Craters in the lunar surface are visible in this photo taken during the Apollo 11 mission. NASA via AP
April 2025 was a busy month for space.
Pop icon Katy Perry joined five other civilian women on a quick jaunt to the edge of space, making headlines. Meanwhile, another group of people at the United Nations was contemplating a critical issue for the future of space exploration: the discovery, extraction and utilization of natural resources on the Moon.
As a space lawyer and co-founder of For All Moonkind, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting human heritage in outer space, I know that the Moon could be the proving ground for humanity’s evolution into a species that lives and thrives on more than one planet. However, this new frontier raises complex legal questions.
Space, legally
Outer space – including the Moon – from a legal perspective, is a unique domain without direct terrestrial equivalent. It is not, like the high seas, the “common heritage of humankind,” nor is it an area, like Antarctica, where commercial mining is prohibited.
Instead, the 1967 Outer Space Treaty – signed by more than 115 nations, including China, Russia and the United States – establishes that the exploration and use of space are the “province of all humankind.” That means no country may claim territory in outer space, and all have the right to access all areas of the Moon and other celestial bodies freely.
The fact that, pursuant to Article II of the treaty, a country cannot claim territory in outer space, known as the nonappropriation principle, suggests to some that property ownership in space is forbidden.
Can this be true? If your grandchildren move to Mars, will they never own a home? How can a company protect its investment in a lunar mine if it must be freely accessible by all? What happens, as it inevitably will, when two rovers race to a particular area on the lunar surface known to host valuable water ice? Does the winner take all?
As it turns out, the Outer Space Treaty does offer some wiggle room. Article IX requires countries to show “due regard” for the corresponding interests of others. It is a legally vague standard, although the Permanent Court of Arbitration has suggested that due regard means simply paying attention to what’s reasonable under the circumstances.
First mover advantage – it’s a race
The treaty’s broad language encourages a race to the Moon. The first entity to any spot will have a unilateral opportunity to determine what’s legally “reasonable.” For example, creating an overly large buffer zone around equipment might be justified to mitigate potential damage from lunar dust.
On top of that, Article XII of the Outer Space Treaty assumes that there will be installations, like bases or mining operations, on the Moon. Contrary to the free access principle, the treaty suggests that access to these may be blocked unless the owner grants permission to enter.
Both of these paths within the treaty would allow the first person to make it to their desired spot on the Moon to keep others out. The U.N. principles in their current form don’t address these loopholes.
The draft U.N. principles released in April mirror, and are confined by, the language of the Outer Space Treaty. This tension between free access and the need to protect – most easily by forbidding access – remains unresolved. And the clock is ticking.
The Moon’s vulnerable legacy
The U.S. Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon by 2028, China has plans for human return by 2030, and in the intervening years, more than 100 robotic missions are planned by countries and private industry alike. For the most part, these missions are all headed to the same sweet spot: the lunar south pole. Here, peaks of eternal light and deep craters containing water ice promise the best mining, science and research opportunities.
Regions of the lunar south pole, left, and north pole, right, contain water in the form of ice (blue), which could be useful for space agencies hoping to set up lunar bases. NASA
In this excitement, it’s easy to forget that humans already have a deep history of lunar exploration. Scattered on the lunar surface are artifacts displaying humanity’s technological progress.
More recently, in 2019, China’s Chang’e 4 achieved the first soft landing on the Moon’s far side. And in 2023, India’s Chandrayaan-3 became the first to land successfully near the lunar south pole.
These sites memorialize humanity’s baby steps off our home planet and easily meet the United Nations definition of terrestrial heritage, as they are so “exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity.”
The international community works to protect such sites on Earth, but those protection protocols do not extend to outer space.
Astronaut footprints are still intact on the lunar surface because the Moon doesn’t have weather. But nearby spacecraft or rovers could kick up dust and cover them. AP Photo
The more than 115 other sites on the Moon that bear evidence of human activity are frozen in time without degradation from weather, animal or human activity. But this could change. A single errant spacecraft or rover could kick up abrasive lunar dust, erasing bootprints or damaging artifacts.
Protection and the Outer Space Treaty
In 2011, NASA recommended establishing buffer, or safety zones, of up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) to protect certain sites with U.S. artifacts.
Because it understood that outright exclusion violates the Outer Space Treaty, NASA issued these recommendations as voluntary guidelines. Nevertheless, the safety zone concept, essentially managing access to and activities around specific areas, could be a practical tool for protecting heritage sites. They could act as a starting point to find a balance between protection and access.
Building on this agreement, the international community could require specific access protocols — such as a permitting process, activity restrictions, shared access rules, monitoring and other controls — for heritage sites on the Moon. If accepted, these protective measures for heritage sites could also work as a template for scientific and operational sites. This would create a consistent framework that avoids the perception of claiming territory.
At this time, the draft U.N. principles released in April 2025 do not directly address the opposing concepts of access and protection. Instead, they defer to Article I of the Outer Space Treaty and reaffirm that everyone has free access to all areas of the Moon and other celestial bodies.
As more countries and companies compete to reach the Moon, a clear lunar legal framework can guide them to avoid conflicts and preserve historical sites. The draft U.N. principles show that the international community is ready to explore what this framework could look like.
Michelle L.D. Hanlon is affiliated with For All Moonkind, a not-for-profit organization committed to protecting human cultural heritage in outer space starting with the Apollo lunar landing sites.
A decision by the Broadcasting Standards Authority to uphold a complaint against a 1News broadcast last November is a warning to news media, says the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa.
1News described violence in the streets of Amsterdam on November 7 and 8 following a soccer match as “disturbing” and ‘antisemitic’ and stated the graphic video of beatings were Maccabi Tel Aviv fans under attack just for being Jewish.
Videographers who took the footage which 1News had used, complained to their news agencies that this description was wrong. The violence had been perpetrated by the Israeli Maccabi Tel Aviv fans against those they suspected of being Arab or supporters of Palestine.
The visiting Israelis were the attackers — not the victims, said the PSNA statement, as widely reported by global media correcting initial reports.
Before the match these same Maccabi fans had gathered in large groups to chant “Death to Arabs” — a racist genocidal chant which if used with the races reversed (“Arabs” replaced by Jews”) “would have been rightly condemned in purple prose by Western news media such as TVNZ”, said PSNA co-chair John Minto in the statement.
“But no such sympathy for Palestinians or Arabs,” he added.
Requested broadcast correction PSNA said in its statement that it had immediately requested that TVNZ broadcast a correction. TVNZ refused, though admitting they had got the story wrong.
PSNA then referred a complaint to the BSA which upheld the complaint as failing to meet the accuracy standard.
Minto said in the statement that the BSA decision should be seen as a warning to news media to be aware that Israel was using “fabricated charges of antisemitism, to justify and divert attention from its genocide in Gaza and silence its critics”.
“Just because [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and the then US President Joe Biden made statements turning Amsterdam attackers into victims, doesn’t mean TVNZ news should automatically parrot them,” Minto said.
“That’s effectively what the BSA concluded.”
Framing violence: How Israel shaped the narrative and the impact on Dutch politics Video: Al Jazeera
Minto also pointed to what he called a recent fabricated hysteria about antisemitism in Sydney, which the New South Wales police found to be completely based on hoaxes by a criminal gang.
“In the US, Trump is using the same charge as an excuse to close down university courses and expel anyone who protests against the Israeli genocide in Gaza,” Minto said.
“Of course, we strongly condemn the real antisemitism of anti-Jewish, Nazi-type Islamophobic groups,” Minto says.
Call for media ‘self education’ “It should be easy for professional reporters and editors to tell the difference between criticism of Israeli apartheid, ethnic cleansing and violence on one hand, and on the other hand Nazis and their fellow travellers who condemn Jews because they are Jews.
“The BSA is, in effect, demanding the news media educate themselves.”
In a half-hour report on 16 November 2024 headlined “Media bias, inaccuracy and the violence in Amsterdam”, Al Jazeera’s global mediawatch programme The Listening Post said “one night of violence revealed … Western media’s failings on Israel and Palestine”.
“In the wake of an ugly eruption of violence on the streets of Amsterdam, the media coverage of the story [was] put under the microscope with editors scrambling to revise headlines, rework narratives, and reframe video content.”
In an investigative documentary, The Full Report, on 22 January 2025, Al Jazeera’s Dutch correspondent Step Vaessen reported how Israel had framed the violence, shaped the narrative, manipulated the global media, and impacted on Dutch politics.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GENEVA, May 12 (Xinhua) — China and the United States on Monday issued a joint statement following high-level China-U.S. talks on economic and trade issues in Geneva.
The full text of the joint statement follows:
Joint Statement on the High-Level China-US Trade and Economic Talks in Geneva
The Government of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as China) and the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the United States), recognizing the importance of their bilateral economic and trade relations to both countries and the global economy, recognizing the importance of sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations, reviewing their recent discussions and believing that continued discussions have the potential to resolve each side’s concerns in their economic and trade relations, moving forward in the spirit of mutual openness, continuous communication, cooperation, and mutual respect, commit to take the following actions by May 14, 2025:
The United States shall modify the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on goods from China (including goods from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region) imposed by Executive Order 14257 on April 2, 2025, by suspending 24 percentage points of that rate for an initial period of 90 days, while maintaining the remainder of the ad valorem rate of 10 percent on those goods in accordance with the terms of that Executive Order. The United States shall terminate the modified additional ad valorem rates of duty on those goods imposed by Executive Order 14259 on April 8, 2025, and by Executive Order 14266 on April 9, 2025.
China shall accordingly modify the application of the additional ad valorem duty rate on United States goods set out in the No. 4 Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council in 2025 by suspending the application of 24 percentage points of that duty rate for an initial period of 90 days, while maintaining the remaining additional ad valorem duty rate of 10 percent on those goods. China shall abolish the modified additional ad valorem duty rates on those goods imposed by the No. 5 Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council and the No. 6 Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council in 2025, and shall take all necessary administrative measures to suspend or cancel the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States on or after April 2, 2025.
Following the above actions, the Parties shall establish a mechanism to continue discussions on economic and trade relations. The Chinese side will be represented at these talks by He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, and the American side will be represented by Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and Jamieson Greer, U.S. Trade Representative. Such discussions may be held alternately in China and the United States, or in a third country with the consent of the Parties. If necessary, the Parties may hold working-level consultations on relevant economic and trade issues. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GENEVA, May 12 (Xinhua) — China and the United States on Monday announced a series of tariff adjustment measures aimed at easing trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
The decision followed a two-day high-level economic and trade meeting between China and the United States. A joint statement released following the meeting said both sides recognized the importance of bilateral economic and trade relations for themselves and for the global economy. They also stressed the importance of sustainable, long-term, and mutually beneficial economic and trade relations.
The statement said the United States will modify the application of the additional ad valorem duty rate on goods from China (including goods from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region) imposed by the order on April 2, 2025, by suspending the application of 24 percentage points of that rate for an initial period of 90 days, while maintaining the remainder of the ad valorem rate of 10 percent on those goods. The United States will also eliminate the modified additional ad valorem duty rates on those goods imposed on April 8 and 9, respectively.
Under Executive Order 14259, issued by the White House on April 8, the United States raised the “equivalent” tariff rate on China to 84 percent. A day later, the White House raised the rate to 125 percent in another executive order.
