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Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African and Caribbean leaders to headline Afreximbank’s 32nd Annual Meetings in Abuja, Nigeria


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    The 32nd Annual Meetings (AAM2025) of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) will bring together an influential coalition of global, African and CARICOM leaders in Abuja, Nigeria from 25–27 June 2025. This high-level forum will focus on advancing trade, investment, and innovation across the continent, with Heads of State, Prime Ministers, top business executives, academics and acclaimed academics confirmed to speak.

    H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; former Nigerian President H.E. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and H.E. Ambassador Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry & Mining, are among the confirmed dignitaries.

    They will be joined by ministers, central bank governors, investors, and industry leaders from Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond.

    Held under the theme “Building the Future on Decades of Resilience”, AAM2025 will focus on accelerating trade opportunities, driving investment and fostering innovation.

    Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, remarked:

    “AAM2025 comes at a pivotal time for Africa. As the continent confronts global uncertainties, it is doing so with renewed resolve. Following the successful 31st edition of AAM held in The Bahamas last year, we are back on the African continent for this year’s meetings which are about catalysing practical action—building stronger institutions to strengthen trade integration and unlocking the full potential of African innovation. We thank H.E Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his support.”

    The speaker lineup includes renowned economists and industry leaders including Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development, Columbia University and Dr. Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore.

    Africa’s foremost business innovation leaders such as Mr. Aliko Dangote, President & CEO of Dangote Group and Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, will also participate. The speaker lineup further includes Professor Ghulam Mufti of King’s College London, former Prime Minister of Jamaica P.J. Patterson, and other influential figures.

    Afreximbank’s 32nd Annual Meetings (AAM2025) in Abuja are expected to deliver strong economic benefits, both in the short and long term. The main anticipated impacts include the trade and investment mobilisation, policy and institutional advancement and strengthening South-South cooperation and trade flows.

    AAM2025 is expected to facilitate significant trade and investment deals, including Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and public-private partnerships. The meetings are expected to catalyse billions of dollars in funding over the next 5–10 years for key strategic sectors.

    By bringing together heads of state, ministers, leaders of trade institutions, policymakers and the private sector, the meetings will advance regional dialogue on several priorities: implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), enhancing cross-border payment systems to speed up regional transactions, strengthening Africa–Caribbean (CARICOM) economic ties through expanded trade, tourism, and joint ventures, and ensuring private sector participation in policy reforms. These discussions aim to reduce business costs, improve trade infrastructure, and deepen regional economic integration.

    With world-renowned economists, scholars, and entrepreneurs participating, AAM2025 will shape thought leadership on Africa’s development path.

    Platforms like this influence policy, shift narratives, and inspire reforms that foster innovation, inclusion, and competitiveness. This year’s meetings will also mark the launch of several new initiatives.

    AAM2025 is expected to welcome thousands of participants and media from more than 80 countries.

    A full programme of events and speakers is available on www.AAM2025.com

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

    Media Contact:
    Vincent Musumba
    Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)
    Email: press@afreximbank.com  

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    About Afreximbank:
    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. 

    For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mrvan Honors Nominees Accepted into the U.S. Military Service Academies

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank J. Mrvan (IN)

    Washington, DC – Rep. Frank J. Mrvan is pleased to announce the nominees that have accepted their appointment to the U.S. Military Service Academies from Indiana’s First Congressional District.  

    Military Service Academy Nominations are recommended to Congressman Mrvan by his Military Service Academy Board, which includes veterans, community leaders, and active duty and retired servicemembers from across Indiana’s First Congressional District.

    Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY.  The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

    Congressman Mrvan stated, “It is my honor to nominate these brave and selfless individuals from Indiana’s First Congressional District to join the United States Military Service Academies for the Class of 2029.  I thank all the members of the Military Service Academy Board for their thoughtful participation in this process, and encourage all students who are interested in being part of the Class of 2030 to contact my office for additional information.”  

    The following students received a nomination from Congressman Mrvan and have accepted their appointment: 

    Grant Best, Mount Carmel High School – U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School

    Cooper Burton, Wheeler High School – U.S. Air Force Academy

    Talina Cisneros, Hammond Central High School – U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School

    Shane Conroy, Portage High School – U.S. Naval Academy

    Luke Granzow, Hobart High School/Air Force Prep – U.S. Air Force Academy

    Maverick Markos, Westville High School – U.S. Military Academy at West Point

    Brayden Mercier, Chesterton High School – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

    Damian Resendez, Mount Carmel High School/West Point Prep – U.S. Military Academy at West Point

    Madalyn Richardson, Washington Township High School – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

    Students in Indiana’s First Congressional District who are interested in seeking a nomination to the U.S. Military Service Academies can find more information on Congressman Mrvan’s website at https://mrvan.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations or by calling (219) 795-1844. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: At Chelsea Town Hall, Pressley Reaffirms Solidarity with Immigrant Neighbors, Condemns Minnesota Lawmaker Assassinations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

    Pressley Also Condemned Trump’s March Toward Authoritarianism, and More

    “I come here today to reaffirm my commitment to protect and to support our immigrant neighbors, and to do that work with my colleagues at every level of government.. You are not just constituents. You are family, and I will never stop fighting for you like that.”

    Video (YouTube) | Photos (Dropbox)

    CHELSEA – At a town hall in Chelsea, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) reaffirmed her solidarity with immigrant families under threat from the Trump Administration and condemned the harrowing assassination and assassination attempts targeting elected officials and their families that took place over the weekend in Minnesota. Congresswoman Pressley also denounced Donald Trump’s march toward authoritarianism, including his North Korea-style military parade in Washington, DC, and more.

    Joined by community leaders at La Colaborativa in Chelsea, including La Colaborativa leadership, Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez, the Chelsea Black Community, and elected officials from across the Massachusetts 7th, Rep. Pressley addressed constituents impacted by the Trump Administration’s cruel and unlawful mass deportation agenda.

    A transcript of the Congresswoman’s opening remarks is available below and the video is available here. Photos from the town hall are available here.

    Transcript: Rep. Pressley’s Opening Remarks at Chelsea Town Hall
    La Colaborativa, Chelsea, MA
    June 16, 2025

    Good evening, Chelsea. It is so good to be home. 

    It is so good to be in Chelsea, the city that I often refer to as tiny but mighty, a city that models community in every way, that leads with love and with solidarity. 

    …

    Before I go any further, I just want to address the violence that we witnessed this past weekend in Minnesota. The targeted shootings of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman, Representative Melissa Hortman and their spouses, the tragic deaths of Rep. Hortman and her husband. Truly devastating that we find ourselves at a time simply because people disagree, that we are seeing an escalating political violence. 

    These are public servants, people who dedicated their lives to building stronger, safer communities. And there must be outcry, there must be outrage, and strong condemnation for what happened to them.

    That being said, these horrifying acts are not occurring in isolation and because of the moment we find ourselves in, and their strategy is to flood the zone and overwhelm us. It can be difficult to keep up with the injustices, but let me just do a quick recap. 

    In the last week, Donald Trump unlawfully deployed the National Guard to attack peaceful protesters in California, then a sitting United States Black Congresswoman was indicted simply for doing her job and conducting federal oversight of an ICE detention facility in her district. Then, a Latino United States Senator was manhandled, thrown to the floor and handcuffed for daring to ask a question of this administration. And then, a North Korea-style military parade marched through our nation’s capital in an appalling display of authoritarianism. 

    These events are not disconnected. They are just the latest in a pattern of violent escalation and assaults on our democracy designed to intimidate and to silence. I remember when I went to conduct oversight and traveled to rural Louisiana to check on the well being of Mahmoud Khalil, and when I met with Mahmoud, and it’s important that we tell the truth– there are not mass deportations happening, there are mass kidnappings happening.

    That is what happened to Mahmoud Khalil, and when I met with him, he said, “I grew up in Syria under Assad. I know what it is to live under an authoritarian regime, and this is it.”

    Donald Trump wants a country where its people are ignorant and uninformed. Donald Trump wants a country where its people are indifferent to the suffering of their neighbors. Donald Trump wants a country where its people are inactive. 

    The fact that you chose to be here tonight is in opposition to all three of those things. You are choosing to be informed, you are choosing to be empathetic, you are choosing to be active. 

    I’m so grateful for the courageous people of Chelsea that are here tonight. Because remember, courage is not the absence of fear. Truth be told, we’re all carrying some fear in this moment, but the courage is that you are pushing beyond and through that to show up here today and every day, and we need to just acknowledge that. So clap for yourselves, the courageous people of Chelsea.

    You know, in Donald Trump’s America, again, we’re in the midst of this extremist march towards fascism, it’s an America where anyone who he disagrees with is criminalized. 

    I have to remind those who think that they might be exempt from the harm of a fascist state. It is coming for everyone. True enough, this is discriminate harm. So some of us are bearing these harms more than others in this moment. 

    But your wealth will not protect you from fascism. Whiteness will not protect you from fascism. This is a harm coming for everyone. 

    And when people asked me, why would I journey all the way to Louisiana to check on my constituent, Rumeysa Ozturk, and to fight for her freedom, I said it is Rumeysa today for co-authoring an op-ed, and it will be you tomorrow for reading a banned book. It will be you tomorrow for teaching Black history. It will be you tomorrow for suffering a miscarriage. It could be you tomorrow for practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion and accessibility. That includes that, yes. 

    So he wants anyone that he disagrees with to be criminalized. He wants the work of oversight to be punished. He wants peaceful protest to be met with military force and political violence to be encouraged. 

    So we have to condemn these acts, and we have to call out — this is the season of call a thing a thing. We have to call out Donald Trump’s dangerous march towards authoritarianism for what it is. It is a threat to our freedoms. 

    Republicans like to talk a good game about freedom, but this is the anti-freedom agenda when people want to control your body and what you can do with it. They want to control your free speech. They want to control what books you can read. They want to control where you go. That is an anti-freedom agenda. 

    Those are the actions of a dictator, and the only way to beat a dictator is with defiance, and we must because this authoritarianism is a threat to our freedoms, our rights, and our democracy itself, and to the people in Massachusetts and everywhere across this country and our world. 

    But I do want to take a moment to speak directly to the crisis being felt right here in Chelsea, where our immigrant neighbors are being terrorized by this administration, and the community is carrying deep fear and trauma. 

    People have had their homes raided, property destroyed, families torn apart, rights trampled on by racist rogue ICE agents. Well, we think they’re ICE agents. We don’t really know, because they’re masked, but they’re operating with little to no accountability. 

    Community members have spoken to me of being targeted without warrants, detained without due process, and living every day in fear that they or their loved ones could be taken without warning from the only home they’ve ever known. 

    What is the point of all of this? The cruelty is the point. 

    The cruelty experienced by our Chelsea neighbor Kenia and her three children driving to a Mother’s Day church service with her husband Daniel, when ICE agents in unmarked vehicles ambushed them, broke the passenger side window, forcefully pulled Daniel from the car, and slammed his face on the sidewalk while their children watched on in horror. 

