Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-OSI China: Tensions remain as Pakistan-India flare-ups enter 3rd day

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

Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected Indian media reports alleging cross-border attacks originating from Pakistani territory, calling them “baseless, fabricated, and aimed at creating a false pretext for escalation.”

“The repeated pattern of leveling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilize the region,” the ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.

Separately, Pakistani security sources dismissed claims carried by Indian media alleging drone or missile attacks in the Indian-controlled Kashmir and the downing of a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.

“No drone or missile has been launched from Pakistan,” the sources told Xinhua. “These reports are outright fake, politically motivated, and part of a broader campaign of disinformation.”

In India, the Indian army on Friday released a short video showing a strike hitting a target in Pakistan.

In the short, low-resolution video, a projectile (apparently a missile) can be seen moving and hitting a structure.

The army described it as a “befitting reply” to Pakistan’s shelling, but the exact location of the destroyed structure has not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Indian capital region Delhi on Friday installed and tested air raid sirens.

According to social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, the Indian government has asked it to block 8,000 accounts on the social media platform, including those belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users.

On Wednesday, India launched airstrikes on Pakistani targets to avenge last month’s killing of 26 people by gunmen in Pahalgam town, about 89 km east of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The situation along the Line of Control, dividing Kashmir, has been tense as troops of India and Pakistan deployed on both sides of the ceasefire line were engaged in an exchange of fire and artillery.

MIL OSI China News –

May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: RBI imposes monetary penalty on Jana Small Finance Bank Limited

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated May 07, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.00 crore (Rupees One Crore only) on Jana Small Finance Bank Limited (the bank) for contravention of provision of Section 12B(5) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act). This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Section 47A(1)(c) read with Section 46(4)(i) of the BR Act.

The bank had raised paid-up share capital through issue / allotment of Compulsory Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) to certain persons. This was examined vis-à-vis the requirement under Section 12B(5) of the BR Act and a notice was issued to the bank advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for its failure to comply with the statutory provision.

After considering the bank’s reply to the notice, additional submissions made by it and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found that the following charge against the bank was sustained, warranting imposition of monetary penalty:

The bank issued / allotted CCPS to certain persons, which taken along with equity share capital held by them, made such persons to hold more than permitted percentage of the paid-up share capital of the bank. It was not ensured that such persons have obtained previous approval of RBI as required under Section 12B(1) of the BR Act.

This action is based on deficiencies in statutory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the bank with its customers. Further, imposition of monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the bank.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/302

MIL OSI Economics –

May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI: BDO Unibank, Inc. to Present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank ADR Virtual Investor Conference May 15th

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MANILA, Philippines, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BDO Unibank, Inc. (BDO, BDOUY) based in the Philippines, and focused on providing financial products and services, today announced that BDO Unibank, Inc. Executive Vice President, Luis S. Reyes will present at the dbVIC – Deutsche Bank American Depositary Receipt (ADR) Virtual Investor Conference on May 15. This virtual investor conference is aimed exclusively at introducing global companies with ADR programs to investors.

DATE: May 15^th
TIME: 2:00 PM ET
LINK: REGISTER HERE

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.

About BDO Unibank, Inc.

BDO is a full-service universal bank in the Philippines, providing a complete array of industry-leading products and services including Lending (corporate and consumer), Deposit-taking, Foreign Exchange, Brokering, Trust and Investments, Credit Cards, Retail Cash Cards, Corporate Cash Management and Remittances. Through its local subsidiaries, the Bank offers Investment Banking, Private Banking, Leasing and Finance, Thrift Banking and Microfinance, Life Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance Brokerage, and Online and Traditional Stock Brokerage services.

BDO’s institutional strengths and value-added products and services hold the key to its successful business relationships with customers. On the front line, its branches remain at the forefront of setting high standards as a sales and service-oriented, customer-focused force. The Bank has the largest distribution network with over 1,800 operating branches and more than 5,800 teller machines nationwide. BDO has 16 international offices (including full-service branches in Hong Kong and Singapore) spread across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

The Bank also offers digital banking solutions to make banking easier, faster, and more secure for its clients.

Through selective acquisitions and organic growth, BDO has positioned itself for increased balance sheet strength and continuing expansion into new markets. As of December 31, 2024, BDO is the country’s largest bank in terms of total resources, customer loans, deposits, assets under management and capital, as well as branch and teller machine network nationwide.

BDO is a member of the SM Group, one of the country’s largest and most successful conglomerates with businesses spanning retail, mall operations, property development (residential, commercial, hotels and resorts), and financial services. Although part of a conglomerate, BDO’s day-to-day operations are handled by a team of professional managers and bank officers. Further, the Bank has one of the industry’s strongest Board of Directors, composed of professionals with extensive experience in various fields that include banking and finance, accounting, law, and business.

For more information, please visit www.bdo.com.ph.

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:
BDO Unibank, Inc.
Investor Relations (IR) Team
(632) 8840 7000
irandcorplan@bdo.com.ph

Katherine T. Tan
Senior Assistant Vice President
(63 2) 8840-7000 ext 37609
tan.katherine@bdo.com.ph

Virtual Investor Conferences
John M. Viglotti
SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
OTC Markets Group
(212) 220-2221
johnv@otcmarkets.com

The MIL Network –

May 10, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: RBI approves the voluntary amalgamation of Sawantwadi Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Sawantwadi (Maharashtra) with TJSB Sahakari Bank Ltd. (Maharashtra)

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India has sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation of Sawantwadi Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Sawantwadi (Maharashtra) with TJSB Sahakari Bank Ltd. (Maharashtra). The Scheme has been sanctioned in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (4) of Section 44A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. The Scheme will come into force with effect from May 13, 2025. The branches of Sawantwadi Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Sawantwadi (Maharashtra) will function as branches of TJSB Sahakari Bank Ltd. (Maharashtra) with effect from May 13, 2025.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/301

MIL OSI Economics –

May 10, 2025

MIL-OSI: Best Sugar Baby Websites [2025] Top Sugar Daddy Sites for Sugar Babies And Sugar Daddies to Meet!
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Las Vegas, Nevada, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Find the best sugar baby websites and top-rated sugar daddy sites trusted by millions of attractive sugar babies and affluent sugar daddies to connect safely, chat instantly, and meet on your terms.

Las Vegas, Nevada, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Sugar dating is becoming more mainstream and sophisticated than ever before. More young women and ambitious individuals are turning to sugar baby websites to build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with generous benefactors. These platforms, ranging from full-featured websites to mobile-friendly sugar baby apps, make it easier to find compatibility, luxury, and opportunity all in one.

⇒ Why Wait? Trusted, safe, and elegant – the best sugar baby site awaits!

Whether you’re new to the scene or looking for better options, knowing which sugar baby websites are trustworthy and effective can make all the difference. In this guide, we explore how to identify the best platforms, what features to look for, and why even free sugar baby sites can sometimes offer surprising value.

Among all the platforms available, SugarDaddy.com stands out as the best sugar daddy website with free access, offering unmatched features, verified profiles, and a safe space for sugar babies and sugar daddies alike.

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What Are Sugar Baby Websites?

Sugar baby websites are online platforms where younger individuals, often college students, entrepreneurs, or lifestyle seekers, connect with financially successful and often older partners, commonly referred to as sugar daddies or sugar mommies.

These relationships are built on open communication and mutual benefit, which may include financial support, mentorship, travel, and luxury experiences in exchange for companionship, attention, or emotional connection.

Unlike typical dating platforms, sugar baby sites are designed with these unique expectations in mind, offering more structured and transparent arrangements.

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Why Sugar Baby Sites Are More Popular Than Ever

Sugar dating isn’t new, but in 2025 it’s more normalized than ever. Here’s why more sugar babies and benefactors are turning to sugar baby websites:
- Economic Pressures: With rising tuition and living costs, many young adults are turning to sugar dating to support their goals.
- Empowerment: Sugar babies have more control over the kind of relationships they want, setting their terms from the start.
- Convenience: Modern sugar baby sites offer safe, fast, and discreet ways to meet high-quality matches online.
⇒ Your sugar daddy is waiting – join the best sugar baby site today!

What Makes the Best Sugar Baby Websites?

With dozens of platforms out there, it’s crucial to distinguish between reputable sugar baby websites and low-quality or scammy ones. Here are the most important features to look for:

1. User Verification

The best sugar baby sites require ID or photo verification to ensure all users are real. This reduces fake profiles and improves trust.

2. Safety & Privacy Tools

Reliable sugar baby websites offer profile visibility settings, anonymous browsing, and tools to block or report users.

⇒ Start dating successful partners on the best free sugar baby website today!

3. Advanced Matching Algorithms

Modern platforms use intelligent match-making based on preferences, arrangement types, age, income, and lifestyle compatibility.

4. Free Signup Options

Some of the top free sugar baby websites and sugar daddy websites offer valuable features even without a paid membership. Look for platforms that allow browsing, messaging, or profile visibility for free users.

5. Mobile Accessibility

With mobile-first dating on the rise, the best sugar baby websites are responsive or offer dedicated apps for both iOS and Android.

⇒ Join the hottest sugar baby website of 2025 – it’s free and easy!

The Role of Free Sugar Baby Websites and Apps

A growing number of platforms now offer free sugar baby websites, which allow users to create accounts, browse profiles, and sometimes even message potential matches without paying.

However, not all free sugar baby sites deliver quality. The best platforms offer a freemium model—free access to essential features with optional upgrades for premium tools.

SugarDaddy.com offers one of the best free options on the market, giving new sugar babies an excellent opportunity to get started without financial commitment.

⇒ Discover premium sugar dating without premium costs – join free now!

SugarDaddy.com: The Best Sugar Baby Website in 2025

Among all sugar baby sites in 2025, SugarDaddy.com takes the crown. With a loyal user base, top-tier features, and a reputation for excellence, it’s no surprise that this site continues to lead the industry.

What Makes SugarDaddy.com the Best Sugar Baby Site?

Verified Profiles Only

All users go through a verification process, ensuring sugar babies and daddies are who they say they are.

Real Connections, Not Scams

SugarDaddy.com has powerful anti-fraud systems in place to detect suspicious behavior and fake profiles.

⇒ Free to join, easy to connect – Try sugardaddy.com today!

Elite User Base

The platform attracts serious benefactors and high-quality sugar babies. Many members are professionals, entrepreneurs, and influencers looking for real, respectful relationships.

Powerful Search and Match Tools

You can filter by income, age, appearance, location, lifestyle goals, and more to find the perfect match.

Free Sugar Baby Website Access

While premium features are available, SugarDaddy.com gives new users free access to create a profile, explore members, and begin connecting.

Excellent Mobile Experience

The mobile version of SugarDaddy.com functions like a smooth sugar baby app, ideal for users on the go.

⇒ Trusted by millions, sugardaddy.com is the #1 sugar baby site!

Safety Tips for Sugar Baby Sites and Apps

Even on trustworthy sugar baby websites like SugarDaddy.com, it’s essential to prioritize your safety:
- Don’t Share Personal Info Too Soon
- Always Meet in Public for the First Time
- Use the Site’s Messaging System
- Report Suspicious Users
- Block Users Who Make You Uncomfortable
SugarDaddy.com makes it easy to report or block anyone, giving you full control over your interactions.

⇒ Want the best sugar dating experience? Try sugardaddy.com today!

How to Succeed on Sugar Baby Sites

If you want to stand out and make the most of your sugar dating experience, follow these tips when using sugar baby websites:

Optimize Your Profile

Use high-quality photos and write a compelling, honest bio. Show off your personality and clearly state your expectations.

Be Upfront About Your Goals

Transparency helps both parties determine if the relationship is a fit. Be confident in what you’re looking for—whether it’s mentorship, support, companionship, or lifestyle upgrades.

Stay Active

Frequent activity increases your profile’s visibility on most sugar baby sites. Respond to messages promptly and keep your profile fresh.

⇒ Find your perfect arrangement today on the best free sugar baby site!

Practice Online Safety

Even on the best platforms, it’s important to:
- Use in-platform messaging
- Avoid sharing personal contact info early on
- Verify profiles before meeting
- Meet in public spaces first
⇒ Connect now with real sugar babies and daddies – it’s free to start!

Top Benefits of Using Sugar Baby Websites in 2025

Still wondering if sugar baby websites are right for you? Here are the benefits that keep users coming back:
1. Financial Empowerment – Sugar babies can receive financial support for education, lifestyle, or goals.
2. Emotional Fulfillment – Many sugar babies enjoy attention, support, and even romantic partnerships.
3. Luxury Opportunities – Travel, fine dining, and upscale experiences are common in sugar dating.
4. Mentorship & Guidance – Benefactors often provide life and career mentorship.
Keep reading to learn how sugar baby websites work, how to find a sugar baby, and what makes these sites so effective when done right.

⇒ Elite sugar dating starts here – click to join the best sugar baby site!

What Is a Sugar Baby?

The sugar baby is normally younger and engages in a relationship with an older, more financially successful partner. Such relationships are founded on respect, clarity, and reciprocal terms. It is mostly the case that the sugar baby gets money, mentorship, or lifestyle benefits and, in turn, provides time, emotional connection, or companionship.

Then, what is a sugar baby now? Not the kind who would ask for money. A modern sugar baby would be self-conscious, self-assured, and particular about company. It is about finding something where both parties know that they’re both contributing to and expecting something out of it.

It is a matter of understanding the real definition of sugar baby beyond worn-out clichés. These are not unequal relationships. They are grounded in real connections established on honesty and equity.

⇒ Real people, real connections – join the best sugar baby website today!

Why People Choose the Sugar Baby Lifestyle

There are many reasons someone might choose to become a sugar baby. Some are students dealing with rising tuition costs. Others are entrepreneurs, creatives, or single parents who want more financial flexibility. A few are just tired of the stress that comes with traditional dating.

One key motivation is mentorship. A sugar baby might be drawn to someone who has real-world experience and wisdom to share. On the flip side, sugar daddies and mommies often enjoy the energy, perspective, and companionship that younger partners bring to the relationship.

Whether financial support or lifestyle upgrades, sugar baby dating arrangements are built on direct communication and shared goals.

⇒ Find elite sugar daddies on the best sugar baby site!

Who Can Be a Sugar Baby?

There’s no official mold for who qualifies as a sugar baby. While many are in their 20s or 30s, age isn’t the main factor. Confidence, emotional maturity, and strong communication matter far more. People from all backgrounds become sugar babies—artists, professionals, students, and even travelers looking to expand their horizons.

How Sugar Baby Websites Help Foster Genuine Interactions

These types of arrangements were harder to find in the past. These sugar baby websites and apps make it all easy and secure. These websites are designed for people searching for this type of arrangement and feature filters, privacy settings, and upfront profile elements where you can indicate exactly what you are looking for.

Unlike casual dating sites, sugar baby sites attract people yearning for transparency. You’ll notice members dedicated to mutual respect and gain on a good sugar baby site—no games or confusion.

One of the top sugar baby websites even has safety advice, verification processes, and built-in messaging systems to keep everything safe.

⇒ Meet your match, upgrade your life – all on the best sugar baby site!

How to Become a Sugar Baby

If you’re wondering how to become a sugar baby, it’s not as hard as you think. It starts by finding a good sugar baby website and making a genuine, appealing profile. Post some nice pictures, state your expectations, and be honest about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for.

A proper sugar baby dating site allows you to connect with like-minded people. And once settled, the experience can be empowering. You dictate the boundaries, pace, and expectations.

So, if you’re interested or even half-serious about a sugar lifestyle, here’s the thing: there’s nothing wrong with knowing your worth and choosing a relationship that fits into your life.

⇒ Meet generous singles on the best free sugar baby website!

Understanding Sugar Baby Websites

If you’ve wondered about sugar dating, you’ve probably heard of sugar baby websites. These sites aim to match sugar babies—people searching for lifestyle assistance, mentorship, or true companionship—with successful individuals open to offering money, experience, and something honest in exchange.

Unlike conventional dating sites, sugar baby websites are based on open communication and honest intentions. There is no beating around the bush. Both parties are open about their intentions from the beginning, which leads to more solid, respectful relationships.

⇒ Want results? Use the best sugar baby websites trusted by millions!

What Are Sugar Baby Sites All About?

A sugar baby site is not your average dating site. The sites are designed to cater to mutually beneficial arrangements. Sugar babies usually provide companionship, emotional support, or even good conversation. Their partners, in return, might provide financial support, gifts, career guidance, or access to a better lifestyle.

What is so refreshing about these sites is that they are so open about the transaction. There’s no expectation of fitting into old dating norms or games of guessing. Individuals join these communities because they want adult discussions regarding what they need and can give.

The best sugar baby websites provide a more streamlined opportunity to meet like-minded individuals willing to accept this arrangement. There’s a huge range of users, from students and entrepreneurs to established professionals, but everyone is looking for a real partnership with clear objectives.

⇒ No fake profiles – just real matches on the best sugar baby site!

The Core Principles: Privacy, Consent, and Clarity

One of the greatest advantages of sugar baby dating websites is how they emphasize privacy and respect. Users control how much information about themselves is made available, who can reach out to them, and how they want to be contacted.

These platforms take consent seriously. Every step in the relationship-building process is based on mutual agreement. No assumptions. No blurred lines. Just clear communication from start to finish.