According to the statement, China will accordingly change the application of the additional ad valorem rate of duty on goods from the United States set out in the No. 4 Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council in 2025, suspending the application of 24 percentage points of this rate for an initial period of 90 days, while maintaining the remaining additional ad valorem rate of 10 percent on these goods.
China shall also eliminate the modified additional ad valorem duties on these products imposed by the 5th Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council in 2025 and the 6th Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council in 2025, and shall take all necessary administrative measures to suspend or eliminate the non-tariff countermeasures taken against the United States on or after April 2, 2025.
Both parties undertake to take these actions by May 14, 2025.
After the above actions are completed, the two sides will establish a mechanism to continue discussions on economic and trade relations. Such discussions may be held alternately in China and the United States or in a third country by mutual agreement, the statement said. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) — China’s State Council Information Office on Monday released a white paper on the country’s national security in the new era.
The move aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of the innovative concepts, practices, and achievements in China’s national security efforts, and enhance the international community’s understanding of China’s national security.
The white paper, apart from its preface and conclusion, is structured into six sections, and outlines the following: China injecting certainty and stability into the world of change and disorder; the holistic approach to national security guiding national security efforts in the new era; providing solid support for the steady and continued progress of Chinese modernization; reinforcing security in development and pursuing development in security; implementing the Global Security Initiative and promoting the common security of the world; and advancing the modernization of the national security system and capacity through deepening reforms.
The white paper emphasized China’s pursuit of national rejuvenation strategy amid global changes of a scale unseen in a century, noting that the country has maintained overall stability and steady progress in national security. China works together with Asia-Pacific countries to uphold regional peace and development. These inject reliable stability into a volatile and unstable world.
According to the white paper, China’s holistic approach to national security is the first major strategic thinking established as the guiding principle for national security efforts since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and represents a major theoretical contribution from contemporary China to the global community.
In the new era, China’s national security upholds a national security path with Chinese characteristics. It is one that takes the people’s security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task, and national interests as the guiding principle. It is also one that serves and promotes high-quality development, supports further expansion of high-level opening up, and operates under the rule of law.
China’s national security firmly fulfills the major responsibilities entrusted by the Party and the people, upholds the Party’s position as the governing party and the socialist system, improves the people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, ensures high-quality development, safeguards national territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests, ensures the safety and reliability of emerging fields, and fortifies the security shield essential to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it said.
China values coordinating development with security, striving to achieve a positive interaction between high-quality development and high-level security, promoting mutual reinforcement and coordinated enhancement between opening up and security.
China’s national security adheres to reform and innovation as the driving force, and adopts a systematic and institutional approach, to improve the efficient and coordinated national security system, and forge practical national security capacity, said the white paper.
The Global Security Initiative highlights the security vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, and brings a global outlook to the holistic approach to national security, it noted.
China ensures both its own security and common security, advocates strengthening global security governance, practices the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, upholds true multilateralism, and works to make global security governance system fairer and more equitable, the white paper said.
Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today attended the Seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM) in Jeju, South Korea, delivering speeches at two plenaries.
Adopting the theme “Sustainable Labour Markets and Jobs for the Future”, the HRDMM is aimed at promoting reforms to facilitate a flexible, inclusive, and resilient labour market.
In a keynote speech at this morning’s plenary, themed “Flexible & Vibrant Labour Market”, Mr Sun said that to address the challenges posed by the emergence of the so-called platform economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has long been committed to protecting platform workers. He elaborated that this includes exploring measures for strengthen protections through a liaison group comprising representatives of the Government, platform companies and labour organisations.
According to a Thematic Household Survey conducted by the Hong Kong SAR Government, he added, platform workers are most concerned about work injury compensation. The Hong Kong SAR Government will introduce a proposal this year on ways to further enhance the rights and benefits of platform workers.
Mr Sun also briefed his audience on various initiatives implemented by the Hong Kong SAR Government to unleash the full potential of the labour force. These include the Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme, which launched last year, and the enhanced Employment Programme for the Elderly & Middle-aged.
During the afternoon plenary, themed “Responding to Future Jobs & Active Labour Market Policies”, Mr Sun gave a presentation on the Hong Kong SAR Government’s manpower policies and talent attraction measures.
He stressed that the main aim of these policies and measures is to nurture local talent while also attracting complementary outside talent, in order to enrich the local talent pool in ways that meet local social and economic development needs.
Mr Sun outlined Hong Kong’s multi-pronged strategy of training and retraining, including the establishment of two universities of applied sciences, as well as efforts to enhance employees’ professional skills through the Vocational Training Council.
He also spoke of the array of measures rolled out by the Hong Kong SAR Government to attract talent proactively and aggressively, and gave an account of how Hong Kong can leverage its unique advantages of enjoying the strong support at a national level while being closely connected to the world, in order to fulfill its role as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
Upon his arrival in Jeju yesterday, Mr Sun met Malaysian Minister of Human Resources Steven Sim, who is also attending the HRDMM. He said he was delighted to meet Mr Sim again following a visit to Kuala Lumpur in mid-April.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on matters including how to strengthen the local workforce, occupational safety and health, improving the rights of platform workers, and ways to enhance vocational training and employee retraining with a view to alleviating manpower shortages.
Later, Mr Sun held a bilateral meeting with the Republic of Korea’s Acting Minister of Employment & Labor Kim Min Seok, during which they discussed various topics including foreign domestic helpers and the importation of labour.
Mr Sun briefed Mr Kim on the manpower shortages encountered by Hong Kong due to its ageing population, which he explained has resulted in a need for the city to continue attracting outside talent and labour as appropriate.
Mr Sun will conclude his engagements tomorrow morning, before returning to Hong Kong.
The average electric monthly bill for U.S. residential customers was $144 in 2024, but average costs for customers in some states were much higher or lower. Customers in states such as Hawaii and Connecticut, where retail electricity prices are relatively high, paid more than $200 per month for electricity, or more than twice as much as customers in states such as New Mexico and Utah.
Monthly electricity bills are the product of two factors: retail electricity prices and the amount of grid-delivered electricity that customers consume. Although we do not directly survey retail electricity prices or bills in our monthly electricity surveys, we estimate bills by dividing the utilities’ revenue from residential customers by the number of residential customers. Similarly, we estimate retail prices by dividing utility revenue from residential customers by electric retail sales to residential customers.
Average U.S. electricity prices and consumption were both higher in 2024 compared with 2023. The average U.S. residential electricity price rose from 16.0 cents per kilowatthour (kWh) in 2023 to 16.5 cents/kWh in 2024. Monthly electricity consumption per residential customer averaged 865 kWh in 2024, or 2% more than the average value in 2023.
Customers in Hawaii had the highest average monthly bills in 2024, at $213 per month, despite consuming the least amount of grid-delivered electricity, on average. Although many homes in Hawaii have solar photovoltaic systems that reduce the need for grid-delivered electricity, most of that grid-delivered electricity generated in Hawaii comes from petroleum-fired generators. Electricity prices in Hawaii are high because petroleum-fired electricity generation is expensive compared with other energy sources.
Customers in Utah had the lowest average monthly bills at $89 per month. The six states with the lowest residential bills are all in the Rocky Mountain region: Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. These states tend to have lower-than-average residential electricity prices and consumption. Delivered costs for coal and natural gas, which are prevalent sources for electricity generation in Rocky Mountain states, were lower in 2024 than in 2023.
Louisiana had the highest average electricity consumption, as Louisiana’s residential customers used more than twice as much electricity from the grid as those in Hawaii or California. However, because electricity prices are so much lower in Louisiana, residents paid an average of $142 per month, or nearly equal to the national average. Southeastern states tend to consume more electricity than other states because customers use more air conditioning in the summer and use electric, rather than natural gas, space-heating equipment in the winter.
Principal contributors: Alex Gorski, Owen Comstock
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
DAVENPORT, Iowa –A Muscatine woman was sentenced today to 45 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography.
According to public court documents, Jessica Rochelle Peters, 37, produced seven videos and three photos containing child sexual abuse material in July 2021, including videos of Peters sexually abusing a minor victim. Peters sent the videos and photos to a man in Indiana, who sent Peters money. The Indiana man was charged with felony child endangerment and possession of child pornography. The charges were dismissed following the man’s death.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Peters will be required to serve a 10-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Child Exploitation Task Force.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
HONG KONG, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Pacific Company Limited (Hong Kong: 00142, ADR: FPAFY) based in Hong Kong and focused on domestic defensive businesses in the fast-growing region of Southeast Asia, today announced that Associate Director John W. Ryan will present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank American Depositary Receipt (ADR) Virtual Investor Conference on May 15, 2025. This virtual investor conference is aimed exclusively at introducing global companies with ADR programs to investors.
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
Participation is free of charge.
What First Pacific offers
First Pacific has a mature market listing and offers access to defensive industries in the fastest-growing region of the world; none of our businesses is significantly affected by primary consequences of changes in foreign trade tariffs. First Pacific has three key guidelines in its strategy to maximise shareholder returns:
Stick to the industries we know – consumer foods, telecommunications, infrastructure and natural resources
Stick to one geography – the emerging economies of southeast Asia
Hold majority or significant stakes in our investments to ensure control over cash flows
Through 2024 the Company has had six years of profit growth, with the last four recording successive record highs. First Pacific management is confident of continuing earnings growth in the medium term owing to the strong market positions of our companies and the region’s continuing strong growth against a background of low inflation. In addition, all our investments are immune to the immediate consequences of any struggle over tariffs.
Assets include the world’s biggest maker of instant noodles (Indofood), the region’s largest privately owned toll road operator (MPTC), and the biggest power company (Meralco), telecommunications (PLDT), and water (Maynilad) companies in the Philippines. The company is also the biggest shareholder in Philex Mining, which plans to open a second gold and copper mine in 2026 using development funding already in place.
First Pacific’s borrowings are low with an interest coverage ratio of 4x and the Company has held investment grade credit ratings from Moody’s and S&P Global for three years. After seeing its share price rise by 25% in 2023 and 45% in 2024, First Pacific has a recurring p/e ratio of 3.6x at FY 2024.
About First Pacific First Pacific is a Hong Kong-based investment holding company with operations located in Asia-Pacific. The Company’s principal businesses are in consumer food products, telecommunications, infrastructure, and mining. First Pacific is listed in Hong Kong (HKSE: 00142) and its shares are also available in the United States through American Depositary Receipts (ADR code: FPAFY). For further information, visit www.firstpacific.com.
About Virtual Investor Conferences® Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
CONTACTS: First Pacific Company Limited John W. Ryan Associate Director, Group Head of Investor Relations +852 6336 1411 johnryan@firstpacific.com
Virtual Investor Conferences
John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com
As researchers and directors of regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, funded by the U.S. Geological Survey since 2011, we have seen firsthand the work these programs do to protect the nation’s natural resources and their successes in helping states and tribes build resilience to climate risks.
Here are a few examples of the ways federally funded climate adaptation science conducted by university and federal researchers helps the nation weather the effects of climate change.
Protecting communities against wildfire risk
Wildfires have increasingly threatened communities and ecosystems across the U.S., exacerbated by worsening heat waves and drought.