    High school students, children like Belizario Benito Vasques and recent graduate Geovani de la Cruz Catalan are being abducted and detained without due process, despite having no criminal records. 

    Children, real people, children and adults alike, traumatized whose lives have been disrupted and forever harmed.

    Donald Trump and ICE claim that they are committing these assaults on our communities in the name of safety — laughable that the most lawless occupant of the Oval Office would say anything about law and order. 

    This is not what safety looks like, but this is what terror feels like, and terror makes no one safe. It does the opposite. It shows chaos. It breeds fear and it fosters unrest. 

    This administration has openly vowed to bring hell to our immigrant communities and for too many of our neighbors, they already have. 

    In my opinion, these actions are godless, lawless and a complete violation of our constitutional rights to due process, void of common sense and compassion. And what this moment demands is solidarity, resistance and rejection of these attacks on our immigrant communities, because an attack on our immigrant neighbors is an attack on all of us.

    That’s why I’ve been unapologetic and calling for the end of ICE’s unchecked power, for the closure of these for-profit detention centers and these policies rooted in cruelty. Because no matter your immigration status, your zip code, or your country of origin, you deserve to live in dignity and freedom without fear. 

    So I come here today to reaffirm my commitment to protect and to support our immigrant neighbors, and to do that work with my colleagues at every level of government. That means pushing for real accountability. That means providing legal protections and a pathway to citizenship. 

    That means investing in communities instead of criminalizing them. I really do believe that we’re one human family, and our destinies are tied, and when one of us is targeted, all of us must rise in defense. So to our neighbors, know that I see you today and every day. 

    Donald Trump has made it clear that his election was never about improving your quality of life or lowering the cost of groceries or your rent. He’s coming after Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, this Big, Ugly Bill would rip away healthcare, food assistance and other essential needs from 16 million people. Donald Trump is not cutting costs. He’s cutting lifelines. 

    They’re coming after our neighbors in the LGBTQ community. Black folks, they’re coming after us. This administration is anti-Blackness on steroids. They’re coming after our bodily autonomy. 

    And even though we live in Massachusetts, do not for one second believe that we are completely safe as a result. They are coming after our federal workers who administer these essential services and programs to our communities. They are coming after NIH funding and our schools. 

    They want to overwhelm us and my Republican colleagues across the aisle in the House, they are not operating as a party at all. They are operating as a cult of cowards, complicit in wholesale harm, more concerned with keeping a job than doing it. 

    The but family, you know, I’ve given the occupant enough oxygen. Know that I get up every day compelled and fueled not to fight Donald Trump, but to fight for, with and alongside you,

    Because the fact of the matter is that this is not about how do we survive the next four years. Truthfully, some days it feels like we’re just trying to survive the next four minutes. But this moment, I believe, will determine and shape the next 100 years. It’s not about surviving four it’s about shaping the next 100. 

    And so that work, because when we get to the other side, and we will, we’ll have to do the work of reconstruction. It’s a lot easier to tear down than it is to rebuild, and it is going to take all of us in the resistance and in the rebuilding. 

    Now, you don’t have to be a congresswoman, you don’t have to head a nonprofit, you don’t have to be a council president or a school board member. You just need to bring your gift, whatever it is, because some of us are going to speak on the mic, and someone else is going to make sure it works. Somebody’s going to read the speech, but someone else is going to write it.

    Someone is going to march and hold a sign, and someone else made that sign. Someone else is going to march and have the stamina to do so because they’re well fed, because somebody made sure they were. Someone else is going to send a prayer up. 

    You just need to bring your gift, but you need to bring it and summon the courage in this moment. 

    So before I close, I want everyone here to know that myself and my office are here to serve you. Please use us as a resource. We are ready to support with federal casework on everything from immigration to housing to Social Security checks and more. 

    So if your neighbor or your loved one is detained, do not hesitate to reach out to my office please. We have one-pagers. Take one or more with you and pass them along. Stay in touch with me and my staff. We are also here to help you with any federal agency. 

    This is a time when we must show up for each other, where we double down on mutual aid, where we keep each other safe. I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper. 

    It is truly the honor of my life to serve the Massachusetts 7th, a district that reflects the best of who we are. And know this, you are not just constituents. You are family, and I will never stop fighting for you like that.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Secretary-General of ASEAN Graces Event Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Indian Mission to ASEAN

    Source: ASEAN

    JAKARTA, 20 June 2025 – The Indian Mission to ASEAN convened a commemorative event marking a decade of its establishment today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, graced the event as Chief Guest and delivered congratulatory remarks, underscoring the important role of the Indian Mission to ASEAN in facilitating the advancement of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
     
    The Indian Mission to ASEAN was established in April 2015 as a testament to the growing significance of the ASEAN-India relations and cooperation. The Mission was inaugurated by the then Minister of External Affairs of India, Smt. Sushma Swaraj, and has since played a pivotal role in enhancing diplomatic, economic, and cultural links between ASEAN and India. Over the past decade, the Mission has facilitated a range of initiatives aimed at bolstering cooperation in various sectors, including political-security cooperation, socio-cultural cooperation, trade, investment, and people-to-people connections.
     
    The event was organised as the initiative of the Indian Mission to ASEAN in Jakarta, and participated by Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, P. Kumaran, and Ambassador of India to ASEAN, Jayant N. Khobragade, as well as members of the Committee of Permanent of Representatives to ASEAN or their representatives, the ASEAN Secretariat, representatives from Timor-Leste, staff of the Indian Mission to ASEAN and other invited guests.
     
     
    ***

    The post The Secretary-General of ASEAN Graces Event Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Indian Mission to ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What ancient ice sheets can tell us about future sea level rise

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ed Gasson, Royal Society University Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter

    When visiting Godrevy beach on the north Cornish coast, most people look out to sea at the lighthouse, surfers and seals rather than the cliffs behind. But these cliffs hold a history of past climate and sea level that is incredibly valuable to scientists like me who are trying to determine how quickly sea level is going to rise in the future.

    Scramble up the slate rocks a few metres and you’ll reach a flat platform cut by waves breaking over 100,000 years ago. On top, there’s a cliff of sand and pebbles, an incredibly clear indicator of where the shoreline used to be, several metres higher than it is today.

    Beaches like this exist all around the Cornish coastline, near Falmouth at Bream Cove and at the furthest western point near Lands End at Porth Nanven.

    Searching for the source of these higher sea levels takes us to the poles. In a climate similar to today, the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets retreated, raising global sea level. Although exactly where this ice was lost from remains a mystery that continues to frustrate scientists.

    Godrevy lighthouse, Cornwall, UK.
    Vivi_784/Shutterstock

    Local science, global stories.

    This article is part of a series, Secrets of the Sea, exploring how marine scientists are developing climate solutions.

    In collaboration with the BBC, Anna Turns travels around the West Country coastline to meet ocean experts making exciting discoveries beneath the waves.

    When ice gets trapped on land as giant ice sheets, it causes the sea level to change, but it doesn’t change by the same amount all around the planet. Like the moon, the gravity of the ice sheets pulls the ocean towards them, causing sea levels to rise near to the ice sheets.

    The opposite happens when they melt. As the ice on Greenland retreats today, it’s causing the sea level nearby to fall, rather than rise. Only as far as Scotland, some 1,500 miles from Greenland, does this sea level fall switch to a sea level rise.

    The cliffs at Godrevy reveal historic sea level rise.
    Ed Gasson, CC BY-NC-ND

    This gravity effect leaves behind a distinctive fingerprint in past sea level markers, such as raised beaches and fossil coral reefs. By piecing together data from around the world we can work out the source of past high sea levels.

    The raised beaches such as those in north Cornwall are likely caused by the retreat of ice from Antarctica, rather than the ice from Greenland. But direct evidence for ice loss from Antarctica has proven very hard to come by.

    I’m involved with an international drilling project that aims to solve this mystery. Following two challenging seasons of drilling, our team of scientists and engineers will return to Antarctica in late 2025 and attempt to recover sediments from deep underneath the ice, to analyse for signals of past ice retreat.

    If we’re lucky, we’ll recover records from warm climates millions of years ago. This will help us understand how the west Antarctic ice sheet may change in the future as our climate continues to warm.

    Drilling down

    Next winter, this international team is travelling to Scott Base, a New Zealand research station at the edge of the Ross ice shelf in west Antarctica. From there, the journey continues over 500 miles to the other end of the ice shelf, an extremely remote corner of an already remote continent.

    Everything we need is taken across the ice in a convoy of tracked snow vehicles. A hot water drill is used to make a small hole through the 500m ice shelf, providing access to the sediment below. Up to 200m of valuable sediment core will be retrieved with a custom-designed drilling system.

    The geological data contained in these sediments will help us to improve models and refine our predictions of how sea level will rise in the future. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, it is as if we are rapidly moving backwards through geological time.

    Today, there is as much CO₂ in the atmosphere as during a geological epoch known as the mid-Pliocene, more than 3 million years ago. The average estimate for the mid-Pliocene is a concentration of around 400 parts per million (ppm), a value we reached only 12 years ago.

    We’ll exceed the highest concentrations of the Pliocene this year. The next warmest interval is probably the mid-Miocene, 12 million years earlier.

    Back in Cornwall, some communities are already planning for the effects of sea level rise. In Bude, local people have come together to form a “climate jury”, a panel chosen to give local people a voice as to how to best manage and reduce the impacts of a rising sea.

    This approach could be adopted by other communities at risk from sea level rise, alongside other adaptations. Hopefully, the world can avoid a return to the very high sea levels that formed the raised beaches at Godrevy.

    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.

    Ed Gasson receives funding from The Royal Society and the Natural Environment Research Council.

    – ref. What ancient ice sheets can tell us about future sea level rise – https://theconversation.com/what-ancient-ice-sheets-can-tell-us-about-future-sea-level-rise-251185

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with SOM Leader of India

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, H.E. P. Kumaran, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. During the meeting, they exchanged ways to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with SOM Leader of India appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with Fiji

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 20, 2025

    Washington, DC: On June 17, 2025, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Fiji, and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting.

    The economic recovery continued in 2024. Staff estimates aggregate GDP growth in 2024 to have reached 3.7 percent. While employment has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, investment has recently been held back by labor shortages and supply-chain challenges. Inflation decelerated though 2024 as the impact of the 2023 value-added tax increase faded and the nominal exchange rate appreciated. The public debt-to-GDP ratio has continued to decline from the peak reached in 2022, but remains elevated, at 80 percent. Likewise, the current account balance has improved, but the deficit in 2024 is estimated to be around 6.7 percent.

    Monetary and financial conditions remain accommodative, while the fiscal stance has tightened. The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) has maintained the policy rate at 0.25 percent since early 2020. The fiscal stance tightened in FY2024, with the overall deficit declining from 7.2 percent of GDP in FY2023 (August-July) to 3.5 percent of GDP in FY2024, compared to a budgeted deficit of 4.8 percent of GDP.

