Category: Asia Pacific

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to the wildfires in South Korea

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

March 27, 2025

Scientists comment on wildfires in South Korea.

Dr Kimberley Simpson, Fellow in nature-based climate solutions at the University of Sheffield’s School of Biosciences, said:

“Wildfires in California this past January and the ongoing fires in South Korea share several similarities. Both were preceded by unusually warm, dry conditions that left vegetation highly flammable, and both were intensified by strong winds that spread the flames and hampered firefighting efforts.

“Only three months into 2025, we’ve already witnessed record-breaking wildfire activity in multiple regions. As climate change drives rising temperatures and alters rainfall patterns, the conditions that give rise to these devastating fires are becoming more frequent.”

Declared interests:

Dr Kimberley Simpson None

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 28, 2025

MIL-OSI: YieldMax™ Introduces Short Option Income Strategy ETF on MicroStrategy, Inc. (MSTR)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CHICAGO and MILWAUKEE and NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — YieldMax™ announced the launch today of the following ETF:

YieldMax™ Short MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF (NYSE: WNTR)

WNTR Overview

WNTR is an actively managed ETF that seeks to generate current income from a synthetic covered put strategy on MicroStrategy Incorporated (“MSTR”), while providing indirect short (inverse) exposure to the share price of MSTR. WNTR’s potential for gains from decreases in the share price of MSTR is limited, while its potential for losses resulting from increases in the share price of MSTR is up to 100%. WNTR does not invest directly in MSTR and does not directly short MSTR. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of MSTR should consider an investment other than this Fund.

WNTR Portfolio Construction

WNTR’s synthetic covered put strategy consists of the following four elements:

Synthetic short exposure to MSTR, consisting of a long at-the-money put option and a short at-the-money call option, which allows WNTR to seek to participate on an inverse, unleveraged basis in changes, up or down, to the share price of MSTR.
Covered put writing (where MSTR put options are sold against the synthetic short portion of the strategy), which allows WNTR to generate income.
U.S. Treasuries, which are used for collateral for the options, and which also generate income; and;
Out-of-the money (“OTM”) call options, which are purchased to seek to cap WNTR’s potential losses from its short exposure to MSTR if MSTR’s share price appreciates significantly in value.

The loss capping works only if the MSTR share price rises to or above the strike price of the purchased OTM call options. If the MSTR share price increases but stays below the strike price of these options, WNTR will incur losses proportionate to this price increase, which may be up to 100% of your investment.

Why Invest in WNTR?

WNTR seeks to generate current income, which is not dependent on the price depreciation of MSTR.
WNTR seeks to benefit when the MSTR share price decreases, however WNTR’s potential corresponding benefit from decreases in the MSTR share price is limited.
WNTR’s short exposure to MSTR is not leveraged so does not result in daily resetting.

WNTR is the newest member of the growing YieldMax™ ETF family and, like all YieldMax™ ETFs, aims to deliver income to investors. With respect to distributions, WNTR will be a Group D ETF and its first distribution is expected to be announced on May 7, 2025. Please see the table below for distribution information for all outstanding YieldMax™ ETFs as of March 26, 2025.

ETF Ticker¹	ETF Name	Distribution Frequency	Distribution per Share	Distribution Rate^2,4	30-Day SEC Yield³	ROC⁵
GPTY	YieldMax™ AI & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF	*Weekly*	$0.2787	34.92%	0.00%	98.94%
LFGY	YieldMax™ Crypto Industry & Tech Portfolio Option Income ETF	*Weekly*	$0.4749	64.18%	0.00%	0.00%
QDTY	YieldMax™ Nasdaq 100 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF	*Weekly*	$0.2711	–	–	55.02%
RDTY	YieldMax™ R2000 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF	*Weekly*	$0.3037	–	–	100.00%
SDTY	YieldMax™ S&P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF	*Weekly*	$0.2133	–	–	0.00%
ULTY	YieldMax™ Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF	*Weekly*	$0.0986	77.95%	0.00%	100.00%
YMAG	YieldMax™ Magnificent 7 Fund of Option Income ETFs	*Weekly*	$0.0837	27.95%	61.87%	21.53%
YMAX	YieldMax™ Universe Fund of Option Income ETFs	*Weekly*	$0.1315	48.21%	85.03%	61.95%
BIGY	YieldMax™ Target 12™ Big 50 Option Income ETF	Monthly	$0.5025	12.89%	0.03%	100.00%
SOXY	YieldMax™ Target 12™ Semiconductor Option Income ETF	Monthly	$0.4883	13.14%	0.00%	50.31%
ABNY	YieldMax™ ABNB Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4805	47.62%	2.98%	92.39%
AIYY	YieldMax™ AI Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3221	81.94%	4.64%	2.09%
AMDY	YieldMax™ AMD Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.2533	38.83%	4.02%	92.00%
AMZY	YieldMax™ AMZN Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4177	32.58%	3.79%	0.00%
APLY	YieldMax™ AAPL Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3440	29.76%	3.15%	87.26%
BABO	YieldMax™ BABA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.7578	47.94%	2.36%	0.00%
CONY	YieldMax™ COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5989	91.19%	4.56%	94.78%
CRSH	YieldMax™ Short TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.6458	126.57%	3.00%	98.10%
CVNY	YieldMax™ CVNA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$3.9149	136.69%	0.00%	96.80%
DIPS	YieldMax™ Short NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5851	59.01%	2.90%	96.87%
DISO	YieldMax™ DIS Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.2879	25.79%	4.48%	51.26%
FBY	YieldMax™ META Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5506	40.70%	3.47%	0.00%
FEAT	YieldMax™ Dorsey Wright Featured 5 Income ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.6925	24.43%	122.88%	0.00%
FIAT	YieldMax™ Short COIN Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.6834	102.31%	3.52%	96.91%
FIVY	YieldMax™ Dorsey Wright Hybrid 5 Income ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.7092	24.46%	67.34%	0.00%
GDXY	YieldMax™ Gold Miners Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.6394	50.58%	3.08%	0.00%
GOOY	YieldMax™ GOOGL Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3284	34.06%	4.12%	0.00%
JPMO	YieldMax™ JPM Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3717	28.22%	3.40%	42.17%
MARO	YieldMax™ MARA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$1.4783	77.02%	4.21%	95.22%
MRNY	YieldMax™ MRNA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.1827	73.97%	5.01%	94.71%
MSFO	YieldMax™ MSFT Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.2845	22.77%	3.53%	83.81%
MSTY	YieldMax™ MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$1.3775	78.55%	0.21%	97.54%
NFLY	YieldMax™ NFLX Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4008	29.98%	3.23%	0.00%
NVDY	YieldMax™ NVDA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.7874	60.92%	4.02%	100.00%
OARK	YieldMax™ Innovation Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3210	50.64%	3.25%	71.26%
PLTY	YieldMax™ PLTR Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$5.3257	103.41%	2.63%	97.91%
PYPY	YieldMax™ PYPL Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.3773	35.12%	4.20%	90.73%
SMCY	YieldMax™ SMCI Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$1.9742	114.93%	2.63%	0.00%
SNOY	YieldMax™ SNOW Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.8119	64.03%	2.45%	0.00%
SQY	YieldMax™ XYZ Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5014	57.37%	5.21%	91.68%
TSLY	YieldMax™ TSLA Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4638	70.54%	4.69%	94.16%
TSMY	YieldMax™ TSM Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.5772	49.14%	3.59%	93.02%
XOMO	YieldMax™ XOM Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.2950	26.24%	3.38%	77.73%
YBIT	YieldMax™ Bitcoin Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4357	55.99%	1.61%	97.70%
YQQQ	YieldMax™ Short N100 Option Income Strategy ETF	Every 4 weeks	$0.4483	55.99%	3.79%	92.77%

Performance data quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when sold or redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost and current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted above. Performance current to the most recent month-end can be obtained by calling (833) 378-0717.

Note: DIPS, FIAT, CRSH, YQQQ and WNTR are hereinafter referred to as the “Short ETFs.”

Distributions are not guaranteed. The Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield are not indicative of future distributions, if any, on the ETFs. In particular, future distributions on any ETF may differ significantly from its Distribution Rate or 30-Day SEC Yield. You are not guaranteed a distribution under the ETFs. Distributions for the ETFs (if any) are variable and may vary significantly from period to period and may be zero. Accordingly, the Distribution Rate and 30-Day SEC Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant.

Investors in the Funds will not have rights to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the underlying reference asset(s).

¹  All YieldMax™ ETFs shown in the table above (except YMAX, YMAG, FEAT, FIVY and ULTY) have a gross expense ratio of 0.99%. YMAX, YMAG and FEAT have a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.99% for a gross expense ratio of 1.28%. FIVY has a Management Fee of 0.29% and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses of 0.59% for a gross expense ratio of 0.88%. “Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses” are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in the shares of other investment companies, namely other YieldMax™ ETFs. ULTY has a gross expense ratio after the fee waiver of 1.30%. The Advisor has agreed to a fee waiver of 0.10% through at least February 28, 2026.
² The Distribution Rate shown is as of close on March 26, 2025. The Distribution Rate is the annual distribution rate an investor would receive if the most recent distribution, which includes option income, remained the same going forward. The Distribution Rate is calculated by annualizing an ETF’s Distribution per Share and dividing such annualized amount by the ETF’s most recent NAV. The Distribution Rate represents a single distribution from the ETF and does not represent its total return. Distributions may also include a combination of ordinary dividends, capital gain, and return of investor capital, which may decrease an ETF’s NAV and trading price over time. As a result, an investor may suffer significant losses to their investment. These Distribution Rates may be caused by unusually favorable market conditions and may not be sustainable. Such conditions may not continue to exist and there should be no expectation that this performance may be repeated in the future.
³  The 30-Day SEC Yield represents net investment income, which excludes option income, earned by such ETF over the 30-Day period ended February 28, 2025, expressed as an annual percentage rate based on such ETF’s share price at the end of the 30-Day period.
⁴  Each ETF’s strategy (except those of the Short ETFs) will cap potential gains if its reference asset’s shares increase in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset’s shares decrease in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF. Each Short ETF’s strategy will cap potential gains if its reference asset decreases in value, yet subjects an investor to all potential losses if the reference asset increases in value. Such potential losses may not be offset by income received by the ETF.
⁵ ROC refers to Return of Capital. The ROC percentage is the portion of the distribution that represents an investor’s original investment.

Each Fund has a limited operating history and while each Fund’s objective is to provide current income, there is no guarantee the Fund will make a distribution. Distributions are likely to vary greatly in amount.

Standardized Performance

For YMAX, click here. For YMAG, click here. For TSLY, click here. For OARK, click here. For APLY, click here. For NVDY, click here. For AMZY, click here. For FBY, click here. For GOOY, click here. For NFLY, click here. For CONY, click here. For MSFO, click here. For DISO, click here. For XOMO, click here. For JPMO, click here. For AMDY, click here. For PYPY, click here. For SQY, click here. For MRNY, click here. For AIYY, click here. For MSTY, click here. For ULTY, click here. For YBIT, click here. For CRSH, click here. For GDXY, click here. For SNOY, click here. For ABNY, click here. For FIAT, click here. For DIPS, click here. For BABO, click here. For YQQQ, click here. For TSMY, click here. For SMCY, click here. For PLTY, click here. For BIGY, click here. For SOXY, click here. For MARO, click here. For FEAT, click here. For FIVY, click here. For LFGY, click here. For GPTY, click here. For CVNY, click here. For SDTY, click here. For QDTY, click here. For RDTY, click here.

Important Information

This material must be preceded or accompanied by the prospectus. For all prospectuses, click here.

Tidal Financial Group is the adviser for all YieldMax™ ETFs.

THE FUND, TRUST, AND ADVISER ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY UNDERLYING REFERENCE ASSET.

Risk Disclosures

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Referenced Index Risk. The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Index (or the Index ETFs). This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of companies that comprised the Index or an ETF that tracks the Index, even though it does not.

Indirect Investment Risk. The Index is not affiliated with the Trust, the Fund, the Adviser, or their respective affiliates and is not involved with this offering in any way. Investors in the Fund will not have the right to receive dividends or other distributions or any other rights with respect to the companies that comprise the Index but will be subject to declines in the performance of the Index.

Russell 2000 Index Risks. The Index, which consists of small-cap U.S. companies, is particularly susceptible to economic changes, as these firms often have less financial resilience than larger companies. Market volatility can disproportionately affect these smaller businesses, leading to significant price swings. Additionally, these companies are often more exposed to specific industry risks and have less diverse revenue streams. They can also be more vulnerable to changes in domestic regulatory or policy environments.

Call Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s call writing strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in the positive price returns of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold call options and over longer periods.

Counterparty Risk. The Fund is subject to counterparty risk by virtue of its investments in options contracts. Transactions in some types of derivatives, including options, are required to be centrally cleared (“cleared derivatives”). In a transaction involving cleared derivatives, the Fund’s counterparty is a clearing house rather than a bank or broker. Since the Fund is not a member of clearing houses and only members of a clearing house (“clearing members”) can participate directly in the clearing house, the Fund will hold cleared derivatives through accounts at clearing members.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other Index (or ETFs that track the Index’s performance)holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary Index (or ETFs that track the Index’s performance) securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying instrument, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

Distribution Risk. As part of the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund seeks to provide current income. There is no assurance that the Fund will make a distribution in any given period. If the Fund does make distributions, the amounts of such distributions will likely vary greatly from one distribution to the next. Additionally, monthly distributions, if any, may consist of returns of capital, which would decrease the Fund’s NAV and trading price over time.

High Index (or Index ETF) Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings. A high Index (or Index ETF) turnover rate increases transaction costs, which may increase the Fund’s expenses.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

Non-Diversification Risk. Because the Fund is “non-diversified,” it may invest a greater percentage of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers than if it was a diversified fund.

New Fund Risk. The Fund is a recently organized management investment company with no operating history. As a result, prospective investors do not have a track record or history on which to base their investment decisions.

Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of call option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in increases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Call Period.

Inflation Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of the Fund’s assets and distributions, if any, may decline.

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, which focuses on an individual security (ARKK, TSLA, AAPL, NVDA, AMZN, META, GOOGL, NFLX, COIN, MSFT, DIS, XOM, JPM, AMD, PYPL, SQ, MRNA, AI, MSTR, Bitcoin ETP, GDX^®, SNOW, ABNB, BABA, TSM, SMCI, PLTR, MARA, CVNA), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GPTY)

Artificial Intelligence Risk. Issuers engaged in artificial intelligence typically have high research and capital expenditures and, as a result, their profitability can vary widely, if they are profitable at all. The space in which they are engaged is highly competitive and issuers’ products and services may become obsolete very quickly. These companies are heavily dependent on intellectual property rights and may be adversely affected by loss or impairment of those rights. The issuers are also subject to legal, regulatory and political changes that may have a large impact on their profitability. A failure in an issuer’s product or even questions about the safety of the product could be devastating to the issuer, especially if it is the marquee product of the issuer. It can be difficult to accurately capture what qualifies as an artificial intelligence company.

Technology Sector Risk. The Fund will invest substantially in companies in the information technology sector, and therefore the performance of the Fund could be negatively impacted by events affecting this sector. Market or economic factors impacting technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technological advances could have a significant effect on the value of the Fund’s investments. The value of stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology is particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition, both domestically and internationally, including competition from foreign competitors with lower production costs. Stocks of information technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Information technology companies are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights, the loss or impairment of which may adversely affect profitability.

Risk Disclosure (applicable only to MARO)

Digital Assets Risk: The Fund does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. The Fund does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than the Fund. Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to BABO and TSMY)

Currency Risk: Indirect exposure to foreign currencies subjects the Fund to the risk that currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar. Currency rates in foreign countries may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest rates and the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the U.S. or abroad.

Depositary Receipts Risk: The securities underlying BABO and TSMY are American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Investment in ADRs may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market.

Foreign Market and Trading Risk: The trading markets for many foreign securities are not as active as U.S. markets and may have less governmental regulation and oversight.

Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in securities of non-U.S. issuers involve certain risks that may not be present with investments in securities of U.S. issuers, such as risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability, as well as varying regulatory requirements applicable to investments in non-U.S. issuers. There may be less information publicly available about a non-U.S. issuer than a U.S. issuer. Non-U.S. issuers may also be subject to different regulatory, accounting, auditing, financial reporting and investor protection standards than U.S. issuers.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to GDXY)

Risk of Investing in Foreign Securities. The Fund is exposed indirectly to the securities of foreign issuers selected by GDX^®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies. Investments in the securities of foreign issuers involve risks beyond those associated with investments in U.S. securities.

Risk of Investing in Gold and Silver Mining Companies. The Fund is exposed indirectly to gold and silver mining companies selected by GDX^®’s investment adviser, which subjects the Fund to the risks associated with such companies.

The Fund invests in options contracts based on the value of the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX^®), which subjects the Fund to some of the same risks as if it owned GDX^®, as well as the risks associated with Canadian, Australian and Emerging Market Issuers, and Small-and Medium-Capitalization companies.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YBIT)

YBIT does not invest directly in Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest directly in derivatives that track the performance of Bitcoin or any other digital assets. YBIT does not invest in or seek direct exposure to the current “spot” or cash price of Bitcoin. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of Bitcoin should consider an investment other than YBIT.

Bitcoin Investment Risk: The Fund’s indirect investment in Bitcoin, through holdings in one or more Underlying ETPs, exposes it to the unique risks of this emerging innovation. Bitcoin’s price is highly volatile, and its market is influenced by the changing Bitcoin network, fluctuating acceptance levels, and unpredictable usage trends.

Digital Assets Risk: Digital assets like Bitcoin, designed as mediums of exchange, are still an emerging asset class. They operate independently of any central authority or government backing and are subject to regulatory changes and extreme price volatility. Potentially No 1940 Act Protections. As of the date of this Prospectus, there is only a single eligible Underlying ETP, and it is an investment company subject to the 1940 Act.

Bitcoin ETP Risk: The Fund invests in options contracts that are based on the value of the Bitcoin ETP. This subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it owned shares of the Bitcoin ETP, even though it does not. Bitcoin ETPs are subject, but not limited, to significant risk and heightened volatility. An investor in a Bitcoin ETP may lose their entire investment. Bitcoin ETPs are not suitable for all investors. In addition, not all Bitcoin ETPs are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Those Bitcoin ETPs that are not registered under such statute are therefore not subject to the same regulations as exchange traded products that are so registered.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to the Short ETFs)

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible.

Price Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the value of the underlying reference asset. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the underlying reference asset, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, the Fund is subject to the risk that the value of the underlying reference asset increases. If the value of the underlying reference asset increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses.

Put Writing Strategy Risk. The path dependency (i.e., the continued use) of the Fund’s put writing (selling) strategy will impact the extent that the Fund participates in decreases in the value of the underlying reference asset and, in turn, the Fund’s returns, both during the term of the sold put options and over longer periods.

Purchased OTM Call Options Risk. The Fund’s strategy is subject to potential losses if the underlying reference asset increases in value, which may not be offset by the purchase of out-of-the-money (OTM) call options. The Fund purchases OTM calls to seek to manage (cap) the Fund’s potential losses from the Fund’s short exposure to the underlying reference asset if it appreciates significantly in value. However, the OTM call options will cap the Fund’s losses only to the extent that the value of the underlying reference asset increases to a level that is at or above the strike level of the purchased OTM call options. Any increase in the value of the underlying reference asset to a level that is below the strike level of the purchased OTM call options will result in a corresponding loss for the Fund. For example, if the OTM call options have a strike level that is approximately 100% above the then-current value of the underlying reference asset at the time of the call option purchase, and the value of the underlying reference asset increases by at least 100% during the term of the purchased OTM call options, the Fund will lose all its value. Since the Fund bears the costs of purchasing the OTM calls, such costs will decrease the Fund’s value and/or any income otherwise generated by the Fund’s investment strategy.

Derivatives Risk. Derivatives are financial instruments that derive value from the underlying reference asset or assets, such as stocks, bonds, or funds (including ETFs), interest rates or indexes. The Fund’s investments in derivatives may pose risks in addition to, and greater than, those associated with directly investing in securities or other ordinary investments, including risk related to the market, imperfect correlation with underlying investments or the Fund’s other portfolio holdings, higher price volatility, lack of availability, counterparty risk, liquidity, valuation and legal restrictions.

Options Contracts. The use of options contracts involves investment strategies and risks different from those associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. The prices of options are volatile and are influenced by, among other things, actual and anticipated changes in the value of the underlying reference asset, including the anticipated volatility, which are affected by fiscal and monetary policies and by national and international political, changes in the actual or implied volatility or the reference asset, the time remaining until the expiration of the option contract and economic events.

High Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may actively and frequently trade all or a significant portion of the Fund’s holdings.

Liquidity Risk. Some securities held by the Fund, including options contracts, may be difficult to sell or be illiquid, particularly during times of market turmoil.

Price Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will participate in decreases in value experienced by the underlying reference asset over the Put Period.

Single Issuer Risk. Issuer-specific attributes may cause an investment in the Fund to be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment which diversifies risk or the market generally. The value of the Fund, for any Fund that focuses on an individual security (e.g., TSLA, COIN, NVDA, MSTR), may be more volatile than a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole and may perform differently from the value of a traditional pooled investment or the market as a whole.

Risk Disclosures (applicable only to YQQQ)

Index Overview. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a benchmark index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, based on market capitalization.

Index Level Appreciation Risk. As part of the Fund’s synthetic covered put strategy, the Fund purchases and sells call and put option contracts that are based on the Index level. This strategy subjects the Fund to certain of the same risks as if it shorted the Index, even though it does not. By virtue of the Fund’s indirect inverse exposure to changes in the Index level, the Fund is subject to the risk that the Index level increases. If the Index level increases, the Fund will likely lose value and, as a result, the Fund may suffer significant losses. The Fund may also be subject to the following risks: innovation and technological advancement; strong market presence of Index constituent companies; adaptability to global market trends; and resilience and recovery potential.

Index Level Participation Risk. The Fund employs an investment strategy that includes the sale of put option contracts, which limits the degree to which the Fund will benefit from decreases in the Index level experienced over the Put Period. This means that if the Index level experiences a decrease in value below the strike level of the sold put options during a Put Period, the Fund will likely not experience that increase to the same extent and any Fund gains may significantly differ from the level of the Index losses over the Put Period. Additionally, because the Fund is limited in the degree to which it will participate in decreases in value experienced by the Index level over each Put Period, but has significant negative exposure to any increases in value experienced by the Index level over the Put Period, the NAV of the Fund may decrease over any given period. The Fund’s NAV is dependent on the value of each options portfolio, which is based principally upon the inverse of the performance of the Index level. The Fund’s ability to benefit from the Index level decreases will depend on prevailing market conditions, especially market volatility, at the time the Fund enters into the sold put option contracts and will vary from Put Period to Put Period. The value of the options contracts is affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of component companies that comprise the Index, changes in interest rates, changes in the actual or perceived volatility of the Index and the remaining time to the options’ expiration, as well as trading conditions in the options market. As the Index level changes and time moves towards the expiration of each Put Period, the value of the options contracts, and therefore the Fund’s NAV, will change. However, it is not expected for the Fund’s NAV to directly inversely correlate on a day-to-day basis with the returns of the Index level. The amount of time remaining until the options contract’s expiration date affects the impact that the value of the options contracts has on the Fund’s NAV, which may not be in full effect until the expiration date of the Fund’s options contracts. Therefore, while changes in the Index level will result in changes to the Fund’s NAV, the Fund generally anticipates that the rate of change in the Fund’s NAV will be different than the inverse of the changes experienced by the Index level.

YieldMax™ ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not affiliated with Tidal Financial Group, or YieldMax™ ETFs.

The MIL Network –

March 28, 2025

MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Credit Corp Group Ltd. to OTCQX

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Credit Corp Group Ltd. (ASX: CCP; OTCQX: CCGFF), Australia’s largest provider of responsible financial services to the credit-impaired consumer segment, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Credit Corp Group Ltd. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink® market.

Credit Corp Group Ltd. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “CCGFF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

About Credit Corp Group Ltd.
Credit Corp is Australia’s largest provider of responsible financial services to the credit-impaired consumer segment. Credit Corp works with customers by adopting a flexible approach to agreeing affordable repayment plans and solutions. If you have received correspondence or a call from Credit Corp, we encourage you to contact us as soon as possible. To find out more about managing your account please follow the below link to our customer site.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.
OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX^® Best Market, OTCQB^® Venture Market and Pink^® Open Market.

Our OTC Link^® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS™ are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:
OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

The MIL Network –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Breaking the Mold: Hola Prime Rolls Out MT5 for Next-Gen Traders

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, NY, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a bold move to enhance the trading experience, Hola Prime offers its own licensed MetaTrader 5 (MT5), standing out as one of the few proprietary trading firms to do so. With its advanced capabilities, multi-asset trading, and faster execution, MT5 has become the platform of choice for traders seeking an edge. By pushing past the limitations of outdated systems, Hola Prime is empowering traders with the tools they need to stay ahead.

Hola Prime is the first prop firm offering On Exchange cryptos in addition to forex and CFDs- all together on MT5. Despite many new trading platforms being available in the market, MT5 continues to be the most preferred trading platform among traders, primarily because of its unmatched capacity of processing millions of transactions in milliseconds.

Oliver Kane, a professional trader, based out of Australia, shared his experience: “Other platforms restricted my ability to trade multiple assets efficiently. Switching between platforms to trade stocks, commodities, and indices was frustrating. MT5 on Hola Prime allows me to trade all these seamlessly, making a huge difference in my execution.”

Fredrik James, another active trader, from Canada, highlighted execution issues on older platforms. “Delays in order processing and the inability to hedge made risk management difficult. Sometimes, slippage would significantly impact my profits. MT5’s faster execution and hedging options have made my trades more precise and efficient, reducing unnecessary losses.”

Hola Prime’s proprietary MT5 server ensures high security, premium liquidity, and superior performance. MT5 facilitates multi-asset trading across forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. This expanded market access allows traders to diversify their portfolios without needing multiple accounts or platforms. MT5 offers an enhanced order execution model, allowing traders to see real-time bid/ask price levels beyond the standard spread. This feature improves precision in trading, helping traders make informed decisions with greater market transparency.

MT5 supports algorithmic trading, the use of Expert Advisors (EAs), through the upgraded MQL5 programming language, enabling traders to create custom indicators, scripts, and automated trading strategies. The built-in strategy tester helps optimize automated strategies before deploying them in live markets. With its 64-bit, multi-threaded architecture, MT5 ensures faster order processing and lower latency. The platform integrates an economic calendar, financial news updates, and fundamental analysis tools, allowing traders to make informed decisions based on real-time economic events and market trends without leaving the platform.

Hola Prime’s MT5 platform is accessible via a powerful web terminal and mobile applications for iOS and Android, ensuring traders can access their accounts anytime, anywhere, without compromising functionality or security.

Himanshu Chandel, Marketing Director at Hola Prime, emphasized the impact of MT5’s features on traders: “We are always customer-focused in everything we do. With 21 timeframes, over 80 built-in technical indicators, and enhanced algorithmic trading capabilities, MT5 empowers traders with precision and efficiency. It’s designed for those who need high-performance tools to trade complex markets.” He further explained how MT5’s architecture improves execution and market access: “Its 64-bit, multi-threaded system ensures faster trade execution with minimal delays, making it a supremely popular platform, which traders love.”

Somesh Kapuria, CEO of Hola Prime, stressed the need for advanced platforms in modern trading. “Traders have long been restricted by outdated platforms that don’t support advanced market analysis or multi-asset trading. With MT5, we are equipping them with cutting-edge technology that enhances execution speed, strategy automation, and overall market opportunities.” He further announced that Hola Prime will soon introduce a series of tutorials and guides to help traders maximize MT5’s potential. “Education is key in trading. We want our traders to make the most of MT5’s powerful features, and we’re committed to providing the resources they need to stay ahead.”

As one of the few proprietary trading firms offering MT5, Hola Prime continues to solidify its position as a leader in the industry. The firm’s proprietary server ensures a secure and efficient trading experience, while exclusive discounts especially on MT5 further enhance its appeal to traders.

Social Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565158992654&sk=about_contact_and_basic_info

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holaprime_global/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVEJa1Ml132Be7tnk-DjeQ

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hola-prime/?viewAsMember=true

X: https://x.com/HolaPrimeGlobal

Discord: https://discord.gg/TJ7TcHPXBf

Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/HolaPrime/

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/HolaPrime/

Medium: https://medium.com/@social_46267

Media Contact

Company: Hola Prime

Contact: Media Team

Email: marketing@holaprime.com

Website: https://holaprime.com/

The MIL Network –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Singapore to battle test its defense capabilities through Cope Tiger military exercise, says GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

Following the announcement of the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) participation in the military exercise “Cope Tiger”;

Harshavardhan Dabbiru, Aerospace and Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“The participation of the RSAF alongside Thailand and the US in the joint military exercise Cope Tiger 2025, which started on March 17, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on March 28, 2025, underscores Singapore’s commitment to strengthening its military interoperability while battle testing its defense platforms and associated capabilities. By deploying 26 manned and unmanned aircraft, 10 ground-based air defense systems, and over 700 personnel, Singapore is demonstrating its ability to conduct multi-domain warfare. The country is also testing synergies between both manned and unmanned platforms for intelligence gathering and enhancing its air defense capabilities.

“Located near the Strait of Malacca, a critical chokepoint in global trade, Singapore is a key hub for international commerce, which also makes it vulnerable to attacks on its critical infrastructure, especially due to any unprecedented conflict between the US and China. While Singapore prioritizes military preparedness, it also maintains a delicate diplomatic balance, fostering strong ties with both the US and China, the two major military powers active in the region.

“As geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, Singapore’s strategic location and defense capabilities make it a valuable partner for its regional allies. Although the country faces no imminent territorial threats, rising South China Sea tensions heighten the risk of entanglement in regional conflicts, reinforcing the need to maintain a combat-ready force. In this regard, Singapore’s participation in exercise Cope Tiger underscores its commitment to air combat readiness and interoperability with allies in an evolving security landscape.

“To safeguard its sovereignty, Singapore, one of the world’s highest per capita defense spenders, continues to invest heavily in advanced defense capabilities. According to GlobalData’s latest report “Singapore Defense Market Size, Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast to 2030,” the island nation allocated $17.7 billion towards its defense budget in 2025, and it is forecast to grow at a CAGR of more than 4% during 2025-2030. As Singapore deploys its aerial assets and ground-based air defense systems in the ongoing military exercise, it is worth noting that the country is projected to invest $6.8 billion for procuring various types of military fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft platforms. Singapore is also expected to spend another $1 billion on acquiring missiles and missile defense systems between 2025 and 2034.

“To maintain its relevance in the regional power struggles, Singapore will continue to acquire advanced military platforms and deploy them in multinational joint exercises such as Cope Tiger over this decade.”

MIL OSI Economics –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: ‘An absolute dud’: Peter Dutton’s energy plan a fail for family budgets, our kids’ future, and our environment

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

MELBOURNE, 27 MARCH 2025—Responding to Peter Dutton’s gas policy, announced tonight in his Budget Reply speech, Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy, Greenpeace, said:

Peter Dutton’s energy policy is an absolute dud for everyone except his mates – the fossil fuel lobby. It contains everything that would benefit coal and gas corporations, and absolutely nothing that would help household budgets, or stop the destruction of our ecosystems and climate.

Fast-tracking gas approvals, opening up new gas fields in our oceans and fracking the land, diverting money meant for clean energy to dirty gas, and stopping the construction of essential infrastructure to make renewable energy more affordable for Australians: these are all cynical measures designed to hamper the growth of affordable and clean renewable energy, while gas corporations continue to rake in profits.

Wind and solar are already the cheapest form of energy in Australia, while gas is expensive, tied to volatile global markets for price, and wrecks the climate and our ecosystems. To truly reduce energy prices for Australians, Mr Dutton should be helping families buy home solar systems with batteries, and expanding the share of renewable energy generation, backed by storage.

The Coalition’s nuclear plans are also nothing more than a risky, ok bad-faith delay tactic to prop up coal, oil, and gas, while holding back the rollout of renewable energy. Only the fossil fuel industry benefits from nuclear, while the rest of us pay the price for worsening climate damage, which is costing Australian taxpayers billions of dollars a year.

If Peter Dutton is serious about lowering bills for Australians, and wants the approval of the majority of Australians who love nature and are concerned about the climate, this absolute dud of an energy policy will not cut it. We call on Mr. Dutton to produce a real and effective energy and climate plan, based on cheap, clean renewable power.

For interviews, contact Vai – 0452 290 092 / [email protected]

MIL OSI NGO –

March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK Statement: WTO Trade Policy Review of Cambodia
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

World news story

UK Statement: WTO Trade Policy Review of Cambodia

UK Statement for the 3rd Trade Policy Review of Cambodia. Delivered on 26th & 28th March 2025.
Chair, let me warmly welcome the delegation, led by Minister of Commerce Mrs Cham Nimul, to their 3rd Trade Policy Review. Let me also express my gratitude to the government of Cambodia and to the WTO Secretariat for their Reports, to you Chair and to Ambassador James Baxter as discussant, for facilitating this Review with your insightful comments.

Bilateral Relationship

The UK and Cambodia enjoy long-standing and positive relations, with our diplomatic relationship dating back to 1953. In recent decades, the UK has been a considerable investor into Cambodia’s real estate and manufacturing industries, while supporting new approaches to developing Cambodia’s infrastructure to increase confidence in its investment potential is at the heart of our recent engagement. The UK’s development finance institution, British International Investment, has also focussed on renewable energy and climate financing in Cambodia.

2024 was a particularly positive year for the UK-Cambodia trade and investment partnership. In June we welcomed the first official Cambodian trade and investment mission to the UK, including Senior Minister for Trade and Investment Sok Siphana meeting the UK-ASEAN Business Council. In November, the Cambodia-UK business roundtable was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chantol, and the second annual UK-Cambodia Joint Trade and Investment Forum took place.

The Joint Forum’s theme was the ‘Road to 2030’ and pathways to mutual growth, drawing on both parties’ experience and expertise. We agreed focus areas, including tax predictability, double taxation, and developing domestic capital markets. We look forward to the third meeting of the Forum later this year.

I mentioned infrastructure investment. On this we hope a UK Export Finance Memorandum of Understanding to promote infrastructure development will help unlock up to £2bn in finance. We are also pleased the UK’s Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), which coordinates investments for sustainable economic development and poverty reduction, has several projects in Cambodia, and a strategic partnership with the Cambodian Credit Guarantee Corporation.

UK-Cambodia Development Relationship

The UK has also aimed to be a reliable partner to Cambodia through wider development programmes, including UK bilateral  ODA  funding, to support Cambodia’s economic development, enhance trade and investment, and cooperate in areas offering longer-term resilience and growth, including encouraging green and inclusive growth.

Our trade for development tools include ensuring Cambodian exporters can take advantage of comprehensive preferences under the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS). The UK also partners the Cambodian Ministry of Economy on the development of a Green Special Economic Zone and supports for agricultural SMEs.

With all these initiatives in mind, we were also pleased to see confirmation last year of the UN recommendation for Cambodia to graduate from LDC status in 2029.

Report Analysis

The Trade Policy Review illustrates Cambodia’s significant economic policy progress during the reporting period, including the role of trade in Cambodia achieving GDP growth as high as 6% in 2024, and annual increases in the value of merchandise exports. This is impressive progress, and among other achievements is testament to Cambodia’s ability to respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

WTO and Regional Engagement

As well as national achievements, we welcome Cambodia’s active international engagement. This includes regional trade agreements like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and wider ASEAN economic initiatives. Here at the WTO we welcome Cambodia’s constructive and thoughtful approaches in a wide range of WTO business. We pay tribute to the Cambodia Permanent Representative, Ambassador Suon Prasith, and his team for their efforts in this regard.

Recent examples of this include Cambodia’s active voice as a LDC focal point on dispute settlement reform. As co-convenor of work on accessibility the UK particularly welcomed Cambodia’s role in this regard. We have also appreciated Cambodia’s informed participation as Member of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Board, including drawing insights from its own national use of EIF funding in sectors such as rice and silk.

On WTO agreements, we welcomed Cambodia’s acceptance of the 2022 Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in 2024, and are especially grateful for Cambodia’s active role in discussions to achieve incorporation of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement soon.

In other areas, we encourage Cambodia to consider joining the Agreement on E-commerce and the Services Domestic Regulation initiative, both of which aim to break down barriers to cross-border trade in services and facilitate digital trade, which we believe would have significant benefits for Cambodia’s economic development.

We are very interested to hear Cambodian views and any remaining concerns on these agreements, and look forward to continuing to work together in these and other areas. This also includes ongoing work on the additional fisheries subsidies agreement relating to overcapacity and overfishing where Cambodia’s continued insights and support would be welcome.

Taking account of feedback from UK business, we also encourage Cambodia to increase momentum to achieving greater transparency in their customs valuation processes and regulations, including clearer processes for foreign business licensing, taxation, and land ownership.

We also encourage Cambodia to accelerate efforts to establish stronger intellectual property protections, including enforcement of trademarks, copyrights and patent protections; and to pursue clear policies to strengthen regulatory frameworks in areas such as sustainable waste management, green investments, and emissions standards for automotive and construction industries.

We also hope that Cambodia will continue to upskill their domestic workforce and implement stronger labour protections to meet increased economic demands, including after LDC graduation.

Finally, Cambodia has made important efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment and strengthen gender equality, notably through its credit guarantee schemes and national strategy. On behalf of Ambassador Simon Manley, as co-chair of the Working Group on Trade and Gender, who due to other commitments could not be here in person today, we would also welcome Cambodia sharing its experiences at a forthcoming session of the Group.

In closing, Chair, let me thank Cambodia for their report, for our wide cooperation bilaterally and here at the WTO. I again thank the delegation for its hard work and look forward to a productive Trade Policy Review.

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Published 27 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Air India Express and Willis Lease Finance Corporation Ink Engine Sale & Leasebacks with ConstantThrust®

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

COCONUT CREEK, Fla., March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Air India Express (“AIX”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, has signed definitive engine sale and leaseback agreements with Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”) for 26 CFM56-7B engines installed on 13 of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The engines will be covered under WLFC’s ConstantThrust^® program providing enhanced reliability and significant cost savings compared to traditional MRO shop visits. This program is in addition to the ConstantThrust^® program signed by WLFC and Air India in 2022, covering 34 CFM56-5B engines installed on Air India’s Airbus A320 family fleet. Both programs will be managed in part by WLFC’s team located in GIFT City, India.

WLFC’s ConstantThrust^® program helps airlines manage the risk and cost of engine overhauls by providing serviceable engines from its portfolio in place of engines that need to be removed for maintenance. This streamlined process reduces engine downtime, eliminates maintenance unpredictability, and lowers engine change costs, enabling airlines to focus on their core operations without disruption.

“WLFC’s ConstantThrust^® program has been successful so far for Air India and we are pleased to expand our partnership with WLFC in support of the Air India Express fleet,” said Aloke Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Air India. “This agreement allows us to eliminate the uncertainties associated with engine maintenance and mitigate unpredictable costs. WLFC’s ConstantThrust^® program will help us improve fleet reliability, reduce cost and optimize cash flows.”

“We believe Air India Express’ decision to select ConstantThrust^® evidences that Air India is realizing value from our ConstantThrust^® program and also validates our team’s performance on that program, ” said Brian R. Hole, President of Willis Lease Finance Corporation. “This is a great opportunity for us to continue supporting the growth of the Indian aviation industry, in general, and the Air India family of airlines, specifically.”

“We greatly value our long-standing relationship with Air India and are excited to continue providing innovative, programmatic solutions that deliver enhanced flexibility and cost efficiency for Air India Express and our global customers,” said Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of WLFC.

Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“WLFC”) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services through Willis Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO and ground and cargo handling services.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Lynn Mailliard Kohler

Director, Global Corporate Communications

(415) 328-4798

The MIL Network –

March 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Dutton unveils plan to force more gas into Australian market and expand production in major pre-election pitch
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would introduce a long-awaited gas reservation scheme, in a budget reply speech that puts energy policy firmly at the centre of the upcoming election campaign.

On Thursday night, Dutton pledged a national gas plan that he claimed would “prioritise domestic gas supply, address shortfalls and reduce energy prices for Australians”.

Under the proposed reservation policy, gas companies would be required to divert more gas to the Australian market, rather than sell it overseas. Dutton also pledged measures to speed up development approvals for proposed gas projects.

A gas reservation scheme could help to ease supply concerns in Australia. Labor is expected to announce its own plan to reserve more gas for domestic use.

Gas reservation policy may ruffle the feathers of gas importers such as Japan. But it offers a chance to reset relations with our energy-trading partners, and position Australia as a renewable-energy powerhouse.

However, Dutton’s plan to expand gas production is a folly. No new gas projects are needed to meet Australia’s energy needs. The best way to cut energy prices is to accelerate the shift to the cheapest form of energy – which is from wind, solar and storage.

Gas reservation: a long time coming

Australia is one of the world’s biggest gas exporters. But only a fraction of gas produced here is used to power our homes and businesses. Around 80% is exported or is used to liquefy gas so it can be shipped abroad.

This means despite massive production, parts of Australia face potential gas shortages. The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned of a seasonal supply crunch in the nation’s south from 2028, as production in Bass Strait declines. Reserving gas for the domestic market instead of exporting it could close these potential gaps.

The idea of reserving gas for use in Australia is broadly popular. It is supported by Australia’s manufacturing industry, and crossbenchers including David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie.

Western Australia has had a gas reservation policy for more than a decade. However, federal policymakers have, to date, not followed suit.

This is likely in part due to opposition from the gas industry, which has traditionally opposed the move, arguing it would discourage investment and create uncertainty.

There have also been concerns the policy could harm Australia’s relations with strategic partners – especially Japan.

Spotlight on Japan

Australia supplied 43% of Japan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2022. Japan has previously expressed concern about federal government moves towards diverting Australia’s gas supplies for domestic use, saying it could threaten long-established trade practices and future Japanese investment.

However, contrary to Japan’s claims, Australian gas is not needed to keep the lights on. Gas use in Japan is falling. Today, Japan on-sells more gas to other nations than it imports from Australia.

Importantly, gas contributes to dangerous climate change – both when it leaks into the atmosphere as methane, and when it is burned, releasing carbon dioxide and other pollutants.

Around a quarter of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the production and use of gas. Australian gas burned overseas is also responsible for substantial carbon emissions in other countries .

Tokyo’s finance for gas projects in Australia is slowing the shift away from fossil fuels and diverting investment, workforce, and supply-chain capacity away from clean energy industries.

Diverting Australian gas to meet local needs would help reset trading relations in our region. Australia’s economic prospects are tied to embracing our potential as a clean energy superpower. This requires signalling to our trading partners our intention to shift away from gas extraction for export.

Japan does not need Australia’s gas to keep the lights on.
Luciano Mortula – LGM/Shutterstock

No new gas is needed

In his budget reply, Dutton pledged to audit development-ready gas projects with a focus on the southern states and, as previously announced, fast-track a decision on Western Australia’s Northwest Shelf gas project.

A Coalition government, if elected, would also:
- invest A$1 billion into a critical gas infrastructure fund
- increase gas pipeline and storage capacity
- prevent gas companies from prolonged delays in drilling offshore gas fields.
However, Australia does not need any new gas projects. We only use a fraction of what we produce.

What’s more, evidence suggests more gas production will not bring prices down. East coast gas production has doubled over the past decade even as gas prices have tripled.

Keeping more gas onshore may help with energy prices. But the best way to reduce power bills is to shift to the cheapest form of electricity generation – which is renewables, not gas.

Australia’s gas use is declining as we move to cleaner, cheaper and more efficient types of energy for homes and businesses.

On the east coast, gas consumption has declined by 25% in the past decade. Just last week the Australian Energy Market Operator found gas demand is falling faster than anticipated.

Reducing gas use even faster would avoid potential seasonal shortages.

Gas has a small, short-term role as Australia switches to renewables, smoothing out electricity supplies when demand exceeds generation from wind, solar and energy storage.

But the gas won’t be used very often. And a looming surge in batteries to store renewable energy is also likely to displace gas generation at peak times.

Research suggests production from Australia’s existing projects through to 2035 could meet our remaining gas needs for 60 years.

A domestic reservation policy could ensure this gas is used to avoid potential supply gaps.

Our shared clean energy future

With a national gas reservation scheme on the table no matter who wins the election, Australia will have some tough conversations ahead with international customers – especially Japan.

However both Australia and Japan have committed to cut emissions over the next decade and achieve net-zero emissions in their economies by 2050.

Gas will play an ever-dwindling role in both countries in coming years, as it is replaced by cleaner forms of energy from wind, solar and storage.

Government efforts to manage the energy transition should not encourage new gas projects. Instead, it should position Australia at the forefront of the clean energy revolution.

Wesley Morgan is a fellow with the Climate Council of Australia.

– ref. Dutton unveils plan to force more gas into Australian market and expand production in major pre-election pitch – https://theconversation.com/dutton-unveils-plan-to-force-more-gas-into-australian-market-and-expand-production-in-major-pre-election-pitch-253228
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
March 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: A ‘Google maps for the sea’, sails and alternative fuels: the technologies steering shipping towards lower emissions – podcast

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

petrugusa94/Shutterstock

Ships transport around 80% of the world’s cargo. From your food, to your car to your phone, chances are it got to you by sea. The vast majority of the world’s container ships burn fossil fuels, which is why 3% of global emissions come from shipping – slightly more than the 2.5% of emissions from aviation.

The race is on to reduce these emissions, and quickly, to meet the Paris agreement targets. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we find out what technologies are available to shipping companies to reduce their carbon emissions – from sails, to alternative fuels or simply taking a better route.

“ We live in a world of information. The biggest challenge is knowing how to use it,” says Daniel Precioso, a data scientist at IE University in Madrid, Spain. He’s part of a team of researchers that developed a platform called Green Navigation, what he calls a “Google maps for the sea”. Pulling together publicly available data on wind, waves and ocean currents, it can suggest new routes to ship captains to optimise their journey from A to B and reduce carbon emissions.

Precioso presented the project in November 2024 in Dubai at the Prototypes for Humanity exhibition organised by Dubai Future Solutions as a showcase for young researchers designing solutions for global challenges.

Pressure mounting

Route optimisation software like Green Navigation is seen as a transition between the status quo and a future where ships will move to using alternative, greener fuels.

The UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) has a target for zero emissions from shipping by 2050 and a strive target of 30% reductions by 2030 relative to 2008 levels.

In early April, IMO member states will meet to discuss a proposal to introduce a flat rate tax on carbon emitted by commercial shipping. If adopted, shipping companies would have to pay a levy, the price of which is still being worked out, for every tonne of carbon dioxide they emit. The money would sit in a fund run by the IMO, which would be used to help developing countries reduce maritime emissions.

The proposal is supported by 47 countries, and it’s being pushed particularly by island nations most at risk from climate change, and flag states, those countries such as the Bahamas, Liberia and the Marshall Islands, where a lot of international ships are registered.

What’s the alternative?

If the flat tax is adopted it would add an extra financial incentive for ships to reduce their emissions and potentially move to greener alternative fuels. But Alice Larkin, professor of climate science and energy policy at the University of Manchester in the UK, says unfortunately it’s not currently cost efficient to switch away from fossil fuels.

The challenge is that when you’re moving away from something which was naturally the cheapest, easiest fuel to come by and to burn, then inevitably if all you’re doing is literally swapping the fuel for a different fuel that is much cleaner, then that is going to be more expensive, at least in the short term.

A number of alternative fuels are being explored, such as green hydrogen, biodiesel, biomethane and green ammonia. But Larkin says no alternative fuel is currently emerging as a frontrunner, making it difficult for shipping companies to know what to invest in and creating inertia in the transition to greener fuels.

She stresses the need to reduce emissions in the shorter term to help keep the world below 1.5 degrees of warming. Options include strategies like route optimisation, sail, or wind-assist technologies, or for ships to travel at a slower speed. Larkin and her colleagues modelled the potential impact from these technologies and found combinations of these technologies could reduce a ship’s emissions by up to a third.

Listen to the full episode of The Conversation Weekly to hear conversations with Daniel Precisio and Alice Larkin.

This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Gemma Ware and Mend Mariwany. Sound design was by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

Daniel Precioso Garcelán own shares of Canonical Green, the company who develops Green Navigation. The company received funding from the city of Valencia, Spain for development and marketing. Alice Larkin has received research funding from EPSRC, INNOVATE UK funding, International Chamber of Shipping Funding and University of Manchester Alumni Funding. She is a fellow of the Institute of Physics and of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

– ref. A ‘Google maps for the sea’, sails and alternative fuels: the technologies steering shipping towards lower emissions – podcast – https://theconversation.com/a-google-maps-for-the-sea-sails-and-alternative-fuels-the-technologies-steering-shipping-towards-lower-emissions-podcast-253088

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Albanese to call election on Friday as Dutton pledges fuel tax relief and national gas plan

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Anthony Albanese is set to announce on Friday that Australians will go to the polls on May 3, after he makes an early morning visit to Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

The prime minster’s timing means Thursday night’s budget reply from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will be quickly overshadowed. A day of Senate estimates scrutiny of the budget will be also be scrapped.

In his budget reply, Dutton announced a raft of proposed spending cuts and several new measures. The one big handout, a year-long halving of the fuel excise rate, had been foreshadowed ahead of the speech.

Dutton announced a Coalition government would introduce a National Gas Plan to secure a domestic supply of gas, and invest $1 billion in a Critical Gas Infrastructure Fund.

The gas plan would be aimed at ensuring the local supply, putting downward pressure on prices in the medium term.

Meanwhile, Dutton’s proposal to cut the excise on petrol and diesel came under sharp attack on Thursday from the government.

The excise plan is the opposition’s counter to the government’s $17 billion tax cuts announced in Tuesday’s budget, which were rushed through parliament on Wednesday night. Dutton said the “so called tax cut ‘top up’ is simply a tax cut cop-out”.

Other Coalition initiatives announced by Dutton include a new target of 400,000 apprentices and $400 million for youth mental health.

A Coalition government would cut Labor’s $20 billion Rewiring the Nation Fund, the $10 Housing Australia Future Fund and the $16 billion production tax credits. It would also reverse the 41,000 increase in Canberra-based public service.

In his speech, Dutton declared the election was “as much about leadership as it’s about policy”.

“The choice is clear at the next election,” he said, declaring he would be “a strong leader and a steady hand – just as John Howard was.

“I will make the tough decisions – not shirk them. I will put the national interest first. I will lead with conviction – not walk both sides of the street.”

He said he had “real life experience”, pointing to his police force service and time as a small business owner. He was “someone who came from a working-class background and knows the value of hard-work and the aspiration that drives Australians.”

Dutton declared the Coalition would “provide the moral and political leadership needed to restore law, order, and justice”.

“Under Labor, you will get the same weakness of leadership that has compounded crime and emboldened antisemitism on our streets,” Dutton said.

He said that “All too often, this prime minister is too weak, too late, and too equivocal”.

Homing in on the energy issue, Dutton said “under the Coalition, energy will become affordable and reliable again”.

He said “the only way to drive down power prices quickly is to ramp-up domestic gas production.

The Coalition would “prioritise domestic gas supply, address shortfalls, and reduce energy prices for Australians”.

“We will immediately introduce an east coast gas reservation.

“This will secure an additional 10% to 20% of the east coast’s demand – gas which would otherwise be exported.

“Gas sold on the domestic market will be de-coupled from overseas markets to protect Australia from international price shocks.

“And this will drive down new wholesale domestic gas prices from over $14 per gigajoule to under 10 per gigajoule.”

The Coalition’s investment of $1 billion in a Critical Gas Infrastructure Fund would increase gas pipeline and storage capacity,

“We will put in place ‘use it or lose it’ stipulations for gas drilling companies – so offshore gas fields are not locked-up for years.

“And we will ensure we will have a fit-for-purpose gas trigger to safeguard supply.

“This plan will deliver lower wholesale gas prices which will flow through the economy.”

Dutton said this election was “sliding doors moment for our nation”.

“A returned Albanese Government in any form won’t just be another three bleak years. Setbacks will be set in stone.”

Michelle Grattan 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. Albanese to call election on Friday as Dutton pledges fuel tax relief and national gas plan – https://theconversation.com/albanese-to-call-election-on-friday-as-dutton-pledges-fuel-tax-relief-and-national-gas-plan-253241

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: South Korea/Israel/OPT: HD Hyundai machinery used in West Bank demolitions

Source: Amnesty International –

HD Hyundai machinery has been widely used in demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), according to new visual and testimonial evidence documented by Amnesty International Korea and local human rights groups.

While the company denies their involvement, images and videos verified by the groups identified 59 Palestinian-owned homes, businesses and other structures that were demolished between September 2019 and February 2025 using machinery made by the South Korea conglomerate.

These demolitions resulted in the forced displacement of approximately 250 Palestinians and damaged the livelihoods of hundreds of others.

“It is imperative that HD Hyundai takes decisive action to immediately suspend distribution of its products in Israel and conduct heightened due diligence to ensure its operations, products or services do not perpetuate human rights abuses,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director.

For its investigation, Amnesty International Korea in collaboration with the Evidence Lab, Amnesty International’s digital investigations team, verified a total of 347 images and videos of demolitions obtained through partnerships with local organizations.

Amnesty International Korea, in collaboration with the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, also gathered testimonies from victims whose homes and businesses were destroyed by HD Hyundai bulldozers in eight instances across the West Bank.

One resident, a plumber named Yaaqoub Barqan, described how the Israeli military turned his home into rubble in July 2024.

“About 30 armed soldiers arrived in military jeeps, along with three pieces of heavy equipment, including a Hyundai excavator. The excavator destroyed the house in less than 20 minutes. My wife fainted watching our home being destroyed and is still receiving psychiatric treatment,” he said.

These findings follow research from March 2023 in which Amnesty International and Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) documented five instances where Israeli forces used excavators manufactured by Hyundai Construction Equipment (Hyundai CE) to raze Palestinian property that displaced at least 15 Palestinians in Masafer Yatta, an area south of the occupied West Bank where Palestinians live under imminent threat of mass expulsion.

In March 2024, in a response to media inquiries, HD Hyundai claimed it had reviewed its dealer’s records and asserted that there were no sales records to government agencies, such as for demolition work in Israel, and that compliance regulations were followed.

However, Amnesty International Korea’s latest research revealed at least 32 shipments of HD Hyundai heavy machinery to Israeli distributor EFCO were made between October 2021 and October 2023 along with 12 shipments of Hyundai Infracore equipment to Emcol Ltd, Hyundai Infracore’s major distributor in Israel.

Amnesty International Korea first contacted HD Hyundai in March 2023, and then again in October 2024 and March 2025, to inform the company about the use of its machinery in unlawful demolitions in the OPT. On 17 March 2025, Hyundai Infracore, Emcol and EFCO were contacted.

HD Hyundai XiteSolution, the parent company of HD Hyundai CE and HD Hyundai Infracore, responded on 25 March 2025 saying that it “has no involvement with activities in said conflict regions”. The company did not respond directly to questions posed by Amnesty International Korea. Emcol and EFCO did not respond.

“HD Hyundai Group, like any corporate actor, must respect human rights throughout its operations. It must do more to guarantee that its machinery is not being used in the destruction of homes and livelihoods in the OPT, especially as demolitions are a key tool in upholding Israel’s system of apartheid,” Montse Ferrer said.

MIL OSI NGO –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Party in the park or have a ball on the beach for VE or VJ Day 27 March 2025 Hold a party in the park or have a ball on the beach to celebrate VE and VJ Day

Source: Aisle of Wight

This year is the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ).

Thursday 8 May 2025 marks 80 years since VE Day, when the Second World War came to an end in Europe. While 15 August is celebrated as VJ Day, when the war ended in the east as Japan surrendered.

On bank holiday Monday 5 May gather your friends, family and neighbours and host a Great British Food Festival.

To help celebrate and bring people together the Isle of Wight Council will waive the land hire costs for community groups (including town, parish and community councils) to hold parties in the park and on beaches across the Island. This will help make organising an event as easy and stress-free as possible.

Residents can download this handy toolkit to help get the party started

Natasha Dix, Service Director Waste, Environment and Planning said ‘‘Parties like this are a great opportunity for communities to come together. We want to make it as easy as possible for organised groups to hold a party to celebrate this momentous occasion.’’

‘‘For anyone organised groups wishing to hold a party in a local park or at the beach on bank holiday Monday 5 May simply visit Amenity land hire and submit your request to the council one month before the date of your event. If you are just gathering a few friends and family members, have fun and stay safe. We would like to remind everyone to please leave their environment as they found out and place any litter in bins or take it home to dispose of correctly.’’

Celebrate freedom in the great outdoors and enjoy some Great British Food. Whether you plan a picnic party in your local park or sandwiches on the sand at the beach. Big or small gather your friends, family and neighbours.

While the Isle of Wight Council is waiving any land hire costs, licensing fees will still apply as these are a statuary requirement.

The council hopes that as many people take this opportunity to get the together but would like to remind residents if they do choose to hold a party in an outdoor space, they leave the venue as they found it.

Please take away any rubbish and dispose of it correctly.

These hints may help.

Disposable barbeques

Be safe and just don’t use them. The risk of fire caused by disposable barbeques is high. Pack a picnic instead.

Disposable barbeques can reach 400C and take around four hours to cool down, making them impossible to move, and posing danger to people and the environment.

Use of disposable barbeques is banned in several local parks and beaches managed by the council.

Recyclable plates/cups and cutlery

Consider using recyclable cups, paper plates and wooden cutlery that can be reused or recycled easily instead of single use plastic.

Bottles and cans

Wash and squash any plastic bottles or cans and put them in your recycling bin. Squashing plastic bottles and cans helps free up space making it easier to collect and recycle more.

Cardboard

Collapse any cardboard boxes to fit more in your bin. Our recycling centres will also accept larger boxes of cardboard. You can also bundle excess cardboard to one side of your recycling bin or sack on your recycling week.

Left-over food waste

Use your food caddie to dispose of any leftover food waste from your celebrations or visit Love Food Hate Waste for simple recipes to use up your leftovers.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: 27 March 2025 Departmental update A unified call for One Health: driving implementation, science, policy and investment for global impact
Source: World Health Organisation
Issued at the Third Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting, 25–27 March 2025, WOAH headquarters, Paris

As global leaders in human, animal and environmental health, the Quadripartite collaboration comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to advancing the One Health approach. This integrated approach is essential to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, plants and ecosystems and to address health risks at the human-animal-environment interface. Meeting at WOAH headquarters in Paris for the Third Quadripartite Executive Annual Meeting, we call for urgent, strategic and sustained support and investments to scale up One Health implementation worldwide.

Advancing the One Health agenda

Since its establishment in March 2022, the Quadripartite has made significant progress in four strategic priority areas.
1. Implementation of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA). Over the past year, the Quadripartite has strengthened cross-sectoral collaboration through regional and sub-regional One Health workshops in Europe, central Asia, and Pacific islands, leading to increased adoption of the OH JPA at the national level. Capacity-building efforts have expanded, with multiple country-level workshops focusing on workforce development, joint risk assessments and multisectoral coordination mechanisms. Additionally, key implementation tools have been translated into multiple languages, increasing their accessibility and adoption.
2. Strengthening One Health science and evidence. The second term of the Quadripartite One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) has been established, broadening its expertise to include social sciences, economics and governance. Key scientific deliverables will include mapping international legal and policy instruments that have a bearing on One Health and analysing barriers and enablers of One Health implementation. The Quadripartite One Health Knowledge Nexus serves as an interactive space for collective knowledge generation and co-learning. Under this platform, a joint Community of Practice was launched in November 2023 on the return on investment for One Health. A new community of practice on One Health governance is planned to be launched in 2025. In 2024, the Quadripartite contributed actively to the 8th World One Health Congress and several other international scientific fora to strengthen partnerships with the scientific community.
3. Enhancing political engagement and advocacy. The Quadripartite played a significant role in global political processes, advocating for the inclusion of One Health in major discussions and declarations. This includes supporting the adoption of a UN General Assembly political declaration on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and advocating for One Health integration in G20 health ministerial discussions and declarations. Additionally, the Quadripartite contributed to the adoption of a Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health at the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) and hosted a high-level One Health event at UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) to promote climate-health policy integration.
4. Mobilizing investments for One Health. The Quadripartite is developing a Joint Offer – a unified advocacy document for targeted One Health investments. This effort will be bolstered by structured outreach to funding partners through roundtable discussions and high-level dialogues. The Quadripartite continues to advocate for embedding One Health in existing financial mechanisms, and strengthening regional and national One Health investment planning to catalyse broader financial commitments, ensuring sustainable investments at national and global levels.
Investing in One Health now

The complexity of today’s health challenges – ranging from AMR and zoonotic diseases to food safety risks and climate-related health threats, amongst others – demands an integrated and well-resourced One Health response. Investing in One Health is not an option; it is an imperative. It is a strategic and cost-effective approach to preventing future health crises, reducing economic losses, strengthening global health security and promoting sustainable development.

The Quadripartite underscores that investing in One Health today is an investment in a safer, healthier and more resilient future. The world cannot afford to wait. We call on policymakers, donors and global leaders to act decisively, turning commitments into concrete actions and ensuring that One Health is effectively implemented, leaving no one behind.
MIL OSI United Nations News –
March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Natural Hazards Commission – Toka Tū Ake (New Zealand)

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Mission

Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake is New Zealand’s Government’s response to the country’s unique geographical environment.

Created to provide support and financial assistance to New Zealanders after a natural hazard event, the Commission is committed to reducing the impact of natural hazards on people, property, and our communities.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: The Max Planck Society for the Advancement of Science

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Mission

The Max Planck Society is an internationally recognized, autonomous science organization with a longstanding tradition.

“Insight must precede application” – the guiding principle of the Max Planck Society are words spoken by the physicist that our organization was named after. Excellent minds, a high degree of freedom and outstanding work conditions create the foundation for basic research at the very highest level. And thus 20 Nobel Prize Laureates are among the ranks of the Max Planck Society to date. The Max Planck Society with its 86 Max Planck Institutes and facilities is the international flagship for German science: in addition to five foreign institutions, it operates another 20 Max Planck Centers with research institutions such as the Princeton University in the USA, the Paris University Science Po in France, the University College London in UK, and the University of Tokyo in Japan.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Asian Development Blog: Internal Audit’s Unsung Role in Development

Source: Asia Development Bank

Strengthening internal audit through independence, adherence to international standards, and a risk-based approach can drive better governance, service delivery, and accountability.

In many government agencies across Asia and the Pacific, internal audit – an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization’s operations – remains an underutilized tool.

When organizations lack a strong internal audit function, they don’t just risk poor performance—they also lack the independent assurance and actionable insights provided by such audits. This leads to inefficiency and confusion, ultimately limiting an organization’s ability to operate effectively and evolve.

This can have a profound effect on social and economic development goals being pursued by developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Despite its crucial role in public financial management, internal audit remains an area of weakness across the region, ranking among the lowest-scoring indicators in both East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia, according to a recent report.

Internal audits can be conducted by a dedicated unit, a shared service, or be outsourced to a private accounting firm. To be effective the auditors should have unrestricted access to records, assets, and personnel, as well as the autonomy to set audit priorities in consultation with management.

To safeguard its independence and maintain its impact, the internal audit function must communicate directly with the board or its audit committee and provide an annual confirmation of its independence.

Internal audit should follow best practices, including using international standards, operating under a formal charter, being led by a certified audit executive, and using a risk-based audit plan. It should issue an annual report with an audit opinion, disclose compliance with standards, and undergo an external quality assessment at least every five years.

It’s essential to differentiate between internal audit and internal controls. While internal audit serves as the third line of defense in the internal control system, it is not a part of the controls themselves. In many public organizations, internal audit is often tasked with conducting pre-audits of transactions, which is a control activity.

However, to preserve its independence and objectivity, internal audit must refrain from performing control activities, including pre-audits. Doing so would compromise its core function: evaluating the effectiveness of internal controls and recommending improvements. Instead, pre-audits should be handled by the finance department, while internal audit periodically reviews transactions or assesses the effectiveness of the pre-audit function. This approach allows internal audit to focus on strengthening organizational processes.

Enhancing internal audit is not just about compliance—it’s a strategic investment in development.

Internal and external audits are both critical to ensuring accountability, but they differ in their scope, purpose, and approach. External audits focus on delivering an output in the form of an audit opinion on the fairness, accuracy, and reliability of financial statements in accordance with applicable financial reporting frameworks, while internal audits are more input-driven and often constrained by limited resources.

To maximize their effectiveness, internal audits must adopt a risk-based approach that directs available resources toward the highest-risk areas.

While external audits primarily evaluate key controls related to financial reporting, internal audits have a much broader remit, encompassing financial, operational, and procurement controls. Furthermore, internal audit can play a positive role in affirming the robustness and effectiveness of the internal control system – something external auditors typically do not do – and in issuing detailed, actionable recommendations to address control weaknesses.

Importantly, external auditors may rely on internal audit work if the function meets quality standards, such as objectivity, staff competence, systematic practices, and quality control. Each internal audit work must also demonstrate thorough planning, effective execution, and robust evidence, with conclusions that are appropriate and consistent with the audit findings.

While external auditors remain responsible for their conclusions, leveraging quality internal audit work helps focus on high-risk areas and reduce duplication. Clear communication between internal and external audits is essential to maximize synergies and minimize overlap.

The full value of internal audit is realized when it maintains independence, objectivity, and adheres to professional standards and best practices. When empowered to assess internal controls and complement external audits, internal audit drives critical improvements in governance and performance.

This includes conducting essential audits, such as contract audits to improve tendering and contract management practices as well as performance audits to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Internal audit plays a key role in helping organizations assess and advance sustainability initiatives. Collectively, these efforts help build resilience, sharpen the ability to achieve goals, and elevate service delivery quality across Asia and the Pacific. Enhancing internal audit is not just about compliance—it’s a strategic investment in development.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Historic investment to help deliver universal early childhood education and care

Source: Historic Cooma Gaol listed on the NSW State Heritage Register

The Albanese Government and the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC) will partner to build supply and capacity of integrated early years services.

The Albanese Government will provide up to $50 million through the Build Early Education Fund, toward co-investment opportunities to help build or expand integrated and holistic early learning services in areas of need.

Philanthropic partners of IDAC have also committed to up to $50 million in-principle funding, to bring together early learning, child and maternal health services, and family and community supports.

Philanthropic funding will also be targeted towards initiatives that strengthen a holistic early childhood development system, such as measures to strengthen the not-for-profit sector’s capacity as well as research and evaluation.

The partnership represents one of the biggest co-investments between government and philanthropy in Australian history.

IDAC is a flagship collaboration between the Government and philanthropic organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families.

This co-investment is the next major step in translating commitments made at the 2024 IDAC Roundtable into action.

The partnership also builds on the significant reforms the Albanese Government is delivering across the early childhood education and care sector, ensuring children and families have universal access to high-quality early learning.

To learn more about these reforms visit education.gov.au/early-childhood/announcements/building-universal-early-education-and-care-system

Quotes attributable to Treasurer Jim Chalmers:

“The transformational power of education begins with quality early childhood education and care.

“Every child has a right to early education no matter their background or where they live, and this partnership is a milestone on our path to universal education and care.

“This investment isn’t just good for children, it gives parents and carers the choice to return to work or study earlier if they want to – helping families earn more and keep more of what they earn.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth:

“The first years of a child’s life are vitally important to their wellbeing, education and development.

“This partnership builds on the successes of IDAC and continues to enliven community-led solutions to meet the aspirations of communities, families and their children.

“It is another example of the Government working together with community and philanthropy to find solutions that are led by and are meaningful for the families and children who will most benefit.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Dr Anne Aly:

“We’re strengthening local communities by ensuring that Government and philanthropy work together to maximise our efforts and deliver for disadvantaged communities.

“The Albanese Labor Government is laying the foundations for a truly universal early childhood education system through improving affordability, boosting supply, increasing accessibility and securing the vital workforce families rely on.

“No child should have to carry disadvantage through their life – we know that by investing in the early years we can change the trajectory of a child’s life and improve their education and health outcomes.”

Quotes attributable to Paul Ramsay Foundation CEO Professor Kristy Muir:

“This is a major step towards an Australia where every child has what they need to thrive in the first critical years of life.

“Through these co-investments, we’re creating the conditions needed for kids and families to have experiences in the early years that set them up for life.”

Quotes attributable to Minderoo Foundation CEO John Hartman:

“Minderoo Foundation is proud to be part of a collaborative effort with the Federal Government and other philanthropies to empower communities to break cycles of adversity by tackling issues at their root causes.

“The most effective way to create sustainable change is to provide the resources and capability that communities need to be able to lead the way and providing infrastructure that brings services together and benefits the whole community.

“This commitment by government and philanthropy will help build a fair future for Australian children and families.”

Quotes attributable to The Bryan Foundation Executive Director Matthew Cox:

“When we look to the services and supports other OECD countries have established to support their children we see highly integrated early learning, child and maternal health and family support services under the one roof providing all the help that families need.

“This partnership will enable us to put more of these kinds of joined-up services on the ground and begin to plan for how to do this at scale.”

Quotes attributable to Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children Executive Convenor Simon Factor:

“This is an exciting moment for IDAC, where ambitious discussions and significant commitments are being transformed into a record co-investment that will deliver tangible benefits for children and families.

“This partnership represents a crucial step in building the early childhood development system of the future – one that is integrated, sustainable, and focused on delivering the best outcomes for all Australian children.”

MIL OSI News –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI: The “AI Magic” in Financial Services: Transforming Customer Experience with Smart Technology
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HONG KONG, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the financial sector, customer demands are becoming increasingly diverse and complex. Whether it’s loan inquiries, financial advice, or after-sales service, customers expect instant and accurate answers. A leading financial services provider, referred to as Company F, was facing unique challenges and chose to collaborate with GPTBots.ai to tackle these business difficulties with an AI-powered customer service solution.

1. Challenges in Financial Customer Service

Company F was grappling with the following issues:
- High Training Costs: The diverse content of loan and financial services made training difficult and slow to show results.
- Multilingual Communication Barriers: Customers used multiple languages, including Indonesian and English, often mixed with slang and abbreviations, causing communication difficulties.
- WhatsApp Management Difficulties: A large number of users inquired through WhatsApp, making timely responses and management challenging.
- Low Customer Service Efficiency: High consultation volumes and a limited customer service team led to long response times and reduced customer satisfaction.
2. GPTBots AI-Powered Customer Service Solution

To address these challenges, Company F opted for an innovative solution: the GPTBots AI customer service system.

Multilingual Support
- Multilingual Conversations: Supports Indonesian and English, automatically switching the response language based on the customer’s query.
- Slang and Abbreviation Recognition: Capable of understanding and correctly responding to non-standard language and abbreviations.
Knowledge Base Integration
- Knowledge Base Upload: Rich knowledge bases are uploaded to ensure the AI can answer basic customer questions.
- Real-Time Updates: The knowledge base is updated in real-time to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of responses.
Seamless Handover to Human Agents
- Complex Issue Detection: Automatically identifies complex or unresolved issues.
- Seamless Handover: When the AI cannot meet customer expectations, the conversation is automatically transferred to a human agent.
- Context Preservation: Ensures human agents can take over the conversation seamlessly without needing to repeat questions.
WhatsApp Integration
- WhatsApp Platform Integration: Interacts with customers directly on WhatsApp.
- Multiple Message Types: Supports text messages, template messages, and service cards.
- Instant Interaction: Provides instant customer support through a familiar platform.
Click to watch the full video: AI Customer Service via WhatsApp

3. Significant Transformation with AI-Powered Customer Service

After implementing the GPTBots AI customer service solution, Company F achieved remarkable improvements in key performance indicators.

Drastic Improvement in Customer Service Team Efficiency
- Average Response Time Reduced by 90%: Response time is now 15 seconds.
- Basic Inquiry Handling Time Reduced by 70%: Customer service staff can focus on complex issues.
Significant Improvement in Customer Satisfaction
- Consistency in Responses Increased by 90%: Effectively reduces customer repeat inquiries.
- Response Speed Increased to Seconds: More diverse response content, with an 86% increase in customer satisfaction.
Effective Resource Optimization and Cost Control
- Training Focused on Key Issues: Training time reduced by 65%, significantly improving training efficiency.
- Human Customer Service Support for Complex Issues Only: Company resources can be allocated to high-value customer service.
4. Conclusion: The Future of Financial Customer Service with AI

Company F’s success story highlights the immense potential of AI technology in the financial customer service sector. By leveraging GPTBots’ AI customer service system, Company F not only overcame multilingual communication barriers and improved customer service efficiency but also significantly enhanced customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. This is not just a technological breakthrough but a crucial step for the financial services industry on the path to digital transformation.

As AI technology continues to evolve and be applied, the customer service model in the financial industry will become smarter, more efficient, and more human-centric. Company F’s experience demonstrates that AI-powered customer service is not only the direction for the future but also a key tool for enhancing competitiveness and customer experience today. By combining AI technology with traditional customer service, financial institutions can better meet customer needs, improve service quality and efficiency, and stand out in the competitive market.

Media Contact:
Silvia
Senior Marketing Manager
marketing@gptbots.ai

The MIL Network –
March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI: Ragnarok V: Returns Official Launching in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines on March 27, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Seoul, South Korea, March 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, announced that Gravity Game Tech Co., Ltd., Gravity’s wholly-owned subsidiary, officially launched Ragnarok V: Returns, a 3D MMORPG Mobile and PC game, in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines on March 27, 2025.

Ragnarok V: Returns was first launched in Southeast Asia, excluding Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines in December 2024 and has since maintained stable service. During the CBT conducted in March 2024 for Southeast Asia and Korea, the game attracted over 20,000 users on the first day alone, with sustained participation and strong engagement until the test concluded, demonstrating its popularity. Ragnarok V: Returns is available for download in Google Play and Apple App Store in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines and by installing PC version from official website. It is also available for download in Huawei App Gallery in entire Southeast Asia.

Gravity stated, “We are delighted to officially launch Ragnarok V: Returns to all regions in Southeast Asia with this launch in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Building on the support from local users during the CBT in 2024, we have prepared a variety of events and look forward to your continued interest and participation”.

[Gravity Official Website]
http://www.gravity.co.kr

[Gravity Game Tech Official Website]
https://gravity.co.th

[Ragnarok V: Returns Google Play Download Page]

https://ragnarokvreturns.go.link/dX1TQ

[Ragnarok V: Returns Apple App Store Download Page]

https://ragnarokvreturns.go.link/dX1TQ

[Ragnarok V: Returns Huawei App Gallery Download Page]

https://appgallery.cloud.huawei.com/ag/n/orderappdetail/C110273477

[Ragnarok V: Returns Official Website]

https://www.rov-sea.com/

[Ragnarok V: Returns Official Facebook Page]

https://www.facebook.com/ROVreturns

[Ragnarok V: Returns Official Thai Facebook Page]

https://www.facebook.com/RagnarokV.TH

[Ragnarok V: Returns Official Discord Community]

https://discord.com/invite/bJZKdP8ARy

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.

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: +82-2-2132-7801

The MIL Network –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Cabinet welcomes strengthened ties between SA and Japan

Source: South Africa News Agency

Cabinet has expressed its support for the strengthened relationship between South Africa and Japan following Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s working visit to Japan earlier this month.

The visit, held from 17 to 19 March 2025, aimed to enhance cooperation between the two countries in areas of mutual interest.

“Engagements were also held with the Japan International Cooperation Agency to explore areas of economic collaboration, the Association for African Economic Development in Japan to discuss trade and investment opportunities, and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security to highlight investment opportunities in the mining sector,” said the Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni.

She was addressing the media during at a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday.

SAnews reported that Deputy President Mashatile successfully concluded his working visit to Japan last week.

The two nations commemorated 115 years of strong diplomatic relations, with 2025 marking a significant milestone as both countries chair key multilateral organisations.

South Africa currently holds the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20), while Japan will lead the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-9) Summit in August this year.

During the working visit, Mashatile met with Japanese government officials, including a courtesy call to Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The country’s second-in-command also met with the Japan-African Union Parliamentary Friendship League to strengthen bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation between South Africa and Japan.

During these engagements, the Deputy President highlighted South Africa’s favourable business environment, skilled workforce, and strategic location, making it an attractive destination for Japanese investment.

The Deputy President expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support of South Africa’s Presidency of the G20, stating that he looks forward to collaborating with Japan to ensure the TICAD-9 Summit is successful. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Newly arrived communities hit harder by cost of living pressure – study – AMES

Source: AMES

Emerging refugee and migrant communities in Australia appear to be suffering greater cost of living stress than the broader community, a survey of community leaders has found.

A focus group of 34 community leaders in 21 key cohort migrant and refugee groups report high levels of cost of living stress in their communities.

In more than half of the communities, 15, the stress members face is higher than in the general community.

The worst hit communities are members of the African, Afghan and Myanmar communities.

Refugee communities generally are being impacted more negatively than migrant communities.

But a counter narrative also emerged from the survey of community members using their resilience and entrepreneurialism to augment their incomes and support their communities.

The survey also suggests cost of living pressure is having a negative impact of family violence.

Migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia has recruited a group of community embedded leaders from key newly arrived migrant and/or refugee communities to provide key insights into how issues and policy developments affect their lives.

Eighteen of twenty-one communities surveyed in the study reported that the impact of cost of living rises was worse in their communities than in the broader community.

Migrant communities were less like to be impacted than refugee communities and the worst affected were African, Afghan and Myanmar communities. Largely skilled migrant communities from China, India, Vietnam, Korea and Malaysia reported the level of stress was no worse than across the broader community.

Rents, mortgages, food and utilities were cited by most communities as the areas that have seen the largest cost rises.

Some of the worst impacted communities reported that the difficulties had brought members closer together in offering support to struggling community members.

Eighteen of the communities reported that despite the cost of living challenges, they were still happy with life in Australia.

Just three communities, those from Congo, Ethiopia and Eritrea, reported that they were only ‘partly’ happy with life in Australia.

Syrian community leader ‘Norma’ said the most recently arrived members of her community were having the most difficulty.

“Newly arrived people are having the worst time. They struggle to find a house because of the housing shortage and the fact they have no local references or rental history,” she said.

“And even when they find a house, the rent has usually been increased significantly since the last tenant moved out,” Norma said.

But she said that the crisis had seen community members come together to support each other, sharing food and resources and providing emotional support.

“Everyone is aware that some people are having hard time and so we are trying to help those in need,” she said.

South Sudanese community leader ‘Elizabeth’ extended families and groups of friends were coming together to help each other.

“People are reaching out and helping each through things like bulk buying food, sharing vehicles and looking after families that are particularly vulnerable.”

“Across the community there is a lot of support for people who need it and everyone who is able to, is pitching in to help others.”

But she said one negative effect was a rise in family violence.

“This stress on families is sometimes ending badly with more domestic violence.”

AMES Australia CEO Cath Scarth said the survey strongly suggested newly arrived refugee and migrant communities are more vulnerable to cost of living rises than the general community.

“The survey also identifies areas where support for people struggling with the cost of living could make a difference,” Ms Scarth said.

“Firstly, there is a need for more in-language information for communities about how to access the support that is available in the community and also emergency support.

“And maybe we need to ramp up community capacity building so that these communities are better placed to help their own members,” she said.

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung’s New Bespoke AI Laundry With AI Home Enables Smarter, More Efficient Laundry Care

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of its new washers and dryer products — the Bespoke AI Laundry with AI Home1 — that integrate screens and Bespoke design to elevate the user experience. The Bespoke washers and dryers come in various forms of size and heating methods to meet a wide range of customer needs across diverse regions. The pair is available in both large and small capacities, making them suitable for different types of family and living arrangements. Samsung is also launching the dryer with two types of heating methods — the vent and the heat pump — to meet the needs of various environments around the world.

This year’s Bespoke AI Laundry products incorporate the 7” AI Home screens, extending Samsung’s “Screens Everywhere” vision that was first presented at CES 2025. These screens offer intuitive control and monitoring of essential information related to the laundry experience, such as wash cycles and remaining detergent levels. They also remember user habits and consider periodic and seasonal needs, suggesting appropriate cycles to free users from having to consider the right cycle every time. The AI Home also functions as a central hub allowing users to monitor and control connected appliances, while also enjoying online videos or music.

“Last year’s launch of the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo marked the beginning of integrating screens into our products, providing users access to essential information about laundry and home control,” says Jeong Seung Moon, EVP and Head of the R&D Team for Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “This year, we are excited to unveil the complete Bespoke AI Laundry lineup, which caters to a wider range of customer needs and enables them to take advantage of these convenient screens.”

The Bespoke AI Washer & Dryer sets are designed to simplify laundry routines with advanced AI algorithms and sensors, optimizing washing and drying performance while enhancing energy efficiency. The original AI Wash and AI Dry are upgraded to AI Wash+ and AI Dry+, with enhanced fabric detection abilities to ensure efficient and high-quality washing and drying for a wider variety of fabric types.

27-Inch Wide Large Capacity Washer & Dryer Set Brings Extensive Laundry Capabilities

Samsung is introducing a 27-inch large capacity washer and dryer set,2 with each device featuring the 7” AI Home and utilizing a sleek Bespoke design based on a fully unified flat-panel aesthetic. In addition to the flexibility of vertical or horizontal installation layouts, the substantial capacity allows users to wash large items, like king-size comforters, with ease.

The washer now features the upgraded AI Wash+, which has been upgraded to newly detect outdoor fabrics and denim.3 Based on the detected fabric type, soil level and weight of the laundry, the AI Wash+ cycle efficiently4 cleans clothes by automatically adjusting detergent levels, rinsing time and wash settings. The washer also features a Bedding cycle that can sense the thickness of the blankets and adjust the cycle time and water usage accordingly.5 Users can also experience next-level convenience with features like Auto Open Door and Speed Shot technology which completes wash cycles in just 30 minutes.6

The matching large capacity dryer is launching in two types to meet living environments of different regions – the vent type in certain countries in the Americas, and a heat pump type in other regions. Users will be able to enjoy thorough and gentle drying with AI Dry+, which has been upgraded to detect fabric types and take them into account to optimize drying7 along with real-time temperature, weight8 and moisture content. The upgraded feature’s AI algorithm uses an advanced sensor that carefully monitor various factors to detect four fabric types,9 which results in benefits like heavy duty drying such as denim. Previously, denim was harder to dry evenly due to thicker sections like pockets, but the dryer can now detect this fabric to and reduce drying inconsistencies, delivering better performance.

The dryers also provide the Bedding feature, which also uses an advanced algorithm to detect a blanket’s size for optimized drying times and dryness.10 For those times when drying needs to be finished quickly, the vent type’s Super Speed Drying can complete a drying cycle in as little as 30 minutes.11

Along with the washer and dryer set, a large capacity washer-dryer combo model12 is also being launched for users looking for a compact, all-in-one device that can complete both jobs while using up limited space. The combo incorporates the AI Home, AI Wash+ and AI Ecobubble like the washer, and dries the clothing through a condensing method.

24-Inch Wide Small Capacity Washer & Dryer Set Boosts Laundry Efficiency

Following the unveiling of the Bespoke AI Washer at IFA 2024, the 24-inch small capacity washer & dryer set will be launching in Europe later this year. Like the large capacity washer and dryer, the small capacity set also incorporates the 7” AI Home, providing intuitive control and connectivity features for a wider audience.

The washer, built to be highly efficient to meet the needs of the European market, consumes up to 55% less energy than the minimum efficiency requirements for a Class A rating.13 It also supports thorough14 cleaning optimizing water and detergent use with AI Wash, and ensures gentle washing while improving soil removal with AI Ecobubble . QuickDrive , available with 11 different cycles, can reduce wash time by up to 50%15 without compromising cleaning performance.

The matching dryer features the AI Dry+, capable of drying precisely by detecting four fabric types16 — Normal, Denim, Towels and Synthetics. This enables the machine to dry precisely17 while reducing energy use by up to 10% and drying time by up to 15%.18 QuickDrive is also useful when users need to dry their laundry both quickly and gently, reducing drying time by up to 35%19 through automatic adjustments of the inverter compressor.

With the launch of these new products, Samsung continues to push the boundaries of innovation, offering highly intelligent, efficient and aesthetically pleasing appliances that simplify everyday life by delivering enhanced convenience to users.

1 You will need a Samsung account to access AI Home, our network-based service that includes apps and our other smart features available through your device. Does not mean all services available on the AI Home are AI or generate information or outcome using AI. Certain functions accessible through the AI Home utilize AI-based algorithms, which be updated periodically to improve accuracy. AI-based algorithms may generate incomplete or incorrect information.2 Washer is 18.5kg~26kg capacity, and Dryer 17kg~24kg capacity depending on the region of launch.3 Based on an advanced AI-created algorithm. It may not detect certain fabrics or accurately identify them when a load includes a mixture of different fabric types. To prevent wear, wash like fabrics together.4 Based on an AI-created algorithm and internal testing using the AI Wash+ on a 3kg load. A turbidity sensor operates for all weights, while fabric sensing operates for 3kg and under. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.5 Washes dry blankets weighing up to 4 kg.6 Applicable on a Cotton wash course. Based on internal testing using a Normal course at 40°C with a DOE 3kg load. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions.7 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.8 Applies to Heat Pump type only.9 The types of detectable fabric are Normal, Heavy Duty, Synthetics, and Delicates for Vent Type, and Normal, Towel, Denim, Delicates for Heat Pump models.10 The Bedding drying cycle can dry up to 4 kg of dry comforters.11 Tested on the Samsung DV90F with a DOE (Cotton 50% + Polyester 50%) 8lb load. RMC (Remaining Moisture Content) under 48%, 24℃±2℃, RH (Relative Humidity) 50% ±10%.12 Launched in select countries in South East Asia, Middle East, Africa and China (Taiwan)13 Based on Samsung internal testing. The energy consumption of this 11KG model is 21.8kWh / 100 cycles, which is 55% more energy efficient compared to the minimum threshold of energy efficiency class A (52kWh / 100 cycles for 11KG models). Energy ratings tested with Eco 40-60 program, 55% savings tested with Eco 40-60 program.14 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.15 Based on internal testing (in accordance with IEC 60456-2010) of the WF90/24 cycles with the QuickDrive option compared to cycles without the QuickDrive option. Result: Wash time reduced by 13.2%-50.8%. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions. This may increase energy usage.16 Based on an advanced AI algorithm, utilizing weight, moisture content and drying temperature data, it can detect four types of fabric: normal, denim, towel and synthetics.17 Based on an AI-created algorithm. Actual results may vary depending on individual use.18 Based on internal testing (synthetic 2kg load) of the DV90F/24 using AI Dry+ compared to DV5000D using Eco cotton.19 Based on internal testing on the DV90F/24 model, Comparison of drying time for IEC cotton 9kg load drying under Eco cotton + QuickDrive On / Off conditions. Result: Drying time reduced by 35%. Results may vary depending on the actual usage conditions. Using QuickDrive may increase your energy usage.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 27, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Albanese to call election on Friday as Peter Dutton announces a plan to protect gas supply for Australians

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Anthony Albanese is set to announce on Friday that Australians will go to the polls on May 3, after he makes an early morning visit to Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

The prime minster’s timing means Thursday night’s budget reply from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will be quickly overshadowed. A day of Senate estimates scrutiny of the budget will be also be scrapped.

In his budget reply, Dutton announced a raft of proposed spending cuts and several new measures. The one big handout, a year-long halving of the fuel excise rate, had been foreshadowed ahead of the speech.

Dutton announced a Coalition government would introduce a National Gas Plan to secure a domestic supply of gas, and invest $1 billion in a Critical Gas Infrastructure Fund.

The gas plan would be aimed at ensuring the local supply, putting downward pressure on prices in the medium term.

Meanwhile, Dutton’s proposal to cut the excise on petrol and diesel came under sharp attack on Thursday from the government.

The excise plan is the opposition’s counter to the government’s $17 billion tax cuts announced in Tuesday’s budget, which were rushed through parliament on Wednesday night. Dutton said the “so called tax cut ‘top up’ is simply a tax cut cop-out”.

Other Coalition initiatives announced by Dutton include a new target of 400,000 apprentices and $400 million for youth mental health.

A Coalition government would cut Labor’s $20 billion Rewiring the Nation Fund, the $10 Housing Australia Future Fund and the $16 billion production tax credits. It would also reverse the 41,000 increase in Canberra-based public service.

In his speech, Dutton declared the election was “as much about leadership as it’s about policy”.

“The choice is clear at the next election,” he said, declaring he would be “a strong leader and a steady hand – just as John Howard was.

“I will make the tough decisions – not shirk them. I will put the national interest first. I will lead with conviction – not walk both sides of the street.”

He said he had “real life experience”, pointing to his police force service and time as a small business owner. He was “someone who came from a working-class background and knows the value of hard-work and the aspiration that drives Australians.”

Dutton declared the Coalition would “provide the moral and political leadership needed to restore law, order, and justice”.

“Under Labor, you will get the same weakness of leadership that has compounded crime and emboldened antisemitism on our streets,” Dutton said.

He said that “All too often, this prime minister is too weak, too late, and too equivocal”.

Homing in on the energy issue, Dutton said “under the Coalition, energy will become affordable and reliable again”.

He said “the only way to drive down power prices quickly is to ramp-up domestic gas production.

The Coalition would “prioritise domestic gas supply, address shortfalls, and reduce energy prices for Australians”.

“We will immediately introduce an east coast gas reservation.

“This will secure an additional 10% to 20% of the east coast’s demand – gas which would otherwise be exported.

“Gas sold on the domestic market will be de-coupled from overseas markets to protect Australia from international price shocks.

“And this will drive down new wholesale domestic gas prices from over $14 per gigajoule to under 10 per gigajoule.”

The Coalition’s investment of $1 billion in a Critical Gas Infrastructure Fund would increase gas pipeline and storage capacity,

“We will put in place ‘use it or lose it’ stipulations for gas drilling companies – so offshore gas fields are not locked-up for years.

“And we will ensure we will have a fit-for-purpose gas trigger to safeguard supply.

“This plan will deliver lower wholesale gas prices which will flow through the economy.”

Dutton said this election was “sliding doors moment for our nation”.

“A returned Albanese Government in any form won’t just be another three bleak years. Setbacks will be set in stone.”

Michelle Grattan 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. Albanese to call election on Friday as Peter Dutton announces a plan to protect gas supply for Australians – https://theconversation.com/albanese-to-call-election-on-friday-as-peter-dutton-announces-a-plan-to-protect-gas-supply-for-australians-253241

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: From Farm to Table: Horticulture Development and Food Security in Uzbekistan

Source: Asia Development Bank

Transcript

Makhtob Odilova, Horticulture entrepreneur

For many this is just a field, but for me it is the story of my life.

Bukhara region, Uzbekistan.

Makhtob Odilova, Horticulture entrepreneur

I started business in agriculture, because the population is growing, and demand for tomatoes and cucumbers is also increasing. Before there were no tomatoes and cucumbers in our district.

Entrepreneurship motivates people to do new things. I studied the opportunities in Bukhara and decided to start a greenhouse business.

Makhtob was able to grow her business with the help of ADB. The project extended $154 million to horticulture entrepreneurs, channeled through local banks.

It helped to finance and train entrepreneurs like Makhtob in areas like climate-smart agriculture, business planning, and market expansion.

ADB-financed Horticulture Value Chain Development Project (2017-2023) provided 359 subloans: 220 subloans for production of modern greenhouse complexes (195) and intensive gardens (25); and 139 subloans for storage improvement (83), processing (45), taro-packaging of fruit and vegetable products (4), and agricultural machinery purchase (7).

Makhtob Odilova, Horticulture entrepreneur

In 2020, during the pandemic, we took another $1 million loan so that our work would not stop. Using this loan we built a new greenhouse in Kagan district.

Geographical distribution of subloans: Andijan (3.1%), Bukhara (17.0%), Djizzak (4.2%), Fergana (7.8%), Kashkadarya (6.6%), Republic of Karakalpakstan (1.2%), Khorezm (5.8%), Namangan (4.4%), Navoi (4.1%), Samarkand (10.7%), Sirdarya (13.5%), Surkhandarya (6.6%), Tashkent (15.0%). Participating banks: Asaka Bank, Davr Bank, Hamkorbank, Ipoteka Bank, Ipak Yuli Bank, NBU, SQB, Turon Bank.

Makhtob Odilova, Horticulture entrepreneur

When we planted in the soil, the yield was very low. After we switched to hydroponics, the yield significantly increased. In 2020-2023, we delivered to our population and exported about 600 tons of tomato.

Horticultural exports increased from $6oo million in 2015 to $1.15 billion in 2022. Export volume in 2022: 648,483 tons of vegetables, 318,900 tons of grapes, 305,479 tons of fruits, 136,600 tons of melons.

To help bring food from farm to table, ADB also supported the country’s largest modern grocery retail company, Korzinka. $12 million loan helped the company build its inventory buffers for food and pay suppliers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kanokpan Lao-Araya, ADB Country Director for Uzbekistan

ADB is happy to help boost food production and strengthen supply chains in Uzbekistan. This will not only help ensure food security, but will also create and preserve jobs, particularly for women and those in rural areas who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

Makhtob Odilova, Horticulture entrepreneur

My advice to women is to never be afraid of hard work. A woman should be a risk taker. Any woman can handle large business. Just believe.

MIL OSI Economics –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How Australia’s government is spending less on consultants – and trying to rebuild the public service
Source: The Conversation – France – By Emmanuel Josserand, Enseignant-chercheur, Pôle Léonard de Vinci

The post-Covid era has been marked by a global crackdown on government spending on consultants. This phenomenon hasn’t only concerned France, where the “McKinsey-gate” episode concerning President Emmanuel Macron’s 2017 campaign for the Élysée led to a Senate inquiry and spending cuts.

Public debates, government inquiries and new laws emerged in many countries, including the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Germany and South Africa. Australia has been particularly active and achieved significant savings in consultant and contractor spending. Here’s how it did it.

Nearly €2 billion in savings

To understand why the use of consultants has become highly politicized in Australia, we need to go back at least to the 2018 federal elections. The right-wing coalition government was focusing on cutting public spending by reducing public jobs. The Labour opposition argued that this led to the more costly use of consultants.

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The controversy continued through the 2022 federal elections, when a newly elected Labour government pledged to save 3 billion Australian dollars (around €1.9 billion) on consultants and the use of external labour. This was also pursued at the regional level. For instance, the state of New South Wales announced savings of over 55% in consultants’ fees for the fiscal year 2023-24.

The case of Australia highlights four main reasons for reducing consulting costs and improving governance – reasons that are also found in other countries.
- Expenses exceeding needs
First, a dramatic increase in government spending on consultants attracted attention. In Australia, it almost tripled between 1988-89 and 2016-17 (after adjustment for inflation) and then tripled again to reach 3.2 billion Australian dollars for management advisory services alone in 2022-23. There is a concern that such costs are far more than what might be justified by a temporary rise in workload or the need for very specific technical expertise, even accounting for the exceptional case of Covid.
- Hollowing out of the public service
Second, there is the related question of the hollowing out of the public service. The increase in the use of consultants can trigger a vicious circle in which the government loses its skills, thus becoming even more dependent on consultants. This was the core argument of a recent critique by economists called The Big Con.
- Lack of assessment
Third, there are reasons to doubt the overall efficiency and effectiveness of consultants’ interventions, especially in the absence of appropriate assessment by clients of the outcomes of the services provided. Despite the claims of consultants and their paying clients that consulting adds value, it is often impossible to measure value precisely, and, therefore, identify who deserves credit or blame.

Beyond comparing rates of pay, it is hard to know whether internal options would be more effective than using external consultants. Overall, research provides a very mixed picture, with some work showing external consulting being associated with increased inefficiency.
- Significant conflicts of interest
Finally, the capacity of consultants to provide independent advice has been broadly criticised after a series of scandals. This is partly because of conflicts of interest for consultants working for both public and private sector clients that are also often undeclared.

This concern became especially salient in Australia with the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) tax scandal. The Treasury had hired PwC, one of the “Big 4” consulting firms, to help devise legislation to restrict tax evasion by multinationals. Some PwC partners then shared this information with their private sector clients to help them prepare to avoid the new laws. Such cases are linked to broader concerns about the lack of transparency and professionalism in consulting and the failure of self-regulation, both linked to a reward system in the sector that prioritises generating fee income over ethics and the wider public interest.

Recommendations from the Senate inquiry

With a dependency on consulting that was proportionally greater than any other country’s and the resulting diminishment of its public service, Australia was facing a significant challenge and pressure to cut costs. But because of the diminishment of the public service, these cuts risked leaving it unable to fulfil its missions.

A recent Senate inquiry into the matter provided recommendations on how to improve the contracting process, public reporting on consultant contracts and a new regulatory framework for the consulting industry. It also recommended that any external consulting contract include an approach to transferring knowledge to the Australian public service.

However, these measures wouldn’t have been enough to reconstruct the capacity of the public service to compensate for significant cuts in their consulting and contractor spending. To solve this problem, the Australian government has started a major rebuilding of the public service.

Thousands of reallocated roles

Since 2022, Canberra has reallocated 8,700 roles formerly performed by consultants and external labour hires to public servants across all the major public service agencies. This will be supported by the Australian Public Service Commission’s strategy to develop a flexible workforce that is prepared for the challenges the public service will be facing – notably that of digitalization, an area that has been over-reliant on consultants.

Another interesting initiative in New South Wales is the establishment of a unit that will aim to redirect government agencies toward in-house expertise instead of consultants. Indeed, recourse to internal consulting units is common in the private sector. The government will also undertake long-term capability and skills planning, notably to identify core public service skills and address competency gaps.

Will this bring lasting results?

Australia’s solution is thus a strong commitment to redeveloping the public service with a flexible and planned approach to the management of its human resources. This is a key part of the way forward if cuts to consulting budgets are to be sustained. It is, however, too early to judge if the challenge of redeveloping the public service workforce and making it flexible enough will be met.

We should also keep in mind that this long-term objective is subject to political changes. With the current opposition leader promising a cut of 10,000 civil servants if his coalition is elected later this year, Labour’s plans for the public workforce might be short-lived.

Indeed, in Australia and elsewhere, there is a long history of short-lived and failed government efforts to contain the use of external consulting. This is in part because of a lack of civil service capacity to respond to change, but also because consulting firms are adept at persuading those in power – politicians and senior civil servants – that they can solve their problems (and let them take the credit).

Emmanuel Josserand is affiliated with the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and the Business Insight Institute, Wiltz, Luxembourg.

Andrew Sturdy et Emmanuel Josserand ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possèdent pas de parts, ne reçoivent pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’ont déclaré aucune autre affiliation que leur poste universitaire.

– ref. How Australia’s government is spending less on consultants – and trying to rebuild the public service – https://theconversation.com/how-australias-government-is-spending-less-on-consultants-and-trying-to-rebuild-the-public-service-252748
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases rising in England
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases rising in England

Although numbers remain low, cases are being detected more frequently.
New provisional STI surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a rise in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases, including extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains.

While most gonorrhoea infections can be treated effectively, certain resistant strains present significant treatment challenges. Ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea is of particular concern. As the primary antibiotic used to treat gonorrhoea, resistance to ceftriaxone can make infections difficult to treat.

Since first being detected in England in 2015, 42 cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea have been reported. Fifteen of these cases were extensively drug-resistant (XDR), which means that they were resistant to ceftriaxone and to second line treatment options.

Although numbers remain low, cases are being detected more frequently. In the 15 months from January 2024 to 20 March 2025, there were 17 cases of ceftriaxone resistant gonorrhoea reported (13 in 2024 and 4 in 2025 so far). This compares to 16 across the previous 2 years (January 2022 to December 2023).

XDR cases are also rising. From January 2024 to March 2025 there were 9 XDR cases (6 in 2024 and 3 in 2025 to date). This compares to 5 cases in total in the previous 2 years (between January 2022 and December 2023).

Most cases are linked to travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where ceftriaxone resistance is common. While transmission within England has been limited so far, the increasing number of cases in recent years is concerning as it increases the chance of wider spread and treatment challenges.

Typical symptoms of gonorrhoea include a thick green or yellow discharge from the vagina or penis, pain when urinating, pain and discomfort in the rectum and, in women and other people with a uterus or ovaries, lower abdominal pain and bleeding between periods. However, many people infected with gonorrhoea will have no symptoms, especially for infections in the throat, vagina or rectum. This lack of symptoms makes it important to test regularly when having sex with new or casual partners.

Untreated gonorrhoea can lead to serious health complications including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the female reproductive system, which includes the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Dr. Katy Sinka, Consultant Epidemiologist and Head of the STI section at UKHSA, said:

Gonorrhoea is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, which could make it untreatable in future. If left untreated, it can cause serious problems like pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

The best way to stop STIs is by using a condom. If you’ve had condomless sex with a new or casual partner, get tested, whatever your age, gender or sexual orientation. This includes when you are having sex abroad. Early detection not only protects your health but prevents transmission to others. Many STIs show no symptoms, which is why regular testing is so important. Testing is quick, free and confidential.

The latest provisional data on gonorrhoea overall shows approximately 54,965 gonorrhoea diagnoses at sexual health services in the first 9 months of 2024, compared to over 85,000 recorded in the whole of 2023. The latest data indicates that gonorrhoea diagnoses are starting to level, remaining relatively high.

Meanwhile, around 7,000 syphilis cases were recorded between January and September 2024, compared to 9,513 in the whole of 2023. UKHSA reminds healthcare professionals to remain vigilant for syphilis symptoms, as untreated infections can lead to serious, irreversible complications affecting the brain, heart and nerves.

Both gonorrhoea and syphilis are easy to catch. If you are having condomless sex with new or casual partners, regular testing for STIs and HIV is essential to maintain good sexual health. Testing is free and can be accessed through local sexual health clinics, university and college medical centres or through self-sampling kits ordered online and sent discreetly through the post.

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Published 27 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Apply Now: UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples Supports Participation at 47th World Heritage Committee Session

Source: United Nations

The United Nations Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples (UNVFIP) has extended its mandate to support the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives in the World Heritage Committee, starting with the 47^th session to be held at UNESCO Headquarters from 6 to 16 July 2025.

This is a significant development that marks a milestone in the ongoing engagement of Indigenous Peoples with the World Heritage Convention and enhances their role in shaping the dialogue on the future of heritage conservation at the global level.

Many cultural and natural World Heritage sites are home to Indigenous Peoples, who have long been at the forefront of cultural and natural heritage protection. Their diverse knowledge systems and cultural practices have ensured the sustainable management of cultural and natural resources over generations. In the World Heritage context, the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in the identification, conservation and promotion of World Heritage has been increasingly recognized as part of an evolving interpretation of the World Heritage Convention. The extension of the UNVFIP to the statutory meetings of the World Heritage Convention builds on these initiatives and opens a new chapter in ensuring the participation of Indigenous Peoples in World Heritage discussions that concern them.

The extended mandate of the UNVFIP will enable Indigenous representatives and organizations with expertise in World Heritage to apply for grants to cover travel, accommodation, and other expenses associated with participating in the Committee’s proceedings. This funding is made possible through the generous support of the government of Australia.

Indigenous representatives and organizations wishing to apply can find further details and the online application form. They are invited to do so by 20 April 2025.

This historic decision by the United Nations General Assembly to extend its support for Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the statutory meetings of World Heritage Convention underscores the increasing recognition of Indigenous knowledge, stewardship and governance systems and sets a promising precedent for the future of heritage policy at the global level.

About the UNVFIP

The UN Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples offers financial support in the form of grants which aim to help representatives of Indigenous communities and organizations to participate in UN mechanisms and processes most relevant to Indigenous Peoples.

The Fund is financed by means of voluntary contributions from Governments, non-governmental organizations and other private or public entities. In order to respond to increasing operational demands and to fulfil its mandate in a satisfactory manner, the Fund needs support on a regular basis.

For information on how to contribute, please contact the secretariat of the Fund.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Activation of TIR system in Iraq to boost connectivity and trade across Central Asia, Middle East and Europe

Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

With its 78 Contracting Parties and electronic procedure (eTIR), the UNECE-serviced TIR Convention is a flagship international agreement that establishes an international customs transit system that facilitates speedy and secure border crossing of goods.

Iraq will become the 66th country to operationalize the TIR system as of 1 April 2025, making the transport of goods more efficient, streamlined and reliable, and opening up prospects for efficient transit routes to, from and through the Islamic Republic of Iran, Türkiye, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Syria, and further to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar, all of which are also TIR operational.

“The activation of the TIR system in Iraq will open up routes across the Middle East and make almost the entire Eurasian landmass – from China through Central Asia to Europe – TIR operational,” noted UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean. “Most importantly, by ensuring greater connectivity between regional and international markets, it will help to boost trade and development.”

Throughout the years, the application of the TIR Convention has enabled more than 34,000 transport and logistics companies in its 78 Contracting Parties to reduce cross-border transport time by up to 80% and costs by up to 38%.  

Launched in 2021, eTIR can reduce carbon emissions from the transport sector by eliminating the need for physical TIR carnets and the associated logistics and paper production, including the queueing and waiting times at borders.  

MIL OSI United Nations News –

March 27, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrating British-Turkmen education collaboration
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

World news story

Celebrating British-Turkmen education collaboration

The Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia project at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages has been successfully completed.
British Ambassador, Stephen Conlon, presents books to the Rector of the World Languages Institute.

On 19 March we celebrated the successful completion of the British Council’s Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia (AELLCA) project at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages. The project was funded by the UK Government and implemented by Nottingham Trent University.

British Ambassador, Stephen Conlon speaks at the closing ceremony.

The British Ambassador, Stephen Conlon was delighted to speak at the closing ceremony and noted that educational cooperation between the United Kingdom and Turkmenistan has been steadily progressing, with significant achievements since last year.

British Ambassador and Rector of the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages present teachers with certificates.

The event showcased the remarkable strides made in English Language Teaching (ELT) at the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages. The Ambassador presented teachers with well-deserved certificates from Nottingham Trent University, recognising their dedication and hard work.

Doctor Samuel Barclay of Nottingham Trent University.

Special thanks to Dr Samuel Barclay of Nottingham Trent University for sharing with participants his insightful findings and reflections, highlighting the lasting impact of this initiative.

As part of the project, the British Council has also arranged study visits to the UK for members of the Dovletmammet Azadi Turkmen National Institute of World Languages and the International University for Humanities and Development, to enhance their understanding of school-based continuing professional development practices.

Together, we’re building bridges through language and education – fostering stronger connections and future opportunities.

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Published 27 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 27, 2025

NEWS RELEASE	CONTACT:	Lynn Mailliard Kohler
		Director, Global Corporate Communications
		(415) 328-4798

Category: Asia Pacific

March 27, 2025

UK Statement: WTO Trade Policy Review of Cambodia

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Gas reservation: a long time coming

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Our shared clean energy future

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Advancing the One Health agenda

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Transcript

Nearly €2 billion in savings

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Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea cases rising in England

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About the UNVFIP

Celebrating British-Turkmen education collaboration

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