In the Southwest, researchers with the Climate Adaptation Science Centers are developing forecasting models to identify locations at greatest risk of wildfire at different times of year.
Knowing where and when fire risks are highest allows communities to take steps to protect themselves, whether by carrying out controlled burns to remove dry vegetation, creating fire breaks to protect homes, managing invasive species that can leave forests more prone to devastating fires, or other measures.
The solutions are created with forest and wildland managers to ensure projects are viable, effective and tailored to each area. The research is then integrated into best practices for managing wildfires. The researchers also help city planners find the most effective methods to reduce fire risks in wildlands near homes.
Wildland firefighters and communities have limited resources. They need to know where the greatest risks exist to take preventive measures. Ethan Swope/Getty Images
In Hawaii and the other Pacific islands, adaptation researchers have similarly worked to identify how drought, invasive species and land-use changes contribute to fire risk there. They use these results to create maps of high-risk fire zones to help communities take steps to reduce dry and dead undergrowth that could fuel fires and also plan for recovery after fires.
Protecting shorelines and fisheries
In the Northeast, salt marshes line large parts of the coast, providing natural buffers against storms by damping powerful ocean waves that would otherwise erode the shoreline. Their shallow, grassy waters also serve as important breeding grounds for valuable fish.
However, these marshes are at risk of drowning as sea level rises faster than the sediment can build up.
As greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and from other human activities accumulate in the atmosphere, they trap extra heat near Earth’s surface and in the oceans, raising temperatures. The rising temperatures melt glaciers and also cause thermal expansion of the oceans. Together, those processes are raising global sea level by about 1.3 inches per decade.
Adaptation researchers with the Climate Adaptation Science Centers have been developing local flood projections for the regions’ unique oceanographic and geophysical conditions to help protect them. Those projections are essential to help natural resource managers and municipalities plan effectively for the future.
In the Northwest and Alaska, salmon are struggling as temperatures rise in the streams they return to for spawning each year. Warm water can make them sluggish, putting them at greater risk from predators. When temperatures get too high, they can’t survive. Even in large rivers such as the Columbia, salmon are becoming heat stressed more often.
Adaptation researchers in both regions have been evaluating the effectiveness of fish rescues – temporarily moving salmon into captivity as seasonal streams overheat or dry up due to drought.
In Alaska, adaptation scientists have built broad partnerships with tribes, nonprofit organizations and government agencies to improve temperature measurements of remote streams, creating an early warning system for fisheries so managers can take steps to help salmon survive.
Researchers in the Northeast and Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Centers have been working to identify and prioritize the risks from invasive species that are expanding their ranges. That helps state managers eradicate these emerging threats before they become a problem. These regional invasive species networks have become the go-to source of climate-related scientific information for thousands of invasive species managers.
The rise in the number of invasive species projected by 2050 is substantial in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Federally funded scientists develop these risk maps and work with local communities to head off invasive species damage. Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network
The Northeast is a hot spot for invasive species, particularly for plants that can outcompete native wetland and grassland species and host pathogens that can harm native species.
Without proactive assessments, invasive species management becomes more difficult. Once the damage has begun, managing invasive species becomes more expensive and less effective.
Losing the nation’s ability to adapt wisely
A key part of these projects is the strong working relationships built between scientists and the natural resource managers in state, community, tribal and government agencies who can put this knowledge into practice.
With climate extremes likely to increase in the coming years, losing adaptation science will leave the United States even more vulnerable to future climate hazards.
Bethany Bradley receives funding from the US Geological Survey as the University Director of the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center.
Jia Hu has receives funding from the US Geological Survey as the University Director of the Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center.
Meade Krosby receives funding from the US Geological Survey as the University Director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center.
BANGKOK, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has mobilized relief efforts for vulnerable communities in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Sagaing region on March 28. The disaster, which sent tremors as far as Bangkok, compounded existing hardships in an area already grappling with civil unrest and economic instability.
In coordination with local partners, Bitget delivered 150 Emergency Resilience Kits to high-risk families, including those who lost homes, were caring for infants or elderly relatives, or had received minimal aid. Each kit provided comprehensive support: hygiene essentials to prevent disease, sleeping mats and blankets for displaced families, cooking tools to restore daily routines, water filters for safe drinking water, and basic medicines to address urgent health needs.
The operation was not without its challenges. Navigating security risks, logistical hurdles, and the potential for aid diversion in a conflict zone required meticulous planning and deep community trust. Bitget’s partners on the ground leveraged their local expertise to ensure equitable distribution, reaching families whose needs might otherwise have been invisible in the chaos of crisis response.
“True humanitarian action isn’t just about meeting urgent needs—it’s about seeing the unseen,” said Bitget CEO Gracy Chen. “As the second-largest crypto exchange ecosystem, we believe that real growth in our industry must be matched by real responsibility. Crypto was built on the ideals of empowerment and global connection. In times of crisis, these ideals must be translated into action. Our support for Myanmar’s affected communities is a reminder that innovation must go hand-in-hand with human impact. As we help build the future of finance, we are equally committed to building a future where no one is left behind,” she added.
The impact extended beyond material relief. For displaced families living in overcrowded temporary shelters, the kits alleviated pressure on shared resources. For others, they represented the first semblance of stability since the disaster struck, a signal that they had not been forgotten.
As recovery efforts continue in Sagaing, Bitget’s initiative serves as a small reminder that effective crisis response begins with listening and learning. By combining swift action with deep local understanding, we were able to offer support where it was needed most—one family, one community at a time.
About Bitget
Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.
Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.
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It was May 4 1975. The Japanese Women’s Everest Expedition team had been living at a high altitude for six weeks, and were less than a week away from their scheduled bid for the summit of Mount Everest. Exhausted, having established camp five at just below 8,000m on the south side of the mountain, Junko Tabei and the team descended to camp two at 6,300m to rest.
Then – avalanche!
In the early hours, tons of ice and snow engulfed the camp, burying several of the teammates. Crushed by the snow and ice, Tabei was unable to move. It took the strength of four Sherpas, the elite Nepali climbing guides assisting the expedition, to pull her out. Suffering severe bruising, Tabei argued that she did not need to be returned to base camp to recover, and would remain at camp two.
“There was no way I was leaving the mountain,” she later recalled in her memoir.
It had taken five years for this group – the first all-women team – to get to Everest. The pressure on them to succeed was immense, given the limited number of annual international permits to climb Mount Everest issued by the Nepalese government. If they gave up, they might have to wait several years to make another attempt.
Meanwhile, on the Tibetan side of the mountain, Tabei’s team had competition. A 200-strong Chinese team was also working to place a woman on the summit at the same time.
From the late 1950s, Tibetan women were recruited to participate in state-sponsored Chinese mountaineering expeditions. In 1958, Pan Duo had been selected to participate in the successful Chinese 1960 Everest expedition – but was ordered to remain below 6,400 metres because above that height was “a man’s world”. Nonetheless, Pan Duo – referred to as “Mrs Phanthog” in some older accounts – was celebrated in her country and elected deputy captain of the 1975 Chinese Everest Expedition.
Unfortunately, the Chinese team suffered a climbing accident resulting in the death of a team member. They retreated to recover – only to be ordered by the Chinese government to “climb ahead of the Japanese women”.
They were too late. On May 16 1975, the all-women Japanese expedition worked together to place Tabei on the summit of Everest. Two team members – Tabei and Yuriko Watanabe – had been nominated to make the summit attempt. However, other teammates were suffering from altitude sickness, so Watanabe was assigned to help return them to camp two.
The ascent Tabei was making was arduous. Given her injuries, it took great tenacity to muster the strength to continue. But finally, she took her last steps to the summit, becoming the first woman and 40th person, according to the latest official record, to summit the peak. She was part of only the tenth successful Everest expedition, later recalling:
I felt pure joy as my thoughts registered: ‘Here is the summit. I don’t have to climb any more.’
Eleven days later, the Chinese team returned to the high slopes to make another attempt. Using minimal oxygen, Pan Duo was also successful, becoming the second woman to summit Everest – and the first to climb the harder northern side of the mountain.
Prior to these two successful expeditions, only 38 people had summited Everest – all of them men. News of Tabei’s feat travelled fast across Asia, leading to national celebrations in Japan, Nepal and India. But it made little impact in the west.
In my own career as both a mountaineer and researcher of adventure tourism, I had been struck by how few women I encountered on the mountainside. I wanted to understand why this might be, and what women had achieved. It was through this research that I discovered Tabei’s story.
I was astonished both by her achievements – she is also the first woman to complete the “Seven Summits”, climbing the highest peaks on every continent – and by how few prominent mountaineering organisations and mountaineers appeared to know about her.
Tabei’s bravery helped her lead record-setting all-women expeditions and overcome the mountain of sexism in this male-dominated space. Yet very few organisations, even in Japan, have thought to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by a woman.
Breaking the mould
Historically, men have dominated the public record in mountaineering. In the last few years, the 70th anniversary of the first summit of Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay has been marked, along with the centenary of the unsuccessful and fatal attempt by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine in 1924.
During that period, women were excluded from many mountaineering clubs. When they did join, they often faced prejudice, were discouraged and sometimes not permitted to publish records of their adventures. In 1975, women were finally admitted to the Alpine Club, the first and one of the most prestigious climbing institutions.
At a time when Japanese women were expected to remain at home, many members of the Japanese Women’s Everest Expedition, including Tabei, were working, with two of them also raising children. Tabei’s daughter, Noriko, was three at the time of her Everest summit. Tabei later revealed that the expedition encountered significant resistance:
Most of the men in the alpine community opposed our plan, claiming it would be impossible for a women-only expedition to reach Everest.
As a married woman and the assistant expedition leader, Tabei felt torn between motherhood and mountaineering, explaining: “Although I would never forfeit Everest, I felt pulled in the two directions of mountains and motherhood.”
Facing unsympathetic attitudes from team members when childcare conflicts arose, Tabei realised she needed to put in extra effort to prove herself as a leader.
The Insights section is committed to high-quality longform journalism. Our editors work with academics from many different backgrounds who are tackling a wide range of societal and scientific challenges.
Years before the Everest expedition, Tabei and other Japanese women were already logging major climbing achievements across the globe. These included the first ascent of the north face of the Matterhorn by an all-women’s team in 1967, and the first all-women’s Japanese expedition to the Himalayas in 1970 to climb Annapurna III. Tabei was both the first woman and Japanese person to ascend the peak.
This set the scene for the Japanese Women’s Everest Expedition. To locate and train suitable candidates for the expedition, Tabei helped establish the Joshi-Tohan Japanese Ladies Climbing Club, founded on the slogan: “Let’s go on an overseas expedition by ourselves.”
Tabei’s contribution to women’s high-altitude mountaineering was astounding. To reach Everest, she defied mid-20th-century social norms that tied Japanese women to domestic roles, later musing: “I tried to picture myself as a traditional Japanese wife who followed her husband. The idea never sat well with me.”
Throughout her career, Tabei contributed significantly to the emerging culture of women’s climbing and mountaineering expeditions. She felt strongly that climbing with other women was more rewarding because there was greater physical equality.
In 1992, she became the first woman to ascend the highest peaks on all seven continents. Using her celebrity, Tabei was also an activist for environmental change in high-altitude regions, having grown appalled by the degradation of fragile mountain glaciers that was being caused by the mountaineering industry.