    Executive Board Assessment

    In concluding the 2025 Article IV consultation with Fiji, Executive Directors endorsed staff’s appraisal, as follows:

    The economy has been recovering from the pandemic but is facing new setbacks. Growth is expected to fall in 2025, to about 2.6 percent, mostly because of slowing external demand, and to take a couple of years to recover to its medium-term potential rate. The baseline projection implies that public debt would remain elevated. In addition, FX reserve coverage would fall, implying that the external position remains moderately weak. Growth would be higher with successful structural reforms, or should the external environment be more favorable than assumed. But the balance of risks appears to be mostly to the downside, both in the near term, if trade tensions were to worsen or their effects be more severe than assumed in the baseline, or over the medium term, mostly given vulnerabilities to natural disasters.

     

    Fiscal and monetary policies should focus on addressing macroeconomic imbalances.

    • Fiscal policy should focus on lowering public debt while continuing with growth-friendly fiscal consolidation, oriented toward capital spending. Significant progress has been achieved in recent years, but additional adjustment measures are needed to put public debt on a clear downward path. Targeted and temporary social protection measures should be used to protect the vulnerable. Fiscal tightening would also contribute to reducing external imbalances.
    • Over the medium term, given potential pressures on the exchange rate peg, monetary conditions should be gradually tightened, raising the policy rate and reducing excess liquidity.
    • Financial policy should be attentive to emerging credit risks and to safeguard against money laundering risks.
    • The authorities should avoid using exchange rate restrictions and CFMs in place of macroeconomic adjustment and focus on a gradual, sequenced capital account liberalization to support high long-run growth objectives.

    Raising potential growth calls for sustained structural reforms.

    • Progress has been achieved in enhancing the business environment and addressing near-term constraints to growth. Immediate concerns include addressing ageing infrastructure in electricity, water, and waste utilities, and improving the transport network and digital connectivity. Ongoing concerns include training and human capital. Successful measures would also encourage more foreign investment, ease external imbalances, and reduce “brain drain.”
    • As for other Pacific states, Fiji faces ongoing challenges from natural disasters and climate change. Increasing resilience adds to the motivation to shift away from current toward capital spending.

    Such issues require sustained political consensus and good governance. The government’s recognition of the importance of institutional reform, commitment to the rule of law, and reducing corruption and bribery is welcome. Recent legislative progress will need to be matched by proper enforcement and addressing capacity constraints in the civil service.

    Fiji: Selected Economic Indicators, 2022–30

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    Est.

    Proj.

    Output and prices (percent change)

    Real GDP

    19.8

    7.5

    3.7

    2.6

    2.8

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    3.2

    GDP deflator

    2.4

    4.1

    6.3

    3.2

    3.1

    3.2

    3.3

    3.4

    3.5

    Consumer prices (average)

    4.3

    2.3

    4.5

    3.2

    3.1

    3.2

    3.3

    3.4

    3.5

    Consumer prices (end of period)

    3.1

    5.1

    1.3

    3.1

    3.2

    3.3

    3.4

    3.5

    3.5

    Central government budget on fiscal-year basis (percent of GDP)

    Revenue and Grants

    21.4

    23.2

    27.4

    27.1

    27.1

    26.8

    26.8

    26.6

    26.5

    Expenditure

    33.5

    30.3

    31.0

    31.5

    31.2

    31.0

    31.0

    30.9

    30.9

    Overall balance

    -12.1

    -7.2

    -3.5

    -4.4

    -4.2

    -4.2

    -4.2

    -4.3

    -4.4

    Primary balance

    -8.5

    -3.3

    0.5

    -0.3

    -0.3

    -0.6

    -0.6

    -0.7

    -0.8

    Central government debt 

    90.4

    83.3

    79.5

    77.7

    77.7

    77.6

    77.3

    77.0

    76.8

    Central government external debt

    33.3

    30.6

    28.7

    26.5

    26.5

    26.4

    26.1

    25.8

    25.6

    External sector (percent of GDP)

    Current account balance

    -17.3

    -7.7

    -6.7

    -7.0

    -7.7

    -7.5

    -7.2

    -6.9

    -6.9

    Trade balance

    -32.9

    -32.7

    -30.0

    -29.1

    -27.7

    -27.3

    -27.3

    -26.9

    -26.4

    Services balance

    11.8

    20.4

    20.0

    19.9

    18.4

    17.8

    17.3

    17.1

    16.5

    Primary Income balance

    -5.3

    -5.7

    -6.4

    -6.8

    -6.6

    -6.4

    -6.0

    -5.9

    -5.9

    Secondary Income balance

    9.2

    10.3

    9.6

    9.0

    8.2

    8.5

    8.8

    8.9

    9.0

    Capital account balance

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    0.1

    Financial account balance (-= inflows)

    -14.0

    -4.9

    -6.6

    -4.1

    -5.3

    -5.7

    -6.9

    -6.5

    -6.5

    FDI

    -1.8

    -1.1

    -1.6

    -4.5

    -5.4

    -6.1

    -7.3

    -7.1

    -7.2

    Portfolio investment

    0.5

    1.0

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    1.7

    Other investment

    -12.7

    -4.8

    -6.7

    -1.3

    -1.5

    -1.3

    -1.3

    -1.1

    -1.0

    Errors and omissions

    5.1

    4.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Change in reserve assets (-=increase)

    -2.1

    0.3

    0.1

    2.9

    2.3

    1.7

    0.3

    0.3

    0.4

    Gross official reserves (in months of prospective imports)

    5.5

    5.3

    5.2

    4.4

    3.7

    3.1

    2.9

    2.6

    …

    Money and credit (percent change)

    Net domestic assets of depository corporations

    4.9

    12.1

    8.0

    6.4

    6.1

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Claims on private sector

    6.7

    7.5

    11.4

    10.0

    8.0

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Broad money (M3)

    5.1

    9.1

    6.6

    4.1

    4.1

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Monetary base

    15.8

    -4.0

    7.5

    3.6

    1.4

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Central Bank Policy rate (end of period)

    0.25

    0.25

    0.25

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Commercial banks deposits rate (end of period)

    0.4

    0.4

    0.3

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Commercial banks lending rate (end of period)

    5.2

    4.8

    4.6

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Memorandum items

    Exchange rate, average (FJD/USD)

    2.2

    2.3

    2.3

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    Real effective exchange rate, average

    108.2

    106.4

    108.3

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    …

    GDP at current market prices (in millions of Fiji dollars)

    10,940

    12,245

    13,494

    14,286

    15,148

    16,130

    17,193

    18,342

    19,594

    GDP at current market prices (in millions of U.S. dollars)

    4,970

    5,442

    5,949

    6,257

    6,564

    6,913

    7,284

    7,674

    8,089

    GDP per capita (in U.S. dollars)

    5,450

    5,933

    6,447

    6,740

    7,030

    7,359

    7,707

    8,072

    8,508

    Sources: Reserve Bank of Fiji; Ministry of Finance; and IMF Staff Estimates and Projections.

    [1] Under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country’s economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pemba Sherpa

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/20/pr-25208-fiji-imf-concludes-2025-article-iv-consultation

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Mission Observes Commitment to Safety at Research Reactor in Malaysia, Recommends Further Improvement

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An IAEA team of experts visited Malaysia’s nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI, during an Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors mission. (Photo: Nuklear Malaysia)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Malaysia is committed to the safe operation of its sole nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP). The team also identified the need to further enhance the effectiveness of the reactor’s safety committee, the management of refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components, and operating procedures.

    The five-day Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors (INSARR) mission to the RTP facility, which concluded on 20 June, was conducted at the request of Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia). The mission team comprised three experts from Slovenia, South Africa, and Thailand, and two IAEA staff.

    RTP is located in Bangi, Selangor, about 30 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur. Two INSARR missions were conducted at RTP in 1997 and 2014. Since then, the reactor has undergone modifications, including replacement of the rotary rack, refurbishment of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and the upgrading of the stack monitoring system.

    RTP was constructed in 1979 and began operation in 1982. RTP was designed for various fields of nuclear research, education and training, and it incorporates facilities for neutron and gamma radiation studies, as well as isotope production and sample activation.

    The INSARR team visited the reactor and its associated facilities and met with the research reactor staff and management. “Nuklear Malaysia has shown a commitment to safety by requesting an IAEA INSARR mission,” said Kaichao Sun, team leader and Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA. “Ageing management of reactor systems and components that are important to safety can be challenging. Effective application of the IAEA safety standards, including the establishment of effective leadership and management for safety and the utilization of operating experience feedback, helps address this challenge.”

    The mission team made recommendations and suggestions to Nuklear Malaysia for further improvements, including the need for:

    • Improving the reactor safety committee’s oversight of all activities important to safety, including reactor modifications and operational safety programmes such as refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components;   
    • Strengthening procedures to respond to abnormal situations and events, such as loss of electrical power, fire and earthquakes;      
    • Establishing procedures for learning from operating experience; and     
    • Strengthening radiological protection practices by improving the classification of different areas of the workplace.  

    “The INSARR mission is a valuable opportunity for us to engage in a peer-review process,” said Julia Abdul Karim, Director of Technical Support Division at Nuklear Malaysia. “It enables us to benchmark our programmes and activities against the IAEA safety standards and the international best practices and to strengthen our operational safety of our research reactor.”

    Background

    INSARR missions are an IAEA peer review service, conducted at the request of a Member State, to assess and evaluate the safety of research reactors based on IAEA safety standards. Follow-up missions are standard components of the INSARR programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission. General information about INSARR missions can be found on the IAEA website.

    The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Mission Observes Commitment to Safety at Research Reactor in Malaysia, Recommends Further Improvement

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An IAEA team of experts visited Malaysia’s nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI, during an Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors mission. (Photo: Nuklear Malaysia)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Malaysia is committed to the safe operation of its sole nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP). The team also identified the need to further enhance the effectiveness of the reactor’s safety committee, the management of refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components, and operating procedures.

    The five-day Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors (INSARR) mission to the RTP facility, which concluded on 20 June, was conducted at the request of Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia). The mission team comprised three experts from Slovenia, South Africa, and Thailand, and two IAEA staff.

    RTP is located in Bangi, Selangor, about 30 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur. Two INSARR missions were conducted at RTP in 1997 and 2014. Since then, the reactor has undergone modifications, including replacement of the rotary rack, refurbishment of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and the upgrading of the stack monitoring system.

    RTP was constructed in 1979 and began operation in 1982. RTP was designed for various fields of nuclear research, education and training, and it incorporates facilities for neutron and gamma radiation studies, as well as isotope production and sample activation.

    The INSARR team visited the reactor and its associated facilities and met with the research reactor staff and management. “Nuklear Malaysia has shown a commitment to safety by requesting an IAEA INSARR mission,” said Kaichao Sun, team leader and Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA. “Ageing management of reactor systems and components that are important to safety can be challenging. Effective application of the IAEA safety standards, including the establishment of effective leadership and management for safety and the utilization of operating experience feedback, helps address this challenge.”