Individuals who are interested in this kind of relationship enjoy the boundaries and individual autonomy that sugar baby websites enable. You establish the parameters, set your requirements, and connect with individuals who accept your lifestyle. This method contributes to safer, more comfortable experiences for all parties involved.

⇒ sugardaddy.com is the #1 sugar baby site – try it for free today!

How Sugar Baby Sites Differ From Traditional Dating Apps

The difference between sugar baby sites and other dating sites is honesty and format. Traditional dating is always a guessing game. What are they looking for? Serious or casual? Will they be honest about what they want?

All of those questions have been answered on a sugar baby website. Every person on the site knows they’re there and why and what type of arrangement they’re seeking. That mutual understanding eliminates the guesswork that too often accompanies conventional dating apps.

The second main difference is in user intent. Most users of sugar baby sites aren’t here to fool around. They’re direct, normally successful, and anticipatory. That applies to sugar babies as well—they’re confident, educated, and clear about the type of life they’d wish to live.

Thanks to this framework, sugar baby websites are respectful and safe environments. As moderation and privacy are integrated, members can communicate without worrying about harassment or misinterpretation.

⇒ Don’t miss your chance to meet real sugar daddies – join free now!

Why More Individuals Are Relying on Sugar Baby Sites in 2025

As attitudes toward relationships and dating evolve, increasing numbers of individuals look for relationships that are clear-cut and rewarding. The growth of sugar baby websites is indicative of a trend for what individuals desire—greater openness, choice, and less judgment.

As public perception shifts, so does the popularity of the sugar lifestyle. People embrace the idea that there’s more than one method of forming meaningful connections. Sugar baby websites provide the venue for people looking for more customized, upfront relationships, with often long-lasting impact.

Looking to experiment with something different or prepared to fully embrace the sugar lifestyle, the correct website can help open the door.

⇒ Try the sugar baby site that actually works – sugardaddy.com is live!

How to Find a Sugar Baby

Finding the ideal sugar baby is not about appearance or luxury but compatibility, integrity, and shared expectations. Most sugar mommies and daddies these days begin browsing through sugar baby websites, but offline encounters are still part of the package. Let’s break down finding a sugar baby online and offline.

⇒ Find serious sugar daddies on the best sugar baby sites online now!

Steps to Find a Sugar Baby Online

Finding a sugar baby online is easier than ever before, with numerous websites popping up that connect like-minded adults. But blind diving can lead to missed opportunities or miscommunications. Here’s how to do it the right way—step by step.

1. Select a Reputable Sugar Baby Website

Start by selecting a credible platform. The best sugar baby websites are designed with transparency, privacy, and user safety in mind. A good sugar baby site will offer you active profiles, filters to narrow down your options, and communication tools.

Avoid general dating sites that aren’t meant for sugar dating. Look for sites specifically created for that kind of arrangement instead. Sites created for the sugar lifestyle attract more serious and respectful people.

⇒ Why settle? Join the best free sugar baby website for real rewards!

2. Create an Honest and Appealing Profile

Once you have chosen the right sugar baby website, take the time to develop your profile. It is your first impression. Upload a recent, good-quality photo and include a short but honest description of yourself and what you are looking for.

Be clear about expectations. Sugar babies like someone who knows their boundaries and speaks up sooner rather than later. Being upfront also attracts people whose goals are aligned with yours.

3. Apply Filters and Read Profiles Carefully

Most sugar baby sites offer search functions to filter your options. Set preferences based on age, location, lifestyle, and interests. Read each profile carefully. Look for consistency in photographs, grammar, and tone—it is most likely an indication of a person serious about their profile on the site.

4. Start Conversations with Respect and Sincerity

When reaching out, skip the generic greetings. Be polite and personalized. Ask questions that show you have read their profile and be inquisitive. Be professional and never rush the conversation.

A good start leads to more matches. Most people on sugar baby dating sites are looking for more than small talk—they desire connection, respect, and understanding.

⇒ Don’t pay to connect – the best sugar baby site lets you chat for free!

5. Set Expectations Early

Before anything progresses, discuss what you’re both looking for. This is the key to any successful sugar baby dating arrangement. Defining roles, boundaries, and desires upfront helps avoid confusion later.

Be specific about your boundaries and what you’re providing. The most successful connections are made through openness and respect for one another—two cornerstones that characterize contemporary sugar dating. When both parties understand what they can expect, things usually go more smoothly and last longer.

⇒ The best sugar baby site is trending – don’t get left behind!

How to Build the Perfect Sugar Baby Profile

Creating a great profile on sugar baby sites like SugarDaddy.com can make or break your success. Here’s how to do it right:
- Use Real, High-Quality Photos: Avoid heavy filters. Authenticity attracts more genuine offers.
- Describe What You Want: Be upfront about your ideal arrangement and lifestyle expectations.
- Highlight Personality and Interests: Talk about your hobbies, career goals, and values.
- Stay Active: Update your profile regularly and log in often to show you’re engaged.
A good sugar baby website facilitates finding matches that are present for the sake of everything, not just money. Be realistic in your expectations, and find someone who brings you true value, not merely a person searching for a free ride.

⇒ Click here to find real success on the best sugar baby website!

Benefits of Sugar Baby Sites

Sugar baby sites are designed to enable actual relationships between people who have common goals, and they do this with convenience and discretion in mind.

Let us take a closer glance at why using sugar baby sites is typically the most secure and smartest choice.

1. Clearly Defined Format for Meaningful Dating

Unlike traditional apps where a lot is left to assumption, sugar baby websites offer a platform where people are open about what they require. There is no speculation or concealed agendas. Profiles typically contain open statements of expectations, lifestyle, and what the person wants to gain in the relationship. This arrangement spares both sugar daddies and sugar babies from time-wasting relationships.

Some sites even permit people to select their preferred arrangement type—mentorship, companionship, travel, or financial support. This openness is especially useful for those wondering how to be a sugar baby or how to locate someone who truly understands the lifestyle.

⇒ Find what you’re looking for on the best sugar baby websites – join free!

2. Enhanced Safety and Privacy

Privacy is a big concern for most in the sugar baby dating scene. The best websites take this seriously. Top sugar baby websites use encryption, discreet billing, and internal messaging systems so that users are not required to divulge personal information right away.

Some even provide reporting tools, profile verification, and photo screening to reduce scams or fake profiles. That kind of online protection is hard to come by outside the niche world of sugar baby dating sites.

3. Better Screening and Matchmaking

Not every match will be a connection—and that’s okay. But filtering options on most sugar baby websites get you one step closer to what you’re looking for. You can filter based on age, location, lifestyle habits, and more.

This is a big reason why most consider these to be the best sugar baby websites—they eliminate the guessing and make it easier.

⇒ The best free sugar baby website is just one step away – join free!

4. Tools of Working Communication

Most sugar baby sites have instant messaging features, icebreakers, and filters for chat. These allow you to build more respectful, meaningful conversations from the start. They also allow you to control the pace, especially when you’re exploring the possibility of a sugar relationship.

5. Lifestyle Compatibility

These websites appeal to a broad audience: young professionals, students, entrepreneurs, travelers, and retirees. Regardless of where you are in life, you can locate someone whose pace and ambitions match yours.

Some of those sites let you connect to social profiles and interests or share your ideal date with us, making it more enjoyable and intimate to find a match.

⇒ Join the sugar baby site everyone’s talking about – it’s 100% free!

Sugar Baby Etiquette and Best Practices

Navigating the space comes with its own set of social expectations. Those who understand and respect the etiquette involved in sugar dating tend to build longer-lasting, drama-free arrangements. Whether you’re new to the scene or looking to refine your approach, a few best practices go a long way when using sugar baby sites or meeting someone in person.

Start With Respect and Honesty

The foundation of any successful sugar baby dating connection is mutual respect. This begins with being honest about your intentions. If you’re looking for companionship, mentorship, or a financial arrangement, state it clearly—but respectfully.

People on sugar baby websites are quite open about what they desire, so there is no use beating around the bush. Respect for the other person’s time and boundaries is a simple yet often overlooked sign of class and seriousness.

⇒ This is where sugar babies and daddies connect – join now!

Communicate Clearly and Consistently

Open communication sets expectations and keeps misunderstandings at bay. Once you’ve connected on a sugar baby site, make the first move to discuss what you want and listen to what they want. Clearly define boundaries from the start: how often you will meet, what relationship is convenient for both of you, and how you will communicate.

If something does, tell them. This sort of honesty is what will differentiate a considerate partner from someone who just wants to exploit the arrangement.

Be Considerate With Gifts and Compensation

Gift-giving is generally a component of sugar dating, but it should never be coerced or come off as a transaction. It isn’t about showing off—it’s about appreciation. Give thoughtful gifts that apply to your sugar baby’s aspirations or hobbies. Some will enjoy designer gifts, while others will appreciate tuition help or the ability to travel.

Sugar baby websites can help set the tone for those expectations because most websites allow users to specify what they are willing to accept. That openness saves confusion or embarrassment later.

⇒ Want luxury and love? Start with the best sugar baby websites here!

Always Prioritize Consent

Consent is not just physical boundaries. It’s emotional and financial boundaries, too. If you’re offering support or expecting certain things in return, those terms must be discussed and mutually agreed upon—never assumed. Healthy sugar baby dating starts and ends with enthusiastic, ongoing consent.

Stay Wary of and Avoid Scams

As with all online interactions, it’s best to stay cautious on sugar baby dating sites. Be cautious of members who ask for money first, avoid video chat, or refuse to meet in public. A reputable sugar baby website will have reporting features for suspicious behavior—don’t be afraid to use them if something doesn’t feel quite right.

Go with your gut and do not be hasty. Scammers oftentimes rely on urgency and emotional manipulation, and ongoing open communication keeps you secure.

⇒ Find elite sugar daddies on the best sugar baby site!

Final Thought

Choosing the right platform can make all the difference in your sugar dating experience. With so many sugar baby websites and sugar baby sites online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But the best outcomes come from using a verified, secure, and transparent sugar baby website—one that values consent, communication, and connection.

A quality sugar baby site goes beyond flashy designs and bold promises. It provides safety features, identity verification, privacy options, and filtering tools to help users find real compatibility. These aren’t just platforms—they’re spaces where clear expectations, respectful conversations, and mature arrangements can thrive.

The best sugar baby websites attract people who are serious about the lifestyle. This includes both experienced sugar babies and those still learning how to become a sugar baby. From profile design to personalized matches, a trusted site supports your goals without compromising safety or authenticity.

For anyone exploring this lifestyle seriously, choosing the right sugar babies website isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

FAQs

This FAQ section addresses the most common questions about sugar baby sites, including details on free sugar baby websites, safety, and what makes a site the best.

What are sugar baby websites?

Sugar baby websites are platforms where individuals can find mutually beneficial relationships involving companionship and lifestyle support.

What’s the best sugar baby site in 2025?

SugarDaddy.com is considered the best sugar baby site in 2025 due to its safety features, verified profiles, and high-quality user base.

Are sugar baby sites legal?

Yes, sugar baby sites are fully legal and function within the bounds of consensual adult relationships.

Can I join sugar baby sites for free?

Yes, free sugar baby websites like SugarDaddy.com allow users to sign up and use basic features without cost.

Is SugarDaddy.com a real sugar baby website?

Absolutely. SugarDaddy.com is one of the most reputable sugar baby sites in the world.

Are there legit free sugar baby websites?

While many claim to be free, SugarDaddy.com is one of the few legitimate platforms offering functional free access.

How do sugar baby apps work?

Sugar baby apps are mobile-optimized versions of dating platforms that let users message, browse, and match on their phones.

How do I stay safe on sugar baby websites?

Use the platform’s messaging system, don’t share financial info, and always meet in public places.

What should I write in my sugar baby profile?

Include your lifestyle preferences, relationship expectations, and a few personal interests to stand out.

Is SugarDaddy.com good for beginners?

Yes, SugarDaddy.com is beginner-friendly and provides tools and guidance for new users.

Can I use SugarDaddy.com without paying?

Yes, the site offers a free tier that includes essential features like profile browsing and messaging.

Are sugar baby relationships real relationships?

Yes, many sugar relationships lead to lasting emotional connections and long-term arrangements.

How old do you have to be to join sugar baby sites?

You must be 18 years or older to use sugar baby websites like SugarDaddy.com.

Do sugar baby apps offer real matches?

Yes, especially on vetted platforms like SugarDaddy.com, where verified users are active and engaged.

What is the difference between sugar dating and traditional dating?

Sugar dating is based on clear, upfront expectations involving support and companionship, unlike traditional romance-based dating.

Are sugar baby websites safe for women?

Yes, when using trusted platforms like SugarDaddy.com that provide safety features and verification tools.

Can I find international sugar daddies on sugar baby websites?

Yes, SugarDaddy.com allows international connections across various countries and cities.

What is expected from sugar babies?

Clear communication, companionship, and respect are the most commonly expected attributes in sugar relationships.

Is SugarDaddy.com a sugar baby app?

While not a standalone app, SugarDaddy.com offers full mobile functionality that works like an app.

Can I remain anonymous on sugar baby websites?

Yes, SugarDaddy.com provides privacy settings to control what others see on your profile.

Media Contact

Company: Sugar Daddy

Contact Person: Christopher A. Waldo

Email: support@sugardaddy.com

Address: 29 Roseburn Place, Highland Park, Manukau 2010, New Zealand

URL: https://www.sugardaddy.com/

Phone: +64-29-4659-632

Content Accuracy Disclaimer
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It is the responsibility of the reader to verify product information directly through the official website or manufacturer prior to making a purchasing decision. Any reliance placed on the information in this article is done strictly at your own risk.
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The MIL Network –
May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: UConn Equestrian Team Achieves Highest Points in Region

Source: US State of Connecticut

The UConn Equestrian Team achieved the status of being the regional high point team at the close of this year’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) competition season.

“It’s awesome,” says team captain Elinor Addonizio ‘25 (CAHNR). “I think it gives everybody a lot of hope for the future to continue doing so well.”

This year, UConn’s point total was 276. The second-place team, Boston University, had 225 points.

“It really was an incredible season,” coach Marilyn Bennett says. “I’m really proud of all of them. They put in a lot of hard work, and it really is a testament to that…It’s a great way to represent the school.”

For each show, teams choose individual riders in each event and class to be their point riders. This means those riders’ points, based on where they place in the event, count toward the team’s total.

“Essentially it comes down to the point riders who won the most and did the best,” Addonizio says.

At their home show in October, UConn’s team earned a perfect score.

“Every single point rider won their class – which is pretty much unheard of,” Addonizio says. “So, that was a really big accomplishment.”

One member of the UConn Team, Cara Bailey ‘27 (CAHNR), qualified for nationals, which will take place in May.

Currently, there are 24 showing members on the UConn Equestrian Team, and 30 members total. Riders are placed into jumping and flat event classes based on their experience and skill level.

What is unique to the IHSA competitions is that, unlike elsewhere in the equestrian world, riders do not bring horses to competitions. Instead, they are randomly assigned a horse from the hosting institution’s barn.

“You have no idea until the day of what horse you’re going to ride,” Bennett says. “So that adds a whole other element to showing…It makes it unique and really cool.”

To prepare for this challenge, the UConn team changes which horse they ride for each of their weekly practices.

This was the first year UConn competed in Region 4 with Massachusetts schools after their previous region was dissolved.

“We were pretty nervous heading into this new region because we’d never competed against these teams, and they’re all very accomplished teams,” Addonizio says. “So, it’s really, really exciting, and honestly we didn’t expect it, which made it all the more special.”

Addonizio has been a member of the team since her freshman year and was captain for the past two years.

After graduating this spring with a degree in animal science with a focus on equine breeding, Addonizio is going to New Zealand to help deliver foals for the horse racing industry. She was the 2024 recipient of the Samantha Calzone scholarship.

“I found my people and a true home, and I’m just lucky to get to ride horses every week and be with such a great group of people,” Addonizio says. “And the leadership experience that I’ve gained from it as captain has been pretty life changing.”

UConn recently announced a new Equine Science and Management major, launching in the fall of 2026.

Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

MIL OSI USA News –

May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson asks SCOTUS to uphold Maine legislator’s right to vote and speak freelyRead More

Source: US State of South Carolina

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that his office has joined a friend-of-the-court brief filed in the United States Supreme Court supporting Maine Representative Laurel Libby, who was stripped of her ability to vote and speak on the State House floor by Democratic legislative leadership.

The Supreme Court is being asked to restore Representative Libby’s voting rights while her case continues through the courts, as such actions likely violate the foundational principles of representative democracy and the U.S. Constitution.

“This is not a partisan issue, it’s a constitutional one,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson. “In our system of government, every citizen deserves to have their voice heard through their elected officials. Blocking a legislator from voting silences not just one voice, but the voice of every constituent they represent. That’s not how our republic is supposed to work. The ability of lawmakers to speak and vote freely on behalf of their districts is a foundational part of American democracy, and I am standing up to ensure that principle is protected.”

The case involves Representative Libby being barred from voting and speaking on the Maine House floor after she posted on social media about a biologically male student-athlete who won a girls’ pole-vaulting competition. The brief argues that stripping a duly elected lawmaker of their right to vote undermines democratic representation and violates the constitutional rights of both the representative and their constituents.

The coalition of attorneys general asserts that legislative immunity, which generally shields lawmakers from lawsuits related to legislative actions, does not protect actions that directly undermine democratic processes, like removing a legislator’s voting rights.

In addition to South Carolina, attorneys general from the following states joined the brief: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, and South Dakota.

You can read the brief here.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI: Kaltura Announces Partnership With Magna Systems & Engineering To Support Growth in Asian and Pacific Markets

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kaltura (Nasdaq: KLTR), the AI Video Experience Cloud, and Magna Systems and Engineering, a leading systems integration specialist and technology supplier for the broadcast and telecommunication industries, today announced a new partnership with Magna supporting Kaltura in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

This collaboration comes as part of Kaltura’s expansion of its media & telecom activities in the Asian and Pacific markets, with Magna as the first of several APAC partnerships. The growing network of Kaltura partners will bring new value to existing customers, supporting their technological and business evolution with new technologies, and provide a local presence for sales and market development.

Kaltura’s services for the media and telecommunications industries are based on the company’s robust TV Content Management system and TV streaming application, as well as advanced AI-powered capabilities that reshape content strategies. Using metadata enrichment, AI user-controlled chat, real-time translation and dubbing in multiple languages, highlighting and chaptering for VOD and live content, AI-powered content curation, and more, providers can increase engagement and grow viewership as they expand into new markets.

Kaltura’s recent addition, the AI-powered Kaltura TV Genie, which won the Product of the Year for Streaming at the 2025 NAB Show Award, enables companies to offer AI-powered, hyper-personalized lean-forward viewing experiences for audiences. Beyond recommendations for users, TV Genie automatically curates content in real-time for editors based on their catalogue and current trends, streamlining operations and driving continuous, ongoing engagement.

Magna Systems & Engineering, also commonly known simply as Magna, is an experienced systems integration specialist and provider of technology, products, and solutions to the broadcast and telecommunication industries. The company’s focus is on partnering with and providing best-of-breed technology and solutions, such as Kaltura, for their clients that meet their current requirements and future-proof them for years to come. Support, alongside the very best customer service, are two of Magna’s key and most important offerings, and they offer both across the entire Asia Pacific region from offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

“Partnering with Kaltura aligns with our strategy of connecting our customers with the latest, world-leading technology solutions and providers, enabling them to innovate and maintain a competitive advantage in the media and telecom sector. In short, we will provide our clients in the region with Kaltura AI Video Experience Cloud solutions that will add real and tangible value and efficiency to their organisations. Our new partnership with Kaltura is a very positive one that will bring many benefits to the industry as a whole,” said Matthew Clemesha, group CEO of Magna Systems.

“Magna is well known in APAC for its commitment to providing top-notch services, support, and solutions to its customers in the media and telecommunications industry, a brand that perfectly reflects our values and vision,” said Natan Israeli, Chief Customer Officer at Kaltura. “We are excited to work with Magna Systems to expand our reach and improve streaming experiences for more customers with our AI-powered products in this market”.

About Kaltura
Kaltura’s mission is to create and power AI-infused hyper-personalized video experiences that boost customer and employee engagement and success. Kaltura’s AI Video Experience Cloud includes a platform for enterprise and TV content management and a wide array of Gen AI-infused video-first products, including Video Portals, LMS and CMS Video Extensions, Virtual Events and Webinars, Virtual Classrooms, and TV Streaming Applications. Kaltura engages millions of end-users at home, at work, and at school, boosting both customer and employee experiences, including marketing, sales, and customer success; teaching, learning, training and certification; communication and collaboration; entertainment and monetization. For more information, visit www.corp.kaltura.com.

About Magna Systems & Engineering
Founded in 1968, Magna Systems & Engineering, also commonly known simply as Magna, is an experienced systems integration specialist and provider of technology, products and solutions to the broadcast and telecommunication industries. Our focus is on partnering with and providing best-of-breed technology and solutions for our clients that meet their current requirements and future-proof them for years to come. Support, alongside the very best customer service, are two of Magna’s key and most important offerings for our clients, and we offer both across the entire Asia Pacific region from our offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand and Singapore.

The MIL Network –

May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Another boost for British car industry as £1 billion secured for new Sunderland gigafactory
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Another boost for British car industry as £1 billion secured for new Sunderland gigafactory

New state-of-the-art gigafactory ignites growth in industrial heartlands, supporting 1,000 jobs and powering up 100,000 electric vehicles a year
Chancellor visited Sunderland today following landmark economic deal with the US that saved thousands of auto jobs and slashed tariffs on car exports

Latest action in the Government’s Plan for Change to strengthen our industrial heartlands, make Britain a clean energy superpower and put more money in people’s pockets through good jobs

Working people will benefit from 1,000 jobs at a new state-of-the-art gigafactory in Sunderland in a £1 billion auto deal to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and boost growth.

This investment is another boost for the British car industry after yesterday’s landmark economic deal with the United States saved thousands of jobs by slashing tariffs on British exports.

The new AESC gigafactory will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, powering up to 100,000 EVs each year – a six-fold increase on the country’s current capacity – making the UK globally competitive selling more British EVs at home and abroad and helping to achieve our net zero target.

In the landmark transaction, the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance will provide financial guarantees which unlock £680 million in financing from banks including Standard Chartered, HSBC, SMBC Group, Societe Generale and BBVA. This will cover construction and operation of the new plant. The remaining £320 million has been secured through private financing in addition to new equity provided by AESC.

In addition to this £1 billion investment, the Government’s Automotive Transformation Fund is also investing £150 million in grant funding.

This is the Government’s Plan for Change in action, making us more competitive on the world stage, helping Britain on its way to becoming a clean energy superpower through innovation in the automotive sector, and delivering economic growth that puts more money in people’s pockets through high skilled jobs.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

We are going further and faster to boost our industries’ resilience and encourage their growth as part of our Plan for Change, and this investment follows hot on the heels of yesterday’s landmark economic deal with the US which will save thousands of jobs in the industry.

This investment in Sunderland will not only further innovation and accelerate our move to more sustainable transport, but it will also deliver much-needed high quality, well-paid jobs to the North East, putting more money in people’s pockets.

Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said:

We’re backing our world-class car industry, and this investment is yet another vote of confidence in the North East’s thriving auto manufacturing hub which will secure a thousand well-paid jobs and boost prosperity across the region.

Our modern Industrial Strategy will drive this growth even further, powering our high-potential sectors like advanced manufacturing so we can deliver jobs and investment in every corner of the UK and make our Plan for Change a reality.

The Chancellor visited AESC in Sunderland today (Friday 9 May) where she met staff and local leaders to discuss how the investment will bring jobs and prosperity to the North East, and how the landmark economic deal secured with the US will secure the industry for years to come.

The deal slashes car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10% and will apply to a quota of 100,000 UK cars – almost the total exported last year.

This will save some car companies hundreds of millions of pounds, making high skilled jobs in industrial heartlands like Sunderland more secure.

Shoichi Matsumoto, CEO of Japanese headquartered AESC, said:

This investment marks a key milestone in AESC’s ongoing efforts to support the UK’s path towards decarbonisation and the expansion of its EV market.

Through close collaboration with strategic partners, we strive to accelerate this transition while creating high-quality local jobs and building resilient, sustainable supply chain.

We are honoured to contribute to the development of low-carbon economy with our advanced battery technologies.

John Flint, National Wealth Fund CEO, said:

AESC’s gigafactory will not only help to retool our car industry for net zero it will also support jobs, growth, and prosperity in the Northeast.

This investment further demonstrates the significant role NWF is playing to crowd private capital into the industries and regions where its most needed, boosting government’s growth and clean energy missions.

UKEF CEO, Tim Reid, said:

This hugely exciting project is a prime example of how export financing is a powerful tool for unlocking growth opportunities for British exporters and strengthening local economies.

We’re proud to join forces with partners to back this pioneering gigafactory that will help cement the UK’s prowess as an EV battery-making force for years to come.

More information

The government continues to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology.

To date, the Automotive Transformation Fund and Advanced Propulsion Centre funding programmes have leveraged over £6 billion of investment from the private sector.

Last year’s Autumn Budget also confirmed over £2 billion for capital and research and development funding over five years for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains – a vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, supporting investment and productivity growth.

Additional quotes

Ian Stuart, UK CEO for HSBC who were joint ECA Coordinator & Structuring Bank (alongside SCB) as well as Underwriting Bank and Mandated Lead Arranger, said:

We’re extremely proud to have played a leading role in this complex and significant deal, including as underwriter, structuring bank and joint ECA co-ordinator.

Once operational, the gigafactory will unlock a huge increase in the UK’s EV battery production, supporting the electrification of vehicles and the wider green transition. The inward investment involved in the project will also deliver highly-skilled jobs and economic growth to North East England.

Hideo Kawafune, CEO, Head of EMEA, SMBC Banking International plc said:

SMBC Group is delighted to participate in the successful financing of this landmark Gigafactory project. As a lending partner we’re proud to work alongside partners such as National Wealth Fund, UK Export Finance and Sinosure, as well as existing client AESC, in order to support projects which power the energy transition.”

Saif Malik, CEO, UK and Head, Client Coverage, UK, Standard Chartered said:

We are proud to support this transformative UK project. The development of AESC’s new gigafactory will deliver significant economic benefits locally while supporting the development of zero-emission technology. This is more than an investment in infrastructure, it’s a commitment to innovation, UK economic growth and sustainability. Supporting the transition to net zero is deeply embedded in how we operate as a Bank, and this project reflects how we bring that to life by supporting clients on their own sustainability journeys.

Lenaig Trenaux, Societe Generale’s Global Head of Batteries, Mining and Industries, said:

We are proud to have worked with AESC to deliver the first gigafactory project financing in the UK, which has benefitted from strong support from the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance.

Societe Generale’s deep understanding of the EV value chain, coupled with our experience working with AESC, were instrumental in delivering the project financing.

This is another demonstration of SG’s commitment to the green mobility and another step towards the energy transition.

Beatriz Roa, Global Sectoral Head of Industrials at BBVA, states:

BBVA is proudly supporting AESC in this landmark project in the UK. This gigafactory will help foster the transition to electric vehicles while supporting the buildup of an entire ecosystem around battery manufacturing in Sunderland. These are key objectives in BBVA’s efforts to support the transition to a more sustainable economy and to the auto and energy industries in particular.

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Published 9 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 21 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

21 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations
The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.
Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
Issued at HKT 19:12

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CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 10, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China, Russia pledge to join forces against bullying, power politics

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

MOSCOW, May 9 — China will work with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities entrusted by the times, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during their talks here on Thursday, as global uncertainties are exerting more pressure on the global economy.

Today, in the face of unilateralist countercurrents, bullying and acts of power politics, China is working with Russia to shoulder the special responsibilities of major countries and permanent members of the UN Security Council, Xi said.

Putin, for his part, criticized the imposition of high tariffs, saying it defies common sense, has no legal basis, and will only backfire.

In early April, the United States rolled out so-called “reciprocal” tariffs against almost all of its trading partners worldwide, triggering widespread opposition and concerns over a possible global economic recession. Many countries have vowed to retaliate.

On Thursday, the European Commission launched a public consultation targeting U.S. imports worth 95 billion euros (107.2 billion U.S. dollars), warning that retaliatory measures could take effect if ongoing negotiations with the United States over the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs fail to yield an agreement.

A meeting on economic and trade affairs between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will take place at the request of the U.S. side, during He’s May 9-12 visit to Switzerland. China’s Commerce Ministry stressed that China will not seek to reach any agreement at the expense of sacrificing its principles or the cause of international fairness and justice.

Following their Thursday talks, Xi and Putin signed a joint statement on further deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. In the document, China and Russia voice firm opposition against unilateral and unlawful restrictive measures such as trade and financial restrictions.

The statement said that certain countries, under various pretexts, have arbitrarily imposed tariffs on their trading partners, seriously infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of other countries, gravely violating WTO rules, severely undermining the rules-based multilateral trading system, and profoundly disrupting the stability of the global economic order.

The two countries condemned acts of bypassing the UN Security Council to implement measures that violate the UN Charter and international law, obstruct justice and violate the rules of the WTO.

They also pledged to continue to jointly deal with the downward pressure on the world economy, and facilitate the participation of more Global South countries in international and regional trade.

In today’s world, China and Russia collaborate to establish a more just, sustainable and multipolar world order, said Vladimir Petrovskiy, chief researcher at the Institute of China and Contemporary Asia at the Russian Academy of Sciences.

To this end, China and Russia have been working closely in mechanisms like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which are vital platforms for Global South countries to address development challenges and promote universal peace, he said.

Xi is in Moscow for a state visit to Russia and celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War. He and Putin have met over 40 times on various occasions.

On Thursday, Xi and Putin held back-to-back small-group and large-group talks, and also had a chat over tea at the presidential office in the Kremlin.

When the two presidents met the press following their talks, Xi described his talks with Putin as “in-depth, cordial and fruitful,” adding that they reached many important new consensuses. Putin said Xi’s visit is of great significance, and will inject strong momentum into the development of bilateral ties.

The two presidents also witnessed the exchange of over 20 bilateral cooperation documents, covering areas such as global strategic stability, upholding the authority of international law, investment protection, digital economy, quarantine and film cooperation.

In 2024, trade between China and Russia reached 244.8 billion dollars. China has remained Russia’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.

Russia-China relations are built on equality and mutual respect, Putin said during talks with Xi. It is neither directed against any third party nor swayed by any transient matters, Putin noted.

The political trust between Russia and China is unparalleled in the world, said Alexander V. Lomanov, a researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences.

In this context, there is vast potential to further facilitate the movement not only of tourists, but also of experts, scientists and cultural figures between the two countries, he noted.

“There is much more we can do to deepen our exchanges,” he said. “The more frequent these interactions become, the stronger our mutual understanding will grow.”

MIL OSI China News –

May 10, 2025

MIL-OSI: Bitdeer Announces April 2025 Production and Operations Update

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) (“Bitdeer” or the “Company”), a world-leading technology company for Bitcoin mining, today announced its unaudited mining and operations updates for April 2025.

Operational Update

Self-mined Bitcoin: 166 Bitcoins, increase of 45.6% from March 2025 on higher average self-mining hashrate from energization of SEALMINERs.
Mining Rig Manufacturing and R&D:
- SEALMINER A1: 3.7 EH/s are energized with remaining 0.1 EH/s to be energized in Q2 2025.
- SEALMINER A2:
  - Total of 3.3 EH/s mining rigs have been manufactured and 1.2 EH/s are in assembly as of the end of April.
  - Of the 3.3 EH/s mining rigs that have been manufactured:
    - External-sales: 1.3 EH/s of mining rigs have been shipped to external customers.
    - Self-mining:
      - 0.5 EH/s have been deployed in Texas and Tydal, Norway.
      - 0.4 EH/s are in-transit to Bitdeer’s site in Texas and Tydal, Norway.
      - 1.1 EH/s are being prepared for shipping.
- SEALMINER A3:
  - Beyond the initial testing result of an energy efficiency of 9.7 J/TH at the chip level while running at low voltage, ultra power-saving mode, Bitdeer successfully completed testing several dozen of its prototype models in April 2025, with all the test results meeting expectations.
  - Machine level testing is expected to be finalized by late Q2 2025.
- SEALMINER A4:
  - SEAL04 R&D remains on track to achieve an expected chip efficiency of approximately 5 J/TH with anticipated initial tape-out in Q4 2025.
HPC/AI:
- Discussions are ongoing with multiple development partners and potential end users for selected large scale sites in the U.S. for HPC/AI.
Hosting:
- Client-hosted mining rigs increased by 3,000 units or 0.6 EH/s in April 2025, due to existing customers increasing hosted mining rigs.
Infrastructure:
- Tydal, Norway: 70 MW of available power capacity was energized in April 2025. The remaining 105 MW are expected to be energized by end of Q2 2025.
- Jigmeling, Bhutan: 132 MW of available power capacity was energized in April 2025. The remaining 368 MW are on track to be energized in phases by the end of Q2 2025. Two 132kV transformers have been energized and five 220kV transformers are expected to be ready for energization in June 2025. Construction of datacenter infrastructure and cooling systems are in progress and also expected to be completed in June 2025.
- Clarington, Ohio: Paused Bitcoin mining related construction at 570 MW Clarington, Ohio site (Phase 1 and 2) as a result of advancing HPC/AI discussions.
Financing:
- In April 2025, Bitdeer entered into a loan agreement with Matrixport Group, a related party of the Company, for a financing facility of up to US$200.0 million. Loans drawn under the facility bear a variable interest rate equal to 9.0% plus a market-based reference rate. Each drawdown is repayable in fixed monthly installments over a 24-month term and is secured by a pledge of SEALMINERs.