Film by 4GTV Nepal.
With her friend and Everest teammate Setsuko Kitamura, Tabei established the first Mount Everest conference in 1995, inviting all 32 women who had by then successfully climbed Everest (not all attended). Under her leadership, this transnational exchange created a space to celebrate women’s mountaineering achievements.
Soon after her Everest achievement, Tabei had been a symbol of social progress and women’s emancipation at the UN International Women’s Year world conference. Yet her status as one of the greatest high-altitude mountaineers has since faded from the public eye. This has much to do with the stories we tell about man – and it’s almost always a man – vs. nature.
Telling her own story
Hillary’s much-lauded autobiography, High Adventure (1955), was published two years after his first successful ascent of Everest. In contrast, it was 42 years after her ascent before Tabei’s memoir, Honouring High Places, was published and translated.
The way Japanese women’s experiences were represented in the media did not, in Tabei’s view, represent the reality of women’s experiences. She was particularly perplexed by the inability of the press to see beyond her gender. She was repeatedly asked how it felt “as a woman” to climb at high altitudes.
Portrayals of Tabei focused on her stature as a small Japanese woman. This only reinforced the perception that women like her did not fit the norm of the heroic white, male mountaineer. She reflected:
When people meet me for the first time, they are surprised by my size. They expect me to be bigger than I am, more strapping, robust, like a wrestler … I was always puzzled by this, by people’s obsession with the physical appearance of a mountaineer.
To counter this narrative, Tabei brought a new approach to writing about Japanese women mountaineers’ achievements – challenging the tendency of traditional Japanese expedition publications to gloss over the harsh realities of expedition life.
Critical of the flowery and vain writing style of these reports, Tabei’s frank accounts reported on the “unkinder side of human behaviour”. Making tough choices was particularly difficult for women, she wrote, because of their social conditioning to be a “good person”:
It was unusual enough to be a female climber in that era of yesteryear, let alone to make a stand in front of your friends that would possibly upset them.
Transcending these social norms had a personal impact. Tabei lamented that, although “I remained strong-willed about Everest, tears of doubt fell down my cheeks at night”.
Her honesty was criticised by some in the established mountaineering community in Japan, particularly in her published account, Annapurna: Women’s Battle, which expressed the raw emotions and feelings experienced on their 1970 expedition. Tabei shared “the feelings of the team members when things failed to go in the direction they had envisioned … We put our honest experiences on paper”.
Reflecting on how she had to overcome social norms to lead the expedition – “In my day, we were strictly advised that being different was abnormal” – Tabei concluded that: “A person must be able to voice her opinion without worrying about criticism.”
A problem of representation
Ever since the late 1850s, women have made a significant yet often-hidden contribution to mountaineering. It retains a powerful legacy of male-dominated clubs and governing institutions founded on masculine norms such as risk-taking. This has often cast mountaineering achievements in a way that privileges men.
Clubs established traditions based on the first ascents of mountains – very few of which were made by women. Their absence from leading mountaineering clubs and lack of representation in published club journals meant their achievements were often attributed to male companions.
In 1872, the American climber Meta Brevoort felt it best, due to social prejudice, to publish her extraordinary first ascents in the European Alps under the name of her nephew, William A.B. Coolidge. Mountaineer and author David Mazel notes that Brevoort’s account was “carefully written to conceal the author’s sex”.
Mountain exploration and climbing have traditionally been framed as heroic endeavours dominated by men. Figures such as Hillary, Mallory and Reinhold Messner are celebrated for their bravery, strength and leadership — traits associated with masculinity.
Early mountaineering narratives often emphasised physical endurance, dominance over nature, and the ability to withstand extreme conditions – reinforcing ideas of masculine heroism. Mountains as towering, imposing and seemingly unconquerable landscapes have been metaphorically linked to power and challenge.
Traditions that have been passed down through generations – from ascent styles to route names – have also been synonymous with masculinity. In the words of mountaineering historian Walt Unsworth, climbing Everest “is the story of Man’s attempts to climb a very special mountain”.
This has had real-world consequences for mountaineering. Today, only 6% of British mountain guides are women, while globally, less than 2% of those registered to the International Federation of Mountain Guide Association (IFMGA) are women. If you don’t see your face reflected, it becomes a daunting prospect to imagine yourself in mountaineering – whether as a mountain guide, or an amateur mountaineer like me.
By 2024, women represented 13% of all Everest summiteers since 1953, yet their stories are seldom told. White, male, able-bodied and middle-class voices dominate representations in published records and popular portrayals of adventure on the world’s highest mountain.
As anthropologist Sherry B. Ortner attests, this is not surprising given mountaineering’s history as a western imperialist and colonising project that aimed to conquer nations and nature, built upon all-male institutions. Yet men and women have the same statistical odds of making a successful summit or dying on Everest.
Julie Rak, in her book False Summit, shows how some accounts can treat women’s achievements with ambivalence, and at worst question their authenticity. It has even been suggested that Tabei was effectively dragged up the mountain by her friend, the male Sherpa Ang Tsering.
Having suffered significant trauma following the avalanche that nearly wiped out their 1975 expedition, Tabei showed enormous courage and resilience to summit Everest just a few days later. She describes the ascent as difficult – and yes, accepted help from Ang Tsering – but this was her achievement, not a “stunt” to be denied by those who were not even present.
Diversity on the mountain
Since Tabei’s Everest summit, mountaineering has undergone changes as a sport, shifting from an elite, exploratory pursuit to a commercialised industry where wealthy clients can hire companies to reach summits with professional support.
From the late 1980s, high-altitude mountaineering became a valuable tourism commodity. Seizing the opportunity to boost tourism, the Nepalese government began to issue more permits, fuelling the growth of commercial companies offering clients the opportunity to be guided up 8,000-metre summits. In 2023, Nepal welcomed over 150,000 high-altitude trekking and mountaineering visitors, with 47 teams attempting to climb Everest.
Yet despite the popularity and commercialisation of the sport, mountaineering remains stubbornly resistant to diversity.
Scholar Jennifer Hargreaves argues that women have been excluded from being represented as the “sporting hero”. What constitutes our cultural identity, meaning and values almost exclusively solidifies heroic masculinity in most forms of sport, including mountaineering.
And much of this is due to the stories that are – not – told.
Delphine Moraldo’s research found that of the mountaineering autobiographies published in Britain and Europe from the late 1830s to 2013, only 6% were written by women.
Historically, literary representations of women mountaineers have often been met with ambivalence, their achievements portrayed as lesser. Women are stereotyped as weaker, bound to domesticity and lacking the hardiness required to be a “good mountaineer”.
These perceptions, coupled with a lack of representation, have reduced women’s opportunities to secure funding for expeditions, or to access female-specific clothing and equipment. Tabei and her team had to make their own expedition clothing because women’s sizes did not exist, a problem that remains today. When raising sponsorship for Everest, she was told: “Raise your children and keep your family tight, rather than do something like this.”
But while there is still a mountain to climb when it comes to attaining equality in adventure sports, there is a growing body of research and media celebrating women’s achievements – from campaigns such as Sport England’s This Girl Can to films charting the lives of some women mountaineers.
A hidden sisterhood
Junko Tabei and Pan Duo’s names may never be as well known as Edmund Hillary’s. But they are just two of many women whose achievements reach far beyond the peaks. I’ve written about many of them in my research.
Polish mountaineer Wanda Rutkiewicz was the third woman and first from Europe to summit Everest. When asked in 1979 by high-altitude record holder Maurice Herzog why she had climbed Everest, Rutkiewicz responded that she did it for “women’s liberation”. By the late 1980s, such activism was harnessed by large sponsors such as Tata Steel, who recruited Indian mountaineer Bachendri Pal, the fifth woman to summit Everest, to lead a women’s adventure programme.
Corporate sponsorship has, however, eluded many leading women mountaineers. Despite all her outstanding achievements – including holding a world-record ten Everest summits by a woman – Lhakpa Sherpa struggled for years to achieve recognition and the status of her male contemporaries. In 2019, writer Megan Mayhew Bergman asked why she didn’t have sponsors.
More recently, however, Lhakpa Sherpa’s mountaineering career was documented in the 2023 Netflix documentary Mountain Queen, which raised her profile and has led to new sponsorship opportunities.
Film by Netflix.
There is also work being done to change the exclusion of women from mountaineering. In Nepal and around the world, charitable organisations have been initiated by women mountaineers to help their fellow women climbers, including Empowering Women Nepal and 3Sisters Adventure Trekking.
My research has shown how women and mountaineers from other marginalised backgrounds can use their successes to become role models for and drivers of social change.
Tabei, for example, was appalled at the degradation mountaineering had caused to Mount Everest, and spoke out about the need for responsible mountaineering and conservation. She led cleanup expeditions and researched the environmental impact of tourism and climate change on both mountain ecosystems and local communities.
Tabei’s efforts helped bring global attention to the need for conservation in high-altitude environments, inspiring climbers to take a more responsible approach to their expeditions.
In research about Asian women’s contribution to climbing Everest, I examined how the struggle for women’s emancipation, empowerment and recognition is a phenomenon that is shared globally. A new generation of Asian women mountaineers such as Dawa Yangzum Sherpa, the first woman to achieve IFMGA status, and Shailee Basnet are defying gender norms and achieving status as internationally recognised mountaineers and mountaineering guides.
Basnet became one of ten women to scale Everest in 2008 as part of Sagarmatha Expedition, which was established to draw attention to climate change and gender equality, and to reclaim the Nepali name for the mountain: Sagarmatha. The expedition brought together ten women from six different religious, caste and ethnic backgrounds. All ten reached the summit, making it the most successful women’s expedition to date.
Following this, in 2014 Basnet led the formation of the first all-women Seven Summits project to climb the highest peak on every continent. Importantly, she harnessed the team’s newfound profile to undertake a large-scale social justice programme, visiting hundreds of schools, leading hikes and giving talks across the Kathmandu Valley. Their mission was to improve educational awareness concerning opportunities for women and girls, and also to protect the environment.
Since the mid-1950s, a hidden sisterhood has forged a route for women to access high-altitude mountaineering. Their impact has reached far beyond the expeditions they led.
Women have used their status as mountaineers to empower and support other women to achieve social, political and environmental justice, and raise awareness about poverty, sex trafficking, religious and ethnic marginalisation, environmental degradation and the impact of mass tourism.
Junko Tabei was a pioneer whose tenacity helped a whole generation of women in mountaineering. By not recognising their achievements, we deny an important part of our cultural heritage – and miss the opportunity to learn and share the inspirational work that women continue to undertake.
Tabei’s memoir is not simply a remarkable mountaineering account, it is, in the words of Julie Rak, a feminist text that challenges what society has always thought it means to be heroic, brave and adventurous.
Tabei died in 2016 at the age of 77. On the 50th anniversary of one of her many achievements, it’s fitting to end with these words from her memoir:
My approach was one of not worrying about the loss of a job or missing out on a promotion. I felt it was important to live a life we would never regret.
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Jenny Hall does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The budgetary and policy support provided by the government to the forces over the past decade helped build an impregnable air defence shield that helped repulse attacks by Pakistani forces, which was exhibited during India’s anti-terror ‘Operation Sindoor’, said the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) in a press briefing on Monday.
All airbases and military bases are operational and ready for their next missions, said Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, dismissing misinformation attempts.
“Our fight is with the terrorists and not with Pakistani military or civilians,” he said.
Director General of Military Operations Rajiv Ghai said the multi-layered counter-drone and air defence grid proved to be the decisive shield that foiled all Pakistan air attacks on the night of May 9 and 10.
The officials said during Operation Sindoor, the defence systems destroyed Chinese and Turkish-made drones and PL-15 missiles, preventing them from entering our airspace.
Sharing videos of a crater created by Indian bombs and missiles at Pakistan’s Noor Khan airbase, Ghai said Indian airfields remain fully operational.
“I want to praise the Border Security Force also, who complemented our efforts by joining our counter-armed response,” he said.
“There has been absolute synergy in the three services, and not only have we been supported by government agencies, but also the 140 crore people,” he said.
“Our fight was against terror, and on May 7, we hit only terror hubs, but the Pakistani Army converted it into its own fight by supporting terrorists,” said Air Marshal Bharti.
He described the multi-layered and integrated air defence (AD) as an impregnable shield which foiled all attempts made by Pakistani forces, including Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles, to violate Indian airspace.
The performances of the older battle-proven systems were stellar, in addition to the Akash system, he said.
Vice Admiral A.N. Pramod highlighted the Indian Navy’s pressure that deterred the Pakistani Navy and Air Force to keep away from Arabian Sea.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following are the remarks by the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, and the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, at a media session after attending a joint meeting of the Panel on Security and the Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services this afternoon (May 12):
Reporter: The first question is regarding the timing of the Security Law. It was passed five years ago, and the (Article) 55 had never been used. Why does the Government choose this time to push this subsidiary bill? Is it related to ongoing trade wars or ongoing or future court cases regarding the Security Law? The second question was asked before. It’s about the time frame of the bill. It was mentioned that it will be done as soon as possible, but is there an exact time frame for the whole bill? And are there any future arrangements to plug the current loophole in the Security Law?
Secretary for Justice: Your first question concerned why we pick this point of time to make subsidiary legislation pursuant to the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. I think the answer is twofold. Firstly, as a matter of principle, it’s very important for us to bear in mind that the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) is under a constitutional duty to refine and perfect our national security legal system as well as its enforcement mechanism. And it has to be emphasised that this is a continuing duty. And in the light of the nature of this duty, it goes without saying that this important duty ought to be discharged as soon as possible.
The second point is that as a matter of practice, there’s no doubt whatsoever that in the light of the very complicated geopolitical situation in the world, and having regard to actual hostile actions taken by some foreign countries against China and also Hong Kong, there’s plainly a need to ensure that our national security legal system will be perfected and will be put in place so that we can be in a position to address all present and potential national security risks in an effective and proper manner.
As to exactly when the subsidiary legislation will come into existence, as we said, we will do so, in particular after hearing opinions and advice raised by members of the Legislative Council. We will try to complete our task as soon as possible. We will definitely let the public know once in a position to do so. And lastly, as to your last point, since we are under a continuing duty to refine and perfect our national security legal system, it must mean that we have to review the legal regime continuously. So in future, whenever we see the need to do so, we will definitely consider the possibility of making subsidiary legislation or to improve our system by whatever means within the boundary of the law.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH), a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions, today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, highlighting its continued progress and organization-wide commitment to environmental stewardship, social progress and strong governance.
“Our 2024 report is more than an annual milestone, it is a reflection of Bread Financial’s deep and ongoing commitment to advancing our reputation, mitigating risk, improving efficiency and driving sustainable, profitable growth,” said Ralph Andretta, president and chief executive officer, Bread Financial. “With a focus on transparency and accountability, we are proud to share our progress and highlight the ways we are delivering value for our stakeholders.”
The 12th annual report details the company’s performance related to its five key sustainability tenets, such as:
Managing the business responsibly — In 2024, Bread Financial made significant progress on operational excellence efforts aimed at improving processes and driving efficiency and value-creation across the enterprise. The company also began to mature its Enterprise Risk Management Framework and established an AI Council.
Empowering customers — For the 19th consecutive year, Bread Financial was certified as a Center of Excellence by BenchmarkPortal for its customer service. It continued to drive a customer-oriented culture to create best-in-class experiences and award-winning products, including the expansion of its mobile app.
Engaging associates — Bread Financial demonstrated its commitment to delivering a competitive, personalized and fulfilling associate experience through improved career development tools, expanded options for virtual health care and an annual “free money” deposit into each associate’s 401(k), regardless of their individual contribution. For its culture, the company was recognized with a Great Place to Work Certification in both the U.S. and India.
Protecting the planet — In an effort to reduce its carbon footprint, the company established greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets that it plans to meet by 2030. Additionally, it developed a new sustainable IT framework, issued nearly 1.5 million cards made from sustainable plastic and prioritized digitalization to enhance efficiency and reduce paper.
Creating possibilities for our communities — Bread Financial increased associate donations and participation in its annual Giving Campaign, with donations totaling $3 million after the company’s match. Associates also recorded more than 10,000 volunteer hours, and the company improved its measurement process to more accurately capture the impact of its charitable donations, which exceeded $9 million in 2024.
“At the core of this year’s Sustainability Report is our notable and measurable progress, reflecting decades of continuous improvement and reporting on critical components of our business,” said Dana Beckman, vice president and chief sustainability officer, Bread Financial. “The successes highlighted are the result of enterprise-wide collaboration and an intentional approach to embed sustainability throughout all aspects of our operations.”
For more information on Bread Financial’s 2024 Sustainability report, visit here.
About Bread Financial® Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions, including Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and savings products, empower our customers and their passions for a better life. Additionally, we deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, jewelry and specialty apparel through our private label and co-brand credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers.
To learn more about Bread Financial, our global associates and our sustainability commitments, visit breadfinancial.com or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contacts Rachel Stultz – Media Rachel.Stultz@BreadFinancial.com
The Housing Bureau organised the “Construction Robots for Housing – RoboPaint Master Competition x Arena of Construction Robots” today to promote the adoption of industry technologies and advance public housing developments into a new era of smart construction.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho said that the application of construction robots not only boosts productivity and quality but also creates a safer and healthier working environment for frontline workers.
“This advancement elevates the technological standards and professional image of the industry, making it more appealing to young professionals.”
Ms Ho cited a recent case of a public housing project which demonstrates that collaborative painting robot systems can enhance the efficiency of indoor painting works by over 50% and improve works quality.
In a public housing project with a standard floor comprising 24 units, traditional methods require eight skilled workers for wall finishing, while only two operators are needed when using a robotics system, she added.
A jury panel comprising Ms Ho and representatives from the Institution of Engineers, the Institute of Architects, the Construction Industry Council and industry experts evaluated the entries in the RoboPaint Master Competition.
The results of the competition revealed that Bright Dream (HK) Construction Technology and Weibuild Technology HK won the Grand Award. While Fangshi Technology Company and Fulltime Robotics Company earned First Runner-up, HONGKONG DAFANG AI CO. secured Second Runner-up.
The judging criteria encompassed technical performance, efficiency and productivity, quality of painting and safety.
In addition to displaying an autonomous small unmanned aircraft for scanning, the event also showcased six types of robots with potential applications in public housing construction. They included a rebar-tying robot, a floor-tiling robot, a steel frame-cutting robot, a six-metre tall three-in-one wall-painting robot, and a concrete internal wall-grinding robot.
The bureau explained that it plans to host a series of events as part of its Housing•I&T initiative. While today’s event is the first highlight of the initiative, the other events will include a housing construction robot design competition for secondary school students in September and an international summit in November, aimed at fostering the development of a construction technology market.
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – “We know that the Lord hears the prayers of the children who are in his heart. And the ceasefire between India and Pakistan has a very special meaning for us because we consider it a truce,” says to Fides Fr. Qaisar Feroz, Capuchin friar and parish priest at the parish of Our Lady Queen of Angels, Bhai Pheru, on the outskirts of Lahore, in Pakistani Punjab. “On Saturday, May 10, a group of children and families gathered in front of the grotto and shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace in our parish of Bhai Pheru,” he reports. “I, Brother Father Robinson OFM Cap, and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary celebrated a Rosary of Peace with the parish community. Children and young people were present, while the girls from the ‘Ibne Mariam’ boarding school recited songs of peace and devotional prayers. At the end of the prayer, we released some doves as a symbol of peace and the children’s fervent desire, holding signs reading ‘Yes to Peace, No to War.’ At the end of the rosary, we received the wonderful news of the announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Now we hope that it will hold and that we can create a just and lasting peace between the peoples.”The people in the parish were very concerned, among other things, because, as Father Feroz explains, in the days before the military clashes in the disputed region of Kashmir, a bullet struck the industrial area on the territory of the parish of Our Lady, Queen of Angels in Bhai Pheru. “It was a bit like we felt the war coming home. There was great concern, and that is why we intensified our prayers for peace,” Father Feroz reported. Meanwhile, the entire Church in Pakistan welcomes the ceasefire. In an official statement, the President of the Pakistani Bishops’ Conference and Bishop of Hyderabad, Samson Shukardin (OFM), emphasized: “This significant step toward peace is a source of great relief and hope for millions of people throughout the region following the recent tensions and military clashes. The Pakistani bishops express their appreciation to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for choosing the path of dialogue and moderation, and are deeply grateful to international mediators, especially the United States and other global partners, for their role in facilitating this peaceful breakthrough.” “The peoples of South Asia have long yearned for peace, stability, and cooperation,” said the Pakistani bishops. “We pray that this ceasefire marks not only the end of hostilities, but also the beginning of a new chapter of mutual understanding, reconciliation, and regional harmony,” assuring them that they pray “for lasting peace and for the common good of all.” Chairman of the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) and Archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Joseph Arshad, added: “This ceasefire is also a reminder that diplomacy has the power to overcome conflict. It is vital that both nations continue dialogue to address long-standing issues and find lasting solutions that prioritize the well-being and security of their peoples. A peaceful future for the South Asian region begins with cooperation, dialogue, mutual respect, and a commitment to peace.” The Catholic Church on both sides of the border hopes that India and Pakistan can “build stronger, more reliable, and peaceful relations to ensure a better future for all” and that “the spirit of justice, peace, solidarity, and fraternity prevails in this region to build bridges of hope, love, and peace between nations.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/5/2025)
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India’s capital markets are undergoing a dramatic technological transformation, said Sundararaman Ramamurthy, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BSE Ltd., speaking at the opening of the third Dubai FinTech Summit, which began today at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and organised by the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the summit brings together over 8,000 attendees, 300 speakers from 100 countries, and more than 1,000 investors.
Ramamurthy detailed how the Bombay Stock Exchange has seen exponential growth in order-processing capacity, rising from 1 billion orders per day two years ago to 18 billion today. “At peak, we handle 2 million orders per second—this cannot happen without a robust technological backbone,” he said. The per-broker trading rate has also surged from 500 to 25,000 trades per second. BSE now operates a real-time, client-level, portfolio-based risk management system and a T+1 settlement cycle, introduced under his leadership in 2023.
He outlined three key areas where BSE applies technology: infrastructure development, regulatory oversight, and investor education. Artificial intelligence and large language models are already in use to process large volumes of regulatory filings, and targeted social media content is being deployed to raise investor awareness—videos that have collectively garnered over 100 million views. With 60–65% of India’s population in the working-age group and 30% under the age of 30, Ramamurthy emphasized the need to “catch them young” and encourage product suitability through mutual fund platforms before stepping into equities.
As India’s markets continue to integrate globally, Ramamurthy said distinct domestic practices, such as client-level settlements and transparent data sharing, must be preserved. However, areas such as product diversification and ease of execution stand to benefit from closer alignment with international standards. He acknowledged the need for a unified contract system to enable foreign institutional investors to secure the best price across multiple exchanges without specifying a trading venue. “We are working on this and expect implementation by the end of June,” he noted.
India’s capital markets already demonstrate high levels of transparency and participation. With over 11,000 registered foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) holding 18–19% of issued equity and a total market capitalisation of over $5 trillion, India is now the world’s seventh-largest market by value. In BSE’s own case, FPIs hold 14% of shares, and overall institutional holdings exceed 40%.
The Dubai FinTech Summit, held under the theme ‘FinTech for All’, showcases global trends in blockchain, AI, digital banking, regulatory compliance, and investment strategies. The Future Sustainability Forum is being incorporated into the event for the first time, and the FinTech World Cup is providing a platform for start-ups to pitch to investors and strategic partners.The two day summit will conclude on May 13th.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
SOUTH BEND – Demetrius Clark, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Clark was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, in February 2024, Clark delivered 5 pounds of methamphetamine to another distributor. A search warrant was executed at Clark’s home in South Bend resulting in the recovery of an additional 5 pounds of high-purity methamphetamine along with packaging materials, a firearm, and over $8,000 cash.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration including the DEA North Central Laboratory with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle.
A group of New Zealand academics at Otago University have drawn up a “Declaration on Palestine” against genocide, apartheid and scholasticide of Palestinians by Israel that has illegally occupied their indigenous lands for more than seven decades.
The document, which had already drawn more than 300 signatures from staff, students and alumni by the weekend, will be formally adopted at a congress of the Otago Staff for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) group on Thursday.
“At a time when our universities, our public institutions and our political leaders are silent in the face of the daily horrors we are shown from illegally-occupied Palestine, this declaration is an act of solidarity with our Palestinian whānau,” declared Professor Richard Jackson from Te Ao O Rongomaraeroa — The National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies.
“It expresses the brutal truth of what is currently taking place in Palestine, as well as our commitment to international law and human rights, and our social responsibilities as academics.
“We hope the declaration will be an inspiration to others and a call to action at a moment when the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is accelerating at an alarming rate.”
Scholars and students at the university had expressed concern that they did not want to be teaching or learning about the Palestinian genocide in future courses on the history of the Palestinian people, Professor Jackson said.
Nor did they want to feel ashamed when they were asked what they did while the genocide was taking place.
‘Collective moral courage’ “Signing up to the declaration represents an act of individual and collective moral courage, and a public commitment to working to end the genocide.”
The declaration commits its signatories to an academic boycott as part of the wider Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanction (BDS) campaign “until such time as Palestinians enjoy freedom from genocide, apartheid and scholasticide”, they had national self-determination and full and complete enjoyment of human rights, as codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The declaration says that given the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled there is a “plausible” case that Israel has been committing genocide, and that all states that are signatory to the Genocide Convention must take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide, the signatories commit themselves to an academic boycott.
BDS is a campaign, begun in 2005, to promote economic, social and cultural boycotts of the Israeli government, Israeli companies and companies that support Israel, in an effort to end the occupation of Palestinian territories and win equal rights for Palestinian citizens within Israel.
It draws inspiration from South African anti-apartheid campaigns and the United States civil rights movement.
The full text of the declaration:
The Otago Declaration on the Situation in Palestine
We, the staff, students and graduates, being members of the University of Otago, make the following declaration.
We fully and completely recognise that: – The Palestinian people have a right under international law to national self-determination; – The Palestinians have the right to security and the full enjoyment of all human and social rights as laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
And furthermore that: – Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian nation, according to experts, official bodies, international lawyers and human rights organisations; – Israel operates a system of apartheid in the territories it controls, and denies the full expression and enjoyment of human rights to Palestinians, according to international courts, human rights organisations, legal and academic experts; – Israel is committing scholasticide, thereby denying Palestinians their right to education;
We recognise that: – Given the International Court of Justice has ruled that there is a plausible case that Israel has been committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza, that all states that are signatory to the Genocide Convention, which includes Aotearoa New Zealand, have a responsibility to take all necessary measures to prevent acts of genocide;
We also acknowledge that as members of a public institution with educational responsibilities: – We hold a legal and ethical responsibility to act as critic and conscience of society, both individually as members of the University and collectively as a social institution; – We have a responsibility to follow international law and norms and to act in an ethical manner in our personal and professional endeavours; – We hold an ethical responsibility to act in solidarity with oppressed and disadvantaged people, including those who struggle against settler colonial regimes or discriminatory apartheid systems and the harmful long-term effects of colonisation; – We owe a responsibility to fellow educators who are victimised by apartheid and scholasticide;
Therefore, we, the under-signed, do solemnly commit ourselves to: – Uphold the practices, standards and ethics of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in terms of investment and procurement as called for by Palestinian civil society and international legal bodies; until such time as Palestinians enjoy freedom from genocide, apartheid and scholasticide, national self-determination and full and complete enjoyment of human rights, as codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. – Adopt as part of the BDS campaign an Academic Boycott, as called for by Palestinian civil society and international legal bodies; until such time as Palestinians enjoy freedom from genocide, apartheid and scholasticide, national self-determination and full and complete enjoyment of human rights, as codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Otago Declaration congress meeting will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 12 noon at the Museum Lawn, Dunedin.
Bindi Irwin has reportedly been rushed to hospital in the United States to undergo emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix.
According to brother Robert Irwin, “she’s going to be OK”, however the 26-year-old was forced to miss an annual gala event honouring her late father Steve Irwin.
So what is the role of the appendix, and in what circumstances can it rupture? Here’s what you need to know about appendicitis.
What is the appendix?
The appendix is a finger-like pouch attached to the large intestine. It can be found on the right of our lower abdomen.
For a long time, there was a theory that the appendix was an evolutionary remnant which may have played a role in our ancestors’ digestion, but wasn’t overly useful for modern humans following contemporary diets.
However emerging research has shown the appendix could play a role in the body’s immune function and microbiome, particularly in the gut. The gut microbiome may be disrupted by infection or antibiotics and the appendix may help the gut flora replenish and recover.
That said, most people who need to have their appendix removed to treat appendicitis do completely fine without it.
What is appendicitis, and what are the symptoms?
Appendicitis is typically a bacterial infection. Most commonly, appendicitis starts with blockage of the appendix, caused for example by a hardened piece of stool or swelling. Once blocked, bacteria in the appendix are not cleared as normal, but build up. In turn this leads to inflammation and infection of the appendix, and in some instances the appendix can burst or rupture.
The more time that elapses before someone with appendicitis is treated, the greater the risk the appendix may rupture.
Rupture is more common in children, accounting for roughly one-quarter of all cases. This is especially so for younger children, who might not have the words to describe their symptoms and might not show the classic signs, both of which can delay diagnosis.
But even in adults, sometimes the symptoms can be hard to discern from other things.
Typically, early symptoms of appendicitis can be vague, and can easily be mistaken for something else, such as viral gastroenteritis. They might include a lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, low grade fever, together with general tummy pain around the belly button.
Over hours or days the pain increases in severity and becomes localised to the right lower part of the abdomen.
How common is appendicitis?
Across the country, more than 40,000 Australians are hospitalised with appendicitis each year. The condition is responsible for around 180 of every 100,000 hospitalisations.
It’s estimated that about one in 12–15 people will experience appendicitis in their lifetime.
Appendicitis is more common in children and young people. The “peak” age group for appendicitis is between about age 10 and 30, but it can certainly happen in other age groups too.
For the most part the diagnosis of appendicitis is made clinically – in other words, by talking to the patient and examining them. There may be a role for blood tests and scans to help make the diagnosis, but these tests may not be able to distinguish between appendicitis and other causes of abdominal pain.
For most people, appendicitis is treated with a surgery called an appendicectomy (where the appendix is removed) together with intravenous antibiotics.
Some people may be treated only with antibiotics. However research suggests removing the appendix, alongside antibiotics, is more effective.
Nowadays an appendicectomy is generally a keyhole (or laproscopic) surgery, meaning it’s minimally invasive, doesn’t leave a big scar, and sees patients back on their feet sooner.
Some patients will be able to be discharged from hospital the day after surgery, while others will stay a few days. Hospital-in-the-home is a positive alternative which can help patients get home sooner, even many children treated for a ruptured appendix.
An appendicectomy can be performed whether the appendix has burst or not. But the surgery is more complex, and the recovery longer, if the appendix has ruptured.
For a minority of people, appendicitis can have complications, for example infections and scars inside the abdomen or at the site of surgery. Untreated, appendicitis can be life-threatening and even in the setting of well-organised health systems such as ours in Australia, there are instances of death due to appendicitis. This is thankfully rare, with mortality rates as low as 0.02% of appendicetomies performed in Australia.
Fortunately, for most people, a bout of appendicitis and its treatment with surgery does not leave a long-lasting legacy and a return to full health and life is a few quieter weeks away. Hopefully this will be the case for Bindi Irwin, and we join the rest of Australia in wishing her a quick and complete recovery.
Warwick Teague does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Maldives, on Monday, expressed gratitude to India for offering a Government Treasury Bill of $50 million, which has supported the island nation in its fiscal reform efforts towards economic stability.
Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel thanked External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and the Indian government for offering the timely financial assistance.
“I express my sincere gratitude to EAM S Jaishankar and the Government of India for extending crucial financial support to the Maldives through the rollover of the $50 million Treasury Bill. This timely assistance reflects the close bonds of friendship between the Maldives & India and will support the government’s ongoing efforts to implement fiscal reforms for economic resilience,” Khaleel posted on X.
On the request of the Government of Maldives, the State Bank of India (SBI) has subscribed, for one more year, a $50 million Government Treasury Bill issued by the Ministry of Finance of Maldives, said the High Commission of India, Maldives in a press release.
“Since March 2019, Government of India has been facilitating subscription of several such Treasury Bills by the SBI and rolling them over, annually, interest-free to the Government of Maldives. This has been done under a unique Government-to-Government arrangement, as emergency financial assistance to Maldives,” it stated
India considers the Maldives as a key maritime neighbour and an important partner in its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR’ i.e. Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
“India has assisted Maldives in times of need and the subscription of this Treasury Bill, along with, the Government of India’s decision earlier this year to extend the special quota for export of essential commodities for Maldives, reflect India’s continued support to the Government and the people of the Maldives,” it further added.
In February, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) allocated Rs 5,483 crore for aid to foreign nations, slightly higher than last year’s Rs 4,883 crore, which was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26.
The Maldives received the maximum increase in assistance, from Rs 470 crore in the revised 2024-25 budget to Rs 600 crore in 2025-26.
In January, EAM Jaishankar, during his meeting with Abdulla Khaleel, said that the Maldives remains a “concrete expression” of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and New Delhi has always stood by the Indian Ocean archipelago, especially when it comes to giving financial support during challenging times.
“We have increased our engagements in various sectors, and I want to emphasise that India has always stood by the Maldives. You are a concrete expression of our ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” said EAM Jaishankar.
Khaleel, on his part, had appreciated the timely emergency financial assistance extended by India to Maldives in times of need, reflecting India’s role as the “First Responder” of Maldives.
He reaffirmed the Maldivian government’s firm commitment to work closely with the Government of India in realising the Joint Vision for India-Maldives Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership.
In a significant step toward advancing India’s quantum-secure communication capabilities, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Synergy Quantum India Private Limited, a leading deep-tech firm specializing in quantum technologies.
The collaboration aims to develop drone-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems using the decoy-based BB84 protocol with polarization encoding, targeting a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher. This initiative supports India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” vision, fostering indigenous innovation in secure telecom technologies.
Under the MoU, C-DOT and Synergy Quantum will jointly work on quantum communication technologies tailored for drone-based applications. The partnership will also involve co-creating research proposals for national and international grants, publishing scholarly works, and organizing symposia, conferences, and expert talks to promote advancements in the field.
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “The convergence of public R&D and private innovation is essential to shaping a secure and self-reliant digital future for India. By combining our research depth with industry agility, we aim to develop solutions that address national priorities and position India as a global leader in quantum innovation.”
Jay Oberoi, Founder and CEO of Synergy Quantum India, echoed this sentiment, saying, “This partnership has the potential to position India as a global leader in drone-based quantum-secure communications.”
The MoU was signed in a ceremony attended by Dr. Upadhyay, C-DOT Directors Dr. Pankaj Dalela and Ms. Shikha Srivastava, alongside Synergy Quantum’s Jai Oberoi (CEO), Ajay Singh (COO), Dr. Vipin Rathi, and AM G S Bedi, among other senior officials.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Chernyshenko and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam greeted the participants of the Russian-Vietnamese business forum. Also in their presence, the start of work was given to the plant for the production and processing of dairy products of the company “TH True Milk” in the Kaluga region.
The event took place as part of To Lam’s official visit to Russia. Earlier, on May 10, negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Secretary General took place in the Kremlin.
The forum featured speeches by representatives of VTB Bank, AFK Sistema, and the Cyberus Foundation for the Development of Effective Cybersecurity.
Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked the Vietnamese delegation for participating in the festive events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. He quoted President Vladimir Putin as saying that relations between Russia and Vietnam continue to develop steadily in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.
This year our countries celebrate a significant date – 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. As was indicated at the recent meeting of To Lam with the Chairman of the Russian Government Mikhail Mishustin, today special attention is paid to increasing trade and economic cooperation and increasing mutual trade turnover between Russia and Vietnam.
“We see how much Vietnam has achieved in these areas
in recent years. By the end of 2024, the GDP growth rate exceeded 7%, and the country’s trade turnover approached the $800 billion mark. The Russian economy is also showing high growth rates: by the end of last year – more than 4.1%. Today, the demand of the state and business for increasing economic ties, including with our friendly Vietnam, is obvious. The key tasks of our bilateral cooperation are mutual investments and the implementation of specific projects. We need to create the most favorable climate for the fruitful work of Russian and Vietnamese companies in the markets of both countries,” said the Russian Deputy Prime Minister.
The Free Trade Agreement has been in force between Russia and Vietnam for almost 10 years. It provides duty-free access to almost all groups of goods. Especially in such important positions as dairy products, meat, wheat, fertilizers and cars. It is important to come to a joint decision on how to use this agreement even more effectively.
Dmitry Chernyshenko also noted the Comprehensive Cooperation Plan for the period up to 2030 signed in January: “It was this strategic document that allowed us to agree on joint measures and new mechanisms for cooperation on projects in the scientific sphere, energy and mechanical engineering, which will lead to an almost threefold increase in trade turnover between our countries – up to 15 billion dollars by 2030.”
Cooperation is developing on the digital track: “Vietnam is the leader in terms of growth rates of the digital economy and e-commerce. Russia offers the best solutions in the field of digital technologies, industrial software and telecommunications. The work of the joint Center for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technologies in Hanoi has already been launched,” the Russian Deputy Prime Minister said.
In agriculture, Russia and Vietnam not only successfully carry out mutual deliveries of food products, but are already localizing production.
Dmitry Chernyshenko also highlighted cooperation in the tourism sector: “According to the Ministry of Economic Development, following the results of the first quarter of 2025, Russia came out on top in terms of growth rates of tourist flow to Vietnam – 110%. We are creating comfortable conditions for your tourists in Russia. An electronic visa for Vietnamese citizens has been launched, and we are increasingly adapting the service sector to their wishes. We will increase the length of stay, for example, with an electronic visa to 30 days. We are expanding the geography of flights of Russian airlines to Vietnamese cities. We sincerely thank the Vietnamese side for the fact that on May 8, with the participation of the Secretary General, the flight program of Vietnam Airlines from Hanoi to Moscow was resumed. I am confident that this will allow us to qualitatively improve the level of our relations in the tourism industry!” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister invited Vietnamese partners to take part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in 2025.
To Lam stressed the importance of economic cooperation between Vietnam and Russia. According to him, the parties reached an agreement to expand investment volumes to $15 billion. To Lam called on business circles of both countries to actively conclude contracts and agreements within the framework of the business forum in order to maximize the benefits in all areas: investment, trade, and scientific and technical cooperation. He also expressed Vietnam’s interest in deepening partnership relations with Russia in such sectors as agriculture, energy, industry, mechanical engineering, and information technology. He specifically mentioned the great potential for cooperation in energy and agriculture.
In conclusion, the Secretary General thanked the Russian Government for providing conditions for Vietnamese investors and businessmen aimed at developing tourism in Russia.
In the presence of Dmitry Chernyshenko and To Lam, a ceremony of exchanging bilateral documents between Russian and Vietnamese companies took place. Among them are the Agreement on Cooperation between the National Research University Higher School of Economics and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding, Strategic Cooperation for 2025-2026 for the purpose of jointly promoting Vietnam as a tourist destination and Vinpearl products between Anex Tour LLC and Vinpearl.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The official ceremony of transferring the research vessel Professor Gagarinsky to the joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical and Technological Center.
On May 11, a ceremonial handover of the research vessel Professor Gagarinsky to the joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical and Technological Center took place in Vladivostok. On May 12, Russian scientists and a Vietnamese crew will set off on their first joint voyage, during which marine research will be conducted along the route from Vladivostok to Haiphong.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Co-Chairman of the Russian-Vietnamese Intergovernmental Commission Dmitry Chernyshenko sent a welcoming address to the event participants. He recalled that 2025 marks 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin, who emphasized that relations between Russia and Vietnam continue to “develop progressively in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests.”
“Bilateral cooperation has been established in various areas, including science and technology. A Memorandum has been signed on the implementation of the project to create a Nuclear Science and Technology Center in Vietnam. The Hanoi branch of the Pushkin Russian Language Institute will be actively developed. We will also continue to equip the joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Center. The transfer of this modern vessel will allow us to conduct joint research in the waters of Vietnam and study current problems of the marine environment,” the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia noted.
The ceremony to hand over the vessel was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky, Deputy Minister of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Hoang Xuan Tien, members of the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Coordination Committee of the Tropical Center, representatives of the scientific and maritime communities of Vladivostok and descendants of Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Yuri Vladimirovich Gagarinsky, after whom the vessel was named.
“Many natural processes that are significant for humanity are particularly pronounced in the tropical zone. It is important for us that Russian scientists have the opportunity to work there on a permanent basis. And our joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Center, which received the vessel today, gives scientific teams from our countries the opportunity to work in these places. In this way, we open up new opportunities for our scientists,” said Konstantin Mogilevsky.
The decision to transfer the research vessel to the Tropical Center was made in January 2025 – an intergovernmental agreement between the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense was signed in Hanoi in the presence of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Tinh. The Tropical Center plans to expand comprehensive marine environmental research in Vietnam’s territorial waters and develop a corresponding scientific program for the coming year.
The R/V Professor Gagarinsky is equipped with geophysical and hydrographic laboratories, a workshop for repairing pneumatic sources, and rooms for office processing and electric compressors. Given the size of the vessel, researchers can carry out work on it both in the open sea and in the coastal zone.
“The transfer of the vessel is a symbol of traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. In just 10 days, “Professor Gagarinsky” will arrive in the port of Haiphong. And scientists from the Tropical Center will have the opportunity to conduct research in remote waters of the sea of Vietnam. We undertake to use the vessel as efficiently as possible and achieve new scientific results,” said Deputy Minister of National Defense of Vietnam Hoang Xuan Tien.
As a gesture of friendship, the Vietnamese side decided to leave the name of Yuri Vladimirovich Gagarinsky, a Soviet chemist and corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, on the ship transferred by Russia.
Recall that the day before, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam. The parties outlined ways to further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership in various areas, including scientific and technological cooperation.
During the meeting, a ceremony of exchanging signed documents between Russia and Vietnam took place. Among them are agreements concluded during a working meeting between Valery Falkov and the Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Nguyen Manh Hung.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Swiss delegation begins China visit in Hong Kong to deepen digital innovation ties The delegation’s first stop in Hong Kong featured a thematic seminar titled “Hong Kong – Gateway to China and Asia” organised by Alliance Digital Security Switzerland ADSS, focusing on digital transformation in the age of AI, cybersecurity, and cross-border investment. The event was officiated by representatives from both Swiss and Hong Kong governments and business communities, including the Consul-General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, the Alliance Digital Security Switzerland ADSS, and the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
In his opening address, the Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), Mr Arnold Lau, highlighted Hong Kong’s strategic advantages as a launchpad for global tech companies.
“Switzerland is one of Hong Kong’s most promising partners in Europe. Its strengths in life sciences, deep tech, fintech, education, and creative industries align closely with Hong Kong’s innovation priorities,” he remarked. “Hong Kong is embracing new opportunities for international business, driven by robust digital and regulatory advancements. The recent passage of a new cybersecurity law strengthens the protection of critical infrastructure, giving companies greater confidence to operate in a secure environment. Additionally, the launch of the GBA Standard Contract for cross-boundary data flow enables businesses to transfer personal data safely and efficiently within the Greater Bay Area, promoting seamless collaboration and digital service delivery across borders. These developments position Hong Kong as a trusted, future-ready hub for digital innovation, offering tremendous opportunities for Swiss and global companies.”
The President of the Alliance Digital Security Switzerland ADSS and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Swiss Parliament, Mr Franz Grüter, said, “We are in Hong Kong not only to showcase Switzerland’s excellence in digital innovation, cybersecurity, and education, but more importantly, to establish robust and sustainable partnerships. As a bridge between international markets and Mainland China, Hong Kong holds immense strategic value for Swiss businesses. Our collaboration will drive shared growth in the digital economy.”
The Deputy Commissioner (Digital Infrastructure) at the Digital Policy Office (DPO), Mr Daniel Cheung, shared Hong Kong’s digital policies and strategies on digital infrastructure and AI ecosystem development during his keynote address. He said, “In the digital age, governance models must evolve in tandem. As a global digital hub, Hong Kong is making advances not only in technology but also in policy innovation. We are actively promoting data interoperability, process re-engineering, and the adoption of AI and other cutting-edge technologies to deliver more efficient and user-friendly digital services.”
The seminar also featured a panel discussion moderated by the Head of Information and Communications Technology at InvestHK, Miss Wendy Chow. Experts from Thales, Swire Coca-Cola, and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park explored cybersecurity challenges in the era of artificial intelligence. ??? InvestHK will continue to collaborate closely with the Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and Swiss enterprises to support their business establishment and expansion in the region. It will also strengthen partnerships with the DPO, the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, and other departments to drive the development of the local innovation and technology ecosystem. Through cross-sector and interdepartmental co-operation and continuously strengthening international exchange and collaboration, InvestHK is committed to enhancing enterprise support, promoting technology adoption, and reinforcing the city’s status as a leading international innovation hub and smart city. Issued at HKT 19:00
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, attended the Seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM) in Jeju, Korea, today (May 12), during which he delivered speeches at two plenaries.
With the theme “Sustainable Labour Markets and Jobs for the Future”, the HRDMM aimed to promote a flexible, inclusive, and resilient labour market to further the collective commitment to labour market reforms that support today’s workforce. It consisted of two plenaries with the morning plenary themed “Flexible and Vibrant Labour Market”. Delivering his keynote speech, Mr Sun said that to address the challenges posed by the emergence of the platform economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government has long been committed to protecting platform workers, including the exploration of feasible measures for strengthening the protection for platform workers through a liaison group comprising representatives of the Government, platform companies and labour organisations. According to the Thematic Household Survey conducted by the SAR Government, platform workers are most concerned about work injury compensation. The SAR Government will introduce a proposal within this year on ways to further enhance the rights and benefits of platform workers and will initiate relevant legislative exercises when necessary. Furthermore, he also introduced to participants the various initiatives implemented by the SAR Government to unleash the potential of the labour force amid the evolving landscape of employment, including the well-received Re-employment Allowance Pilot Scheme launched last year and the enhanced Employment Programme for the Elderly and Middle-aged.
In the afternoon plenary themed “Responding to Future Jobs and Active Labour Market Policies”, Mr Sun gave a presentation on the manpower policies and talent attraction measures of the SAR Government. He stressed that the main thrust of the SAR Government’s manpower policy is to nurture local talent, complemented by the attraction of outside talent, to enrich the local talent pool for meeting the needs in social and economic developments. Mr Sun introduced the multipronged strategy of training and retraining, including the establishment of two universities of applied sciences, as well as enhancing employees’ professional skills through the Vocational Training Council. Mr Sun also briefed the attendees on the array of measures rolled out by the SAR Government to attract talent proactively and aggressively. He also gave an account of how Hong Kong could leverage its unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world, in order to better realise its role as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
Upon his arrival in Jeju yesterday (May 11), Mr Sun first called on the Minister of Human Resources of Malaysia, Mr Steven Sim, who was attending the HRDMM. Mr Sun said he is delighted to meet Mr Sim again after his visit to Kuala Lumpur in mid-April. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on issues including unleashing local workforce, enhancing occupational safety and health, improving the rights of platform workers, and ways to enhance vocational training and employee retraining with a view to alleviating manpower shortages.
Afterwards, Mr Sun held a bilateral meeting with the Acting Minister of Employment and Labor, Republic of Korea, Mr Kim Min Seok, during which they had an in-depth discussion on matters including foreign domestic helpers and the importation of labour. At the meeting, Mr Sun briefed Mr Kim on the manpower shortage encountered by the SAR Government due to an ageing population, resulting in the need for Hong Kong to continue attracting outside talent and labour as appropriate in the future to fill the manpower and skills gaps.
Mr Sun will conclude his visit tomorrow morning (May 13) and depart for Hong Kong.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Department of Food Safety Sampling and Monitoring of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on food safety co-operation today (May 12). The MOU aims to strengthen the exchanges on food sampling and surveillance, and enhance the co-operation in the field of food safety between the Mainland and Hong Kong.
The MOU was signed by the Controller of the CFS, Dr Christine Wong, and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Food Production and Operation Safety Regulation of the SAMR, Ms Zhang Shixia. It was witnessed by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Donald Ng, and the Chief Inspector of Food Safety of the SAMR, Mr Sun Huichuan.
The MOU seeks to deepen the exchanges and co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong on food safety. Specifically, the MOU covers enhancing the exchanges of information related to food safety sampling and monitoring; discussing co-operation in the fields of food safety risk alert and risk communication; and establishing a mechanism to exchange views on important issues of common concern.
​A spokesman for the CFS said, “We expect that the signing of the MOU can enhance communication on food safety between the Mainland and Hong Kong to better ensure public food safety.”
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cake Digital Bank has become the first digital-only bank in Southeast Asia to achieve ISO/IEC 30107-3 Level 2 certification from iBeta for its facial biometric solution, Cake Face Authen. This certification represents the highest level of facial spoofing protection recognized by iBeta in this technology category.
A Digital Bank Owning Its Core Technology
Cake Face Authen, the bank’s facial biometric and anti-spoofing solution, was fully developed in-house by Cake’s team of Vietnamese engineers. Utilizing Passive Liveness Detection technology, the system verifies a user’s identity without requiring interaction such as blinking, head movements, or facial gestures. Instead, it quickly authenticates a live face using a combination of facial features, ensuring a seamless and secure experience during critical activities such as account opening, transaction approvals, and spending limit upgrades.
According to iBeta’s evaluation, Cake Face Authen demonstrated advanced fraud detection capabilities by successfully identifying sophisticated 3D spoofing attacks—including those using 3D printers, resin masks, and latex masks. The system achieved a 0% Attack Presentation Classification Error Rate (APCER) and 0% Bona Fide Presentation Classification Error Rate (BPCER), ensuring the highest level of accuracy during the eKYC (electronic Know Your Customer) process.
iBeta’s official announcement confirms that Cake is one of only five BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) organizations in Vietnam to obtain ISO/IEC 30107-3 Level 2 certification for facial biometrics. Notably, it is the first digital-only bank in Southeast Asia to be recognized for meeting this highest international standard in biometric security.
Beyond meeting international benchmarks, Cake has optimized its facial recognition technology using a large dataset of Vietnamese users to ensure maximum accuracy and relevance. Its robust protective layers help the bank comply with the State Bank of Vietnam’s security regulations for online banking services, while simultaneously enabling fast, user-friendly transactions.
Thanks to its flexible integration with various data sources and eKYC models, Cake’s facial recognition solution is widely applied across multiple domains—including customer identification, security access control, attendance tracking, and fraud prevention—for partners with large user ecosystems.
Multiple Technology Solutions to Protect Customers
In its commitment to user protection, Cake was an early adopter of the FIDO2 passwordless authentication standard and has also implemented advanced encryption for savings accounts. These innovations offer additional high-level security against account takeovers and the theft of personal savings.
As part of its “Next GenAI Bank” strategy, Cake leverages artificial intelligence across all operational functions. The bank has developed over 80 AI models supporting customer interaction, credit risk analysis, and operational efficiency. In addition, Cake complies with PCI DSS 4.0 Level 1, the highest global standard for payment card data security.
Nguyễn Hữu Quang, CEO of Cake Digital Bank, stated:
“Achieving the highest international ISO standard for facial biometrics with a solution developed entirely in-house by our Vietnamese engineering team is a remarkable milestone for Cake. It reflects not only our technological autonomy but also our ability to meet the world’s most stringent security standards. We are proud to lead the way in digital banking innovation and remain committed to protecting our customers and partners through secure, locally developed solutions. At the same time, we aim to contribute to the broader digital transformation of Vietnam’s financial sector.”
Founder of Mandiant and advisor to global governments and Boards will support the company’s insider-risk mission
SAN JOSE, Calif. , May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DTEX Systems, the trusted leader of insider risk management, today announced the appointment of Kevin Mandia to its Advisory Board. A recognized authority on cyber defense, threat intelligence and national security issues, Mandia joins DTEX at a time when insider threats – fueled by geopolitical conflict, technological misuse, the rise of AI, and increased remote digital access – are accelerating in both scale and sophistication. These human elements remain the most unpredictable aspect of insider risk, requiring organizations to focus not just on technology, but on human behavior.
A former military officer and founder of Mandiant, Mandia has advised U.S. diplomats, testified before Congress, and led incident response for some of the most consequential cyber breaches of the past two decades. His experience, going from founder to public-company CEO and building Mandiant into one of the world’s most respected incident response and threat intelligence firms, coupled with now supporting early-stage innovation as a Co-founder and General Partner at Ballistic Ventures, will help guide DTEX to deter insider threats before they become national security issues or enterprise incidents.
“Insider risks have become a growing concern for organizations and national security alike,” said Mandia. “We are seeing increasing attention from Boards and leadership teams as adversaries exploit trusted access. DTEX has developed a thoughtful, proactive approach that goes beyond traditional alerts to help organizations detect, understand, and mitigate these threats. I’m proud to support a team committed to helping customers stay ahead of the evolving risk landscape.”
DTEX’s 2025 Cost of Insider Risks Global Report highlights that 81% of organizations now have or are planning to have an insider risk management program. This aligns with the 2024 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Threat Assessment, which underscores a significant increase in cyber espionage activities targeting critical infrastructure sectors, including technology, government and healthcare. Nation-state actors are intensifying efforts by using sophisticated tactics to compromise national security and public safety. As a result, Boards are prioritizing strategies to defend against insider threats for organizational resilience.
“On behalf of the team at DTEX Systems, we are thrilled to welcome Kevin Mandia to the DTEX Advisory Board,” said Marshall Heilman, CEO of DTEX Systems. “Kevin was an early-career mentor to me, so I know firsthand that his expertise combined with his mission-oriented focus from Mandiant will be invaluable for our mission to protect organizations and governments from insider risks.”
Mandia joins an esteemed group of cybersecurity and intelligence leaders on the DTEX Advisory Board, including The Honorable Sue Gordon, former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mike Studeman, former Commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence. DTEX also recently welcomed Michael “Barni” Barnhart, former head of Google Mandiant’s North Korea threat hunting operations, to its Insider Intelligence and Investigations (i³) team.
Mandia’s appointment highlights the urgent reality that insider risk is more than an operational concern, rather it is an existential threat to national security and enterprise stability. With Mandia’s renowned strategic insight, DTEX is positioned to accelerate the development and deployment of innovative solutions that detect, deter, and defend against insider threats, enabling organizations worldwide to proactively secure their most critical assets.
About DTEX Systems As the trusted leader of insider risk management, DTEX transforms enterprise security by displacing reactive tools with a proactive solution that stops insider risks from becoming data breaches. DTEX InTERCEPT™ consolidates Data Loss Prevention, User Activity Monitoring, and User Behavior Analytics in one lightweight platform to enable organizations to achieve a trusted and protected workforce. Backed by behavioral science, powered by AI, and used by governments and organizations around the world, DTEX is the trusted authority for protecting data and people at scale with privacy by design.