    The mission team made recommendations and suggestions to Nuklear Malaysia for further improvements, including the need for:

    • Improving the reactor safety committee’s oversight of all activities important to safety, including reactor modifications and operational safety programmes such as refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components;   
    • Strengthening procedures to respond to abnormal situations and events, such as loss of electrical power, fire and earthquakes;      
    • Establishing procedures for learning from operating experience; and     
    • Strengthening radiological protection practices by improving the classification of different areas of the workplace.  

    “The INSARR mission is a valuable opportunity for us to engage in a peer-review process,” said Julia Abdul Karim, Director of Technical Support Division at Nuklear Malaysia. “It enables us to benchmark our programmes and activities against the IAEA safety standards and the international best practices and to strengthen our operational safety of our research reactor.”

    Background

    INSARR missions are an IAEA peer review service, conducted at the request of a Member State, to assess and evaluate the safety of research reactors based on IAEA safety standards. Follow-up missions are standard components of the INSARR programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission. General information about INSARR missions can be found on the IAEA website.

    The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Syncfusion® Partners with Evrotrust to Offer Qualified Electronic Signatures in BoldSign™

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Syncfusion, Inc.®, the enterprise technology provider of choice, today announced a partnership with Evrotrust, a premier qualified trust service provider (QTSP), to deliver qualified electronic signatures (QES) directly inside Syncfusion’s e-signature platform, BoldSign™. The integration enables BoldSign customers to request and apply Evrotrust QES for legally binding signatures across the European Union (EU), without disrupting existing workflows.

    “We believe every team, no matter its size or location, deserves signing workflows that inspire confidence,” said Daniel Jebaraj, CEO of Syncfusion. “Partnering with Evrotrust lets us bring the highest assurance level of e-signatures to BoldSign, helping customers close deals faster while staying fully compliant across Europe.”

    The Evrotrust integration builds on BoldSign’s recent investments in regional data centers and advanced compliance features, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to secure, affordable, and globally trusted e-signing.

    “By combining Evrotrust’s eIDAS-notified qualified electronic signatures with BoldSign’s intuitive experience, organizations can protect their most important agreements without adding friction,” said Konstantin Bezuhanov, CEO of Evrotrust. “Together, we deliver the legal certainty and user simplicity modern businesses expect.”

    Key benefits of the partnership for BoldSign users include:

    • Qualified provider: Evrotrust is an eIDAS-notified QTSP; its QES carries automatic legal validity throughout the EU, strengthening stakeholder trust.
    • Seamless workflow: Enable QES with a single toggle in BoldSign or via API, reducing administrative overhead
    • Compliance and risk management: Remote ID checks, AI-powered liveness tests, tamper-evident audit trails, and end-to-end encryption help organizations meet eIDAS, GDPR, and SOC 2 requirements while guarding against fraud and/or data breaches.
    • Pan-European reach: One integration covers every EU member state and select non-EU jurisdictions that recognize eIDAS standards, enabling businesses to confidently expand their reach across markets.
    • Cost-effective add-on: Pay only when a qualified signature is requested; existing BoldSign plans remain unchanged.

    For more information on BoldSign’s QES capabilities, visit boldsign.com/qes.

    About Syncfusion, Inc.
    Headquartered in the technology hub of Research Triangle Park, N.C., Syncfusion, Inc.® delivers an award-winning ecosystem of developer control suites, embeddable BI platforms, and business software. Syncfusion was founded in 2001 with a single software component and a mission to support businesses of all sizes—from individual developers and start-ups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Though its pilot product, the Essential Studio® suite, has grown to over 1,900 developer controls, its mission remains the same. With offices in the U.S., India, and Kenya, Syncfusion prioritizes the customer experience by providing feature-rich solutions to help developers and enterprises solve complex problems, save money, and build high-performance, robust applications.

    About Evrotrust
    Evrotrust is an electronic identity and qualified trust service provider certified under the eIDAS regulation. The company’s mission is to help businesses and governments transform their processes and develop sustainable digital channels. The Evrotrust platform is an end-to-end solution for digital onboarding and electronic signing that enables users to remotely register and authenticate for any service using only their smartphone. It is easily integrated into third party backend systems and mobile applications. Working with Evrotrust empowers any organization to provide excellent user experience while staying compliant with regulations and keeping fraud away.

    Contact: Brittany Kearns
    Phone: 571-271-7211
    Email: brittany@crossroadsb2b.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA Mission Observes Commitment to Safety at Research Reactor in Malaysia, Recommends Further Improvement

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    An IAEA team of experts visited Malaysia’s nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI, during an Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors mission. (Photo: Nuklear Malaysia)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts said Malaysia is committed to the safe operation of its sole nuclear research reactor, the Reaktor TRIGA PUSPATI (RTP). The team also identified the need to further enhance the effectiveness of the reactor’s safety committee, the management of refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components, and operating procedures.

    The five-day Integrated Safety Assessment for Research Reactors (INSARR) mission to the RTP facility, which concluded on 20 June, was conducted at the request of Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuklear Malaysia). The mission team comprised three experts from Slovenia, South Africa, and Thailand, and two IAEA staff.

    RTP is located in Bangi, Selangor, about 30 kilometres south of Kuala Lumpur. Two INSARR missions were conducted at RTP in 1997 and 2014. Since then, the reactor has undergone modifications, including replacement of the rotary rack, refurbishment of the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and the upgrading of the stack monitoring system.

    RTP was constructed in 1979 and began operation in 1982. RTP was designed for various fields of nuclear research, education and training, and it incorporates facilities for neutron and gamma radiation studies, as well as isotope production and sample activation.

    The INSARR team visited the reactor and its associated facilities and met with the research reactor staff and management. “Nuklear Malaysia has shown a commitment to safety by requesting an IAEA INSARR mission,” said Kaichao Sun, team leader and Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA. “Ageing management of reactor systems and components that are important to safety can be challenging. Effective application of the IAEA safety standards, including the establishment of effective leadership and management for safety and the utilization of operating experience feedback, helps address this challenge.”

    The mission team made recommendations and suggestions to Nuklear Malaysia for further improvements, including the need for:

    • Improving the reactor safety committee’s oversight of all activities important to safety, including reactor modifications and operational safety programmes such as refurbishment and modernization of the reactor’s safety systems and components;   
    • Strengthening procedures to respond to abnormal situations and events, such as loss of electrical power, fire and earthquakes;      
    • Establishing procedures for learning from operating experience; and     
    • Strengthening radiological protection practices by improving the classification of different areas of the workplace.  

    “The INSARR mission is a valuable opportunity for us to engage in a peer-review process,” said Julia Abdul Karim, Director of Technical Support Division at Nuklear Malaysia. “It enables us to benchmark our programmes and activities against the IAEA safety standards and the international best practices and to strengthen our operational safety of our research reactor.”

    Background

    INSARR missions are an IAEA peer review service, conducted at the request of a Member State, to assess and evaluate the safety of research reactors based on IAEA safety standards. Follow-up missions are standard components of the INSARR programme and are typically conducted within two years of the initial mission. General information about INSARR missions can be found on the IAEA website.

    The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Appointment of UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan

    Mr Richard Lindsay has been appointed the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy to Afghanistan. Mr Lindsay will take up his appointment during June 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae           

    Full name                                Richard Stephen Lindsay

    Year Role
    2022 to Present FCDO, Deputy Director, Afghanistan and Pakistan
    2020 to 2021 FCDO, Head of Strategic Engagement Department
    2017 to 2020 Brunei Darussalam, British High Commissioner
    2014 to 2016 FCO, Head of Security Policy Department
    2014 FCO, Head of Crisis Management Department
    2013 to 2014 Brasilia, Prosperity Counsellor
    2010 to 2013 FCO, Deputy Head, Security Policy Department
    2009 to 2010 FCO, Conflict Group
    2006 to 2009 Canberra, First Secretary, Foreign and Security Policy
    2003 to 2005 FCO, Head, Pakistan and India-Pakistan Relations Team, South Asia Group
    2001 to 2003 FCO, Head, Economic Summits (G8) and Institutions (OECD) Team, Economic Policy Department
    2001 FCO, Political/Military Team, Afghanistan Emergency Unit
    1998 to 2001 Harare, Second Secretary, Political
    1996 to 1998 FCO, Resource Planning Department

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Xia Baolong meets business elites

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong today met representatives of the commercial and financial sectors, and learnt about Hong Kong’s major tourism development projects.
     
    At an engagement session, Mr Xia interacted with representatives of Hong Kong’s commercial and financial sectors, including those from major chambers of commerce and enterprises.
     
    The session was also attended by Chief Executive John Lee, Financial Secretary Paul Chan, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui and Acting Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan.
     
    In the afternoon, Mr Xia visited Ocean Park in the company of Mr Lee, Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law, Chairman of the Board of the Ocean Park Corporation (OPC) Paulo Pong and Chief Executive of the OPC Ivan Wong.
     
    Mr Xia took a boat trip to Lamma Island afterwards with Mr Lee, Mr Wong and Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn to gain an understanding of the ex-Lamma quarry site’s development plan. Mr Xia also received briefings en route on major tourism development projects.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Review of Priority Sector Lending norms – Small Finance Banks

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/61
    DOR.LIC.REC.36/16.13.218/2025-26

    June 20, 2025

    All Small Finance Banks

    Madam/ Dear Sir,

    Review of Priority Sector Lending norms – Small Finance Banks

    Please refer to the ‘Guidelines for Licensing of Small Finance Banks in Private Sector’ dated November 27, 2014 and the ‘Guidelines for ‘on-tap’ Licensing of Small Finance Banks in Private Sector’ released by Reserve Bank on December 5, 2019. In terms of paragraph II (9) of the aforesaid Licensing Guidelines, a small finance bank (SFB) is required to extend 75 per cent of its Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) to the sectors eligible for classification as priority sector lending (PSL) by the Reserve Bank. Further, while 40 per cent of its ANBC should be allocated to different sub-sectors under PSL as per the extant PSL prescriptions, the bank can allocate the balance 35 per cent to any one or more sub-sectors under the PSL where it has competitive advantage.

    Revised provisions

    2. On a review, it has been decided that financial year 2025-26 onwards, the additional component (35 per cent) of PSL shall be reduced to 20 per cent, thereby making the overall PSL target as 60 per cent of ANBC or Credit Equivalent of Off-Balance Sheet Exposures (CEOBE), whichever is higher. The SFB shall continue to allocate 40 per cent of its ANBC or CEOBE, whichever is higher, to different sub-sectors under PSL as per the extant PSL prescriptions, while the balance 20 per cent shall be allocated to any one or more sub-sectors under the PSL where the bank has competitive advantage.

    3. These instructions are issued in exercise of the powers conferred on the Reserve Bank of India under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

    Yours faithfully,

    (Manoranjan Padhy)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN and India reaffirm commitment to strengthen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    JAKARTA, 20 June 2025 – The Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN held an informal meeting with Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, P. Kumaran, today at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. The Meeting exchanged views on the progress of ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
     
    The Meeting took note of the substantive, meaningful and mutually beneficial ASEAN-India CSP, and highlighted the progress of cooperation across various sectors.  Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the CSP through various frameworks of cooperation and commended the substantial progress in implementing the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace, Progress and Shared Prosperity (POA) 2021-2025 and its Annex. The Meeting looked forward to the adoption of the succeeding POA that will guide both sides in realising the full potential of ASEAN-India CSP over the next five years, with a view to bringing tangible benefits to the people of both sides.
     
    Looking ahead, the Meeting agreed to continue their close engagement and consultations to further advance the ASEAN-India CSP, and looked forward to explore opportunities to further enhance collaboration in areas of mutual interest such as defence; maritime; combatting transnational crimes; cybersecurity, trade and investment; agriculture; science and technology, including space technology; connectivity, including land, air, sea and people-to-people connectivity; digital economy and infrastructure; artificial intelligence; tourism; culture; health; education; youth; sustainable development; renewable energy; climate change; disaster management; capacity-building initiatives; and people-to-people exchanges.
     
    ****
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UKAEA welcomes UK-Japan fusion partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    UKAEA welcomes UK-Japan fusion partnership

    UK-Japan partnership to further collaboration in key fusion areas, including R&D, regulation, skills and workforce

    Kerry McCarthy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Climate) and Hiroshi Masuko, Senior Deputy Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, signing the Memorandum of Cooperation on fusion energy.

    UKAEA welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between UK and Japan, to strengthen our already close bond on developing fusion energy.

    Fusion is a global challenge with global solutions and UKAEA looks forward to working with Japanese scientists and innovators to advance fusion energy.

    More information can be found here.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada marks World Refugee Day with solidarity

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    Ottawa, June 20, 2025—The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), today issued the following statement:

    “On World Refugee Day, Canada reaffirms its commitment to meet humanitarian needs, address the root causes of forced displacement and find lasting solutions for refugees and other displaced people. We honour their strength and resilience, and recognize the important contributions they make in the communities that welcome them.

    In 2024, the number of people forcibly displaced due to escalating conflicts, emerging crises, persecution and the effects of climate change rose to 123.2 million—the highest number ever recorded. Canada welcomed more than 49,000 refugees last year through resettlement programs, including government-assisted, privately sponsored and blended support.

    We work with experienced and trusted international partners like the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration to prioritize support for the most vulnerable forcibly displaced populations. From 2024 to 2026, under the government-assisted refugees program, Canada will resettle 12,000 refugees from Africa, the Middle East and Asia, 4,000 from the Americas and 4,000 from Sudan. This includes women and girls, LGBTQI+ people, religious minorities and those affected by conflict or displacement.

    In November, Canada announced $50.4 million in flexible, multi-year funding to UNHCR over the next four years. This complements Canada’s ongoing humanitarian assistance to UNHCR, which provides immediate, life-saving support to refugees and other displaced populations worldwide, addressing their urgent humanitarian and protection needs.

    Canada continues to support those affected by conflict, including in Sudan. In February 2025, Canada expanded its immigration measures to resettle up to 4,000 Sudanese government-assisted refugees by 2026 and an additional 700 refugees through private sponsorship. We are also increasing family-based permanent residence spaces from 3,250 to over 5,000 applications. These efforts will help about 10,000 individuals find safety and opportunity in Canada.

    By welcoming refugees, we reaffirm Canada’s values of compassion, human rights and inclusion. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient country—one where everyone can thrive in safety and peace.”

    For further information (media only), please contact:

    Media Relations
    People and Communications Sector
    Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
    613-952-1650
    media@cic.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIST Names Shyam Sunder Associate Director for Laboratory Programs

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Dr. Shyam Sunder

    GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced that S. Shyam Sunder has been selected as its new Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP), effective June 1, 2025.

    In this role, Sunder will provide leadership and oversight to NIST’s laboratories, which provide vital measurement and research services that underpin technology innovation in the United States. NIST’s non-regulatory science mission is executed in close partnership with industry through its laboratory programs by supporting new technologies, services and markets, and industry-led, consensus-based standards that help American companies compete around the world. 

    “Shyam’s expertise and practical background, as well as his more than 30 years in leadership roles at NIST, make him an invaluable asset as we continue to push boundaries in critical and emerging technologies,” said Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting NIST Director Craig Burkhardt. “Shyam will play a crucial role in helping NIST accelerate advances at the forefront of measurement science, which is the foundation for unleashing technological innovation and U.S. economic competitiveness.”

    Sunder previously served as director of NIST’s Special Programs Office and Acting Director of the Standards Coordination Office. In these roles, he established and managed the NIST Safety Commission, which issued a comprehensive set of findings and recommendations to improve NIST’s safety culture and the effectiveness of its safety protocols. In response to the CHIPS for America Act, he led NIST’s cross-laboratory team, engaging more than 800 stakeholders to assess and publish seven “grand challenges” to advance the U.S. semiconductor industry. He further led NIST’s efforts to establish a competitively selected Standardization Center of Excellence to accelerate U.S. engagement in international standardization for critical and emerging technologies through a cooperative agreement with the private sector-led U.S. standards system.

    Sunder’s prior positions include founding director of NIST’s Engineering Laboratory, director of its Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), and chief of BFRL’s Structures and Materials Division. He co-chaired White House National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) panels that set the federal R&D agenda for Net-Zero Energy High-Performance Buildings and Cyber-Physical Systems.

    Before joining NIST in 1994, he served on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty. He received master and doctor of science degrees from MIT, and a bachelor of technology with distinction from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

    Sunder is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, and the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award, its highest honor, for distinguished leadership of the federal building and fire safety investigation of the World Trade Center disaster after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2012.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Maximize Your Crypto Gains: 100x Leverage, $50 Bonus, Double Deposit Bonus & No KYC – Only on BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin has firmly maintained a price above $100,000, signaling that the crypto bull market is still going strong. As market volatility continues, savvy investors are eager to capitalize on the ongoing bullish trend. To help traders make the most of this opportunity, BexBack is launching an exciting promotion that includes a 100% deposit bonus, 100x leverage, and no KYC requirements for crypto futures trading.

    What Is the 100% Deposit Bonus and How Does It Work?

    The 100% deposit bonus is an exclusive offer that doubles your trading capital. For example, if you deposit 1 BTC, you’ll receive an additional 1 BTC, giving you a total of 2 BTC to trade. While the bonus itself is non-withdrawable, it can be used as margin for trading. This allows you to open larger positions and maximize potential profits without risking more of your initial investment. Moreover, any profits made from trading with the bonus are fully withdrawable.

    Why Use 100x Leverage for Crypto Futures Trading?

    100x leverage offers traders the ability to control larger positions with a smaller amount of capital. For example, if Bitcoin is priced at $100,000, with 100x leverage, a $1,000 investment would allow you to control a $100,000 position. This amplifies both profits and risks. However, when managed properly, 100x leverage can significantly increase profit potential, especially during volatile market conditions. It’s a powerful tool for experienced traders looking to capitalize on both rising and falling markets.

    Why Choose BexBack for Crypto Futures Trading?

    BexBack stands out for its user-centric approach to crypto trading, offering no KYC requirements, so users can start trading instantly without lengthy identity verification processes. With up to 100x leverage on over 50 major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and XRP, BexBack provides traders with exceptional opportunities to maximize their capital and take advantage of the crypto bull run.

    Additional BexBack Benefits:

    • 24/7 Customer Support: BexBack provides round-the-clock support to assist users with their trading needs.
    • No Deposit Fees: Make deposits without incurring any fees, making your trading experience seamless and cost-effective.
    • Multiple Trading Pairs: Access a wide range of trading pairs to diversify your portfolio and find the best opportunities.

    About BexBack

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform offering advanced features for both novice and experienced traders. With its user-friendly interface, 100x leverage, and no KYC policy, BexBack is designed to meet the needs of today’s crypto traders. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack is trusted by over 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform also holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license, ensuring regulatory compliance and security for its users.

    How to Start Trading on BexBack?

    Getting started with BexBack is quick and easy. Simply:

    1. Register in 30 seconds: Sign up using your email address.
    2. Make a deposit: Deposit BTC, USDT, or other cryptocurrencies into your account.
    3. Enjoy your bonuses: Instantly qualify for the 100% deposit bonus and enjoy the benefits of 100x leverage on crypto futures trading, all without needing to complete KYC.

    With BexBack’s double deposit bonus, no KYC, and 100x leverage, you can start trading crypto futures and make the most of the ongoing bull market with minimal hassle and maximum potential.

    Take Action Now

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this is your chance to seize the opportunity. Sign up on BexBack today, claim your exclusive bonus, and start trading with 100x leverage to accumulate more BTC and other cryptocurrencies.

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

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

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61a73b2d-37e1-4557-85c0-c16e3cae9059

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f081e458-3767-42e1-97a4-c7db8bea6020

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3dfa57ba-3df2-4244-9649-281c7fa83273

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/51b5f115-6d5e-43c5-88da-0333b6867b35

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Maximize Your Crypto Gains: 100x Leverage, $50 Bonus, Double Deposit Bonus & No KYC – Only on BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin has firmly maintained a price above $100,000, signaling that the crypto bull market is still going strong. As market volatility continues, savvy investors are eager to capitalize on the ongoing bullish trend. To help traders make the most of this opportunity, BexBack is launching an exciting promotion that includes a 100% deposit bonus, 100x leverage, and no KYC requirements for crypto futures trading.

    What Is the 100% Deposit Bonus and How Does It Work?

    The 100% deposit bonus is an exclusive offer that doubles your trading capital. For example, if you deposit 1 BTC, you’ll receive an additional 1 BTC, giving you a total of 2 BTC to trade. While the bonus itself is non-withdrawable, it can be used as margin for trading. This allows you to open larger positions and maximize potential profits without risking more of your initial investment. Moreover, any profits made from trading with the bonus are fully withdrawable.

    Why Use 100x Leverage for Crypto Futures Trading?

    100x leverage offers traders the ability to control larger positions with a smaller amount of capital. For example, if Bitcoin is priced at $100,000, with 100x leverage, a $1,000 investment would allow you to control a $100,000 position. This amplifies both profits and risks. However, when managed properly, 100x leverage can significantly increase profit potential, especially during volatile market conditions. It’s a powerful tool for experienced traders looking to capitalize on both rising and falling markets.

    Why Choose BexBack for Crypto Futures Trading?

    BexBack stands out for its user-centric approach to crypto trading, offering no KYC requirements, so users can start trading instantly without lengthy identity verification processes. With up to 100x leverage on over 50 major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and XRP, BexBack provides traders with exceptional opportunities to maximize their capital and take advantage of the crypto bull run.

    Additional BexBack Benefits:

    • 24/7 Customer Support: BexBack provides round-the-clock support to assist users with their trading needs.
    • No Deposit Fees: Make deposits without incurring any fees, making your trading experience seamless and cost-effective.
    • Multiple Trading Pairs: Access a wide range of trading pairs to diversify your portfolio and find the best opportunities.

    About BexBack

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform offering advanced features for both novice and experienced traders. With its user-friendly interface, 100x leverage, and no KYC policy, BexBack is designed to meet the needs of today’s crypto traders. Headquartered in Singapore with offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, BexBack is trusted by over 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform also holds a US MSB (Money Services Business) license, ensuring regulatory compliance and security for its users.

    How to Start Trading on BexBack?

    Getting started with BexBack is quick and easy. Simply:

    1. Register in 30 seconds: Sign up using your email address.
    2. Make a deposit: Deposit BTC, USDT, or other cryptocurrencies into your account.
    3. Enjoy your bonuses: Instantly qualify for the 100% deposit bonus and enjoy the benefits of 100x leverage on crypto futures trading, all without needing to complete KYC.

    With BexBack’s double deposit bonus, no KYC, and 100x leverage, you can start trading crypto futures and make the most of the ongoing bull market with minimal hassle and maximum potential.

    Take Action Now

    If you missed the previous crypto bull run, this is your chance to seize the opportunity. Sign up on BexBack today, claim your exclusive bonus, and start trading with 100x leverage to accumulate more BTC and other cryptocurrencies.

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

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

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/61a73b2d-37e1-4557-85c0-c16e3cae9059

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f081e458-3767-42e1-97a4-c7db8bea6020

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3dfa57ba-3df2-4244-9649-281c7fa83273

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/51b5f115-6d5e-43c5-88da-0333b6867b35

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What the new grooming gangs inquiry must do to put victims before politics

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By William Tantam, Senior Lecturer, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol

    Kemi Badenoch, Conservative party leader, responds to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s statement announcing the new inquiry. House of Commons/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse was the largest inquiry in UK history, running from 2015 to 2022 and investigating institutional failures in preventing child sexual abuse. The inquiry’s final report included 20 recommendations for change. So far, zero have been fully implemented.

    We both worked on the inquiry and know the pervasive harm of this violence, as well as the consequences it leaves with survivors, families and communities. We are also well aware of the importance of clear language to reflect victims’ experiences and of capturing reliable data.

    Louise Casey’s audit of group-based child sexual exploitation and abuse echoes these issues. In particular, it highlights the huge gaps around ethnicity data.

    The report addresses decades of failure to protect vulnerable girls from group-based child sexual abuse (“grooming gangs”). The ethnicity of perpetrators and victims has been a flashpoint in the discussion for years.

    The national narrative has been that gangs of predominantly Asian men have groomed and exploited young white girls, and that this is why victims’ cases were ignored, dismissed or covered up. Political rows around it have been a factor in the government announcing another inquiry. Over 200 pages, Lady Casey’s audit endeavours to lay out the facts.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    What does the report say about ethnicity?

    Casey’s audit repeatedly emphasises the lack of ethnicity data on a national level. She notes that ethnicity is not recorded for two-thirds of perpetrators, and that the data collected for both victims and perpetrators is “not sufficient to allow any conclusions to be drawn at the national level.”

    But she does note: “There is enough evidence available in local police data in three police force areas … which show disproportionate numbers of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds.” And, “There have been enough convictions across the country of groups of men from Asian ethnic backgrounds to have warranted closer examination. Instead of examination, we have seen obfuscation.”

    Why might this be? Casey notes that the issue of ethnicity was “shied away from” by local services, due to anxieties about being perceived as racist by endorsing an “Asian grooming gang” narrative.

    Her audit points to numerous reviews at different levels, all of which reflect inconsistency in data collection. While some, such as a 2020 Home Office research, found that most offenders of organised exploitation nationwide are white, Casey again notes that the data is not sufficient to conclude this.

    When analysing the testimonies of victims of child sexual abuse in other contexts, such as the 2015 inquiry’s Truth Project, often the ethnicity of the perpetrator remains vague. One reason is that whiteness goes unremarked upon in many areas of life in a majority-white country such as the UK. Another serious issue is the poor levels of reporting of child sexual abuse in general in ethnic minority communities. Overall, we lack a good understanding of both victim and perpetrator characteristics.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    Casey also raises important questions about perpetrator profiles that go beyond their ethnicity, such as what drives them to commit these crimes. We would add another key question – why are young, working class girls from all backgrounds consistently treated as culpable for the crimes committed against them?

    If coming from a particular community is a risk factor for perpetration of a certain form of child sexual abuse, more accurate data is needed to say this confidently and in a way that can engage communities rather than alienating them. It is our hope that this new inquiry can do that. In the meantime, Casey has asked for the public to “keep calm” over the data.


    House of Commons/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

    Putting victims over politics

    The lack of accurate data has allowed politicians and the far right to take control of the narrative, without strong evidence to back up their claims. Elon Musk’s interventions earlier this year made the implications of this clear.

    People can lay claim to “the truth” of child grooming gangs without clear data in support or in opposition. What we can say with conviction – and what Musk was correct in pointing out – was the horrific nature of the crimes perpetrated against victims of sexual violence.

    Politicisation of abuse does a serious disservice to victims. As we found through the 2015 inquiry’s extensive work with diverse communities, narratives about the ethnicity of child sexual abuse perpetrators can lead to defensiveness and secrecy among victims from those communities, who fear betraying their own, risking further abuse.

    This new inquiry is a much needed opportunity to improve the data. The government has accepted all 12 recommendations, including mandatory collection of ethnicity and nationality data for all suspects in child sexual abuse and criminal exploitation cases.

    This is a statutory inquiry, so it has greater powers than past inquiries to compel witnesses to provide evidence. It also means that the inquiry holds some independence from government, hopefully insulating it from some of the politicised rhetoric.

    But the current moment still risks loud political voices talking over the expertise of survivors. While it is encouraging to read that survivors’ voices were included in Casey’s investigation, the audit does not say how many nor in what capacity.

    We hope that the inquiry takes a lesson from the pioneering approach of the 2015 inquiry. Its victims and survivors consultative panel gave a level of “testimonial justice” to those whose voices are often silenced and ignored.

    The new inquiry is a chance to really listen to victims, who have been let down for decades.
    Katty Elizarova/Shutterstock

    Foremost in everyone’s minds is the need to prevent and deter such abuse from happening in the future. This requires fully understanding the reasons behind inaccurate or incomplete data collection, the motivations of perpetrators and institutional contexts that might facilitate them, and barriers to implementing meaningful responses. This inquiry promises to listen to survivors, without filtering the parts that are uncomfortable to hear.

    Amid this, there is another scandal hidden in plain sight. For all the talk about acting on Casey’s findings, there is a huge funding crisis in services that support survivors of child sexual abuse. Our colleagues in the sector report increasing pressure to reduce the amount of care survivors are offered, despite commitments to offer lifelong care for those affected by this deeply damaging crime.

    How can we claim to care about prevention when we do not do enough to support those already affected?

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What the new grooming gangs inquiry must do to put victims before politics – https://theconversation.com/what-the-new-grooming-gangs-inquiry-must-do-to-put-victims-before-politics-259410

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A pink diamond just sold for over US$ 14 million – no wonder, when you look at the mysteries behind their chemistry

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Elton Santos, Reader in Theoretical and Computational Condensed Matter Physics, University of Edinburgh

    Diamonds might be forever but that doesn’t stop them being bought and sold. One stone thought to have once belonged to Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, has just sold for US$14 million (£10 million) at an auction in New York – about three times the asking price. Set into a platinum ring and weighing a total of 15.5 grams, the clue to the diamond’s uniqueness is in its name: the Marie-Thérèse pink.

    This 10.38 carat pink diamond has been changing hands for generations, and previously sold at an auction in Geneva for an unknown amount. Pink diamonds are very rare and there are many things that scientists still don’t know about them.

    Diamonds are generally formed under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth’s mantle, roughly 150–200 kilometres below the surface. Most natural diamonds crystallise over billions of years, composed almost entirely of carbon atoms arranged in a tightly packed, cube-like structure.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Coloured diamonds are geological anomalies. Variations include pink, blue, orange, yellow, red, green, brown and black, most of which can be explained by impurities in their crystal lattice. Yellow diamonds contain nitrogen, for example, while blue ones contain boron.

    Pink diamonds are not caused by such impurities. Scientists believe that the pink hue arises from a distortion in the diamond’s atomic lattice structure. Intense pressure deep underground creates forces (known as shear forces) that twist and compress atomic layers, which alter how the stone reflects light.

    It’s this “plastic deformation” which results in the pink coloration, reducing the green light in the visible spectrum so that it shifts the overall colour that we see towards pink.

    Only a small fraction of diamonds undergo such extreme and precise pressure and temperature conditions during their formation. These factors make them very difficult to be created and even harder to predict where they will be formed. As a result, pink diamonds are the rarest of all coloured diamonds apart from red ones, which are formed by an even more intense version of the same process.

    Aussie rules

    For decades, the Argyle mine in western Australia was the world’s primary source of pink diamonds (and also red ones), producing over 90% of the global supply. The mine is located at a unique geological area by a so-called lamproite volcanic pipe, as opposed to the more common kimberlite pipes found at most other diamond mines. Without getting too much into the technicalities, lamproite pipes tend to be less explosive and have more unusual minerals like leucite and rich potassium.

    The Argyle mine is located in the Kimberley region, which experienced intense tectonic activity during the Paleoproterozoic era, over 1.6 billion years ago. This meant that the lamproite pipe was formed under extreme pressures and temperatures.

    This is believed to have caused the lattice defects in the diamonds that were pushed to the Earth’s surface, which are responsible for their pink and red colours. The deep mantle depths in the mine were also crucial, since this translates into higher internal pressures and temperatures.

    Even so, less than 0.1% of the diamonds extracted from Argyle were classified as pink (and only 0.00000002% were red, if you calculate the proportion of red carats found). The mine then closed in 2020 after 37 years of production because its reserves were exhausted, making pink diamonds even more scarce and valuable.

    Other known sources include Brazil, India, Russia and South Africa, but these mines yield pink diamonds far less frequently. The rarity of high-quality pink diamonds has made them highly sought-after by collectors and investors alike, as demonstrated by the high sale price of the Marie-Thérèse pink. That diamond was actually pink-purple, with the purple hue caused by hydrogen being absorbed into the atomic structure during the stone’s formation, making it rarer still.

    Advanced techniques involving shining infrared light and X-rays into the stones – respectively known as infrared spectroscopy and high-resolution X-ray diffraction – have provided scientists with insights into the structural changes that cause pink and red diamonds.

    Yet many questions remain unanswered, and the study of pink diamonds continues to be an active area of scientific investigations in mineral physics and crystallography. This has included creating pink diamonds (and other colours such as blues) in the laboratory by replicating the natural processes that form them, but in a more controlled, accelerated way.