Management Commentary

“In April 2025, we successfully energized 70 MW and 132 MW of power capacity at our Tydal, Norway expansion and Jigmeling, Bhutan sites, respectively, bringing Bitdeer’s global available power capacity to nearly 1.1 GW,” said Matt Kong, Chief Business Officer at Bitdeer. “By the end of June 2025, we expect to energize the remaining 473 MW at Tydal and Jigmeling, increasing our global available power capacity to 1.6 GW—of which more than half will be located outside the U.S. Our early investment in global diversification is now yielding meaningful strategic benefits. Our international footprint enhances our operational flexibility, particularly as we navigate evolving global trade dynamics. In the near term, we are prioritizing deployments of our SEALMINER A2s in Norway and Bhutan, which we expect will drive our self-mining hashrate to over 40 EH/s in 2025. Further, we made the strategic decision to pause Bitcoin mining related construction at our 570 MW site in Clarington, Ohio due to advancing discussions with multiple development partners and end users for HPC/AI. The Company maintains full optionality to reassess and resume the build-out for Bitcoin mining at a later date.”

Production and Operations Summary

Metrics	Apr 2025	Mar 2025	Apr 2024
Total hash rate under management¹(EH/s)	25.1	24.2	22.3
– Proprietary hash rate	12.4	12.1	8.4
• Self-mining	12.4	11.5	6.7
• Cloud Hash Rate	–	–	1.7
• Delivered but not hashing	–	0.6	–
– Hosting	12.7	12.1	13.9
Mining rigs under management	179,000	175,000	224,000
– Self-owned²	98,000	97,000	86,000
– Hosted	81,000	78,000	138,000
Bitcoins mined (self-mining only)	166	114	265
Bitcoin held³	1,246	1,156	103

¹Total hash rate under management as of April 30, 2025 across the Company’s primary business lines: Self-mining, Cloud Hash Rate, and Hosting.

Self-mining refers to cryptocurrency mining for the Company’s own account, which allows it to directly capture the high appreciation potential of cryptocurrency.
Cloud Hash Rate offers hash rate subscription plans and shares mining income with customers under certain arrangements. The Cloud Hash Rate stated above reflects the contracted hash rate with customers at month-end.
Hosting encompasses a one-stop mining machine hosting solution including deployment, maintenance, and management services for efficient cryptocurrency mining.

²Self-owned mining machines are for the Company’s self-mining business and Cloud Hash Rate business.
³Bitcoins held do not include the Bitcoins from deposits of the customers.

Infrastructure Construction Update

Site / Location	Capacity (MW)	Status	Timing⁴
Electrical capacity
– Rockdale, Texas	563	Online	Completed
– Knoxville, Tennessee	86	Online	Completed
– Wenatchee, Washington	13	Online	Completed
– Molde, Norway	84	Online	Completed
– Tydal, Norway	120	Online	Completed
– Gedu, Bhutan	100	Online	Completed
– Jigmeling, Bhutan	132	Online	Completed
Total electrical capacity	1,098⁵
Pipeline capacity
– Tydal, Norway Phase 2	105	In progress	Q2 2025
– Massillon, Ohio	221	In progress	Q3 – Q4 2025
– Clarington, Ohio Phase 1	266	Paused	TBD
– Clarington, Ohio Phase 2	304	Pending approval	TBD
– Jigmeling, Bhutan	368	In progress	Q2 2025
– Rockdale, Texas	179	In planning	Estimate 2026
– Alberta, Canada	99	In planning	Q4 2026
– Oromia Region, Ethiopia	50	In planning	Q4 2025
Total pipeline capacity	1,592
Total global electrical capacity	2,690

⁴ Indicative timing. All timing references are to calendar quarters and years.
⁵ Figures represent total available electrical capacity.

Rockdale, Texas – 100 MW Hydro-cooling conversion energization commenced:

All cooling system delivered and installed.
Energization in accordance with the phased of delivery of mining rigs.
Approximately 1.4 EH/s of SEALMINER A1 hydro mining rigs have been energized.

Tydal, Norway – 175 MW site expansion has commenced energization and is expected to be fully energized by end of Q2 2025:

70 MW was energized in April.
Remaining 105 MW is expected to be energized in phases by end of Q2 2025.
Installation of the transformers has been completed, with the delivery and installation of electrical equipment currently in progress. Additionally, the procurement and delivery of containers and hydro-cooling systems are underway, and drainage systems construction is ongoing.

Massillon, Ohio – 221 MW site on track for completion in H2 2025:

Substation construction is underway and is expected to be completed in Q3 2025.
Building design completed and construction has begun earlier than expected.
Estimated energization is expected to be completed in phases between Q3 and Q4 2025.

Clarington, Ohio – Paused Bitcoin mining related construction at 570 MW Clarington, Ohio site (both Phase 1 and 2) as a result of advancing HPC/AI discussions.

The Company maintains full optionality to reassess and resume the build-out for Bitcoin mining at a later date.

Jigmeling, Bhutan – 500 MW site has commenced energization and is expected to be fully energized in phases by end of Q2 2025:

132 MW was energized in April.
Remaining 368 MW is expected to be energized in phases by end of Q2 2025.
Two 132kV transformers have been energized and five 220kV transformers are expected to be ready for energization in June 2025.
Delivery of containers and hydro-cooling systems are in progress and is expected to be completed in phases by Q2 2025.

Fox Creek, Alberta – 101 MW site acquired in Alberta, sitting on 19 acres, is fully licensed and permitted:

Site includes all permits and licenses to construct an on-site natural gas power plant, as well as approval for a 99 MW grid interconnection with Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”).
Bitdeer will develop and construct the power plant in partnership with a leading engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) company and is expected to be energized by Q4 2026.

Oromia Region, Ethiopia – Signed an SPA and a turnkey agreement for the acquisition and construction of a 50 MW Bitcoin mining project in Ethiopia for US$7.5 million:

Acquisition includes local Ethiopian company with a mining permit, connected to a neighboring transmission substation at 33kV interconnection.
This local Ethiopian company has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ethiopian Electric Power Company for a duration of 4 years at an electricity price of approximately US$0.036/ kWh.
Bitdeer is working closely with an EPC contractor with specialized experience in Bitcoin mining and this mining project is expected to be energized in Q4 2025.

Upcoming Conferences and Events

May 14 – 15, 2025: Macquarie Asia Conference 2025 in Hong Kong
May 19 – 20, 2025: Barclay 15^th Annual Emerging Payments and Fintech Forum in New York City
May 20, 2025: Benchmark Virtual Digital Asset Seminar
May 21 – 22, 2025: B. Riley 25^th Annual Investor Conference in Marina Del Rey, California
May 28, 2025: Orange Group & Blockware Sell-side and Buy-side Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada
June 24 – 26, 2025: Roth 15th Annual Conference in London
June 25, 2025: Northland Virtual Growth Conference 2025

About Bitdeer Technologies Group

Bitdeer is a world-leading technology company for Bitcoin mining. Bitdeer is committed to providing comprehensive Bitcoin mining solutions for its customers. The Company handles complex processes involved in computing such as equipment procurement, transport logistics, datacenter design and construction, equipment management, and daily operations. The Company also offers advanced cloud capabilities to customers with high demand for artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitdeer has deployed datacenters in the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. To learn more, visit https://ir.bitdeer.com/ or follow Bitdeer on X @ BitdeerOfficial and LinkedIn @ Bitdeer Group.

Investors and others should note that Bitdeer may announce material information using its website and/or on its accounts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Therefore, Bitdeer encourages investors and others to review the information it posts on the social media and other communication channels listed on its website.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “look forward to,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bitdeer’s annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Bitdeer’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Bitdeer specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations
Orange Group
Yujia Zhai
bitdeerIR@orangegroupadvisors.com

Public Relations
BlocksBridge Consulting
Nishant Sharma
bitdeer@blocksbridge.com

The MIL Network –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: Missile strikes and drone attacks heighten South Asian crisis – 8 questions answered over the role of Pakistan’s military in responding

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ayesha Jalal, Professor of History, Tufts University

A mosque lies in ruins after an Indian airstrike in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on May 7, 2025. Zubair Abbasi/Middle East Images//AFP via Getty Images

Pakistan’s government has pledged to respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing” following an air attack from India that killed 31 people in Pakistan on May 6, 2025.

The missile strike comes at a time of increased tension between the two South Asian neighbors following a terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on April 22 that resulted in the deaths of 26 Indian tourists.

India blamed the assault on its neighbor although has yet to provide any solid proof of a link between the assailants and the Pakistani state.

To understand more about how Pakistan’s powerful military is viewing the incident, and weighing a response, The Conversation U.S. turned to Ayesha Jalal, an expert on South Asian history and politics who is the Mary Ricardson Professor of History at Tufts University.

Who will makes the decisions over how Pakistan responds?

This is clearly a defense issue, so the Pakistani military is going to take the lead. Any decision over how to respond to the Indian airstrikes will have to be done in consultation with the civilian government. But ultimately it will be the powerful Pakistani generals that will be making the decisions.

In Pakistan, this is the usual way of doing things. The military has dominated politics in Pakistan for decades. Partly, this is due to the very dynamic we are seeing now. From the creation of Pakistan onward, there has been tension with India, including over Kashmir. Indeed the two countries went to war over Kashmir within a year of the partition of India soon after the creation of Pakistan. So the military has always been seen as central to Pakistan’s view of itself as an independent nation.

Then in 1958, the Pakistani army toppled the civilian government in the country’s first of several military coup attempts, three of which have been successful.

Since that time onward, no civilian government has been able to govern successfully for long without the support of the army. Recent political developments in the country – the ouster and arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and a 2024 election that resulted in a weak coalition government – have only strengthened the hand of Pakistan’s military.

What do we know about Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Syed Asim Munir?

Despite the Pakistani Army’s position of power, Gen. Syed Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, is someone who has tried to keep out of the spotlight. He is known as a very religious character – he is a Hafiz, meaning he has memorized the Quran. And he is seen as a tough, fairly inaccessible soldier.

He is also a hawk when it comes to relations with India. Speaking after the Kashmir attack and before India’s airstrikes, Munir warned, “Let there be no ambiguity: Any military misadventure by India will be met with a swift, resolute, and notch-up response.”

Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir on July 16, 2023.
Iranian Presidency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

This approach is somewhat of a departure from that of the man he replaced in 2022, former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa. Bajwa was more inclined to look for a peaceful resolution with India over Kashmir and other issues.

Munir, by contrast, presents a a more belligerent front in the face of what many in Pakistan see as Indian aggression, while framing the rivalry between the two nations in religious terms.

What role has he and the Pakistani army played so far in the crisis?

A lot has been made, especially in India, of comments that Munir made a few days before the attack in Pahalgam.

Munir described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and framed the long-running animosity between Pakistan and India in religious terms, invoking the “two-nation” theory that states that India is a homeland for Hindus; Pakistan is one for Muslims. The theory, conveyed by much of India’s media, is that Munir’s was an inflammatory statement that encouraged the Pahalgam attack.

But there is nothing in what he said that was entirely original or new: This has been the narrative of the Pakistani military for several decades. It is simply how they talk.

Is there evidence that Pakistan’s military played a role in the attack?

None that India has presented as yet.

India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the Kashmiri militants responsible – but hasn’t articulated what the actual relationship is between Pakistan and the militant group, The Resistance Front.

Certainly, Pakistan has in the past had ties to some of the many militant groups in Kashmir. For some groups, that has meant crossing over from Indian-controlled Kashmir to Pakistan for training.

But the argument that “Pakistan used to do it, so they must be doing it now” seems unsupported – certainly, Indian hasn’t presented solid evidence to any international body.

What has the reaction of the international community been?

India is not on as strong of ground as it was in 2019, when a suicide bomber in Pulwama, Indian-administerd Kashmir, killed 40 members of the Central Reserve Police Force. On that occasion, the international community swung behind India, with the U.S. offering counterterrorism support while calling on Pakistan to stop sheltering terrorists.

Without firm evidence of a link between the attack and Pakistan this time around, the international community has found it difficult to go with India’s narrative of the attack. The U.S. has called on both sides to find a “peaceful resolution.”

Meanwhile China has indicated that it is standing by Pakistan in a statement in which it expressed “regret over India’s military actions” while also calling on both India and Pakistan to “avoid taking actions that further complicate the situation.”

What pressures will the Pakistani army be under to respond?

In Pakistan, the view is this is India attempting to assert its dominance and create what analysts have called a “new normal” in relationships between the two countries – one in which India will retaliate to any perceived Pakistani-linked terror attack with missile strikes on Pakistan’s territory.

The theory here is that India doesn’t mind escalation, in fact it is seen as serving the Hindu nationalist aims of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

But I wouldn’t describe it as public pressure on Pakistan’s military to respond, it is more strategic pressure. Pakistan will need to prevent this “new normal” happening, and so will, in my view, very likely respond in kind to the Indian airstrikes.

What can Pakistan do in response?

Well, for starters it has, in theory, the capacity to hit over 200 Indian cities with its arsenal of missiles. But Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has already said that strikes would only target Indian military targets and not civilians. Pakistan also has to weigh how India may respond to any retaliatory strikes.

But India has expanded the usual terms of engagement when it comes to Kashmir. Typically in recent years, fighting has been contained along the “line of control” – the border between Indian- and Pakistani-controled Kashmir.

But the Indian airstrike was deep within Pakistan. India says that the targets were all terrorist, but civilians were killed in the process – and Pakistan’s military will not be able to just leave it at that. A response is very much expected, especially now that India has upped the ante by using Israeli made Harop drones in an attempt to target the Pakistani air defense system. Pakistan claims it has shot down 25 of these drones.

What are the risks of escalation for Pakistan?

Obviously the most pressing risk is that Pakistan and India are both nuclear states. If Pakistan retaliates in an escalatory way, and then India responds in a similar fashion, this gets to a point where the use of nuclear weapons is a very real risk.

War would also hit Pakistan’s economy at a time when it is seen to be improving after years of crisis. But that will likely be of secondary importance in the decision-making process for Pakistan’s military if it believes that the country’s integrity is being threatened.

In addition, Pakistan’s generals will likely be of the view that India, in attacking Pakistan, is trying to thwart any economic recovery in Pakistan – with the belief being that India’s government fears a powerful, more economically stable rival.

Ayesha Jalal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Missile strikes and drone attacks heighten South Asian crisis – 8 questions answered over the role of Pakistan’s military in responding – https://theconversation.com/missile-strikes-and-drone-attacks-heighten-south-asian-crisis-8-questions-answered-over-the-role-of-pakistans-military-in-responding-256185

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The prospect of a US pope was once viewed with suspicion – but Leo XIV could prove an important counter to Trump

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Massimo D’Angelo, Research Associate in the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs, Loughborough University

Pope Leo XIV has been elected as the 267th pontiff, leader of the Catholic church and spiritual guide to more than 1.4 billion Catholics. He is the first pope in history to come from the United States.

Since the 19th century, the influence of the United States within the Catholic Church has steadily increased, mirroring the country’s global geopolitical rise. US bishops, institutions and donors have played a growing role in shaping church policy, appointments and international engagement, signalling a shift away from traditional European dominance.

This growing influence had long been accompanied by unease over the idea of entrusting the leadership of the global Catholic community to a figure from the world’s most powerful nation. In this sense, the election of Leo XIV is an unexpected and significant choice.

Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955, has spent much of his ecclesiastical life to date in Peru, where he became a respected figure within the local church. He had been sent to Peru on a missions after taking his solemn vows as an Augustinian and studying in Rome.

Once there, he served for many years as judicial vicar and professor of canon, patristic (early Christian), and moral theology in Trujillo. In 2014, he was appointed apostolic administrator of Chiclayo and became its bishop in 2015, a post he held until 2023.

Prevost gained Peruvian citizenship and was widely regarded as a stabilising, pastoral presence in a church often divided between liberation theology and ultra-traditionalism. Known for his humility and approachability, he was respected for his ability to foster dialogue among Peru’s diverse episcopate.

His longstanding commitment to Latin America helped shape his international reputation and proved key to his eventual election as the church’s first North American pope.

Continuity or rupture with Francis?

It is difficult to determine at this early stage whether the election of Leo XIV will mark a continuation of Pope Francis’s pontificate or a clear departure from it. More likely, it will represent something of a middle path.

The first image of the newly elected pope – appearing on the balcony in traditional white and red papal garments, adorned with a gold cross – was striking. It echoed the appearance of Benedict XVI in 2005, in contrast to Francis’s more austere choice of a plain white cassock and silver cross, which reflected a deliberate gesture of humility.

Yet, Leo XIV’s strong focus on the poor – rooted in his years as a missionary in Peru – and his warm greeting to the Peruvian community, one of the Church’s global peripheries, suggest a clear line of continuity with Francis’s pastoral priorities.

Even his choice of name evokes Leo XIII, pope from 1878 to 1903 and author of Rerum Novarum, the landmark encyclical on social justice and the rights of the poor. Leo XIV may, therefore, embody a papacy that maintains a firm commitment to the marginalised, while adopting a less confrontational, more measured style than that of his reformist predecessor, who sometimes adopted openly anti-curial stances.

A Counterweight to Trump?

Prior to becoming pope, Prevost has, on several occasions, openly criticised the current US administration – particularly on matters of migration policy. As a cardinal, he voiced concern over statements made by US vice president J.D Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019.

He shared an article challenging Vance’s interpretation of Christian love in relation to immigration. Prevost also shared posts critical of both Donald Trump and Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national living in Maryland.

In this light, the election of an American pope – once a prospect viewed with suspicion – could now represent one of the strongest moral voices against the hardline migration policies of his own country’s government and a counterbalance to Donald Trump’s influence.

The choice of the name Leo is also potentially significant here. Pope Leo XIII strongly opposed extreme nationalism, viewing it as a threat to the Church’s universal mission and moral authority.

While acknowledging the value of legitimate patriotism, he maintained that loyalty to God and the church must always take precedence over allegiance to the nation-state. In encyclicals such as Immortale Dei and Sapientiae Christianae, he defended the church’s supranational character and cautioned against subordinating faith to national interests.

For Leo XIII, true civic virtue could never conflict with divine law, and any form of nationalism that did so risked becoming a kind of idolatry. In an era of rising nationalism across the globe – particularly in the United States – connecting to this message would be a clear and powerful statement.

While the prospect of an American pope once caused concern, the choice of Leo XIV shows sensitivity to the world’s margins. Yet, in a Church where Catholic growth is most pronounced in Africa and Asia – while numbers continue to decline in Europe and the Americas – the election of another western pontiff is not without its challenges. Some regions may still feel overlooked or underrepresented.

A promising gesture was the decision to deliver a brief message in Spanish from the balcony of St Peter’s – the first time in papal history. At the same time, it is striking that the most globally diverse conclave ever convened has placed the church’s leadership in the hands of a cardinal from the world’s most powerful nation. The new pope will need to unify a church that is increasingly global and moving beyond its eurocentric past.

Massimo D’Angelo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The prospect of a US pope was once viewed with suspicion – but Leo XIV could prove an important counter to Trump – https://theconversation.com/the-prospect-of-a-us-pope-was-once-viewed-with-suspicion-but-leo-xiv-could-prove-an-important-counter-to-trump-256146

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Indonesia credit and charge card payments market to grow by 3.2% in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

Indonesia credit and charge card payments market to grow by 3.2% in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

Posted in Banking

Indonesia’s credit and charge card payments market is expected to register a growth of 3.2% to reach IDR441.8 trillion ($27.9 billion) in 2025. This growth will be driven by the rising consumer spending and increasing consumer preference for cashless transactions. Enhanced by value-added incentives such as cashback offers, flexible repayment options, and installment facilities, the market is set to maintain an upward trajectory, despite the evolving global economic challenges, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that credit and charge card payment value in Indonesia registered a growth of 7.8% in 2024, driven by the rise in consumer spending.

Kartik Challa, Senior Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Public awareness of the advantages associated with credit card usage is gradually rising in Indonesia. The launch of domestic credit card scheme like Kartu Kredit Indonesia (KKI) has also contributed to the rising adoption of credit cards. Consumers frequently utilize these cards to capitalize on benefits, including cashback offers and rewards programs.”

While credit and charge card penetration is low compared to debit cards, consumers are increasingly using credit and charge cards for payments, with the frequency of payments per card standing at 24.2 times in 2024 (compared to 3.9 for debit cards) and is anticipated to further rise to 30.9 in 2029. This is driven by banks offering flexible repayment options and value-added benefits such as cashback, reward points, discounts, and installment facilities.

Bank Mandiri offers an installment facility to Visa Credit Card Shopee and Mastercard Livin’ Everyday credit card holders. Likewise, Bank Negara Indonesia offers BNI installment plan allowing its credit card holders to convert purchases into three, six, nine, 12, 18, 24, and 36 monthly installments.

Meanwhile, to mitigate the risk of over-indebtedness, banks provide debt consolidation programs. HSBC Indonesia, for instance, presents a Debt Management service to clients who have utilized credit cards or personal loans. This service includes options to lower the amount of each installment, extend the repayment term, or decrease the total amount owed by waiving interest or fees. These measures are designed to assist customers in managing their financial obligations more effectively.

Gradual improvement in payment infrastructure is also contributing to the rise of credit and charge cards in the country, with the total number of POS terminals rising from 1.4 million in 2020 to 2.2 million in 2024. The figure is expected to reach 3 million by 2029. Overall, the number of POS terminals per million inhabitants in Indonesia stood at 7,793 in 2024, which is higher compared to some of its peers such as India (6,964), Vietnam (5,988), the Philippines (4,891), and Cambodia (2,477), though there is significant room for further expansion of POS infrastructure.

Challa concludes: “While the market size for credit and charge cards is smaller compared to debit cards, it is experiencing notable growth. This is due to growing consumer spending, and growth in e-commerce payments. However, challenges such as the ongoing global trade tariff dispute among major countries, and geopolitical uncertainties remain bottlenecks to the market. Overall, the value of credit and charge card payments is forecast to register a slower compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% between 2025 and 2029 to reach IDR622.3 trillion ($39.2 billion) in 2029.”

MIL OSI Global Banks –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: HIV market to surpass $32 billion across 7MM in 2033, forecasts GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

HIV market to surpass $32 billion across 7MM in 2033, forecasts GlobalData

Posted in Pharma

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) market across the seven major markets (7MM*) is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9% from $26.5 billion in 2023 to $32.1 billion in 2033, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s report, “Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Seven-Market Drug Forecast,” reveals that market growth will primarily be driven by the increased uptake of long-acting injectable therapies, as well as the anticipated launch of novel single tablet regimens (STRs).

Anaelle Tannen, Infectious Disease Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The pipeline analysis indicates a shift away from 3-drug STRs and towards 2-drug STRs. These are hoped to have reduced toxicities and side effects as a result.”

Six products are currently in Phase III development and are expected to launch by 2033, including four two-drug STRs. These are Gilead Sciences’ (Gilead) once-daily combination of bictegravir and lenacapavir, Merck’s once-daily doravirine and islatravir, Gilead’s once-weekly islatravir and lenacapavir, and a once-weekly regimen of GS-1720 and GS-4182 developed jointly by Gilead and Merck.

Tannen continues: “Currently all STRs require daily administration and there is a need for alternative and more convenient options for patients which islatravir+lenacapavir and GS-1720+GS-4182 could address.”

Other notable therapies in late-stage development include CytoDyn’s once-weekly leronlimab, which is expected to be used in patients with CCR5-type virus, and Gilead’s biannual injectable lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)**.

Tannen adds: “Long-acting injectable therapies will gain significant market share across the 7MM as this method requires infrequent dosing and is thus more convenient. Lenacapavir, for example, is initially expected to be administered subcutaneously biannually for PrEP, and clinical trials are underway to see its efficacy when administered once a year. Data from a Phase I trial has demonstrated lenacapavir’s potential when administered intramuscularly once yearly.”

Subcutaneous lenacapavir has demonstrated 100% efficacy in preventing new HIV infections in the PURPOSE1 Phase III trial and thus has shown its potential as an important new tool for PrEP. However, subcutaneous lenacapavir is expected to be more expensive than daily oral PrEP and the key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData have highlighted that this may be a barrier to access.

Furthermore, despite the anticipated launch of several innovative products, generic erosion will represent a barrier to growth over the forecast period, with key products such as Biktarvy and Dovato losing patent protection and becoming vulnerable to competition from generics.

Tannen concludes: “Whilst many pipeline drugs have demonstrated promising efficacy and safety profiles, none will be superior, in terms of commercial success, to the current standard of care Biktarvy.”

*The US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan.

**Lenacapavir is already marketed across the 7MM under the brand name Sunlenca for usage in treatment-experienced patients with multidrug-resistant HIV.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Algernon Yau visits Beijing

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau began a visit to Beijing today by calling on the Ministry of Commerce.

Mr Yau briefed a number of departments of the ministry on Hong Kong’s latest efforts in promoting trade and attracting business and investment.

He said that even in the face of protectionism and unilateralism, in particular the unreasonable coercion arising from US tariffs, Hong Kong will continue to capitalise on its unparalleled advantages under “one country, two systems” to consolidate and enhance its status as an international trade centre, performing its dual role of helping Mainland enterprises to go global while attracting overseas investment.

He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will step up its efforts to attract enterprises and investment, and to explore more new markets, while at the same time better integrating into the overall national development, seizing opportunities arising from the country’s domestic circulation and giving full play to Hong Kong’s roles as a super connector and super value-adder to address changes in the global economic and trade landscape.

Additionally, Mr Yau met representatives from Hong Kong enterprises in Beijing to hear about their experiences and exchange views on the challenges faced by enterprises in the current international environment.

Mr Yau will proceed to Qatar tomorrow to join a Hong Kong delegation there led by Chief Executive John Lee. During Mr Yau’s absence, Under Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Bernard Chan will be Acting Secretary.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Briefing on healthcare fees held

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Health Bureau, together with the Hospital Authority, today held the second District Council (DC) briefing on reforms to public healthcare fees and charges, explaining these to more than 200 DC members and local people.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said apart from restructuring the subsidisation levels for various services in a precise manner, such fees and charges reform also emphasises enhancing healthcare protection for “poor, acute, serious, critical” patients, enabling public healthcare to serve as a larger, more stable, thicker and denser safety net for all.

He added: “Through this briefing, we hope to explain details of the reform to DC members, and leverage the role of DC as a bridge to assist members of the public to get a better grasp of the substance and meaning of the fees and charges reform.”

The authority’s Deputising Chief Executive Dr Simon Tang highlighted three key measures for strengthening healthcare protection, namely enhancing the medical fee waiver mechanism, introducing an annual cap of $10,000 for public healthcare fees and charges, and optimising the application and subsidisation of innovative drugs and medical devices.

A means test calculator has been launched on the authority’s website and on its mobile app, “HA Go”, allowing users to input information on their household income and assets to view a preliminary assessment of their eligibility for the enhanced medical fee waiver and the Samaritan Fund.

The new fees and charges will take effect on January 1 next year.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE advances gender-sensitive law enforcement and border management in Central Asia

Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

Headline: OSCE advances gender-sensitive law enforcement and border management in Central Asia

Members of the Regional Network of Women in Law Enforcement and Border Agencies in Central Asia during the Network’s meeting, Vienna, 8 May 2025. (OSCE/Micky Kroell) Photo details

As part of the OSCE’s efforts to empower women in the security sector and strengthen regional security, the OSCE Secretariat, with support from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the five OSCE field operations in Central Asia, held the first meeting of the Regional Network of Women in Law Enforcement and Border Agencies in Central Asia in Vienna, Austria, on 7 and 8 May.
The meeting brought together the Network’s members, which comprises representatives of law enforcement and border agencies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and featured representatives from the OSCE Chairpersonship, Secretariat, and several participating States. It aimed to build on two preparatory events from 2023 and 2024 and kickstart the Network’s operation.
The participants developed the Network’s strategic concept and discussed its next steps. They also took part in capacity-building activities to integrate gender-sensitive approaches for detecting human trafficking at borders, for increasing women’s participation in and good governance of the security sector, and for developing related projects. The event also served as a platform for participants to strengthen the Network’s connections with the representatives from the OSCE Secretariat, Chairpersonship and participating States.
The meeting was held as part of several OSCE extrabudgetary projects, including “WIN for Women and Men”, “Support, capacity-building and awareness-raising for Security Sector Governance and Reform within the OSCE: Phase III” as well as the Transnational Threat Department’s programme and ODIHR’s Human Rights, Gender and Security programme.

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI: Outbrain Announces First Quarter 2025 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Outbrain Inc. (Nasdaq: OB), which is operating under the new Teads brand following Outbrain’s acquisition of Teads in February 2025, announced today financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

First Quarter 2025 Key Financial Metrics¹:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions USD)		2025			2024		% Change
Revenue	$	286.4		$	217.0		32	%
Gross profit		82.7			41.6		99	%
Net loss		(54.8	)		(5.0	)	NM
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(1.0	)		8.6		(111	)%

Non-GAAP Financial Data*
Ex-TAC gross profit		103.1			52.2		98	%
Adjusted EBITDA		10.7			1.4		665	%
Adjusted net loss		(15.3	)		(4.9	)	(211	)%
Free cash flow		(6.6	)		4.6		(242	)%

_____________________________

¹ Incorporates the results of operations for legacy Teads from February 3, 2025 through March 31, 2025
* See non-GAAP reconciliations below
NM Not meaningful

“We are off to a strong start following the completion of the combination with Teads. In the first quarter, we delivered financial results above the mid-range of our guidance, while closing the acquisition, issuing five-year senior secured notes, and reaching many major milestones of integration and synergy realization. We are in the early days, but the feedback to our brandformance platform strategy from the hundreds of advertisers and media owners we have met has been highly encouraging,” said David Kostman, CEO of Teads.

First Quarter 2025 Business Highlights:

Completed the acquisition of Teads, for total consideration of approximately $900 million, comprised of $625 million in cash and 43.75 million shares of Outbrain common stock. The combined company is operating under the name Teads.
Expect to realize approximately $65 million to $75 million of synergies in 2026 with further opportunities for expanded synergies. Of this amount, approximately $60 million relates to cost synergies, including approximately $45 million of compensation-related expenses, with approximately 90% of the estimated compensation-related synergies already actioned. For 2025, expect to realize a benefit from cost synergies of approximately $40 million, which represents an increase from initial expectations.
Initial cross-selling of legacy Outbrain performance solutions to legacy Teads enterprise brand customers launched in Q2 with several campaigns sold.
New strategic Joint Business Partnerships (JBPs) with Ferrero, Haleon, Philip Morris International, and Beiersdorf.
~500 advertisers spending at least a half a million dollars on a rolling 12 month basis, with an average spend of over $2 million annually, which represents approximately 70% of total customer spend.
CTV experienced more than 100% year-over-year growth in Q1 2025, and now represents approximately 5% of total ad spend.
Continued strong adoption of Moments vertical video offering launched in Q3 2024 and is now live on over 70 publishers, including Axel Springer, Fox News, and Webedia.
Premium supply competitive wins include Godo (Spain) WWS (Japan), and renewals include Conde Nast and TMZ (US), Ansa (Italy), Webedia (France) and Sankei (Japan).

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

Revenue of $286.4 million, an increase of $69.4 million, or 32%, compared to $217.0 million in the prior year period primarily due to the acquisition, including net unfavorable foreign currency effects of approximately $2.6 million.
Gross profit of $82.7 million, an increase of $41.1 million, or 99%, compared to $41.6 million in the prior year period. Gross margin increased to 28.9%, compared to 19.2% in the prior year period, reflecting the higher gross margin profile of the acquired business.
Ex-TAC gross profit of $103.1 million, an increase of $50.9 million, or 98%, compared to $52.2 million in the prior year period, primarily due to the acquisition. Our Ex-TAC gross margin increased to 36.0%, compared to 24.0% in the prior year period, reflecting the higher margin profile of the acquired business.
Net loss of $54.8 million, compared to net loss of $5.0 million in the prior year period. Net loss in the current period includes pre-tax acquisition-related costs of $16.4 million, impairment charges of $15.6 million primarily related to the discontinuance of the vi product offering, restructuring charges of $7.3 million related to our previously announced restructuring plan to streamline operations and reduce duplicative roles post-acquisition, and bridge facility related costs of $12.0 million.
Adjusted net loss of $15.3 million, compared to adjusted net loss of $4.9 million in the prior year period.
Adjusted EBITDA of $10.7 million, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $1.4 million in the prior year period.
Net cash used in operating activities of $1.0 million, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $8.6 million in the prior year period. Free cash flow was $(6.6) million, as compared to $4.6 million in the prior year period, primarily related to cash outflows related to transaction costs and restructuring charges of $16.2 million.
Cash, cash equivalents and investments in marketable securities were $155.9 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $136.3 million and short-term investments in marketable securities of $19.6 million as of March 31, 2025.
Total debt obligations were $627.0 million, including the $610.8 million carrying value of the 10% senior secured notes due 2030 issued in February 2025 (principal amount of $637.5 million, net of unamortized discount and deferred financing costs) and $16.2 million outstanding under a short-term overdraft facility assumed in the acquisition.
Entered into a credit agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank, U.S. Bank Trust Company, and certain other lenders, which provided, among other things, for a new $100.0 million super senior secured revolving credit facility, which expires on February 3, 2030, which may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. The prior revolving credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank & Trust Company, dated as of November 2, 2021 was terminated.

Second Quarter Guidance

The following forward-looking statements reflect our expectations for the second quarter and full year of 2025.

For the second quarter ending June 30, 2025, we expect:

Ex-TAC gross profit of $141 million to $150 million
Adjusted EBITDA of $26 million to $34 million

For the full year ending December 31, 2025, we continue to expect:

Adjusted EBITDA of at least $180 million

The above measures are forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures for which a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is not available without unreasonable efforts. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. In addition, our guidance is subject to risks and uncertainties, as outlined below in this release.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Outbrain will host an investor conference call this morning, Friday, May 9 at 8:30 am ET. Interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call which can be accessed live by phone by dialing 1-877-497-9071 or for international callers, 1-201-689-8727. A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 1-877-660-6853, or for international callers, 1-201-612-7415. The passcode for the live call and the replay is 13753068. The replay will be available until May 23, 2025. Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Investors Relations section of the Company’s website at https://investors.outbrain.com. The online replay will be available for a limited time shortly following the call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to GAAP performance measures, we use the following supplemental non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends, and allocate our resources: Ex-TAC gross profit, Ex-TAC gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, adjusted net income (loss), and adjusted diluted EPS. These non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled to the corresponding GAAP measures below. These non-GAAP financial measures are subject to significant limitations, including those we identify below. In addition, other companies in our industry may define these measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures. As a result, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant as a substitute for revenue, gross profit, net income (loss), diluted EPS, or cash flows from operating activities presented in accordance with GAAP.

Because we are a global company, the comparability of our operating results is affected by foreign exchange fluctuations. We calculate certain constant currency measures and foreign currency impacts by translating the current year’s reported amounts into comparable amounts using the prior year’s exchange rates. All constant currency financial information that may be presented is non-GAAP and should be used as a supplement to our reported operating results. We believe that this information is helpful to our management and investors to assess our operating performance on a comparable basis. However, these measures are not intended to replace amounts presented in accordance with GAAP and may be different from similar measures calculated by other companies.

The Company is also providing second quarter and full year guidance. These forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures are calculated based on internal forecasts that omit certain amounts that would be included in GAAP financial measures. The Company has not provided quantitative reconciliations of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures because it is unable, without unreasonable effort, to predict with reasonable certainty the occurrence or amount of all excluded items that may arise during the forward-looking period, which can be dependent on future events that may not be reliably predicted. Such excluded items could be material to the reported results individually or in the aggregate.

Ex-TAC Gross Profit

Ex-TAC gross profit is a non-GAAP financial measure. Gross profit is the most comparable GAAP measure. In calculating Ex-TAC gross profit, we add back other cost of revenue to gross profit. Ex-TAC gross profit may fluctuate in the future due to various factors, including, but not limited to, seasonality and changes in the number of media partners and advertisers, advertiser demand or user engagements.

We present Ex-TAC gross profit, Ex-TAC gross margin (calculated as Ex-TAC gross profit as a percentage of revenue), and Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Ex-TAC gross profit, because they are key profitability measures used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our operating performance and trends, develop short-term and long-term operational plans, and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. Accordingly, we believe that these measures provide information to investors and the market in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. There are limitations on the use of Ex-TAC gross profit in that traffic acquisition cost is a significant component of our total cost of revenue but not the only component and, by definition, Ex-TAC gross profit presented for any period will be higher than gross profit for that period. A potential limitation of this non-GAAP financial measure is that other companies, including companies in our industry, which have a similar business, may define Ex-TAC gross profit differently, which may make comparisons difficult. As a result, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant as a substitute for revenue or gross profit presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before gain on convertible debt; interest expense; interest income and other income (expense), net; provision for income taxes; depreciation and amortization; stock-based compensation; and other income or expenses that we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance, including but not limited to, acquisition-related costs, restructuring, and impairment charges. We present Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental performance measure because it is a key profitability measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our operating performance and trends, develop short-term and long-term operational plans and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital, and we believe it facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period.

We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and board of directors. However, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP information of other companies. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered as a supplemental measure and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measures of our financial performance that are calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted Diluted EPS

Adjusted net income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is defined as net income (loss) excluding items that we do not consider indicative of our core operating performance, including but not limited to gain on convertible debt, merger and acquisition costs, regulatory matter costs, and severance costs related to our cost saving initiatives. Adjusted net income (loss), as defined above, is also presented on a per diluted share basis. We present adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted EPS as supplemental performance measures because we believe they facilitate performance comparisons from period to period. However, adjusted net income (loss) or adjusted diluted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or diluted earnings per share reported in accordance with GAAP.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities, less capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs. Free cash flow is a supplementary measure used by our management and board of directors to evaluate our ability to generate cash and we believe it allows for a more complete analysis of our available cash flows. Free cash flow should be considered as a supplemental measure and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for any measures of our financial performance that are calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements generally relating to possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, plans and objectives, and statements relating to our recently completed acquisition (the “Acquisition”) of TEADS, a private limited liability company (société anonyme) incorporated and existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (“Teads”). You can generally identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “foresee,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions or are not statements of historical fact. We have based these forward- looking statements largely on our expectations and projections regarding future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors including, but not limited to: the ability of Outbrain to successfully integrate Teads or manage the combined business effectively; our ability to realize anticipated benefits and synergies of the Acquisition, including, among other things, operating efficiencies, revenue synergies and other cost savings; our due diligence investigation of Teads may be inadequate or risks related to Teads’ business may materialize; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Acquisition; our ability to raise additional financing in the future to fund our operations, which may not be available to us on favorable terms or at all; our ability to attract and retain customers, management and other key personnel; the volatility of the market price of the Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”); overall advertising demand and traffic generated by our media partners; factors that affect advertising demand and spending, such as the continuation or worsening of unfavorable economic or business conditions or downturns, instability or volatility in financial markets, tariffs and trade wars and other events or factors outside of our control, such as U.S. and global recession concerns, geopolitical concerns, including the ongoing war between Ukraine-Russia and conditions in Israel and the Middle East, supply chain issues, inflationary pressures, labor market volatility, bank closures or disruptions, the impact of challenging economic conditions, political and policy changes or uncertainties in the U.S., and other factors that have and may further impact advertisers’ ability to pay; our ability to continue to innovate, and adoption by our advertisers and media partners of our expanding solutions; the potential impact of artificial intelligence (“AI”) on our industry and our need to invest in AI-based solutions; the success of our sales and marketing investments, which may require significant investments and may involve long sales cycles; our ability to grow our business and manage growth effectively; our ability to compete effectively against current and future competitors; the loss or decline of one or more of our large media partners, and our ability to expand our advertiser and media partner relationships; conditions in Israel, including the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and any conflicts with other terrorist organizations or other countries; our ability to maintain our revenues or profitability despite quarterly fluctuations in our results, whether due to seasonality, large cyclical events, or other causes; the risk that our research and development efforts may not meet the demands of a rapidly evolving technology market; any failure of our recommendation engine to accurately predict attention or engagement, any deterioration in the quality of our recommendations or failure to present interesting content to users or other factors which may cause us to experience a decline in user engagement or loss of media partners; limits on our ability to collect, use and disclose data to deliver advertisements; our ability to extend our reach into evolving digital media platforms; our ability to maintain and scale our technology platform; our ability to meet demands on our infrastructure and resources due to future growth or otherwise; our failure or the failure of third parties to protect our sites, networks and systems against security breaches, or otherwise to protect the confidential information of us or our partners; outages or disruptions that impact us or our service providers, resulting from cyber incidents, or failures or loss of our infrastructure; significant fluctuations in currency exchange rates; political and regulatory risks in the various markets in which we operate; the challenges of compliance with differing and changing regulatory requirements, including with respect to privacy; the timing and execution of any cost-saving measures and the impact on our business or strategy; and the risks described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2024. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as an indication of future performance. We cannot assure you that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur, and actual results, events, or circumstances could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation and do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise, except as required by law.

About The Combined Company

Outbrain Inc. (Nasdaq: OB) and Teads combined on February 3, 2025 and are operating under the new Teads brand. The new Teads is the omnichannel outcomes platform for the open internet, driving full-funnel results for marketers across premium media. With a focus on meaningful business outcomes, the combined company ensures value is driven with every media dollar by leveraging predictive AI technology to connect quality media, beautiful brand creative, and context-driven addressability and measurement. One of the most scaled advertising platforms on the open internet, the new Teads is directly partnered with more than 10,000 publishers and 20,000 advertisers globally. The company is headquartered in New York, New York, with a global team of nearly 1,800 people in 36 countries.

Media Contact
press@outbrain.com

Investor Relations Contact
IR@outbrain.com
(332) 205-8999

OUTBRAIN INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations *(In thousands, except for share and per share data)*

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
	(Unaudited)
Revenue	$	286,357		$	216,964
Cost of revenue:
Traffic acquisition costs		183,235			164,810
Other cost of revenue		20,472			10,559
Total cost of revenue		203,707			175,369
Gross profit		82,650			41,595
Operating expenses:
Research and development		13,979			9,193
Sales and marketing		53,737			23,617
General and administrative		36,477			15,215
Impairment charges		15,614			—
Restructuring charges		7,279			167
Total operating expenses		127,086			48,192
Loss from operations		(44,436	)		(6,597	)
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense		(23,124	)		(937	)
Other (expense) income and interest income, net		(484	)		1,405
Total other (expense) income, net		(23,608	)		468
Loss before income taxes		(68,044	)		(6,129	)
Benefit from income taxes		(13,201	)		(1,088	)
Net loss	$	(54,843	)	$	(5,041	)

Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		77,954,579			49,265,012
Diluted		77,954,579			49,265,012

Net loss per common share:
Basic	$	(0.70	)	$	(0.10	)
Diluted	$	(0.70	)	$	(0.10	)

OUTBRAIN INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets *(In thousands, except for number of shares and par value)*

	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	136,312		$	89,094
Short-term investments in marketable securities		19,567			77,035
Accounts receivable, net of allowances		328,386			149,167
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		49,817			27,835
Total current assets		534,082			343,131
Non-current assets:
Property, equipment and capitalized software, net		47,879			45,250
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net		26,874			15,047
Intangible assets, net		391,022			16,928
Goodwill		587,494			63,063
Deferred tax assets		49,957			40,825
Indemnification asset		26,556			—
Other assets		24,176			24,969
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,688,040		$	549,213

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	274,060		$	206,920
Accrued compensation and benefits		50,760			19,430
Deferred revenue		13,066			6,932
Short-term debt		16,202			—
Accrued and other current liabilities		118,457			56,189
Total current liabilities		472,545			289,471
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt		610,816			—
Operating lease liabilities, non-current		20,356			11,783
Deferred tax liabilities		62,099			1,554
Contingent tax liabilities		36,632			9,343
Other liabilities		10,927			5,719
TOTAL LIABILITIES	$	1,213,375		$	317,870

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common stock, par value of $0.001 per share − one billion shares authorized; 94,349,511 shares issued and 94,293,190 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2025; 63,503,274 shares issued and 50,090,114 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024		94			64
Preferred stock, par value of $0.001 per share − 100,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024		—			—
Additional paid-in capital		674,442			484,541
Treasury stock, at cost − 56,321 shares as of March 31, 2025 and 13,413,160 shares as of December 31, 2024		(242	)		(74,289	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		24,707			(9,480	)
Accumulated deficit		(224,336	)		(169,493	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY		474,665			231,343
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	1,688,040		$	549,213

OUTBRAIN INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows *(In thousands)*

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
	(Unaudited)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss	$	(54,843	)	$	(5,041	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment		1,935			1,639
Amortization of capitalized software development costs		2,472			2,409
Amortization of intangible assets		8,466			852
Amortization of discount on marketable securities		(425	)		(642	)
Stock-based compensation		2,941			2,927
Non-cash operating lease expense		2,307			1,195
Provision for credit losses		298			1,693
Amortization of debt issuance costs		12,843			—
Deferred income taxes		(17,786	)		(174	)
Impairment of assets		15,614			—
Unrealized foreign currency transaction (gains) losses		1,688			312
Other		30			26
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		37,605			30,398
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		5,901			7,262
Accounts payable and other current liabilities		(22,374	)		(31,875	)
Operating lease liabilities		(2,614	)		(1,205	)
Deferred revenue		(830	)		(1,471	)
Other non-current assets and liabilities		5,806			300
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		(966	)		8,605

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired		(598,319	)		(181	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,921	)		(1,335	)
Capitalized software development costs		(2,699	)		(2,627	)
Purchases of marketable securities		(16,602	)		(31,578	)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities		74,221			31,492
Net cash used in investing activities		(546,320	)		(4,229	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the Bridge Facility		625,000			—
Repayments of borrowings under the Bridge Facility		(625,000	)		—
Proceeds from senior secured notes		625,305			—
Payment of deferred financing costs		(28,155	)		—
Payment of stock issuance costs		(775	)		—
Treasury stock repurchases and share withholdings on vested awards		(355	)		(4,015	)
Principal payments on finance lease obligations		—			(255	)
Proceeds from bank overdrafts, net		74			—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		596,094			(4,270	)
Effect of exchange rate changes		(57	)		363
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	48,751		$	469
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — Beginning		89,725			71,079
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash — Ending	$	138,476		$	71,548

OUTBRAIN INC. Non-GAAP Reconciliations *(In thousands)* (Unaudited)

The following table presents the reconciliation of Gross profit to Ex-TAC gross profit and Ex-TAC gross margin, for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
Revenue	$	286,357		$	216,964
Traffic acquisition costs		(183,235	)		(164,810	)
Other cost of revenue		(20,472	)		(10,559	)
Gross profit		82,650			41,595
Other cost of revenue		20,472			10,559
Ex-TAC gross profit	$	103,122		$	52,154

Gross margin (gross profit as % of revenue)		28.9	%		19.2	%
Ex-TAC gross margin (Ex-TAC gross profit as % of revenue)		36.0	%		24.0	%


The following table presents the reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA, for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
Net loss	$	(54,843	)	$	(5,041	)
Interest expense		23,124			937
Other expense (income) and interest income, net		484			(1,405	)
Benefit from income taxes		(13,201	)		(1,088	)
Depreciation and amortization		12,873			4,900
Stock-based compensation		2,941			2,927
Acquisition-related costs		16,418			—
Restructuring charges		7,279			167
Impairment charges		15,614			—
Adjusted EBITDA	$	10,689		$	1,397

Net loss as % of gross profit	(66.4		)%	(12.1		)%
Adjusted EBITDA as % of Ex-TAC Gross Profit		10.4	%		2.7	%

OUTBRAIN INC. Non-GAAP Reconciliations *(In thousands)* (Unaudited)

The following table presents the reconciliation of net loss and diluted EPS to adjusted net loss and adjusted diluted EPS, respectively, for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024			2023
Net loss	$	(54,843	)	$	(5,041	)
Adjustments:
Acquisition-related costs		16,418			—
Restructuring charges		7,279			167
Impairment charges		15,614			—
Bridge facility costs		11,996			—
Total adjustments, before tax		51,307			167
Income tax effect		(11,759	)		(41	)
Total adjustments, after tax		39,548			126
Adjusted net loss	$	(15,295	)	$	(4,915	)

Basic and diluted weighted-average shares		77,954,579			49,265,012

Diluted net loss per share – reported	$	(0.70	)	$	(0.10	)
Adjustments, after tax		0.50			—
Diluted loss per share – adjusted	$	(0.20	)	$	(0.10	)

The following table presents the reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities to free cash flow, for the periods presented:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2025			2024
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$	(966	)	$	8,605
Purchases of property and equipment		(2,921	)		(1,335	)
Capitalized software development costs		(2,699	)		(2,627	)
Free cash flow	$	(6,586	)	$	4,643

The MIL Network –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Detailed Result: OMO Purchase Auction held on May 09, 2025 and Settlement on May 13, 2025

Source: Reserve Bank of India

I. Summary OMO Purchase Results

Aggregate Amount (Face value) notified by RBI	: ₹25,000 crore
Total amount offered (Face value) by participants	: ₹76,845 crore
Total amount accepted (Face value) by RBI	: ₹25,000 crore

II. Details of OMO Purchase Issue

Security	6.54% GS 2032	7.57% GS 2033	6.19% GS 2034	6.64% GS 2035	7.54% GS 2036
No. of offers received	55	51	24	94	35
Total amount (face value) offered (₹ in crore)	9,167	26,522	6,909	27,284	6,963
No. of offers accepted	11	33	4	33	21
Total offer amount (face value) accepted by RBI (₹ in crore)	3,300	7,124	1,850	10,510	2,216
Cut off yield (%)	6.3203	6.4005	6.3681	6.4548	6.4993
Cut off price (₹)	101.17	107.29	98.75	101.35	108.10
Weighted average yield (%)	6.3240	6.4205	6.3797	6.4670	6.5189
Weighted average price (₹)	101.15	107.16	98.67	101.26	107.94
Partial allotment % of competitive offers at cut off price	NA	49.93	NA	41.88	NA

Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)

Press Release: 2025-2026/297

MIL OSI Economics –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: The prospect of an American pope was once viewed with suspicion – but Leo XIV could prove an important counter to Trump

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Massimo D’Angelo, Research Associate in the Institute for Diplomacy and International Affairs, Loughborough University

Pope Leo XIV has been elected as the 267th pontiff, leader of the Catholic church and spiritual guide to more than 1.4 billion Catholics. He is the first pope in history to come from the United States.

Since the 19th century, the influence of the United States within the Catholic Church has steadily increased, mirroring the country’s global geopolitical rise. American bishops, institutions and donors have played a growing role in shaping church policy, appointments and international engagement, signalling a shift away from traditional European dominance.

This growing influence had long been accompanied by unease over the idea of entrusting the leadership of the global Catholic community to a figure from the world’s most powerful nation. In this sense, the election of Leo XIV is an unexpected and significant choice.

Robert Francis Prevost, born in Chicago in 1955, has spent much of his ecclesiastical life to date in Peru, where he became a respected figure within the local church. He had been sent to Peru on a missions after taking his solemn vows as an Augustinian and studying in Rome.

Once there, he served for many years as judicial vicar and professor of canon, patristic (early Christian), and moral theology in Trujillo. In 2014, he was appointed apostolic administrator of Chiclayo and became its bishop in 2015, a post he held until 2023.

Prevost gained Peruvian citizenship and was widely regarded as a stabilising, pastoral presence in a church often divided between liberation theology and ultra-traditionalism. Known for his humility and approachability, he was respected for his ability to foster dialogue among Peru’s diverse episcopate.

His longstanding commitment to Latin America helped shape his international reputation and proved key to his eventual election as the church’s first North American pope.

Continuity or rupture with Francis?

It is difficult to determine at this early stage whether the election of Leo XIV will mark a continuation of Pope Francis’s pontificate or a clear departure from it. More likely, it will represent something of a middle path.

The first image of the newly elected pope – appearing on the balcony in traditional white and red papal garments, adorned with a gold cross – was striking. It echoed the appearance of Benedict XVI in 2005, in contrast to Francis’s more austere choice of a plain white cassock and silver cross, which reflected a deliberate gesture of humility.

Yet, Leo XIV’s strong focus on the poor – rooted in his years as a missionary in Peru – and his warm greeting to the Peruvian community, one of the Church’s global peripheries, suggest a clear line of continuity with Francis’s pastoral priorities.

Even his choice of name evokes Leo XIII, pope from 1878 to 1903 and author of Rerum Novarum, the landmark encyclical on social justice and the rights of the poor. Leo XIV may, therefore, embody a papacy that maintains a firm commitment to the marginalised, while adopting a less confrontational, more measured style than that of his reformist predecessor, who sometimes adopted openly anti-curial stances.

A Counterweight to Trump?

Prior to becoming pope, Prevost has, on several occasions, openly criticised the current US administration – particularly on matters of migration policy. As a cardinal, he voiced concern over statements made by US vice president J.D Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019.

He shared an article challenging Vance’s interpretation of Christian love in relation to immigration. Prevost also shared posts critical of both Donald Trump and Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele regarding the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national living in Maryland.

In this light, the election of an American pope – once a prospect viewed with suspicion – could now represent one of the strongest moral voices against the hardline migration policies of his own country’s government and a counterbalance to Donald Trump’s influence.

The choice of the name Leo is also potentially significant here. Pope Leo XIII strongly opposed extreme nationalism, viewing it as a threat to the Church’s universal mission and moral authority.

While acknowledging the value of legitimate patriotism, he maintained that loyalty to God and the church must always take precedence over allegiance to the nation-state. In encyclicals such as Immortale Dei and Sapientiae Christianae, he defended the church’s supranational character and cautioned against subordinating faith to national interests.

For Leo XIII, true civic virtue could never conflict with divine law, and any form of nationalism that did so risked becoming a kind of idolatry. In an era of rising nationalism across the globe – particularly in the United States – connecting to this message would be a clear and powerful statement.

While the prospect of an American pope once caused concern, the choice of Leo XIV shows sensitivity to the world’s margins. Yet, in a Church where Catholic growth is most pronounced in Africa and Asia – while numbers continue to decline in Europe and the Americas – the election of another western pontiff is not without its challenges. Some regions may still feel overlooked or underrepresented.

A promising gesture was the decision to deliver a brief message in Spanish from the balcony of St Peter’s – the first time in papal history. At the same time, it is striking that the most globally diverse conclave ever convened has placed the church’s leadership in the hands of a cardinal from the world’s most powerful nation. The new pope will need to unify a church that is increasingly global and moving beyond its eurocentric past.

Massimo D’Angelo does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The prospect of an American pope was once viewed with suspicion – but Leo XIV could prove an important counter to Trump – https://theconversation.com/the-prospect-of-an-american-pope-was-once-viewed-with-suspicion-but-leo-xiv-could-prove-an-important-counter-to-trump-256146

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Russian officials: Chairman Xi Jinping’s visit will give new impetus to bilateral relations

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia from May 7 to 10 and take part in the ceremonial events in Moscow dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Russian representatives are confident that this visit is of great importance, demonstrates the high level of trust and mutual support between the two countries, and will contribute to the further development of Russian-Chinese relations.

As reported by the TASS news agency on May 7, the Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko emphasized that the state visit of Chairman Xi Jinping to Russia and his participation in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory have “important historical significance.”

Matviyenko noted that some countries are trying to distort the historical memory of the victory over fascism and militarism, and Russia and China are jointly opposing these attempts, playing a decisive role in preserving the historical truth for future generations.

On May 6, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told RIA Novosti, TASS and other leading Russian media outlets that Russian-Chinese relations were at an “unprecedentedly high level” and both sides viewed them as “an example of genuine relations between great powers.” He stressed that President Xi Jinping’s visit was of particular importance and would contribute to the further development of bilateral relations based on “complete mutual trust, equality, mutual benefit and non-targeting of third countries.”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a briefing on May 6 that Chairman Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia and his participation in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory “once again confirm the unprecedentedly high level of trust, mutual understanding and support that characterizes current Russian-Chinese relations.”

Zakharova added that Russian-Chinese relations “are comprehensive in nature, are constantly enriched with new constructive content, meet the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries and enjoy their comprehensive support.” According to her, under the leadership of the leaders of the two countries, Russian-Chinese cooperation will develop steadily in the long term.

Zakharova also noted that Russia and China are committed to protecting international justice, promoting the central role of the UN, and building a truly equal and fair multipolar world order at various multilateral venues.

Director of the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences Kirill Babayev expressed confidence in an interview with the Xinhua news agency that Russian-Chinese cooperation will maintain its positive dynamics, becoming a global example of mutually beneficial cooperation between great powers in all areas. Deputy Director of the IMEMO RAS Alexander Lomanov noted that the level of political trust, close ties and deep mutual understanding between Russia and China are unique in relations between the world’s largest powers.

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Hainan is a magnet for Russian tourists

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) — While busloads of Russians flock to morning markets in the city of Heihe in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, a significant number of Russian travelers are heading to pristine beaches on the other side of the country in southern China’s Hainan Province after long-haul flights.

Data from local authorities in Sanya, a resort city in the island province of Hainan, shows that Russian tourists made 173,900 trips to the city in 2024, an eleven-fold increase from the previous year.

In Sanya’s Dadonghai Bay, the beaches are filled with sunbathing Russians, and even fruit vendors are calling out to potential customers in Russian.

“The warm climate, abundant sunshine and clear water, as well as the unique tropical climate and seascapes are the key reasons that attract Russian tourists,” said Chen Xiaolei, a local Russian-speaking tour guide.

In addition to the exotic coastal landscapes, Russian travelers are also attracted by Hainan’s favorable visa-free policy and fast customs clearance.

The State Immigration Administration (SIA) of the People’s Republic of China has expanded the visa-free entry regime to Hainan for citizens from 59 countries, effective February 9, 2024.

In July of the same year, the CIU introduced a visa-free regime allowing foreign tourist groups from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions (SAR) to enter and stay in Hainan for 144 hours, and in December, the transit visa-free stay period for foreigners in Hainan was increased to 240 hours.

A tourist named Konstantin, who flew to the resort of Sanya on a direct flight from Krasnoyarsk, said: “China’s visa-free regime is incredibly practical and convenient for us. We plan to stay in Sanya for 10 days, which gives us enough time to enjoy the trip.”

The Sherikovs, a Russian couple celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in Sanya, said: “The customs clearance process took less than 10 minutes and was much easier than we expected.”

An expanding international flight network with more direct routes from Russian cities to Sanya has also made the coastal city more accessible.

In the first quarter of 2025, there were about 500 flights between Russia and Sanya, 400 percent more than in the same period last year. According to the Fenghuang border checkpoint in Sanya, more than 5,000 Russian tourists arrive here every week.

Huang Xing, head of the Sanya Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, said that to improve the experience of foreign tourists, local hotels and scenic spots have installed multilingual signboards in English, Russian and Chinese, facilitated international credit card payments and opened foreign currency exchange offices, and regularly hosted concerts, cultural performances and sports events.

While enjoying sunbathing, tropical fruits and vibrant nightlife, more Russian tourists are beginning to delve deeper into Chinese culture to get more unique travel experiences in Sanya, such as traditional Chinese medicine treatment, he said.

Huang Juhai, director of the specialized treatment department of the Druzhba International Sanatorium of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Sanya, said: “TCM is very popular among Russian tourists as the recognition of TCM by foreign visitors has increased significantly.”

Chen Xiaolei, a local tour guide, said more than half of his Russian clients prefer TCM treatment.

“Many of them seek TCM treatment for neck and lower back pain, joint problems, obesity and digestive disorders,” he said. -0- /Source: China Daily/

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI: Gravity Reports First Quarter of 2025 Results and Business Update

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Seoul, South Korea, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games based in South Korea, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and business updates.

FIRST QUARTER 2025 HIGHLIGHTS

Total revenues were KRW 137,464 million (US$ 93,231 thousand), representing a 6% increase from the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024 (“QoQ”) and a 14.8% increase from the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (“YoY”).

Operating profit was KRW 24,730 million (US$ 16,772 thousand), representing a 55% increase QoQ and an 8% decrease YoY.

Profit before income tax expenses was KRW 28,450 million (US$ 19,295 thousand), representing a 12.1% increase QoQ and a 12.5% decrease YoY.

Net profit attributable to parent company was KRW 22,038 million (US$ 14,947 thousand), representing a 4.6% decrease QoQ and an 18% decrease YoY.

REVIEW OF FIRST QUARTER 2025 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenues

Online game revenues for the first quarter of 2025 were KRW 18,806 million (US$ 12,755 thousand), representing a 5.1% decrease QoQ from KRW 19,822 million and a 4.1% increase YoY from KRW 18,065 million. The decrease QoQ was mainly attributable to decreased revenues from Ragnarok Online in Thailand. Such decrease was partially offset by increased revenue from Ragnarok Online in Japan. The increase YoY was largely due to increased revenues from Ragnarok Online in Thailand and China.

Mobile game revenues were KRW 115,486 million (US$ 78,325 thousand) for the first quarter of 2025, representing a 9.4% increase QoQ from KRW 105,586 million and a 17.2% increase YoY from KRW 98,548 million. The increase QoQ attributed to initial revenues from Ragnarok M: Classic which was launched in Southeast Asia on February 14, 2025 and Ragnarok Idle Adventure Plus launched in Global except Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Korea and Japan on February 20, 2025. Such increase was partially offset by decreased revenues from Ragnarok Origin in Southeast Asia and THE RAGNAROK in Southeast Asia. The increase YoY was due to initial revenue from Ragnarok M: Classic in Southeast Asia, THE RAGNAROK in Southeast Asia launched on October 31, 2024 and Ragnarok: Rebirth in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau launched on October 31, 2024. This increase was partially offset by decreased revenues from Ragnarok Origin in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau and North, Central and South America.

Other revenues were KRW 3,172 million (US$ 2,151 thousand) for the first quarter of 2025, representing a 26.5% decrease QoQ from KRW 4,315 million and a 0.2% increase YoY from KRW 3,166 million.

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue was KRW 87,458 million (US$ 59,316 thousand) for the first quarter of 2025, representing a 8% increase QoQ from KRW 81,008 million and a 18.8% increase YoY from KRW 73,628 million. The increase QoQ was mainly due to increased commission paid for mobile game services related to Ragnarok M: Classic in Southeast Asia. The increase YoY was primarily due to increased commission paid for mobile game services related to Ragnarok M: Classic in Southeast Asia, THE RAGNAROK in Southeast Asia and Ragnarok: Rebirth in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Operating Expenses

Operating expenses were KRW 25,276 million (US$ 17,143 thousand) for the first quarter of 2025, representing a 22.9% decrease QoQ from KRW 32,765 million and a 31.1% increase YoY from KRW 19,282 million. The decrease QoQ was mainly due to decreased advertising expenses for THE RAGNAROK in Southeast Asia and salaries. The increase YoY was mainly due to increased advertising expenses for Ragnarok Idle Adventure Plus in Global, Ragnarok V: Returns in Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines and Ragnarok Begins in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

Profit Before Income Tax Expenses

Profit before income tax expenses was KRW 28,450 million (US$ 19,295 thousand) for the first quarter of 2025 compared with profit before income tax expense of KRW 25,377 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and profit before income tax expenses of KRW 32,498 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Net Profit

As a result of the foregoing factors, Gravity recorded a net profit attributable to parent company of KRW 22,038 million (US$ 14,947 thousand) for the first quarter of 2025 compared with net profit attributable to parent company of KRW 23,099 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and a net profit attributable to parent company of KRW 26,866 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Liquidity

The balance of cash and cash equivalents and short-term financial instruments was KRW 577,163 million (US$ 391,446 thousand) as of March 31, 2025.

Note: For convenience purposes only, the KRW amounts have been expressed in U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of KRW 1,474.44 to US$ 1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2025 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

GRAVITY BUSINESS UPDATES

Ragnarok Online IP-based Games

Ragnarok M: Classic, an MMORPG Mobile game

Ragnarok M: Classic was officially launched in Southeast Asia on February 14, 2025 and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on April 16, 2025.

Ragnarok Idle Adventure Plus, a Vertical Idle MMORPG Mobile game

Ragnarok Idle Adventure Plus was launched in Global except for Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Korea and Japan on February 20, 2025 and is underway for its launch in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau in the second quarter of 2025 and Korea in the second half of 2025.

Ragnarok X: Next Generation, an MMORPG Mobile and PC game

Ragnarok X: Next Generation was officially launched in North, Central and South America, Oceania, England, Portugal, Spain and Ireland on May 8, 2025 and will be launching in Europe (except England, Portugal, Spain and Ireland) in the second quarter of 2025.

THE RAGNAROK, an MMORPG game

THE RAGNAROK (Chinese title: 巴風特之怒) will be launched on WeChat (H5) Mini Programs in China in the second quarter of 2025.

Ragnarok: Dawn (tentative English title), an Idle MMORPG game

Ragnarok: Dawn (tentative English title) was officially launched on WeChat Mini Programs in China on February 20, 2025, and mobile app version will be launched in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau in the second half of 2025.

Ragnarok V: Returns, a 3D MMORPG Mobile and PC game

Ragnarok V: Returns was officially launched in Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines on March 27, 2025.

Ragnarok: Back to Glory, a 3D MMORPG Mobile game

Ragnarok: Back to Glory was officially launched in Korea and re-launched in Southeast Asia on April 17, 2025 and will be launched in China in the third quarter of 2025.

Ragnarok Crush, a Puzzle and Tower Defense Mobile game

Ragnarok Crush will be launched in Global in July 2025.

Ragnarok Online America Latina, an MMORPG PC game

Ragnarok Online America Latina is scheduled to be direct-serviced in Latin America on May 28, 2025.

Ragnarok Zero, an RPG PC game

Ragnarok Zero is being prepared to be launched in Taiwan in July 2025.

Ragnarok Libre, a Time Effective MMORPG Telegram game

Ragnarok Libre is underway for its launch in Global in the second quarter of 2025.

Ragnarok Online IP-based Blockchain Game

Ragnarok Landverse, an MMORPG Blockchain and PC game

Ragnarok Landverse will be launched in Latin America in the second half of 2025.
Ragnarok Landverse Genesis, a global new server integrated with RONIN platform, ranked first in trading volume after its official release in Global on March 29, 2025.

Other IP-based games

JLPGA Heroine Collection, a Sports Mobile game

JLPGA was officially launched in Japan on March 25, 2025.

Shambles: Sons of Apocalypse, a Deck-building Roguelike Mobile game

Shambles: Sons of Apocalypse, was officially launched in Global except for China, Vietnam and Taiwan on March 27, 2025

Twilight Monk, a 2.5D Action RPG Console game

Twilight Monk, was officially launched in Global on March 27, 2025

Snow Brothers 2 Special, an Action and Platformer Console game

Snow Brothers 2 Special, was officially launched in Global on April 10, 2025

Meow Star Acers 2, a Farm Simulation Mobile game

Meow Star Acers 2, is scheduled to be launched in Global in the second half of 2025.

Dragonica Origin, an MO Action RPG PC game

Dragonica Origin will be launched in Southeast Asia in June 2025.

Gunbound, an MMO Turned-based Artillery PC game

Gunbound is underway for its launch in Southeast Asia and Latin America in the second quarter of 2025.

Expansion of Ragnarok IP-business

Ragnarok Golf Monsters is an indoor-screen golf brand based on the Ragnarok monster characters. Gravity Communications Co., Ltd. opened the first facility of Ragnarok Golf Monsters in Taipei, Taiwan on February 27, 2025.

Our New Subsidiary

Gravity established Gravity Game Unite Sdn. Bhd. (“Gravity Game Unite”), a subsidiary in Malaysia, on March 12, 2025. Gravity will expand various game services including Ragnarok Online IP based games throughout Gravity Game Unite in Malaysian regions.

Investor Presentation

Gravity issued an investor presentation. The presentation contains the Company’s recent business updates, results of the first quarter in 2025 and Gravity’s business plan. The presentation can be found on the Company’s website under the IR Archives section at https://www.gravity.co.kr/en/ir/updates. Korean and Japanese versions of the presentation are also provided on the website.

About GRAVITY Co., Ltd. —————————————————
Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravity’s principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 91 regions. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements in this press release may include, in addition to historical information, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe-harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe”, “project,” or “continue” or the negative thereof or other similar words, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Investors should consider the information contained in our submissions and filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 on Form 20-F, together with such other documents that we may submit to or file with the SEC from time to time, on Form 6-K. The forward-looking statements speak only as of this press release and we assume no duty to update them to reflect new, changing or unanticipated events or circumstances.

Contact:

Mr. Heung Gon Kim
Chief Financial Officer
Gravity Co., Ltd.
Email: kheung@gravity.co.kr

Ms. Jin Lee
Ms. Yujin Oh
IR Unit
Gravity Co., Ltd.
Email: ir@gravity.co.kr
Telephone: +82-2-2132-7800

GRAVITY Co., Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(In millions of KRW and thousands of US$)

	As of
	31-Dec-24				31-Mar-25
	KRW		US$		KRW		US$
	(audited)		(unaudited)		(unaudited)		(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		228,898		155,244		201,367		136,572
Short-term financial instruments		324,304		219,951		375,796		254,874
Accounts receivable, net		81,152		55,039		74,469		50,507
Other receivables, net		1,572		1,066		2,162		1,466
Prepaid expenses		8,115		5,504		6,669		4,523
Other current financial assets		6,602		4,478		6,033		4,092
Other current assets		2,967		2,012		3,091		2,096
Total current assets		653,610		443,294		669,587		454,130
Property and equipment, net		9,957		6,753		10,576		7,173
Intangible assets, net		7,057		4,786		6,414		4,350
Deferred tax assets		5,617		3,810		6,294		4,269
Other non-current financial assets		1,767		1,198		670		454
Other non-current assets		8,451		5,732		9,366		6,352
Total assets		686,459		465,573		702,907		476,728
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		67,930		46,072		63,048		42,761
Deferred revenue		26,761		18,150		24,015		16,288
Withholdings		1,588		1,077		1,635		1,109
Accrued expense		2,651		1,798		2,168		1,470
Income tax payable		6,507		4,413		8,782		5,956
Other current liabilities		3,212		2,178		3,390		2,299
Total current liabilities		108,649		73,688		103,038		69,883
Long-term account payables		220		149		220		149
Long-term deferred revenue		2,572		1,744		1,322		897
Other non-current liabilities		5,361		3,636		5,904		4,003
Deferred tax liabilities		1,294		878		1,294		878
Total liabilities		118,096		80,095		111,778		75,810
Share capital		3,474		2,356		3,474		2,356
Capital surplus		26,979		18,298		26,979		18,298
Other components of equity		23,801		16,143		24,507		16,621
Retained earnings		513,418		348,212		535,456		363,159
Equity attributable to owners of the Parent Company		567,672		385,009		590,416		400,434
Non-controlling interest		691		469		713		484
Total equity		568,363		385,478		591,129		400,918
Total liabilities and equity		686,459		465,573		702,907		476,728

* For convenience purposes only, the KRW amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of KRW 1,474.44 to US$ 1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2025 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

GRAVITY Co., Ltd.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(In millions of KRW and thousands of US$ except for share and ADS data)

	Three months ended
	31-Dec-24		31-Mar-24		31-Mar-25
	(KRW)	(US$)	(KRW)	(US$)	(KRW)	(US$)
	(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)	(unaudited)
Revenues:
Online games	19,822	13,444	18,065	12,252	18,806	12,755
Mobile games	105,586	71,611	98,548	66,838	115,486	78,325
Other revenue	4,315	2,927	3,166	2,147	3,172	2,151
Total net revenue	129,723	87,982	119,779	81,237	137,464	93,231
Cost of revenue	81,008	54,942	73,628	49,936	87,458	59,316
Gross profit	48,715	33,040	46,151	31,301	50,006	33,915
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	28,311	19,201	15,747	10,680	21,859	14,825
Research and development	3,669	2,488	3,601	2,442	3,431	2,327
Others, net	785	534	(66)	(45)	(14)	(9)
Total operating expenses	32,765	22,223	19,282	13,077	25,276	17,143
Operating profit	15,950	10,817	26,869	18,224	24,730	16,772
Finance income(costs):
Finance income	9,801	6,647	6,297	4,271	10,717	7,269
Finance costs	(374)	(254)	(668)	(453)	(6,997)	(4,746)
Profit before income tax	25,377	17,210	32,498	22,042	28,450	19,295
Income tax expense	2,274	1,542	5,615	3,808	6,372	4,322
Profit for the year	23,103	15,668	26,883	18,234	22,078	14,973
Profit attributable to:
Non-controlling interest	4	3	17	12	40	26
Owners of Parent company	23,099	15,665	26,866	18,222	22,038	14,947
Earning per share
– Basic and diluted	3,324	2.25	3,866	2.62	3,171	2.15
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
– Basic and diluted	6,948,900	6,948,900	6,948,900	6,948,900	6,948,900	6,948,900
Earning per ADS
– Basic and diluted	3,324	2.25	3,866	2.62	3,171	2.15

* For convenience, the KRW amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of KRW 1,474.44 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on March 31, 2025 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
(1) Each ADS represents one common share.

The MIL Network –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI Video: UK Watch live: Lords marks the 80th Anniversary of victory in Europe and victory over Japan

Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

On Friday in the House of Lords, members hold a debate to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe and victory over Japan.

Find out more and see who’s taking part https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2025/april/house-of-lords-80th-anniversary-ve-day-vj-day/

Catch-up on House of Lords business:

Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

• X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UKHouseofLords
• Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/ukhouseoflords/albums
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-house-of-lords
• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords

#HouseOfLords #UKParliament #VEDay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hbOnGfWvEA

MIL OSI Video –

May 9, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCED begins visit to Beijing

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, began his visit to Beijing today (May 9).

     â€‹Mr Yau called on a number of departments of the Ministry of Commerce to update them on the latest developments of Hong Kong in promoting trade and attracting business and investment, and exchange views.

     â€‹Mr Yau said that even in the face of protectionism and unilateralism, in particular the unreasonable coercion of the so-called reciprocal tariff, Hong Kong will continue to capitalise on the unparalleled advantages under “one country, two systems” to consolidate and enhance its status as an international trade centre, playing its dual roles of assisting Mainland enterprises to go global and attracting overseas investment. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will step up efforts in attracting enterprises and investment, explore more new markets and at the same time better integrate into the overall national development, seizing opportunities arising from the country’s domestic circulation and giving full play to Hong Kong’s roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” in addressing the changes in the global economic and trade landscape.

     â€‹In addition, Mr Yau met with representatives of Hong Kong enterprises in Beijing to learn about the latest local developments and business opportunities, and exchange views on the challenges faced by enterprises in the complex international environment.

     â€‹Mr Yau will proceed to Qatar tomorrow (May 10) to join the business delegation led by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, for a visit to the Middle East. During Mr Yau’s absence, the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: Four NBFCs surrender their Certificate of Registration to RBI

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The following four Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) have surrendered the Certificate of Registration (CoR) granted to them by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The RBI, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has therefore cancelled their CoR.

i) Cancellation of CoR due to exit from Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFI) business

Sr. No.	Name of the Company	Registered Office Address	CoR No.	CoR Issued on	Date of Cancellation of CoR
1	Sicom Investments & Finance Limited	Sixth Floor, Solitare Corporate Park, Bldg No. 4, Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400093	N-13.01842	September 08, 2006	April 04, 2025
2	Pioneer Holdings Private Limited	Shriram Mansion, Ground Floor, Parekh Street, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400004	N-13.01654	January 06, 2003	April 24, 2025
3	Easyaccess Financial Services Limited	No 18 (Old No 40), 2nd Floor, Mussuri Subramaniam Salai (Oliver Road), Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu – 600004	N-07.00775	December 22, 2008	April 29, 2025

ii) Cancellation of CoR due to NBFC ceasing to be a legal entity due to amalgamation/ merger/dissolution/ voluntary strike-off, etc.

Sr. No.	Name of the Company	Registered Office Address	CoR No.	CoR Issued on	Date of cancellation of CoR
1	Eastern Credit Capital Private Limited	Ramkrishna Chambers 72, Shakespeare Sarani, Kolkata, West Bengal – 700017	B.05.06803	December 20, 2012	April 09, 2025

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/295

MIL OSI Economics –

May 9, 2025

MIL-OSI Economics: RBI cancels Certificate of Registration of one NBFC and one ARC

Source: Reserve Bank of India

The Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, has cancelled the Certificate of Registration of the following company.

Sr. No.	Name of the Company	Registered Office Address	CoR No.	CoR Issued On	Cancellation Order Date
1	R.L. Investment and Finance Company Limited	61/211, Canal Road, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh – 208001	12.00010	February 21, 1998	April 08, 2025

As such, the above company shall not transact the business of a Non-Banking Financial Institution, as defined in clause (a) of Section 45-I of the RBI Act, 1934.

Further, the Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of powers conferred on it under Section 4 (1) (e) of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, has cancelled the Certificate of Registration of the following company.

Sr. No.	Name of the Company	Registered Office Address	CoR No.	CoR Issued On	Cancellation Order Date
1	India Resurgence ARC Private Limited	304, 3rd Floor, Piramal Tower, Peninsula Corporate Park, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400013	029/2018	October 23, 2018	April 04, 2025

As such, the above company shall not transact the business of an Asset Reconstruction Company.

(Puneet Pancholy)
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2025-2026/296

MIL OSI Economics –

May 9, 2025

MIL-Evening Report: USP World Press Freedom Day warnings over AI, legal reform and media safety
World Press Freedom Day is not just a celebration of the vital role journalism plays — it is also a moment to reflect on the pressures facing the profession and Pacific governments’ responsibility to protect it.

This was one of the key messages delivered by two guest speakers at The University of the South Pacific (USP) Journalism’s 2025 World Press Freedom Day celebrations this week, the UN Human Rights Adviser for the Pacific, Heike Alefsen, and Fiji Media Association’s general secretary, Stanley Simpson.

In her address to journalism students and other attendees on Monday, chief guest Alefsen emphasised that press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy, a human right, and essential for sustainable development and the rule of law.

“Media freedom is a prerequisite for inclusive, rights-respecting societies,” Alefsen said, warning of rising threats such as censorship, harassment, and surveillance of journalists — especially with the spread of AI tools used to manipulate information and monitor media workers.

UN Human Rights Adviser for the Pacific Heike Alefsen (from left), USP Journalism programme head Dr Shailendra Singh, and Fiji Media Association’s general secretary Stanley Simpson . . . reflecting on pressures facing the profession of journalism. Image: Mele Tu’uakitau

AI and human rights
She stressed that AI must serve human rights — not undermine them — and that it must be used transparently, accountably, and in accordance with international human rights law.

“Some political actors exploit AI to spread disinformation and manipulate narratives for personal or political gain,” she said.

She added that these risks were compounded by the fact that a handful of powerful corporations and individuals now controlled much of the AI infrastructure and influenced the global media environment — able to amplify preferred messages or suppress dissenting voices.

“Innovation cannot come at the expense of press freedom, privacy, or journalist safety,” she said.

Regarding Fiji, Alefsen praised the 2023 repeal of the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA) as a “critical turning point,” noting its positive impact on Fiji’s ranking in the RSF World Press Freedom Index.

World Press Freedom Day at The University of the South Pacific on Monday. Image: USP — the country rose four places to 40th in the 2025 survey.

However, she emphasised that legal reforms must continue, especially regarding sedition laws, and she highlighted ongoing challenges across the Pacific, including financial precarity, political pressure, and threats to women journalists.

According to Alefsen, the media landscape in the Pacific was evolving for the better in some countries but concerns remained. She highlighted the working conditions of most journalists in the region, where financial insecurity, political interference, and lack of institutional support were prevalent.

“Independent journalism ensures transparency, combats disinformation, amplifies marginalised voices, and enables people to make informed decisions about their lives and governance. In too many countries around the world, journalists face censorship, detention, and in some cases, death — simply for doing their jobs,” she said.

Strengthening media independence and sustainability
Keynote speaker Stanley Simpson, echoed these concerns, adding that “the era where the Fiji media could survive out of sheer will and guts is over.”

“Now, it’s about technology, sustainability, and mental health support,” he said.

Speaking on the theme, Strengthening Media Independence and Sustainability, Simpson emphasised the need for the media to remain independent, noting that journalists are often expected to make greater sacrifices than professionals in other industries.

“Independence — while difficult and challenging — is a must in the media industry for it to maintain credibility. We must be able to think, speak, write, and report freely on any matter or anyone,” Simpson said.

According to Simpson, there was a misconception in Fiji that being independent meant avoiding relationships or contacts.

“There is a need to build your networks — to access and get information from a wide variety of sources. In fact, strengthening media independence means being able to talk to everyone and hear all sides. Gather all views and present them in a fair, balanced and accurate manner.”

He argued that media could only be sustainable if it was independent — and that independence was only possible if sustainability was achieved. Simpson recalled the events of the 2006 political upheaval, which he said contributed to the decline of media freedom and the collapse of some media organisations in Fiji.

“Today, as we mark World Press Freedom Day, we gather at this great institution to reflect on a simple yet profound truth: media can only be truly sustainable if it is genuinely free.

“We need democratic, political, and governance structures in place, along with a culture of responsible free speech — believed in and practised by our leaders and the people of Fiji,” he said.

USP students and guests at the 2025 World Press Freedom Day event. Picture: Mele Tu’uakitau

The new media landscape
Simpson also spoke about the evolving media landscape, noting the rise of social media influencers and AI generated content. He urged journalists to verify sources and ensure fairness, balance and accuracy — something most social media platforms were not bound by.

While some influencers have been accused of being clickbait-driven, Simpson acknowledged their role. “I think they are important new voices in our democracy and changing landscape,” he said.

He criticised AI-generated news platforms that republished content without editorial oversight, warning that they further eroded public trust in the media.

“Sites are popping up overnight claiming to be news platforms, but their content is just AI-regurgitated media releases,” he said. “This puts the entire credibility of journalism at risk.”

Fiji media challenges
Simpson outlined several challenges facing the Fiji media, including financial constraints, journalist mental health, lack of investment in equipment, low salaries, and staff retention. He emphasised the importance of building strong democratic and governance structures and fostering a culture that respects and values free speech.

“Many fail to appreciate the full scale of the damage to the media industry landscape from the last 16 years. If there had not been a change in government, I believe there would have been no Mai TV, Fiji TV, or a few other local media organisations today. We would not have survived another four years,” he said.

According to Simpson, some media organisations in Fiji were only one or two months away from shutting down.

“We barely survived the last 16 years, while many media organisations in places like New Zealand — TV3’s NewsHub — have already closed down. The era where the Fiji media would survive out of sheer will and guts is over. We need to be more adaptive and respond quickly to changing realities — digital, social media, and artificial intelligence,” he said.

Dr Singh (left) moderates the student panel discussion with Riya Bhagwan, Maniesse Ikuinen-Perman and Vahefonua Tupola. Image: Mele Tu’uakitau

Young journalists respond
During a panel discussion, second-year USP journalism student Vahefonua Tupola of Tonga highlighted the connection between the media and ethical journalism, sharing a personal experience to illustrate his point.

He said that while journalists should enjoy media freedom, they must also apply professional ethics, especially in challenging situations.

Tupola noted that the insights shared by the speakers and fellow students had a profound impact on his perspective.

Another panelist, third-year student and Journalism Students Association president Riya Bhagwan, addressed the intersection of artificial intelligence and journalism.

She said that in this era of rapid technological advancement, responsibility was more critical than ever — with the rise of AI, social media, and a constant stream of information.

“It’s no longer just professional journalists reporting the news — we also have citizen journalism, where members of the public create and share content that can significantly influence public opinion.

“With this shift, responsible journalism becomes essential. Journalists must uphold professional standards, especially in terms of accuracy and credibility,” she said.

The third panelist, second-year student Maniesse Ikuinen-Perman from the Federated States of Micronesia, acknowledged the challenges facing media organisations and journalists in the Pacific.

She shared that young and aspiring journalists like herself were only now beginning to understand the scope of difficulties journalists face in Fiji and across the region.

Maniesse emphasised the importance of not just studying journalism but also putting it into practice after graduation, particularly when returning to work in media organisations in their home countries.

The panel discussion, featuring journalism students responding to keynote addresses, was moderated by USP Journalism head of programme Dr Shailendra Singh.

Dr Singh concluded by noting that while Fiji had made significant progress with the repeal of the Media Industry Development Act (MIDA), global experience demonstrated that media freedom must never be taken for granted.

He stressed that maintaining media freedom was an ongoing struggle and always a work in progress.

“As far as media organisations are concerned, there is always a new challenge on the horizon,” he said, pointing to the complications brought about by digital disruption and, more recently, artificial intelligence.
- Fiji rose four places to 40th (out of 180 nations) in the RSF 2025 World Press Freedom Index to make the country the Oceania media freedom leader outside of Australia (29) and New Zealand (16).
Niko Ratumaimuri is a second-year journalism student at The University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Campus. This article was first published by the student online news site Wansolwara and is republished in collaboration with Asia Pacific Report.

USP Journalism students, staff and guests at the 2025 World Press Freedom Day celebrations at Laucala campus on Monday. Image: Mele Tu’uakitau

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
May 9, 2025

Category: Asia Pacific

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