his help with the Cause of To Rot. He told me: “I want to canonize him myself.”For the missionaries of Papua New Guinea and for catechists around the world, what does the canonization of To Rot represent today, in your opinion? The canonization of To Rot, I believe, is a great encouragement for all Catholics in Papua New Guinea to continue striving on the path of personal holiness. It reminds us that holiness isn’t a luxury, but a necessity, and that if To Rot could achieve it, we can too. Beyond that, To Rot’s testimony loudly proclaims to the entire world that God’s plan for family and marriage is one man and one woman for life, until death separates them. The unity and indissolubility of marriage are constantly attacked, distorted, and ridiculed by the modern world. To Rot, having shed his blood in defense of these truths, reminds us that it’s more important to obey God than men. (Agenzia Fides, 13/6/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO’s Digital Ocean Vision concludes three-day wargame

    Source: NATO

    From 10 to 13 June (2025), as part of its pioneering initiative Digital Ocean Vision, NATO offered participants the opportunity to test and compare next-generation systems alongside traditional naval platforms, in a digital wargame.

    During the event, participants from across the NATO structures, as well as wargaming experts from the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the Netherlands, were able to test next-generation systems against traditional naval platforms such as frigates, corvettes, maritime patrol aircraft and submarines. The wargame was designed to measure and compare how emerging disruptive technologies perform, with findings directly supporting NATO’s Task Force X and enhancing the Alliance’s overall defensive posture.

    NATO’s Digital Ocean Vision initiative aims to enhance NATO’s maritime situational awareness from seabed to space, by strengthening coordination between national and Allied capabilities employed for maritime surveillance. It includes a broad range of assets from satellites to autonomous systems below, on, and above the sea.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget’s May Report Highlights 21% increase in Futures Trading Volume Accelerating it to top #3 exchange

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its May 2025 Transparency Report, highlighting growth in trading activity, product innovation, global expansion, and social impact despite a consolidating crypto market.

    In May, the total crypto market cap fluctuated from a high of $3.6 trillion to close at $3.28 trillion, with daily trading volume averaging $84.44 billion. Despite broader market consolidation, Bitget’s trading volume surged by 21%, led by a 26% increase in futures trading. Spot trading reached $107 billion, ranking Bitget as the #3 crypto exchange globally by spot volume, just behind Binance and Bybit, and capturing an estimated 8.9% market share, according to Coingecko data.

    Bitget added over 500,000 new users in May alone, contributing to more than 2 million new users in Q2 2025. Bitget also recorded an industry-leading 192% Proof of Reserves ratio, and its Protection Fund hit an all-time high of $725 million, reflecting a long-term commitment to transparency, asset security, and user protection.

    May was a milestone month for Bitget Wallet, which rebranded under the “Crypto for Everyone” identity and rolled out major upgrades. Key launches included Paydify integration for seamless LATAM fiat onramps, a “Shop with Crypto” marketplace for spending at 300+ global brands, and Bitget Wallet Alpha, a mobile-native hub for token discovery and one-click trading across 130+ blockchains.

    Bitget forged key partnerships to drive adoption and education, teaming up with Sweat to expand crypto access in Southeast Asia, and collaborating with Cryptita to launch a blockchain encyclopedia for youth, promoting early crypto literacy.

    Product rollouts this month included the highly anticipated launch of Bitget Live, a real-time streaming feature designed to empower creators and expert traders to share their insights directly on the platform. The exchange also unveiled BGUSD, a USDC-pegged stablecoin backed by tokenized real-world assets including US Treasuries. Bitget Wallet became the official wallet for LINE’s Mini Dapp Portal, allowing LINE’s 196 million users to access Kaia chain games and tools via Bitget.

    Bitget continued to expand its listing of new digital assets, welcoming RLUSD, Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin, to its platform. Bitget also listed Shardeum, a scalable, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain, allowing users to access high-performance DeFi protocols and smart contract applications. The addition of USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and affiliated with the Trump family, signaled Bitget’s commitment to onboarding digital assets that aim to bridge fiat and crypto for broader user adoption.

    In May, Bitget advanced its social impact efforts through its Blockchain4Youth program, which marked two years with over 8,000 participants and global outreach across 70+ countries. It also supported Google’s “Build With AI” Hackathon, delivered emergency aid to earthquake-affected families in Myanmar, and expanded its Starlink Program in the Philippines to bring satellite internet to underserved islands, supporting long-term digital and blockchain inclusion.

    From its strong on-chain integrations to fiat-crypto innovation, Bitget continues to set new benchmarks in exchange trust, product utility, and real-world Web3 applications. Bitget’s sustained momentum positions it as a key driver in the next phase of crypto evolution.

    For the full transparency report, visit here.

    About Bitget

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

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5780c3bf-ff65-4550-a482-35cb88758332

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Hyperscale Data’s Subsidiary, Sentinum, Announces Anticipated Annual Bitcoin Mining Run Rate of Approximately $41 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LAS VEGAS, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company (“Hyperscale Data” or the “Company”), announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Sentinum, Inc. (“Sentinum”) expects that starting in July 2025, it should be mining an aggregate of approximately 375.24 Bitcoin per year. Such operations would represent a current Bitcoin mining annual run rate of approximately $41 million worth of Bitcoin. The mining run rate is based upon a recent Bitcoin price of approximately $108,000.

    These projections are based upon the full time, year round usage of approximately (i) 9,100 miners currently operating at Sentinum’s data center in Michigan, (ii) 6,800 miners to be hosted by Montana OP LLC, which are anticipated to be delivered, installed and in operation by the end of June 2025 and (iii) 3,300 miners to be operating at Sentinum’s data center in Montana, of which 2,600 are anticipated to be in operation by the end of June 2025 with the remaining 700 to be in operation during July 2025.

    “We’re proud to reach this milestone,” said Milton “Todd” Ault III, Founder and Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. “Our anticipated annual run rate of $41 million a year in Bitcoin mining highlights the scale we’ve built and our team’s ability to execute in a highly competitive market. We are excited to capitalize on favorable Bitcoin prices and look forward to the Sentinum team placing into operation the 10,100 Bitcoin mining machines over the next month.”

    Hyperscale Data notes that all estimates and other projections are subject to the volatility in Bitcoin market price, the fluctuation in the mining difficulty level, the ability to deliver and provide the necessary power for miners, the obligation to deliver Bitcoin mined as payment towards fees and deposits until paid in full, full utilization of the miners for an entire year and other factors that may impact the results of Bitcoin mining production or operations. In addition, Hyperscale Data cautions that revenue will only be recognized to the extent that Bitcoin (or cash upon the sale of Bitcoin) is deposited into our account, which amount will be less than the value of all Bitcoin mined.

    For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data’s public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

    About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

    Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging artificial intelligence (“AI”) ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data’s other wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc. (“ACG”), is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

    Hyperscale Data expects to divest itself of ACG on or about December 31, 2025 (the “Divestiture”). Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would solely be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, though it may at that time continue to mine Bitcoin. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data’s headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

    On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the “Series F Preferred Stock”) to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the “ACG Shares”). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be stockholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

    Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company’s business and financial results are included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company’s website at hyperscaledata.com.

    Hyperscale Data Investor Contact:
    IR@hyperscaledata.com or 1-888-753-2235

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Navatar Adds Automated LinkedIn Data Enrichment to Its Salesforce CRM Powered Intelligence Engine for Private Equity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK and LONDON, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Navatar, the CRM platform for alternative assets and investment banking, today announced a new LinkedIn integration that automates data enrichment within its Salesforce-based platform. This new capability allows deal teams to discover previously unknown contacts, track executive moves, and surface relevant news—all seamlessly within the CRM.

    This LinkedIn integration reinforces Navatar’s broader vision: delivering high-impact intelligence automatically—so dealmakers can focus on execution, not data entry. Navatar helps firms win by enabling thematic sourcing, staying close to the right companies, and building conviction early—before deals reach the market.

    This mission—to help dealmakers consistently bring their A-game—inspired the launch of Navatar’s A-Game podcast, which spotlights top private equity professionals sharing the principles, strategies, and insights that drive their edge in a competitive market.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link.

    For many firms, their CRM is part of the problem—not the solution. Workflows are manual, fragmented, and frustrating. Intelligence is scattered across inboxes, spreadsheets, and conversations in partners’ heads. Most CRMs ultimately become little more than static lists of deals. By capturing insights from emails, calendars, notes, documents, and now LinkedIn, Navatar continuously connects the dots across firms’ most valuable relationships and investment conversations.

    Navatar flips the model—removing friction, connecting insights behind the scenes, and ensuring that institutional knowledge shows up where and when dealmakers need it. Navatar transforms Salesforce into a dealmaking intelligence engine that captures, connects, and activates firmwide knowledge—without high-touch data entry or rigid workflows.

    Navatar helps deal teams:

    • Stay close to the right companies, bankers, and signals
    • Maximize the value of internal and external relationships
    • Unlock firmwide intelligence—without manual input
    • Make better-informed investment decisions, faster

    Bringing Your A-Game: From Sourcing to Diligence

    1. Relationship & Context Mapping

    • Surfaces who knows who across your firm
    • Tracks who knows what, based on intelligence automatically captured
    • Uncovers hidden relationships among companies, investors, and bankers

    2. Top-of-Funnel Edge

    • Consolidates insights from every relationship
    • Surfaces context that helps you pre-position early
    • Organizes intelligence by company, contact, sector—without manual effort

    3. Thematic Sourcing at Scale

    • Build workspaces around investment theses and subsectors
    • Dynamically summarize intelligence in collaborative clipboards
    • Visualize ecosystems of deals, companies, and people
    • Continuously refine sourcing strategy based on real-time insights

    4. Smarter Deal Evaluation

    • Pull in expert insights and past deal history to sharpen evaluation
    • Surface internal knowledge to strengthen competitive positioning
    • Reduce diligence costs by avoiding duplicated research

    Why Private Equity Firms Have Struggled with Salesforce

    Private equity workflows are nuanced, long-cycle, and driven by relationships. Yet firms often hire professional services teams to “build out” Salesforce with linear deal stages and compliance flows.

    The result? Over-engineered systems packed with automation layers that don’t reflect how dealmakers actually work. CRMs that demand hours of manual input—and return little in actionable insight.

    Even a CRM that perfectly mirrors a firm’s process will fail—if dealmakers see no immediate value.

    Navatar’s Counter-Intuitive Fix: Simplify Everything

    With two decades of Salesforce expertise, Navatar took a bold approach: use the flexibility of Salesforce not to add complexity—but to eliminate it. Navatar brings intelligence to dealmakers without changing how they work.

    Here’s how:

    • No manual data entry — Notes and emails are automatically captured, categorized by company, deal, person, sector, and topic
    • Reveal hidden connections — Between sponsors, buyers, companies, and intermediaries
    • Unify the firm’s knowledge — Track and connect interactions at every stage
    • Collaborate seamlessly — Dynamic, flexible workspaces align the team in real time
    • Stay in sync — CRM, Outlook, LinkedIn, calendar, and third-party data are all connected

    The Bottom Line: Intelligence Wins Deals

    The new LinkedIn integration is now available to all Navatar clients using the Salesforce platform. In a market where speed, insight, and relationships drive returns, private equity firms can no longer afford to rely on static CRMs and scattered workflows. Navatar transforms Salesforce into a low-touch, high-impact intelligence engine—built for how dealmakers actually work. By capturing insights across every conversation and connection, Navatar empowers firms to act earlier, evaluate faster, and compete smarter.

    For more information on Navatar for Private Equity, visit:
    https://www.navatargroup.com/salesforce-for-private-equity-crm-software/

    About Navatar

    Navatar (@navatargroup), the CRM platform for alternative assets and investment banking firms, is a low-touch, high-impact intelligence engine purpose-built for investment workflows across private markets. Our platform delivers seamless intelligence capture, unifies firmwide relationships, and orchestrates complex deal processes—without requiring high-touch input or behavioral change from investment professionals. Backed by over two decades of CRM expertise, Navatar is used by hundreds of global private markets firms to drive institutional knowledge, create early access to opportunities and streamline execution.

    Sales Team
    Navatar
    sales@navatargroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [MARLOWE PLC – 12 06 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)   Full name of discloser: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (b)   Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 MARLOWE PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 12 JUNE 2025
    (f)   In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 NO

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)      Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: 50p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 3,108,136 3.9583    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 3,108,136 3.9583    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)      Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
    50p ORDINARY SALE 5,100 442.02p
    50p ORDINARY PURCHASE 5,100 442.5p

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
    NONE        

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
    NONE              

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
    NONE      

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)   the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)   the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”

    NONE

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 13 JUNE 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press conference following Council of Ministers meeting no. 131

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    12 Giugno 2025

    Council of Ministers meeting no. 131 was held at Palazzo Chigi today. Following the meeting, Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso, Minister of Labour and Social Policies Marina Elvira Calderone and Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Maurizio Leo held a press conference to illustrate the measures adopted.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Israel takes name of Iran operation from Bible verse

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel has called its military operation against Iran “Rising Lion”, taking the name from a biblical verse that promises a victorious future for a powerful Israel.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was photographed on Thursday putting a handwritten note into a crack of Jerusalem’s Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest prayer site, which in retrospect pointed to the looming strikes on Iran.

    His office on Friday released a photo of the note, which said “the people shall rise up as a lion”.

    The expression comes from verse 23:24 of the Book of Numbers in the Bible: “Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”

    This verse is part of the first oracle of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet and diviner, where he foretells the strength and power of Israel, comparing it to a lion that will not rest until it has satisfied its hunger.

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel’s strikes “satanic”.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi condoles demise of former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani in Ahmedabad air crash

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed deep grief over the demise of former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was among the victims of the Air India crash in Ahmedabad a day earlier.

    Rupani, 68, was travelling on board flight AI-171 to London when the aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming the lives of 241 passengers.

    In a post on X, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the late leader, describing his passing as “unimaginable” and recalling a long association with him that spanned decades.

    “I’ve known him for decades. We worked together, shoulder to shoulder, including during some of the most challenging times. Vijaybhai was humble and hardworking, firmly committed to the Party’s ideology,” PM Modi said in his post.

    He went on to highlight Rupani’s journey in public life, mentioning his early work in the Rajkot Municipal Corporation, his tenure as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, and his leadership as President of the Gujarat BJP.

    “In every role assigned, he distinguished himself… as Gujarat BJP President and as Cabinet Minister in the State Government,” the Prime Minister said, adding that Rupani had made lasting contributions during his time as Chief Minister, particularly in initiatives aimed at improving ease of living for citizens.

    The Prime Minister also visited the late leader’s family to offer condolences in person. “Will always cherish the interactions we had. My thoughts are with his family and friends in this hour of grief. Om Shanti,” he said.

    Rupani served as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2016 to 2021.

  • Gautam Gambhir flies back home from England due to family emergency

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A week before India begins their five-match Test series against England in Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back home due to a family emergency. Gambhir had been with the Indian team at Beckenham ahead of their intra-squad practice match starting on Friday.

    “Yes it came to the light yesterday that Gambhir would be flying back home due to an important family emergency related to his mother. As of now, we believe that Gambhir has already linked up with his family in New Delhi. Keeping in mind the current situation, it’s not known yet about when he would join the India team ahead of the Test series’ commencement,” said sources aware of development to IANS on Friday.

    In Gambhir’s absence, alongside batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, bowling coach Morne Morkel, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip will help the Indian team prepare for the upcoming Test series against Ben Stokes-led England, which starts at Headingley.

    The Test tour of England will also be right-handed batter Shubman Gill’s first assignment as the captain of the Indian team, following the retirement of Rohit Sharma last month. At 25 years and 258 days, Gill will also become the fifth-youngest cricketer to captain India in Tests.

    Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will be India’s vice-captain on the all-important Test series, which runs from June 20 to August 4. India and England will also play matches at Edgbaston in Birmingham, Lord’s in London, Old Trafford in Manchester and The Oval in London.

    India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. The Test series in England will also be India’s first assignment in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Senior Police Call AGM cum Luncheon held  
    Speaking at the luncheon, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming, said the SPC has been established for over ten years, aiming at promoting safety, health and community participation of the elderly. The Government adopted measures to promote the silver economy last month to enhance the quality of life for the elderly. In line with the policy direction, the SPC has launched a wide range of activities and training programmes to help its members achieve physical, mental and spiritual health.
     
    In order to enhance the anti-deception awareness among senior citizens and to tackle the various and emerging deception tactics, the SPC launched the “IT Captain” training programme in May this year. This includes the education on the use of the one-stop scam and pitfall search engine “Scameter+”. Together with the “SPC Wealth Management and Anti-Investment Scam Ambassador” programme, the elderly get familiarised with the latest scam tactics and cyber traps, and are encouraged to spread the message of fraud prevention in the community. Trained “IT Captains” will guide elderly and citizens in the community to use the commonly-used mobile apps of the Government, assisting them to integrate into digital life.
     
    An increase of 28 per cent was recorded in the number of deception cases involving elderly victims, reaching 6 345 cases in 2024 compared to 4 929 cases in 2023. There was also an increase of approximately 20 per cent in related fraud cases from January to April this year compared to the same period last year, to over 1 700 cases. Of these, more than half were classified as online frauds, while around 40 per cent were related to telephone scams.
     
    At the AGM today, 44 SPC members were presented with the “Best SPC Captain” and “Most Active SPC Member” awards in recognition of their enthusiastic participation over the past year.
     
    The newly launched “PALS@SPC” initiative this year represents four key themes of the SPC’s activities, with “P” standing for “Participate”, “A” for “Alert”, “L” for “Learn” and “S” for “Safeguard”. The SPC will continue to collaborate with various organisations to roll out a broader range of programmes, encouraging more senior citizens to become SPC members, and to enhance themselves through recreation and sports activities as well as courses and seminars. Being crime-fighting partners of the Police, SPC members join hands to serve the community and achieve the SPC sprit – “Helping Oneself and Others”.

    Issued at HKT 18:11

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 15 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations codenamed “Contribute”, “Lightshadow” and “Twilight”, and a joint operation with the Hong Kong Police Force codenamed “Windsand”, for four consecutive days from June 9 to yesterday (June 12). A total of 12 suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested.

    During the anti-illegal worker operations, ImmD Task Force officers raided 81 target locations including commercial buildings, an industrial building, residential buildings, a massage parlour, restaurants and retail stores. Twelve suspected illegal workers, two suspected employers and one suspected aider and abettor were arrested. The arrested suspected illegal workers comprised five men and seven women, aged 21 to 57. Among them, two men and one woman were holders of a recognisance form, which prohibits them from taking any employment. In addition, one woman was also suspected of using and being in possession of a forged Hong Kong identity card; one man was suspected of using and being in possession of a Hong Kong identity card related to another person. One man and one woman, aged 30 and 63, were suspected of employing the illegal workers and were also arrested. One woman, aged 32, who was suspected of aiding and abetting a person who breached the condition of stay in Hong Kong, was also arrested.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Record of discussion of meeting of Exchange Fund Advisory Committee Currency Board Sub-Committee held on April 30 
    Report on Currency Board Operations (25 December, 2024 – 16 April, 2025)
    ————————————————————————————
     
    The Currency Board Sub-Committee (Sub-Committee) noted that the Hong Kong dollar (HKD) traded within a range of 7.7555 – 7.7927 against the US dollar (USD) during the review period. The HKD exchange rate moderated in early January 2025 as liquidity tightness subsided at the end of 2024 and global markets reacted to US tariff announcements, but strengthened in mid-February 2025, supported by strong performance of the local stock market amid Mainland China’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence and net inflows from the Southbound Stock Connect. In early April, in response to further US tariffs, the HKD strengthened further as long USD carry trades unwound amid a risk-off sentiment and southbound inflows continued. HKD interbank rates (HIBORs) continued to track the USD rates while shorter-tenor rates were also being affected by local supply and demand. Short-term HIBORs tightened briefly near the year-end but softened thereafter as funding demand faded. The Convertibility Undertakings were not triggered during the review period and the Aggregate Balance was stable at around HK$45 billion. No abnormality was noted in the usage of the Discount Window. Overall, the HKD exchange and interbank markets continued to trade in a smooth and orderly manner.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that the Monetary Base increased to HK$1,980.99 billion at the end of the review period. In accordance with the Currency Board principles, all changes in the Monetary Base had been fully matched by changes in foreign reserves.
     
    The Report on Currency Board Operations for the review period is at Annex.
     
    Monitoring of Risks and Vulnerabilities
    ——————————————
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that downside growth risks to the global economy had intensified following the US announcement of imposing reciprocal tariffs that exceeded market expectations. In response, global financial markets had gyrated, although they continued to operate smoothly with no sign of widespread funding stress. While the postponement of reciprocal tariffs had offered some reprieve for export-reliant Asian economies which generally faced higher rates, the prospect of tariffs being implemented further down the road still posed significant growth headwinds.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Mainland China, the economy entered 2025 amid some green shoots and improved equity market sentiment. In particular, at the “two sessions” in March, the authorities sent strong pro-growth signals, including prioritising consumption and strengthening fiscal support. From April onwards, the Mainland economic outlook faced stiffer external headwinds due to the US reciprocal tariffs. It was expected that Mainland China would place increasing emphasis on supporting consumption.
     
    The Sub-Committee noted that in Hong Kong, downside risks to the growth outlook heightened following the imposition of the US reciprocal tariffs. Yet, several factors might help alleviate some of the impact, including the Mainland’s pro-growth policies and its advancement in artificial intelligence, the prospective US rate cuts expected by the markets, and the ongoing recovery of inbound tourism. Meanwhile, housing market transactions gained momentum in March following the Government’s adjustment in stamp duties for lower-value properties, although market sentiment turned conservative in early April amid the global financial market volatility. The commercial real estate markets remained subdued, especially in the office segment.
     
    A Study on “Discount Window Stigma”
    ——————————————-
     
    The Sub-Committee noted a paper that examined the usage of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) Discount Window and the associated “stigma effect” by banks over time. The results showed that the Discount Window was tapped more frequently and the associated stigma diminished in the current period of tight liquidity, compared with the previous period of tight liquidity in 2018 – 2020. This trend coincided with the HKMA’s proactive communication efforts with banks to alleviate concerns about the “stigma effect” during recent periods.
    Issued at HKT 16:36

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    27 landlords of subdivided units under regulated tenancies convicted of contravening relevant statutory requirements 
         The offences of these 27 landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (i.e. requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed 16 offences under (1) and (2) and was fined $13,000.

         The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted the landlords.
     
         A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether they have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance. In addition, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work to enhance public awareness about the key offences and penalties, emphasising that the RVD proactively checks whether landlords have committed the offences under the Ordinance.  
         The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. The RVD has been issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to assist them in understanding the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and to remind them about the procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy as well as their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html 
         For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (    www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.htmlIssued at HKT 15:48

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s international gourmet hub status attracts Mainland coconut chicken hot pot chain to open first restaurant in Hong Kong (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (June 13) that Runseason World Trade Catering Co Ltd (Runseason), a Mainland catering brand specialising in coconut chicken hot pot, has officially opened its first restaurant in Hong Kong, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy.

         The new restaurant, located in Causeway Bay, will also serve as a regional office and a strategic launch pad for the company’s ambitions to enter European markets and elevate its brand on the global stage, according to Runseason co-founder Mr Huang Guangchun.

         Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK Mr Arnold Lau said, “Runseason’s decision to establish its foothold in Hong Kong underscores the city as the premier choice for Mainland brands to go global. It also highlights Hong Kong’s unique advantages as a launch pad for food and beverage companies aiming to expand internationally. We are delighted to support Runseason in leveraging Hong Kong’s vibrant market and international connectivity to achieve its ambitious expansion goals.”

         Mr Huang said, “Hong Kong’s status as an international culinary hub, with its mature market and diverse consumers, makes it the ideal base for Runseason to refine its product offerings, strengthen its supply chain resilience, and enhance its digital services. Aligning with the company’s ‘family standards and conscientious quality’ philosophy, the Hong Kong restaurant will develop a replicable model for global expansion, showcasing its signature coconut chicken hot pot and innovative dishes to a global audience.”

         He added, “Hong Kong, as an international city where East meets West, provides an unparalleled opportunity for Runseason to introduce our coconut chicken – a delicacy rooted in Eastern dietary wisdom – to international markets. By leveraging Hong Kong’s diverse consumer base and its reputation for culinary excellence, we aim to transform this regional specialty into a global cultural symbol of healthy and sustainable dining.”

         Founded in 2009, Runseason is a subsidiary of Shenzhen Runyuan Four Seasons Catering Co Ltd, offering its signature coconut chicken hot pot, in which the brand sources fresh ingredients directly from its own coconut plantations and Wenchang chicken breeding farm in Hainan, ensuring a premium dining experience. It operates over 20 restaurants across Mainland China, bringing its beloved hot pot to an ever-growing customer base. 

         For more information about Runseason, please visit mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Cn8mevI9TxnrmaIT72fksA.

         For a copy of the photos, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326792123.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Charles Emogor, Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

    Nigeria accounts for the largest volume of detected pangolin scales illegally traded from Africa. Between 2010 and 2021, 190,000kg of scales – representing nearly 800,000 African pangolins – were seized in shipments linked to Nigeria, despite a ban on international trade.

    Pangolins are scaly mammals found across Asia and Africa. They are considered the world’s most trafficked wild mammals and they are exploited in different ways on different continents.

    In Asia, mainly China, their scales are used in large-scale therapeutic medicines, despite not having known medicinal properties. Their meat is consumed as a delicacy, so it’s expensive and highly sought after.

    In Africa, pangolin scales are mainly used in small quantities to make traditional medicines and, like most other wildlife on the continent, their meat is sold and consumed locally. However, the decline in Asian pangolin populations has prompted the trafficking of African pangolin scales to Asia.

    Due to the relatively recent rise in international demand, the drivers of African pangolin exploitation remain unclear. However, some conservationists and researchers propose that this exploitation is primarily driven by overseas demand for pangolin scales used in traditional medicine.

    My new study challenges this view and suggests that African pangolin exploitation is motivated more by local demand for meat than international demand for scales.

    Having grown up in Nigeria, I developed personal connections with many of the hunters and vendors and have spent the past five years building a trustworthy relationship with them in order to research pangolin trade from within the industry.

    My colleagues and I sent an anonymous questionnaire to 590 hunters and 219 wild meat vendors in 33 locations in southeast Nigeria. We wanted to find out how many pangolins they caught annually and how they were captured. We also asked what their motivations for hunting were, how much they sold pangolin products for and the subsequent uses of meat and scales.

    Given that pangolin meat is eaten as food, we asked another group of 570 hunters, vendors, and other household members to score the palatability (perceived sensory qualities of meat flavour and texture) of 96 meat and fish dishes consumed in Nigerian communities.

    Of the approximately 21,000 white- and black-bellied pangolins, which we estimated were killed annually across the hunters in the landscape between 2020 and 2023, 97% were captured opportunistically (that is, while performing activities other than hunting) or during general hunting. Of those, were picked up by hand – these animals weigh just 2-3kg on average and are relatively slow-moving.

    Surprisingly, 98% of captured pangolins were caught for their meat, with 71% eaten by the hunters and 27% sold locally. This high rate of personal consumption compared to local sales is likely driven by their exceptional taste. In southeast Nigeria, the three pangolin species eaten scored highest in palatability among 96 wild meats assessed, and were comparable only with the African brush-tailed porcupine.

    By comparison, rural southeast Asian communities increasingly forego eating the pangolins themselves and instead sell them to urban centres because they get high prices for meat and scales.

    Most of the pangolin scales (70%) were discarded. Less than 30% were traded illegally. We also found that, on a per-animal basis, pangolin scales have been three to four times lower than meat since 2010, when Nigeria’s first pangolin scale seizure was documented.

    Beyond Nigeria

    While our study focused on pangolin trade in southeast Nigeria, our findings likely apply to other African forest regions where pangolins make up a similar proportion of the hunters’ total catch and where the price of scales is comparable.

    Our analysis only applies to white- and black-bellied pangolins; but this is still substantial as they make up approximately 98% of African pangolins trafficked internationally (based on seizure data) and 96% of pangolins caught by hunters across central and west Africa (based on hunter offtake data from six countries).

    Securing the future of African pangolins demands a bold shift if they are primarily being hunted for meat rather than scales, as appears to be the case in southeast Nigeria. Anti-trafficking measures alone won’t protect pangolins if hunting for local consumption remains unchecked.

    Promoting alternative protein sources or sustainable livelihoods for hunters could help reduce wild meat dependence. As current global trade bans don’t always reflect local hunting motivations, understanding why people hunt protected species and how they get traded both locally and globally will be crucial in developing conservation strategies that will tackle the root of the problem and encourage a transition to more sustainable practices.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Charles Emogor receives funding from the British High Commission in Nigeria, National Geographic Society, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wildlife Conservation Network, Rufford Foundation, Conservation Leadership Programme, and Save Pangolins. He is the founder of Pangolin Protection Network (aka Pangolino).

    – ref. Why anti-trafficking measures alone won’t save Africa’s pangolins – https://theconversation.com/why-anti-trafficking-measures-alone-wont-save-africas-pangolins-251744

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Netflix’s Dept Q. suggests that psychological trauma might help a detective investigate – neuroscience backs this up

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Edward White, PhD Candidate in Psychology, Kingston University

    Carl Morck is psychologically damaged. He’s socially insufferable. And he’s a departmental embarrassment. Yet this broken man becomes an incredibly effective investigator. Welcome to the brilliant paradox of Netflix’s Dept. Q, where mental trauma doesn’t disable – it supercharges.

    Detective Morck’s story begins with catastrophic failure. Ignoring protocol, he and his partner, James Hardy, rush headlong into what they think is a routine murder scene. It’s an ambush. Hardy ends up paralysed for life, a rookie officer dies and Morck survives with crushing survivor’s guilt and severe PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Most detectives would retire. Morck comes back more determined to get his man.

    Months later, Morck returns to work. He obsessively replays the rookie’s body camera video hundreds of times as well as the ballistics reconstruction. His colleagues flee his toxic presence. His commander ships him off to the basement with a stack of cold cases, hoping he’ll disappear into bureaucratic obscurity.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Instead, she accidentally creates the perfect storm.

    Morck’s first basement case involves Merritt Lingard, a prosecutor who vanished from a ferry four years earlier. The official conclusion was she fell overboard and drowned. Case closed. But Morck can’t move on from anything anymore. His trauma-rewired brain won’t let him.

    He watches the ferry security footage with the same obsessive intensity he brings to replaying his shooting. Frame by frame. Over and over. The same compulsive attention to detail that torments him with endless replays of his failure becomes his investigative superpower. Where normal detectives see a tragic accident, Morck’s damaged neural pathways spot the inconsistencies everyone else missed.

    This isn’t nonsense, it’s neuroscience. Research shows that depression fundamentally rewires information processing, creating enhanced sensitivity to negative details and threats. What his therapist calls pathological rumination becomes detective gold.

    The banished misfits

    Morck is saddled with a team of misfits: Hardy (paralysed and bitter), Akram Salim (a Syrian refugee with mysterious combat skills), and Rose Dickson (battling her own demons). Together, they form a collection of damaged individuals that conventional policing would write off.

    But here’s the magic: their shared outsider status creates collective investigative superpowers.

    Take their interview with William Lingard, Merritt’s disabled brother. William draws pictures of “a man in a hat with a bird logo” — evidence that conventional investigators would probably set aside because it wouldn’t hold up in court. The series shows this attitude earlier when a young mother recants her witness statement. While other officers dismiss it as useless since it can’t help prosecute a case, Morck argues it’s still valuable investigative information.

    This reflects a fundamental difference in approach: most police focus on building prosecutable cases, but Dept. Q’s outsider status frees them to pursue any lead that might reveal truth, regardless of its courtroom value. Taking William’s drawings seriously as investigative intelligence, rather than dismissing them as legally inadmissible, eventually leads them to identify the crucial cormorant logo connection.

    Organisational psychology research shows that socially excluded groups are more willing to ask questions that insiders avoid due to workplace politics or social taboos. Operating from their basement exile, Department Q pursues theories that proper procedure would shut down. Their isolation becomes investigative freedom, unencumbered by institutional constraints.

    Department Q isn’t just entertainment, it’s a master class in psychological diversity’s investigative value. Real police departments might benefit from understanding how different types of cognitive processing can reveal different types of evidence. The systematic pessimism of depression, the hypervigilance of PTSD, the pattern recognition of anxiety – these aren’t just symptoms to medicate away, they’re investigative tools waiting to be properly deployed.

    The series suggests that our most psychologically damaged individuals might see truths that healthy minds systematically miss, which research backs up. It’s a provocative idea: maybe the people we consider “broken” are exactly who we need investigating the cases that have broken everyone else.

    Department Q proves that in the right circumstances, psychological damage doesn’t create victims. It creates visionaries.

    Edward White is affiliated with Kingston University.

    – ref. Netflix’s Dept Q. suggests that psychological trauma might help a detective investigate – neuroscience backs this up – https://theconversation.com/netflixs-dept-q-suggests-that-psychological-trauma-might-help-a-detective-investigate-neuroscience-backs-this-up-258638

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Shadow of War Falls Over Strait of Hormuz After Israel Strikes Iran

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran on Friday, saying it targeted nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders during the start of a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.

    Iran, which has denied such intentions, has in the past threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz for traffic in retaliation to Western pressure. Experts have said that any closure of the strait could restrict trade and impact global oil prices.

    Below are details about the strait:

    The strait lies between Oman and Iran and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond.

    It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

    WHY DOES IT MATTER?

    About a fifth of the world’s total oil consumption passes through the strait. Between the start of 2022 and last month, roughly 17.8 million to 20.8 million barrels of crude, condensate and fuels flowed through the strait daily, according to data from Vortexa.

    OPEC members Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq export most of their crude via the strait, mainly to Asia.

    The UAE and Saudi Arabia have sought to find other routes to bypass the strait.

    Around 2.6 million bpd of unused capacity from existing UAE and Saudi pipelines could be available to bypass Hormuz, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in June last year.

    Qatar, among the world’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters, sends almost all of its LNG through the strait.

    Iran has threatened over the years to block the strait but has never followed through.

    The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, is tasked with protecting commercial shipping in the area.

    HISTORY OF TENSIONS

    In 1973, Arab producers led by Saudi Arabia slapped an oil embargo on Western supporters of Israel in its war with Egypt.

    While Western countries were the main buyers of crude produced by the Arab countries at the time, nowadays Asia is the main buyer of OPEC’s crude.

    The United States more than doubled its oil liquids production in the last two decades and has turned from the world’s biggest oil importer into one of the top exporters.

    During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the two sides sought to disrupt each other’s exports in what was called the Tanker War.

    In July 1988, a U.S. warship shot down an Iranian airliner, killing all 290 aboard, in what Washington said was an accident and Tehran said was a deliberate attack.

    In January 2012, Iran threatened to block the strait in retaliation for U.S. and European sanctions. In May 2019, four vessels – including two Saudi oil tankers – were attacked off the UAE coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tens of thousands of people in Hainan have been evacuated to safe areas due to Typhoon Wutip

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    HAIKOU, June 13 (Xinhua) — More than tens of thousands of residents in south China’s Hainan Province have been evacuated to safe areas as Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly), the first typhoon of the year, approaches.

    As of 8:00 p.m. Thursday, a total of 16,561 people had been evacuated from construction sites, low-lying areas threatened by flooding and areas at risk from mountain torrents in the province.

    All 30,721 fishing vessels in the province have either returned to ports or taken shelter elsewhere, with more than 40,000 people working on them evacuated to shore.

    As Typhoon Wutip continues to intensify, the provincial meteorological office extended the typhoon alert to Level 3 at 11 a.m. Friday.

    Typhoon Wutip strengthened into a severe tropical storm at 8 p.m. Thursday. As of 10 a.m. Friday, its epicenter was located near Ledong Li Autonomous County on Hainan Island, with maximum wind speeds of about 28 meters per second near the epicenter. Heavy rainfall is expected in many parts of the province by 8 p.m.

    According to meteorologists’ forecasts, the typhoon is moving in a northwesterly direction at a speed of 5-10 km/h.

    On Friday, Wutip may make landfall or pass near the coastal area between Ledong County and Dongfang City as a severe tropical storm with wind gusts of 25 to 28 meters per second. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Scientists Discover 100-Million-Year-Old Parasitic Fungi

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NANJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — An international team of paleontologists led by Chinese scientists has discovered two previously unknown species of parasitic fungi preserved in two pieces of amber from Myanmar’s Kachin region, which are about 100 million years old, according to the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

    The new discovery provides important evidence for the study of fungi and insects’ coevolution. The study also suggests that the parasitic fungi group Ophiocordyceps evolved about 30 million years earlier than previously thought.

    As the head of the research project, senior researcher at the institute Wang Bo, explained, the fungi do not have a solid structure and are easily decomposed. Research into the origin and evolution of Ophiocordyceps is hampered by the extreme limitation of fossil evidence.

    The two pieces of amber have well-preserved mushroom structures, making it possible to compare them with modern analogues. Using computer microtomography, the researchers discovered their insect hosts.

    The scientists also obtained and analyzed genetic data on 120 modern Ophiocordyceps species. Using these fossils as a reference, they reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Ophiocordyceps and revised the data on the origin of this group of fungi.

    “The results suggest that the origin of Ophiocordyceps must have occurred around 130 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous, which is 30 million years earlier than previously thought,” he said.

    The results of the study were published Wednesday in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Judge orders Trump to give California back control of its National Guard

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    LOS ANGELES, June 13 (Xinhua) — A federal judge on Thursday issued a temporary order ordering U.S. President Donald Trump to return control of the state’s National Guard to California authorities.

    Trump’s deployment of the California National Guard and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles was unlawful because it violated the Tenth Amendment and exceeded the president’s statutory powers, according to the order, which will go into effect Friday at 12 p.m.

    US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump overstepped his authority when he ordered about 4,000 National Guard troops to be deployed to Los Angeles, where immigration protests have erupted.

    California Governor Gavin Newsom challenged the measure in court. California later filed an emergency motion asking a judge to bar the National Guard from assisting immigration enforcement raids.

    Breyer’s injunction was “a sharp rebuke of President Trump’s efforts to deploy thousands of National Guard troops to the streets of an American city, which has led to nearly a week of political standoffs and protests across the country,” the New York Times writes.

    During an hour-long hearing in San Francisco, a Justice Department official said courts do not have the authority to review the president’s decisions regarding the National Guard and Marines, which Trump sent to Los Angeles despite objections from state and local officials.

    C. Breyer expressed doubt that D. Trump fulfilled the conditions of the law determining when National Guard units, which are usually commanded by the state governor, can be federalized.

    The judge stayed the order until Friday afternoon to allow an appeal, but he set a June 20 hearing on whether to make the restrictions permanent. The Trump administration has appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xi Jinping offers condolences to Indian leadership over plane crash

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday offered condolences to Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the deaths of many people in the crash of an Air India plane.

    In his message, Xi Jinping said he was shocked to learn of the plane crash that claimed many lives. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, he expressed deep condolences over the loss of life, sympathized with the victims and the families of the deceased, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent a message of condolences to Modi on Friday. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Onchain Rolls Out Major Feature Upgrades to Empower Smarter Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has announced a series of powerful feature upgrades including limit order, smart position TP/SL, and new token alert, for its Onchain platform, aimed at providing users with more precision, control, and real-time insights into onchain trading.

    The latest updates introduce key enhancements to trading execution, risk management, market tracking, and user experience. Limit order functionality is now live, allowing traders to define their own execution prices with greater precision and efficiency. The Onchain platform also supports smart take-profit and stop-loss tools, enabling users to pre-set target profits or losses and automate position management with a single click. To give traders greater flexibility, gas and slippage settings can now be adjusted across multiple modes.

    Bitget Onchain has also improved its real-time market visibility. K-line candlestick charts are now updated live, ensuring users have access to the most current market data as prices move. A new chart overlay combines price data with market capitalization, offering a dual-layered perspective for more informed decision-making.

    The platform also introduced a new token subscription feature that sends instant alerts when new tokens are listed, helping users stay ahead of emerging opportunities. Search functionality has also been upgraded to support direct queries using contract addresses, making it easier to identify high-potential assets. In addition, Bitget Onchain has launched a new sharing feature that allows users to showcase their open positions and trading performance seamlessly across platforms.

    “At Bitget, we’re committed to building a seamless and intelligent onchain trading environment,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “With these new features, users gain more precision, better automation, and deeper visibility into the market—all essential to staying ahead in a fast-moving space and making smarter trading decisions.”

    Bitget Onchain was officially launched on April 7, 2025, as a frictionless onchain trading solution for all users. By combining the speed and simplicity of a CEX with direct access to onchain assets, it allows users to trade using USDT from their spot accounts across major chains such as Solana, BNB Chain, and Base. To date, Bitget Onchain has included over 230 trendy assets, recorded over 1 million cumulative trading actions, and facilitated over $200 million in total trading volume.

    With CEX-grade security and AI-powered token screening, Bitget Onchain makes DeFi trading simpler, safer, and more accessible, especially for new users seeking early opportunities in emerging markets.

    For more information on Bitget OnChain, please visit here.

    About Bitget

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

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0f2ea8b-9246-40f2-a7f4-0805abd9cfd5

    The MIL Network –