    These lab-grown pink diamonds look nearly identical to their natural versions to the human eye, but can yet be differentiated through optical techniques. One method is infrared absorption, which detects how the diamond absorbs light and vibrates at specific frequencies.

    Another clue is the presence of sharp peaks in the visible light spectrum that indicate certain impurities, like hydrogen or nitrogen, which are often found in natural stones. In the same style as a CSI investigation, these techniques provide the last word in whether a pink diamond is from a mine such as Argyle, a lab-grown pink, or a clear natural diamond that has been treated pink artificially.

    Even after years of improving the process for making pink diamonds synthetically, the mechanical distortions responsible for their exotic colour still can’t be replicated precisely under laboratory conditions. Scientists
    don’t understand all the atomic processes involved in their colouring becoming permanent to be able to recreate them perfectly.

    The same is actually also true for other synthetic diamonds, though they are becoming harder and harder to detect as the technology improves. In short, pink diamonds (and red ones) remain among the most remarkable precious stones in the world. Unless and until that changes, we can keep expecting them to change hands for ridiculous amounts of money.

    Elton Santos receives funding from EPSRC, Royal Society, and is affiliated with the Donostia International Physics Center, San Sebastián, Spain.

    – ref. A pink diamond just sold for over US$ 14 million – no wonder, when you look at the mysteries behind their chemistry – https://theconversation.com/a-pink-diamond-just-sold-for-over-us-14-million-no-wonder-when-you-look-at-the-mysteries-behind-their-chemistry-259392

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • PM Modi to lead 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Visakhapatnam

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) is set to be celebrated on June 21, with unprecedented scale and grandeur, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the national event from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. He will perform the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) alongside over 3 lakh participants at the main venue. Joining him will be Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

    The event at Visakhapatnam will be part of the nationwide ‘Yoga Sangam’ initiative, which will see simultaneous yoga sessions at more than 10 lakh locations across India. The mass demonstration is scheduled to take place from 6:30 AM to 7:45 AM and is expected to draw participation from over 2 crore people at more than 1 lakh locations across Andhra Pradesh alone. The state government is also coordinating an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record, while also planning to distribute over 50 lakh yoga certificates to registered participants.

    In a symbolic and culturally rich prelude to the main event, approximately 25,000 tribal children today performed 108 Surya Namaskars in 108 minutes at Andhra University. The initiative underlined the enthusiastic engagement of tribal communities and the growing grassroots reach of yoga.

    Delhi will also actively participate in the celebrations with events planned at 109 locations across the national capital. A notable highlight will be a grand yoga session at the historic Red Fort, organized by Brahma Kumaris in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, supported by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga and the Archaeological Survey of India.

    This year’s theme for IDY 2025, Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” reflects India’s holistic vision of well-being. It underscores the interconnectedness of human and planetary health and draws upon the traditional Indian ethos of Sarve Santu Niramaya (May all be free from disease).

    Ahead of the celebrations, Prime Minister Modi addressed a letter to all Gram Pradhans, emphasizing yoga’s transformative impact and its growing global acceptance. His message has sparked renewed enthusiasm at the grassroots, resulting in widespread yoga activities in Panchayats, Anganwadis, and Community Health Centers.

    Marking the 10-year milestone of International Day of Yoga, the Ministry of Ayush introduced 10 Signature Events rolled out over 100 days to enhance public participation. These include the mass yoga demonstrations under Yoga Sangam, international collaborations through Yoga Bandhan, and environmental initiatives via Harit Yoga. The campaign also featured youth-centric programs like Yoga Unplugged, a global online summit under Yoga Connect, and large-scale celebrations through Yoga Maha Kumbh. Additionally, Samyoga highlighted the integration of yoga with modern healthcare, while Yoga Prabhava presented a 10-year impact report on the IDY movement.

    Rajasthan led in registrations for Yoga Sangam with over 2.25 lakh sign-ups, followed by several other states crossing the one lakh mark. Overall, more than 11 lakh organizations and groups have registered their participation through the Ministry of Ayush’s dedicated yoga portal.

    Globally, Indian embassies and cultural centres have been conducting yoga demonstrations and awareness campaigns, reinforcing India’s role as a global wellness leader.

  • India’s Eight Core Industries Index registers marginal 0.7% growth in May 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI), a crucial gauge of the performance of key infrastructure sectors in the Indian economy, rose marginally by 0.7% year-on-year in May 2025, according to provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. This modest uptick highlights continuing challenges in several critical sectors despite gains in a few industries.

    The eight industries that comprise the index — Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Petroleum Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity — collectively account for 40.27% of the overall Index of Industrial Production (IIP). In May, positive growth was reported in Cement, Steel, Coal, and Refinery Products, while the remaining sectors recorded year-on-year contractions.

    Coal production, which holds a weight of 10.33% in the index, increased by 2.8% compared to the same month last year. On a cumulative basis, production during April–May 2025-26 rose by 3.1%. However, the crude oil sector, with a weight of 8.98%, contracted by 1.8% in May and by 2.2% over the two-month period.

    Natural gas output witnessed a sharper year-on-year fall of 3.6% in May, contributing to a cumulative decline of 2.3%. Meanwhile, petroleum refinery products — the largest component of the index with a weight of 28.04% — posted a modest 1.1% increase in May. Despite this, cumulative output during the April–May period dropped by 1.7%.

    The fertilizer sector reported the steepest decline, shrinking by 5.9% in May and registering a cumulative decrease of 5.1%. In contrast, the steel industry, which holds significant weight at 17.92%, saw a healthy 6.7% rise in output in May and a 5.5% increase over the two-month period.

    Cement production delivered the strongest performance among all eight industries, recording a robust 9.2% growth in May. Its cumulative output also showed significant momentum, rising by 7.8%. However, electricity generation, a major sector with a 19.85% weight, fell sharply by 5.8% in May and declined by 2.2% cumulatively — contributing to an overall drag on the index.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s message on World Refugee Day [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Download the video: 
    https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+WORLD+REFUGE+DAY+21+MAY+25/3399099_MSG+SG+WORLD+REFUGE+DAY+21+MAY+25.mp4
     

    Today, we recognize the millions of refugees forced to flee war, persecution, and disaster.

    Every individual carries a story of profound loss – of a family uprooted and a future upended.  

    Many face closed doors and a rising tide of xenophobia.

    From Sudan to Ukraine, from Haiti to Myanmar, a record number of people are on the run for their lives – while support is dwindling. 

    And host communities, often in developing countries, are shouldering the greatest burden.

    This is unfair and unsustainable.

    But even as the world falls short, refugees continue to show extraordinary courage, resilience and determination.

    And when given the chance, they contribute meaningfully – strengthening economies, enriching cultures, and deepening social bonds.

    On this World Refugee Day, solidarity must go beyond words.

    Solidarity must mean boosting humanitarian and development support, expanding protection and durable solutions such as resettlement, and upholding the right to seek asylum – a pillar of international law.

    It must also mean listening to refugees and ensuring they have a voice in shaping their futures.

    And it must mean investing in long-term integration through education, decent work, and equal rights.

    Becoming a refugee is never a choice.

    But how we respond is.

    So let us choose solidarity. Let us choose courage. Let us choose humanity.

    ***

    Aujourd’hui, nos pensées vont aux millions de réfugiés contraints de fuir les guerres, les persécutions et les catastrophes.

    Chaque personne réfugiée porte en elle l’histoire d’une perte insondable, d’une famille déracinée et d’un avenir bouleversé.

    Beaucoup se heurtent à des portes closes et font face à une montée de la xénophobie.

    Du Soudan à l’Ukraine, d’Haïti au Myanmar, un nombre record de personnes fuient pour sauver leur vie, alors même que l’aide s’amenuise.

    Ce sont les communautés d’accueil, souvent dans les pays en développement, qui supportent le plus lourd fardeau.

    Une telle situation est aussi injuste qu’intenable.

    Bien que le monde ne soit pas à la hauteur des circonstances, les réfugiés continuent de faire preuve d’un courage, d’une résilience et d’une détermination extraordinaires.

    Et lorsqu’on leur en donne la possibilité, ils apportent une contribution notable – en renforçant les économies, en enrichissant les cultures et en approfondissant les liens sociaux.

    En cette Journée mondiale des réfugiés, la solidarité doit aller au-delà des mots.

    Elle doit se traduire par un renforcement de l’aide humanitaire et de l’aide au développement, par l’élargissement de la protection et la fourniture de solutions durables telles que la réinstallation, et par le respect du droit de demander l’asile, qui est l’un des piliers du droit international.

    Elle passe également par l’écoute des réfugiés, qui doivent pouvoir s’exprimer sur la façon dont ils conçoivent leur avenir.

    Elle implique d’investir dans une intégration à long terme par l’éducation, le travail décent et l’égalité des droits.

    Devenir un réfugié n’est jamais un choix.

    Mais nous avons le choix de la réponse à apporter.

    Faisons donc le choix de la solidarité. Faisons le choix du courage. Faisons le choix de l’humanité.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former JBLM soldier pleads guilty to attempting to share military secrets with China

    Source: US State of California

    A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two federal felonies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty to attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. He faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 9, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering national defense information.

    In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He created multiple lengthy documents describing various “high level secrets” he was offering to the Chinese government. He retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks.

    Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until October 2023, when he flew to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.

    Attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.    

    The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former JBLM soldier pleads guilty to attempting to share military secrets with China

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    A former U.S. Army Sergeant whose last duty post was Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to two federal felonies, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Joseph Daniel Schmidt, 31, pleaded guilty to attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information. He faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour on September 9, 2025.

    According to records filed in the case, Schmidt was an active-duty soldier from January 2015 to January 2020. His primary assignment was at JBLM in the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. In his role, Schmidt had access to SECRET and TOP SECRET information. After his separation from the military, Schmidt reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later, the Chinese security services via email offering national defense information.

    In March 2020, Schmidt traveled to Hong Kong and continued his efforts to provide Chinese intelligence with classified information he obtained from his military service. He created multiple lengthy documents describing various “high level secrets” he was offering to the Chinese government. He retained a device that allows for access to secure military computer networks and offered the device to Chinese authorities to assist them in efforts to gain access to such networks.

    Schmidt remained in China, primarily Hong Kong, until October 2023, when he flew to San Francisco. He was arrested at the airport.

    Attempt to deliver national defense information and retention of national defense information are both punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.    

    The FBI investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case, with valuable assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SAPS intensifies efforts in the fight against GBVF

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Friday, June 20, 2025

    The South African Police Service (SAPS) is continuing to intensify its efforts in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

    Over the past week, a total of 201 suspects were arrested for rape in police operations across the country. Of the arrests, 56 were wanted individuals tracked down in various provinces.

    “Among the arrests was that of a man and woman in Bloubergstrand, Western Cape, for the alleged sexual abuse of their daughters, aged three and eight,” the SAPS said in a statement. 

    Police seized multiple electronic devices during their arrest, and they face several charges, including the production of child sexual abuse material (child pornography), rape, sexual assault and sexual grooming.

    More recently, a 24-year-old suspect was arrested by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit in Tonga, Mpumalanga on 19 June 2025 following the gang rape of a 27-year-old woman. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.

    Notable convictions include:
    •    On 09 June 2025, the Polokwane High Court sentenced serial rapist Lesley Morwamashobe Mohlala (33) to 222 years’ imprisonment. He was found guilty on multiple counts of rape and aggravated robbery.
    •    The East London High Court sentenced a 42-year-old accused to life imprisonment for the rape of a 13-year-old girl, who became pregnant as a result of the assault.
    •    The Bloemfontein Regional Court sentenced a 51-year-old accused to life imprisonment for raping his niece, who was 10 years old at the time. During sentencing, it emerged that he was on parole for a previous rape conviction at the time of the offence, an aggravating factor that influenced the court’s decision.
    •    On 18 June 2025, the Watervaal Regional Court sentenced a 25-year-old accused from Tshiozwi, Limpopo to life imprisonment for raping his nine-year-old cousin in 2021.

    “The SAPS remains committed to ensuring justice prevails for victims by removing sexual predators from our communities,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Antalpha to Hold Extraordinary General Meeting on July 21, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, June 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Antalpha Platform Holding Company (NASDAQ: ANTA) (“Antalpha” or the “Company”), a leading fintech platform serving the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, today announced that it will hold an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “EGM”) at 2:00 p.m. (Hong Kong time) on July 21, 2025 at 42nd Floor, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong.

    A proposal to increase the Company’s authorized share capital will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the authorized share capital of the Company will be increased from “US$50,000 divided into 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each” to “US$62,500 divided into 62,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each” by the creation of an additional 12,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each to rank pari passu in all respects with the existing shares.

    A proposal to re-designate the Company’s ordinary shares into Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by a special resolution of the shareholders, (a) 59,375,000 authorized Ordinary Shares (including the 23,677,500 issued Ordinary Shares) of a par value of US$0.001 each in the capital of the Company will be re-designated as Class A Ordinary Shares, and (b) 3,125,000 authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each in the capital of the Company will be re-designated as Class B Ordinary Shares (the “Share Re-designation”), such that immediately following the Share Re-designation, the authorized share capital of the Company will be US$62,500 divided into 62,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, comprising of (i) 59,375,000 Class A Ordinary Shares (including 23,677,500 issued Class A Ordinary Shares) of a par value of US$0.001 each (the “Class A Ordinary Shares”), and (ii) 3,125,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each (the “Class B Ordinary Shares”).

    A proposal to amend and restate the Company’s existing memorandum and articles of association to reflect the variation of the Company’s authorized share capital will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by a special resolution of the shareholders, the Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association will be amended and restated by their deletion in their entirety and the substitution in their place of the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association in the form as attached to the EGM notice as Exhibit A (the “Amended M&AA”), and the authorized share capital of the Company will be US$62,500 divided into 62,500,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each comprising of (i) 59,375,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, and (ii) 3,125,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, with the rights attaching to such shares as set out in the Amended M&AA, including that each Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote, and is not convertible into Class B Ordinary Share under any circumstances, and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to twenty (20) votes, subject to certain conditions, and is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof.

    A proposal to grant the Chairperson of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “Founder”), one or more awards under the Company’s 2024 Share Incentive Plan will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the Company will be authorized to grant the Founder awards under the Company’s 2024 Share Incentive Plan (as may be amended from time to time), in the form of options, restricted share units or other types, to acquire an aggregate of up to 1,500,000 Class B Ordinary Shares, of which the first 750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares shall vest only upon the Company achieving a market capitalization of at least US$1 billion, and the remaining 750,000 Class B Ordinary Shares shall vest only upon the Company achieving a market capitalization of at least US$2 billion, as an incentive for his continued service and to align his interests with those of the Company and its shareholders.

    A proposal for the Company to adopt a treasury management plan will be submitted to the Company’s shareholders to be considered and voted upon at the EGM. If the proposal is approved by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the Company will adopt the treasury management plan in the form as attached to the EGM notice as Exhibit B for the purposes of improving the treasury management of the Company, and the Company and its board of directors be authorized to take all actions as may be necessary for the purposes of carrying out such treasury management plan, including issuing ordinary shares or other securities to raise funds to acquire digital gold, or acquiring digital gold through its subsidiaries and/or investees, which may include publicly listed companies, from time to time for purposes of carrying out such treasury management plan.

    The Board has fixed the close of business on June 20, 2025 (Eastern Standard Time) as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, to attend, and to vote at, the EGM or any adjourned or postponed meeting thereof. Holders of record of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value US$0.001 per share, at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the EGM or any adjournment or postponement thereof. The notice of the EGM, which sets forth the resolutions to be submitted to shareholder approval at the meeting and includes the Amended M&AA and treasury management plan as exhibits, is available on the Company’s website at ir.antalpha.com.

    About Antalpha

    Antalpha is a leading fintech company specializing in providing financing, technology, and risk management solutions to institutions in the digital asset industry. As the primary lending partner of Bitmain, Antalpha offers Bitcoin supply chain and margin loans through the Antalpha Prime technology platform, which allows customers to originate and manage their digital assets loans, as well as monitor collateral positions with near real-time data.

    Contacts

    Investor Relations: ir@antalpha.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Constitutional Court a beacon of justice and national unity

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has praised the Constitutional Court for its critical role in deepening democracy, advancing human rights, and promoting national cohesion and reconciliation over the past three decades.

    Speaking at a special event marking the 30-year anniversary of the court’s establishment on Friday in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa described the apex court as not only a legal institution but a “noble symbol of our democratic order; both immortal and legal compass”.

    “This moment calls not only for celebration, but also for reflection, for recommitment, and for a renewed vision of constitutionalism in action in South Africa,” the President said. 

    Reflecting on the court’s founding in 1994, the President noted its symbolic location, built on the ruins of the infamous Old Fort prison in Braamfontein as a reminder of South Africa’s painful past and a testament to the transformative promise of constitutional justice.

    “This court was established on the ruins of an oppressive legal system and was built on the grounds of a former prison, embodying the hope that law could become an instrument of justice rather than repression,” he said.

    Recalling the adoption of the Constitution on 8 May 1996, President Ramaphosa, who then chaired the Constitutional Assembly, likened the document to “our new nation’s birth certificate”, describing it as a legal foundation that affirms dignity, equality, and freedom for all South Africans.

    “Just like a person cannot enjoy their rights without a birth certificate, without the Constitution our country would be cast adrift, and be vulnerable to the excesses of unchecked power.

    “We celebrate the existence of this court over the 30 years in which it has defended our democratic vision as set out in our birth certificate, our Constitution. This court has been the guardian, watching over our nation’s legal health just as a parent would attend to the health of their growing child,” he said.

    Building a culture of rights

    The President credited the court for cultivating a rights-based culture by issuing transformative and far-reaching judgments, including in S v Makwanyane that abolished the death penalty; the Grootboom case that centred on the right to housing; and Minister of Health v Treatment Action Campaign that dealt with the right to healthcare and access to HIV/Aids treatment.

    “The Constitutional Court has developed a rich and transformative jurisprudence. These judgements are not merely legal decisions – they are decisions that have changed lives, shaped our society, and strengthened our democracy,” he said. 

    He praised the court’s jurisprudence for affirming the rights of the vulnerable, including same-sex couples, women in traditional marriages, children, the poor, and the infirm.

    “The court’s judgments have advanced the rights of same-sex couples, of women in traditional marriages, of the sick and infirm, of children, of voters, and of the most marginalised members of society. They have affirmed that dignity, equality and freedom are not reserved for the powerful, but guaranteed to all,” he said. 

    He acknowledged the international legal influences that helped shape South Africa’s Constitution, with insights drawn from jurisdictions such as Canada, Germany, India and the United States.

    Quoting former Justice Albie Sachs, President Ramaphosa said: “We borrowed ideas, concepts and structures from Canada, Germany, India and the United States, but made them South African.”

    Challenges and shortcomings

    While lauding the court’s role, President Ramaphosa also acknowledged ongoing challenges in realising the full promise of constitutionalism, particularly in the delivery of socio-economic rights. 

    “It will forever remain a blight on our democracy that the applicant in the ground-breaking Grootboom judgment, Ms. Irene Grootboom, died in 2008 without her dream of a decent house being fulfilled,” he said.

    He stressed that citizens should not have to resort to litigation to claim rights that the state is obligated to fulfil.

    “There is a disconnect between the promise of our Constitution and the lived realities of South Africans. Persistent inequality, threats to judicial independence, lack of implementation of court orders, and erosion of trust in institutions remain pressing challenges,” he warned.

    Commitment to the judiciary

    President Ramaphosa reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the judiciary and upholding its independence. He cited budget allocations to improve court services, judicial education, and infrastructure as part of efforts to bolster the judiciary’s effectiveness.

    “To ensure that the judiciary execute their duties independently, effectively, and with dignity – government must and will provide a range of institutional, infrastructure, financial, administrative, and legal support. The support is crucial to maintaining judicial independence, which is a cornerstone of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.

    He confirmed that a joint committee between the executive and judiciary will finalise an action plan in the coming weeks to strengthen the judicial system and institutional independence.

    Tribute to pioneers

    The President paid tribute to current and former Constitutional Court Justices, legal clerks, scholars, and practitioners who have contributed to the court’s legacy.

    Among those honoured were retired Justices Albie Sachs and Kate O’Regan, who were part of the inaugural bench. He also recalled stories shared by his legal advisor, Advocate Nokukhanya Jele, who clerked for the court in its early days, sharing memories of operating in cramped temporary offices, and of rain leaking onto legal papers during the Court’s relocation to its current premises in 2004.

    “For all who had the privilege of being part of those early days working at the court, there was a sense of elation at being part of history in the making. Of being part of something far greater; something that all one’s years of legal training had prepared one for. 

    “As a nation we can be nothing short of immensely proud of the constitutional court, of what it has achieved, and of its ongoing and pre-eminent role in our society,” he said.

    Looking ahead

    President Ramaphosa called on legal professionals, government leaders and citizens alike to recommit to the Constitution and its values of accountability, ethics, and public service.

    “Thirty years on, the Constitutional Court remains a beacon of democracy. A compass for our future journey. May it continue to stand as a testament to justice, accountability, and the resilience of the South African people,” the President said. 

    He added that the country faces many challenges including poverty, inequality, joblessness and under-development. 

    “Yet we move forward as a collective with confidence, fortified by the knowledge that that you, the guardians of our constitutional order, are with us, alongside us, guiding us.

    “As we look to the next 30 years, let us ensure that the Constitutional Court remains a living institution—responsive, principled, and deeply rooted in the values of ubuntu, accountability, and human dignity. We wish the court well on this auspicious occasion, and into the future,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –