NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with Prime Minister Modi of India: 24 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM meeting with Prime Minister Modi of India: 24 July 2025

    The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Chequers today.

    The Prime Minister welcomed the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, to Chequers today.

    The leaders celebrated the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which was signed today and will see growth in every part of the country – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

    The deal will see tariffs lowered so businesses can expand more easily in one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Prime Minister highlighted that UK consumers will benefit from lower prices and greater choice too.

    The Prime Minister also welcomed nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins, which will create 2,200 jobs across the UK.

    The leaders also discussed the importance of the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which will see closer collaboration on trade, defence, security, technology and education – underscored by the close and historic relationship between the two countries.

    The leaders also discussed the Air India plane crash last month, and said their sympathies are with all the families and loved ones of the victims. The Prime Minister said the UK will continue to support all those affected by the tragedy. 

    They looked forward to seeing one another soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • PM Modi to attend Maldives Independence Day, pushes forward India-Maldives ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26. Following his engagements in London, the Prime Minister will arrive in Malé on July 25 for the second leg of his tour, marking his third visit to the Maldives and the first by any head of government during President Mohamed Muizzu’s tenure.

    The visit is expected to build on the strong bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in the context of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, which was adopted during President Muizzu’s visit to India in October 2024.

    India and the Maldives have long shared close ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious bonds. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established soon after the Maldives gained independence in 1965, with India being one of the first countries to recognize the island nation. The geographical proximity-barely 70 nautical miles from India’s Minicoy Island-gives the Maldives strategic importance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), particularly in the context of maritime security and commercial sea-lanes.

    Under India’s “Neighbourhood First” foreign policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, the Maldives continues to occupy a special place. India has consistently responded to the Maldives’ needs, be it during the 1988 coup attempt, the 2004 tsunami, the 2014 water crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic, earning its reputation as a trusted partner and first responder.

    The current visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to the bilateral agenda. Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu will review the implementation of the “India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership,” which was adopted during President Muizzu’s state visit to India in October 2024.

    Over the past few years, both countries have maintained a high frequency of exchanges at various levels. In June 2024, President Muizzu had travelled to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers. This was followed by several ministerial visits, including by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who inaugurated key projects supported by India, such as water and sewerage networks across 28 islands, and community development initiatives in sectors like mental health and special education.

    The bilateral engagement has been marked by robust cooperation in areas of defence, economic development, infrastructure, health, and capacity building. India has extended multiple Lines of Credit and grant assistance to the Maldives. Initiatives like the construction of social housing units in Hulhumale, restoration of heritage sites, gifting of vessels and vehicles to the Maldivian armed forces, and the introduction of India’s UPI digital payment system in the Maldives highlight the comprehensive nature of the partnership.

    Recent interactions between ministers of both countries have furthered collaboration in sectors ranging from disaster management and cybersecurity to fisheries and civil services training. The introduction of MoUs in these areas demonstrates India’s continued commitment to the socio-economic development of the Maldives.

  • PM Modi to attend Maldives Independence Day, pushes forward India-Maldives ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently on a two-nation visit to the United Kingdom and the Maldives from July 23 to 26. Following his engagements in London, the Prime Minister will arrive in Malé on July 25 for the second leg of his tour, marking his third visit to the Maldives and the first by any head of government during President Mohamed Muizzu’s tenure.

    The visit is expected to build on the strong bilateral ties between the two nations, particularly in the context of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, which was adopted during President Muizzu’s visit to India in October 2024.

    India and the Maldives have long shared close ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious bonds. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established soon after the Maldives gained independence in 1965, with India being one of the first countries to recognize the island nation. The geographical proximity-barely 70 nautical miles from India’s Minicoy Island-gives the Maldives strategic importance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), particularly in the context of maritime security and commercial sea-lanes.

    Under India’s “Neighbourhood First” foreign policy and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, the Maldives continues to occupy a special place. India has consistently responded to the Maldives’ needs, be it during the 1988 coup attempt, the 2004 tsunami, the 2014 water crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic, earning its reputation as a trusted partner and first responder.

    The current visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to the bilateral agenda. Prime Minister Modi and President Muizzu will review the implementation of the “India-Maldives Joint Vision for a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership,” which was adopted during President Muizzu’s state visit to India in October 2024.

    Over the past few years, both countries have maintained a high frequency of exchanges at various levels. In June 2024, President Muizzu had travelled to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers. This was followed by several ministerial visits, including by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who inaugurated key projects supported by India, such as water and sewerage networks across 28 islands, and community development initiatives in sectors like mental health and special education.

    The bilateral engagement has been marked by robust cooperation in areas of defence, economic development, infrastructure, health, and capacity building. India has extended multiple Lines of Credit and grant assistance to the Maldives. Initiatives like the construction of social housing units in Hulhumale, restoration of heritage sites, gifting of vessels and vehicles to the Maldivian armed forces, and the introduction of India’s UPI digital payment system in the Maldives highlight the comprehensive nature of the partnership.

    Recent interactions between ministers of both countries have furthered collaboration in sectors ranging from disaster management and cybersecurity to fisheries and civil services training. The introduction of MoUs in these areas demonstrates India’s continued commitment to the socio-economic development of the Maldives.

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Frankel Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Funding Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m going to start by recognizing the collegiality of our Chairman Mr. Diaz-Balart and the thoughtful members on both sides of the aisle. And of course, I want to thank our hardworking staff for their tireless efforts. But most of all, I want to recognize the brave and committed Americans—our diplomats, USAID workers, humanitarian teams, and public health experts and our partners around the world—who bring our country’s values to the world’s toughest places. They’re the ones who delivered vaccines to remote villages in Congo, who help girls in Ethiopia escape forced marriage and find education and safety. 

    I’ve seen their work up close–I know many of us have—and the impact of the programs we funded. Children who escaped the brutality of Assad’s Syria thriving in classrooms in Jordan. Mothers in Malawi learning skills to support their families. Pregnant women in Kenya staying healthy with support from HIV clinics. To all of these workers —past and present: You are the patriots. You represent the best of America. And those who are still serving deserve more than our thanks. They deserve the tools to get the job done.

    Mr. Chairman, I wish we had a bipartisan bill in front of us that I could support that honored that service and reflected America’s leadership. If we had a responsible allocation and a White House that understood diplomacy, development, and humanitarian aid, we could have gotten there. But instead, here we are, questioning whether any of this matters when the President just ignores the will of Congress and the laws we pass.

    So today, I strongly oppose the FY 2026 Republican bill. It’s not just a funding cut—it’s a reckless blueprint for American retreat. Our President seems to think relying on threats and bullying alone is a smart strategy. But chaotic tariffs, cruel immigration crackdowns, and this tepid foreign aid plan before us today is not going to make us more safe, secure, or more prosperous. And attention: we are ceding the world to China. And let me be clear: This bill does not lower costs for hard working families and retirees on day one as promised by President Trump—instead it puts hard earned finances at risk by hurting global stability.

    And tax breaks for billionaires is not a trade-off for millions of starving children and let me just say that this bill does not make one bit of difference in making up the $4 trillion addition to our debt when the Republicans pass what they call their Big Bill their Big Beautiful Bill I call it the Big Ugly Bill   And this bill is just adds to the list of  troubling actions by the Administration.

    Here’s what’s happened leading up: Foreign aid has been held up illegally, then justified by an inane clawback known as recission; USAID—an agency backed by Congress that fights poverty and prevents conflict—gutted; Over 10,000 development and humanitarian professionals dismissed by Elon Musk; 5,000 life-saving aid programs abruptly terminated; 1,300 State Department staff laid off; Offices shuttered. Decades of progress wiped out. How disgusting , the richest man in the world was allowed to pull the plug on programs that save the world’s poorest children.

    The infrastructure and staffing is no longer present to carry out the few programs that remain. Let me say this again with emphasis: The infrastructure and staffing is no longer present to carry out the few programs that remain.

    All while the world faces crisis after crisis: Wars and armed conflict, Extreme weather, Hunger and famine, Disease outbreaks, Mass migration, and Rising authoritarian regimes

    These aren’t distant problems. They land right at our door: Fragile states collapse and migration surges; Trade stops and U.S. farmers and businesses lose buyers ;Climate disasters destroy crops and homes; Broken health systems allow deadly viruses to spread; And when we step back, China and Russia step in—not to help, but to expand their grip.

    We’re leaving behind a gap they fill with money, weapons, and propaganda taking over the airwaves – reaching listeners who used to rely on Voice of America and our international broadcasting. They want to remake the world to fit their playbook.

    Meanwhile, sadly our allies are also slashing foreign aid —pushed to spend more on weapons by Mr. Trump. As global needs explode, democracy’s soft power is vanishing. This bill fails to meet this moment.

    Here’s what it really does:

    Cuts 22% from the international affairs budget – that’s $13 billion, diminishing funding for development and economic assistance:

    • Kids kicked out of the classroom and cut off from clean water
    • Farmers losing seeds and tools to make a living
    • Violence prevention programs vanishing
    • Local nonprofits shut down

    The bill slashes humanitarian aid by 42%:

    • In Nigeria, malnourished infants are dying without food
    • In Myanmar, hospitals are going dark
    • In The Gambia, support for survivors of female genital mutilation has ended—as the country debates making it legal again
    • In Ukraine, wounded soldiers go without care
    • In Ecuador, women entrepreneurs are losing lifelines and heading for our border

    This is a blow to our credibility, our moral standing, and our global influence. Soft power – interestingly enough – development and diplomacy – have been secret weapons abroad. Without them, we’re losing Americans on the ground who know the terrain, see trouble coming, and keep us one step ahead.

    And as always, my, my, my. Here we go again–Republicans couldn’t resist one more swipe at women: Slashing family planning programs that save hundreds of thousands of lives each year and prevent millions of unplanned pregnancies, Reinstating the Global Gag Rule—which blocks funding to foreign groups that even talk about abortion; you can’t even say the word “abortion”, not do abortion, say the word “abortion”– you lose your funding, Gutting the UNFPA—which provides basic reproductive and maternal care in over 150 countries

    And while this bill guts humanitarian programs and walks away from the world’s most vulnerable, the administration is also on the road to destroying one of the smartest, most effective tools of U.S. foreign policy: the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. WPS is not some fringe idea. It’s the law, signed by guess who, Donald Trump. It passed with strong bipartisan support. And here’s why: Women experience conflict differently than men—often bearing the brunt of sexual violence, displacement, and the burden of caring for families amid chaos—yet they are too often excluded from life changing decisions. The WPS agenda has helped train diplomats, strengthen alliances, and put more women at the center of peace and security.

    When women are at the table for peace talks, recovery, and crisis response, the results are better. Period. Peace lasts longer. Communities recover faster. And Missions succeed. And yet, this administration shut down the State Department’s office that leads that work—right when we need women’s leadership the most. That’s not just shortsighted. It makes the world less safe and works directly against our own interests.

    The bill also abandons multilateral institutions and organizations—UNICEF, the UN Development Program, the African and Asian Development Banks, the World Bank, the World Health Organization—undermining our ability to shape the global agenda and ceding ground to autocrats. Guess who? Attention: China is going to take over this world.

    So why should Americans care that these cuts are going to cost more than they save? Because these cuts hurt American families, too.  When we walk away from the world: Chaos spreads; Troops are put in harm’s way; Our adversaries gain ground; And we pay the price—in dollars, and in lives.

    And look, I say this not just as a lawmaker, but as a mother. My son served in the Marines. He was sent to two wars–Iraq and Afghanistan– I know what it means when diplomacy fails. The cost isn’t hypothetical—it hits our soldiers and their families the hardest.

    Let me remind you: the international affairs budget was already less than 1% of our federal spending. But it delivered huge returns: Markets for American goods; Stability abroad; Protection from pandemics; Fewer troops sent into harm’s way.

    Last week, we passed an $832 billion defense bill—that’s hard power. But even our top generals warn: without soft power alongside it, that number will only keep rising. So, Mr. Chairman, This bill is a lost opportunity. It’s a failure to lead. It hurts American families because when health systems collapse, people get sick.  When trade stalls, jobs vanish. When diplomacy fails, our loved ones go to war.  So let me close with this: Democrats aren’t giving up. We’re ready to work together with Republicans to reach a bill that reflects our values, keeps our promises, and protects American lives. Because we can’t bomb and drone our way to peace and prosperity.  A strong America doesn’t hide. And it doesn’t bully. A strong America leads—with vision, with courage, and compassion. And That’s the bill we should be fighting for. Thank you. I yield back.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: War victory anniversary talk held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Civil Service Bureau and the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau jointly organised a talk at the Central Government Offices today to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in the World Anti-Fascist War.

    The talk was delivered by Professor at the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the School of History of the University of the CASS Prof Wang Chaoguang and Associate Vice President of Lingnan University Prof Lau Chi-pang.

    During the talk, Prof Wang gave a comprehensive analysis of the history of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, delving into the historical status, major contributions and the significance of the war as the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the Communist Party of China’s role as the pillar of the War of Resistance.

    Prof Lau also shared with participants the heroic deeds of the East River Column and the Hong Kong-Kowloon Brigade during the war period.

    Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung, politically appointed officials and civil servants in the directorate, senior and middle ranks attended the talk today. Together with those participating via video conferencing, over 200 participants attended the talk.

    Delivering the opening remarks, Mrs Yeung pointed out that civil servants should learn from history, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, uphold the spirit of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, and make greater contributions to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the lasting peace and stability of the country.

    She encouraged civil servants to actively participate in the thematic seminars and learning activities organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sex-segregated toilets ruling studied

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government is carefully studying the judgment handed down by the Court of First Instance on the judicial review concerning the provisions on segregation of the sexes under the Public Conveniences (Conduct & Behaviour) Regulation, and is seeking legal advice and considering lodging an appeal.

    The Environment & Ecology Bureau made the statement today, noting that members of the public must continue to use public toilets according to the principle of segregation of the sexes to avoid contravening the relevant laws.

    In the judicial review, the Court of First Instance ordered that provisions related to segregation of the sexes under the aforesaid regulation shall be struck down, and suspended the execution of the order for 12 months to allow the Government time to address the matter of transgender individuals with gender identity disorder using Food & Environmental Hygiene Department’s public toilets.

    The bureau said the establishment of sex-segregated public toilets under the regulation aims to protect the privacy and safety of the public when using public toilets and to reflect social norms and expectations, an arrangement that has been widely accepted by society.

    Currently, public toilets under the department’s purview are categorised into sex-segregated public toilets and gender neutral public toilets.

    Sex-segregated toilets follow the segregation of the sexes under the regulation. Concurrently, gender-neutral toilets are available near about half of the number of sex-segregated toilets. They include “Accessible Toilets” and “Unisex Toilets”, available for use by all members of the public including transgender individuals.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council Discusses UN Cooperation with Organization of Islamic Cooperation

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    9964th Meeting (AM)

    The Security Council is convening this morning to discuss cooperation between the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).  The meeting, chaired by Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, will feature briefings by Mohamed Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, and Yousef bin Mohammed Al-Dubaie, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: droppGroup Leads $5M Pre-Seed in D-GN: Betting Big on the Ethical Layer for AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Miami, Florida, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — – droppGroup, the US-based company behind sovereign-grade AI and blockchain solutions, alongside Saudi businessman Hamoud Al-Rumayyan and veteran crypto firm Hub Culture, has fully subscribed the $5 million pre-seed round of Data Guardians Network (D-GN) – a decentralized platform delivering the most accurate and ethically sourced training data in the AI market.

    This investment strengthens droppGroup’s ethical AI infrastructure, already in deployment with Saudi Aramco, Cisco, and multiple government partners, while expanding a growing portfolio of critical technologies grounded in compliance, transparency, and human-centered design.

    “Billions of dollars in lawsuits are hitting the AI industry because foundational models have been trained on stolen or unlicensed data,” said Faisal Al Monai, Chairman of droppGroup. “D-GN solves this industrial problem. It transforms global human input into an auditable, tokenized data engine that ethically trains, verifies and improves AI systems across voice, image and text. We took part of the round because we see this as a core pillar of the future AI stack for all our clients.”

    “When we saw Meta purchase a stake in Scale AI for around $14-15 billion, investing in D‑GN at this stage looked like a steal. We believe D-GN is the Scale AI killer”. Said Faisal Al Monai, Chairman of droppGroup. “More importantly, D‑GN does it differently, upholding both ethical AI and ethical labor standards. No outsourcing to click‑farms, no gray IP zones – just transparent, auditable, fair data.”

    Unlike Scale AI, which has faced criticism over opaque labor practices and the use of unlicensed content, D-GN builds datasets through a decentralized contributor model with on-chain traceability via Solan and stablecoin payments via Tether’s USDT, openly ensuring workers are paid fairly and AI models are trained responsibly.

    “As Saudi Arabia transforms into a global hub for AI and innovation, our focus must remain on building infrastructure rooted in ethics, equity and opportunity”. Said Mr Hamoud Al-Rumayyan. “Data Guardians Network represents a new model, one where the people who power AI are finally included in its value creation. This is not just an investment, it’s a step toward a more inclusive digital economy aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030”. He concluded. 

    Johanna Cabildo, Founder and CEO of D-GN, commented:
    “We built D-GN so that everyday people could have a stake in the future of AI, not just be the invisible labor behind it. droppGroup understands that vision deeply. This partnership gives us the fuel and the infrastructure to scale ethical data at a global level.”

    With this investment, D-GN will scale contributor operations in MENA, Latin America and Southeast Asia, expand multimodal frontier datasets (voice, lip sync, human-emotion mapping) and deepen integrations with open-source and enterprise AI frameworks.

    About droppGroup

    droppGroup is a US-based AI and blockchain infrastructure company building the secure, sovereign systems of tomorrow. The parent company behind droppOne, it supports highly sensitive deployments across governments and Fortune 500s.

    www.droppgroup.xyz

    About Data Guardians Network (D-GN)

    D-GN is a decentralized platform that turns global human input into ethically sourced training data for AI. Through stablecoin rewards, blockchain transparency and decentralized governance, D-GN enables enterprises and model developers to build AI systems that are fair, traceable and regulation-ready. 

    www.dataguardians.network

    Media Contact:Dominic dominic.c@lunaPR.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: RBI to conduct 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction under LAF on July 25, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    On a review of the current and evolving liquidity conditions, it has been decided to conduct a Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction on Friday, July 25, 2025, as under:

    Sl. No. Notified Amount
    (₹ crore)    		 Tenor
    (days)    		 Window Timing Date of Reversal
    1 1,25,000 7 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM August 01, 2025
    (Friday)

    2. Further, it has been decided not to conduct the 14-day main operation on Friday, July 25, 2025, for the ensuing fortnight.

    3. The operational guidelines for the auction as given in the Reserve Bank’s Press Release 2019-2020/1947 dated February 13, 2020 will remain the same.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)   

    Press Release: 2025-2026/777

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Microsoft Research Asia launches Singapore lab

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Microsoft Research Asia launches Singapore lab

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: Silvaco Strengthens Leadership Team with Three Industry Veterans to Drive Innovation and Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (“Silvaco”) (NASDAQ: SVCO), a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation, today announced the addition of three seasoned industry veterans to its leadership team: Andrew Wright as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Semiconductor IP Business Unit, Jasvinder Singh as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the EDA Business Unit, and John Berg as Vice President of Business Development. Collectively, they bring decades of experience in semiconductor design and software development to Silvaco and will play pivotal roles in accelerating innovation and operational excellence.

    “Adding these accomplished leaders strengthens our ability to innovate and scale Silvaco’s organic growth,” said Babak Taheri, CEO of Silvaco. “Their insights and proven track records will help advance and accelerate the next phase of our growth. With their expertise, we are well-positioned to broaden our market presence and deliver even greater value to our customers worldwide.”

    Andrew Wright leads Silvaco’s Semiconductor IP Business Unit. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of R&D and New Product Introduction at Efabless. He previously served as Executive Vice President of New Product Development at Cypress Semiconductor where he led the company’s chip and IP design methodologies and oversaw the development of all Cypress IP and new products. He has also held executive roles at UltraSense and Waterbit.

    Jasvinder Singh leads Silvaco’s EDA Business Unit. With over 20 years of leadership experience in EDA, AI, semiconductor and autonomous systems. Jasvinder has built and scaled global R&D teams and driven product, platform and engineering growth for multi-billion-dollar organizations. He has held senior roles at Synopsys, SiClarity, and Cadence, where he led innovations across AI, verification and cloud-enabled design platforms.

    John Berg leads business development across all of Silvaco’s product lines. He brings over two decades of leadership experience in quantum computing, semiconductor electronics, and photonics. John has a track record of productizing transformative hardware technologies and solving complex operational challenges. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Supply Chain at PsiQuantum. He has held senior leadership roles at American Semiconductor, Nantero, and Cypress Semiconductor.

    About Silvaco Group, Inc.
    Silvaco is a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation. Silvaco’s solutions are used for semiconductor and photonics processes, devices, and systems development across display, power devices, automotive, memory, high performance compute, foundries, photonics, internet of things, and 5G/6G mobile markets for complex SoC design. Silvaco is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has a global presence with offices located in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Learn more at silvaco.com.

    Contacts
    Media Relations:
    Tiffany Behany, press@silvaco.com

    Investor Relations:
    Greg McNiff, investors@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • Industry leaders hail game changing India-UK free trade agreement

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer on Thursday signed the eagerly-awaited India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), marking a landmark moment in the bilateral economic relationship.

    As part of the historic pact, the UK will reduce duties on 99 per cent of Indian exports, while India will lower tariffs on 90 per cent of British goods, significantly easing tariff barriers and regulatory procedures across multiple sectors.

    The agreement is expected to make imported goods more affordable for Indian consumers, including luxury cars, cosmetics, medical devices, gin, and Scotch whisky. Within the next two years, India’s leather industry is projected to increase its market share in the UK by 5 per cent.

    A high-level industry delegation led by Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises and Co-Chair of the India-UK CEO Forum, accompanied Prime Minister Modi. The delegation included 16 key business leaders and was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

    Calling the pact a “game-changer,” Indian industry leaders praised the FTA for opening new opportunities and strengthening long-term economic collaboration between the two nations.

    “Indian industry across all sectors welcomes the India–UK FTA with great optimism. This agreement establishes a modern, forward-looking partnership that will stimulate innovation, ease market access, and foster investment,” said Mittal. “Businesses in both India and the UK stand to benefit as this lays the foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation across key growth sectors.”

    Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO and MD of Mahindra Group, called the agreement a transformative milestone in the global economic landscape. “It’s not just a win for trade, but a blueprint for a modern, values-led partnership that puts innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth at the heart of global collaboration,” he said.

    Kirit Bhansali, Chairman of the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, noted the FTA’s positive impact on India’s gem and jewellery sector. “Currently, exports to the UK stand at $941 million. With the duty concessions in place, this figure is expected to surge to $2.5 billion within the next three years, elevating overall bilateral trade in our sector to an estimated $7 billion,” Bhansali said.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CSB and CMAB co-organise talk to commemorate 80th anniversary of victory in Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in World Anti-Fascist War (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CSB and CMAB co-organise talk to commemorate 80th anniversary of victory in Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and in World Anti-Fascist War  
         During the talk, Professor Wang gave a comprehensive analysis of the history of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, delving into the historical status, major contributions and the significance of the war as the main Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the Communist Party of China’s role as the pillar of the War of Resistance. Professor Lau also shared with participants the heroic deeds of the East River Column and the Hong Kong-Kowloon Brigade during the war period.
     
         The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, politically appointed officials and civil servants in the directorate, senior and middle ranks attended the talk today. Together with those participating via video conferencing, over 200 participants attended the talk.
     
         Delivering the opening remarks, Mrs Yeung said that civil servants shoulder the important mission of serving the people of Hong Kong and contributing to the prosperous development of the country. She pointed out that civil servants should learn from history, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, uphold the spirit of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, and make greater contributions to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the lasting peace and stability of the country.
     
         She encouraged civil servants to actively participate in the thematic seminars and learning activities organised to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance, to deepen their understanding of the history and significance of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and to truly appreciate the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people and the importance of safeguarding national security.
    Issued at HKT 21:37

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Chicken Road Game India – Play and Win Real Money By Chicken Road

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Gurugram, Haryana, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Chicken Road Game Introduced to Indian Market

    The Chicken Road Game, a mobile-based casual title, has officially entered the Indian gaming space. The game, designed around a simple premise of navigating a chicken across busy roads and obstacle-filled environments, is now accessible through select digital platforms catering to mobile-first audiences.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    The release comes as India continues to experience rapid growth in mobile and casual gaming, with millions of new players engaging in quick-session titles that require minimal setup or technical expertise.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    Contextualising the Launch Chicken Road Game

    The launch of Chicken Road Game in India coincides with a broader shift toward hyper-casual mobile games that cater to diverse user groups — from urban commuters to players in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. With smartphone penetration surpassing 750 million users and data costs remaining among the lowest globally, the Indian market is increasingly attractive for lightweight, instantly accessible gaming formats.

    >>> Learn More About Chicken Road Game >>>

    The game’s structure, based on a universally understandable “cross-the-road” mechanic, reflects the demand for entertainment that is simple to learn, playable in short intervals, and broadly accessible across demographics.

    Format and Accessibility

    Chicken Road Game has been released with a mobile-first approach, optimised for Android devices commonly used across India. The game’s technical requirements remain minimal, allowing smooth operation even on entry-level smartphones and in areas with limited bandwidth.

    Features include:

    • A tap-based control system designed for short bursts of gameplay.
    • Randomised obstacle patterns to ensure varied playthroughs.
    • Lightweight installation size for users with limited device storage.

    The game is accessible for free on supported platforms, with optional ad-supported modes and cosmetic enhancements offered through in-app systems.

    Alignment with Casual Gaming Trends

    India’s gaming landscape has shifted dramatically toward hyper-casual experiences over the last five years. Titles that can be played without prior experience or extended learning curves now represent a significant share of downloads across app marketplaces.

    Chicken Road Game joins this category, offering entertainment that appeals to a broad spectrum of players — including those who may not identify as traditional gamers but engage with digital content during commutes, work breaks, or leisure time.

    Industry analysts note that these formats also help introduce new players to interactive entertainment ecosystems, often serving as an entry point into mobile gaming.

    Regulatory and Market Considerations

    The Chicken Road Game is delivered through established digital platforms that operate within India’s existing guidelines for mobile applications. As a casual, non-real-money title, it falls outside the regulatory frameworks governing online betting and wagering, making it widely accessible across states.

    Platforms distributing the game have incorporated standard user protection measures, including parental control features, to ensure suitability for varied age groups.

    Industry Observations

    The introduction of Chicken Road Game in India highlights the continued growth of quick-session, low-complexity mobile titles. Industry experts view these releases as a key driver for audience engagement, particularly as the country’s gaming audience expands beyond metro hubs to semi-urban and rural markets.

    Developers and publishers are increasingly focused on titles that leverage simple mechanics, low data usage, and universal appeal to build sustainable player bases across diverse regions.

    Conclusion

    The arrival of Chicken Road Game in the Indian market reflects the ongoing evolution of digital entertainment consumption. By combining a straightforward concept with a mobile-first design, the game underscores the role of hyper-casual formats in attracting and retaining players in one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming markets.

    As casual gaming continues to gain momentum, titles like Chicken Road Game represent the type of accessible entertainment that resonates with India’s mobile-first audience.

    Company Name: Chicken Road

    Address: 673, JMD Building, Gurugram, Haryana

    Website: https://chicken-roadd.com

    Email: sumit@chicken-roadd.com

    Phone: +91-2049157035

    Media Contact: Sumit

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 2X Appoints Amber Tobias as SVP of Corporate Development, Accelerating Strategic M&A Initiatives and Integration Excellence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MALVERN, Pa., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 2X, the leader in subscription-based go-to-market services, today announced the appointment of Amber Tobias as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. With over 10 years of corporate development and M&A experience at private equity portfolio companies, Tobias brings proven expertise in end-to-end acquisition processes, strategic integration, and building scalable inorganic growth strategies from the ground up.

    Tobias joins 2X at a pivotal moment as the company accelerates its strategic acquisition program following recent investments from Insight Partners and successful integrations of StraightArrow and Intelligent Demand, and strategic investment in Get Levrg. Her appointment reinforces 2X’s commitment to executing a disciplined M&A strategy that expands service capabilities, deepens market expertise, and strengthens technology partnerships.

    Driving Strategic Growth Through Proven M&A Leadership

    In her role as SVP of Corporate Development, Tobias will lead 2X’s strategic acquisition initiatives, overseeing target identification, deal execution, and post-acquisition integration. Her extensive experience managing complex transactions and challenging market dynamics positions her to accelerate 2X’s inorganic growth strategy while ensuring seamless integration of acquired capabilities into the company’s scalable managed services model.

    “Amber’s appointment comes at exactly the right time in 2X’s evolution,” said Dom Colasante, CEO of 2X. “She’s worked across private equity and PE-backed portfolio companies and has an outstanding track record of creating great outcomes for acquired company employees, customers, and platform acquirers. Her expertise in building inorganic growth strategies and gaining strong organizational buy-in will be instrumental as we continue to expand our capabilities and market presence through strategic acquisitions.”

    Extensive Private Equity and Integration Experience

    Prior to joining 2X, Tobias served as Head of Corporate Development at FluentStream, a growth-stage SaaS company and PSG portfolio company, where she executed the company’s programmatic M&A strategy and led end-to-end acquisition processes. Her experience spans multiple private equity environments, including roles at Aspirion (formerly backed by Aquiline Capital Partners), Illuminate Education (formerly backed by Insight Partners), and as an M&A Associate at specialty investment firm Nadavon Capital Partners.

    “I’m excited to join the 2X team and contribute to the company’s impressive growth trajectory,” said Tobias. “2X has built something truly special with their innovative subscription-based go-to-market services, and their recent strategic acquisitions demonstrate a thoughtful approach to expanding capabilities while maintaining service excellence. I look forward to working with our world-class investors Recognize Partners and Insight Partners, Dom, and the entire 2X team to identify and execute acquisitions that strengthen 2X’s market leadership and create value for clients, employees, and stakeholders. We’re eager to partner with businesses that share our values and are looking for a strategic home to scale their next chapter.”

    Strengthening M&A Capabilities for Continued Growth

    The addition of Tobias to 2X’s leadership team reflects the company’s commitment to building best-in-class corporate development capabilities. Her expertise in integration planning and execution will be particularly valuable as 2X continues to enhance its service portfolio, expand geographic reach, and deepen technology partnerships that bring more value to clients.

    Tobias holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington and a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay.

    About 2X

    2X is the global leader in subscription-based go-to-market services, helping GTM leaders achieve greater impact while lowering costs through its comprehensive managed services delivery model. Building on its foundation as the leader in B2B marketing as a service (MaaS), 2X now provides end-to-end go-to-market solutions including marketing operations and MarTech management, campaign build and optimization, content and creative production, revenue operations, sales technology implementation, and strategic consulting services. 2X is a services partner of 6sense, Salesforce, Adobe Marketo Engage, HubSpot, Gong, Bombora, Drift, WordPress, Google, Meta, and many other leading revenue platforms.

    With more than 1,000 team members globally, 2X is backed by private-equity firms Recognize Partners and Insight Partners. 2X has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US by Inc. and the Financial Times. For more information, visit 2X.marketing or our LinkedIn.

    About Recognize

    Recognize is a distinguished investor and business builder focused on next-generation Digital Services companies. Headquartered in New York, the firm seeks to back visionary founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams who are building innovative businesses that leverage AI, software, and digital platforms to deliver transformative outcomes to enterprises. Recognize provides deep operational expertise, industry relationships, and strategic capital to drive accelerated growth of these specialized businesses. To learn more, visit www.recognize.com.

    About Insight Partners

    Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2024, the firm has over $90B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

    Media Contact
    Audree Hernandez
    JMAC PR for 2X
    2X@JMACPR.com   

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/753c3c4d-5ea1-4dce-8c50-221199c1a75d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 2X Appoints Amber Tobias as SVP of Corporate Development, Accelerating Strategic M&A Initiatives and Integration Excellence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MALVERN, Pa., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 2X, the leader in subscription-based go-to-market services, today announced the appointment of Amber Tobias as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. With over 10 years of corporate development and M&A experience at private equity portfolio companies, Tobias brings proven expertise in end-to-end acquisition processes, strategic integration, and building scalable inorganic growth strategies from the ground up.

    Tobias joins 2X at a pivotal moment as the company accelerates its strategic acquisition program following recent investments from Insight Partners and successful integrations of StraightArrow and Intelligent Demand, and strategic investment in Get Levrg. Her appointment reinforces 2X’s commitment to executing a disciplined M&A strategy that expands service capabilities, deepens market expertise, and strengthens technology partnerships.

    Driving Strategic Growth Through Proven M&A Leadership

    In her role as SVP of Corporate Development, Tobias will lead 2X’s strategic acquisition initiatives, overseeing target identification, deal execution, and post-acquisition integration. Her extensive experience managing complex transactions and challenging market dynamics positions her to accelerate 2X’s inorganic growth strategy while ensuring seamless integration of acquired capabilities into the company’s scalable managed services model.

    “Amber’s appointment comes at exactly the right time in 2X’s evolution,” said Dom Colasante, CEO of 2X. “She’s worked across private equity and PE-backed portfolio companies and has an outstanding track record of creating great outcomes for acquired company employees, customers, and platform acquirers. Her expertise in building inorganic growth strategies and gaining strong organizational buy-in will be instrumental as we continue to expand our capabilities and market presence through strategic acquisitions.”

    Extensive Private Equity and Integration Experience

    Prior to joining 2X, Tobias served as Head of Corporate Development at FluentStream, a growth-stage SaaS company and PSG portfolio company, where she executed the company’s programmatic M&A strategy and led end-to-end acquisition processes. Her experience spans multiple private equity environments, including roles at Aspirion (formerly backed by Aquiline Capital Partners), Illuminate Education (formerly backed by Insight Partners), and as an M&A Associate at specialty investment firm Nadavon Capital Partners.

    “I’m excited to join the 2X team and contribute to the company’s impressive growth trajectory,” said Tobias. “2X has built something truly special with their innovative subscription-based go-to-market services, and their recent strategic acquisitions demonstrate a thoughtful approach to expanding capabilities while maintaining service excellence. I look forward to working with our world-class investors Recognize Partners and Insight Partners, Dom, and the entire 2X team to identify and execute acquisitions that strengthen 2X’s market leadership and create value for clients, employees, and stakeholders. We’re eager to partner with businesses that share our values and are looking for a strategic home to scale their next chapter.”

    Strengthening M&A Capabilities for Continued Growth

    The addition of Tobias to 2X’s leadership team reflects the company’s commitment to building best-in-class corporate development capabilities. Her expertise in integration planning and execution will be particularly valuable as 2X continues to enhance its service portfolio, expand geographic reach, and deepen technology partnerships that bring more value to clients.

    Tobias holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Indiana University Bloomington and a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Monterey Bay.

    About 2X

    2X is the global leader in subscription-based go-to-market services, helping GTM leaders achieve greater impact while lowering costs through its comprehensive managed services delivery model. Building on its foundation as the leader in B2B marketing as a service (MaaS), 2X now provides end-to-end go-to-market solutions including marketing operations and MarTech management, campaign build and optimization, content and creative production, revenue operations, sales technology implementation, and strategic consulting services. 2X is a services partner of 6sense, Salesforce, Adobe Marketo Engage, HubSpot, Gong, Bombora, Drift, WordPress, Google, Meta, and many other leading revenue platforms.

    With more than 1,000 team members globally, 2X is backed by private-equity firms Recognize Partners and Insight Partners. 2X has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in the US by Inc. and the Financial Times. For more information, visit 2X.marketing or our LinkedIn.

    About Recognize

    Recognize is a distinguished investor and business builder focused on next-generation Digital Services companies. Headquartered in New York, the firm seeks to back visionary founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams who are building innovative businesses that leverage AI, software, and digital platforms to deliver transformative outcomes to enterprises. Recognize provides deep operational expertise, industry relationships, and strategic capital to drive accelerated growth of these specialized businesses. To learn more, visit www.recognize.com.

    About Insight Partners

    Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2024, the firm has over $90B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight’s mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

    Media Contact
    Audree Hernandez
    JMAC PR for 2X
    2X@JMACPR.com   

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/753c3c4d-5ea1-4dce-8c50-221199c1a75d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ria Money Transfer strengthens Asia Pacific presence through strategic acquisition of Kyodai Remittance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BUENA PARK, Calif., July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ria Money Transfer (Ria), a global leader in the cross-border money transfer industry and a business segment of Euronet (NASDAQ: EEFT), today announced that it has become the majority shareholder through the acquisition of 60% of the shares of Unidos Co., Ltd., widely recognized by customers as Kyodai Remittance, a Japan-based funds transfer business and overseas remittance specialist. Leveraging Kyodai’s deep market insight, nuanced understanding of local customer needs and its distinction as the first remittance operator in Japan to be granted a Type 1 Funds Transfer Service Provider license—enabling the processing of high-value transactions exceeding JPY 1 million (approximately USD $6,800)—Ria is set to expand its footprint across the Asia Pacific region.

    Ria and Kyodai have maintained a close and collaborative relationship since 2010. Over the past 15 years, the companies have leveraged their omnichannel strategies to deliver a seamless and integrated customer experience across multiple touchpoints in Japan, such as 44,000 ATMs in Japan Post Bank and Lawson Bank locations nationwide. With the acquisition of a majority stake, Ria will now fully integrate Kyodai’s operations, including its digital products, and provide customers access to its expansive global network of more than 624,000 locations, 4 billion bank accounts, 3.2 billion digital wallets, and Visa debit cards worldwide.

    This acquisition comes amid significant demographic changes in Japan that are reshaping both its society and economy. According to the latest International Migration Outlook report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 144,000 new immigrants moved to Japan on a long-term or permanent basis in 2022, with 55% of them being labor migrants. The top three nationalities were Vietnam, China and Indonesia, reflecting a 150% increase compared to the previous year. This labor market transformation has also impacted the remittance sector. According to the World Bank Group, more than USD $6.07 billion was paid in personal remittances from Japan in 2024, ranking among the top third sending countries in Asia.

    “Kyodai’s success has always been rooted in our values, principles and the unwavering dedication of our employees,” said Yuichiro Kimoto, Chief Executive Officer of Kyodai Remittance. “This new chapter with Ria will allow us to scale further by tapping into a world-class global network, ultimately enhancing our service offering and creating more value for our customers.”

    “Ria and Kyodai’s 15-year partnership has thrived because we share a common mission and values,” said Shawn Fielder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Ria. “Together, we remain committed to delivering secure, convenient, and customer-focused money transfer solutions. By joining forces, we are well-positioned to make an even greater impact on the lives of people in Japan and the communities we serve worldwide.”

    About Ria Money Transfer

    Ria Money Transfer, a business segment of Euronet (NASDAQ: EEFT), delivers innovative financial services including fast, secure, and affordable global money transfers. With the world’s largest cross border real-time money movement network, Ria moves money where it matters.

    Bridging the gap between digital and physical spaces, Ria’s omnichannel products and services provide unprecedented consumer choice, including real-time payments, mobile wallets, currency exchange, home delivery, and cardless ATM payouts. Ria’s global infrastructure, powered by the Dandelion real-time, cross-border payments network, facilitates financial access to customers, agents and partners alike. By creating new market opportunities and promoting economic growth around the world, Ria opens ways for a better everyday life.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China hopes Thailand and Cambodia can properly resolve dispute through dialogue, MFA says

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — China is deeply concerned about the ongoing border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia and hopes the two countries can properly resolve the dispute through dialogue and consultation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Thursday.

    Calling Thailand and Cambodia China’s friendly neighbors and important members of ASEAN, the Chinese diplomat noted that good-neighborliness and proper settlement of differences are in the fundamental and long-term interests of both sides.

    In view of the common interests and concerns of countries in the region, China, in a fair and impartial position, continues to make efforts to promote reconciliation and peace talks, thereby playing a constructive role in easing tensions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China publishes report on research into building SCO community of common destiny

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    ZHENGZHOU, July 24 (Xinhua) — A research report on building a community with a shared future for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was released by a think tank in China on Thursday, calling for a closer regional community with a shared future and focusing on expanding dialogue among civilizations and people-to-people cooperation.

    The document was released by the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, central China.

    The report notes that building a community of shared destiny for the SCO is an important step in line with the flow of history and a significant conceptual innovation in contemporary international relations. It is necessary to formulate a framework for action aimed at promoting regional cooperation through stability and achieving regional prosperity through development.

    In order to fully realize the high-quality platform function of the SCO, all member states should accumulate collective strength while taking into account their own interests, the document added.

    According to the report, the SCO member states have different cultural traditions. They should attach great importance to organizing a broad dialogue among civilizations and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, sports, expand exchanges between different groups of people, especially between the media and youth, and continue to hold high-level forums of people’s diplomacy, media forums, youth forums and women’s forums.

    The report emphasizes that in order to improve the regional governance system and make joint efforts to implement modernization, it is necessary to clearly understand the differences between the current major tasks and long-term goals for the future. A series of small-scale but effective projects for improving the people’s well-being of the member states of the organization should be implemented to demonstrate the most significant signs of building a community of common destiny of the SCO. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Primech Holdings Announces Fiscal Year 2025 Results, Contracted Revenue Backlog at $120.8 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Primech Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: PMEC), an established technology-driven facilities-services provider to public and private-sector customers in Singapore, today reported audited financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025.

    FY 2025 Highlights:

    • Revenue grew 2.5% to $74.3 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, compared with revenue of $72.5 million in fiscal year 2024.
    • Gross profit margin expanded 130 basis points to 23.6% as technology adoption and grant support offset wage pressures.
    • Net loss narrowed 40% to $2.2 million, or $(0.05) per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.2 million, or $(0.10) per share.
    • Cash and cash equivalents increased by 32.7% to $10.1 million; total assets were $41.2 million, and total liabilities were $26.5 million.
    • Future contracted revenue, scheduled for recognition in FY 2026 and onward, totals $120.8 million, providing multi-year visibility.

    Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results:

    Financial Metrics (US$ millions, except per share data) FY 2025 FY 2024 Change
    Revenue $74.3 $72.5 +2.5%
    Gross profit $17.5 $16.0 +9.8%
    Gross profit margin 23.6% 22.0% +160 bps
    Operating loss $(0.9) $(2.8) +65.9% improvement
    Net loss $(2.2) $(3.2) +31.1% improvement
    Basic & diluted EPS $(0.05) $(0.10) +50.0% improvement
    Cash & cash equivalents $10.1 $7.6 +32.6%
           

    Primech A&P Highlights:

    • Over $18.9 million in new contracts secured during fiscal year 2025, including a major contract extension worth $8.3 million
    • Industry recognition achievements, including ASEAN Public Toilet Award for Newton Food Centre management and LOO Awards 2024 Best Market Award
    • Sustainability leadership with nomination as a finalist for the Singapore Apex Corporate Sustainability Awards in the “LowCarbonSG” category
    • Strategic partnerships, including membership in the Singapore International Facility Management Association (SIFMA)

    Primech AI Highlights:

    • Revolutionary HYTRON robot launch with successful deployments at Temasek Polytechnic, a major Singapore shopping mall, and one of Singapore’s largest hospitals
    • Global expansion achievements, including partnerships in Hong Kong (Chinachem Group), Japan (Golden Rim Investment), and Europe (TCOrobotics GmbH covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland)
    • Technology excellence recognition, winning the Robotics category at the Singapore Business Review Technology Excellence Awards 2025
    • Advanced AI integration incorporating NVIDIA Jetson Orin technology components for enhanced robotics performance
    • Manufacturing scale-up with a China production partnership targeting 300 robots’ initial production capacity
    • Product innovation with the launch of the compact HYTRON Lite model optimized for space-constrained environments

    CEO Commentary
    “Primech delivered resilient top-line growth and achieved a significant improvement in our bottom line during our second year as a public company,” said Mr. Kin Wai Ho, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “More importantly, this year marked our dramatic transformation into a technology-first organization through our revolutionary HYTRON AI-powered cleaning robots and aggressive global expansion strategy. We’ve evolved from a traditional facilities services company into an innovative robotics and automation leader.”

    “Our HYTRON technology represents the future of commercial cleaning. We’ve successfully deployed robots at prestigious locations and established partnerships across Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe. With our three-phase expansion plan and $120.8 million of contracted backlog, we are positioned to return to profitability and capture significant market share in the rapidly growing global service robotics sector.”

    Future Contracted Revenues
    As of March 31, 2025, our contracted revenues for future fulfilment were approximately $120.8 million. The following table provides a breakdown of the value of our contracted revenues, which we estimate will be fulfilled in FY2026, FY2027, and subsequent years, subject to cancellations or other contractual changes that are not presently foreseeable. Our order book as of any particular date is not indicative of our revenue for succeeding periods, as secured contracts are subject to cancellations, deferrals, or early terminations by our customers:

      ($’000) (%)
    Estimated amount of services contracted for at April 1, 2025 to be recorded in revenue for FY ending March 31,
    2026    		 59,876 49.5
    Estimated amount of services contracted for at April 1, 2026 to be recorded in revenue for FY ending March 31,
    2027    		 34,069 28.2
    Estimated amount of services contracted for at April 1, 2027 to be recorded in revenue for FY ending March 31,
    2028    		 26,899 22.3
      120,844 100.0
         

    Annual Report on Form 20-F
    The Company will file its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission later today, which can be accessed on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov and on Primech’s investor relations website at https://investor.primechholdings.com/filings/. 

    About Primech Holdings Limited
    Headquartered in Singapore, Primech Holdings Limited is a leading provider of comprehensive technology-driven facilities services, predominantly serving both public and private sectors throughout Singapore. Primech Holdings offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the complex demands of its diverse clientele. Services include advanced general facility maintenance services, specialized cleaning solutions such as marble polishing and facade cleaning, meticulous stewarding services, and targeted cleaning services for offices and homes. Known for its commitment to sustainability and cutting-edge technology, Primech Holdings integrates eco-friendly practices and smart technology solutions to enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. This strategic approach positions Primech Holdings as a leader in the industry and a proactive contributor to advancing industry standards and practices in Singapore and beyond. For more information, visit www.primechholdings.com.    

    About Primech AI
    Primech AI is a leading robotics company dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation in technology. With a team of passionate individuals and a commitment to collaboration, Primech AI is poised to revolutionize the robotics industry with groundbreaking solutions that make a meaningful impact on society. For more information, visit www.primech.ai.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including, for example, statements about completing the acquisition, anticipated revenues, growth, and expansion. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are also based on assumptions regarding the Company’s present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure that such expectations will be correct. The Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    Company Contact:
    Email: ir@primech.com.sg

    Investor Relations Contact:        
    Matthew Abenante, IRC
    President                                        
    Strategic Investor Relations, LLC                                         
    Tel: 347-947-2093
    Email: matthew@strategic-ir.com

     
    ***tables follow***
    Primech Holdings Limited and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (in thousands except share data, U.S. dollars)
     
        As of March 31,  
        2025     2024  
    Assets            
    Current assets            
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 10,145     $ 7,648  
    Accounts receivable, net (including unbilled receivable of $3,520 and $4,068)     15,633       18,452  
    Government subsidies receivable     1,485       1,368  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     1,700       3,810  
    Inventories     44       55  
    Total current assets     29,007       31,333  
                     
    Non-current assets                
    Property and equipment, net     9,686       10,082  
    Right of use assets     2,114       3,406  
    Goodwill     391       667  
    Intangible assets, net     2       21  
    Total assets   $ 41,200     $ 45,509  
                     
    Liabilities and shareholders’ equity                
    Current liabilities                
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   $ 10,330     $ 9,406  
    Notes payable-current portion     8,481       11,277  
    Lease liabilities-current portion     1,595       2,059  
    Income tax liabilities     461       —  
    Total current liabilities     20,742       22,742  
                     
    Non-current liabilities                
    Notes payable-long term     4,331       5,705  
    Lease liabilities-long term     1,068       1,752  
    Deferred tax liability     255       251  
    Total liabilities     26,521       30,450  
                     
    Shareholders’ Equity                
    Common Stock, 38,417,987 and 35,550,000 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively,     23,961       22,193  
    Additional paid-in capital     924       924  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income     995       923  
    Accumulated deficit     (10,991 )     (9,049 )
    Total Primech Holdings Limited shareholders’ equity     14,889       14,991  
                     
    Non-controlling interests     (210 )      68  
    Total shareholders’ equity     14,679       15,059  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 41,200     $ 45,509  
     
    Primech Holdings Limited and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statements of Operations and other Comprehensive Loss
    (in thousands except share and per share data, U.S. dollars)
     
        For the Years Ended
    March 31,    		  
        2025     2024  
    Revenues            
    Revenues, net   $ 74,349     $ 72,524  
                     
    Operating costs and expenses                
    Cost of revenue (net of $4,148 and $2,550 of government subsidies)     56,823       59,915  
    General and administrative expenses (net of $318 and $68 of government subsidies)     16,176       13,160  
    Sales and marketing expenses     2,007       2,231  
    Goodwill impairment     291       —  
    Total operating costs and expenses     75,297       75,306  
    Loss from operations     (948 )     (2,782 )
    Other operating income, net (includes $8 and $202 of government subsidies)     (27 )      211  
    Interest expense     (789 )     (1,145 )
    Loss before income taxes     (1,764 )     (3,716 )
    Income tax benefit     (456 )      493  
    Net loss     (2,220 )     (3,223 )
    (Profit)/ loss attributable to non-controlling interests     278       (16 ) 
    Net loss attributable to Primech Holdings Limited     (1,942 )     (3,239 )
    Total foreign currency translation adjustment     72       (24 ) 
    Comprehensive loss   $ (1,870 )     (3,263 )
                     
    Earnings loss per share:                
    Basic and diluted   $ (0.05 )   $ (0.10 )
                     
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding:                
    Basic and Diluted     37,584,000       33,929,000  
     
    Primech Holdings Limited and Subsidiaries
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (in thousands except share data, U.S. dollars)
     
        For the Years Ended
     March 31,    		  
        2025     2024  
    Cash flows from operating activities:            
    Net loss   $ (2,220 )   $ (3,223 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                
    Depreciation of property and equipment     1,483       1,640  
    Amortization of right of use assets     2,479       2,203  
    Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment     1       (13 )
    Amortization of intangible assets     29       29  
    Share based payment     1,768       —  
    Provision for doubtful accounts     31       —  
    Impairment of Goodwill     291       —  
                     
    Change in operating assets and liabilities:                
    Deferred tax liability     —       (454 ) 
    Accounts receivable     2,888       (3,330 )
    Government subsidies receivables     (111 )      290  
    Prepaid expenses & other current assets     2,132       (2,657 ) 
    Inventories     11       84  
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses     879       (1,329 ) 
    Operating lease liability     (2,731 )     (2,322 )
    Tax payable     462       —  
    Net cash used in operating activities     7,382       (9,082 )
                     
    Cash flows from investing activities:                
    Acquisition of property and equipment     (1,098 )     (909 )
    Proceeds from sale of property and equipment     67       102  
    Net cash used in investing activities     (1,031 )     (807 )
                     
    Cash flows from financing activities:                
    Net Proceeds from issue of new shares     —       9,473  
    Deferred offering costs     —       545  
    Payment of finance lease liabilities     (126 )     (86 )
    Repayment of bank loans     (159,107 )     (3,163 )
    Proceeds from bank loans     154,846       1,412  
    Net cash provided by financing activities     (4,387 )      8,181  
                     
    Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents     1,963       (1,708 ) 
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     533       284  
    Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     7,648       9,072  
    Cash and cash equivalents, end of year   $ 10,145     $ 7,648  
                     
    Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing transactions                
    Acquisition of equipment under finance leases     367       173  
    Recognition of Right of use assets and liabilities     1,167       2,553  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Yellowstone has been a ‘sacred wonderland’ of spiritual power and religious activity for centuries – and for different faith groups

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Thomas S. Bremer, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies, Rhodes College

    Beehive Geyser, in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Thomas S. Bremer

    Nearly 5 million travelers come to Wyoming to visit Yellowstone National Park each year, most in the summer months. They come for the geysers, wildlife, scenery and recreational activities such as hiking, fishing and photography.

    However, few realize that religion has been part of Yellowstone’s appeal throughout the park’s history. My 2025 book “Sacred Wonderland” documents how people have long found holiness in Yellowstone: how a landscape once sacred to Native Americans later inspired Christians and New Age communities alike.

    Native reverence – and removal

    Long before European Americans “discovered” the Yellowstone region in the 19th century, numerous Indigenous peoples were aware of its unique landscape – particularly geysers, hot springs and other hydrothermal wonders. Several tribal groups engaged in devotional practices long before it became a park. These included the Tukudika, or Sheep Eaters, a band of mountain Shoshone. They lived year-round within the boundaries of what would become the national park.

    Anthropologists know relatively little about the specific beliefs that Native Americans held about Yellowstone during this era. However, it’s clear most of the Indigenous groups who frequented Yellowstone considered it, as historian Paul Schullery concludes, “a place of spiritual power, of communion with natural forces, a place that inspired reverence.”

    Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park.
    Thomas S. Bremer

    After the Civil War, more Euro-Americans entered the region. In 1872, the U.S. government created Yellowstone as the first national park, setting a precedent for others in the United States and around the world.

    Yellowstone and other U.S. national parks established in the 19th century were products of manifest destiny: the Christian idea that Americans had a divinely ordained right to expand their country across the continent. The nation’s westward expansion included turning supposedly wild, “uncivilized” areas into parks.

    The park system’s creation, though, came at the cost of Indigenous communities. In Yellowstone, the Tukudika were forcibly removed in the 1870s to two reservations in Idaho and Wyoming, as anthropologists Peter Nabokov and Lawrence Loendorf discuss in their book “Restoring a Presence.”

    Christian ministry

    In addition to the concept of manifest destiny, Christians brought their own religious practices to Yellowstone National Park.

    The U.S. Army was responsible for protecting and managing the park from 1886 to 1918. It operated from Fort Yellowstone at Mammoth Hot Springs in the northern part of the park. The last building it erected at the fort was a chapel, which has been in continuous use as a worship space – mostly for Christian groups – since its completion in 1913.

    The Yellowstone National Park Chapel at Mammoth Hot Springs, finished in 1913, was the last building constructed by the U.S. Army at Fort Yellowstone.
    Thomas S. Bremer

    One group that has used the chapel consistently since the 1950s is ACMNP, A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, an evangelical Protestant parachurch ministry founded in Yellowstone. Its volunteers conduct worship services and proselytize among employees and visitors.

    ACMNP began as the brainchild of Presbyterian minister Warren Ost, who had worked as a bellhop at the Old Faithful Inn during summer breaks in seminary. Upon graduation, he formed the ministry, hoping to capitalize on the awe people experience in the parks to affirm believers’ faith and bring new souls to Christ.

    ACMNP’s mission involves placing seminarians and other students in national parks as “worker-witnesses.” They work as paid employees in secular jobs and conduct religious activities after their regular working hours. Additionally, they are encouraged to talk about religion with their fellow workers on the job.

    ACMNP experienced rapid growth in the 1950s and 1960s, boosted by support from National Park Service leadership. Cooperation included reduced-cost housing for their volunteers, and in some parks the superintendents or other high-level officials served on local ACMNP committees.

    At its peak in the 1970s, ACMNP had nearly 300 volunteers working in over 50 locations. However, a federal lawsuit in the 1990s challenged its relationship with the government on the grounds of church-state separation and ended some of the privileges ACMNP had enjoyed. Not long after the legal action, Ost announced his retirement.

    Although the organization has scaled back operations, the ministry in Yellowstone has experienced few changes. ACMNP volunteers continue to offer religious services to park employees and visitors throughout the summer.

    Spiritual fortress

    Another religious group has a very different interpretation of Yellowstone. The Church Universal and Triumphant, which had several thousand members at its height, was founded by Elizabeth Clare Prophet in the 1970s, based on the teachings of her late husband, Mark Prophet.

    The Church Universal and Triumphant is an heir to the “I AM” movement, which flourished in the U.S. during the 1930s. Most prominent among I AM’s influences were theosophy, which promotes esoteric knowledge gleaned from Asian religious traditions as a universal wisdom underlying all religions; new thought, which advocates a mind-over-matter spirituality; and spiritualism, which involves communicating with spirits.

    In the 1980s, Prophet’s followers relocated from California to Montana, where they purchased a large ranch adjacent to Yellowstone National Park’s northwest boundary. With them, they brought an eclectic New Age theology that combines elements of Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism with belief in “ascended masters,” spiritual beings who guide the church. The group’s tradition teaches that beneath Yellowstone are two underground caverns, hidden from human view, that contain a cache of sacred stones with spiritual powers.

    The Church Universal and Triumphant gained attention in the ‘90s when its believers in Montana built underground bunkers. Members believed that their ascended masters had predicted a nuclear war and had instructed the community to prepare to survive underground. When the prophecy of a nuclear attack did not materialize, many members became disillusioned.

    The group struggled to rebuild its reputation and establish goodwill with Montana neighbors, including the National Park Service. Elizabeth Clare Prophet retired in 1999, and since then the church has concentrated more on its publishing and educational enterprises. However, a core community of the faithful still live and worship on their Royal Teton Ranch adjacent to Yellowstone.

    The main church sanctuary at Church Universal and Triumphant headquarters, just outside Yellowstone National Park.
    Thomas S. Bremer

    Although the community teaches that its Montana ranch is a sacred location of the ascended masters, followers’ holiest place in the Western Hemisphere is roughly 35 miles south of Yellowstone, in Grand Teton National Park. They believe humanity began at Grand Teton Mountain and that the faithful will find their destiny there.

    Accordingly, members believe that Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are brimming with spiritual powers, sacred sources of light and energy for the entire world.

    In my conversations with people in the park, I found that very few knew anything about Yellowstone’s religious history at all – especially Native American practices. The ongoing practices of religious communities in the park remain invisible to nearly all visitors. Still, many vacationers interpret Yellowstone’s wonders as evidence of God’s handiwork.

    Thomas S. Bremer received funding in the past to conduct historical research for the National Park Service at Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois.

    – ref. Yellowstone has been a ‘sacred wonderland’ of spiritual power and religious activity for centuries – and for different faith groups – https://theconversation.com/yellowstone-has-been-a-sacred-wonderland-of-spiritual-power-and-religious-activity-for-centuries-and-for-different-faith-groups-261045

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: As Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community battles for inclusion, two drag performers have become internet stars – with more than 2 million TikTok followers

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Francisco Tijerina, PhD Candidate in Hispanic Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

    Turbulence Queen, left, and Burrita Burrona perform at the Mexico City Pride Parade in June 2024. Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media via Getty Images News

    In January 2022, Erick Martínez, also known as Turbulence Queen, introduced a guest on his YouTube channel: Ivan “Momo” Guzmán, with the stage name Burrita Burrona, a drag performer wearing a cartoonish donkey costume topped by a wig.

    During their interview, Turbulence and Burrita shared stories, gossiped and threw shade at Mexican actors, newscasters and performers. Soon after, their careers took off.

    Before Burrita’s first appearance, Turbulence’s YouTube channel had fewer than 5,000 subscribers. Now, after the rebranding of the show to include Burrita’s name, their channel has about 375,000. More than 2 million subscribe to them on TikTok – Turbulence, with 600,000 followers and 16 million likes; Burrita with 1.5 million followers and 28 million likes. Their “El Podcast del Momento” has more than 225,000 subscribers.

    The two proved so popular that corporate sponsors started getting in on the action. Soriana, a large supermarket chain in Mexico, splashed their images on a line of cakes. Netflix Latin America had them hosting a series of videos promoting its new South Korean dramas. The media giant Televisa included Turbulence and Burrita as part of their comedic coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

    Over the past 3 ½ years, the YouTube show has added some new characters, including Burrita’s mom and an on-and-off love interest, a butch lesbian wolf. Along with the interviews, the characters do comedic cooking segments and sketches. Even in today’s fragmented and cluttered media environment, the program regularly gets around 250,000 views, with some episodes reaching more than 1 million.

    While drag performers are not new in Mexico, Burrita is something of a novelty: a drag mascot. Although long a part of Mexico’s commercial culture – mascots promote everything from soccer teams to pharmacies and are a staple at children’s birthday parties – Burrita is the first to do it in drag.

    A clip from an episode of ‘El Podcast del Momento.’

    Discrimination and violence

    As a Mexican scholar who specializes in the study of gender and sexuality, I’m struck by how these LGBTQ+ characters have become enormously popular in what I consider a relatively conservative and deeply religious country. However, that too is changing: Today’s Mexico is sometimes called a conservative country with liberal laws. Still, in a country where about 5% of the population self-identify as LGBTQ+, the battle for inclusion – and more diverse representation of gender and sexuality – is far from over.

    In 2023, conservative groups pressured the International Book Fair of Monterrey to cancel a public short-story reading by drag queens. In 2024, a social media influencer’s misogynistic, homophobic and transphobic remarks ran live on national television. Also in 2024, San Nicolás de los Garza, a city of more than 400,000 people, banned public performances by drag queens. Ironically, San Nicolás is in the state of Nuevo Leon, which has one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations in Mexico.

    Indeed, national policies protecting the LGBTQ+ community don’t always apply equally; some states are more restrictive than others. For example, although Mexico’s Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, three states have yet to ratify it in their state constitutions.

    Turbulence Queen is interviewed on local TV at a 2023 red carpet event in Mexico.
    Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media via Getty Images Entertainment

    In May 2025, Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography reported these findings: 60% of the LGBTQ+ community say they’ve been subjected to some form of violence. Nearly 30% have had suicidal thoughts or have attempted suicide. Just over 37% say they experienced some form of discrimination during the past year. From 2020 to 2025, 25% said they were denied access to health care, education or social support. Hate crimes are on the rise, with 672 reported over a five-year period, including 141 in 2024, a significant jump from the 92 reported in 2023. The 2024 statistic includes 55 murders of transgender women.

    Taking off the mask

    Turbulence and Burrita’s swift success is impressive, but not all LGBTQ+ citizens in Mexico enjoy the same level of recognition and privilege. And as the fight for equal treatment continues, the country’s politics over the past decade has shifted. In 2018, leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador was elected president. His successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and a close ally of López Obrador’s, was elected in 2024.

    But although both López Obrador and Sheinbaum are more progressive than previous administrations, neither has been particularly vocal about their support for the LGBTQ+ community. For instance: Although Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female and Jewish president, mentioned her support for the LGBTQ+ community during her campaign, she has largely ignored LGBTQ+ issues since taking office.

    Until recently, there were few openly LGBTQ+ people pitching products or appearing on television. But Guzmán, who’s the first mascot to perform in drag, is not hiding his sexuality, despite the costume. Rather, he can be read as a symbol of Mexico’s ongoing pursuit of equality. And perhaps his character’s visibility will allow more in the community to be able to shed their masks and come out.

    Francisco Tijerina 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. As Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community battles for inclusion, two drag performers have become internet stars – with more than 2 million TikTok followers – https://theconversation.com/as-mexicos-lgbtq-community-battles-for-inclusion-two-drag-performers-have-become-internet-stars-with-more-than-2-million-tiktok-followers-241552

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Afreximbank to avail $75 million to Central Bank of The Gambia in a cross-currency swap

    Source: APO

    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has signed an agreement to avail a US$75-million five-year cross-currency swap to the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) for the financing of strategic projects undertaken in The Gambia by the Government, through the National Roads Authority (NRA).

    The agreement, signed in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of activities to mark the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2025) held from 25 to 28 June, provides for Afreximbank to use the local currency proceeds to purchase NRA-issued bonds, which will serve as the swap securities for the transaction, to finance strategic projects undertaken by the Agency.

    Signing the agreement for Afreximbank was Mr. Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank, while Mr. Buah Saidy, Governor of Central Bank of The Gambia, signed for his organisation.

    Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Elmaayergi said that the transaction reflected Afreximbank’s commitment to driving trade finance in Africa by supporting its member countries to achieve much needed liquidity to enable them finance trade-enabling infrastructure in their countries.

    “Through this facility, Afreximbank is using its resources to leverage financing to Africa by unlocking capital and creating additional capacity in support of trade transactions into Africa,” he explained. He noted that this partnership comes at a pivotal time in The Gambia’s development trajectory, as the country intensifies efforts to upgrade its transport infrastructure to meet growing trade and connectivity needs. The cross-currency swap is expected to support the construction and rehabilitation of both rural and urban road networks, reinforcing the Gambia’s commitment to building a more connected, productive and inclusive economy.

    According to him, this initiative will enable more efficient movement of goods and services, reduce travel times for commuters and businesses, and improve road safety. Over the long term, these developments will contribute to a more reliable and extensive national road network, helping to deepen regional integration, enhance agricultural and industrial output, and promote sustainable, broad-based economic growth across the country. This transaction underscores Afreximbank’s ongoing commitment to supporting African countries in mobilizing innovative financing tools to unlock development and trade potential.

    On his part, Governor Buah Saidy acknowledged the need for development financing to address supply-sided constraints to development in The Gambia.  This swap, he said “will relax the binding constraint of a challenging transport network, by enabling NRA to build many more roads that H.E. President Adama Barrow has instructed them to build to ease the movement and lives of Gambians”.

    Governor Saidy noted that the financing made available through the swap will allow NRA to build roads that will open up the economy by connecting the production areas in the rural parts of the country to the markets in the urban centres.

    CBG is a founding shareholder of Afreximbank while NRA, established in 2006, is responsible for the administration, control, construction and maintenance of all roads in The Gambia.

    Oakwood Green Africa served as transaction adviser to the NRA and CBG for the transaction, providing them guidance on the structure and facilitating the swap.

    AAM2025, which attracted an estimated 7,000 participants, including Heads of States, Prime Ministers, ministers and business leaders, from across Africa, the Caribbean and beyond, ended with the Annual General Meeting of Afreximbank Shareholders where Dr. George Elombi was appointed the incoming President of the Bank to replace Prof. Benedict Oramah whose tenure is ending after two five-year terms at the helm.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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

    Follow on Social Media:
    X: https://apo-opa.co/4lLZIKU
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    About Afreximbank:
    African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

    For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business leaders welcome the UK-India Free Trade Agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Business leaders welcome the UK-India Free Trade Agreement

    Business leaders have strongly welcomed the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement.

    Business leaders have strongly welcomed the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, as Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds and India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, signed the landmark trade deal.

    The £4.8bn trade deal will unlock economic growth for each region and nation of the UK, and is widely backed by large and small businesses across aerospace, financial and professional services, food and drink, and the automotive sector.

    Business Groups  

    Rain Newton-Smith, CEO, CBI said: 

    In an era of rising protectionism, today’s announcement sends a powerful signal that the UK is open for business and remains resolute in its commitment to free and fair trade.  

    A trade agreement with India – one of the world’s fastest-growing economies – is a springboard for long-term partnership and prosperity. UK firms can take advantage of this new platform to scale, diversify and compete on the global stage.  

    The CBI looks forward to working closely alongside the Confederation of Indian Industry to turn ambition into action and negotiation into real-world impact. Ensuring this agreement delivers tangible benefits for businesses on both sides will be critical to meeting the UK’s growth ambitions.

    William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: 

    The signing of this agreement is a clear signal of the UK’s continuing commitment to free and fair trade. It will open a new era for our businesses and boost investment between two of the world’s largest economies.    

    Currently around 16,000 UK companies are trading goods with Indian companies, and there is high interest in our Chamber Network to grow that.  This deal will create new opportunities in the transport, travel, creative and business support sectors alongside traditional strengths in finance and professional services.

    Policy Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Tina McKenzie, said: 

    India is the fourth largest economy in the world, and today’s trade deal provides exciting growth potential for UK small businesses. 

    Already one-in-seven (14%) of our members who export have India among their overseas markets, and this deal opens the way for that number to grow. It’s welcome that the agreement includes a specific small business chapter. 

    Encouraging more small firms to trade internationally, and making it easier for those who already do to increase their international trade, is an important flank in the quest for economic growth. Reducing barriers is key to achieving that.

    Richard Heald OBE, Chair, UK-India Business Council, said:  

    The UK-India FTA marks a historic milestone in the bilateral relationship.

    Businesses across both countries have long called for an agreement that reduces barriers, enhances market access, and creates a clear framework for long-term, sustainable growth. We congratulate both governments for their commitment and ambition in bringing this complex negotiation to fruition. Success in the FTA will support further economic growth for the world’s 5th and 6th largest economies. It will catalyse collaboration into other areas too.

    Aerospace  

    Tufan Erginbiligic, Rolls-Royce CEO, said: 

    India is an important market for our business, with over 90 years of partnership with Indian industry and the Indian Government.

    We welcome the provisions in this Free Trade Agreement, including those that bring closer alignment with international standards for trade in civil aerospace.

    These agreements will benefit Rolls-Royce and our customers, paving the way for future aerospace growth in India.

    Financial and professional services 

    Ian Stuart, CEO of HSBC UK, said: 

    Today’s signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement marks an important milestone for both countries.

    This is a vibrant and fast-growing corridor and will bring huge opportunities for both British and Indian businesses as they seek to grow internationally.  

    As the world’s largest trade bank with deep roots in both countries, we look forward to supporting our clients to take advantage of the full benefits of this historic agreement. 

    Bill Winters CBE, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered and Co-Chair of the UK-India Financial Partnership, said: 

    This landmark agreement between the UK and India – two of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies – is a tremendous achievement.

    It will drive greater innovation, unlock growth, and build prosperity across this long-established corridor of trade, capital and investment.

    As one of the largest and oldest international banks in India, we welcome the certainty the FTA provides for UK services and the meaningful opportunities that lower tariffs will create for businesses large and small in both markets.

    Rohan Malik, EY EMEIA and UK & Ireland Government & Public Sector Managing Partner, said:   

    Over the past decade, total trade value between the UK and India has more than doubled from £16.6bn to £40bn and this agreement will further strengthen the flourishing economic relationship between the two countries. 

    Enhanced access to one of the world’s largest markets should offer considerable advantages for financial and professional services businesses, unlocking commercial opportunities and supporting growth across two strategically significant sectors of the UK economy.

    Adam Gagen, Global Head of Government Affairs at Revolut, said:  

    As a UK fintech with significant business in India, we welcome the announcement of this UK-India FTA.

    It is an important partnership to bring these two vital economies closer together and to foster improved trade links, better investment flows and more jobs.

    Revolut looks forward to working with the UK Government to maximise the value of this FTA and we strongly congratulate the hard work of DBT for getting this over the line.

    Nicola Watkinson, Managing Director for International, TheCityUK, said:  

    India is a market with huge growth potential and a strong FTA between our two markets will open up valuable new trade and investment opportunities for UK businesses.

    The UK financial and related professional services industry is well placed to support India’s growth ambitions through the provision of services in areas such as green finance, risk management and capital market development, as well as benefit from India’s digital innovations.

    We welcome the formal signing of the FTA and look forward to continuing to build on its foundations to forge a strong and lasting partnership with India.

    Automotives  

    Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:  

    The UK-India trade agreement represents a significant achievement, partially liberalising the Indian automotive market for the first time.

    While the highly complex deal confirms some compromises, its entry into force will provide commercial opportunities for UK manufacturers who will be able to access vastly reduced tariffs on internal combustion vehicles from day one, and on electrified vehicles and parts in the longer term.

    To ensure maximum and timely benefit, we now need rapid ratification and renewed efforts to agree fair and workable solutions on tariff-rate-quotas administration.

    A JLR spokesperson said:  

    We welcome this free trade agreement between the UK and India, which over time will deliver reduced tariff access to the Indian car market for JLR’s luxury vehicles.

    India is an important market for our British built products and represents significant future growth opportunities.

    Food and drink 

    Nik Jhangiani, Interim Chief Executive, Diageo, said: 

    This agreement marks a great moment for both Scotch and Scotland, and we’ll be raising a glass of Johnnie Walker to all those who have worked so hard to get it secured. 

    Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO, said: 

    Signature of the UK-India FTA is a sign of hope in challenging times for the spirits industry. 

    India is the world’s biggest whisky market by volume and greater access will be an eventual game changer for the export of our Scotch whisky brands, such as Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s.

    The deal will support long term investment and jobs in our distilleries in Speyside and our bottling plant at Kilmalid and help deliver growth in both Scotland and India over the next decade.

    Let’s hope that both governments will move quickly to ratification so business can get to work implementing the deal!

    Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the SWA said:  

    The Scotch Whisky industry has long championed a free trade agreement between the UK and India.

    The signing of the FTA is an historic moment and is an important milestone to reducing tariffs on Scotch Whisky in a growing market.

    This will contribute to the government’s growth objective, by laying the foundations for further investment and jobs.

    George Hyde, Head of Trade, The Food and Drink Federation: 

    We’re pleased to see the details of the new Free Trade Agreement with India, with tariffs for iconic British products, including chocolate, breakfast cereals and biscuits set to be phased out over the next decade.

    We also welcome that this agreement protects the UK’s sugar and rice milling sectors, reflecting the vital role these industries play in boosting local economies. 

    With exports of UK food and drink to India already worth nearly £300 million annually, improved access to this growing market will help strengthen the competitiveness of our sector and help future-proof the nation’s food security.

    We look forward to working with government to help businesses make the most of this opportunity.

    Nick Spencer, Export and Travel Retail Manager at Southwestern Distillery Ltd, said: 

    There are tremendous hurdles for UK spirits producers in terms of entering and succeeding in the Indian market.

    The extremely high import tariffs are probably the most significant barrier to entry we have experienced anywhere internationally.

    The FTA is a fabulous step forward. Since its announcement, we have already received significant new interest from Indian importers and the prospect of success in the Indian market now looks much brighter.

    Stephen Davies, Chief Executive of Penderyn Distillery, said:  

    We are developing our business and brand awareness in both domestic and travel retail sectors in India. It’s an exciting and developing market for us.

    The agreement to reduce tariffs will provide a better platform for us and our industry to develop links and build business over the next five years.

    These are exciting times. 

    Medtech  

    Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, said:  

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is more than a policy document it’s a foundation for action. 

    India’s deep scientific talent, clear ambition and growing global influence make it one of the most exciting places in the world to build long-term partnerships in science and healthcare.

    And this moment, with the FTA in place, gives companies like ours the confidence to invest, to scale and to co-create in ways that weren’t possible before.

    Deepak Nath, Chief Executive Officer, Smith+Nephew, said: 

    Given the size of the Indian economy and its healthcare system, India is an important location for Smith+Nephew. The Free Trade Agreement offers the potential to build trading links in the healthcare sector. 

    We hope that the Free Trade Agreement will enable Smith+Nephew’s innovative medical technologies to support more healthcare professionals to return their patients to health and mobility.

    Philip McKee, Sales Manager at Biopanda, a Belfast-based medtech manufacturer which exports in vitro test kits for clinical laboratories, veterinary practice, and food safety laboratories, said:   

    Biopanda have been supplying a range of diagnostic products to the Indian market throughout the past ten years. We value the business we have done already throughout India and with the introduction of the UK-India FTA this should benefit in increased trade with the removal of export barriers.  

    This will hopefully increase the market access, allowing our distributors throughout India to provide a larger range of our highly accurate clinical diagnostic products at a lower price to the consumer. 

    Manufacturing 

    Graeme Macdonald, JCB Chief Executive, said:  

    India is a great country in which to do business. JCB has been manufacturing machines there since 1979. So, we know India very well and the opportunity for British businesses in that huge market is significant.  

    It’s the fifth largest economy in the world and is tipped to become the third largest by 2028. This Free Trade Agreement should give British businesses the confidence they need to enter the market, trade more easily and benefit from the massive opportunity.

    Professor Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter OBE, Chairman Coltraco Ultrasonics Limited & Director-General The Durham Institute of Research, Development & Invention, said: 

    Coltraco Ultrasonics is strongly supportive of the India FTA Trade Agreement and proud to have modestly contributed to and advising the British negotiating team on various chapters. 

    The UK private sector can now, because of the India FTA, the Windsor Framework CPTPP, and a variety of other UK FTAs, look out to the world, balancing our exporting and investment opportunities between the USA, the EU and Asia Pacific. 

    It is a tremendous success and we thank British and Indian Civil Servants for their public service in the UK-India FTA.

    Mark Ridgway OBE DL, CEO of Rhodes Group, said: 

    As a manufacturer of advanced metalforming machinery used in the forming and lightweighting of aircraft, India is a strong market for Group Rhodes and offers significant growth potential. The recent UK-India trade deal not only sets the scene for reduced tariffs on machinery but also serves to both enhance our competitiveness as a UK exporter and reduce the complexity of trade with this fast-growing market. 

    Importantly, the UK-India FTA recognises UK origin content of at least 20% as qualification as a ‘local supplier’ in India. This provides equal treatment in the Indian government procurement process and the opportunity for Group Rhodes to build on its existence reference sites within the Indian aerospace sector.

    Idir Boudaoud, Founder and CEO at Sensoteq, said: 

    India is a key growth market for Sensoteq — its vast and rapidly evolving manufacturing sector aligns perfectly with our mission to improve machine reliability through smarter monitoring. This trade deal is a real breakthrough for us. 

    Simplified and transparent customs procedures, modernised rules of origin, and stronger IP protections mean we can enter the market with greater speed, confidence, and security. 

    This agreement gives businesses like ours the access and assurance needed to thrive in one of the world’s most important industrial markets.

    William Crawford, Director of Concrete Canvas Ltd, said:  

    India is a dynamic and vibrant economy and an increasingly important market for Concrete Canvas products. A UK-India FTA will help to accelerate our plans for growth by reducing trade barriers and making us more competitive. 

    This is welcome news for both UK and Indian businesses!

    Creative Industries 

    Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said: 

    India continues to be incredibly important to the Premier League and our clubs. It is a vibrant country that presents exciting opportunities and significant potential. The opening of our office in Mumbai earlier this year was a significant milestone for the Premier League, demonstrating our commitment to build on longstanding work to engage local fans, develop grassroots and elite football and further promote the game in India.   

    The continued growth of the Premier League and UK businesses in India will have a positive impact on our domestic economy. We welcome the signing of this new trade deal which will support UK businesses operating in India.

    Richard Pring, Co-Founder at Wales Interactive, said: 

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement has the potential to strengthen creative partnerships and streamline production across borders. With India’s vast film and television industry, it creates new opportunities for studios like ours to collaborate with international talent and share our interactive stories and games with even wider audiences. 

    Digital and Tech 

    Simon Hansford, Chief Commercial Officer at Civo, a cloud provider founded in Hertfordshire, said:  

    The UK-India trade deal is a game-changer for UK businesses. Significant tariff reductions on our exports will mean our products can be more competitive and accessible in India’s rapidly growing market. Guaranteed access to India’s public procurement market and simplified customs processes could be transformational for many.  

    This deal offers substantial benefits, boosting confidence and creating new avenues for growth in areas that were previously challenging to navigate, making it easier for UK SMEs to trade and thrive internationally.

    Clean Energy  

    Neil Spann, CEO of Power Roll, said: 

    As a UK clean energy company committed to fostering global impact, the UK-India trade agreement marks a significant milestone for us.  It lowers barriers to entry and enhances our ability to collaborate with Indian partners in one of the world’s most dynamic renewable energy markets. India’s ambitious solar targets and drive for domestic innovation align perfectly with our flexible solar technology and long-term growth strategy.  

    As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a key player in the global renewable energy transition, India presents a major opportunity for UK clean energy technology. This trade deal enables us to position UK flexible solar as a key solution to India’s energy goals. We are excited to continue to build upon our existing relationships with valued collaborators by expanding our presence in India following a successful visit earlier this year.

    Transport 

    Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport Managing Director, said:  

    We are proud this new route with IndiGo will deliver growth here in the North, and for the UK as a whole. 

    Boosted by the new UK-India FTA, the direct connectivity it provides will unlock opportunities for the region’s businesses to trade with India and will facilitate investment into the UK. 

    That will help turbo charge the Government’s Industrial Strategy by boosting innovation and productivity in the sectors that will sit at the heart of the country’s future prosperity.

    Textiles  

    Bill Leach, Global Sales Director, John Smedley Ltd, said: 

    India is one of the fastest growing luxury markets in the world, and we are very excited about the UK- India Free Trade Agreement coming to fruition. 

    John Smedley knitwear is already sold in over 50 countries around the world, and now that the FTA has been signed, we shall very much look forward to ensuring that an ever-increasing number of discerning luxury consumers in India will enjoy greater access to The World’s Finest Knitwear. 

    We are thankful to DBT for their significant efforts in bringing this FTA to successful conclusion.

    Cosmetics 

    Dr Emma Meredith OBE, Director-General, CTPA (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association), said:  

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) represents a significant opportunity for the cosmetics and personal care industry.  Tariff reduction and the commitments to ongoing cooperation will enhance market access and create new opportunities for growth for UK brands and manufacturers.  CTPA welcomes the strengthening of the bilateral ties through the negotiation process, a great first step in the delivery of substantial benefits for our sector.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Child protection guide launched

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun today announced the official launch of a guide for mandated reporters’ reference on child protection.

    The Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which mandates 25 categories of specified professionals from the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors to report serious child abuse cases, will commence on January 20, 2026, to create a wide and effective protection web for children.

    As such, the Government formed three professional consultative panels in each of these sectors in early 2024 for formulating the guide.

    Addressing the guide’s launch ceremony, Mr Sun said that the three professional consultative panels comprise cross-disciplinary professionals.

    He noted that their professional exchanges on different cases not only have assisted in establishing a list of key factors that mandated reporters should take into consideration before deciding whether a report is necessary under different scenarios, but also laid an important foundation for the decision trees in the guide, which further helps mandated reporters make reporting decisions and serves as a practical reference for mandated reporters.

    The welfare chief said that an electronic system of the decision trees has also been specially developed by the Social Welfare Department to assist mandated reporters in making an analysis of the case scenarios in a swift and convenient manner only by answering simple questions.

    He added that the electronic system will also direct those cases that need mandatory reporting to the reporting page to ensure mandated reporters can make a report as soon as practicable.

    The features of the guide were introduced at the ceremony. A demonstration of the workflow of the electronic version of the decision trees to be rolled out was also featured.

    While formulating the guide, the professional consultative panels discussed 650 case scenarios and questions collected from their sectors in 33 focus group meetings.

    The valuable advice gathered from the 540 frontline professionals participating in these focus group meetings became a helpful and important reference for the professional consultative panels to finalise the details of the guide.

    The Government will roll out Module 2 of the online learning course for specified professionals in phases starting from next week, covering basic knowledge on the legal and reporting matters related to the ordinance, including the key content of the ordinance, a brief introduction to the guide, analysis of common scenarios, reporting procedures and post-reporting follow-up.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMoA to stage first exhibition of Chinese art master Wu Guanzhong in Korea (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    HKMoA to stage first exhibition of Chinese art master Wu Guanzhong in Korea       
         The exhibition is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and jointly organised by the SAC and the HKMoA. The exhibition is made possible by the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship. This exhibition in Seoul is a continuation of the popular thematic exhibition of Wu, held at the HKMoA from March 2024 to March 2025, which achieved great success and attracted more than 570 000 visitors during the exhibition period. Accompanied by insightful excerpts from the artist’s writings, the exhibition allows visitors to explore the art master’s distinctive chromatic aesthetics as well as the countless passions and flights of imagination evoked from the interplay between black and white. There will be opportunities to appreciate iconic paintings such as “Two Swallows”, “Reminiscences of Jiangnan”, “Waterway” and more. 
          
         Wu’s works perfectly fuse Eastern and Western aesthetics. He dedicated his entire life to exploring the integration of Chinese and Western art, studied traditional Chinese ink painting and also ventured into the colourful world of oil painting in his early years. After studying in France, he returned to China. His works are noted for his masterful integration of the emotional depth of traditional Chinese ink painting with Western modernist and abstract composition. In 1992, Wu was among the first living Chinese artists to be honoured with a solo exhibition at the British Museum, and his works are also widely exhibited in Asia, Europe and the United States.
          
         Wu had deep connections with Hong Kong, and held multiple exhibitions and participated in various art events in the city. Over the years, Wu and his family have continuously made donations of Wu’s works and archives to the HKMoA, making up a substantial collection of over 450 items. The HKMoA has become the institution with the largest and most diverse collection of Wu’s works. With the support of the Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship, the HKMoA is bringing the museum collection and the research and curatorial insights of the art of Wu overseas, and will continue to promote Wu and modern Chinese art to audiences in different regions and at various levels through comprehensive and diversified perspectives.
          
         In addition, an immersive installation from the “Wu Guanzhong Art Sponsorship Cross-disciplinary Series: Wu Guanzhong x Chris Cheung” will also be on display overseas for the first time, complementing the exhibition. Processed by AI, “Sentient Pond – Seoul Edition” created by Hong Kong artist Chris Cheung generates exclusive paintings by visitors that embody Wu’s brushstrokes and artistic style through machine learning over hundreds of Wu’s paintings from the museum collection, to carry on the unconventional creations and spirit of Wu with a contemporary twist.
          
         Hong Kong Week is an annual arts festival organised by the LCSD, celebrating Hong Kong’s creative excellence worldwide and fostering cultural exchanges and artistic collaboration. This year, the festival will arrive in Seoul for the first time. Beginning on September 26, a total of 14 programmes will feature stage performances, film screenings, outdoor shows, visual art exhibitions, comic creations, fashion designs as well as other fringe activities. 
     
    For details of the exhibition and HK Week@Seoul, please visit the HKMoA’s website at hk.art.museum/en/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/overseas-wgz-bnw.htmlIssued at HKT 19:25

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: EU-Japan Summit

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    On July 23, 2025, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, along with European Council President António Costa, visited Tokyo for the 30th EU-Japan Summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Security and trade were the key points of discussion, with both sides emphasizing their commitment to strengthening cooperation in areas like defense, economic security, and trade rules.

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NsZgsf2S7Mc

    MIL OSI Video –

  • India–UK CETA to strengthen global footprint of Indian SMEs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aimed at enhancing access to goods and services between the two countries.

    The agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is set to give a major boost to India’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the country’s economy. SMEs contributed around 30.1% to India’s GDP in 2022–23 and accounted for 45.8% of India’s total exports in 2024–25.

    SMEs benefit from various provisions of the CETA, including through provisions on faster processing at customs, agreements to recognise and facilitate digital systems and paperless trade, and a dedicated chapter to help SMEs. A contact point for SMEs will be established under the ambit of the CETA, facilitating communication and coordination benefiting SMEs.

    In addition to lower tariffs and better market access, SMEs will also benefit from the cooperation between India and the UK on best practices regarding trade education and finance, digital skills, business infrastructure and other important areas, facilitating business opportunities for SMEs.

    The Working Group on Government Procurement and on Innovation enable cooperation to address the issues of SMEs and facilitate participation in government procurement and innovation.

  • India–UK CETA to boost employment, gender equality and youth opportunities

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a landmark Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aimed at enhancing access to goods and services between the two countries.

    The agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, will generate tangible employment gains and create brighter futures for Indian workers across multiple sectors. It also focuses on fostering inclusive economic growth by creating meaningful opportunities for women and youth across both nations.

    The immediate removal of duties on Indian products from labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, textiles, leather and footwear, and food processing will not only boost employment but also directly benefit Indian workers in these industries.

    The CETA offers a range of protections to workers by endorsing internationally recognized labour rights. Workers will benefit from increased public awareness of labour laws and access to impartial and independent tribunals and proceedings for the enforcement of their rights in an accessible and transparent manner.

    Expanding opportunities for women and youth

    India’s youth, aged 15 to 29, make up approximately 27.3% of the population and are key drivers of social and economic change. The CETA is poised to expand high-quality employment pathways for this demographic by easing access to services markets, securing mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and facilitating short-term mobility for talent in sectors such as IT, healthcare, finance, and the creative industries.

    By fostering cooperation on gender-responsive standards, sharing best practices in financial services, and improving digital inclusion, the CETA ensures that women business owners, entrepreneurs, and young professionals can access new markets, acquire valuable information, and participate equitably in global, regional, and domestic economies.

    Dedicated working groups under the CETA will promote activities that address discriminatory practices, encourage diversity, and further gender equality. Lower tariffs on inputs and advanced manufacturing equipment can spur MSME supply-chain integration, creating skilled vocational jobs beyond metros.

    Additionally, the CETA will promote cooperative activities between the Parties that will enable capacity and skill development of workers.

    The CETA also provides enhanced market access for workers which include better mobility access to the UK for Indian workers engaged in maintenance and repair and tourist guides, among others. The CETA and its enhanced market access will create job opportunities for a wide range of workers across various sectors.

  • Parliament Monsoon Session: Both Houses adjourned till Friday amid Opposition protest

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the day on Thursday following continued protests by Opposition members demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in Bihar.

    The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will reconvene at 11 a.m. on Friday.

    In the Lok Sabha, uproar broke out during a discussion on the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024. Amid the commotion, Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was chairing the session, adjourned the House for the day.

    Earlier in the day, the Lower House had faced repeated disruptions. The House was initially adjourned till 2 p.m. shortly after convening at 11 a.m., following loud sloganeering by Opposition members. Speaker Om Birla appealed for decorum, expressing concern over the members’ conduct.

    “Such behaviour lowers the dignity of the House,” Birla said, urging members not to raise slogans or carry banners inside the chamber. In a veiled remark directed at the Congress party, the Speaker said, “This is not in a party’s ‘sanskar’, but the new generation is setting a different example for the nation to see.”

    Meanwhile, in the Rajya Sabha, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill was under discussion when disruptions resumed. Chairing the House, MP Bhubaneshwar Kalita adjourned the session after Opposition members raised slogans over the SIR issue.

    Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “The Lok Sabha can function if the government agrees to discuss the Special Intensive Revision of the voter list in Bihar. That is our only demand.

    As Parliament heads into another day of the Monsoon Session, tensions between the Treasury and Opposition benches continue to dominate proceedings.

    (With ANI inputs)