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Category: Asia

  • India-UK FTA paves way for actionable cooperation in trade, technology: Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reaffirmed India’s commitment to transitioning the free trade agreement (FTA) from a negotiated text into a transformative economic partnership, the ministry said on Thursday.

    The minister showcased India’s strategic global outlook and economic leadership at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025 in London. His visit marked a significant moment following the historic signing of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025.

    Delivering the keynote address, the Union Minister described the FTA as a reflection of shared ambition between two vibrant democracies. He stated that the agreement not only enhances bilateral trade, but also demonstrates India’s ability to negotiate balanced and future-oriented trade frameworks aligned with its national interests.

    Goyal was joined by UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, with moderation by international journalist Mark Barton.

    Outlining the next phase of implementation, Goyal highlighted key priorities such as strengthening institutional mechanisms for joint governance, unlocking early benefits for SMEs and startups, and facilitating smooth mobility of skilled professionals across sectors.

    On June 19, the Union Minister participated in a special session on “UK–India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration” at the Science Museum in London.

    The session explored opportunities for UK stakeholders to contribute to India’s expanding investments in digital public infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, and green technologies.

    Discussions also covered efforts to make India a global manufacturing hub through Make in India, PLI schemes, and enhancing collaboration in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and creative industries, according to the ministry.

    The FTA’s role in deepening cooperation in critical technologies, defence production, and advanced manufacturing was also highlighted. The session further examined how innovations like UPI and CoWIN can be scaled globally through bilateral collaboration.

    “By leveraging the India–UK FTA, both nations aim to unlock new avenues in goods, services, technology, and innovation for shared prosperity,” said the ministry.

    (IANS)

  • India-UK FTA paves way for actionable cooperation in trade, technology: Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has reaffirmed India’s commitment to transitioning the free trade agreement (FTA) from a negotiated text into a transformative economic partnership, the ministry said on Thursday.

    The minister showcased India’s strategic global outlook and economic leadership at the India Global Forum (IGF) 2025 in London. His visit marked a significant moment following the historic signing of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in May 2025.

    Delivering the keynote address, the Union Minister described the FTA as a reflection of shared ambition between two vibrant democracies. He stated that the agreement not only enhances bilateral trade, but also demonstrates India’s ability to negotiate balanced and future-oriented trade frameworks aligned with its national interests.

    Goyal was joined by UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds, with moderation by international journalist Mark Barton.

    Outlining the next phase of implementation, Goyal highlighted key priorities such as strengthening institutional mechanisms for joint governance, unlocking early benefits for SMEs and startups, and facilitating smooth mobility of skilled professionals across sectors.

    On June 19, the Union Minister participated in a special session on “UK–India Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration” at the Science Museum in London.

    The session explored opportunities for UK stakeholders to contribute to India’s expanding investments in digital public infrastructure, sustainable manufacturing, and green technologies.

    Discussions also covered efforts to make India a global manufacturing hub through Make in India, PLI schemes, and enhancing collaboration in sectors such as fintech, artificial intelligence, and creative industries, according to the ministry.

    The FTA’s role in deepening cooperation in critical technologies, defence production, and advanced manufacturing was also highlighted. The session further examined how innovations like UPI and CoWIN can be scaled globally through bilateral collaboration.

    “By leveraging the India–UK FTA, both nations aim to unlock new avenues in goods, services, technology, and innovation for shared prosperity,” said the ministry.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: 8 in 10 people support taxing oil and gas corporations to pay for climate damages, global survey finds

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    Bonn, Germany, 19 June 2025 – A vast majority of people believe governments must tax oil, gas and coal corporations for climate-related loss and damage, and that their government is not doing enough to counter the political influence of super rich individuals and polluting industries. These are the key findings of a global survey – including responses from South Africa and Kenya – which reflect a broad consensus across political affiliations, income levels and age groups.[1]  

    The study, jointly commissioned by Greenpeace International and Oxfam International, was launched today at the UN Climate Meetings in Bonn (SB62), where government representatives are discussing climate policies, including ways to raise at least US$ 1.3 trillion annually in climate finance for Global South countries by 2035. The survey was conducted across 13 countries, including most G7 countries. 

    Sherelee Odayar, Oil and Gas Campaigner for Greenpeace Africa said:

    “In Africa, people are feeling the heat—literally—and they’re done footing the bill for disasters driven by record fossil-fuel profits. This survey sends an unmistakable message: our governments have a popular mandate to make oil, gas and coal corporations pay their fair share for the floods, droughts and hunger they’ve helped unleash. A polluter-pays tax would turn dirty profits into clean investments for frontline communities, and that’s the climate justice Africa has been calling for.”

    Ali Mohamed, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Kenya, said:


    “African Leaders adopted the Nairobi Declaration during the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, which among others, calls for a global carbon taxation regime, including levies on fossil fuel trade. Kenya co-chairs the Global Solidarity Levies Taskforce, which brings together a coalition of willing countries to design and implement progressive levies that reflect the true cost of pollution. The principle is simple, sectors profiting from the increasing greenhouse gas emissions that cause the destructive climate change, must be taxed to support climate impacted vulnerable communities in Africa and other developing world, adapt and recover from the devastating losses and damages being suffered so frequently.”

    Mads Christensen, Executive Director of Greenpeace International said:

    “These survey results send a clear message: people are no longer buying the lies. They see the fingerprints of fossil fuel giants all over the storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires devastating their lives, and they want accountability. By taxing the obscene profits of dirty energy companies, governments can unlock billions to protect communities and invest in real climate solutions. It’s only fair that those who caused the crisis should pay for the damage, not those suffering from it.”

    The study, run by Dynata, was unveiled alongside the Polluters Pay Pact, a global alliance of communities on the frontlines of climate disasters. The Pact demands that – instead of piling the costs on ordinary people – governments make oil, gas and coal corporations pay their fair share for the damages they cause, through the introduction of new taxes and fines.

    The Pact is backed by firefighters and other first responders, trade unions and worker groups, and mayors from countries including Australia, Brazil, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and South Africa, the US, and plaintiffs in landmark climate cases from Pacific island states to Switzerland.

    The Pact is also supported by over 60 NGOs, including Oxfam International, 350.org, Avaaz, Islamic Relief UK, Asociación Interamericana para la Defensa del Ambiente (AIDA), Indian Hawkers Alliance, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Jubilee Australia and the Greenpeace network.

    The survey’s findings published today reveal broad public support for the core demands of the Polluters Pay Pact, as climate impacts worsen worldwide and global inequality grows.

    Key findings of the survey include:

    • 81% of people surveyed would support taxes on the oil, gas, and coal industry to pay for damages caused by fossil-fuel driven climate disasters like storms, floods, droughts and wildfires.
    • 86% of people in surveyed countries support channeling revenues from higher taxes on oil and gas corporations towards communities most impacted by the climate crisis. Climate change is disproportionately hitting people in Global South countries, who are historically least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. 
    • When asked who should be taxed to pay for helping survivors of fossil-fuel driven climate disasters, 66% of people across countries surveyed think it should be oil and gas companies, while just 5% support taxes on working people, 9% on goods people buy, and 20% favour business taxes.
    • 68% felt that the fossil fuel industry and the super-rich had a negative influence on politics in their country. 77% say they would be more willing to support a political candidate who prioritises taxing the super-rich and the fossil fuel industry. 

    Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said: 

    “Fossil fuel companies have known for decades about the damage their polluting products wreak on humanity. Corporations continue to cash in on climate devastation, and their profiteering destroys the lives and livelihoods of millions of women, men and children, predominantly those in the Global South who have done the least to cause the climate crisis. Governments must listen to their people and hold polluters responsible for their damages. A new tax on polluting industries could provide immediate and significant support to climate-vulnerable countries, and finally incentivise investment in renewables and a just transition.” 

    The Polluters Pay Pact demonstrates popular support for the campaign to make polluters pay. The campaign is being waged throughout 2025 in countries worldwide and in critical international forums, including the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), and negotiations for a UN tax convention that could include new rules to make multinational oil and gas companies pay their fair share for their pollution.

    ENDS

    Notes:

    [1] The research was conducted by first-party data company Dynata in May-June, 2025, in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Italy, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US, with approximately 1200 respondents in each country and a theoretical margin of error of approximately 2.83%. Together, these countries represent close to half the world’s population. Statistics available here. 

    Additional background information available here.

    [2] Learn more about the Polluters Pay Pact: polluterspaypact.org

    [3] Additional quotes here from people around the world who are backing the Polluters Pay Pact, including first responders, local administration, youth, union representatives and people bringing climate cases to courts. 

    Contacts: 

    For Greenpeace Africa:

    Ferdinand Omondi, Communication and Story Manager, Email: [email protected], Cell: +254 722 505 233

    Greenpeace Africa Press Desk: [email protected]. 

    For Greenpeace International: 

    Tal Harris, Greenpeace International, Global Media Lead – Stop Drilling Start Paying campaign, [email protected], +41-782530550Greenpeace International Press Desk: [email protected], +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours). Follow on X and Bluesky for our latest international press releases.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Appointment of Sir Richard Moore as the Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Appointment of Sir Richard Moore as the Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust

    The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Richard Moore to be the next Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.

    The Prime Minister has appointed Sir Richard Moore to be the next Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.

    The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Sir Richard, for a term of five years. Sir Richard is currently Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and will take up the position of Chair of the Kennedy Memorial Trust on 1 October 2025.

    Sir Richard Moore KCMG

    Richard Moore has served as Chief of MI6, the UK Secret Intelligence Service, since July 2020. His tenure as Chief concludes on 30 September 2025. 

    Prior to this, Richard was Director General for Political Affairs at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office from April 2018 to August 2020. He served as British Ambassador to Turkey from January 2014 to December 2017. Previously he was Director for Europe, Latin America and Globalisation (2010 to 2012) and Director for Programmes and Change (2008 to 2010). He has had postings in Vietnam, Turkey (1990 to 1992), Pakistan and Malaysia.

    Richard has a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University and, on leaving Oxford, won a Kennedy Scholarship for post-graduate study at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 2007, he attended the Stanford Executive Programme.

    Additional information

    The Kennedy Memorial Trust was established in 1964 to administer monies raised in the United Kingdom as a tribute to the late President John Kennedy. Part of the fund was used to create and maintain the Kennedy Memorial site at Runnymede. The remaining capital is used to provide Kennedy Scholarships which enable British postgraduate students to study at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The recruitment processes for Trustees of the Kennedy Memorial Trust are run by the Trust and approved by the Prime Minister. A panel was chaired by Mary Ann Sieghart, Senior Independent Trustee of the Kennedy Memorial Trust.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong meets with patriotic groups and representatives of higher education institutions in Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Director of Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of CPC Central Committee and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of State Council Mr Xia Baolong meets with patriotic groups and representatives of higher education institutions in Hong KongIssued at HKT 23:47

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Secures Digital Asset License in Georgia, Running its Global Expansion Strategy in Eastern Europe

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has secured regulatory approval in Georgia to operate as a provider of digital asset exchange and custodial wallet services through the Tbilisi Free Zone (TFZ). The new licensing development is a strategic expansion aligned with Bitget’s plans of growing its licensing portfolio in Eastern Europe, a region increasingly dictating the growth of crypto through open regulatory frameworks and progressive economic outlooks.

    Georgia has emerged as a notable hub for crypto innovation, drawing attention with its pro-business stance and supportive environment for crypto and blockchain companies. Ranked among the top countries for crypto mining per capita and blockchain integration, Georgia has actively pursued policies to align with global financial standards while embracing the strong potential of emerging cryptospace. The Tbilisi Free Zone offers tax advantages and has set frameworks and procedures for companies in the digital asset space, making it a hotbed for international players seeking operational flexibility with regulatory clarity.

    “Regions with strong crypto-friendly frameworks are creating the foundation for the next era of finance. Georgia is an example of how strategic policymaking can open doors for growth while guarding users’ safety and increasing accessibility. Bitget’s goal is to work hand-in-hand with jurisdictions that understand the long game—where crypto is a synonym for the new emerging global economic infrastructure,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    Bitget’s entrance into Georgia aligns with its broader objective of strengthening its presence in markets that support responsible innovation. As crypto adoption accelerates in Eastern Europe, the region has become increasingly important for digital asset platforms looking to serve both institutional and retail users under compliant structures. Regulatory transparency in jurisdictions like Georgia helps ensure that growth is matched with accountability, a principle that aligns with Bitget’s international expansion approach.

    Bitget currently holds registrations in several key jurisdictions across Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. These include AUSTRAC in Australia, OAM in Italy, and Virtual Asset Service Provider listings in Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. In the UK, Bitget operates its FCA-approved platform partnering with an Authorized Person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. In addition, Bitget’s recent licenses in El Salvador and registration Argentina adds depth to its reach across both rising and established economies, marking a deliberate move into markets shaping the next wave of crypto adoption.

    The newly acquired license in Georgia builds on this momentum—signaling a preference for regions implementing crypto-friendly frameworks and regulatory prudence. Each new license marks yet another step towards Bitget’s global strategy to include crypto into everyday infrastructure with high quality products, world-class security and strong compliance towards local regulations.

    About Bitget

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

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/595c8101-71b3-4f99-9849-5682104ad6de

    The MIL Network –

  • PM Modi to visit Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh on June 20–21: Key projects and Yoga Day celebrations on the agenda

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bihar, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh on June 20 and 21, during which he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a host of major development projects. He will also lead the national celebrations of the 11th International Day of Yoga in Visakhapatnam.

    On June 20, the Prime Minister will arrive in Siwan, Bihar, where he will unveil a series of critical infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening the state’s transportation, energy, and urban development sectors. Among the major announcements is the inauguration of the new Vaishali–Deoria railway line project, valued at over ₹400 crore, along with the launch of a new train service on this route. Additionally, he will flag off a Vande Bharat Express train that will operate between Patliputra and Gorakhpur via Muzaffarpur and Bettiah, significantly improving regional connectivity.

    In a significant milestone for India’s manufacturing sector, the Prime Minister will also flag off a state-of-the-art locomotive built at the Marhowra Plant for export to the Republic of Guinea. This marks the facility’s first international shipment under the ‘Make in India – Make for the World’ initiative.

    Continuing his government’s commitment to the Namami Gange mission, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate six sewage treatment plants (STPs) worth over ₹1,800 crore to support the rejuvenation of the river Ganga. He will also lay the foundation stone for various water supply, sanitation, and STP projects in towns across Bihar, with investments exceeding ₹3,000 crore.

    Further strengthening the state’s energy infrastructure, he will lay the foundation for 500 MWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity across 15 grid substations, including those in Muzaffarpur, Motihari, Bettiah, and Siwan. These storage systems will help stabilize the electricity grid and reduce the cost of power for consumers.

    In the housing sector, the Prime Minister will release the first instalment to more than 53,600 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). He will also hand over keys to a selection of beneficiaries to mark the symbolic *Grih Pravesh* of over 6,600 newly completed homes.

    Later that day, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Bhubaneswar, Odisha, to chair a state-level function marking the completion of one year of the current state government. In line with the central government’s vision of inclusive growth, he will also inaugurate and lay the foundation for development projects worth over ₹18,600 crore. These initiatives span key sectors such as irrigation, drinking water, agricultural infrastructure, healthcare, rural roads, bridges, and national highways.

    A major highlight of the Odisha visit will be the launch of a new railway line that extends connectivity to Boudh district for the first time. The Prime Minister will also flag off 100 electric buses under the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) initiative to promote sustainable urban mobility.

    During the event, the Prime Minister will unveil the Odisha Vision Document, a forward-looking roadmap that outlines the state’s developmental goals leading up to 2036, when Odisha marks 100 years as a linguistic state, and 2047, when India completes a century of independence.

    To celebrate Odisha’s rich cultural legacy, the Prime Minister will launch the ‘Baraputra Aitihya Gram Yojana’—a scheme to transform the birthplaces of notable Odia personalities into living heritage sites with museums, libraries, statues, and interpretation centres. He will also felicitate women achievers from across the state, acknowledging the contribution of more than 16.5 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ who symbolize empowerment and prosperity.

    On June 21, the Prime Minister will lead the nation in celebrating the 11th International Day of Yoga from the beachfront of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Nearly five lakh people are expected to join him in a mass yoga demonstration at the event, which is part of a larger national campaign spanning over 3.5 lakh locations across India.

    This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” reflects the growing global recognition of yoga’s role in promoting both individual and planetary well-being. Since the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as International Day of Yoga in 2015, Prime Minister Modi has led celebrations from various iconic locations including New York, Mysuru, Srinagar, and the Red Fort.

    To broaden participation this year, campaigns such as “Yoga with Family” and “Yoga Unplugged” have been launched via the MyGov and MyBharat platforms, targeting families and youth across the country.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “For the Higher School of Economics, teaching AI technologies is a hygienic requirement”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    © Dmitry Orlov / Roscongress Foundation

    “Technologies of the future: a single global space or everyone for himself” – this question was put in the title of the session held on June 19 with the support of Alfa-Bank at SPIEF-2025. The discussion was attended by the rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Nikita Anisimov, and the moderator was journalist, TV presenter and public figure Ksenia Sobchak.

    Opening the discussion, Ksenia Sobchak noted that we are currently experiencing a second technological revolution. The first was the universal use of computers and the Internet, and the second is related to AI, which means that we will see a huge number of breakthroughs in the economy, medicine, and in our human existence in general.

    “It would seem that this is a chance to join forces like never before, to face new challenges and opportunities together, but these breakthroughs are happening against the backdrop of a global technological divide, and this presents a huge number of additional challenges for all of us,” the moderator emphasized.

    Vladimir Verkhoshinsky, CEO of Alfa-Bank, said that the policy of technological isolation leads to a dead end, so his bank puts openness first. Previously, in the industrial economy, it was possible to patent a gear, a machine, a robot, but now, in the digital economy, it is impossible to patent a code, any innovation is easily copied, and the speaker believes that this is good.

    “Western countries were great in the 1990s and early 2000s, when they were technological leaders and openly shared technologies with the world,” added Vladimir Verkhoshinsky. In his opinion, now the leaders of many countries are pursuing protectionist policies, trying to close and ban everything.

    Addressing Nikita Anisimov, Ksenia Sobchak stated that the Higher School of Economics, as a source of personnel, must also face these modern challenges, and, in particular, asked how the university adapts its programs to the needs of AI.

    Nikita Anisimov specified that the entire education system can be considered a forge of personnel, while some simply prepare for the workplace, while others create the technologies of tomorrow, think about the future and form the values of the future. “It is important for us, and there are not many such universities in the world, that there is an environment that creates future technologies. There should be universities in the world that are a forge not of personnel, but of the technologies of the future,” he said. Such institutions – universities – exist both in our country and in the world, where AI technologies are introduced into the educational process and taught.

    “For the Higher School of Economics, teaching artificial intelligence technologies is a hygienic requirement. Our students take an exam on digital literacy already in their first year, and if they fail, we expel them,” the rector explained.

    He also said that 1% of the world’s leading universities compete for 1% of the world’s talent, and each person views studying at these universities as entering a special environment and culture, investing in themselves, creating opportunities for self-realization, and not preparing for a specific job. According to Nikita Anisimov, this understanding of the university was initially characteristic of Russia.

    The HSE rector also put forward a hypothesis that the preparation of a student for a specific job today is determined by a strong demographic impact on the labor market. So solving the demographic problem will help preserve the essence of university education.

    “What is a talent pool for? To fill jobs. And then you tell every university, even the one that is supposed to create an environment for creating the future, listen, but we don’t have enough people. Therefore, solving the demographic issue is critically important for technological leadership,” Nikita Anisimov emphasized.

    The moderator’s questions, addressed to Rostelecom President Mikhail Oseevsky, concerned the possibility of transforming various AI solutions for editing, design, visuals, etc. into a single system. “Many different wallets, with different currencies in them. It seems to be in order, but in fact it’s chaos,” Ksenia Sobchak drew an analogy.

    Mikhail Oseevsky responded that it is impossible to create a single universal solution that will be effective for different types of tasks. “That is why we create for ourselves and then bring to market a product called a “neural gateway” that allows employees and clients, depending on the task that needs to be solved, to access different “engines” “under the hood”. These can be global networks,” he explained.

    At the same time, in his opinion, it is necessary to keep in mind that in order to ensure security and sovereignty, not all information can be loaded into solutions that do not belong to us. In corporate activities, interaction should be carried out with those neural networks that are located in our data centers and that are specially trained on our material.

    “We believe that we need to focus on diversity, but within the framework of one product, ensuring personal and corporate security,” concluded Mikhail Oseevsky.

    The discussion was also attended by Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation Ivan Chebeskov, Chairman of the Board of the Moscow Exchange Viktor Zhidkov, and futurist writer from Singapore, author of the bestseller “AI 2041” Chen Qiufan.

    In conclusion, Ksenia Sobchak invited the session participants to briefly answer the question posed in its title. As it turned out, the speakers were unable to come to a consensus on whether it would be possible to create a single global technology space.

    Vladimir Verkhoshinsky offered an optimistic formulation: “Technology has no borders, especially now, in the digital world, like friendship and love. Perhaps, in the short term of 30-50 years, everyone will be for themselves, and if we look strategically 100-200 years ahead, we will have a single world, I would like to hope, a beautiful, space.”

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Immersive HK exhibition opens in SH

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The “Immersive Hong Kong” roving exhibition, showcasing the charm and vibrancy of Hong Kong through interactive art technology, opened in Shanghai today and will run until June 29.

    With the theme of “Hong Kong – Where the World Looks Ahead”, the exhibition invites visitors from Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta to explore the unique opportunities and potential for tourism, education, business and investment in Hong Kong.

    The five thematic zones – “Financial Bridgehead”, “I&T Brain Bank”, “Blossoming Creativity”, “Diversity and Greenery” and “Buzzing Sports Action” – feature multiple interactive art projections, light box installations and naked-eye 3D displays, representing the multifaceted appeal of Hong Kong.

    Director of Information Services Apollonia Liu introduced the highlights of the exhibition at the opening ceremony today, saying that the thematic zone “Buzzing Sports Action” was especially set up to serve as pre-event publicity for the 15th National Games to be co-hosted by Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau in November.

    She also noted that China’s national treasures, giant pandas, are featured in naked-eye 3D displays and interactive games for the first time, inviting visitors to experience the vibrancy of Hong Kong as an “events capital”.

    Mrs Liu hoped that the exhibition could attract people from the Mainland to learn more about Hong Kong and spark their interest in visiting the city, and come to Hong Kong in future for business and investment, employment and entrepreneurship, injecting impetus to the further growth of Hong Kong.

    Visitors may also enjoy Hong Kong’s vibrant and colourful skyline, illustrated by Hong Kong artist Messy Desk (Jane Lee), at a photo corner in the venue. Two young talented Hong Kong musicians will also perform at the exhibition venue.

    There will also be an interactive game where winners will receive will a pair of round-trip business class air tickets or economy class air tickets from Shanghai to Hong Kong.

    Organised by the Information Services Department, this is the sixth stop for the exhibition, following its successful staging in cities in the Mainland, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Middle East since 2023.

    The exhibition is being held at Xintiandi Style I, a major Hong Kong-based shopping centre in Shanghai. It will also be held in Qingdao and Chengdu, also Mainland key node cities along the Belt & Road, later this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Stone tools from a cave on South Africa’s coast speak of life at the end of the Ice Age

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Sara Watson, Assistant Professor, Indiana State University

    The Earth of the last Ice Age (about 26,000 to 19,000 years ago) was very different from today’s world.

    In the northern hemisphere, ice sheets up to 8 kilometres tall covered much of Europe, Asia and North America, while much of the southern hemisphere became drier as water was drawn into the northern glaciers.

    As more and more water was transformed into ice, global sea levels dropped as much as 125 metres from where they are now, exposing land that had been under the ocean.

    In southernmost Africa, receding coastlines exposed an area of the continental shelf known as the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain. At its maximum extent, it covered an area of about 36,000km² along the south coast of what’s now South Africa.

    This now – extinct ecosystem was a highly productive landscape with abundant grasslands, wetlands, permanent water drainage systems, and seasonal flood plains. The Palaeo-Agulhas Plain was likely most similar to the present day Serengeti in east Africa. It would likely have been able to support large herds of migratory animals and the people who hunted them.

    We now know more about how these people lived thanks to data from a new archaeological site called Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1.

    The site sits 23 metres above sea level on the southern coast of South Africa overlooking the Indian Ocean. You can watch whales from the site today, but during the Ice Age the ocean was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the site looked out over the vast grasslands; the coast was 75 kilometres away.

    Archaeological investigation of the cave began in 2014, led by Naomi Cleghorn of the University of Texas. This work shows that humans have been using the site for much of the last 48,000 years or more. Occupations bridge the Middle to Later Stone Age transition, which occurred sometime between about 40,000 and 25,000 years ago in southern Africa.

    That transition is a time period where we see dramatic changes in the technologies people were using, including changes in raw materials selected for making tools and a shift towards smaller tools. These changes are poorly understood due to a lack of sites with occupations dating to this time. Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1 is the first site on the southern coast that provides a continuous occupational record near the end of the Pleistocene (Ice Age) and documents how life changed for people living on the edge of the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain.

    Before the Ice Age, people there collected marine resources like shellfish when the coastline was close to the site. As the climate began to cool and sea levels dropped, they shifted their focus to land-based resources and game animals.

    I am one of the archaeologists who have been working here. In a new study, my colleagues and I analysed stone tools from the cave that date to about 19,000 to 18,000 years ago, and discussed how the techniques used to make them hint at the ways that prehistoric people travelled, interacted, and shared their craft.

    Based on this analysis, we think the cave may have been used as a temporary camp rather than a primary residence. And the similarity of the tools with those from other sites suggests people were connected over a huge region and shared ideas with each other, much like people do today.

    Robberg technology of southern Africa

    In human history, tools were invented in a succession of styles (“technologies” or “industries”), which can indicate the time and place where they were made and what they were used for.

    The Robberg is one of southern Africa’s most distinctive and widespread stone tool technologies. Robberg tools – which we found at the Knysna site – are thought to be replaceable components in composite tools, perhaps as barbs set into arrow shafts, used to hunt the migratory herds on the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain.

    We see the first appearance of Robberg technology in southern Africa near the peak of the last Ice Age around 26,000 years ago, and people continued producing these tools until around 12,000 years ago, when climate conditions were warmer.



    Read more:
    What stone tools found in southern tip of Africa tell us about the human story

    The particular methods and order of operations that people used to make their tools is something that is taught and learned. If we see specific methods of stone tool production at multiple sites, it indicates that people were sharing ideas with one another.

    Robberg occupations at Knysna date to between 21,000 and 15,000 years ago, when sea levels were at their lowest and the coastline far away.

    The Robberg tools we recovered were primarily made from rocks that were available close to the site. Most of the tools were made from quartz, which creates very sharp edges but can break unpredictably. Production focused on bladelets, or small elongated tools, which may have been replaceable components in hunting weapons.

    Some of the tools were made from a raw material called silcrete. People in South Africa were heat treating this material to improve its quality for tool production as early as 164,000 years ago. The silcrete tools at Knysna were heat treated before being brought to the site. This is only the second documented instance of the use of heat treatment in Robberg technology.

    Silcrete is not available near Knysna. Most of the accessible deposits in the area are in the Outeniqua mountains, at least 50 kilometres inland. We’re not sure yet whether people using the Knysna site were travelling to these raw material sources themselves or trading with other groups.

    Archaeological sites containing Robberg tools are found in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, indicating a widespread adoption by people across southern Africa. The tools from the Knysna site share many characteristics with those from other sites, which suggests people were sharing information through social networks that may have spanned the entire width of the continent.



    Read more:
    65,000-year-old ‘stone Swiss Army knives’ show early humans had long-distance social networks

    Yet there are other aspects that are unique to the Knysna site. Fewer tools are found in the more recent layers than in deeper layers, suggesting that people were using the site less frequently than they had previously. This may suggest that during the Ice Age the cave was used as a temporary camp rather than as a primary residential site.

    Left with questions

    Stone tools can only tell us so much. Was Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1 a temporary camp? If so, what were they coming to the cave for? We need to combine what we learned from the stone tools with other data from the site to answer these questions.



    Read more:
    Ancient human DNA from a South African rock shelter sheds light on 10,000 years of history

    Something we can say with confidence is that we have a very long and rich history as a species, and our innovative and social natures go back a lot further in time than most people realise. Humans living during the last Ice Age had complex technologies to solve their problems, made art and music, connected with people in other communities, and in some places even had pet dogs.

    Despite the dramatic differences in the world around us, these Ice Age people were not very different from people living today.

    Sara Watson works for the FIeld Museum of Natural History and Indiana State University

    – ref. Stone tools from a cave on South Africa’s coast speak of life at the end of the Ice Age – https://theconversation.com/stone-tools-from-a-cave-on-south-africas-coast-speak-of-life-at-the-end-of-the-ice-age-258317

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Stone tools from a cave on South Africa’s coast speak of life at the end of the Ice Age

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Sara Watson, Assistant Professor, Indiana State University

    The Earth of the last Ice Age (about 26,000 to 19,000 years ago) was very different from today’s world.

    In the northern hemisphere, ice sheets up to 8 kilometres tall covered much of Europe, Asia and North America, while much of the southern hemisphere became drier as water was drawn into the northern glaciers.

    As more and more water was transformed into ice, global sea levels dropped as much as 125 metres from where they are now, exposing land that had been under the ocean.

    In southernmost Africa, receding coastlines exposed an area of the continental shelf known as the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain. At its maximum extent, it covered an area of about 36,000km² along the south coast of what’s now South Africa.

    This now – extinct ecosystem was a highly productive landscape with abundant grasslands, wetlands, permanent water drainage systems, and seasonal flood plains. The Palaeo-Agulhas Plain was likely most similar to the present day Serengeti in east Africa. It would likely have been able to support large herds of migratory animals and the people who hunted them.

    We now know more about how these people lived thanks to data from a new archaeological site called Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1.

    Archaeologists at Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1. Sara Watson, Author provided (no reuse)

    The site sits 23 metres above sea level on the southern coast of South Africa overlooking the Indian Ocean. You can watch whales from the site today, but during the Ice Age the ocean was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the site looked out over the vast grasslands; the coast was 75 kilometres away.

    Archaeological investigation of the cave began in 2014, led by Naomi Cleghorn of the University of Texas. This work shows that humans have been using the site for much of the last 48,000 years or more. Occupations bridge the Middle to Later Stone Age transition, which occurred sometime between about 40,000 and 25,000 years ago in southern Africa.

    That transition is a time period where we see dramatic changes in the technologies people were using, including changes in raw materials selected for making tools and a shift towards smaller tools. These changes are poorly understood due to a lack of sites with occupations dating to this time. Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1 is the first site on the southern coast that provides a continuous occupational record near the end of the Pleistocene (Ice Age) and documents how life changed for people living on the edge of the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain.

    Before the Ice Age, people there collected marine resources like shellfish when the coastline was close to the site. As the climate began to cool and sea levels dropped, they shifted their focus to land-based resources and game animals.

    Archaeologists working at Knysna Eastern Heads site. Sara Watson, Author provided (no reuse)

    I am one of the archaeologists who have been working here. In a new study, my colleagues and I analysed stone tools from the cave that date to about 19,000 to 18,000 years ago, and discussed how the techniques used to make them hint at the ways that prehistoric people travelled, interacted, and shared their craft.

    Based on this analysis, we think the cave may have been used as a temporary camp rather than a primary residence. And the similarity of the tools with those from other sites suggests people were connected over a huge region and shared ideas with each other, much like people do today.

    Robberg technology of southern Africa

    In human history, tools were invented in a succession of styles (“technologies” or “industries”), which can indicate the time and place where they were made and what they were used for.

    The Robberg is one of southern Africa’s most distinctive and widespread stone tool technologies. Robberg tools – which we found at the Knysna site – are thought to be replaceable components in composite tools, perhaps as barbs set into arrow shafts, used to hunt the migratory herds on the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain.

    Stone tools, Robberg technology. Sara Watson, Author provided (no reuse)

    We see the first appearance of Robberg technology in southern Africa near the peak of the last Ice Age around 26,000 years ago, and people continued producing these tools until around 12,000 years ago, when climate conditions were warmer.

    Read more: What stone tools found in southern tip of Africa tell us about the human story

    The particular methods and order of operations that people used to make their tools is something that is taught and learned. If we see specific methods of stone tool production at multiple sites, it indicates that people were sharing ideas with one another.

    Sites in southern Africa where Robberg technology has been found. Sara Watson, Author provided (no reuse)

    Robberg occupations at Knysna date to between 21,000 and 15,000 years ago, when sea levels were at their lowest and the coastline far away.

    The Robberg tools we recovered were primarily made from rocks that were available close to the site. Most of the tools were made from quartz, which creates very sharp edges but can break unpredictably. Production focused on bladelets, or small elongated tools, which may have been replaceable components in hunting weapons.

    Some of the tools were made from a raw material called silcrete. People in South Africa were heat treating this material to improve its quality for tool production as early as 164,000 years ago. The silcrete tools at Knysna were heat treated before being brought to the site. This is only the second documented instance of the use of heat treatment in Robberg technology.

    Silcrete is not available near Knysna. Most of the accessible deposits in the area are in the Outeniqua mountains, at least 50 kilometres inland. We’re not sure yet whether people using the Knysna site were travelling to these raw material sources themselves or trading with other groups.

    Archaeological sites containing Robberg tools are found in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, indicating a widespread adoption by people across southern Africa. The tools from the Knysna site share many characteristics with those from other sites, which suggests people were sharing information through social networks that may have spanned the entire width of the continent.

    Read more: 65,000-year-old ‘stone Swiss Army knives’ show early humans had long-distance social networks

    Yet there are other aspects that are unique to the Knysna site. Fewer tools are found in the more recent layers than in deeper layers, suggesting that people were using the site less frequently than they had previously. This may suggest that during the Ice Age the cave was used as a temporary camp rather than as a primary residential site.

    Left with questions

    Stone tools can only tell us so much. Was Knysna Eastern Heads Cave 1 a temporary camp? If so, what were they coming to the cave for? We need to combine what we learned from the stone tools with other data from the site to answer these questions.

    Read more: Ancient human DNA from a South African rock shelter sheds light on 10,000 years of history

    Something we can say with confidence is that we have a very long and rich history as a species, and our innovative and social natures go back a lot further in time than most people realise. Humans living during the last Ice Age had complex technologies to solve their problems, made art and music, connected with people in other communities, and in some places even had pet dogs.

    Despite the dramatic differences in the world around us, these Ice Age people were not very different from people living today.

    – Stone tools from a cave on South Africa’s coast speak of life at the end of the Ice Age
    – https://theconversation.com/stone-tools-from-a-cave-on-south-africas-coast-speak-of-life-at-the-end-of-the-ice-age-258317

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: US protectionism damages economic stability and leads to the destruction of global trade mechanisms – VTB CEO A. Kostin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, June 19 (Xinhua) — U.S. protectionism is damaging economic stability and creating uncertainty in international trade, said Andrey Kostin, president and chairman of the board of Russia’s VTB Bank, in a written interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which is being held in St. Petersburg from June 18 to 21.

    “The US protectionist measures affect almost all countries in the world. Such policies cause obvious damage to the stability of economic cooperation and lead to the destruction of the mechanisms and principles of world trade. They create uncertainty in international trade, which negatively affects the prospects for global growth,” said the head of VTB.

    According to A. Kostin, the most alarming fact is that in the last few years the US and other Western countries have begun to actively use the instruments of the international economic system to achieve their geopolitical goals. “The degree of this ‘weaponization’ /use as a weapon/ of economic levers continues to increase,” he stated.

    As the banker noted, the current situation is pushing the countries of the Global South and East to search for alternative mechanisms of financial and trade-economic interaction, to create a new model of relationships. “This process is largely objective. The strengthening of geoeconomic competition in the world in recent years only gives it a significant acceleration,” he explained.

    A. Kostin noted the active work of new international development institutions, such as the New Development Bank of BRICS, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Eurasian Development Bank. “Their role in solving regional and global problems is constantly growing,” the banker is confident. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Brand Scotland takes centre stage at Royal Highland Show

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Brand Scotland takes centre stage at Royal Highland Show

    Scottish Secretary to bang the drum for Scotland’s iconic food, drink, agriculture and farming sectors at the Edinburgh event

    Fresh from new Spending Review financial backing, the UK Government’s Brand Scotland campaign to boost exports of Scottish products and promotion of inward investment takes centre stage at the Royal Highland Show from today (Thursday June 19).

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray will be in attendance and later host a reception with the Scotch Whisky Association to promote our iconic national tipple, enjoyed by tens of millions around the world.

    Exhibitors and showgoers will hear how the UK Government is working with Scottish businesses to maximise the benefits of recent trade deals with India, US and the EU to create significant opportunities at home and abroad. 

    The UK-India trade deal slashes tariffs on whisky. Meanwhile the UK-EU deal also means that British farms will be able to sell sausages and burgers to the EU for the first time in five years.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said:

    Scotland is at the heart of the UK Government’s Plan for Change to put more money in the pockets of working Scots by investing in the country’s renewal. That’s why in last week’s Spending Review the Chancellor unleashed a new era of growth for Scotland, confirming billions of pounds of investment and creating thousands of high-skilled jobs.

    Our Brand Scotland campaign is an important part of this commitment and the Royal Highland Show is a fantastic opportunity to bang the drum for our iconic produce and help turbo-charge sales of Scottish goods and services at home and abroad. Following my recent successful trips to Norway, Malaysia, Singapore, Washington and New York – and last week’s all women trade mission to Spain, led by Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill – we’re already seeing positive results from championing Brand Scotland.

    The trio of trade deals sealed by the Prime Minister is a fantastic opportunity for Scotland’s food and drink sector – from slashing tariffs on whisky and gin in India to putting Scottish burgers and sausages back on the menu for the EU. I look forward to continuing to work with Scottish businesses and other key partners as we give our country the global platform it deserves.

    The Scottish Secretary is expected to meet with NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon, Quality Meat Scotland, Lidl executives to discuss the retailers’ ambitions for growth in Scotland and support of Scottish food and drink suppliers and Graham’s Dairies to chat about export opportunities. He is also due to visit Scotland’s Larder where a huge range of Scottish food and drink producers will be in attendance.

    Other stakeholders lined up include Penicuik-based Moredun Institute which employs over 170 scientists, vets  and support staff promoting livestock health and welfare through cutting-edge research and education.

    Showgoers dropping into the UK Government marquee will be able to hear from UK Government departments and agencies about how they are delivering for people in Scotland and for our businesses across the world 

    Also present in the marquee will be exhibits from a number of exciting UK Government funded projects, including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scottish Football Association (grassroots football funding), Dramtubes & Project Harmless (British Business Bank funded) and Destination Tweed (National Lottery Heritage Fund).

    Other government departments and agencies in attendance will be:

    • Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (promoting the UK’s extensive overseas network, which works day in day out to promote our country)
    • Department for Business & Trade (direct access to global trade expertise)
    • Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
    • Department for Work & Pensions
    • Ministry of Defence (Army, Navy, RAF)
    • Department for Transport (with Northern Lighthouse Board – responsible for the waters surrounding Scotland and the Isle of Man)
    • Shared Rural Network (SRN – designed to improve mobile coverage and boost connectivity across the UK, with the biggest uplifts in rural parts of Scotland and Wales. It is jointly funded by the Government and the UK’s four mobile network operators – EE, Three, VMO2 and Vodafone – with the objective of delivering 4G coverage to 95% of the UK by December 2025).

    Further information
    The Royal Highland Show is Scotland’s biggest outdoor event, attracting around 190,000 people. It runs from June 19 to 22.

    The Scotland Office’s Spending Review settlement allocates £0.75 million each year to champion our ‘Brand Scotland’ trade missions to promote Scotland’s goods and services on the world stage and to encourage further growth and investment.  

    As well as the Brand Scotland visits mentioned earlier, we have also supported a trade mission from Glasgow to Shanghai and have plans for more visits during the year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Netanyahu vows to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat as conflict enters seventh day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday reaffirmed his country’s commitment to neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, as direct hostilities between the two West Asian powers entered their seventh day, raising fears of a broader regional war.

    Speaking in a nationally televised address, Netanyahu condemned Iran’s latest missile strikes, including a direct hit on the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. The attack, which Israeli officials labeled a violation of international humanitarian law, has drawn widespread international condemnation.

    Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the hospital was not the intended target, asserting that the strike aimed at nearby military infrastructure. However, the missile impact on the medical facility has intensified scrutiny over Iran’s targeting methods amid escalating violence.

    In an extraordinary move, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is now considered a core objective of Israel’s war strategy — a dramatic shift from previous policies centered largely on containing Iran through proxy conflicts.

    Israeli military officials report that Iran has begun deploying advanced multi-warhead missiles capable of evading interception by splitting mid-air into multiple projectiles. These developments pose a significant challenge to Israel’s missile defense systems, which have been stretched thin during sustained barrages.

    In response to Israeli airstrikes on command centers and military bases, Iran has reportedly repositioned several of its missile units from western provinces to central regions of the country. Intelligence assessments suggest the move is defensive in nature, and has temporarily reduced the frequency and scale of Iranian missile attacks on Israeli territory.

    Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has maintained a position of strategic ambiguity regarding potential American involvement. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated he had not yet decided whether the United States would support Israel militarily in its campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

    Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei responded defiantly to suggestions of “unconditional surrender,” warning that any American military intervention would result in “severe consequences” for the United States.

    The United Nations has voiced deep concern over the rising civilian toll in the conflict. A UN spokesperson condemned the targeting of non-combatants and called on all parties to uphold international law, urging maximum restraint to prevent further escalation.

    In a coordinated diplomatic response, Indonesia and 23 other Muslim-majority nations — including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan — issued a joint statement under the banner of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The declaration condemned Israel’s attacks on Iranian territory and called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that continued hostilities could spiral into a full-scale regional war with catastrophic implications for global peace and stability.

    The OIC statement emphasized the urgent need for diplomacy, the protection of civilians, and adherence to international humanitarian law.

  • MIL-OSI China: China to further enhance trade ties with Central Asia: commerce ministry

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

    BEIJING, June 19 — China’s Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that the country will further deepen its trade ties with Central Asia and promote bilateral cooperation on industrial and supply chains.

    During the just-concluded second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, the ministry signed three documents with the relevant authorities of Central Asian countries to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, enhance trade facilitation, and promote green mineral cooperation, ministry spokesperson He Yadong said at a press conference.

    The ministry has also signed five bilateral cooperation documents with relevant Central Asian countries, focusing on areas such as economic and trade relations, investment, e-commerce, and economic and technological cooperation, according to He.

    Next, the ministry will take measures to implement the key outcomes and consensus reached at the summit, the spokesperson said.

    To enhance bilateral trade cooperation, China will actively expand imports of energy, minerals and high-quality agricultural products from Central Asian countries, while increasing exports of automobiles, home appliances, telecommunications equipment and light textiles to the region.

    China will also expand its cooperation with Central Asia in emerging fields such as electric vehicles, biomedicine, new energy and the digital economy, and make efforts to increase the China-Europe freight trains passing through Central Asian countries, according to He.

    In addition, China will implement the new versions of investment agreements it has signed with Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, accelerate negotiations with Kyrgyzstan on service trade and investment agreement, and support Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in joining the World Trade Organization, He said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: BexBack Crypto Exchange Launches No KYC, 100x Leverage, and Double Deposit Bonus for Crypto Futures Trading

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the price of Bitcoin (BTC) holding above $100,000 for a long time, many analysts are predicting that the cryptocurrency market will remain in a state of high volatility for a long time. Holding spot positions may struggle to generate short-term profits in such conditions. As a result, 100x leverage futures trading has become the preferred tool for seasoned investors looking to maximize potential gains in this volatile market. BexBack Exchange is ramping up its efforts to offer traders unmatched promotional packages. The platform now features a 100% deposit bonus, a $50 welcome bonus for new users, and 100x leverage on cryptocurrency trading, providing exceptional opportunities for investors.

    Advantages of 100x Leverage Crypto Futures

    1. Amplified Profits: Control large positions with a small amount of capital, capturing more profits from market fluctuations.
    2. Low Capital Requirement: Participate in high-value trades with minimal investment, lowering the entry barrier.
    3. Increased Market Opportunities: Profit quickly from price fluctuations, especially in volatile markets.
    4. High Capital Efficiency: Leverage enables better use of your capital, expanding your investment potential.
    5. Profit from Both Up and Down Markets: Adapt to any market conditions, with opportunities to profit whether the market goes up or down.

    What Is 100x Leverage and How Does It Work?

    Simply put, 100x leverage allows you to open larger trading positions with less capital. For example:

    Suppose the Bitcoin price is $100,000 that day, and you open a long contract with 1 BTC. After using 100x leverage, the transaction amount is equivalent to 100 BTC.

    One day later, if the price rises to $105,000, your profit will be (105,000 – 100,000) * 100 BTC / 100,000 = 5 BTC, a yield of up to 500%.

    With BexBack’s deposit bonus

    BexBack offers a 100% deposit bonus. If the initial investment is 2 BTC, the profit will increase to 10 BTC, and the return on investment will double to 1000%.

    Note: Although leveraged trading can magnify profits, you also need to be wary of liquidation risks.

    How Does the 100% Deposit Bonus Work?
    The deposit bonus from BexBack cannot be directly withdrawn but can be used to open larger positions and increase potential profits. Additionally, during significant market fluctuations, the bonus can serve as extra margin, effectively reducing the risk of liquidation.

    About BexBack?

    BexBack is a leading cryptocurrency derivatives platform offering up to 100x leverage on futures contracts for BTC, ETH, ADA, SOL, XRP, and over 50 other digital assets. Headquartered in Singapore, the platform also operates offices in Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina. Like many top-tier exchanges, BexBack holds a U.S. MSB (Money Services Business) license and is trusted by more than 500,000 traders worldwide. The platform accepts users from the United States, Canada, and Europe, with zero deposit fees and 24/7 multilingual customer support, delivering a secure, efficient, and user-friendly trading experience.

    Why recommend BexBack?

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    Sign Up Now on BexBack — Break the 100x Leverage and KYC Barriers, Get Double Deposit Bonus and $50 Welcome Bonus Instantly

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    Contact:
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    business@bexback.com

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

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: GPTBots Shines at Super AI: Empowering Enterprises to Meet the Next Wave of AI-Driven Transformation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At Super AI, Asia’s largest AI event held in Singapore, GPTBots.ai emerged as a highlight among enterprise AI platforms. The event brought together global industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, all seeking practical, scalable AI solutions to accelerate digital transformation and maintain a competitive edge.

    Spotlighting Real Enterprise Needs
    Throughout the exhibition, GPTBots engaged with top-tier clients whose needs reflected the region’s most urgent business trends:

    • Banking: The bank’s corporate division sought AI assistants for their sales teams, aiming to automatically monitor client news, uncover hidden business opportunities, and intelligently match these with relevant internal products. This approach enables more timely, data-driven, and personalized client engagement—helping banks stay ahead in a dynamic market.
    • Consulting: A leading global consulting firm explored GPTBots to automate customer service, reduce operational costs, and maintain high-quality client support. Their goal was to leverage AI to handle routine inquiries, freeing up human experts for more complex, value-added tasks.
    • Hospitality: A major hotel systems integrator was interested in deploying AI agents to manage guest inquiries—from bookings to room service—and to automatically generate daily operational reports for hotel management, streamlining both customer experience and internal operations.

    How GPTBots Delivers
    GPTBots’ enterprise-grade platform is designed for rapid, flexible deployment across industries:

    • Real-time Data Integration & Intelligent Matching: For banking, GPTBots enables AI agents to continuously scan news, financial data, and social media, surfacing actionable insights and matching them with the bank’s product suite.
    • Automated, 24/7 Customer Support: Consulting firms benefit from AI agents that resolve up to 90% of routine queries, ensuring consistent, high-quality service while reducing manual workload and costs.
    • Conversational AI & Automated Reporting: In hospitality, GPTBots powers seamless guest interactions and automates the creation and distribution of daily management reports, providing real-time operational insights.

    Driving the Future of Enterprise AI in Asia
    Super AI Singapore underscored the region’s growing demand for secure, adaptable, and industry-specific AI solutions. GPTBots is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and real business value—helping enterprises unlock new opportunities, boost efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

    About GPTBots.ai
    GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

    To learn how GPTBots can accelerate your AI transformation, visit gptbots.ai.

    Media Contact:
    Tanya
    Marketing Director
    marketing@gptbots.ai

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b67ba9d7-360b-4607-a8b5-fd37bff23e82

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: GPTBots Shines at Super AI: Empowering Enterprises to Meet the Next Wave of AI-Driven Transformation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At Super AI, Asia’s largest AI event held in Singapore, GPTBots.ai emerged as a highlight among enterprise AI platforms. The event brought together global industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers, all seeking practical, scalable AI solutions to accelerate digital transformation and maintain a competitive edge.

    Spotlighting Real Enterprise Needs
    Throughout the exhibition, GPTBots engaged with top-tier clients whose needs reflected the region’s most urgent business trends:

    • Banking: The bank’s corporate division sought AI assistants for their sales teams, aiming to automatically monitor client news, uncover hidden business opportunities, and intelligently match these with relevant internal products. This approach enables more timely, data-driven, and personalized client engagement—helping banks stay ahead in a dynamic market.
    • Consulting: A leading global consulting firm explored GPTBots to automate customer service, reduce operational costs, and maintain high-quality client support. Their goal was to leverage AI to handle routine inquiries, freeing up human experts for more complex, value-added tasks.
    • Hospitality: A major hotel systems integrator was interested in deploying AI agents to manage guest inquiries—from bookings to room service—and to automatically generate daily operational reports for hotel management, streamlining both customer experience and internal operations.

    How GPTBots Delivers
    GPTBots’ enterprise-grade platform is designed for rapid, flexible deployment across industries:

    • Real-time Data Integration & Intelligent Matching: For banking, GPTBots enables AI agents to continuously scan news, financial data, and social media, surfacing actionable insights and matching them with the bank’s product suite.
    • Automated, 24/7 Customer Support: Consulting firms benefit from AI agents that resolve up to 90% of routine queries, ensuring consistent, high-quality service while reducing manual workload and costs.
    • Conversational AI & Automated Reporting: In hospitality, GPTBots powers seamless guest interactions and automates the creation and distribution of daily management reports, providing real-time operational insights.

    Driving the Future of Enterprise AI in Asia
    Super AI Singapore underscored the region’s growing demand for secure, adaptable, and industry-specific AI solutions. GPTBots is committed to bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and real business value—helping enterprises unlock new opportunities, boost efficiency, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

    About GPTBots.ai
    GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

    To learn how GPTBots can accelerate your AI transformation, visit gptbots.ai.

    Media Contact:
    Tanya
    Marketing Director
    marketing@gptbots.ai

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b67ba9d7-360b-4607-a8b5-fd37bff23e82

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Opening Remarks at the Pre-Event Dinner of AMMSTI-21, in Jakarta

    Source: ASEAN

    Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, this evening delivered Opening Remarks at the Pre-Event Dinner of the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21), where he reaffirmed the critical role of AMMSTI in guiding ASEAN’s STI progress over nearly five decades. SG Dr. Kao also highlighted the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, calling for inclusive innovation, digital transformation, and global partnership, all of which are core to AMMSTI’s agenda moving forward.
     
    Download the full opening remarks here.
     

     
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Opening Remarks at the Pre-Event Dinner of AMMSTI-21, in Jakarta appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tanzania celebrates and honors Akinwumi Adesina’s impactful legacy as President of the African Development Bank

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, on 14 June, has honored the President of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) Dr Akinwumi Adesina describing him as “a visionary leader, a tireless son of Africa who has dedicated his life to transform the narrative of the continent.”

    President Samia Suluhu Hassan praised Adesina’s vital role in the development of her country’s economy, singling out large-scale infrastructure projects financed by the Bank.

    During a two-day visit to Tanzania that began on Friday, Bank president Dr Akinwumi Adesina was invited on a tour of some of the Bank-financed infrastructure projects that are transforming Tanzania’s economy and strengthening its regional and international roles. This includes a new international airport and a major highway that encircles the administrative capital of Dodoma.

    The Tanzanian leader highlighted projects in other sectors, such as agriculture and energy, that are financed by the Bank.

    “This is in addition to the construction of a modern Standard Gauge Railway line that will link Tanzania to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said President Suluhu Hassan.

    The African Development Bank Group has invested $9 billion in Tanzania since it started its operations in the country in 1971. Total financial support over the last 10 years under Adesina’s leadership stands at $4.73 billion, equivalent to 53% of the Bank’s lending to Tanzania over the past 54 years.

    “On behalf of the people of Tanzania, I express our gratitude to the African Development Bank for being a dependable partner of our country’s development journey,” the Tanzanian President said.

    Referencing the Bank’s transformative impact, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan told Adesina, “Your visionary leadership has brought significant socio-economic change to Tanzania and across Africa.”

    To cheers from the crowd President Suluhu Hassan announced, “I have accepted a recommendation by the Ministry of Works to rename the Dodoma Outer Ring Road as the Dr Akinwumi Adesina Road.”

    Adesina, accompanied by his wife, Grace Yemisi Adesina, was visibly moved to tears.

    The newly named 112-kilometer dual carriageway is a strategic link in the Cape to Cairo continental corridor. It will decongest Tanzania’s fast-growing administrative capital and enhance regional connectivity.

    The Bank provided $138 million in funding for the project, with an additional $42 million from the Africa Growing Together Fund and $34.69 million from the Government of Tanzania.

    Earlier, Adesina surprised the crowd when he delivered a lengthy portion of his speech in Kiswahili, the national language of Tanzania, which is widely spoken in East and Central Africa. After recognizing all dignitaries in Kiswahili, he went on to thank President Suluhu Hassan for the warm and generous hospitality accorded to him, first in the City of Peace, Dar es Salaam, and in the attractive city of Dodoma.

    “Mheshimiwa Rais Samia Suluhu Hassan, ningependa kukushukuru kwa mapokezi yako ya upendo na ukarimu tuliopewa jana katika jiji la amani, Dar es Salaam na hapa pia katika jiji lenye mvuto la Dodoma. Nimefurahi sana kuwa hapa Dodoma,” Adesina said as the crowd cheered him on.

    Earlier, on Friday 13 June, Adesina was awarded a Doctor of Science Honorary Degree (Honoris Causa) from the prestigious University of Dar es Salaam.

    The citation highlighted Adesina’s leadership and “lifelong dedication to public service, evidence-based policymaking, and pan-African progress.”

    It read further: “Dr Adesina exemplifies the rare blend of academic brilliance, visionary leadership, and practical impact that honorary doctorates are meant to recognize. His emphasis on inclusive growth, innovation, and economic resilience makes him a beacon of integrity, excellence, and servant leadership.”

    The honorary degree was bestowed on Adesina by the Chancellor of the University and former President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, who said, “I would like to tell Tanzanians, the African Development Bank has been a major anchor of Tanzania’s development sector. When it comes to infrastructure, no institution comes close to the African Development Bank.”

    Addressing the graduating class, Adesina spoke of his humble beginnings, emphasizing resilience, character, and unity. “Success cannot be achieved alone,” he said, inviting the students to rise, link hands, and repeat together: “Together, we will succeed and make a difference.”

    In his congratulatory remarks, Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said, “Tanzania is proud to stand among the nations celebrating this remarkable journey and enduring legacy.”

    From Dar es Salaam, Adesina, accompanied by former President Kikwete and Finance Minister Nchemba, took the Standard Gauge Railway train for the three-hour, 450-kilometre journey to Dodoma.

    The African Development Bank Group has established a syndication strategy to mobilize $1.2 billion in conjunction with Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, and other partners for the 651-kilometre extension of the electrified Standard Gauge Railway that will connect Tanzania to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    The project financing, signed during the 2024 Africa Investment Forum Market Days and includes more than $85 million from the Bank’s concessional financing window, the African Development Fund, a mix of Partial Credit Guarantees totaling $994.3 million across some sections of the railway, complemented by $247 million from the Government of Tanzania in counterpart financing. Initial disbursement from the African Development Fund and partner, the OPEC Fund, is expected by July 2025.

    Adesina said, “This railway line is a cornerstone of East Africa’s regional integration vision, aimed at delivering a modern, cost-effective, and high-capacity transport system anchored on the port of Dar es Salaam and linking landlocked nations.”

    “Our shift from traditional road systems to integrated transport solutions is helping position Tanzania as a key logistics and trade hub in the region,” he added.

    Accompanied by Adesina, President Suluhu Hassan travelled across more than 30 kilometers of the Dodoma Outer Ring Road, stopping along the way at the Bank-funded Msalato International Airport which is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The state-of-the-art airport features a 3.6-kilometre landing strip—one of the longest in East Africa, with a capacity to accommodate Airbus A380 aircraft.

    The African Development Bank has provided over $198 million to finance the Msalato International Airport project with $23 million coming from the African Development Fund and $50 million from the African Grow Together Fund.

    – on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Media contact:
    Christin Roby
    Regional Communication Officer for East Africa
    Communication and External Relations
    Email: media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

    Media files

    Download logo

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong 37th Annual Awards Dinner (English only) (with photo/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong 37th Annual Awards Dinner today (June 19):

    Josephine (Chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Ms Josephine Orgill), Consul-General Gareth Williams (Consul-General of Australia to Hong Kong and Macao), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    Good evening. It is a pleasure to be with you tonight as we celebrate the 37th anniversary of AustCham in Hong Kong. 

    Let me begin by extending my heartfelt congratulations to you all. For nearly four decades, you have evolved from a casual lunch club into the largest offshore Australian Chamber of Commerce.

    And through your Community Awards, you not only honour excellence in sustainability, women’s leadership, sports, entertainment and entrepreneurship; you have also strengthened the vibrant ties between Hong Kong and Australia.

    We value your friendship, your contributions and your wise counsel over the years.

    Tonight’s celebration brings back fond memories of my visit to Australia last September. I was moved by the energy, the innovation and the genuine enthusiasm of Australian businesses to deepen collaboration with Hong Kong. The potential for partnership is vast and growing.

         Trade and investment are cornerstones of our relationship. Since the Hong Kong–Australia Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement came into force in 2020, our economic ties have continued to flourish. The merchandise trade between us grew by 5 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter this year.

    And we have a diverse and vibrant community of about 160 Australian companies in Hong Kong who have contributed to the dynamism of the city’s business scene and economic progress. And the 10 000 Australian nationals residing in Hong Kong, who have brought with them experience and expertise in various fields ranging from finance and education to legal services, construction engineering and more.

    For example, I trust you would be proud of the significant involvement of Australian companies in the building and management of our world-class Kai Tak Sports Park.

    As a staunch advocate of free trade, Hong Kong is eager to contribute more to regional trade and economic integration. Our application to join RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, underscores that commitment. We are grateful for AustCham’s support all the way, and we look forward to Australia’s active endorsement as well.

    In a world challenged by rising unilateralism and protectionism, like-minded economies must come together. Hong Kong and Australia share a firm commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. That shared belief is the foundation for stronger co-operation and mutual prosperity.

    Of course, our ties go beyond trade. Our people-to-people exchanges are thriving. In the first five months of this year, nearly 200 000 Australian visitors came to Hong Kong, a 35 per cent increase year-on-year. These visits not only help promote mutual understanding, but also lay the foundation for long-term collaboration in business and beyond.

         Ladies and gentlemen, looking into the future, Hong Kong continues to offer a world-class and unique platform for Australian companies seeking access to the vast Chinese Mainland market.

         Our commitment to the “one country, two systems” framework remains firm and steadfast. This is the foundation that underpins our competitiveness. As consistently acknowledged in various international rankings, Hong Kong continues to perform well in government efficiency, business environment, rule of law, infrastructure and connectivity, quality education, lifestyle and more. These strengths have made Hong Kong a highly attractive destination for global businesses.

    Indeed, in recent months we have seen a notable inflow of international capital into Hong Kong. Our stock market is gaining momentum, and bank deposits have risen by over 7 per cent last year, and another 4 per cent so far this year, reaching HK$18 trillion. These are strong indicators of renewed confidence in our markets and the opportunities offered by this city.

    In March, a new amendment to the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) came into force. This brings good news for Australian businesses. Two key highlights: first, Australian companies established in Hong Kong can benefit from immediate priority access to the Mainland market. Second, they can opt for common law and choose Hong Kong as the place of arbitration for eligible contracts within the Greater Bay Area.

    Hong Kong is also charting an ambitious path forward. From major infrastructure projects like the Northern Metropolis, to innovation and technology development, to deeper economic integration with the Greater Bay Area, the opportunities are vast. We warmly welcome our Australian friends to be part of this exciting journey.

    In closing, I would like to thank AustCham once again for your continued partnership and support. Congratulations to all award recipients this evening. Your achievements inspire us all.

    Enjoy the dinner, and have a wonderful evening ahead. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Haivision Announces Availability of Latest Release of the Kraken Video Processing Platform with Shield AI Object Detection

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Haivision (TSX: HAI), a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions, today announced the availability of the latest release of the Kraken video processing platform with Shield AI object detection, bringing the power of AI to full motion video and metadata processing, and enabling quick and life-saving decision making.

    Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and situational awareness applications, Kraken encodes, transcodes, and transports high quality video and metadata in real-time, even in environments where network bandwidth is unpredictable or limited. The latest update to Kraken features the availability of a new option – Shield AI’s Sentient Tracker, an AI-powered software for superior object detection for multi-domain operations.

    Tracker uses AI and two decades of computer vision research and development to detect moving objects in full-motion video, turning raw data into actionable intelligence with speed and efficiency. It can detect moving objects on land such as vehicles and people and in maritime settings stationary and moving targets such as boats, vessels, individuals, and life jackets.

    Kraken’s advanced capabilities enable real-time transcoding of live video streams to ensure downstream system compatibility, while also transporting essential metadata such as object detection and tracking information within the full-motion video (FMV) stream. When integrated with Shield AI’s Tracker software, the solution can automatically detect and track objects in live video captured by crewed or uncrewed aircraft operating in complex land and maritime environments. Downstream systems can use the combined video with augmented tracking information either as overlays of tracking boxes or as inputs to common operating picture tools like TAK or ATAK. Together, these capabilities streamline the ISR workflow, enabling faster, more informed decision-making in mission-critical operations.

    “The latest release of Kraken with Tracker brings the best of breed tracking algorithms from Shield AI to real-time FMV – making it possible for our users to obtain AI-enabled insights to their streams anywhere Kraken can run – on purpose-built hardware at the tactical edge, on servers in the data center, or in the cloud,” said John Leipper, Defense Product Manager, Haivision.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with Haivision to integrate our advanced AI object detection technology with their defense-certified Kraken video processing software,” said Christian Gutierrez, Vice President of Hivemind Engineering at Shield AI. “By combining Tracker with Haivision’s trusted ISR video ecosystem, we’re enabling customers to seamlessly apply AI within existing video workflows for faster, more informed decision-making.” Kraken is a cornerstone solution in Haivision’s ISR video solutions portfolio, including the recently announced Kraken X1 Rugged video transcoder, Makito X4 Rugged video encoder, Makito X1 Rugged video encoder, and Haivision Play ISR video player, products which adhere to rigorous cybersecurity and interoperability standards for use within defense networks.

    Trusted globally to support critical missions, Shield AI is a deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defense aircraft. Shield AI’s advanced artificial intelligence and computer vision technology empower defense, government, and public safety organizations to rapidly transform raw data into actionable intelligence, enhancing decision-making and operational effectiveness. Committed to innovation, security, and reliability, Shield AI solutions integrate seamlessly into existing defense workflows, supporting mission success in complex environments worldwide.

    Deployed and trusted worldwide, Haivision’s mission-critical video solutions help aerospace, enterprise, government, military, and public safety organizations make informed decisions faster. Haivision’s video wall systems for command centers, video distribution solutions, and ISR video technology fuel real-time analysis and decision-making. To learn more about the combined Tracker and Kraken solution, watch the recent webinar with Haivision and Shield AI experts: AI Object Detection from Anywhere.

    About Haivision 
    Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision-making. We provide high-quality, low-latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open-sourced its award-winning SRT low-latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To learn more, visit Haivision at www.haivision.com.

    Contact:
    Lamia Milonas
    PR and Communications Manager 
    (514) 799-8105

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Haivision Announces Availability of Latest Release of the Kraken Video Processing Platform with Shield AI Object Detection

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Haivision (TSX: HAI), a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions, today announced the availability of the latest release of the Kraken video processing platform with Shield AI object detection, bringing the power of AI to full motion video and metadata processing, and enabling quick and life-saving decision making.

    Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and situational awareness applications, Kraken encodes, transcodes, and transports high quality video and metadata in real-time, even in environments where network bandwidth is unpredictable or limited. The latest update to Kraken features the availability of a new option – Shield AI’s Sentient Tracker, an AI-powered software for superior object detection for multi-domain operations.

    Tracker uses AI and two decades of computer vision research and development to detect moving objects in full-motion video, turning raw data into actionable intelligence with speed and efficiency. It can detect moving objects on land such as vehicles and people and in maritime settings stationary and moving targets such as boats, vessels, individuals, and life jackets.

    Kraken’s advanced capabilities enable real-time transcoding of live video streams to ensure downstream system compatibility, while also transporting essential metadata such as object detection and tracking information within the full-motion video (FMV) stream. When integrated with Shield AI’s Tracker software, the solution can automatically detect and track objects in live video captured by crewed or uncrewed aircraft operating in complex land and maritime environments. Downstream systems can use the combined video with augmented tracking information either as overlays of tracking boxes or as inputs to common operating picture tools like TAK or ATAK. Together, these capabilities streamline the ISR workflow, enabling faster, more informed decision-making in mission-critical operations.

    “The latest release of Kraken with Tracker brings the best of breed tracking algorithms from Shield AI to real-time FMV – making it possible for our users to obtain AI-enabled insights to their streams anywhere Kraken can run – on purpose-built hardware at the tactical edge, on servers in the data center, or in the cloud,” said John Leipper, Defense Product Manager, Haivision.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with Haivision to integrate our advanced AI object detection technology with their defense-certified Kraken video processing software,” said Christian Gutierrez, Vice President of Hivemind Engineering at Shield AI. “By combining Tracker with Haivision’s trusted ISR video ecosystem, we’re enabling customers to seamlessly apply AI within existing video workflows for faster, more informed decision-making.” Kraken is a cornerstone solution in Haivision’s ISR video solutions portfolio, including the recently announced Kraken X1 Rugged video transcoder, Makito X4 Rugged video encoder, Makito X1 Rugged video encoder, and Haivision Play ISR video player, products which adhere to rigorous cybersecurity and interoperability standards for use within defense networks.

    Trusted globally to support critical missions, Shield AI is a deep-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software products and defense aircraft. Shield AI’s advanced artificial intelligence and computer vision technology empower defense, government, and public safety organizations to rapidly transform raw data into actionable intelligence, enhancing decision-making and operational effectiveness. Committed to innovation, security, and reliability, Shield AI solutions integrate seamlessly into existing defense workflows, supporting mission success in complex environments worldwide.

    Deployed and trusted worldwide, Haivision’s mission-critical video solutions help aerospace, enterprise, government, military, and public safety organizations make informed decisions faster. Haivision’s video wall systems for command centers, video distribution solutions, and ISR video technology fuel real-time analysis and decision-making. To learn more about the combined Tracker and Kraken solution, watch the recent webinar with Haivision and Shield AI experts: AI Object Detection from Anywhere.

    About Haivision 
    Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision-making. We provide high-quality, low-latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open-sourced its award-winning SRT low-latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To learn more, visit Haivision at www.haivision.com.

    Contact:
    Lamia Milonas
    PR and Communications Manager 
    (514) 799-8105

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: QuestionPro Appoints Laura Baker, Former KnowledgeHound CEO, as President of InsightsHub and Communities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuestionPro today announced the appointment of Laura Baker to the position of President of Communities and InsightsHub. In her new role, Baker will lead the strategic vision and growth for two of QuestionPro’s cornerstone platforms that enable organizations to streamline research operations and unlock real-time customer insights.

    Vivek Bhaskaran, CEO and Founder of QuestionPro, stated, “We look forward to Laura Baker joining the QuestionPro leadership team. Her exceptional track record in scaling data-focused businesses and her deep understanding of the research landscape make her the ideal leader to spearhead our Communities and Insights Hub divisions.”

    Baker joins QuestionPro with deep experience leading high-performing commercial teams in the SaaS and market research industries. She previously served as CEO of KnowledgeHound, a search-based survey data analysis solution, where she guided the team through significant product and revenue growth. Following KnowledgeHound’s strategic acquisition by YouGov, she served as Chief Commercial Officer, integrating the teams and market offerings. Her earlier career includes building and growing commercial teams for over 14 years at Mintel International. Most recently, she founded Vista Growth Solutions, a boutique consultancy advising companies on strategic growth, team performance, and go-to-market effectiveness.

    “I am incredibly excited to join QuestionPro, a company that is at the forefront of revolutionizing how businesses engage with their customers and leverage insights,” said Laura Baker. “The opportunity to combine InsightsHub’s powerful, centralized intelligence solution with the deep engagement of the Communities platform is incredibly exciting,” said Baker. “I’m looking forward to partnering with the team to help our clients drive more value from their insights and build truly customer-led strategies.”

    About QuestionPro

    Founded in 2006, QuestionPro is a global provider of online survey and research services that help companies make better decisions through data. Our fully integrated online platform includes surveys, research & insights, customer experience (CX) and workforce/employee experience software. We additionally offer polling, journey mapping, employee 360s and data visualization. Our clientele ranges from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, who rely on us for insights about customers, employees, and the marketplace. With offices in the US, Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and India, we offer customers 24-7 access to highly trained support specialists and engineers. More information is available at www.questionpro.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cd68657-8166-4c74-91d7-1c6ddfc87c27

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: QuestionPro Appoints Laura Baker, Former KnowledgeHound CEO, as President of InsightsHub and Communities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, June 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuestionPro today announced the appointment of Laura Baker to the position of President of Communities and InsightsHub. In her new role, Baker will lead the strategic vision and growth for two of QuestionPro’s cornerstone platforms that enable organizations to streamline research operations and unlock real-time customer insights.

    Vivek Bhaskaran, CEO and Founder of QuestionPro, stated, “We look forward to Laura Baker joining the QuestionPro leadership team. Her exceptional track record in scaling data-focused businesses and her deep understanding of the research landscape make her the ideal leader to spearhead our Communities and Insights Hub divisions.”

    Baker joins QuestionPro with deep experience leading high-performing commercial teams in the SaaS and market research industries. She previously served as CEO of KnowledgeHound, a search-based survey data analysis solution, where she guided the team through significant product and revenue growth. Following KnowledgeHound’s strategic acquisition by YouGov, she served as Chief Commercial Officer, integrating the teams and market offerings. Her earlier career includes building and growing commercial teams for over 14 years at Mintel International. Most recently, she founded Vista Growth Solutions, a boutique consultancy advising companies on strategic growth, team performance, and go-to-market effectiveness.

    “I am incredibly excited to join QuestionPro, a company that is at the forefront of revolutionizing how businesses engage with their customers and leverage insights,” said Laura Baker. “The opportunity to combine InsightsHub’s powerful, centralized intelligence solution with the deep engagement of the Communities platform is incredibly exciting,” said Baker. “I’m looking forward to partnering with the team to help our clients drive more value from their insights and build truly customer-led strategies.”

    About QuestionPro

    Founded in 2006, QuestionPro is a global provider of online survey and research services that help companies make better decisions through data. Our fully integrated online platform includes surveys, research & insights, customer experience (CX) and workforce/employee experience software. We additionally offer polling, journey mapping, employee 360s and data visualization. Our clientele ranges from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies, who rely on us for insights about customers, employees, and the marketplace. With offices in the US, Canada, Mexico, U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and India, we offer customers 24-7 access to highly trained support specialists and engineers. More information is available at www.questionpro.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9cd68657-8166-4c74-91d7-1c6ddfc87c27

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump administration’s conflicting messages on Chinese student visas reflect complex US-China relations

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Meredith Oyen, Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    The U.S. announced plans to scrutinize and revoke student visas for students with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or whose studies are in critical fields, but appears to have reconsidered. The decision and apparent about-face could have a wide-ranging impact on both nations. LAW Ho Ming/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump appears to have walked back plans for the U.S. State Department to scrutinize and revoke visas for Chinese students studying in the country.

    On June 11, 2025, Trump posted on his social media platform TruthSocial that visas for Chinese students would continue and that they are welcome in the United States, as their presence “has always been good with me!”

    The announcement came weeks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that his department would begin scrutinizing and revoking student visas for Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese Communist Party, or whose studies are in critical fields.

    The contradictory moves have led to confusion among Chinese students attending college or considering studying in the United States.

    Over time, Chinese nationals have faced barriers to studying in the U.S. As a scholar who studies relations between the two nations, I argue that efforts to ban Chinese students in the United States are not unprecedented, and historically they have come with consequences.

    Student visas under fire

    The Trump administration laid out the terms for revoking or denying student visas to Chinese nationals but then backtracked.
    STAP/Getty Images

    Since the late 1970s, millions of Chinese students have been granted visas to study at American universities. That total includes approximately 277,000 who studied in the United States in the 2023-2024 academic year.

    It is difficult to determine how many of these students would have been affected by a ban on visas for individuals with Chinese Community Party affiliations or in critical fields.

    Approximately 40% of all new members of the Chinese Communist Party each year are drawn from China’s student population. And many universities in China have party connections or charters that emphasize party loyalty.

    The “critical fields” at risk were not defined. A majority of Chinese students in the U.S. are enrolled in math, technology, science and engineering fields.

    A long history

    Since the late 1970s, the number of Chinese students attending college in the U.S. has increased dramatically.
    Kenishiroite/Getty Images

    Yung Wing became the first Chinese student to graduate from a U.S. university in 1852.

    Since then, millions of Chinese students have come to the United States to study, supported by programs such as the “Chinese Educational Mission,” Boxer Indemnity Fund scholarships and the Fulbright Program.

    The Institute for International Education in New York estimated the economic impact of Chinese students in the U.S. at over US$14 billion a year. Chinese students tend to pay full tuition to their universities. At the graduate level, they perform vital roles in labs and classrooms. Just under half of all Chinese students attending college in the U.S. are graduate students.

    However, there is a long history of equating Chinese migrants as invaders, spies or risks to national security.

    After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the U.S. Department of Justice began to prevent Chinese scholars and students in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and math – from returning to China by stopping them at U.S. ports of entry and exit. They could be pulled aside when trying to board a flight or ship and their tickets canceled.

    In one infamous case, Chinese rocket scientist Qian Xuesen was arrested, harassed, ordered deported and prevented from leaving over five years from 1950 to 1955. In 1955, the United States and China began ambassadorial-level talks to negotiate repatriations from either country. After his experience, Qian became a much-lauded supporter of the Communist government and played an important role in the development of Chinese transcontinental missile technology.

    During the 1950s, the U.S. Department of Justice raided Chinatown organizations looking for Chinese migrants who arrived under false names during the Chinese Exclusion Era, a period from the 1880s to 1940s when the U.S. government placed tight restrictions on Chinese immigration into the country. A primary justification for the tactics was fear that the Chinese in the U.S. would spy for their home country.

    Between 1949 and 1979, the U.S and China did not have normal diplomatic relations. The two nations recognized each other and exchanged ambassadors starting in January 1979. In the more than four decades since, the number of Chinese students in the U.S. has increased dramatically.

    Anti-Chinese discrimination

    The idea of an outright ban on Chinese student visas has raised concerns about increased targeting of Chinese in the U.S. for harassment.

    In 1999, Taiwanese-American scientist Wen Ho Lee was arrested on suspicion of using his position at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico to spy for China. Lee remained imprisoned in solitary confinement for 278 days before he was released without a conviction.

    In 2018, during the first Trump administration, the Department of Justice launched its China Initiative. In its effort to weed out industrial, technological and corporate espionage, the initiative targeted many ethnic Chinese researchers and had a chilling effect on continued exchanges, but it secured no convictions for wrongdoing.

    Trump again expressed concerns last year that undocumented migrants from China might be coming to the United States to spy or “build an army.”

    The repeated search for spies among Chinese migrants and residents in the U.S. has created an atmosphere of fear for Chinese American communities.

    Broader foreign policy context

    An atmosphere of suspicion has altered the climate for Chinese international students.
    J Studios/Getty Images

    The U.S. plan to revoke visas for students studying in the U.S. and the Chinese response is being formed amid contentious debates over trade.

    Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian accused the U.S. of violating an agreement on tariff reduction the two sides discussed in Geneva in May, citing the visa issues as one example.

    Trump has also complained that the Chinese violated agreements between the countries, and some reports suggest that the announcement on student visas was a negotiating tactic to change the Chinese stance on the export of rare earth minerals.

    When Trump announced his trade deal with China on June 11, he added a statement welcoming Chinese students.

    However, past practice shows that the atmosphere of uncertainty and suspicion may have already damaged the climate for Chinese international students, and at least some degree of increased scrutiny of student visas will likely continue regardless.

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

    – ref. Trump administration’s conflicting messages on Chinese student visas reflect complex US-China relations – https://theconversation.com/trump-administrations-conflicting-messages-on-chinese-student-visas-reflect-complex-us-china-relations-258351

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Metro Detroit is growing – but its suburbs are telling a more complicated story

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Grigoris Argeros, Professor of Sociology, Eastern Michigan University

    Detroit is still a majority Black city, but the share of white, Asian and Hispanic residents is growing. DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

    Following decades of population loss, Detroit may finally be turning a corner.

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimates, the city saw an increase in population for both 2023 and 2024.

    An additional 11,000 people moved into the city in the years 2023 and 2024, a small gain in a city with a population of 645,705 – but one which marked a symbolic shift.

    The census data shows just over 1% growth in the past year alone and 0.7% the year before compared with a nearly 25% loss between 2000 and 2010.

    As an urban sociologist studying issues related to race and ethnicity, I am interested in how Detroit’s population is changing, and where different groups live in both the city and its suburbs.

    Analyzing population trends in the metro Detroit area using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, I wanted to understand how racial, ethnic and socioeconomic trends are unfolding, and what those changes can tell us about the evolution and vitality of Detroit.

    Black Detroiters relocate, city diversifies

    From 2010 to 2023, Detroit’s racial and ethnic makeup continued to gradually diversify even as the city was declining in population.

    While Black residents are still the majority, their proportion of the total number fell from around 84% to 79%.

    Other groups, in contrast, increased their share of the city’s population. Between 2010 and 2023, the percentage of Hispanic residents grew from 6.6% to 8.3%, the percentage of white residents grew from 8.2% to 10.7%, and the percentage of Asian residents grew from 1.3% to 1.7%.

    These shifts reflect a steady and ongoing diversification of Detroit’s population, indicative of new migration trends and shifting neighborhood dynamics.

    Suburbs in flux

    In addition to Detroit’s recent population growth, a broader story is unfolding in the city’s suburbs.

    The population of the suburban area as a whole increased 0.73% from 2023 to 2024, but growth was not evenly spread. Collectively, the outer-ring suburbs gained almost 20,000 people, increasing by 1%. Communities such as the city of Troy and Macomb Township accounted for a significant share of that growth.

    A map of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs, with shading to indicate which areas are considered to be the ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ suburbs.
    Grigoris Argeros, CC BY

    Inner-ring suburbs, such as Southfield, Warren and others, grew less vigorously – gaining just 4,000 people, or 0.31%.

    These differences highlight the necessity of complicating the conventional city-versus-suburb narrative to acknowledge the many economic and racial divisions across the metropolitan region.

    The socioeconomic statuses of residents of the inner- and outer-ring suburbs diverged between 2000 and 2020.

    My analysis of census data shows that although both subregions witnessed increases in median household incomes, the rates of change were significantly higher in the outer-ring suburbs, with a 37.7% increase versus a 16.8% increase in the inner rings.

    The data shows a similar trend in higher education attainment. Outer ring suburbs gained 7.1% more residents with college degrees or higher during this period, while the inner suburbs lost 7.5%.

    Homeownership patterns in the two suburban regions also diverged over those two decades, increasing 18% in the outer rings and decreasing 10% in the inner rings.

    The data on poverty and immigration also reveal contrasting results.

    According to my calculations of census data, inner-ring suburbs experienced a 77% increase in poverty, while the outer ring experienced a lesser, though considerable, 50.8% bump in poverty during the 2000-2020 period.

    Meanwhile, during the same time period, the foreign-born populations in the outer suburbs expanded by 24.9%, with increases of at least 10,000 in places such as Sterling Heights, Novi and Canton. In contrast, the inner suburbs saw more modest gains — around 5,000 in cities such as Dearborn Heights and Warren — while their overall foreign-born share declined by nearly 20%.

    Together, the above trends highlight the necessity of not viewing the suburban area as a monolith. These patterns reflect national trends, in which many older, inner-ring suburbs are experiencing socioeconomic stagnation or decline while newer, outer-ring suburbs continue to attract more people who have higher incomes.

    Mixed neighborhoods grow

    Residential segregation also differentiates inner and outer suburban rings.

    Segregation levels remain high in the inner suburbs, especially between white and Black residents. While outer suburbs tend to be more integrated today, the rate of change there has been more modest over the past two decades.

    Social scientists measure segregation using a tool called the “dissimilarity index.” The index represents the proportion of one group that would need to move to establish an equal distribution of the population based on their relative numbers. It ranges from 0 to 100. A score of 0 means equal distribution across neighborhoods, while a score of 100 means the two groups live in completely separate areas.

    From 2000 to 2020, white-Black segregation across the region decreased from 84.4% to 68.3% on the index, while white-Hispanic segregation decreased from 47.6% to 39.9%. Together, these numbers indicate a broader trend toward more integrated living patterns.

    In the inner-ring suburbs, segregation fell across the board. White-Black segregation went down by 15.6%; white-Asian and white-Hispanic segregation dropped even more, by 43.2% and 30.7%, respectively.

    These trends suggest that while the outer suburbs currently have lower levels of segregation, the inner suburbs are integrating more rapidly, reflecting shifting patterns of neighborhood change and increasing racial and ethnic diversity.

    Detroit has come a long way since exiting bankruptcy in 2014. Its recent population growth and increasing diversity show important signs of renewal.

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

    – ref. Metro Detroit is growing – but its suburbs are telling a more complicated story – https://theconversation.com/metro-detroit-is-growing-but-its-suburbs-are-telling-a-more-complicated-story-257875

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Metro Detroit is growing – but its suburbs are telling a more complicated story

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Grigoris Argeros, Professor of Sociology, Eastern Michigan University

    Detroit is still a majority Black city, but the share of white, Asian and Hispanic residents is growing. DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

    Following decades of population loss, Detroit may finally be turning a corner.

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent estimates, the city saw an increase in population for both 2023 and 2024.

    An additional 11,000 people moved into the city in the years 2023 and 2024, a small gain in a city with a population of 645,705 – but one which marked a symbolic shift.

    The census data shows just over 1% growth in the past year alone and 0.7% the year before compared with a nearly 25% loss between 2000 and 2010.

    As an urban sociologist studying issues related to race and ethnicity, I am interested in how Detroit’s population is changing, and where different groups live in both the city and its suburbs.

    Analyzing population trends in the metro Detroit area using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, I wanted to understand how racial, ethnic and socioeconomic trends are unfolding, and what those changes can tell us about the evolution and vitality of Detroit.

    Black Detroiters relocate, city diversifies

    From 2010 to 2023, Detroit’s racial and ethnic makeup continued to gradually diversify even as the city was declining in population.

    While Black residents are still the majority, their proportion of the total number fell from around 84% to 79%.

    Other groups, in contrast, increased their share of the city’s population. Between 2010 and 2023, the percentage of Hispanic residents grew from 6.6% to 8.3%, the percentage of white residents grew from 8.2% to 10.7%, and the percentage of Asian residents grew from 1.3% to 1.7%.

    These shifts reflect a steady and ongoing diversification of Detroit’s population, indicative of new migration trends and shifting neighborhood dynamics.

    Suburbs in flux

    In addition to Detroit’s recent population growth, a broader story is unfolding in the city’s suburbs.

    The population of the suburban area as a whole increased 0.73% from 2023 to 2024, but growth was not evenly spread. Collectively, the outer-ring suburbs gained almost 20,000 people, increasing by 1%. Communities such as the city of Troy and Macomb Township accounted for a significant share of that growth.

    A map of Detroit and the surrounding suburbs, with shading to indicate which areas are considered to be the ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ suburbs.
    Grigoris Argeros, CC BY

    Inner-ring suburbs, such as Southfield, Warren and others, grew less vigorously – gaining just 4,000 people, or 0.31%.

    These differences highlight the necessity of complicating the conventional city-versus-suburb narrative to acknowledge the many economic and racial divisions across the metropolitan region.

    The socioeconomic statuses of residents of the inner- and outer-ring suburbs diverged between 2000 and 2020.

    My analysis of census data shows that although both subregions witnessed increases in median household incomes, the rates of change were significantly higher in the outer-ring suburbs, with a 37.7% increase versus a 16.8% increase in the inner rings.

    The data shows a similar trend in higher education attainment. Outer ring suburbs gained 7.1% more residents with college degrees or higher during this period, while the inner suburbs lost 7.5%.

    Homeownership patterns in the two suburban regions also diverged over those two decades, increasing 18% in the outer rings and decreasing 10% in the inner rings.

    The data on poverty and immigration also reveal contrasting results.

    According to my calculations of census data, inner-ring suburbs experienced a 77% increase in poverty, while the outer ring experienced a lesser, though considerable, 50.8% bump in poverty during the 2000-2020 period.

    Meanwhile, during the same time period, the foreign-born populations in the outer suburbs expanded by 24.9%, with increases of at least 10,000 in places such as Sterling Heights, Novi and Canton. In contrast, the inner suburbs saw more modest gains — around 5,000 in cities such as Dearborn Heights and Warren — while their overall foreign-born share declined by nearly 20%.

    Together, the above trends highlight the necessity of not viewing the suburban area as a monolith. These patterns reflect national trends, in which many older, inner-ring suburbs are experiencing socioeconomic stagnation or decline while newer, outer-ring suburbs continue to attract more people who have higher incomes.

    Mixed neighborhoods grow

    Residential segregation also differentiates inner and outer suburban rings.

    Segregation levels remain high in the inner suburbs, especially between white and Black residents. While outer suburbs tend to be more integrated today, the rate of change there has been more modest over the past two decades.

    Social scientists measure segregation using a tool called the “dissimilarity index.” The index represents the proportion of one group that would need to move to establish an equal distribution of the population based on their relative numbers. It ranges from 0 to 100. A score of 0 means equal distribution across neighborhoods, while a score of 100 means the two groups live in completely separate areas.

    From 2000 to 2020, white-Black segregation across the region decreased from 84.4% to 68.3% on the index, while white-Hispanic segregation decreased from 47.6% to 39.9%. Together, these numbers indicate a broader trend toward more integrated living patterns.

    In the inner-ring suburbs, segregation fell across the board. White-Black segregation went down by 15.6%; white-Asian and white-Hispanic segregation dropped even more, by 43.2% and 30.7%, respectively.

    These trends suggest that while the outer suburbs currently have lower levels of segregation, the inner suburbs are integrating more rapidly, reflecting shifting patterns of neighborhood change and increasing racial and ethnic diversity.

    Detroit has come a long way since exiting bankruptcy in 2014. Its recent population growth and increasing diversity show important signs of renewal.

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

    – ref. Metro Detroit is growing – but its suburbs are telling a more complicated story – https://theconversation.com/metro-detroit-is-growing-but-its-suburbs-are-telling-a-more-complicated-story-257875

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cooperation in the Organization of Asian and Pacific News Agencies has an impact on all media in the world – TASS Director General

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    St. Petersburg, June 19 /Xinhua/ — The General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) is the most important event in the international information field, cooperation in OANA has a huge impact on the entire professional news community, on all media in the world. This was stated by TASS Director General Andrei Kondrashov at the plenary session of the 19th OANA General Assembly.

    He noted that cyber threats are currently becoming increasingly sophisticated, and the spread of fakes leads to a decline in trust in the media. In these conditions, it is necessary to focus efforts on improving the quality and reliability of information, and to follow high ethical standards of a journalist. One of the key areas in modern news journalism is the introduction of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data and automation of events coverage processes.

    OANA members need to create a foundation for prosperity and development, for a diverse, fair and equal exchange of information, said A. Kondrashov.

    More than one hundred representatives of news agencies from more than 30 countries of the world arrived in St. Petersburg for the 19th OANA General Assembly. The meeting participants will hold several sessions, the main theme of which is “News agencies and challenges of the modern world.” –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China: China will actively expand imports of energy resources, minerals and high-quality agricultural products from Central Asian countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — China will faithfully implement the important agreements and results reached at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, actively expand imports of energy resources, minerals and high-quality agricultural products from Central Asian countries, promote exports of automobiles, home appliances, communications equipment, textiles and other products, and cultivate new business forms of trade such as trade in services and cross-border e-commerce, Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong said at a regular press conference on Thursday.

    He Yadong noted that during the summit, the ministry signed three documents with relevant departments of Central Asian countries on strengthening trade and economic cooperation, deepening cooperation on unimpeded trade and intensifying cooperation in the field of “green” mineral resources, as well as five bilateral documents with relevant countries in the fields of economy, trade, investment, e-commerce and technical and economic cooperation.

    According to him, the ministry will deepen the development and utilization of green mineral raw materials in all links of the industrial chain, including their exploration, production, supply, storage and marketing, and expand cooperation in new areas such as electric vehicles, biomedicine, new energy sources and the digital economy.

    The number of China-Europe freight trains passing through Central Asian countries will also be increased, and the capacity of border crossings will be increased to ensure stability and continuity of supply chains, he added.

    China will implement the new versions of investment agreements signed with Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, and accelerate negotiations on an agreement on trade in services and investment with Kyrgyzstan, He Yadong noted, stressing that China firmly supports Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan’s aspirations to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and, together with Central Asian countries, defends the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –