NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • US judge blocks Trump from suspending Biden-era migrant ‘parole’ programs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to resume processing applications from migrants seeking work permits or more lasting immigration status who are living in the country temporarily under “parole” programs.

    The ruling by District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston will provide relief to thousands of migrants from Afghanistan, Latin America, and Ukraine who were granted a two-year “parole” to live in the country under programs established by Democratic former President Joe Biden’s administration.

    The same judge had previously blocked the Trump administration from revoking the parole status of hundreds of thousands of Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. The administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause her decision.

    Talwani, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama, rejected the Trump administration’s claim that suspending the parole programs was within its broad discretion to direct immigration policy.

    Federal law still requires agencies under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to follow a lengthy process for granting or denying parole and other immigration relief, she wrote in siding with migrants pursuing a class action lawsuit.

    “We are pleased that the court has again rightly recognized the harm the government’s arbitrary decision-making has inflicted on innocent people,” Anwen Hughes, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at Human Rights First, said in a statement.

    The Homeland Security Department did not respond to requests for comment.

    The ruling came on the same day as a U.S. trade court decision to block Trump’s tariffs from going into effect, delivering simultaneous blows to two of the president’s core agendas around trade and immigration.

    The decision came in a lawsuit challenging a pause on the processing of applications from Ukrainian, Afghan, Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants either seeking to be granted entry through the parole process or who have already been granted that status and are seeking to stay.

    Talwani’s decision focused on policies adopted after Trump on his first day back in office on January 20 signed an executive order directing it to end the Biden-era parole program.

    In a memo that day, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman directed agencies under his purview to pause, modify or terminate any categorical parole programs, which he asserted were not authorized by law as parole could only be granted on a case-by-case basis.

    DHS officials subsequently stopped processing new parole applications and in mid-February barred staff from considering requests from migrants from Ukraine and Latin America who had already been granted parole to pursue other forms of immigration status, such as asylum or temporary protected status.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi chairs PRAGATI meeting, reviews infra projects worth over ₹62,000 crore

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesdy, chaired the PRAGATI meeting, the ICT-based multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, involving the Centre and state governments, where projects worth over Rs 62,000 crore were reviewed.

    These projects span critical sectors including Road Transport, Power, and Water Resources, and are being implemented across several States and Union Territories.

    The Prime Minister stressed on the need for removing implementation bottlenecks and ensuring timely completion. He underlined that delays in such projects lead to cost escalations and hinder the delivery of essential infrastructure and services to the public. He called for greater efficiency and accountability from all stakeholders.

    The Prime Minister also reviewed the status of public grievances related to the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). He directed State Governments to ensure that all eligible real estate projects are mandatorily registered under the RERA Act. Emphasising the importance of strict compliance with the law, the Prime Minister said timely and quality grievance redressal is crucial to protecting the interests of homebuyers and restoring trust in the housing sector.

    During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi also reviewed best practices in India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem. He encouraged the adoption of successful initiatives and models across States and Union Territories to further strengthen the National Semiconductor Mission.

    So far, a total of 373 projects, with a cumulative value of around ₹20.64 lakh crore, have been reviewed in PRAGATI meetings. The platform continues to play a key role in enhancing governance and accelerating infrastructure development across the country.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Early voting begins in South Korea for snap presidential election

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    SEOUL, May 29 (Xinhua) — Early voting began on Thursday for South Korea’s snap presidential election, officially scheduled for June 3.

    Early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local elections, will take place over two days through Friday.

    Of the 44,391,871 eligible voters, those who wish to cast their ballot before Election Day will be able to vote at 3,568 polling stations across the country from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.

    As of 09:00, turnout in early voting was 3.55 percent, exceeding the previous maximum of 2.19 percent in the 2024 parliamentary elections.

    This figure was also higher than the turnout for early voting in the 2022 presidential election of 2.14 percent. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand’s relationship with Nepal reaches new heights

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a historic visit to Nepal, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister to the country.  
    Mr Peters’ visit coincided with the 72nd anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s summit of Sagarmāthā / Mount Everest. 
    “The relationship between Nepal and New Zealand, forged by Tenzing Norgay and Ed Hillary in May 1953, is undoubtedly special,” Mr Peters says.
    “It has been an honour to pay tribute to our countries’ pioneering heroes – and to discuss how best New Zealand and Nepal can best cooperate in the second quarter of the 21st Century.” While in Nepal, Mr Peters met President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba.  
    “New Zealand and Nepal have a shared interest in regional and global security,” Mr Peters says. 
    “We discussed current regional and global challenges of mutual interest.“Nepal is notably the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping globally. We discussed New Zealand’s strong commitment to multilateralism and our mutual interest in working with likeminded countries to strengthen the rules-based international system.“We also discussed the importance of improved air connections to facilitate trade and people-to-people connections. Our goal is to have an Air Services Agreement between New Zealand and Nepal in place in the near future.”During his visit to Nepal, Mr Peters announced a NZ$1.8 million partnership with the Himalayan Trust to deliver quality education in the Solukhumbu District over five years. Mr Peters met Alexander Hillary, General Manager of the Himalayan Trust (and Sir Edmund’s grandson), and visited Khumiung School and Khunde Hospital, which Sir Edmund helped establish. “It was a privilege to meet with the resilient and welcoming people of the Everest region and with members of the Himalayan Trust on the anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic achievement,” Mr Peters says.Mr Peters departs Nepal for India today for the final stop in his ongoing four-country tour.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $3.46 million following unfair trade practice investigation

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects money laundering case involving about $3.46 million following unfair trade practice investigation 
    In mid-2022, Customs detected two unfair trade practice cases and arrested a local man. In July 2023, the man was convicted of engaging in commercial practices involving misleading omissions in the sale of training services on dating techniques, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, and was sentenced to 160 hours of community service order.
     
    A subsequent financial investigation and fund-flow analysis revealed that there were numerous suspicious transactions, which were suspected to be crime proceeds, in the personal bank accounts of the man. Meanwhile, the investigation also revealed that another local man used his personal bank accounts to assist the man to receive the suspected crime proceeds, totaling about $3.46 million, during the period between April 2020 and February 2025.
     
    Upon further investigation, Customs arrested the two local men, aged 26 and 35, yesterday for “dealing with property known or reasonably believed to represent proceeds of indictable offenses” (commonly known as money laundering) under the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance (OSCO) and searched their residential premises in Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi and Quarry Bay. Two mobile phones, a computer notebook and a batch of bank documents were seized in the operation.
     
    The arrested persons have been released on bail pending investigation. The investigation of the case is still ongoing, and the likelihood of further arrests is not ruled out.
     
    Under OSCO, a person commits an offence if he or she deals with any property knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that such property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and imprisonment for 14 years while the crime proceeds are also subject to confiscation.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected money laundering activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:50

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • US curbs chip design software, chemicals, other shipments to China

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The United States has ordered a broad swathe of companies to stop shipping goods to China without a license and revoked licenses already granted to certain suppliers, said three people familiar with the matter.

    The new restrictions – which are likely to escalate tensions with Beijing – appear aimed at choke points to prevent China from getting products necessary for key sectors, one of the people said.

    Products affected include design software and chemicals for semiconductors, butane and ethane, machine tools, and aviation equipment, the people said.

    Many companies received letters from the U.S. Department of Commerce over the last few days informing them of the new restrictions.

    Firms that supply electronic design automation (EDA) software for semiconductors were sent letters last Friday that licenses would now be needed to ship to Chinese customers, two of the sources said.

    The electronic design automation software makers include Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens EDA, one said.

    The two sources said the Commerce Department will review requests for licenses to ship to China on a case-by-case basis, suggesting the action was not an outright ban.

    It is unclear whether the new restrictions are part of a broader strategy to create leverage for trade talks during a pause in the imposition of higher tariffs.

    The Commerce Department said it is reviewing exports of strategic significance to China, while noting “in some cases, Commerce has suspended existing export licenses or imposed additional license requirements while the review is pending.”

    The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Shares of Cadence, which declined to comment, closed down 10.7% and shares of Synopsys fell 9.6%.

    Synopsys’ CEO Sassine Ghazi said in a call with analysts that the company had not received a letter nor had it heard from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which enforces export controls.

    “We are aware of the reporting and speculations, but Synopsys has not received a notice from BIS … We have not received a letter,” Ghazi said.

    After the market closed, Synopsys reaffirmed its revenue forecast for 2025. Its shares and those of Cadence bounced back 3.5% in trading after the close.

    Siemens EDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Any move to strip the software makers of their Chinese customers could deal a blow to their bottom line and to their Chinese chip design customers, which heavily rely on top-of-the-line U.S. software.

    “They are the true choke point,” said a former Commerce Department official, who added that rules restricting the export of EDA tools to China have been under consideration since the first Trump administration, but were ruled out as too aggressive.

    Synopsys relies on China for about 16% of its annual revenue, and China accounts for about 12% of annual revenue for Cadence.

    Synopsys, which partners with chip companies such as Nvidia, Qualcomm and Intel, provides software and hardware used for designing advanced processors.

    The Financial Times earlier reported that the Trump administration had ordered the software firms to stop selling their services to Chinese groups.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pelosi at San Francisco AAPI Roundtable: “Our seniors and children are not waste, fraud and abuse.”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

    San Francisco – Today, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi hosted an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month roundtable with San Francisco’s Asian Pacific Islander Council, bringing together community leaders to address the devastating impacts of the Trump Administration’s budget cuts on AAPI communities.

    The roundtable featured key speakers, including Cally Wong, Executive Director of the API Council; Lance Toma, CEO of the San Francisco Community Health Center; Dr. Jian Zhang, CEO of Chinese Hospital; Jon Osaki, Executive Director of JCYC; Judy Young, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Development Center; Luisa Antonio, Executive Director of the Bayanihan Equity Center; and Tammy Hung, Deputy Director of Programs at the Chinatown Community Development Center.

    The event highlighted how Republican attacks on health care, housing and educational resources have compounded the challenges facing AAPI communities—particularly in San Francisco. Participants shared firsthand accounts of the real-world consequences of these policy decisions and emphasized the urgency of standing united to defend the health, dignity and opportunity of AAPI families.

    Watch the full roundtable here. View photos from today’s event here.

    Read excerpts of Speaker Emerita Pelosi’s remarks as delivered below:

    Speaker Emerita Pelosi. Good afternoon. It is my privilege to join this distinguished group of AAPI leaders for this important roundtable discussion.

    Thank you for your leadership in so many ways. And to each of you—thank you. We’ve had our interactions at your places of leadership and service. Thank you for what you all do.

    To the AAPI leaders who are gathered here for this roundtable discussion: I salute Cally Wong for her tireless leadership at the API Council, an unyielding voice for equity and justice in the Bay Area and well beyond that.

    It’s a thrill to be here at the Japanese Community Youth Council. Thank you, Jon, for your leadership as a model of culture and diversity in the Bay Area.
    …
    How special it is that we gather during AAPI Heritage Month.
    …
    Asian Pacific Americans’ entrepreneurial spirit, courage and patriotism has strengthened the foundation of our nation and made America more American.
    …
    We take great pride in our vibrant, diverse—very diverse—community, as we can see here. And the Bay Area has been so enriched by the community. And you know that. We’ll hear more about that.

    Now then, I want to just say that—you know, we’re in a situation right now where the Republicans have said, ‘Whatever you want to do for your communities, it cannot have anything to do with health, education, the arts, museums, libraries, diversity…’ I mean, they’re just undermining the culture that is America. Because diversity, of course, is our strength.

    But I was able to get the Southeast Asian Development Center to help purchase a new building with $1 million, and $850,000 for AsianWeek Foundation. But what they’re doing is such an insult.

    It’s because the cuts that are in the budget already—and I say already because I’ll get to another point—help older Asian American adults learn to use digital technology. They’re cutting that. Combat anti-Asian hate? They’re cutting that. Advise low-income tenants facing eviction? They’re cutting that.

    Here at the JCYC, President Trump’s budget cuts $2.6 million in funding, which provides college advising and preparation services for thousands of low-income youth in San Francisco. They’re cutting that.

    Republicans are hurting our most vulnerable communities to provide tax cuts for the richest people in the country.

    At the same time, they’re pushing a bill through Congress that slashes $300 billion from SNAP. Food out of the mouths of babies to give billionaires a tax cut. $700 billion from Medicaid. That means $1 trillion in cuts just from those two things.

    Now, the Congressional Budget Office—the CBO, which we’re supposed to obey (but they have said they’re not necessarily going to do that)—has said with those cuts, it generates $500 billion in cuts to Medicare. Medicaid: $700 billion. Medicare: $500 billion. SNAP: $300 billion.

    In meeting the needs of people—and you know what they call it? ‘Waste, fraud, and abuse.’ We say back to them: Our seniors, our children—they are not waste, fraud, and abuse! You’ve got a claim? Show us what it is. But we haven’t seen that yet.

    In any event—it’s Robin Hood in reverse. Take from the needy and give to the rich. That’s the Republican Robin Hood in reverse.
    …
    And when they say ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’—show us. What is it? We don’t want any waste, fraud and abuse. But we don’t consider feeding our children waste, fraud and abuse. Or helping our people with disabilities. Or our seniors who need long-term health care and the rest of that. We don’t consider that waste, fraud and abuse.

    If you do—because you want to give tax cuts to billionaires—that’s your waste, fraud, and abuse. Because that’s not what our—A budget should be a statement of values.

    What is important to us as a nation should be reflected in our budget. For our children, their health, their education, the economic security of their families, safe, clean neighborhoods in which they can thrive—including from gun violence—and a world at peace in which they can thrive.

    That’s not what this budget is about. It’s about tax cuts for the wealthiest people.

    Now, you may recall that when—what’s his name—was in office before, and the Republicans had the majority for two years until we, with your help, defeated them—they had one bill that Republicans only passed.

    It was their tax bill. And it gave 83% of the benefits to the top 1%. Eighty-three percent of the benefits to the top 1%. And added $2 trillion to the national debt.

    Oh, big talk: ‘Oh, we’re fiscally responsible.’ $2 trillion in national debt. Not creating jobs or anything—just a tax cut.

    This time, they’re going beyond that. They’ll probably add closer to $4 trillion to the national debt to give a bigger tax cut to the high end—while they cut SNAP. Food—taking food from the mouths of babies—to give a tax cut to the richest people.

    So this is about their lack of values.

    And you know, I’ve been in Congress a long time—thanks to all of you—and we’ve had our disagreements [with Republicans] about policy and the rest, and that’s legitimate, to have disagreement.

    But this is criminal.

    It’s not only criminal. It’s illegal in terms of what the law requires them to do.

    So again—we don’t agonize. We organize. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today.
    …
    And we can only do so much inside maneuvering. The outside mobilization—know your power in all of this.

    And that’s why I want to hear freshly what you have to say. Every day it makes a difference.
    …
    But again, Jon, thank you for your hospitality. It’s great to be here. It looks good. Place looks good. And the JCYC—just so remarkable.

    But so are all of you here.

    Now, Cally Wong has been the Executive Director of the API Council. Some of us have been together when we’ve had these meetings before. And she has led the way—as she will today.

    Cally, thank you. Cally, thank you for your leadership.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Operational event at Taishan Nuclear Power Station

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Operational event at Taishan Nuclear Power Station???
         Taishan Nuclear Power Joint Venture Co Ltd has reported the relevant situation to the nuclear safety regulatory authority in a timely manner, and will conduct internal experience review. It has also released the details of this event on its website (www.tnpjvc.com.cnIssued at HKT 12:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Market open in green; Sensex tops 81,500, Nifty near 24810

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Thursday amid positive global cues, as buying was seen in the IT and metal sectors in the early trade.

    At 9:29 am, the BSE Sensex was up 237.56 points or 0.29 per cent at 81,549.88, while the NSE Nifty rose 57 points or 0.23 per cent to trade at 24,809.45.

    Sectoral indices also showed strength, with the Nifty Bank gaining 86.95 points or 0.16 per cent to 55,503.95. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was up 105.80 points or 0.19 per cent at 57,247.20, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose by 85.20 points or 0.48 per cent to 17,869.20.

    Despite the Nifty declining for the past two sessions, analysts noted a drop in the India VIX, indicating a lack of demand for downside protection—typically not seen when investor sentiment is bearish.

    “The 24,462 level remains crucial to determine whether this is a temporary dip or the beginning of a deeper correction. As long as the Nifty holds above this level, it remains a buyer’s market,” said Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities.

    Among the top performers in the Sensex pack were Infosys, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Sun Pharma, HCL Tech, Tata Motors, HDFC Bank, Power Grid, TCS and L&T. Bajaj Finance was the only stock in the red during early trade.

    Asian markets also opened in the green, with indices in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, China, and Japan trading higher. Jakarta was the only notable exception, trading lower.

    On Wall Street, the previous session ended in losses. The Dow Jones closed at 42,098.70, down 244.95 points or 0.58 per cent. The S&P 500 fell 32.99 points or 0.56 per cent to 5,888.55, while the Nasdaq slipped 98.23 points or 0.51 per cent to 19,100.94.

    Market sentiment remained sensitive to global developments, including U.S. tariff-related news. “The U.S. Federal Court striking down the reciprocal tariffs sends a strong message—that the President cannot act unilaterally against the interests of the market and the economy,” said Dr. V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services.

    On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers on May 28, purchasing equities worth ₹4,662.92 crore. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also continued their buying spree, picking up stocks worth ₹7,911.99 crore.

    — IANS

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Film Archive to present free screenings of Cantonese opera-themed film classic “The Dutiful Daughter Chu-chu” (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Film Archive to present free screenings of Cantonese opera-themed film classic “The Dutiful Daughter Chu-chu”  
         Connie Chan Po-chu plays the lead role of Chu-chu, who earns money by disguising herself as a Japanese acrobat in an amusement park in order to support her mother in the hospital. After meeting Cantonese opera actor Wong, played by Lam Kar-sing, Chu-chu is inspired by Wong and decides to learn Cantonese opera from Wong and his master Pak, played by the “King of Wusheng” Lan Chi Pak, to make an honest living.
     
    Much of the film focuses on Chu-chu’s Cantonese opera training sessions under Wong and Pak, which are realistic and compelling portrayals of how the traditional art form is preserved and passed on through generations. Lam, who is also the film’s operatic director, showcased his solid Cantonese opera skills, embodying the awe-inspiring charisma and essence of the art form. The appearance of Lan Chi Pak in modern attire in the film is also a rare sight on screen.
     
         The film will be screened in three time slots at noon, 3pm and 6pm on June 21 at the HKFA Cinema, accompanied by pre-screening talks hosted by film critic Grace Ng.
     
         Admission is free with tickets to be distributed starting from June 1 (Sunday) at the information counter of the HKFA on Mondays and from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am to 8pm. Each person can receive up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last. Limited walk-in seats will also be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and members of the public are welcome to queue up at the 1/F Foyer of the HKFA 45 minutes before the screening begins. Each person can register for one ticket while stocks last.
     
         For programme details, please visit www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2025/ich-month-2025/pe-event-2025-chu-chu.html 
         Hong Kong ICH Month 2025 is presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the LCSD, with ICH June as a strategic partner. For details of the programmes, please visit the website     www.icho.hk/en/web/icho/hk_ich_month_2025.htmlIssued at HKT 12:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne

    On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic era.

    South Korea has been embroiled in a political crisis since December, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol disastrously declared martial law.

    Yoon ordered security forces to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, leading to a dramatic late night confrontation. His unconstitutional decree was overturned after just six hours.

    The fall-out was equally dramatic: Yoon was impeached and removed from office in a drawn-out process that was not finally resolved until April.

    This period coincided with massive street demonstrations both opposing and supporting Yoon, a far-right assault on a courthouse and a physical stand-off between investigators and Yoon’s personal security team.

    The country, meanwhile, has cycled through three short-lived caretaker leaders.

    With weak economic growth and high costs of living, in addition to an equally challenging security environment, South Korea is in desperate need of bold and effective leadership.

    Who are the candidates?

    The Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung is the clear frontrunner to be the next president, after finishing a close second in the previous 2022 election.

    Recent polling put the veteran left-leaning politician at around 49% support as the race entered the final week.

    This is a double-digit lead over his main conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, polling at 35%. Another conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok, is polling at 11%. Notably, for the first time since 2007, there are no female candidates standing to be president.

    The high levels of support for Lee Jae-myung suggest a widespread desire among the public to repudiate Yoon’s martial law declaration.

    Kim, the labour minister in Yoon’s administration, has apologised for December’s declaration. But his opponents have continued to question him about it.

    Kim’s challenge has been to build a coalition of moderates and mainstream conservatives who firmly opposed the martial law declaration, while also winning support from those who believe far-right conspiracy theories around election fraud. Yoon, the former president, is continuing to promote these narratives.

    Lee’s compelling background

    Lee Jae-myung’s personal story has uplifting parallels with South Korea’s own history of economic and political development.

    Lee was born into poverty; the exact date of his birth is not known. He worked in factories from a very young age and permanently injured his left arm in an industrial accident when he was still a child.

    Lee went on to earn a scholarship to study law and, by the late 1980s, had established himself as a labour lawyer and activist.

    This activist image was highlighted when he live-streamed himself dramatically scaling a fence to enter the National Assembly and vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration in December. He has previously compared himself to populist, progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders.

    More recently, however, he has moderated his political rhetoric and policy platform to appeal to centrists and even some conservative voters.

    This shift may also help shield Lee from the “red-baiting” claims left-leaning South Korean candidates typically face from conservative opponents that they are “communists”, “pro-China”, or “pro-North Korea”.

    But Lee is also plagued by legal troubles, including corruption charges linked to a land development project. These charges, frequently highlighted by his opponents, risk derailing his administration if he wins the election.

    What are the main issues?

    Some international commentators have focused on how the next president will handle North Korea. South Koreans, however, are more interested in the candidates’ plans to fix the country’s troubled economy.

    Lee Jae-myung has pledged to immediately establish an emergency economic taskforce if he takes office.

    There has also been a vigorous debate over South Korea’s future energy policy. Kim favours expanding nuclear energy production to around 60% of the country’s energy mix. Lee has voiced safety concerns about nuclear power, arguing “the era of building more reactors should come to an end”.

    Additionally, questions remain over potential constitutional reform to end South Korea’s so-called “imperial presidency” system, which has been blamed for centralising too much power in the hands of the president.

    The system dates back to the rewriting of the constitution following mass protests in 1987. This established direct presidential elections and a single, five-year term.

    Both Lee and Kim support changing this to a four-year, two-term presidential system, similar to the United States.

    Big challenges lie ahead

    On the international stage, the new leader will face an uphill battle negotiating with US President Donald Trump over his punitive tariffs. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean goods in April, but lowered them temporarily to 10% until early July.

    Before his impeachment, Yoon was widely reported to be practising his golf skills to attempt to find common ground with Trump, much as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did.

    The new leader will also face massive challenges bringing South Korean society together in the current climate. Political polarisation and the spread of disinformation worsened under Yoon’s presidency – and these trends will be hard to reverse.

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

    – ref. After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership – https://theconversation.com/after-a-chaotic-6-months-south-koreans-will-elect-a-new-president-and-hope-for-bold-leadership-257348

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • Elon Musk leaving Trump administration, capping turbulent tenure

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk is leaving the Trump administration after leading a tumultuous efficiency drive, during which he upended several federal agencies, but ultimately failed to deliver the generational savings he had sought.

    His “off-boarding will begin tonight,” a White House official told Reuters late Wednesday, confirming Musk’s departure from government. Musk earlier on Wednesday took to his social media platform X to thank President Donald Trump as his time as a special government employee with the Department of Government Efficiency draws to an end.

    His departure was quick and unceremonious. He did not have a formal conversation with Trump before announcing his exit, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, who added that his departure was decided “at a senior staff level.”

    While the precise circumstances of his exit were not immediately clear, he leaves a day after criticizing Trump’s marquee tax bill, calling it too expensive and a measure that would undermine his work with the U.S. DOGE Service.

    Some senior White House officials, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, were particularly irked by those comments, and the White House was forced to call Republican senators to reiterate Trump’s support for the package, a source familiar with the matter said.

    While Musk remains close to the president, his exit comes after a gradual, but steady slide in standing.

    After Trump’s inauguration, the billionaire quickly emerged as a powerful force in Trump’s orbit: hyper-visible, unapologetically brash and unfettered by traditional norms. At the Conservative Political Action Conference in February, he brandished a red metallic chainsaw to wild cheers. “This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy,” he declared.

    On the campaign trail, Musk had said DOGE would be able to cut at least $2 trillion in federal spending. He did not hide his animus for the federal workforce, and he predicted that revoking “the COVID-era privilege” of telework would trigger “a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.”

    But some cabinet members who initially embraced Musk’s outsider energy grew wary of his tactics, sources said. Over time, they grew more confident pushing back against his job cuts, encouraged by Trump’s reminder in early March that staffing decisions rested with department secretaries, not with Musk.

    Musk clashed with three of Trump’s most senior cabinet members – Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He called Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro a “moron” and “dumber than a sack of bricks.” Navarro dismissed the insults, saying, “I’ve been called worse.”

    At the same time, Musk began to hint that his time in government would come to a close, while expressing frustration at times that he could not more aggressively cut spending.

    In an April 22 Tesla conference call, he signaled he would be significantly scaling back his government work to focus on his businesses.

    DOGE GOES ON

    Musk’s 130-day mandate as a special government employee in the Trump administration was set to expire around May 30. The administration has said DOGE’s efforts to restructure and shrink the federal government will continue.

    “The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk said.

    Trump and DOGE have managed to cut nearly 12%, or 260,000, of the 2.3 million-strong federal civilian workforce largely through threats of firings, buyouts and early retirement offers, a Reuters review of agency departures found.

    Musk on Tuesday criticized the price tag of Republicans’ tax and budget legislation making its way through Congress.

    “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing,” Musk told CBS News.

    His political activities have drawn protests and some investors have called for him to leave his work as Trump’s adviser and more closely manage Tesla, which has seen falls in sales and its stock price.

    Musk, the world’s richest person, has defended his role as an unelected official who was granted unprecedented authority by Trump to dismantle parts of the U.S. government.

    Having spent nearly $300 million to back Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republicans last year, he said earlier this month he would substantially cut his political spending.

    “I think I’ve done enough,” Musk said at an economic forum in Qatar.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi to launch development projects in Sikkim, Bengal today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Sikkim and West Bengal today to launch a series of development projects and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim’s statehood.

    At Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, the Prime Minister will attend the event titled ‘Sikkim@50: Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth’, marking 50 years since the former kingdom became the 22nd state of India. Sikkim’s statehood in 1975 followed a historic referendum that ended its monarchy and facilitated its merger with the Indian Union. The state was granted special constitutional protection under Article 371F, aimed at preserving its unique ethnic identity and cultural traditions.

    Over the last five decades, Sikkim has gained recognition for its sustainable development practices and environmental efforts. The state government has planned a year-long celebration under the theme ‘Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samarth Sikkim’, honouring its cultural richness and developmental journey.

    During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development initiatives, including a new 500-bedded district hospital in Namchi, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Gyalshing district, and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok district. He will also release a commemorative coin, souvenir coin and stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood.

    In preparation for the Prime Minister’s visit, the Sikkim government issued an advisory announcing the temporary closure of offices and schools in Gangtok and imposed traffic restrictions across key routes. Formal invitations were extended to all senior officials, including Deputy Secretaries and Under Secretaries, along with staff from various departments and public sector undertakings.

    Later in the day, PM Modi will visit Alipurduar in West Bengal, where he will lay the foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. The initiative is aimed at expanding clean energy infrastructure in the region.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Indonesia and France strengthen ties

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    JAKARTA, May 29 (Xinhua) — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday received French President Emmanuel Macron in Jakarta for high-level talks on key sectors including defense, energy, economy, investment, education and transportation.

    “Today we agreed to move forward by adopting a common vision to celebrate 100 years of Indonesian-French relations by 2050,” P. Subianto said at a joint press conference following the meeting.

    In the defense sector, both countries pledged to strengthen cooperation, including efforts to build human resource capacity. On the economic front, both leaders expressed support for more balanced trade and investment ties.

    “Our ties are strengthening in various areas, especially in energy, food security, free food and maritime affairs,” the Indonesian president said.

    Bilateral relations have also improved in the areas of culture, creative economy, transport and education, he added.

    During the visit, a total of 21 cooperation documents were signed or presented, reflecting a strong commitment to bilateral cooperation.

    These agreements cover a variety of formats and areas, such as defence, agriculture, essential minerals, sustainable forestry, creative and cultural industries, disaster risk management, transport and sport. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Board of Commissioners

    Source: Tertiary Education Commission

     Our Board:

    sets our strategic direction, makes decisions about funding allocations and provides guidance on our operations
    monitors the performance of the Chief Executive and the organisation
    oversees management of strategic risk.

    Dr Alan Bollard CNZM, Chair

    Alan Bollard is Chair of the New Zealand Portrait Gallery. He is New Zealand Governor of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, a Director of China Construction Bank (NZ), and Chair of the New Zealand Pacific Economic Cooperation Council.
    He has been Chair of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Professor of Pacific Region Business at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, and Chair of the Centres for Asia-Pacific Excellence.
    Alan was the Director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research from 1987 to 1994, Chair of the New Zealand Commerce Commission from 1994 to 1998, and the Secretary to the Treasury between 1998 and 2020. From 2002 to 2012, he was the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. He was the Executive Director of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Singapore from 2012 to 2018.
    Alan has published a number of economics and popular books. He is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Fellow of Royal Society Te Apārangi, and has honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Auckland and Massey University.
    Robin Hapi CNZM, Deputy Chair

    Robin Hapi was a former Commissioner of the Tertiary Education Commission from 2007 to 2013 and joins TEC for a second time from February 2025. This follows a term of 12 years as Amokapua/Chair of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. He has served on several Boards and led a range of commercial and not-for-profit entities.
    Robin is currently Chair of Tū Ātea Ltd and Co-Chair of the Pūhoro STEMM Academy. His previous service includes positions on the Boards of Te Mātāwai, Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities, WorkSafe NZ and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency; he has also been Chair of the Māori Economic Development Advisory Board, Chair of BERL and Deputy Chair of Callaghan Innovation. 
    Robin is an old boy of Hato Pāora College and an alumni of Massey University, where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration with Distinction. In December 2015 Robin was awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in recognition of his contribution to governance, community and Māori, and in 2022 he received the Dame Mira Szászy Lifetime award from the University of Auckland Business School for his contribution to governance. Robin is also a Distinguished Fellow of the NZ Institute of Directors.
    Robin is of Ngāti Kahungunu descent and affiliates to Kahurānaki Marae, Te Hauke.
    Dr Alastair MacCormick, Commissioner, Chair Whatitata Whakau – Risk and Assurance Committee

    TEC’s longest serving Commissioner, Alastair was first appointed to the TEC Board of Commissioners in May 2017, and appointed as Chair of the Whatitata Whakau – Risk and Assurance Committee in August 2017.
    Alastair is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Auckland. He holds a Doctorate in Management Science from Yale University and an MCom in Economics and a BSc in Mathematics and Physics from Auckland. For a decade he was Dean of Business and Economics at the University of Auckland and subsequently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
    Alastair also served over nine years on the Grants Committee of Callaghan Innovation for the Government support of Private Sector R&D and is a professional director with global experience in both public, private and listed companies.
    Alastair’s generosity with his time and expertise is demonstrated in his role as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital (a voluntary role which Alastair has supported for almost 40 years) along with founding the New Zealand Education and Scholarship Trust in 1991. He has also spent 14 years on the Board of Trustees for Auckland Grammar School, serving as Chair of the Board for six years.
    Alastair was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in The Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours for services to tertiary education and the community.
    Kirk Hope, Commissioner

    “People are our greatest asset and the drivers of our economy.  Business needs a training and development system to ensure everyone can reach their potential and New Zealand continues to prosper”. 

    Appointed in November 2019, Kirk brings strong current business sector knowledge to the TEC Board table. Kirk is the Chief Executive of the Financial Services Council. Previously, he was the Chief Executive of BusinessNZ, New Zealand’s largest business advocacy group with approximately 80,000 business connections.
    It is not just his knowledge and understanding of business that Kirk brings to TEC. He has held the positions of CEO of the New Zealand Bankers’ Association, Executive Director of the Financial Services Federation, along with several executive positions in both government and banking industries.
    The pairing of business acumen with a strong financial base, a Master’s in Law, an honours degree in political science, easily makes Kirk a great fit for TEC.
    Kirk’s passion is giving back, so sometime in the future we could see him sharing his wealth of knowledge and business expertise through teaching – perhaps that will be after he finishes PhD in economic history (a long term goal) or when he isn’t surfing.
    Samuelu (Sam) Sefuiva, Commissioner, Chair Ohu Tangata – People and Culture Committee

    Sam has over 30 years’ experience in public policy, strategic and business advice, cultural and economic development and executive leadership. He has a strong professional and personal interest in the Pacific region particularly in human rights, social enterprise and public policy. Sam joined the TEC Board in January 2023.
    Sam has mentored, led and facilitated senior executives in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific in improving international, regional and domestic non-government and community enterprise environments. His strengths are in high level policy advice and relations, strategic thinking, business planning and facilitation.
    Currently his leadership roles include: Mana Whakapai-AMPTI (consortium) Manager, Auckland Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Initiative; Trustee, Digital Wings Trust; and Trustee Black Grace (Dance) Trust. Previously, Sam was Chief Advisor to the Race Relations Commissioner at the NZ Human Rights Commission.
    Sam enjoys spending time with his family and including grandchildren, his wider Samoan fanau and village (Salani, Falealili), as well as some passive recreational activities such as reading, surfing, fishing.
    Deidre Shea, Commissioner

    “Accessible, quality educational opportunities for all New Zealanders throughout their lives are key to the health and success of our communities and our nation. I am privileged to be able to contribute to this as a member of TEC’s board.”

    Commissioned in 2023, Deidre received her Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours for services to Education.
    Deidre held leadership roles with Ōnehunga High School (OHS) from 1995 and was Principal from 2007 until 2022. Her leadership extended to the Auckland Secondary School Principals’ Association from 2008 to 2015 and the Secondary Principals’ Association of New Zealand (SPANZ) 2014 to 2023. She became President of SPANZ from 2019 to 2021, leading through numerous challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Deidre is committed to excellent, lifelong educational opportunities for all. She has overseen the establishment of a Construction School at OHS in 2005, followed by a Services Academy in 2007 and later a Health Science Academy. OHS operates the nation’s largest school-based Adult and Community Education programme.
    Deidre has chaired Te Hikoi (formerly the AIMHI Alternative Education consortium) for the past decade. 
    Bharat Guha, Commissioner

    Bharat Guha is the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Invercargill Licensing Trust. He is a chartered accountant with extensive experience in the education and hospitality sector.
    Bharat has held numerous senior positions as CEO, Deputy CEO and CFO in different New Zealand and overseas organisations. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bharat was based in London, working as the Group CFO for an LSE-listed company with branches in the UK, Malaysia, Singapore and Nepal.
    Bharat was recognised as a Fellow of the Australia New Zealand Chartered Accountants for his financial work on the Zero Fee Scheme for the Southern Institute of Technology. In addition, he has developed and led successful government–private tertiary institution partnerships for attracting international students to New Zealand.
    Bharat is a graduate of the University of Otago, undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Information Systems) and a Master in Business Administration. He also completed the Executive Leadership Programme at Oxford University and the Southland Leadership Academy.
    Bharat is committed and passionate about ensuring the future growth of tertiary education in New Zealand.
    Sharon McGuire, Commissioner

    Sharon McGuire has a strong commercial background and knowledge of the polytechnic and broader tertiary sector. She also has governance experience with several entities. Her tertiary experience includes being a director for regional economic development with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.
    Sharon’s commercial experience includes working as a general manager in the hotels sector, as a director of a major sports franchise, work with Chambers of Commerce, and as a business owner specialising in project services and advising on business viability.
    Sharon has held senior executive roles and is an experienced Director in the Not-for-Loss sector. Sharon is a great supporter of community organisations, and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow for services to Rotary and the wider community.
     Top

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Pre-Recorded VIP Address at the ATxSummit Singapore

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, earlier this morning delivered a Pre-Recorded VIP Address on the second day of the ATxSummit, held in Singapore. Under the theme of “Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Future,” the event brings together talented young minds, industry leaders, and key stakeholders dedicated to advancing digital economy and innovation in the region. In his remarks, SG Dr. Kao shared ASEAN’s key initiatives to build a secure, trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem, to propel the region’s economic growth. Download the text version of the remarks here.

    Videos
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    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers Pre-Recorded VIP Address at the ATxSummit Singapore appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Early voting begins for S. Korea’s snap presidential election

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

    Early voting began on Thursday for South Korea’s snap presidential election scheduled for June 3.

    The early voting, which was adopted in 2013 and first applied to the 2014 local election, will be carried out for two days through Friday.

    Among 44,391,871 eligible voters, those who wish to cast ballots before the election day will be allowed to vote at 3,568 polling stations across the country from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.

    At 9:00 a.m., the early voting turnout was 3.55 percent, surpassing the previous high of 2.19 percent for the parliamentary election in 2024.

    It was also higher than the 2022 presidential election’s early voting turnout of 2.14 percent for the same time.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Alcaraz overcomes blip to reach French Open third round

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

    Reigning men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and top-ranked women’s player Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus both clinched second-round victories at the French Open on Wednesday.

    Alcaraz, 22, defeated Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, and will confront Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the third round.

    “I started pretty well. In the first set, I had really high confidence. I think in the second set he started to play much better, very aggressive. He didn’t miss at all, so it was a little bit difficult to deal with his game in the second set, but I’m really happy with how I stayed strong and refreshed in the third set. I started to play better and better, and it has been a good last two sets,” the second seed recalled after the match.

    In other men’s singles games, Portugal’s Nuno Borges shocked seventh-seeded Casper Ruud of Norway 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0, while Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti saw off Daniel Elahi Galan of Colombia 6-4, 6-0, 6-4.

    Three-time Grand Slam winner Sabalenka eased past Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-1 in 79 minutes, and Chinese favorite Zheng Qinwen also seized victory over Emiliana Arango of Colombia in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.

    Earlier this month, 22-year-old Zheng beat Sabalenka for the first time to reach the Italian Open semifinals. The French Open women’s singles draw is such that the two could potentially face off in the quarterfinal.

    “Even myself, I got a lot of inspiration from last year. When I am in difficult moments, I always remember to keep fighting. I really love the French crowd. I would like to play more matches here,” said 2024 Olympic champion Zheng.

    In women’s doubles, tenth-seeded Jiang Xinyu of China and Wu Fang-hsien of Chinese Taipei advanced into the second round after beating Camila Osorio of Colombia and America’s Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-1. Fellow Chinese players Xu Yifan, Zhang Shuai and Guo Hanyu all bowed out in the first round with their respective partners.

    China’s Bu Yunchaokete and Argentina’s Camilo Ugo Carabelli failed to reach the men’s doubles second round, after losing to India’s N. Sriram Balaji and Miguel Reyes-Varela of Mexico 6-2, 6-1.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • US court blocks most Trump tariffs, says president exceeded his authority

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A U.S. trade court blocked President Donald Trump’s tariffs from going into effect in a sweeping ruling on Wednesday that found the president overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from U.S. trading partners.

    The Court of International Trade said the U.S. Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate commerce with other countries that is not overridden by the president’s emergency powers to safeguard the U.S. economy.

    “The court does not pass upon the wisdom or likely effectiveness of the President’s use of tariffs as leverage,” a three-judge panel said in the decision to issue a permanent injunction on the blanket tariff orders issued by Trump since January. “That use is impermissible not because it is unwise or ineffective, but because [federal law] does not allow it.”

    The judges also ordered the Trump administration to issue new orders reflecting the permanent injunction within 10 days. The Trump administration minutes later filed a notice of appeal and questioned the authority of the court.

    The court invalidated with immediate effect all of Trump’s orders on tariffs since January that were rooted in the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law meant to address “unusual and extraordinary” threats during a national emergency.

    The court was not asked to address some industry-specific tariffs Trump has issued on automobiles, steel and aluminum, using a different statute.

    The decisions of the Manhattan-based Court of International Trade, which hears disputes involving international trade and customs laws, can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court.

    TRADE TURMOIL

    Trump has made charging U.S. importers tariffs on goods from foreign countries the central policy of his ongoing trade wars, which have severely disrupted global trade flows and roiled financial markets.

    Companies of all sizes have been whipsawed by Trump’s swift imposition of tariffs and sudden reversals as they seek to manage supply chains, production, staffing and prices.

    A White House spokesperson on Wednesday said U.S. trade deficits with other countries constituted “a national emergency that has decimated American communities, left our workers behind, and weakened our defense industrial base – facts that the court did not dispute.”

    “It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency,” Kush Desai, the spokesperson, said in a statement.

    Financial markets cheered the ruling. The U.S. dollar rallied following the court’s order, surging against currencies such as the euro, yen and the Swiss franc in particular. Wall Street futures rose and equities across Asia also rose.

    The ruling, if it stands, blows a giant hole through Trump’s strategy to use steep tariffs to wring concessions from trading partners. It creates deep uncertainty around multiple simultaneous negotiations with the European Union, China and many other countries.

    Trump has promised Americans that the tariffs would draw manufacturing jobs back to U.S. shores and shrink a $1.2 trillion U.S. goods trade deficit, which were among his central campaign promises.

    Without the instant leverage provided by tariffs of 10% to 54% or higher, the Trump administration would have to find new forms of leverage or take a slower approach to negotiations with trading partners.

    BUSINESSES HURTING

    The ruling came in a pair of lawsuits, one filed by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small U.S. businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the duties and the other by 12 U.S. states.

    The companies, which range from a New York wine and spirits importer to a Virginia-based maker of educational kits and musical instruments, have said the tariffs will hurt their ability to do business.

    “There is no question here of narrowly tailored relief; if the challenged Tariff Orders are unlawful as to Plaintiffs they are unlawful as to all,” the judges wrote in their decision.

    At least five other legal challenges to the tariffs are pending.

    Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, a Democrat whose office is leading the states’ lawsuit, called Trump’s tariffs unlawful, reckless and economically devastating.

    “This ruling reaffirms that our laws matter, and that trade decisions can’t be made on the president’s whim,” Rayfield said in a statement.

    Trump has claimed broad authority to set tariffs under IEEPA. The law has historically been used to impose sanctions on enemies of the U.S. or freeze their assets. Trump is the first U.S. president to use it to impose tariffs.

    The Justice Department has said the lawsuits should be dismissed because the plaintiffs have not been harmed by tariffs that they have not yet paid, and because only Congress, not private businesses, can challenge a national emergency declared by the president under IEEPA.

    In imposing the tariffs in early April, Trump called the trade deficit a national emergency that justified his 10% across-the-board tariff on all imports, with higher rates for countries with which the United States has the largest trade deficits, particularly China.

    Many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later. The Trump administration on May 12 said it was also temporarily reducing the steepest tariffs on China while working on a longer-term trade deal. Both countries agreed to cut tariffs on each other for at least 90 days.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on May 28, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 5,93,184.29 5.71 3.01-6.00
         I. Call Money 15,980.96 5.80 4.85-5.85
         II. Triparty Repo 4,02,610.35 5.71 5.65-5.85
         III. Market Repo 1,73,035.98 5.71 3.01-5.90
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,557.00 5.89 5.85-6.00
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 198.08 5.69 5.25-5.85
         II. Term Money@@ 997.00 – 5.80-6.15
         III. Triparty Repo 9,241.00 5.84 5.76-5.90
         IV. Market Repo 0.00 – –
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Wed, 28/05/2025 1 Thu, 29/05/2025 3,843.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 28/05/2025 1 Thu, 29/05/2025 606.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 28/05/2025 1 Thu, 29/05/2025 2,29,136.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,24,687.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       7,622.73  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     33,353.73  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,91,333.27  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 28, 2025 9,32,078.85  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 30, 2025 9,48,817.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 28, 2025 3,843.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 02, 2025 2,34,873.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/425

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah to arrive in Jammu today, first visit after Operation Sindoor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah is arriving in Jammu on Thursday evening for a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, the first after Operation Sindoor. During his visit, Amit Shah will address the BSF jawans at their Unit Headquarters at Khanetar and meet the families affected by Pakistan shelling at Dak Bungalow in Poonch on May 30.

    He will also distribute appointment letters to the next of kin of those killed in the shelling. Officials said the Union Home Minister will visit religious places targeted by Pakistani cross-border shelling.

    He will reach here in the evening and will hold a high-level review of the security situation with Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha and top officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the army, paramilitary forces, police, intelligence agencies and civil administration.

    The situation during ongoing Operation Sindoor, besides the security scenario, including anti-terror operations and anti-infiltration grid, will also come up for high-level review at the meeting. Amarnath Yatra arrangements will also figure prominently during the security review meeting.

    On Friday, Amit Shah will leave for the border district of Poonch where he is scheduled to address the BSF jawans as well as civilians badly affected by Pakistan shelling on the intervening night of May 7 and 8 soon after Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    Amit Shah will address the civilians affected by Pakistan’s shelling at Poonch Dak Bungalow and the BSF soldiers at their Unit Headquarters at Khanetar, about nine kilometres from Poonch town.

    Thirteen civilians, including four children, two of them siblings, were killed by Pakistan’s shelling in Poonch district. In retaliation for Indian armed forces carrying out precision-guided targeted strikes on terror infrastructure, the Pakistan Army targeted civilian facilities in Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.

    Indian response was promoted by the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam in which 26 civilians, including 25 tourists and a local, were killed after segregating them on the basis of religion. (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to stage Henan Yuediao opera plays for first time in Hong Kong in June (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2025, organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will stage Henan Yuediao opera, a regional operatic genre rarely seen by Hong Kong audiences, for the first time in late June. Shen Xiaomei, currently the leading exponent of the Yuediao opera, will lead a group of outstanding artists from the Henan Provincial Yue Diao Art Protection and Inheritance Center to Hong Kong to perform the classic plays “Jiang Wei Surrenders” and “Li Tianbao Gets Married”, showcasing the unique and traditional artistic charm of Yuediao opera with the best line-up of the troupe. This programme is also one of the 13th Chinese Opera Festival (COF) and the Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage Month 2025 events.

         Henan Yuediao is one of the three major Chinese opera genres in Henan Province. With a history of more than 300 years, it was inscribed onto the First National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. Known for its distinctive vocal styles and intricate musicality, Yuediao opera is celebrated for possessing the rich artistic charm of “nine vocal tones, 18 variations, and 72 ending utterances”. The Shen School of Henan Yuediao has gained acclaim for its “Three Kingdoms” repertory, and Shen Fengmei, the founder of the Shen School, was famous for her unique portrayal of Zhuge Liang in female “xusheng” (bearded male) roles. —————————————————–
    Date and time: June 27 (Friday), 7.30pm———————————————————
    Date and time: June 28 (Saturday), 7.30pm

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ombudsman probes enhanced management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities to pursue “tourism is everywhere” (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Ombudsman probes enhanced management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities to pursue “tourism is everywhere” (with photo) 
         The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (May 29) announced the launch of a direct investigation operation to examine the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities to align with its efforts to develop green tourism and the pursuit of the ideas of “tourism is everywhere” and “sightseeing all over Hong Kong”.
     
         In recent years, the Government has actively promoted green tourism to attract visitors from around the world to explore Hong Kong’s natural landscapes. Some hiking routes, such as Dragon’s Back, have been hailed by international media as the best in the city. Country parks and ancillary facilities, including hiking trails, toilets, rubbish bins, emergency distress facilities, drinking water stations, and signage, are primarily managed and maintained by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), while the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Home Affairs Department are also engaged in related work. In addition, the AFCD, in collaboration with the Tourism Commission, has implemented the Enhancement of Hiking Trails programme since 2018 to improve the ancillary facilities of hiking trails in country parks, which are popular with and appealing to tourists.
     
         However, the Office has noted from media reports the relevant departments’ failure to properly manage and maintain ancillary tourist facilities in countryside areas.  Issues include inadequate toilets and poor hygiene conditions, and scattered and rarely updated information on transportation and location of toilets and water filling stations in country parks. Moreover, there have been incidents where damaged hiking trails remained unrepaired and neglected, and fallen trees were unremoved for months after typhoons, extremely heavy rain or landslides, posing potential risks to hikers and visitors. Furthermore, the Office has from time to time received complaints about the slow progress of countryside facility maintenance and insufficient supporting resources, such as delays in rain shelter repairs and insufficient publicity for visitor centres.
     
         Mr Chan said, “Proper management of countryside ancillary tourist facilities not only helps protect the safety of hikers and visitors but also enhances the outdoor experience for members of the public and tourists, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s appeal as a green tourism hotspot. I have noticed that, for example, during the recent Labour Day Golden Week with many people and tourists travelling to the countryside to enjoy the beautiful mountains and coastal scenery of country parks, problems such as garbage accumulation and traffic congestion emerged. I consider it essential to examine how to improve the ancillary facilities in the countryside, so as to ensure that all these facilities function effectively and are maintained in safe and good condition, and information for visitors is accurate and clear. In this light, I have decided to launch a direct investigation operation to examine the work of the AFCD and other relevant departments on the management and maintenance of countryside ancillary tourist facilities, the dissemination of information on hiking activities and countryside facilities, particularly safety-related information for hikers, as well as the division of responsibilities and co-ordination among different departments regarding the management and maintenance of relevant facilities. Where necessary, pertinent recommendations will be made for improvement.”
     
         The Ombudsman welcomes views from members of the public on this topic. Written submissions should reach the Office of The Ombudsman by June 29, 2025:
     
    Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre
                  168–200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
    Fax:        2882 8149
    Email:     di483@ombudsman.hk
    Issued at HKT 11:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Authority announces general out-patient clinic service arrangements on Tuen Ng Festival

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Region   2957 5186 3157 0965
    Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic G/F, 37 Ting Kok Road, Tai Po 2664 2039 3157 0906
    Tseung Kwan O (Po Ning Road) General Out-patient Clinic G/F, 28 Po Ning Road, Tseung Kwan O 2191 1083 3157 0660
    Tuen Mun Clinic 11 Tsing Yin Street, San Hui, Tuen Mun, N T 2452 9111 3543 0886
    Yuen Long Jockey Club Health Centre 269 Castle Peak Road, Yuen Long 2443 8511 3543 5007

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 29, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 29, 2025.

    Parents of autistic children are stressed. Here’s what they want you to know
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Trevor Mazzucchelli, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University ErsinTekkol/Shutterstock If you’re a parent or carer of a child who’s autistic, the odds are you’re spinning more plates than the average person. The emotional, physical and logistical demands stack up, often without the kind of support you

    Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Woodley, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University CarlosDavid / Getty Last week, organisations from Australia’s online industries submitted a final draft of new industry codes aimed at protecting children from “age-inappropriate content” to the eSafety commissioner. The commissioner will now decide if the codes are

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Zoe McKenzie on everything that went wrong and whether a gender quota could help the Liberals
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Liberals, still reeling from their crushing 2025 election defeat and following with brief split in the Coalition, have a new frontbench and their eyes turning to the long road of rebuilding. New leader Sussan Ley stresses the importance of

    After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic

    Samoa parliament to be dissolved in June, election date to come
    By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalist Its official. Samoa’s Parliament will be dissolved next week and the country will have an early return to the polls. The confirmation comes after a dramatic day in Parliament on Tuesday, which saw the government’s budget voted down at its first reading. In a live address today, Prime Minister

    From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua McLeod, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years. From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business. With surging television ratings and

    Sudden arrivals: NZ ambulance crews describe what it’s like when babies are born out of the blue
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinuli Withanarachchie, PhD candidate, College of Health, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University WOWstockfootage/Getty Images It doesn’t happen very often, but every now and then expectant mothers don’t quite make it to the delivery suite on time – requiring specialised care from emergency medical services (EMS).

    Why NZ must act against Israel’s ethnic cleansing and genocide
    ANALYSIS: By Ian Powell When I despairingly contemplate the horrors and cruelty that Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to, I sometimes try to put this in the context of where I live. I live on the Kāpiti Coast in the lower North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Geographically it is around the same size

    Knife crime is common but difficult to investigate. Robots can help
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paola A. Magni, Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Murdoch University The following article contains material that some readers might find distressing. Around the world, knives are a popular weapon of choice among criminals. In Australia, for example, they are the most common weapon used in homicides. And

    Can your cat recognise you by scent? New study shows it’s likely
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Henning, PhD Candidate in Feline Behaviour, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide Ever wonder if your cat could pick you out of a line up? New research suggests they could … but maybe not in the way you would expect. Previous research has

    PCOS affects 1 in 8 women worldwide, yet it’s often misunderstood. A name change might help
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Helena Teede, Director of Monash Centre for Health Research Implementation, Monash University LightField Studios/Shutterstock Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects one in eight women globally. However, this complex hormonal condition is under-researched and often misunderstood. This is partly due to its name, which overemphasises “cysts” and the ovaries.

    Behind the wellness industry’s scented oils and soothing music are often underpaid, exploited workers
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rawan Nimri, Lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality, Griffith University Prostock Studio/Shutterstock Wellness tourism is booming. Think yoga retreats in Bali, digital detox weekends in a rainforest, or a break on a luxury island to “find yourself”. It’s no longer just about taking selfies at the beach or

    X-rays have revealed a mysterious cosmic object never before seen in our galaxy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ziteng Wang, Associate Lecturer, Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy (CIRA), Curtin University Author provided In a new study published today in Nature, we report the discovery of a new long-period transient – and, for the first time, one that also emits regular bursts of X-rays. Long-period transients

    Antarctica’s sea ice is changing, and so is a vital part of the marine food web that lives within it
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqui Stuart, Postdoctoral Researcher in Marine Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jacqui Stuart, VUW, CC BY-NC-ND Antarctica is the world’s great cooling unit. This vital part of Earth’s climate system is largely powered by the annual freeze and melt of millions of square

    The body as landscape: how post-war Japanese dance and theatre shaped performance in Australia
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan W. Marshall, Associate Professor & Postgraduate Research Coordinator, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University “Tamaokoshi (たまおこし-) – Evocation” (2013) by Yumi Umiumare. Performers: Umiumare, Felix Ching Ching Ho, Fina Po, Helen Smith, Willow Conway, Sevastian Peters-Lazaro, Takashi Takiguchi. Photo by Vikk Shayen, reproduced

    View from the Hill: Liberals and Nationals patch things up and announce a shadow ministry
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two Victorian Liberal women, Jane Hume and Sarah Henderson, have been dumped and a key numbers man has been promoted from the backbench to the shadow cabinet in the new frontbench announced by Coalition leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud.

    Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University Franklin64/Shutterstock In a decision surprising very few people, Australia’s new environment minister Murray Watt has signed off on an extension for the gas plant at Karratha, part of the enormous North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project. The decision

    Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Walker-Munro, Senior Lecturer (Law), Southern Cross University On Wednesday, Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt and economics professor Richard Holden gave a joint address to the National Press Club in Canberra. Their key message? Australia isn’t spending enough money on university research. Schmidt wants to ensure Australia can

    There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images As we enter the colder months in Australia, COVID is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1. Last week, the World Health Organization designated

    Papua New Guinea seeks ‘fast track’ advice on resurrecting shortwave radio
    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Papua New Guinea’s state broadcaster NBC wants shortwave radio reintroduced to achieve the government’s goal of 100 percent broadcast coverage by 2030. Last week, the broadcaster hosted a workshop on the reintroduction of shortwave radio transmission, bringing together key government agencies and other stakeholders. NBC had previously a

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Used Car Exports to Belt and Road Countries Continue to Rise

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    CHENGDU, May 29 (Xinhua) — China’s used car exports to countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continue to grow, with deals worth more than 1 billion yuan (about 139 million U.S. dollars) concluded at a business meeting on used car exports in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, on Wednesday.

    The business meeting was attended by about 40 trade organizations and buyers from 10 countries, including Russia, Iran, Vietnam and Nigeria.

    “Everyone at the meeting came here with the obvious intention of buying,” said Huang Ruoyu, a spokesman for the China Automobile Dealers Association, adding that Belt and Road countries, which are currently upgrading their own auto markets, are increasingly looking to China for low-cost supplies.

    In March 2024, China completely lifted restrictions on used car exports, speeding up access to Belt and Road countries where car consumption is growing, said Qiao Fang, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Commerce.

    According to Qiao Fang, Sichuan Province exported more than 10,000 used cars worth 1.4 billion yuan in the first four months of 2025, up 32 percent from a year earlier. Used car exports have become a new engine for Sichuan’s trade growth, she added.

    The meeting also saw the release of a number of documents and the announcement of the creation of contact centers in six countries, including Russia, Iran, Georgia and others, to ensure the sustainability of global supply chains.

    China began exporting used cars in May 2019. Sichuan Province received approval to do so at the end of 2022. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Report: Dubai consolidates status as luxury home purchase destination

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

    This photo taken on Oct. 17, 2024 shows a city view of Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Dubai was the world’s busiest market for residential properties priced at US$10 million and above for the second consecutive year, according to a report from global property consultancy Knight Frank. 

    The United Arab Emirates city recorded 435 sales in this price bracket in 2024, almost equaling the number of the same price-range home sales in London and New York combined. A further 111 homes sold for over US$10 million during Q1 this year, the highest number for the same period in history. 

    Shehzad Jamal, a partner at Knight Frank, said, “The super-rich remain laser-focused on purchasing luxury homes in the city, and this unrelenting demand has been a critical driver of Dubai being the world’s busiest US$10 million-plus homes market for the second year running.”

    A record of nearly 170,000 residential sales were made in Dubai in 2024, totaling US$100 billion, and the momentum has continued into 2025, with home sales hitting AED100 billion (US$27 billion) by March 4 – the fastest pace on record. 

    In partnership with market research firm YouGov, Knight Frank carried out a survey of 387 high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) based in India, Saudi Arabia, the U.K. and East Asia, each with an average net worth of US$22 million.

    The survey finds that Saudi HNWIs have the highest average budget for a home purchase in Dubai (US$45.7 million), followed by those from India (US$44.6 million) and the U.K. (US$30 million). Asian HNWIs have the lowest budget among Knight Frank’s survey respondents, averaging US$23 million. 

    As to the target neighborhood for a residential acquisition, Dubai’s property market poster-child Dubai Marina (28%) was once again the top target among HNWIs, with Dubai Hills Estate (24%) and Emirates Hills (23%) in second and third place, respectively.  

    The survey also finds that 61% of the Chinese respondents have interest in property purchase in Dubai, following those from Saudi Arabia (96%) and India (86%).

    Dubai’s overall real estate market continued to expand during 2024, with values and rents climbing to fresh highs and the total value of transactions across all sectors topping US$207 billion, according to the report. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: SEON Accelerates APAC Growth Amid Rising Demand for Unified Fraud and AML Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas and SINGAPORE, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SEON, a global leader in digital fraud prevention and compliance, today announced rapid growth across the Asia-Pacific region, driven by increasing demand for its unified, real-time fraud and AML solutions.

    New APAC clients such as Salmon Group Ltd, CryptoGaming.com and Forever Network have adopted SEON’s Know Your User (KYU) and Know Your Customer (KYC) capabilities to navigate escalating fraud risks across the region’s complex digital landscape.

    To support this momentum, SEON has expanded its team with technical, sales and support specialists in Singapore and Jakarta, providing clients with localized expertise and faster response times.

    “APAC presents both extraordinary opportunity and operational complexity,” said Tamas Kadar, Co-founder and CEO, SEON. “The mix of advanced digital economies and rapidly growing markets creates a fragmented risk environment, and legacy point solutions can’t keep pace. Our unified platform delivers real-time visibility and protection across the entire customer journey.”

    As digital threats and regulatory requirements grow throughout the region, businesses face mounting pressure to verify identities, manage payment risk and maintain compliance, without compromising user experience. SEON addresses these challenges with an AI-driven platform that combines digital footprint analysis, device intelligence and real-time analytics to detect and prevent fraud proactively.

    “SEON has quickly become one of the most effective and user-friendly fraud detection tools we’ve used to date. Its ability to provide real-time insights, coupled with detailed device tracking and risk scoring, has greatly improved how we identify and respond to suspicious activity,” said Pauline Liu, Compliance Officer, TitanFX. “The platform is user-friendly, making it easy for both new and experienced team members to navigate and act swiftly. SEON has already proven to be a smart and dependable solution for our fraud monitoring needs.”

    “Our regional clients are increasingly prioritizing fraud prevention platforms that can handle APAC’s payment complexity and varied identity verification methods,” said Troy Nyi Nyi, Senior Vice President and GM, SEON. “The iGaming, fintech and retail sectors in particular are seeking solutions that can operate across multiple jurisdictions without requiring separate tools for each market, which is why they’re turning to SEON.”

    SEON will showcase its latest innovations at SiGMA Asia, taking place June 2-4 in Manila (Booth 1082). During the event, Troy Nyi Nyi, Senior Vice President and GM, SEON, will speak on “Beyond Defense: Leveraging Fraud Prevention as a Competitive Edge,” sharing practical insights for iGaming and fintech leaders.

    About SEON
    SEON helps risk teams detect and stop fraud and money laundering while ensuring regulatory compliance. By combining real-time digital footprint analysis, device intelligence and AI-driven rules, SEON empowers over 5,000 businesses globally to prevent threats before they occur. With integrated fraud prevention and AML capabilities, SEON operates from Austin, London, Budapest and Singapore. Learn more at seon.io.

    Media
    Press@seon.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander M. Hynd, Lecturer, Korean Politics/International Relations, The University of Melbourne

    On June 3, South Koreans will head to the polls to choose the country’s new president. The election may draw to a close one of the most chaotic and contentious periods in the country’s post-1987 democratic era.

    South Korea has been embroiled in a political crisis since December, when former President Yoon Suk Yeol disastrously declared martial law.

    Yoon ordered security forces to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly, leading to a dramatic late night confrontation. His unconstitutional decree was overturned after just six hours.

    The fall-out was equally dramatic: Yoon was impeached and removed from office in a drawn-out process that was not finally resolved until April.

    This period coincided with massive street demonstrations both opposing and supporting Yoon, a far-right assault on a courthouse and a physical stand-off between investigators and Yoon’s personal security team.

    The country, meanwhile, has cycled through three short-lived caretaker leaders.

    With weak economic growth and high costs of living, in addition to an equally challenging security environment, South Korea is in desperate need of bold and effective leadership.

    Who are the candidates?

    The Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung is the clear frontrunner to be the next president, after finishing a close second in the previous 2022 election.

    Recent polling put the veteran left-leaning politician at around 49% support as the race entered the final week.

    This is a double-digit lead over his main conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, polling at 35%. Another conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok, is polling at 11%. Notably, for the first time since 2007, there are no female candidates standing to be president.

    The high levels of support for Lee Jae-myung suggest a widespread desire among the public to repudiate Yoon’s martial law declaration.

    Kim, the labour minister in Yoon’s administration, has apologised for December’s declaration. But his opponents have continued to question him about it.

    Kim’s challenge has been to build a coalition of moderates and mainstream conservatives who firmly opposed the martial law declaration, while also winning support from those who believe far-right conspiracy theories around election fraud. Yoon, the former president, is continuing to promote these narratives.

    Lee’s compelling background

    Lee Jae-myung’s personal story has uplifting parallels with South Korea’s own history of economic and political development.

    Lee was born into poverty; the exact date of his birth is not known. He worked in factories from a very young age and permanently injured his left arm in an industrial accident when he was still a child.

    Lee went on to earn a scholarship to study law and, by the late 1980s, had established himself as a labour lawyer and activist.

    This activist image was highlighted when he live-streamed himself dramatically scaling a fence to enter the National Assembly and vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration in December. He has previously compared himself to populist, progressive US Senator Bernie Sanders.

    More recently, however, he has moderated his political rhetoric and policy platform to appeal to centrists and even some conservative voters.

    This shift may also help shield Lee from the “red-baiting” claims left-leaning South Korean candidates typically face from conservative opponents that they are “communists”, “pro-China”, or “pro-North Korea”.

    But Lee is also plagued by legal troubles, including corruption charges linked to a land development project. These charges, frequently highlighted by his opponents, risk derailing his administration if he wins the election.

    What are the main issues?

    Some international commentators have focused on how the next president will handle North Korea. South Koreans, however, are more interested in the candidates’ plans to fix the country’s troubled economy.

    Lee Jae-myung has pledged to immediately establish an emergency economic taskforce if he takes office.

    There has also been a vigorous debate over South Korea’s future energy policy. Kim favours expanding nuclear energy production to around 60% of the country’s energy mix. Lee has voiced safety concerns about nuclear power, arguing “the era of building more reactors should come to an end”.

    Additionally, questions remain over potential constitutional reform to end South Korea’s so-called “imperial presidency” system, which has been blamed for centralising too much power in the hands of the president.

    The system dates back to the rewriting of the constitution following mass protests in 1987. This established direct presidential elections and a single, five-year term.

    Both Lee and Kim support changing this to a four-year, two-term presidential system, similar to the United States.

    Big challenges lie ahead

    On the international stage, the new leader will face an uphill battle negotiating with US President Donald Trump over his punitive tariffs. Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean goods in April, but lowered them temporarily to 10% until early July.

    Before his impeachment, Yoon was widely reported to be practising his golf skills to attempt to find common ground with Trump, much as former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did.

    The new leader will also face massive challenges bringing South Korean society together in the current climate. Political polarisation and the spread of disinformation worsened under Yoon’s presidency – and these trends will be hard to reverse.

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

    – ref. After a chaotic 6 months, South Koreans will elect a new president – and hope for bold leadership – https://theconversation.com/after-a-chaotic-6-months-south-koreans-will-elect-a-new-president-and-hope-for-bold-leadership-257348

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Woodley, Lecturer and Research Fellow, Edith Cowan University

    CarlosDavid / Getty

    Last week, organisations from Australia’s online industries submitted a final draft of new industry codes aimed at protecting children from “age-inappropriate content” to the eSafety commissioner.

    The commissioner will now decide if the codes are appropriate to be implemented under the Online Safety Act.

    The codes aim to address young people’s access to pornography, high-impact violence, and material relating to self-harm, suicide and disordered eating.

    However, the draft codes may have unintended consequences. There is a real risk they may further restrict access to materials about sex education, sexual health information, harm reduction and health promotion.

    Social media can operate as a powerful medium to teach teens and young people sexual information.

    Social media campaigns (some government funded) target rising rates of sexual violence. They also disseminate important sexual health information.

    What are the industry codes?

    The eSafety commissioner is in the process of introducing codes of practice for the online industry “to protect Australians from illegal and restricted online content”. The Phase 1 codes, aimed at illegal content such as child sexual exploitation material, came into effect last year.

    Now the commissioner is looking at Phase 2. These are designed to prevent young people from accessing “inappropriate” but not illegal content. They will do this via age-assurance mechanisms and by filtering, de-prioritising, downranking and suppressing content.

    The codes will apply to operating systems, various internet services, search engines and hardware, such as smartphones and tablets.

    Tech companies will have more power (and responsibility) to remove content and suspend users. Companies that don’t follow the codes risk fines of up to US$49.5 million (around A$77 million).

    Suppression of sexual health content

    The idea of using technology to restrict online content by age is problematic. The Australian government itself has deemed that age-assurance technologies are not ready to be used. State-of-the-art software has shown racial and gendered bias.

    And digital platforms have a poor track record of governing sexual media.

    International human rights organisations, including the United Nations, have warned that automated content moderation is being used to censor sex education and consensual sexual expression.

    Research shows many platforms tend to remove or suppress content about drag queens, trans rights, sexual racism, body positivity and sex worker safety.

    At the same time, they allow health misinformation and hate speech directed at LGBTQ+ people.

    Sexual health organisations and educators already face challenges using social media to communicate with key audiences, including LGBTQ+ communities. These include having their content made less visible (“shadowbanning”) or outright removed.

    Unintended consequences

    Content moderation policies are already very restrictive. To enforce them, platforms use nudity and pornography detection software that is often biased toward heteronormative standards.

    For example, Google’s computer vision software has previously relied on word databases that link “bisexuality” with “pornography”, “sodomy” with “bestiality”, and “masturbation” with “self-abuse”.

    Many users currently use “algospeak”. This is language designed to avoid the notice of the algorithms that may flag content as inappropriate, often involving tweaks such as using emojis or “seggs” or “s&x” instead of “sex”.

    The government recognises the power of social media. It has committed more than A$100 million towards Our Watch (a leading organisation advocating against violence against women) and its teen-focused social media initiative The Line.

    Another A$3.5 million has gone to the Teach Us Consent organisation. This group creates social media content for teens and young people about consent, healthy relationships, pornography and sex.

    Like the looming youth social media ban, the proposed industry codes may undermine the government’s own efforts to reduce gender-based violence.

    Sex education and health promotion

    Social media platforms try to separate health information from general sexual content. For example, they may aim to allow nudity in cases like childbirth, breastfeeding, medical care or protests.

    However, evidence suggests these exceptions are currently almost impossible to moderate accurately. They rely on a distinction between sex education and sexual media that is blurry at best.

    In reality, sexuality education is not simply technical information about infections, sexual dysfunction or medical care. Sexual imagery plays an important role in sexual health promotion. Young people respond well to visual methods of communication and learning.

    Likewise, the importance of pleasure has been long recognised in HIV prevention, safer sex and violence prevention efforts. Industry codes should recognise sexual media as a potential medium for conducting sex education and promoting sexual and reproductive rights.

    Governments in many countries are moving to restrict sexual information and health services. This includes efforts to criminalise abortion, limit access to trans health care and prevent comprehensive sex education.

    In this context, access to online health promotion and sex education content is even more vital.

    Ensuring access to sexual health material

    The industry codes are intended to protect. However, they risk endangering the ability of Australians to access essential information.

    This is especially important for the many young people who do not have access to comprehensive sexuality and reproductive health information at home or school.

    To uphold sexual rights to information, privacy and expression, the codes must shift away from simply giving platforms an incentive to detect and suppress all sexual content.

    Instead, the codes should ensure non-discriminatory access and require platforms to promote material that supports sexual health, rights and justice. In practice, this necessitates careful consideration of content in context.

    This task might seem time consuming, resource heavy and difficult for regulators and platforms alike. But the implications of content suppression are too dire to overlook.

    In our view, the codes should be paused until they are able to balance protection with rights to information.

    Giselle Woodley has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council via Discovery Project DP190102435 ‘Adolescents’ perceptions of harm from accessing online sexual content’ and the ARC’s Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child. She currently receives funding under Discovery Project ID: DP250102379: Teen-informed strategies to counter sexual image abuse and sextortion. She is a co-founder of Bloom-Ed, a Relationships and Sexuality Education advocacy group, whose views are not expressed here. Giselle would like to thank Dr Elena Jeffreys and Professor Paul Haskell-Dowland for their contributions to this article.

    Kath Albury receives funding from the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship scheme, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society; and FORTE, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare. She has previously received funding from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. She is a current member of pro-bono advisory groups for ASHM, Scarlet Alliance and UNESCO.

    Zahra Stardust has previously received funding from the QUT Digital Media Research Centre (for a project on Rainbow Capitalism, Pinkwashing and Targeted Advertising); FORTE, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (for a project on LGBTQ Digital Sexual Health); from Google Asia Pacific (for a project on AI-related Image-Based Abuse); and from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making + Society (for projects on Alternative Sexual Content Moderation, Sexual Surveillance and the Political Economy of Sextech). She previously worked as a policy advisor for ACON (NSW’s leading HIV and LGBTI health organisation) and Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association.

    – ref. Sexual health info online is crucial for teens. Australia’s new tech codes may threaten their access – https://theconversation.com/sexual-health-info-online-is-crucial-for-teens-australias-new-tech-codes-may-threaten-their-access-257645

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –