Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GAR 2025 Hazard explorations: Extreme Heat

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    In recent years, extreme heat has become the leading cause of reported weather-related deaths.

    The number of people exposed to extreme heat is growing in all world regions, with deadly implications: heat-related mortality for people over 65 years of age increased by approximately 85% between 2000–2004 and 2017–2021.

    Between 2000 and 2019 studies show that approximately 489,000 heat-related deaths occurred annually, with 45% of these in Asia and 36% in Europe. Of these, an estimated 61,672 heat-related excess deaths occurred in the summer of 2022 alone.

    However, many heat action plans remain focused on response rather than transformation, with limited emphasis on reducing risk before extreme heat events occur. Compounding this challenge, extreme heat is still not widely recognized as a disaster by many countries, leading to significant underreporting and masking the true scale of its impacts.

    Heatwaves and extreme heat

    A heatwave is a marked warming of the air, or the invasion of very warm air, over a large area; it usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks (WMO, 1992).

    Extreme costs of extreme heat

    The costs of extreme heat are also increasing. Between 2000 and 2023, extreme temperature events caused economic damages close to USD 73 billion. The most notable peaks were in 2003 and 2008, when total costs of USD 20.7 billion and USD 31 billion were recorded. In 2021, extreme heat led to when USD 6.3 billion in damages occurred in North America alone.

    The indirect impacts of extreme heat not only disrupt everyday life, but also lead to long-term economic and social costs. Extreme heat events in Europe contributed to an extra USD 2.8 billion in annual losses due to increased hospital admissions and diminished labor productivity. Extreme heat increases energy demand, reduce work productivity and strain healthcare systems due to a rise in heat-related illnesses. In urban areas, extreme heat events cause maintenance and repair costs to surge by 12–15%, resulting in an extra cost burden of about USD 4.5 billion annually in major cities, posing significant challenges for sustainable urban planning.

    On the agriculture sector, the past 30 years have seen an estimated loss of USD 3.8 trillion in crops and livestock production due to disaster events, translating to an average annual loss of USD 123 billion per year, or 5 percent of global agricultural GDP.

    According to IPCC predictions, with 1.5°C of warming, 67 cities will experience over 150 days a year of temperatures greater than 35°C – a figure rising to 197 cities with 3°C of warming.

    The agricultural sector, where over 940 million people – including many of the world’s poorest citizens – earn their livelihoods, is already being disrupted by the effects of extreme heat as higher temperatures push workers to the limits of their endurance and threaten crops with drought. Without resilience building, this can result in lost labour, smaller harvests and higher prices for consumers.

    During the 2012 heatwave in the United States, maize yields dropped by 13%, resulting in a sharp increase in global corn prices because the country supplies 40% of global production. In the short term, the food price volatility resulting from these weather events puts low-income countries, particularly those with high crop import dependency ratios, at risk of food insecurity.

    In some areas of India, for example, the effects of shifting weather conditions on agriculture and other sectors are projected to result in a 9% fall in living standards by 2050 if no action is taken, affecting hundreds of millions of people and reversing vital progress in terms of poverty reduction. 

    For the big five major hazard groups (earthquakes, floods, storms, drought and heat) the recorded direct economic costs came to over USD 195.7 billion in 2023, constituting 0.015% of global GDP that year.

    Hazard: Earthquakes

    Earthquakes account for over a quarter (25.6%) of global economic disaster losses.

    Hazard: Floods

    Recent data suggests that floods account for up to 35–40% of weather-related disaster occurrences.

    Hazard: Storms

    In some regions, storms account for up to 35% of total recorded disaster costs, driven by high winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.

    Hazard: Droughts

    Droughts often unfold slowly, but with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.

    Hazard: Extreme heat

    In recent years, extreme heat has become the leading cause of reported weather-related deaths.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: GAR 2025 Hazard explorations: Droughts

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Droughts often unfold slowly, but with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.

    Like floods, droughts are also widespread and affect countries in every region of the world. In the decade to 2017, drought affected at least 1.5 billion people and cost USD 125 billion globally. The number of recorded droughts has increased by 29 per cent over the past 20 years. Since 2000, most drought-related deaths have occurred in Africa. Droughts often have a range of indirect impacts such as increased water scarcity, with significant direct and indirect impacts on human and planetary wellbeing. 

    These impacts are especially acute for marginalized groups, including children. As of 2025, over 920 million children (over one-third of the global child population) were highly exposed to water scarcity, which in turn impacts on their nutritional access. Africa and Asia demonstrate the most severe extremes. Children who lack adequate nutrition are more susceptible to severe diseases, impairing physical and cognitive development and are more susceptible to conditions such as stunting and wasting.

    Drought

    A drought is a period of abnormally dry weather characterized by a prolonged deficiency of precipitation below a certain threshold over a large area and a period longer than a month (WMO, 2020).

    Impact of water scarcity on child nutrition

    Source: UNICEF 2021

    Water scarcity in many parts of the world is also associated with a decrease in women’s well-being. For instance, daily average water collection time for women in households without on-site water access at the local level across Africa can exceed 60 minutes in parts of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. These countries also report very low rates of access to safe drinking water services, with just 10-20% of the total population covered. Rising temperatures are expected to further exacerbate this global burden of water collection. However, the impacts of water scarcity can be significantly reduced by disaster risk reduction action, investments that also deliver a range of additional benefits.

    Agriculture is the most vulnerable economic sector to adverse climate impacts.  Some 82% of all damage and loss caused by drought was borne by agriculture in low- and lower-middle-income countries between 2008 and 2018. Meteorological drought does not always lead to agricultural drought, which depends on factors like the timing and amount of rainfall during the crop season, and how well the soil retains water. Drought causes short- and medium-term water shortages to livestock and crops (including fodder), potentially lowering yields and ultimately threatening food security. In the case of prolonged or recurring droughts, longer-term impacts can transpire, such as land subsidence and seawater intrusion along river systems with reduced water flow.  

    Based on historical data, recent estimates suggest that their impacts cost approximately USD 307 billion annually. These losses however, as estimated by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), are not confined solely to direct damage in affected sectors but also encompass indirect, long-term costs that ripple through the economy, such as loss of livelihoods and land degradation.

    Remarkably, despite their significant and growing impacts, and studies that have provided estimates for specific sectors, but a robust, cross-sectoral AAL estimate for drought and extreme heat is still missing. For instance, recent research by UNCDD on droughts highlights how they weaken agricultural production, reduce water availability and compromise the resilience of natural ecosystems, thereby affecting the livelihood of more than 1.8 billion people annually. Initial work has been done by CDRI to estimate the AAL of drought on the hydro-power sector, suggesting that roughly 12.9% of average hydropower production (the equivalent of 135.3 TWh/h of electricity) was impacted. Being able to have similar estimates for other drought sensitive sectors would help countries to design better risk reduction policies and investments.

    Future Drought risk

    Drought risk continues to intensify in many parts of the world, driven by climate change, water scarcity, poor resource management and unsustainable land use. According to forecasts, by 2050 droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population. Human activity is also contributing to the increasing frequency of drought and has knock-on direct impacts on food security and human wellbeing. Assessing the current economic impact of drought, let alone its potential effects in future, is not easy given that so many of its impacts are indirect, and even the start and end dates of drought events are not always clear. However, at present drought-induced losses are estimated to cost approximately USD 307 billion each year, representing 15% of disaster-related economic losses globally, and are responsible for 85.8% of livestock deaths.

    Nevertheless, there is promising work underway to improve risk analysis, using advanced modelling and the deployment of machine learning. The 2024 Drought Resilience +10 Conference (DR+10) affirmed joint efforts to strengthen drought resilience through integrated drought management and other proven approaches. However, more is needed to strengthen international collaboration around the drivers of globally networked risks – for instance, the trade and food security impacts from droughts in different parts of the world) – across regions, nations, sectors and communities.

    For the big five major hazard groups (earthquakes, floods, storms, drought and heat) the recorded direct economic costs came to over USD 195.7 billion in 2023, constituting 0.015% of global GDP that year.

    Hazard: Earthquakes

    Earthquakes account for over a quarter (25.6%) of global economic disaster losses.

    Hazard: Floods

    Recent data suggests that floods account for up to 35–40% of weather-related disaster occurrences.

    Hazard: Storms

    In some regions, storms account for up to 35% of total recorded disaster costs, driven by high winds, storm surges, and heavy rainfall.

    Hazard: Droughts

    Droughts often unfold slowly, but with far-reaching impacts on agriculture, water supplies, and economic stability.

    Hazard: Extreme heat

    In recent years, extreme heat has become the leading cause of reported weather-related deaths

    .

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • President Murmu presents Padma Awards; PM Modi calls awardees’ journeys “deeply motivating”

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday presented the Padma Awards to 68 individuals across a diverse range of disciplines during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attended the ceremony and expressed his admiration for the awardees.

    In a post on X, the prime minister said, “Attended the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II, where the Padma Awards were presented. The Padma awardees have made notable contributions to our society. The life journeys of those who were conferred the Padma are deeply motivating.”

    Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Ministers Amit Shah, S. Jaishankar, Pralhad Joshi, Jitendra Singh, G. Kishan Reddy, and several other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

    The Padma Awards, among the highest civilian honours in India, are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. This year, the government had announced a total of 139 Padma awardees on the eve of Republic Day.

  • MIL-OSI: SOLUM Expands Production Capacity and Accelerates Retail Digitalization Across North America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEOUL, South Korea, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SOLUM, a global leader in electronic shelf labels (ESL) and digital retail solutions, is strengthening its global leadership by scaling production and securing key wins across major retail markets. As demand for smart retail technology continues to rise, SOLUM is emerging as a core enabler of retail digital transformation worldwide.

    In April 2025, SOLUM’s Vietnam manufacturing facility shipped a record 6.26 million ESL units, the highest monthly volume since the site’s inception. Production value reached KRW 59.6 billion, marking a 33% increase year-over-year. In May, the company expects shipments to exceed 7 million units, with production value approaching KRW 100 billion—a milestone that could mark the plant’s highest monthly performance to date.

    This output growth is the result of long-term investment in production automation. Since 2020, SOLUM has introduced multi-phase automation lines for ESL performance testing. Its flagship Newton 2.9-inch model is now fully automated, and semi-automated lines have been optimized to further increase output. Despite a 27% reduction in workforce compared to the 2022 average, per-person productivity has improved, supported by tighter quality control. As of 2024, defect rates dropped to 18 ppm, well below industry norms.

    _____________________

    North America: Demonstrating ESL Value in High-Volume Grocery Chains

    SOLUM has firmly established its North American presence by supplying ESLs to more than 1,000 stores operated by Canada’s largest retail group. The implementation has been particularly impactful in grocery environments where product turnover and price variability demand real-time responsiveness. SOLUM’s ESL system supports dynamic pricing, automated markdowns, and simultaneous display of member and promotional pricing across thousands of SKUs.

    “ESLs deliver their highest value in complex environments like grocery stores, where frequent price changes and high operational demands are the norm. Our partnership with Canada’s largest retailer represents a turning point in the region’s digital transformation. We’re aiming for a 70% market share in Canada’s ESL segment,” noted CW Ahn, CEO of SOLUM America.

    To support this growth, SOLUM has established a local sales entity in Canada and is expanding its technical and sales teams. The company recently signed a new contract with one of Canada’s Top 3 grocery groups, further enhancing its leadership in the region.

    The company’s North America lead stated, “We’re evolving from a hardware vendor into a solution partner. Beyond large enterprise clients, our long-term vision includes empowering small and mid-sized retailers to adopt ESL through a SaaS-based platform. Our organizational growth reflects this shift toward platform-driven retail technology.”

    _____________________

    Platform-Led Leadership in Smart Retail

    As global demand for digital retail solutions accelerates, SOLUM continues to lead through a powerful combination of manufacturing scale, premium quality, and technology integration.

    Its Newton ESL lineup supports full product customization, while upcoming solutions—including BLE-based trace tags and handheld terminals—will offer retailers greater operational control and visibility. These initiatives mark SOLUM’s evolution from a hardware supplier to a platform-based smart retail partner.

    “SOLUM isn’t just following global retail trends—we’re helping shape them,” said Steve Jun, Head of ESL Division, at SOLUM. “With proven success across North America and Europe, we’re committed to delivering intelligent, future-ready solutions that drive the next phase of retail innovation.”

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e8f1b89-47c2-4284-a84f-b72a4a452faa

    The MIL Network

  • Data Users Conference in Hyderabad highlights India’s investment and informal sector trends

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), held a Data Users Conference at the Indian School of Business (ISB) in Hyderabad on May 27. The conference focused on bridging the gap between data producers and users through discussions on the ASUSE 2023–24 and the Forward-Looking Private Sector CAPEX Investment Intentions Survey.

    More than 200 participants from academia, policy, industry, and international organizations joined the discussions. MoSPI Secretary Dr. Saurabh Garg highlighted innovations like the monthly PLFS release, the CAPEX survey, and a revamped data portal, reiterating the ministry’s ‘Data for Development’ vision.

    Chief Economic Advisor Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran emphasized the importance of granular data in policymaking and praised MoSPI’s integration of administrative datasets and AI tools. ISB Dean Prof. Madan M. Pillutla and NSS DG Ms. Geeta Singh Rathore underscored the significance of collaboration, capacity-building, and data accessibility.

    Technical sessions explored ASUSE’s new sampling design, the policy relevance of CAPEX data, and its value for MSMEs. A panel discussion highlighted capital formation trends, the role of households in GFCF, and the need for better access to microdata and stronger state-level systems.

    Key takeaways included expanding ASUSE profiling, aligning CAPEX data with Vision 2047 goals, tracking MUDRA’s impact, and integrating renewable energy investment intentions into future surveys.

    The conference reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing data-driven governance in India.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Premier Calls for Promoting China-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation

    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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — China hopes to work with Vietnam to advance bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation toward higher quality and deeper levels, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

    Li Qiang made the statement during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh on the sidelines of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China-GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf) summit.

    The head of the Chinese government recalled that not long ago, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping made a successful state visit to Vietnam, during which the parties agreed to accelerate the construction of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future of strategic importance in accordance with six major goals.

    As Li Qiang emphasized, China is ready to work with Vietnam to implement the results of this visit, maintain high-level exchanges, deepen political mutual trust, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

    Pointing out that instability and uncertainty are growing in the current international situation, Li Qiang said China will remain committed to openness and development and hopes to strengthen communication and cooperation with Vietnam, jointly uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the world economic and trade order and the common interests of countries in the Global South.

    Pham Minh Trinh, for his part, noted that President Xi Jinping made a successful state visit to Vietnam in April this year. The Prime Minister expressed Vietnam’s intention to join hands with China to actively implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen high-level exchanges and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

    The Vietnamese side expresses congratulations on the successful holding of the first ASEAN-China-GCC summit, Pham Minh Trinh said, expressing his country’s readiness to work with China to promote new practical achievements in trilateral cooperation.

    The current international situation is full of challenges, the head of the Vietnamese government stated. He stressed that Vietnam expects to strengthen communication and coordination with China to firmly protect its legitimate rights and interests. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKSAR Government responds to Hong Kong credit ratings affirmations by S&P and Moody’s

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    In response to reports by two rating agencies, namely S&P and Moody’s which affirmed Hong Kong’s credit ratings today (May 27), a Government spokesman made the following response:

    The Government noted that S&P has maintained Hong Kong’s “AA+” credit rating with a “stable” outlook, while Moody’s has affirmed Hong Kong’s “Aa3” credit rating, and upgraded the outlook from “negative” to “stable”.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DGCA visits Beijing (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    DGCA visits Beijing  
    Mr Liu called on the Administrator of the CAAC, Mr Song Zhiyong, and expressed his gratitude for the CAAC’s staunch support to the aviation industry of Hong Kong throughout the years. He also briefed Mr Song on the latest civil aviation developments in Hong Kong to further enhance co-operation. Mr Liu also met with Deputy Administrator of the CAAC Mr Han Jun and representatives from the relevant bureaux, to discuss how to establish closer ties in the areas including civil aviation development, aviation safety and technical co-operation.
     
    During the visit, the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) signed a Letter of Intent on Strengthening Technical Exchanges and Collaboration in Civil Aviation Safety Oversight, and a Cooperation Arrangement on Strengthening Civil Aviation Science and Technology with the CAAC and the China Academy of Civil Aviation Science and Technology (CAST) under the CAAC respectively.
     
    In addition, witnessed by Mr Liu and Mr Han, the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and the Civil Aviation Flight University of China signed a framework agreement to foster co-operation in cadet pilot training. Both flying training organisations were granted with the CAD 509 approval.
     
    Mr Liu also met with the Director General of the ATMB of the CAAC, Mr Miao Xuan, to exchange views on further strengthening co-operation in air traffic management, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the aviation industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Mr Liu welcomed the participation of the ATMB in Airspace Asia Pacific 2025 to be held in Hong Kong this December, showcasing the innovative technologies used in Mainland air traffic management.  
     
    Mr Liu took the opportunity to visit the Third Civil Aviation Science and Education Innovation Achievement Exhibition and the CAST Aviation Safety Experimental Base to learn about the achievements in innovative technologies and development trends in the Mainland aviation industry.
     
    Accompanying Mr Liu to Beijing was the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Air Services and Safety Management), Mr Raymond Ng; the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Air Traffic Management), Mr Hui Man-ho; and the Assistant Director-General of Civil Aviation (Airport Standards), Mr Samuel Ng.
     
    Mr Liu will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (May 28).
    Issued at HKT 18:40

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks at question and answer session of Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy press conference (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Remarks at question and answer session of Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy press conference Issued at HKT 20:40

    The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, held a press conference today (May 27) on measures to be implemented by the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy together with the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau; the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Joseph Chan; the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming; and the Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong. Following are Mr Cheuk’s remarks at the question and answer session:

    Reporter: Some English questions. First, because you mentioned that the Government will encourage post-50s to rejoin the labour market, do you have a target of how many more people above 50 will be rejoining the workforce, and what kinds of jobs or industries should attract the most of these people? And the second question, given the current economic situation of Hong Kong, how do you expect these measures to contribute to the economy and the GDP? And when will you review your measures? Thank you.

    Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration: I take your questions briefly, and then I see if other colleagues may have anything to supplement. On the possible addition to the labour force, in 2024, the labour participation rate of Hong Kong people above the age of 60 is about 23.7 per cent, while the overall – if you take the whole Hong Kong workforce into account – the labour participation rate is 54.7 per cent. If you look at the figure in 2025 this year, the first quarter, the figure I gave you just now was relating to people above the age of 60, which could go up to as high as 70-something, 80-something. But if you zoom in on the age bracket of 60 to 69, the labour participation rate in the first quarter of 2025 is 38.8 per cent. If you look at the overall labour participation rate and the labour participation rate of this age bracket, it will give you a differential of about 16 per cent. Theoretically, that is the number that we can go for.

    Your second question is about how our measures would contribute to GDP growth. I mentioned this in the reply to an earlier question. I think instead of setting a KPI, which actually is not appropriate for this kind of programme, which involves implementation by many outside parties, and the result of which is rather beyond the control of the administration, I think it is more realistic or instructional to look at what we are talking about in terms of what the magnitude of the silver economy is. Worldwide, the practice to measure silver economy is to look at the consumption of the elderly. In 2024, the elderly spending of people aged 60 and above amounted to $342 billion, and in 10 years’ time, it is predicted to grow to $496 billion, that is the kind of magnitude of silver spending. If we can achieve a 5 per cent growth a year, say if we just take the first year as an illustration, that would amount to $17 billion, which is quite substantial.

    (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

    Ends/Tuesday, May 27, 2025
    Issued at HKT 20:40

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CSB and departments hold career talks in Mainland universities (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CSB and departments hold career talks in Mainland universities Issued at HKT 19:24

    The Civil Service Bureau (CSB), together with representatives from the Civil Aviation Department, the Home Affairs Department and the Digital Policy Office are visiting Guangzhou and Wuhan to conduct career talks at Sun Yat-sen University, Jinan University, Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology for four consecutive days starting today (May 27), to provide Hong Kong students studying on the Mainland with information on various positions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.

    Speaking at the talk at Sun Yat-sen University today, the Director of General Grades of the CSB, Mr Hermes Chan, said that since 2023, the CSB of the HKSAR Government has been sending delegations to a number of universities and local offices of the HKSAR on the Mainland to introduce the diverse job opportunities offered by the HKSAR Government to Hong Kong students and Hong Kong people residing on the Mainland. In May last year, the CSB held career talks together with various departments for the first time at several universities in Guangdong and Fujian. The briefings are effective, as shown by the continuous increase in the number of applications for civil service positions from Hong Kong students graduating from Mainland universities. He encouraged Hong Kong students with aspirations to serve the community to equip themselves early to join the civil service.

    The career talks covered information related to Student Air Traffic Control Officer, Liaison Officer Grade, Analyst/Programmer Grade, Computer Operator Grade, Executive Officer Grade, and other general grades. Information booths, mock skills tests and mock interview sessions were also provided on-site to allow students to experience the recruitment process.

    For information on matters related to civil service recruitment, job vacancies and the latest examination arrangements, please visit the CSB website: www.csb.gov.hk/english/recruit/7.html.

    Ends/Tuesday, May 27, 2025
    Issued at HKT 19:24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Government of Canada proudly celebrates Asian Heritage Month

    Source: Government of Canada News

    OTTAWA – The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, will host the official Government of Canada celebration for Asian Heritage Month on Wednesday.

    This year’s theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity,” celebrates the abundance of diversity present among Asian-Canadian communities, and the ways this richness has contributed to building our Canadian identity.

    The evening will feature performances and inspiring speeches, paying tribute to the achievements and outstanding contributions of Asian communities across Canada.

    Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

    The details are as follows:

    DATE:
    Wednesday, May 28, 2025

    TIME:
    7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

    Journalists who wish to attend this event must confirm their participation by submitting their full name and the name of their organization to media@pch.gc.ca by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28. Information on the location and how to attend will be provided after registering.

    MIL OSI Canada News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Premier Calls for Setting Model of Openness, Development Cooperation with ASEAN, GCC

    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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday called on China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to strive to set a model for global cooperation and development featuring regional openness, cooperation among countries at different stages of development and integration of different civilizations.

    Li Qiang made the announcement at the first ASEAN-China-GCC summit in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

    The premier called on the three parties to create a model of inter-regional openness, noting that the combined population and economic strength of China, ASEAN and GCC countries account for about a quarter of the world’s total.

    According to him, the full connection of the three markets will undoubtedly provide much greater space for development and a more significant effect of scale.

    China and ASEAN have fully completed negotiations on upgrading the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (FTA) to version 3.0, Li Qiang recalled, adding that the FTA negotiations between various parties and the GCC are expected to be completed soon, thereby raising the level of trilateral trade.

    He called on the three parties to steadily expand regional opening-up and unite adjacent regions into a large common market where resources, technology and talent circulate more efficiently and trade and investment enjoy greater freedom and convenience, so as to give full play to the powerful effect of open development.

    The Chinese leader also called on the three sides to develop a model of cooperation at different stages of development, saying that although the three sides are at different stages of development, their differences do not hinder cooperation, but rather complement each other through their strengths.

    China, he said, is willing to deepen the alignment of development strategies with ASEAN and the GCC on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment, strengthen coordination of macroeconomic policies and strengthen cooperation in industrial specialization.

    “We should strive to turn our own strengths into each other’s advantages, while helping each other overcome new challenges arising in the development process, create new paths for international industrial and economic cooperation, and promote coordinated development in which everyone’s capabilities can be fully unleashed and the benefits doubled and shared,” Li Qiang stressed.

    The Premier called on the three sides to create a model of inter-civilizational integration, noting that they are the cradles of vibrant civilizations and share the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness.

    Li Qiang said it is important to deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and strengthen the foundation of mutual trust, and called on the three sides to effectively overcome differences through mutual understanding, develop mutually beneficial cooperation through the exchange of ideas, and seek a new path for the inclusive development of various civilizations.

    The Chinese side, he pointed out, actively supports the initiative of Confucian-Islamic inter-civilizational dialogue put forward by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

    China is willing to work with ASEAN and the GCC to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, promote mutual learning among civilizations, build greater consensus, and inject impetus into peace and development, Li added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Global: Borders and orders: How settler-government occupations violate Kashmiri sovereignty

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Binish Ahmed, PhD Candidate, Policy Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University

    The recent attack in Pahalgam and military exchanges between India and Pakistan have renewed international focus on a nearly 80-years-long conflict over Kashmir.

    But a preliminary review of both North American and Indian media reveals only surface-level analyses.

    North American news outlets primarily framed this as a territorial dispute between two nuclear-armed nations. Indian media presented it as a “war on terror.”

    Missing from the coverage — and much academic analysis — is the story of Kashmiris as Indigenous Peoples. Their divided territory has been under multiple occupations since 1947, with other colonial rulers prior to that. International human rights groups have raised alarms about Kashmiris facing intensive repression by the Indian and Pakistani governments.

    As a policy PhD scholar of Indigenous studies and governance, I can help fill in the gaps. I have developed an Indigenous policy research framework for how to more fully study situations around the world, particularly in Kashmir. This includes identifying familiar settler-colonial patterns: legalized land control, resource extraction and criminalization of the native population and resistance.

    Patterns of colonial nation-building and settlement have produced orders and borders that have been controlling Kashmir since the 1947 British partition of India and Pakistan. The repressive Indian and Pakistani settler-colonial laws operate through interconnected legal, cultural and military mechanisms.

    These methods eliminate Kashmiri self-determination, land rights and self-government.

    Applying an Indigenous rights framework to Kashmir

    Kashmir is among the world’s most militarized regions, home to vital but depleting water resources. Kashmiri territories are divided and controlled by India, Pakistan and China.

    Its diverse, multi-faith communities include a Muslim majority and Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian minorities. An Indigenous rights framework recognizes Kashmiris as the first peoples of the land with cultural rights, inherent sovereignty, economic rights and collective rights to ancestral lands.

    I have observed Indians and Pakistanis claiming Kashmiri identity through religious affiliation. This self-indigenizing erases actual Kashmiris by conflating religious and Indigenous identities.

    According to the United Nations: “Indigenous refers to peoples of long settlement and connection to specific lands who have been adversely affected by incursions by industrial economies, displacement and settlement of their traditional territories by others.” In my peer-reviewed work, I have argued this definition applies to Kashmiri people.

    Cultural criminalization of Kashmiri population

    In popular and political ongoing anti-Kashmiri racist narratives, Kashmiris are cast as perpetual “security threats” and “terrorists.”

    Post-Sept. 11 false “war on terror” narratives by media and academics has been deliberately manipulated against the Muslim-majority Kashmiris. For example, mainstream Indian media and popular Bollywood films have demonized Kashmiri-Muslims and delegitimized Indigenous resistance. This framing has especially been advanced by the Hindu-nationalist BJP and RSS under Indian leader Narendra Modi.

    This framing allows for cultural dispossession through restricting religious practices by India, and extends to the marginalization of Kashmiri language and histories by India and Pakistan. Media restrictions are standard and limit self-representation.

    Anti-Muslim profiling, surveillance, communication blockades and the criminalizing of dissent are regular occurrences in Kashmir.




    Read more:
    In India, film and social media play recurring roles in politics


    Repressive control and rights violations in India

    Suppression of dissent and restrictions on freedom of information and expression prevent Kashmiris from voicing grievances to advance collective rights.

    Since 2019, the human rights group Genocide Watch has issued multiple “genocide alerts” for Kashmir. Al Jazeera has recently reported patterns of enforced disappearances of dissenters. In 2012, The Guardian reported on “mass graves in Kashmir.”

    Journalists face attacks and exile. Fahad Shah, editor of the Kashmir Walla, was imprisoned for 600 days.




    Read more:
    Call the crime in Kashmir by its name: Ongoing genocide


    Internet shutdowns and media censorship function as what one human rights group has called “digital apartheid.”

    Indian government administrators conduct physical and digital surveillance in Kashmir, collecting personal data and monitoring connections.

    Kashmiri rights defenders like Khurram Parvez and Irfan Mehraj face arbitrary imprisonment.

    Sexual violence has been documented as a weapon of control.

    Military forces have destroyed infrastructure, including homes, businesses, schools and orchards. Rights defenders face imprisonment.

    These human rights violations continue on both sides of the border — by both India and Pakistan — with minimal scrutiny or accountability.

    Indian legal and military control in Kashmir

    Article 370 functioned as an interim treaty between India and Kashmir since 1949 until its 2019 revocation. It granted Kashmir a constitution and some legal autonomy.

    Its removal eliminated remaining Indigenous Kashmiri rights protections, enabled new colonial laws on Kashmir and allowed non-Kashmiris to own land and hold public office.

    The Indian Domicile Act has allowed demographic engineering whereby more than 80,000 non-Kashmiris were given Kashmiri membership rights between 2022-2024.

    The Domicile Act is a typical colonial strategy and works to undermine Indigenous presence and resistance capacity.

    Pakistan side of the border

    On the Pakistani side, the Interim Constitution for Kashmir forbids political expression that challengs Pakistan’s control of and claim to Kashmir.

    This constitution also established a governance system that initially included the Kashmir Council, with Pakistani officials holding significant power over legislation and appointments.

    Following the 2018 13th amendment, many legislative powers transferred from the Kashmir Council to the Pakistani government rather than to the Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) Assembly. This means Pakistan retains exclusive control over many areas.

    The elected AJK government remains structurally subordinate to Pakistan’s Ministry of Kashmir Affairs. Non-Kashmiri officials hold key executive powers in Islamabad. This gives Pakistan administrative oversight over Kashmir.

    The United Nations has documented rights violations in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, including restricted expression and anti-terrorism law abuse to suppress dissent. Enforced disappearances have also been reported as journalists face threats.

    Mining and resource extraction

    Extractive settler-colonial government economies dispossess Kashmiris from their land through control of water, energy projects, lithium mining and deforestation.

    India expedites mining operations that exploit Kashmir’s significant lithium deposits. They sideline environmental and community displacement concerns.

    Extensive deforestation transforms Kashmir’s landscapes, displacing wildlife, destroying habitats and threatening traditional Kashmiri ways of life.

    Indian and Pakistani control of Kashmir’s vital waterways has led to the creation of hydroelectric power projects on rivers like Chenab, Neelum and Jhelum, generating substantial energy through dams (Kishanganga, Baglihar dam, Mangla dam and the Azad Pattan Hydropower project).

    Hydroelectric power generated from Kashmir is predominantly exported to outsiders. Cities in India and Pakistan benefit, while Kashmiris face high energy bills and electricity shortages.

    Justice for peace

    A sustainable peace requires undoing settler-colonial borders and orders across Kashmir. It requires reuniting Kashmiris across the colonial divide. Colonizers need to surrender governance power back to Indigenous Kashmiris.

    Kashmiri self-government — without colonial oversight — would respect Kashmiri freedoms, sovereignty and self-determination over ancestral lands, waterways and resources. This would bring peace to the region.

    Binish Ahmed is affiliated with Kashmir Gulposh, a Kashmiri rights education collective.

    ref. Borders and orders: How settler-government occupations violate Kashmiri sovereignty – https://theconversation.com/borders-and-orders-how-settler-government-occupations-violate-kashmiri-sovereignty-256411

    MIL OSI – Global Reports

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two agreements with representatives of the Science and Technology Administration of the High-Tech and Industrial Region of Harbin were signed at the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On May 27, 2025, a delegation from the Science and Technology Administration of the Harbin High-tech and Industrial Zone and the PUE Shanghai Business Incubator Administration visited the National University of Management.

    At the meeting with the management of the State University of Management, two cooperation agreements were signed and vectors for its further development were outlined.

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev: “Dear colleagues, friends, comrades, I am glad to welcome such a representative and serious delegation within the walls of the State University of Management. Our meeting is aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership with the industrial region of Harbin. In the new era, relations between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China are rapidly developing, which was confirmed during the visit to Russia of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping. We are especially pleased that this visit was timed to coincide with the celebration of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, as well as the end of World War II and the victory over militarist Japan. There are many tasks and issues on the agenda. I hope that even if we do not solve them all today, we will outline the directions for these decisions. I am confident that the visit will serve the further development of relations between our countries.”

    Deputy Head of the Harbin High-Tech and Industrial District Committee Wang Hong: “Dear Rector and the SUM team, good morning! It is an honor for us to visit a prestigious university with a long history. Before the visit, we studied your university in terms of experience in training personnel for your country and in cooperation with China. Our countries are close not only geographically, economically, but also culturally. The recent visit of the PRC leaders to Russia was intended to continue the development of these ties. Our visit today has the same goal. Harbin is the largest historical base for training personnel for cooperation with Russia; today, it is home to 23 universities.”

    Next, Comrade Wang Hong outlined the priority areas of cooperation with the National University of Management: 1. Establishing strong ties and organizing regular mutual visits between the parties, as well as integrating educational programs; 2. Scientific cooperation in the field of developing artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, biomedicine, new materials and food production; 3. Organizing a student exchange program in the form of courses or summer schools to train competitive personnel.

    At the end of her welcoming speech, Wang Hong invited Vladimir Stroyev and other representatives of the State University of Management to come to Harbin on a return visit.

    Vladimir Vitalyevich accepted the invitation with gratitude, noting that he, as a native of Vladivostok, always dreamed of visiting Harbin and now this dream can come true, since good partners have appeared in the city.

    In a ceremonial atmosphere, the rector signed two cooperation agreements: with the Science and Technology Administration of the High-Tech and Industrial District of Harbin, represented by the Head of the Administration, Wang Di, and with the Administration of the Business Incubator “PuE-Shanghai”, represented by the General Director, Su Jing.

    Director of the Center for Management Development of the Higher School of Business and Technology of the State University of Management, Alexander Narezhnev, spoke about the goals and objectives of the department, educational programs and internships in China. The director proposed developing similar programs and starting cooperation in areas of science that are of interest to partners. In addition, Alexander Narezhnev proposed developing programs to support startups and providing partners with a platform to open their representative office on the territory of the State University of Management.

    Vladimir Filatov, Director of the Center for Management of Engineering Projects at GUU, reported that the Center, under his leadership, is conducting developments in the field of artificial intelligence, drones, computer vision, and the agricultural industry, and also shared his experience of cooperation with the Chinese side – GUU and one of the Shanxi universities submitted a joint application for research with funding from national funds.

    Deputy Head of the Harbin High-Tech and Industrial District Committee Wang Hong said that the district is an economic zone responsible for developing relations with Russia, so there is a special competence center and a bank to ensure financial transfers. To simplify the start of work, partners are offered turnkey services. In this regard, Wang Hong proposed considering the possibility of opening a representative office of the State University of Management in Harbin.

    During the subsequent meeting, the partners discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the areas of MBA and internships, agreed to hold a joint round table and exchanged contact information.

    Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov noted that the discussion arouses a keen interest in joint activities, and suggested developing and exchanging specific proposals for work in the field of science and education, and later signing further agreements at the 9th Russian-Chinese EXPO, which will take place on July 7–10 in Yekaterinburg. The distinguished guests agreed with this proposal.

    At the end of the visit to SUM, the delegation from Harbin was given a tour of the university campus.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • India records $81.04 billion FDI inflow in FY 2024–25, services sector leads with 40% growth

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India attracted a record USD 81.04 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the fiscal year 2024–25, up 14% from the previous year, driven by a liberalized policy regime and strong inflows into the services and manufacturing sectors, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said on Tuesday.

    The services sector emerged as the top recipient of FDI equity in FY 2024–25, attracting 19% of total inflows, followed by computer software and hardware (16%) and trading (8%). FDI into the services sector rose by 40.77%, reaching USD 9.35 billion, up from USD 6.64 billion in the previous year.

    India is also becoming a hub for manufacturing FDI, which grew by 18% in FY 2024–25, reaching USD 19.04 billion compared to USD 16.12 billion in FY 2023–24.

    Maharashtra accounted for the highest share (39%) of total FDI equity inflows in FY 2024–25, followed by Karnataka (13%) and Delhi (12%). Among source countries, Singapore led with a 30% share, followed by Mauritius (17%) and the United States (11%).

    Over the last eleven financial years (2014–25), India attracted FDI worth USD 748.78 billion, reflecting a 143% increase over the previous eleven years (2003–14), which saw USD 308.38 billion in inflows. This constitutes nearly 70% of the total USD 1,072.36 billion in FDI received over the past 25 years.

    Additionally, the number of source countries for FDI increased from 89 in FY 2013–14 to 112 in FY 2024–25, underscoring India’s growing global appeal as an investment destination.

    In the regulatory domain, the government has undertaken transformative reforms across multiple sectors to liberalize FDI norms. Between 2014 and 2019, significant reforms included increased FDI caps in the Defence, Insurance, and Pension sectors, as well as liberalized policies for Construction, Civil Aviation, and Single Brand Retail Trading.

    From 2019 to 2024, notable measures included allowing 100% FDI under the automatic route in coal mining, contract manufacturing, and insurance intermediaries. In 2025, the Union Budget proposed increasing the FDI limit from 74% to 100% for companies investing their entire premium within India.

  • MIL-OSI: First Tranche offering of UAB „Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos“ notes under the EUR 100 million Green Bonds Programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA OR JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE IN THIS STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE BELOW.

    NEW EUR 2025/2027 NOTES

    Closed – End Investment Company Intended for Informed Investors UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” (the “Company”) is launching its public offering of EUR 2025/2027 Notes (ISIN LT0000134439, the “Notes”). The Notes are being issued under the EUR 100 million Green Bond Programme. The base prospectus of the programme (the “Prospectus”) was approved by the Bank of Lithuania on 27 May 2025.
    According to the final terms of the first tranche, dated 27 May 2025 (attached), the Company is planning to issue up to EUR 65 million of nominal value Notes with maturity of 30 months to investors in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
    Summary of the main issue terms:

    • First tranche size: up to 65 000 000 EUR
    • Specified denominations: EUR 100,000 and integral multiples of EUR 1,000
    • Interest rate: 8%, paid semi-annually
    • Subscription period: from 28 May 2025 to 11 June 2025 2:30 pm CEST/3:30 pm Vilnius time
    • Settlement and issue date: 13 June 2025
    • Maturity date: 13 December 2027

    Investors wishing to submit a subscription order must contact their brokerage company.

    INVESTOR PRESENTATIONS
    Manager of Closed – End Investment Company Intended for Informed Investors UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” Mantas Auruškevičius will present the offer via webcast/conference call:

    • English-language session: 4 June 2025 at 13:00 CEST / 14:00 Vilnius time. Please register in advance to attend:

    https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d32cZE8xSqyFs8tcMpwLqA#/registration

    • Lithuanian-language session: 5 June 2025 at 9:00 CEST / 10:00 Vilnius time. Please register in advance to attend:

    https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wxUoUAWzQ9244uO9HlNX-g#/registration

    CONTACT INFORMATION
    Mantas Auruškevičius
    Manager of Closed – End Investment Company Intended for Informed Investors
    UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos”
    mantas.auruskevicius@lordslb.lt

    Povilas Petručionis
    Securities trader at UAB FMĮ “Orion Securities”
    pp@orion.lt
    +37068758168

    IMPORTANT NOTICE:
    This notification is not for distribution to United States news agencies or for dissemination in the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia or elsewhere where such dissemination is not appropriate.
    Distribution of this announcement and other information in connection with the securities may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this announcement or such other information should come are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.
    No offer or invitation to acquire securities of the Company is being made by or in connection with this notification. The Prospectus is the only legally binding document containing information on the Company, the Notes and their admission to trading on the regulated market. The Prospectus is published on the website of the Company (https://lordslb.lt/AEI_green_bonds_2025/) as well as on www.nasdaqbaltic.com and www.crib.lt.
    Approval of the Prospectus shall not be understood as an endorsement of the securities admitted to trading on a regulated market. The potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities. Furthermore, the securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to US persons unless the securities are registered under the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. No public offering of the securities will be made in the United States.

    Further details and required documents are available at: https://lordslb.lt/AEI_green_bonds_2025/ 

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Fly-By: May 23, 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger Fly-By: May 23, 2025

    Washington, May 23, 2025

    May 23, 2025

    Friend,

    Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a roundup of events and updates to keep you informed on everything I am doing week by week to represent you in Congress.

    I am thrilled to report that after months of hard work, we officially passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act this week to advance President Trump’s America First Agenda. This bill is headed to the Senate and includes historic tax cuts for American families, funding to reimburse Texas for the border crisis, support for our farmers and ranchers, and much more.

    In addition to passing this historic legislation this week, I attended the signing of the TAKE IT DOWN Act at the White House, hosted the National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at this week’s RSC members meeting, participated in an Energy & Commerce hearing with EPA Administrator Zeldin, spoke with Midland Classical Academy students, and more.

    I have included some photos and highlights from the week. You’ll also find information on how my office can assist you with any federal issues you may be facing. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance.

    Best,

    One Big Beautiful Bill Act Passes Out of the U.S. House

    I am proud that House Republicans united to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill Act this week. In November, 77 million Americans demanded change, and this vote will go down in history as promises made, promises kept. This legislation reverses four years of failed Democrat policies – restoring American energy dominance, delivering vital support to our farmers and ranchers, securing historic tax cuts for hardworking families, reining in wasteful government spending, and making the strongest investment in border security in decades. This legislation delivers all that – and more – for every American.

    It also includes $12 billion to reimburse the great state of Texas for costs it should never have had to bear during the previous administration’s border crisis. For four years, Texas was forced to protect its border when the federal government failed to. Those days are now over, and I was proud to spearhead this effort. You can read about my efforts to secure this win in San Angelo LIVE HERE.

    Immediately following its passage, I joined ‘Wake Up America’ on Newsmax. Watch my full interview HERE.

    RSC Members Meeting with National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett

    As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), I had the pleasure of hosting National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett at this week’s RSC members meeting. Hearing from Director Hassett was critical and timely as Republicans worked tirelessly to finalize negotiations on the One Big Beautiful Bill.

    E&C Hearing With EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin

    This week, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin appeared before the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Environment Subcommittee for a hearing titled, “The Fiscal Year 2026 Environmental Protection Agency Budget.” During the hearing, I thanked Administrator Zeldin for coming to West Texas, commended his efforts to rein in the EPA’s regulatory overreach, and asked about the status of several key policies.

    Under the previous administration, the EPA was weaponized against American energy producers in the Permian Basin and across the country. In stark contrast, the Trump Administration and Administrator Zeldin are rolling back burdensome regulations and ensuring that the EPA works with Congress and industry leaders to advance commonsense policies. These policies aim to protect our environment while supporting robust energy production.

    Watch my full exchange with Administrator Zeldin here or by clicking the image below.

    TAKE IT DOWN Act Signed into Law

    I was honored to join President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House this week to witness the TAKE IT DOWN Act signed into law. As a father to three young girls, I join many parents in being deeply concerned about the rise of deepfakes and nonconsensual intimate images.

    I was proud to co-lead this legislation in the U.S. House to protect victims of this harmful act while restoring online accountability. You can read more about the TAKE IT DOWN Act here.

    Discussing the One Big Beautiful Bill and the Golden Dome on Fox Business

    I joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business this week to discuss the One Big Beautiful Bill Act before its passage in the House, and President Trump’s push for the “Golden Dome.”

    Watch my full interview HERE or by clicking the image below.

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner

    This week, I was also proud to announce Korbin Jastrow, a Senior at San Angelo Central High School, as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for her piece titled ‘The Exception.’ Her winning piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year.

    For yet another year, I was completely blown away by the incredible talent of students across Texas’s 11th Congressional District. In a blind selection process, the committee selected Korbin’s piece for its unique take on Texas agriculture.

    In her submission, Korbin explained how she created the piece, stating, “The cow was drawn with pencil, then stamped with handmade stamps representing the Indian paintbrush and bluebonnets. The background was done with acrylic paint, and the shadows behind the cow were done with tissue paper.”

    Congratulations, Korbin!

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner: Korbin Jastrow’s ‘The Exception’

    Midland Classical Academy Students in Washington

    I had a fantastic time speaking with students from Midland Classical Academy during their trip to Washington, D.C. this week. Gaining an understanding of our legislative process is invaluable for students, which is why visiting with them when they come to D.C. is a top priority of mine. I am always inspired by the next generation of leaders, and want to thank the chaperones, parents, and teachers who made their visit possible.

    If you are visiting Washington, D.C. this summer, my office would be thrilled to book a tour of the U.S. Capitol building for you and your group. My office can also assist in requesting White House tours and tours of other iconic buildings around DC.

    Visit https://pfluger.house.gov/forms/tourrequest/to book your tour today. The earlier you can get your request in the better.

    REMINDER: If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.

    Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on FacebookInstagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for daily updates.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: S. 689, Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025

    Source: US Congressional Budget Office

    Bill Summary

    S. 689 would secure up to 5,828 acre-feet of water annually for the Tule River Tribe of California by ratifying the Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Agreement reached in 2007 by the Tule River Tribe, the Tule River Association, and the South Tule Independent Ditch Company.

    The bill would appropriate specific amounts to capitalize the Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund, which would be credited, with interest, during the period in which the trust fund is administered by the Department of the Interior (DOI). Once the parties to the settlement have satisfied specified conditions, the federal government would transfer ownership of the trust fund, including any interest credited to the fund, to the tribe for use in constructing water projects for the Tule Tribe Reservation in Tulare County, California. Within 10 years after the settlement conditions are met, S. 689 would direct DOI to transfer a parcel of federal land to be held in trust as part of the Tule Tribe Reservation in California.

    Estimated Federal Cost

    Table 1.

    Estimated Budgetary Effects of S. 689

     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

       
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035

     

    Increases in Direct Spending

       

    Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund

                         

    Estimated Budget Authority

    695

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    695

    695

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    5

    5

    5

    5

    0

    0

    0

    675

    0

    0

    20

    695

    Interest Credited to the Trust Fund

                         

    Estimated Budget Authority

    0

    24

    25

    25

    25

    26

    27

    27

    28

    0

    0

    125

    207

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    207

    0

    0

    0

    207

    Total Changes

                           

    Estimated Budget Authority

    695

    24

    25

    25

    25

    26

    27

    27

    28

    0

    0

    820

    902

    Estimated Outlays

    0

    5

    5

    5

    5

    0

    0

    0

    882

    0

    0

    20

    902

    The estimated budgetary effect of S. 689 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

    Basis of Estimate

    For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted before the end of fiscal year 2025 and that the specified amounts will be deposited into the trust fund by the end of the fiscal year.

    Using information from DOI and based on the bill’s specifications, CBO expects that the following conditions would be met eight years after enactment:

    • The settlement, including amendments required to conform to the bill, would be final and executed;
    • All waivers and releases of claims required under the bill would be executed; and
    • All appeals would have been exhausted and the courts would have approved the agreement as binding on all parties.

    CBO expects that DOI would publish findings in the Federal Register for the settlement, stating that the bill’s conditions have been met and that ownership of the trust fund is to be transferred.

    Direct Spending

    CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase direct spending by $902 million over the 2025-2035 period.

    Tule River Indian Tribe Settlement Trust Fund. S. 689 would establish a trust fund consisting of two interest-bearing accounts: the Tule River Tribe Water Development Projects Account and the Tule River Tribe Operation, Maintenance, and Replacement Account. The bill would appropriate $568 million to capitalize those accounts—$518 million for water projects and $50 million for operation, maintenance, and replacement.

    S. 689 also would appropriate additional amounts to account for inflation over the period from November 2020 until those amounts are deposited into the fund. Based on the assumption that the bill will be enacted near the end of 2025, the amount for inflation would be $127 million; thus, we estimate that the appropriation for the fund would total $695 million.

    Of those amounts, the tribe would have immediate access to $20 million from the trust fund to complete technical studies for future water infrastructure projects. The federal government would retain ownership of the remaining amounts until 2033, when CBO expects that all settlement conditions will be satisfied. Interest would be credited to the deposited amounts.

    When the federal government transfers ownership of the trust fund to the tribe, the amount transferred (including credited interest) would be considered a federal expenditure. Based on CBO’s projections of interest rates and the assumption that all of the conditions would be met by 2033, CBO estimates that interest earnings would total $207 million. Accordingly, CBO estimates that the total amount transferred in 2033 would be $882 million.

    The federal government would retain fiduciary responsibility over the contents of the trust fund until the money is needed by the tribe to plan, design, construct, and maintain water projects; those subsequent actions would not affect the federal budget.

    Land Held in Trust. Within 10 years after the settlement conditions are met, S. 689 would direct DOI to transfer about 11,640 acres to be held in trust for the benefit of the tribe as part of the Tule Tribe Reservation in California. That amount consists of 9,037 acres from the Forest Service; 1,837 acres owned by the tribe; and 765 acres from the Bureau of Land Management.

    Using information from those agencies, CBO estimates that, starting in 2033, implementing the bill’s provisions would decrease offsetting receipts (and thus increase direct spending) because the Forest Service would no longer collect grazing fees on that land. Using information from the Forest Service about those fees, CBO estimates that the increase in direct spending would be insignificant in every year and over the 2023-2035 period. No federal receipts are collected from tribal land or from land administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

    Spending Subject to Appropriation

    The agencies also would incur costs to oversee environmental and technical compliance for water projects constructed by the tribe and to transfer land to the trust. Using information from the agencies and average costs to oversee activities for other water settlements, CBO estimates that carrying out those activities would have insignificant costs in every year and would total $1 million over the 2025-2030 period; any related spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.

    Pay-As-You-Go Considerations

    The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or revenues. The net changes in outlays that are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures are shown in Table 2.

    Table 2.

    CBO’s Estimate of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Effects of S. 689, the Tule River Tribe Reserved Water Rights Settlement Act of 2025, as reported by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on May 12, 2025

     

    By Fiscal Year, Millions of Dollars

       
     

    2025

    2026

    2027

    2028

    2029

    2030

    2031

    2032

    2033

    2034

    2035

    2025-2030

    2025-2035

     

    Net Increase in the Deficit

       

    Pay-As-You-Go Effect

    0

    5

    5

    5

    5

    0

    0

    0

    882

    0

    0

    20

    902

    Increase in Long-Term Net Direct Spending and Deficits

    CBO estimates that enacting S. 689 would not significantly increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2036.

    Mandates

    S. 689 contains intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). CBO cannot determine whether the aggregate cost of those mandates would exceed the annual threshold established in UMRA ($103 million in 2025, adjusted annually for inflation).

    S. 689 would require the Tule River Tribe to waive the right to raise claims to some water rights and for certain damage to water, land, and other resources resulting from the loss of water or water rights. The cost of the mandate would be the forgone value of awards and settlements of claims that the tribe would be prevented from raising under the bill. Because both the number of claims that could be barred or terminated and the value of forgone compensation stemming from them are uncertain, CBO has no basis for estimating the cost of the mandate.

    The tribe also would be prohibited from permanently giving or selling any portion of the Tribal Water Right. Based on the tribe’s stated intent to keep and use the water rights in a continuous manner for water storage, the cost for the tribe to comply with the prohibition would be small because the tribe has no foreseeable intent to give or sell the right.

    By taking land into trust for the Tule River Tribe, the bill would impose a mandate on state and local governments by prohibiting them from taxing that land. Information from Tulare County about taxes and other receipts associated with the land indicate those forgone revenues would total about $100,000 annually.

    S. 689 contains no private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.

    Estimate Reviewed By

    Ann E. Futrell
    Acting Chief, Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit

    Kathleen FitzGerald 
    Chief, Public and Private Mandates Unit

    H. Samuel Papenfuss 
    Deputy Director of Budget Analysis

    Phillip L. Swagel

    Director, Congressional Budget Office

    MIL OSI USA News

  • India likely to witness above-normal monsoon rainfall in 2025: IMD

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday released its updated long-range forecast for the 2025 southwest monsoon season (June to September), projecting a promising outlook for the upcoming rainy season.

    According to the latest estimates, the country is likely to receive 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall, with a model error margin of ±4%. This forecast indicates a strong likelihood of above-normal rainfall across the country.

    Regional Outlook: Central and Southern India to Benefit the Most

    The forecast highlights regional variations in rainfall distribution. Central India and the southern Peninsular region are expected to receive above-normal rainfall. In contrast, northwest India is likely to experience normal rainfall, ranging between 92% and 108% of the LPA. Meanwhile, the outlook for northeast India remains less favorable, with below-normal rainfall anticipated (less than 94% of LPA).

    Notably, the Monsoon Core Zone (MCZ)—a critical area for rainfed agriculture—is also projected to receive above-normal rainfall, boosting prospects for a productive Kharif cropping season.

    June 2025: Strong Start to the Monsoon

    IMD’s monthly outlook for June 2025 suggests a robust onset of the monsoon. Nationwide rainfall is forecast to be above normal, exceeding 108% of the LPA. Most regions are likely to see normal to above-normal rainfall during the month. However, some southern parts of the Peninsular region, as well as pockets of Northwest and northeast India, may record below-normal rainfall.

    Temperature Trends: Mixed Signals Across the Country

    On the temperature front, June 2025 is expected to see normal to below-normal maximum temperatures across much of India. However, parts of northwest and northeast India are likely to experience above-normal maximum temperatures. Minimum temperatures, on the other hand, are forecast to remain above normal across most of the country, except for some areas in central India and the southern Peninsula, where normal to below-normal minimum temperatures are anticipated.

    The IMD emphasized that it will continue to monitor monsoon trends and issue updates to aid planning in agriculture, water resource management, and disaster preparedness. Citizens and stakeholders are encouraged to follow official updates for the most accurate and timely information.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tuvalu: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2025 Article IV Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 27, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Washington, DC: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team held discussions for the 2025 Article IV consultation for Tuvalu in Funafuti, during May 20-27. The team issued the following statement at the conclusion of the mission.

    RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, OUTLOOK, AND RISKS

    Tuvalu’s economy has experienced a strong recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. After falling for three consecutive years in 2020-22, GDP growth rebounded strongly at 7.9 percent in 2023, driven by the resumption of construction activity, the trade recovery, and higher government spending. GDP growth in 2024 is estimated to have reached 3.3 percent, supported by continued effects of reopening and major infrastructure projects. Since peaking at 14.2 percent in 2022Q3, inflation has been trending down and slowed to 1.2 percent in 2024, in line with global food and commodities prices and continued easing of shipping bottlenecks.

    The economic recovery is expected to continue, but growth is projected to moderate gradually over the medium term. Growth in 2025 is projected at 3 percent, driven by the construction of the new phase of Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project and an increase in public spending. While externally-financed projects are expected to continue to support economic activities, growth is projected to decline gradually to around 1.8 percent over the medium term, due to sluggish productivity growth, increasing emigration, and vulnerability to climate events. Inflation is expected to remain below 2 percent in 2025, reflecting the negative CPI at end-2024 and lower global commodity prices, and to rise gradually to 2.5 percent over the medium term, aligning with inflation dynamics of Tuvalu’s trading partners.

    The fiscal balance is projected to turn to a surplus in 2025 reflecting higher grants but would deteriorate again starting in 2026. Higher grants are expected to more than offset the increase in expenditures and improve the fiscal balance from a deficit of 7 percent of GDP in 2024 to a surplus of 2.9 percent of GDP in 2025. Over the medium term, grants are projected to gradually decline to historical levels of around 27 percent of GDP, while current expenditure pressures would remain elevated. As a result, fiscal balances are expected to deteriorate gradually and reach -6.8 percent of GDP by 2030. Because the projected withdrawals from Tuvalu’s sovereign funds are not sufficient to fully finance the fiscal deficits, foreign financing will be required to close the financing gap. Under these baseline projections, Tuvalu is assessed to remain at a high risk of debt distress.

    Downside risks to the outlook remain high. The global environment has significantly changed this year, reflecting escalated trade tensions, heightened policy uncertainty, and tighter financial conditions.  While Tuvalu’s export exposure is limited, heightened global uncertainty and volatility could affect Tuvalu’s external revenues, including from its internet domain, fishing licenses, and development assistance, and significantly impact Tuvalu’s public finances, external position, and growth outlook. Global risks of heightened trade tensions and higher commodity prices could also increase inflation. A sharp downward correction in financial market returns could affect the performance of Tuvalu’s sovereign funds. Under-performance of public corporations could cause fiscal risks, and further loss of CBRs would severely disrupt cross-border payments. An acceleration of outward migration would exacerbate labor shortages. Extreme climate events and climate change remain major risks to Tuvalu’s economic outlook. Upside risks include higher fishing licenses and grants and greater structural reform momentum, which could accelerate economic growth.

    FISCAL POLICY

    Fiscal policy should balance ensuring fiscal sustainability and supporting Tuvalu’s development priorities. Tuvalu’s high vulnerability to external shocks requires fiscal sustainability and adequate buffers against downside risks. Meanwhile, the government faces significant near-term spending pressures in order to deliver essential public services, while also having to address medium-term climate adaptation costs and labor shortages stemming from increasing emigration.

    A multi-pronged fiscal strategy is required to address these challenges. Given persistent fiscal deficits and Tuvalu’s limited fiscal space, the main elements of the strategy should include: i) gradually reducing fiscal deficits; ii) increasing spending for priority areas; and iii) appropriately using fiscal buffers to stabilize fiscal accounts, cushion against shocks, and address long-term challenges. IMF staff’s simulations show that reducing the fiscal deficit gradually to around 2.3 percent of GDP by 2030 (compared to 6.8 percent of GDP in the baseline scenario) by utilizing the returns of the Tuvalu Trust Fund and the Consolidated Investment Fund (CIF) to finance deficits would keep public debt on a downward path. The domestic current balance would provide an appropriate anchor and is expected to improve to -40 percent of GDP by 2045 under the consolidation scenario, and the value of the buffer fund (CIF) would stabilize at around 40 percent of GDP, which is needed to cover major shocks and downside risks.

    The recommended fiscal strategy entails a combination of revenue mobilization, expenditure rationalization, and resource reprioritization measures. Expenditure measures should primarily focus on unwinding the recent increases in current expenditure, including containing the increase in the wage bill, implementing cost-saving measures for the Medical Referral Scheme and overseas scholarships, unwinding the increase in goods and services spending, and cutting broad-based utility subsidies. Revenue mobilization should prioritize strengthening the compliance and efficiency of tax collection, while considering reviewing tax policies and exploring options to boost tax revenue and streamline tax incentives. Part of the savings from the above measures should be redirected to areas such as targeted protection for the most vulnerable, infrastructure, human capital, and climate resilience.

    Improving public financial management (PFM) can help manage revenue volatility and fiscal risks. The authorities have made progress in PFM, including introducing the new Financial Management Information System and formulating the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework. The publication of Tuvalu’s Fiscal Risk Reports is also welcome. Further efforts are needed to improve budget reliability, strengthen investment management to enhance absorption capacity, implement climate budget tagging, enhance fiscal reporting and transparency on extra-budgetary funds and SOEs, and reinforce procurement management.

    FINANCIAL SECTOR POLICIES

    Establishing effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks is urgently needed. Priorities include strengthening the statutory role and expanding the supervisory perimeter of the Banking Commission of Tuvalu (BCT), issuing the proposed new prudential standards, enforcing the timely submission of prudential returns, and addressing delays in the audits of the financial statements of the financial institutions. These measures should be supported through adequate resourcing of the BCT to conduct both on-site and off-site supervision.

    Continued efforts are needed to strengthen Tuvalu’s connectivity to the global payment system and improve financial inclusion. Tuvalu’s membership of the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering is a welcome step, and the authorities should continue strengthen the legal framework and compliance. Efforts to address Correspondent Banking Relationship pressures should also take into account potentially low ML/TF risk environment in Tuvalu and focus on the outreach to the key foreign regulatory authorities, including a corridor risk assessment. The ongoing efforts to modernize banking services, including the recent launch of Tuvalu’s first ATMs, can help overcome geographical barriers and improve efficiency. Improving financial literacy and establishing a reliable national digital ID system are also crucial for financial inclusion. Meanwhile, introducing digital services should consider supervisory capacities and ensure financial integrity.

    STRUCTURAL REFORMS

    Structural reforms need to be carefully prioritized, focusing on addressing development bottlenecks and attaining higher growth potential. Priorities should include: i) collaborating with local communities to effectively develop the reclaimed land; ii) improving internet connectivity and leveraging IT technology to deliver more public services; iii) ensuring proper maintenance of key infrastructure assets, particularly transportation and utilities including renewable energy; iv) strengthening SOE governance and performance, accompanied by reviewing utility pricing to ensure cost recovery; and v) exploring economic diversification in sectors with higher potential, including agricultural products such as coconut, eco-tourism, and commercial fishery.

    Mitigating the impact of emigration and enhancing climate resilience are crucial. While outward emigration has supported remittances and consumption, measures to enhance both human capital and labor supply are required to address labor shortage issues. The authorities should focus on improving education access and quality, enhancing training, and attracting returning migrants and promoting skill transfer. Facilitating female labor force participation could help bridge significant gender gaps in employment, while alleviating labor shortages. Tuvalu should continue to engage with development partners to secure climate financing and implement major climate resilient projects. In addition, the authorities need to further enhance disaster management through enforcement of amended building codes, use of risk maps to inform planning, and strengthening community disaster preparedness. Accelerating renewable energy production can lower Tuvalu’s energy costs, reduce its external sector vulnerability, and enhance energy security.

    ***

    The mission would like to thank the Tuvaluan authorities and various stakeholders for their excellent hospitality and cooperation and candid discussions during the mission.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Pemba Sherpa

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/27/mcs-tuvalu-staff-concluding-statement-of-the-2025-article-iv-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier calls for advancing China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation

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

    Chinese premier calls for advancing China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperation

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday that China will work with Vietnam to advance their comprehensive strategic cooperation toward higher quality and deeper levels.

    Li made the remarks during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-China-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council) Summit.

    Li said that not long ago, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Vietnam, where the two sides agreed to accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in line with the overarching goals characterized by “six mores.”

    China stands ready to work with Vietnam to implement the outcomes of the visit, maintain high-level exchanges, deepen mutual political trust and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, said Li.

    Noting that the current international situation sees an increasing number of destabilizing and uncertain factors, Li said that China will remain committed to opening-up and development, and looks to strengthen communication and cooperation with Vietnam, jointly uphold international fairness and justice, safeguard the global economic and trade order, and protect the common interests of the Global South countries.

    For his part, Pham Minh Chinh noted that Xi paid a successful state visit to Vietnam last month. He said Vietnam will join hands with China to actively implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and the two countries, intensify high-level exchanges and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.

    The Vietnamese side congratulates on the success of the first ASEAN-China-GCC Summit, he said, voicing his country’s willingness to work with China to pursue more practical achievements in tripartite cooperation.

    The current international situation is fraught with challenges, he said, adding that Vietnam stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China and firmly safeguard legitimate rights and interests.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI: Soitec Reports Fourth Quarter Revenue and Full-Year Results of Fiscal Year 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOITEC REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER REVENUE AND
    FULL-YEAR RESULTS OF FISCAL YEAR 2025

    • Q4’25 revenue reached €327m, stable at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24
    • FY’25 revenue amounted to €891m, down 9% both on a reported basis and at constant exchange rates and perimeter, in line with revised guidance
    • Soitec accelerated diversification confirmed with POI becoming Soitec’s fourth product to generate annual revenue of around $100m or more
    • Robust FY’25 EBITDA1margin2at 33.5%, current EBIT margin at 15.2%
    • Positive FY’25 Free Cash Flow, at €26m, while maintaining strong R&D and industrial investments
    • Q1’26 revenue, impacted by the anticipated phase-out of Imager-SOI, is expected down around 20% year-on-year at constant exchange rates and perimeter (Imager-SOI Q1’25 revenue: $25m)
    • FY’26 Capex cash-out expected around €150m, down from €230m in FY’25
    • Strong technology megatrends and Soitec’s innovative engineered substrates continue to sustain Soitec addressable market growth from ~5m wafers (200mm equivalent) in 2024 to ~12m in 2030
    • Given the current reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group withdraws any guidance, whether related to all or part of its activities. This includes the projection of a quite limited growth for FY’26, as well as the medium-term ambition to reach a revenue target of $2bn with an EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. Going forward, the Group will only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis

    Bernin (Grenoble), France, May 27th, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext Paris), a world leader in designing and manufacturing innovative semiconductor materials, today announced its revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 and its full-year results of fiscal year 2025 (ended on March 31st, 2025). The financial statements3 were approved by the Board of Directors during its meeting today.

    Pierre Barnabé, Soitec’s CEO, commented: On the back of strong sales in the fourth quarter, we closed fiscal year 2025 in line with our revised guidance, with a high-single digit decline in full-year revenue. In this context, strict cost management enabled us to deliver a robust EBITDA margin, generate positive free cash flow, and continue investing both in innovation and in our industrial capacity – all while maintaining a very healthy balance sheet.

    In a volatile and uncertain economic environment, we are focusing on parameters within our control to strengthen our fundamentals and accelerate our diversification beyond RF-SOI and beyond Mobile Communications. With the growing adoption of our new products by industry leaders – POI becoming an industry standard for innovative smartphones and Photonics-SOI gaining traction among industry leaders to equip the next generation of AI Datacenters – we have been able to partially offset the ongoing RF-SOI inventory correction and mitigate the impact of the weakness in the automotive industry. While RF-SOI remains by far the first contributor to our revenue, three other products – FD-SOI, Power-SOI and POI – are now each generating around or above 100 million US dollars in revenue.

    This environment however provides limited visibility. We have therefore decided to suspend all previously issued guidance and to only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis. We expect Q1’26 to reflect the impact of the Imager-SOI phase out, which we had already anticipated and prepared for. Q1’26 revenue is hence expected to be down around 20% year on year, Imager-SOI contributing 25 million dollars in Q1’25.

    We remain confident in our solid fundamentals and in our ability to accelerate growth as soon as our end markets begin to recover. Our strong technology megatrends – 5G, Energy Efficiency and Artificial Intelligence – and our unique expertise in engineered substrates continue to support the expansion of our Addressable Market from around 5 million wafers (200-mm equivalent) in 2024 to around 12 million in 2030”, added Pierre Barnabé.

    Fourth quarter FY’25 consolidated revenue

      Q4’25 Q4’24 Q4’25/Q4’24
             
             
    (Euros millions)     change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter
             
    Mobile Communications 220 222 -1% -2%
    Automotive & Industrial 45 44 +1% 0%
    Edge & Cloud AI 63 70 -11% +2%
             
    Revenue 327 337 -3% -1%

    Soitec revenue reached 327 million Euros in Q4’25, down 3% on a reported basis compared with revenue of 337 million Euros achieved in Q4’24. This reflects a 1% year-on-year decline at constant exchange rates and perimeter, a negative scope4 effect of 3% related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses, and a positive currency impact of 1%.

    Each one of Soitec’s three divisions recorded an almost stable organic change in revenue in Q4’25 compared to the high base achieved in Q4’24. The slight organic decline in Mobile Communications revenue was partly offset by a small increase in Edge & Cloud AI revenue, while Automotive & Industrial was stable. This is however reflecting different dynamics per product, with further strong traction in POI wafers for smartphone filters and in Photonics-SOI wafers for data centers.

    Mobile Communications

    In the context of a moderately recovering smartphone market and with a progressively improving inventory situation across the supply chain, Mobile Communications revenue reached 220 million Euros in Q4’25, down 2% at constant exchange rates and perimeter year-on-year.

    On RF-SOI wafers, Soitec benefited, as expected, from a usually strong seasonal stock rebuilding at the beginning of the calendar year. Volumes of RF-SOI wafers sold were higher in Q4’25 than in Q4’24, with a slightly negative price / mix effect, thus partly mitigating a significant decrease in 200-mm RF-SOI volumes.

    Sales of POI (Piezoelectric-on-Insulator) wafers dedicated to RF filters continued to grow sequentially from one quarter to another, translating into a sharp year-on-year increase in Q4’25. The adoption of Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters on POI continued to accelerate. Ten customers are in volume production, and thirteen others in qualification phase.

    Sales of FD-SOI wafers, the only solution for fully integrated 5G mmWave system-on-chip, have been slightly growing in Q4’25 compared to Q4’24.

    Automotive & Industrial

    Automotive & Industrial revenue reached 45 million Euros in Q4’25, flat at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24, despite the ongoing difficulties of the automotive market.

    After the particularly low level reached in Q3’25, volumes of Power-SOI wafers were significantly higher in Q4’25 than in Q4’24, although with a slightly negative price effect. Sales benefited from customer restocking at the beginning of their calendar year. Despite very low visibility, OEMs were keen to avoid stockouts in the event of a market rebound, but this most likely came at the expense of volumes in H1’26. As the Automotive market recovers, the outlook for Battery Management Systems remains strong and supports Soitec’s product roadmap towards 300-mm, further strengthening its positioning.

    Conversely, after a very strong performance in Q3’25, FD-SOI wafer sales recorded a slight year-on-year decline in Q4’25 compared to Q4’24. Automotive FD-SOI continues to be mostly driven by adoption for microcontrollers, radar and wireless connectivity, delivering superior performance and greater power efficiency compared to other existing technologies.

    Regarding SmartSiCTM, while Soitec initiated a sixth customer qualification process early Q4’25, the slower-than-expected growth of the electric vehicle market, combined with the longer than initially anticipated customers’ qualification cycles confirm the previously mentioned delay in the initially expected wafer production ramp-up.

    Edge & Cloud AI

    Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 63 million Euros in Q4’25, up 2% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to Q4’24. On a reported basis revenue went down 11% as a result of the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses.

    Sales of Photonics-SOI wafers recorded another high sequential increase in Q4’25, as Soitec continues to benefit from a strong momentum in Cloud infrastructure investments across the Big Tech and Artificial Intelligence supply chains. On a year-on-year basis, sales were much higher than in Q4’24. As the exponential growth of AI-related computing power capabilities drives the need for more powerful and more energy-efficient data centers, Photonics-SOI has become a standard technology platform for high-speed and high bandwidth optical interconnections in data centers. Photonics-SOI are adopted in pluggable optical transceivers and used for the development of Co-Packaged Optics.

    In Q4’25 sales of FD-SOI wafers were above the level reached in Q3’25 but slightly down year-on-year compared to the high level recorded in Q4’24. This is mainly the consequence of deliveries requests put on hold by a couple of customers. FD-SOI technology is a key enabler for AI-driven consumer and industrial IoT applications due to its unique power efficiency, performance, thermal management and reliability advantages.

    Sales of Imager-SOI wafers for 3D imaging applications tapered off in Q4’25 due to the phase out of this product, as expected.

    FY’25 consolidated revenue

      FY’25 FY’24 FY’25/FY’24
             
    (Euros millions)     change reported chg. at const. exch. rates & perimeter
             
    Mobile Communications 546 611 -11% -12%
    Automotive & Industrial 129 163 -21% -22%
    Edge & Cloud AI 216 204 +6% +11%
             
    Revenue 891 978 -9% -9%

    Consolidated revenue reached 891 million Euros in FY’25, down 9% on a reported basis compared to 978 million Euros in FY’24. This reflects a 9% decline at constant exchange rates and perimeter, in line with Soitec’s latest guidance, a negative scope4 effect of 1% and a slightly positive currency impact of 1%.

    Overall, the sharp increase in sales of Photonics-SOI and POI wafers partly offset the drop in revenue recorded both in RF-SOI and in Power-SOI.

    • Mobile Communications revenue reached 546 million Euros in FY’25, down 11% on a reported basis and down 12% at constant exchange rates and perimeter year-on-year. Revenue was impacted by weaker RF-SOI volumes in connection with further inventory adjustment at customer level, especially in H1’25. RF-SOI performance was partly offset by a strong growth in POI wafer sales throughout the fiscal year and by slightly higher FD-SOI wafer sales. Mobile communications represented 61% of total revenue, almost stable vs FY’24.
    • Automotive & Industrial revenue amounted to 129 million Euros in FY’25, down 21% on a reported basis and down 22% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to FY’24. This revenue decline was primarily driven by lower Power-SOI volumes, reflecting weakness in the automotive market. Revenue from SmartSiC™ technology in connection with the initial phase of Soitec’s cooperation agreement with STMicroelectronics have also decreased year-on-year. This was partially offset by higher FD-SOI wafer sales. Automotive & Industrial represented 15% of total revenue against 17% in FY’24.
    • Edge & Cloud AI revenue reached 216 million Euros in FY’25, up 6% on a reported basis and up 11% at constant exchange rates and perimeter compared to FY’24. The organic increase in revenue was driven by higher sales of Photonics-SOI wafers, which benefit from sustained investment in Cloud infrastructure. Sales of FD-SOI went slightly down but remained at a high level, supported by the need for low-power computing devices and edge-AI applications. Imager-SOI sales were almost flat year-on-year despite the phase out of this product from early H2’25 onward. Edge & Cloud AI represented 24% of total revenue against 21% in FY’24.

    EBITDA1margin2maintained at a robust level

    Consolidated income statement (part 1)

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24 % change
           
    Revenue 891 978 -9%
           
           
    Gross profit 286 332 -14%
    As a % of revenue 32.1% 34.0%  
           
    Net research and development expenses (85) (61) +39%
    Selling, general and administrative expenses (65) (63) +4%
           
           
    Current operating income 136 208 -35%
    As a % of revenue 15.2% 21.3%  
           
           
    EBITDA1,5 298 332 -10%
    As a % of revenue 33.5% 34.0%  

    Current operating income went down from 208 million Euros in FY’24 (21.3% of revenue) to 136 million Euros in FY’25 (15.2% of revenue). This reflects the weaker activity recorded in FY’25, but also higher R&D investment and higher depreciation expenses, as Soitec continues to invest to secure its competitiveness.

    • Gross profit reached 286 million Euros, down from 332 million Euros in FY’24. Gross margin declined by 1.9 points to 32.1% of revenue. This was essentially due to the lower sales volumes, of RF-SOI in particular, leading to a lower utilization of some of the industrial capacities, combined with an overall slightly negative price / mix effect. In addition, depreciation costs went up, reflecting the Group’s investment profile. These factors were mitigated by strong discipline in cost management, including lower purchase prices, by some agility in resource allocation between plants, and by higher subsidies.
    • Net R&D expenses increased from 61 million Euros in FY’24 (6.3% of revenue) to 85 million Euros in FY’25 (9.5% of revenue). Gross R&D expenses before capitalization went up 11% to 152°million Euros, as part of Soitec’s innovation strategy aimed at further investing in the next generation of SOI products, in compound semiconductors, as well as in new engineered substrates. In addition, Soitec booked a much lower amount of capitalized development costs in FY’25 (12 million Euros against 31 million Euros in FY’24). This was only partly offset by the recognition of higher R&D subsidies and higher prototype sales.
    • Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses amounted to 65 million Euros in FY’25 (7.3% of revenue), up from 63 million Euros in FY’24. This slight increase is essentially due to non-recurring positive effects on labor costs recorded in FY’24 and higher depreciation expenses, notably related to recent IT investments in cybersecurity. On the other hand, lower share-based compensation and the divestment of Dolphin Design both had positive effects.

    EBITDA1,5 amounted to 298 million Euros in FY’25 compared to 332 million Euros in FY’24. EBITDA1,5 margin2 remained at a robust level, reaching 33.5%, only 50 basis points below the level of 34.0% recorded in FY’24. The combination of a lesser absorption of fixed costs due to lower volumes and higher level of R&D investments was offset by higher non-cash items, notably depreciation and amortization expenses and inventory valuation effects.

    Consolidated income statement (part 2)

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24 % change
           
           
       
    Current operating income 136 208 -35%
           
           
    Other operating income / (expenses) (16) (3)  
           
           
    Operating income 119 205 -42%
           
    Net financial expense (9) (5)  
    Income tax (19) (23)  
           
           
    Net profit from continuing operations 91 178 -49%
           
    Net profit from discontinued operations 1 0  
           
           
    Net profit, Group share 92 178 -48%
           
           
    Basic earnings per share (in €) 2.57 5.00 -49%
           
    Diluted earnings per share (in €) 2.56 4.88 -48%
           
           
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares 35,670,651 35,655,679  
           
    Weighted average number of diluted ordinary shares 35,868,688 37,710,587  

    Other operating expenses amounted to 16 million Euros in FY’25, mainly reflecting a 13 million Euros loss on the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses.

    Consequently, the operating income stood at 119 million Euros, down from 205 million Euros in FY’24.

    The net financial result came as an expense of 9 million Euros in FY’25 compared to an expense of 5 million Euros in FY’24. Net financial expenses were 2 million Euros higher than in FY’24, reflecting new financing arrangements, while a net foreign exchange loss of 2 million Euros was recorded in FY’25 against a gain of 1 million Euros in FY’24.

    The income tax expense amounted to 19 million Euros in FY’25, down from 23 million Euros in FY’24. The effective tax rate, however, increased from 11% in FY’24 to 17% in FY’25, as a result of specific one-off items.

    In line with the decline in operating income, the net profit amounted to 92 million Euros in FY’25 (10.3% of revenue), down from 178 million Euros in FY’24 (18.2% of revenue).

    Positive Free Cash Flow generation

    Consolidated cash-flows

    (Euros millions) FY’25 FY’24
         
    Continuing operations    
         
    EBITDA1,6 298 332
         
    Inventories (38) (19)
    Trade receivables (30) (94)
    Trade payables (15) (45)
    Other receivables and liabilities 4 17
    Change in working capital requirement (79) (142)
    Tax paid (17) (25)
         
         
    Net cash generated by operating activities 202 165
         
    Net cash used in investing activities (176) (208)
         
         
    Free Cash Flow 26 (43)
         
    New loans and debt repayment (including finance leases), drawing on credit lines (36) (15)
    Financial expenses (14) (12)
    Liquidity contract and other items (1) (7)
         
         
    Net cash used in financing activities (50) (33)
         
    Impact of exchange rate fluctuations 4 (3)
         
    Net change in cash (21) (80)

    The Group generated a positive Free Cash Flow of 26 million Euros in FY’25, which represents a 69 million Euros improvement compared to the 43 million Euros negative Free Cash Flow recorded in FY’24. Despite a lower EBITDA1,5, this strong increase essentially comes as a result of a better change in working capital. It also benefited from lower tax paid and from reduced capital expenditure.

    Change in working capital remained under control with a cash outflow at 79 million Euros in FY’25, compared to a cash outflow of 142 million Euros in FY’24. FY’25 cash outflow is essentially reflecting:

    • a 38 million Euros increase in inventories as a couple of customers requested to put some deliveries on hold while some late changes in product mix also resulted in an increase in bulk material inventories,
    • a 30 million Euros increase in trade receivables, explained by a different customer mix,
      • a 15 million Euros decrease in trade payables.

    The net cash used in investing activities amounted to 176 million Euros in FY’25, compared to 209 million Euros in FY’24. It takes into account financial income from cash investment of 19 million Euros (17 million Euros in FY’24). Including new production equipment under leases (31 million Euros in FY’25 vs. 51 million Euros in FY’24), total cash out related to capital expenditure amounted to 230 million Euros as expected. It compares with 276 million Euros spent in FY’24. Capital expenditure was essentially related to industrial investments, including:

    • additional POI manufacturing tools in Bernin to increase capacity,
    • production capacity for new SOI products (RF-SOI and Photonics-SOI) in Singapore and 300-mm SOI refresh capacity in Bernin,
    • the ongoing extension of Singapore 300-mm facility (for the part already started),
    • completion of the 200-mm SmartSiCTM pilot line in Bernin.

    Capital expenditure also included IT investments as well as investments supporting the Group’s innovation strategy and its environmental policy.

    Net cash used in financing activities amounted to 50 million Euros in FY’25 (33 million Euros in FY’24) essentially reflecting a net decrease in borrowings and related interest paid.

    In total, including a 4 million Euros positive impact of exchange rate fluctuations (3 million Euros negative impact in FY’24), the net cash outflow reached 21 million Euros in FY’25 (80 million Euros in FY’24) resulting in a steady strong cash position of 688 million Euros on March 31st, 2025.

    Strong balance sheet maintained

    Soitec maintained a strong balance sheet as of March 31st, 2025.

    Shareholders’ equity stood at 1.6 billion Euros on March 31st, 2025, up 100 million Euros from March 31st, 2024.

    Financial debt on March 31st, 2025, was slightly up, at 782 million Euros against 747 million Euros on March 31st, 2024. Taking into account the 21 million Euros cash outflow recorded in FY’25, the net debt position6 was kept at a moderate level, at 94 million Euros on March 31st, 2025, up from 39 million Euros on March 31st, 2024.

    FY’26 outlook

    Given the current reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group withdraws any guidance, whether related to all or part of its activities. This includes the projection of a quite limited growth for FY’26, as well as the medium-term ambition to reach a revenue target of $2bn with an EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. Going forward, the Group will only provide revenue guidance on a quarterly basis.

    Q1’26 revenue, impacted by the anticipated phase-out of Imager-SOI, is expected down around 20% year-on-year (Imager-SOI Q1’25 revenue: $25m). FY’26 Capex cash-out is expected around €150m, down from €230m in FY’25.

    Operating model at scale

    Soitec continues to pursue its long-term growth strategy, supported by structural trends in its end markets and the accelerated diversification of its product portfolio.

    In this context, Soitec has defined an operating model at scale, representing the financial profile the Group could achieve when operating at a higher volume level. This model reflects the Group’s internal assessment of the efficiencies and profitability enabled by its current industrial and technological platform.

    Based on its market assessment and competitive positioning, Soitec continues to grow its manufacturing capacity, in line with market growth and customer demand. The Group anticipates investing ~€770m to scale its production capacity to enable a $2bn revenue run-rate, which should yield significant operating leverage and cash generation improvement. Given ongoing reduced visibility and market uncertainties, the Group will not guide on a specific timing, which will be influenced by external factors beyond its control.

    This operating model and the associated ambitions and financial information are not guidance and should not be interpreted as a financial objective or forecast. Actual results will depend on market dynamics, customer adoption, and execution.

    Key events of Q4 FY’25

    Divestment of Dolphin Design’s main businesses

    Dolphin Design’s mixed-signal IP activities have been acquired on October 31st, 2024, by Jolt Capital, a private equity firm specializing in European deeptech investments. Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities were sold to NanoXplore, a major player in SoC and FPGA semiconductor design, on December 30th, 2024.

    Dolphin Design, acquired by Soitec in 2018, has long been at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge semiconductor design solutions in mixed-signal IP and ASICs. The sale of Dolphin Design’s two main business activities will support Soitec’s focus on strategic development and growth opportunities in its core advanced semiconductor materials business.

    A 13 million Euros loss on the divestment of Dolphin Design’s businesses was recorded in other operating expenses in FY’25. There will be no further impact on Soitec financial statements from FY’26.

    Soitec contributes to accelerated development of integrated optical connectivity solutions for AI data centers with its silicon photonics SOI technology

    On March 19th, 2025, Soitec welcomed recent industry steps to accelerate development and commercialization of co-packaged optics (CPO) solutions for data centers. The rapidly rising data requirements of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) are driving demand for silicon photonics-based CPO architectures. For data centers, CPO adoption enables energy savings of around 30% compared with current optical transceiver-based solutions. The momentum for widespread CPO adoption is building up. Following the earlier introduction of groundbreaking CPO products and demonstrators by Broadcom, Intel, and Marvell, NVIDIA unveiled its first CPO products, Spectrum-X and Quantum-X. Soitec is at the forefront of the transition from electrical to optical interconnects. CPO components are reliant on specialist silicon-on-insulator (Photonics-SOI) substrates, in which Soitec is a leader. The coming shift to CPO-based data center architectures is a major opportunity for Soitec.

    Soitec joins the SEMI Silicon Photonics industry alliance

    Soitec also announced on March 19th, 2025, that it has joined the SEMI Silicon Photonics Industry Alliance (SEMI SiPhIA), a group of more than 100 semiconductor industry partners, with TSMC and ASE serving as the alliance’s advocates. The alliance’s mission is to drive silicon photonics innovation and applications, advance industry standards, and foster knowledge-sharing, resource integration, and technical exchange. Through its membership, Soitec will contribute to strengthening supply chain partnerships and fostering international collaboration on the deployment of key next-generation technologies, including CPO.

    Soitec confirms its excellence in innovation with progress up 2024 INPI patent ranking

    On March 31st, 2025, Soitec once again demonstrated its excellence in innovation through its rise in the 2024 ranking of patent filers published by the INPI (the French National Institute of Industrial Property). This recognition highlights Soitec’s unwavering commitment to innovation and confirms its central role in the development of disruptive technologies, driven by a global strategy and a network of research centers spread across several continents. With 76 patents filed in France in 2024, compared to 62 the previous year, Soitec confirms its 1st place among the most innovative mid-sized companies, for the second consecutive year, and rises to 22nd place nationally, up three places. With approximately 400 patents filed worldwide each year, Soitec has established itself as an essential technology leader.

    # # #

    FY’25 results will be commented during an analyst and investor meeting in Paris on May 28th, 2025, at 2pm CET. The meeting will be held in English.

    The live webcast will be available on: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/soitec/20250528_1/

    The investor presentation is available for download on:
    https://www.soitec.com/home/investors/full-year-results-of-fiscal-year-2024—2025

    # # #

    Annual General Meeting

    At its meeting today, the Board of Directors decided to convene the Annual General Meeting of shareholders on July 22nd, 2025. On this occasion, it decided to renew three of the four directors’ terms of office due to expire (Bpifrance Participations, CEA Investissement and Fonds Stratégique de Participations). Regarding Kai Seikku, the latter did not wish to be re-elected.

    Q1’26 revenue

    Q1’26 revenue is due to be published on July 22nd, 2025, after market close.

    # # #

    Disclaimer

    This document is provided by Soitec (the “Company”) for information purposes only.

    The Company’s business operations and financial position are described in the Company’s 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document (which notably includes the Annual Financial Report) which was filed on June 5th, 2024, with the French stock market authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers, or AMF) under number D.24-0462, as well as in the Company’s 2024-2025 half-year financial report released on November 20th, 2024. The French versions of the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document and the 2024-2025 half-year financial report, together with English courtesy translations for information purposes of both documents, are available for consultation on the Company’s website (www.soitec.com), in the section Company – Investors – Financial Reports.

    Your attention is drawn to the risk factors described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the Company’s 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document.

    This document contains summary information and should be read in conjunction with the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document and the 2024-2025 half-year financial report.

    This document contains certain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s future prospects, developments and strategy and are based on analyses of earnings forecasts and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties as they relate to future events and are dependent on circumstances that may or may not materialize in the future. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of the Company’s future performance. The occurrence of any of the risks described in Chapter 2.1 (Risk factors and controls mechanism) of the 2023-2024 Universal Registration Document may have an impact on these forward-looking statements.

    The Company’s actual financial position, results and cash flows, as well as the trends in the sector in which the Company operates may differ materially from those contained in this document. Furthermore, even if the Company’s financial position, results, cash-flows and the developments in the sector in which the Company operates were to conform to the forward-looking statements contained in this document, such elements cannot be construed as a reliable indication of the Company’s future results or developments.

    The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or make any correction to any forward-looking statement in order to reflect an event or circumstance that may occur after the date of this document.

    This document does not constitute or form part of an offer or a solicitation to purchase, subscribe for, or sell the Company’s securities in any country whatsoever. This document, or any part thereof, shall not form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract, commitment or investment decision.

    Notably, this document does not constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase, subscribe for or to sell securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company’s shares have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act. Neither the Company nor any other person intends to conduct a public offering of the Company’s securities in the United States.

    # # #

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge & Cloud AI (previously Smart Devices). The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,200 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,200 patents.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on X: @Soitec_Official

    # # #

    # # #

    Financial information and consolidated financial statements in appendix include:

    – Consolidated revenue per quarter

    – FY’25 consolidated income statement

    – Balance sheet at March 31st, 2025

    – FY’25 consolidated cashflows

    Consolidated revenue per quarter

    Quarterly revenue Q1’24 Q2’24 Q3’24 Q4’24 Q1’25 Q2’25 Q3’25 Q4’25   FY’24 FY’25
    (Euros millions)                      
    Mobile Communications 89   169   130   222 48   124   154   220   611 546  
    Automotive & Industrial 37 38 44 44 26 33 25 45   163 129
    Edge & Cloud AI 31 37 65 70 46 61 47 63   204 216
                           
    Revenue 157   245   240   337 121   217   226   327   978   891  
    Change in quarterly revenue Q1’25/Q1’24 Q2’25/Q2’24 Q3’25/Q3’24 Q4’25/Q4’24   FY’25/FY’24
    (vs. previous year) Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1 Reported
    change
    Organic change1   Reported
    Change
    Organic change1
                           
    Mobile Communications -45% -46% -27% -25% +18% +11% -1% -2%   -11% -12%
    Automotive & Industrial -29% -31% -13% -11% -43% -47% +1% 0%   -21% -22%
    Edge & Cloud AI +49% +47% +62% +66% -28% -30% -11% +2%   +6% +11%
                           
    Revenue -23% -24% -11% -9% -6% -10% -3% -1%   -9% -9%

    1         At constant exchange rates and comparable scope of consolidation:

    • there was no scope effect in Q1’25 and Q2’25 vs. Q1’24 and Q2’24
    • in Q3’25 there is a negative scope effect related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s mixed signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024)
    • in Q4’25, in addition to Dolphin Design’s mixed signal IP activities, the negative scope effect also includes the divestment of Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024).

    Consolidated financial statements for FY’25

    As previously reported, Soitec’s refocus on Electronics operations decided in January 2015 was nearly completed on March 31st, 2016. Consequently, the FY’25 residual income and expenses relating to Solar and Other activities are reported under ‘Net result from discontinued operations’, below the ‘Operating income’ line, meaning that down to the line ‘Net result after tax from continuing operations’, the consolidated income statement fully and exclusively reflects the Electronics activity as well as the Group’s corporate functions expenses. This was already the case in FY’24 financial statements.

    Consolidated income statement

      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended

    March 31st, 2025)

    (ended

    March 31st, 2024)

    Revenue 891 978
    Cost of sales (605) (646)
         
    Gross profit 286 332
    Research and development expenses (85) (61)
    General, sales and administrative expenses (65) (63)
    Current operating income 136 208
    Other operating expenses (16) (3)
    Operating income 119 205
    Financial income 19 21
    Financial expenses (28) (25)
    Net financial expense (9) (5)
    Profit before tax 110 201
    Income tax (19) (23)
    Net profit from continuing operations 91 178
    Net profit from discontinued operations 1 0
    Consolidated net profit 92 178
    Net profit, Group share 92 178
    Basic earnings per share (in €) 2.57 5.00
    Diluted earnings per share (in €) 2.56 4.88
    Weighted average number of ordinary shares 35,670,651 35,655,679
    Weighted average number of diluted ordinary shares 35,868,688 37,710,587

    Balance sheet

    Assets March 31st, 2025 March 31st, 2024
    (Euros millions)    
         
    Non-current assets    
    Intangible assets 130 156
    Property, plant and equipment 1,003 913
    Non-current financial assets 30 19
    Other non-current assets 73 70
    Deferred tax assets 59 62
    Total non-current assets 1,295 1,220
         
    Current assets    
    Inventories 231 209
    Trade receivables 463 448
    Other current assets 124 101
    Current financial assets 7 7
    Cash and cash equivalents 688 708
    Total current assets 1,512 1,472
         
    Total assets 2,807 2,692
    Equity and liabilities March 31st, 2025 March 31st, 2024
    (Euros millions)    
         
    Equity    
    Share capital 71 71
    Share premium 228 228
    Reserves and retained earnings 1,280 1,180
    Other reserves 15 15
    Equity-Group share 1,595 1,495
    Total equity 1,595 1,495
         
    Non-current liabilities    
    Non-current financial debt 375 669
    Provisions and other non-current liabilities 94 79
    Total non-current liabilities 469 748
         
    Current liabilities    
    Current financial debt 406 78
    Trade payables 153 169
    Provisions and other current liabilities 185 202
         
    Total current liabilities 743 449
         
    Total equity and liabilities 2,807 2,692

    Consolidated cash flows

      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended
    March 31st, 2025)
    (ended
    March 31st, 2024)
    Consolidated net profit 92 178
    of which continuing operations 91 178
    Depreciation and amortization expense 140 126
    Provision expense/(reversals), net 6 4
    Provisions expense / (reversals) for retirement benefit obligations, net 0 0
    (Gains)/losses on disposals of assets 15 0
    Income tax 19 23
    Net financial expense 9 5
    Share-based payments 11 14
    Other non-cash items 7 (17)
    Non-cash items related to discontinued operations (1) (1)
    EBITDA1 298 332
    of which continuing operations 298 332
    Inventories (38) (19)
    Trade receivables (30) (94)
    Trade payables (15) (45)
    Other receivables and payables 4 17
    Income tax paid (17) (25)
    Changes in working capital requirement and income tax paid related to discontinued operations (0) (0)
    Change in working capital requirement and income tax paid (96) (167)
    of which continuing operations (96) (167)
    Net cash generated by operating activities 201 165
    of which continuing operations 202 166
      FY’25 FY’24
    (Euros millions) (ended
    March 31st, 2025)
    (ended
    March 31st, 2024)
    Net cash generated by operating activities 201 165
    of which continuing operations 202 166
    Purchases of intangible assets (27) (48)
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment (172) (177)
    Interest received 19 17
    Disposals/(acquisitions) of financial assets 4 (1)
    Divestment flows related to discontinued operations 1 0
    Net cash used in investing activities (1) (176) (208)
    of which continuing operations (1) (176) (209)
    Loans and drawdowns on credit lines 45 55
    Repayment of borrowings and lease liabilities (81) (70)
    Interest paid (14) (12)
    Liquidity agreement (8)
    Change in interest in subsidiaries without change of control (1) (0)
    Other financing flows 2
    Financing flows related to discontinued operations (0) (0)
    Net cash used in financing activities (50) (33)
    of which continuing operations (50) (33)
    Effects of exchange rate fluctuations 4 (3)
    Net change in cash (21) (80)
    of which continuing operations (21) (80)
    Cash at beginning of the period 708 788
    Cash at end of the period 688 708

    (1) Net cash used in investing activities is net of leases and interest received. Total cash out related to capital expenditure amounted to 230 million Euros in FY’25 compared to 276 million Euros in FY’24.


    1 The EBITDA represents operating income before depreciation, amortization, impairment of non-current assets, non-cash items relating to share-based payments, provisions for impairment of current assets and for contingencies and expenses, and disposals gains and losses. EBITDA is not a financial indicator defined by IFRS and may not be comparable to EBITDA as reported by other groups. It represents additional information and should not be considered as a substitute for operating income or net cash generated by operating activities.

    2 EBITDA margin = EBITDA from continuing operations / Revenue.

    3 Audit procedures were completed and the audit report is in the process of being issued.

    4 The scope effect is related to the divestment of Dolphin Design’s mixed-signal IP activities (completed on October 31st, 2024) and that of Dolphin Design’s ASIC activities (completed on December 30th, 2024)

    5 EBITDA from continuing operations.
    6 Financial debt less cash and cash equivalents

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Soitec announces appointment of new Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Soitec announces appointment of new Chief Financial Officer

    Bernin (France), May 27, 2025 – Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in the design and production of innovative semiconductor materials, is pleased to announce the appointment of Albin Jacquemont as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective today.

    Albin Jacquemont brings over 30 years of international experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, and corporate governance. His career spans listed and private equity-backed industrial and technology companies, including Inetum, Saur, Altran Technologies, Darty, and Carrefour. Throughout his tenure in these organizations, he has led major financial transformations and delivered significant value through operational performance improvement, cash-flow optimization and M&A execution.

    In his new role, Albin Jacquemont will be responsible for all finance-related matters at Group level. He will play a pivotal role in reinforcing Soitec’s financial and operational foundations and supporting the company’s next phase of sustainable growth and value creation.

    He succeeds Léa Alzingre, who will be stepping down to pursue new professional opportunities, having supported Soitec’s growth over the past six years.

    We are delighted to welcome Albin Jacquemont to Soitec’s Executive Committee. His extensive experience across complex industrial and technology environments, combined with his proven track record in financial transformation and value creation, will be instrumental as we continue to scale globally. I am confident that his leadership will strengthen our financial strategy and support the acceleration of our sustainable growth ambitions. I would also like to warmly thank Léa Alzingre for her strong commitment and valuable contributions to Soitec’s development during her tenure”, commented Pierre Barnabé, Soitec’s CEO.

    I am honored and excited to join Soitec’s Executive Committee, a global leader in innovative semiconductor materials. After a career spanning over three decades in senior financial leadership roles across Europe, the U.S., and emerging markets — including listed groups and private equity-owned companies — I look forward to bringing my experience to support Soitec’s global ambitions and pioneering technologies”, Albin Jacquemont stated.

    *****

    About Soitec

    Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 0.9 billion Euros in fiscal year 2024-2025. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,300 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,000 patents.

    Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.

    For more information: https://www.soitec.com/en/ and follow us on LinkedIn and X: @Soitec_Official

    *****

    Media Relations: media@soitec.com

    Investor Relations: investors@soitec.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, McCormick introduce bill to address threats associated with increased cooperation between US adversaries

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and David McCormick (R-Pa.) last week introduced the Defending International Security by Restricting Unlawful Partnerships and Tactics (DISRUPT) Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill to address the increased cooperation between U.S. adversaries that threatens our nation’s interests. 

    Authoritarian regimes in China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea have deepened their cooperation in recent years, including an increased transfer of weapons and munitions, sharing military technologies, launching disinformation campaigns, and coordinating joint operations that threaten the stability of the international order. Despite this looming threat, the U.S. lacks a strategic response to our adversaries increasing alignment.

    “Our adversaries are becoming friends,” said Senator Coons. “We cannot continue to sit back and watch as they gain strength before our eyes – in weapons, in their armies, in their economic power. They want to make our country less secure and our economy less prosperous. The DISRUPT Act is the first step to stopping their progress and keeping Americans safe.”

    “China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are rapidly strengthening their ties, solidifying an axis of destruction and chaos bent on undermining the United States and our allies and partners around the world,” said Senator McCormick. “Senator Coons and I are introducing this legislation to help focus the interagency’s diplomatic, economic, defense, and intelligence priorities to define and combat this emerging adversarial alliance.”

    Specifically, the DISRUPT Act of 2025 will:

    • Direct the intelligence community to report on the trajectory of adversary collaboration across diplomatic, informational, military, and economic domains and its impact on U.S. interests
    • Require the development of a whole-of-government strategy to approach this phenomenon
    • Create interagency task forces within key departments such as State, Defense, Commerce, Treasury, and the Directors of National Intelligence and of the Central Intelligence Agency to ensure a coordinated, long-term response

    The DISRUPT Act highlights the need for the U.S. to disrupt the most dangerous aspects of this adversarial cooperation, reduce its expanding footprint, and prepare for the growing likelihood of simultaneous challenges across multiple regions. The bill also reinforces America’s commitment to strategic leadership, strengthening alliances, and creating a long-term strategy to preserve our national interests. 

    Senator Coons is the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

    A one-pager on the bill is available here. 

    The text of the bill is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • India highlights textile and handicraft capabilities at INDEX Dubai 2025 amid rising UAE demand

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ndia has made a significant impact at INDEX Dubai 2025, the Middle East and North Africa’s leading interior design and furniture exhibition, with 55 companies showcasing their products to tap into the region’s expanding $25 billion interior design market, projected to grow to $35 billion by 2031.

    The three-day exhibition, held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 27 to 29, has long served as a vital platform connecting international brands with buyers from across the Middle East. This year’s Indian presence was coordinated by key export promotion councils, including the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil), which brought 10 companies; the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), which facilitated 12 participants under The Hotel Show segment; and Gram Vikas Seva Sansthan, representing 11 companies.

    The 250-square-meter India Pavilion was established to spotlight India’s diverse offerings in home textiles and handicrafts—ranging from bed linen, towels, and bathrobes to rugs, kitchen linen, and decorative items. The pavilion was inaugurated by Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, who interacted with exhibitors and emphasized India’s growing role in the region’s interior and hospitality supply chains.

    The Hotel Show, running parallel to INDEX, attracted buyers from across the GCC including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Jordan. Indian participants received encouraging feedback and strong interest in products such as duvets, curtains, and pillows, driven by rising demand from the UAE’s expanding residential, hospitality, and healthcare sectors.

    India’s robust participation is supported by the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ,which came into effect in May 2022. The agreement provides Indian textile exporters, especially in the cotton segment, with zero-duty market access to the UAE, enhancing competitiveness.

    Textiles and clothing imports into the UAE stand at around $2.5 billion annually. Notably, the textile share has increased to 40%– up from a previous average of 20–25% with cotton textiles alone accounting for $95–110 million annually over the past three years. Indian companies noted that UAE hotels generally source through wholesalers due to smaller order sizes, creating specific opportunities for Indian SMEs offering bundled solutions in smaller quantities.

    INDEX Dubai 2025 features over 530 exhibitors and expects more than 30,000 trade visitors, including architects, designers, developers, and retailers. The event also hosts the “INDEX Design Talks” conference series, where industry leaders explore trends such as sustainable design, AI integration, client engagement, and redefining luxury. Nearly half of the speakers are making their INDEX debut, reflecting the show’s focus on innovation and fresh perspectives.

    Running alongside The Hotel Show and WORKSPACE, INDEX Dubai continues to strengthen Dubai’s role as a global center for interior design, with the city’s dynamic real estate and hospitality sectors driving demand for high-quality, sustainable interior solutions. For Indian exporters, the exhibition reaffirms the growing potential of the UAE market, particularly under the CEPA framework.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of 2025, over 3 thousand freight trains have passed through the Alashankou border crossing

    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

    URUMQI, May 27 (Xinhua) — More than 3,000 crossings of China-Europe/Central Asia freight trains have been recorded at the Alashankou railway checkpoint on the China-Kazakhstan border since the beginning of 2025 as of May 26, according to the railway department of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    According to the checkpoint data, during the current year, the average daily volume of freight train crossings through Alashankou was maintained at over 21, with the maximum value being 30.

    Currently, 123 freight routes between China and Europe/Central Asia pass through Alashankou, reaching Germany, Poland and 19 other countries. They carry more than 200 types of goods, including new energy vehicles, mechanical components, electronic products and daily necessities.

    There are two railway checkpoints in Xinjiang, Alashankou and Khorgos. As the Belt and Road Initiative is being implemented in depth, Xinjiang has been steadily increasing the capacity of goods to pass through the checkpoints, with the aim of turning the autonomous region into a “golden transport corridor” in Eurasia and a springboard for China’s westward-oriented opening-up. Currently, Xinjiang’s railway checkpoints account for more than half of the train entries and exits recorded nationwide in China-Europe/Central Asia cross-border railway freight traffic. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: CPPCC National Committee Chairman Calls for Joint Efforts to Promote Chinese Culture on Both Sides of Taiwan Strait

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) — Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), on Tuesday called for joint efforts to promote Chinese culture on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    Wang Huning, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Taiwanese guests who arrived in Beijing to attend the 2nd Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit.

    Pointing out that Chinese culture is the root and soul of the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Wang Huning called for maintaining confidence in their own culture, jointly developing the spirit of Chinese culture, jointly shouldering historical responsibilities, and jointly striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

    The CPPCC National Committee chairman noted that it is necessary to jointly promote exchanges in Chinese culture, promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in various sectors, and deepen the spiritual closeness between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

    He called for the promotion of a great national spirit based on patriotism.

    Recalling that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s liberation from Japanese occupation, Wang Huning stressed the need to jointly uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 consensus, and resolutely oppose separatist attempts to gain “Taiwan independence.”

    He also called for jointly upholding the position of Chinese culture and jointly countering external challenges.

    Taiwanese guests, including former Kuomintang Party Chairman Hong Xiuzhu, said that as Chinese, they are full of confidence and pride in Chinese culture.

    They expressed the hope that compatriots on both sides of the strait would adhere to the one-China principle, oppose “Taiwan independence,” strengthen cross-strait cultural exchanges, and jointly promote national reunification and the revival of the Chinese nation. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking News: The “Big Ship” of China’s Economy Will Continue to Sail Confidently Despite Difficulties – Premier of the State Council of China

    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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government and people have the ability and confidence to keep the “big ship” of the Chinese economy on a steady and long-term course despite all possible challenges in the future, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday.

    Li Qiang made the announcement while speaking at the 2025 ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Registration now open for seventh Government-to-Government (G2G) Conference in Bismarck

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Registration is now open for the seventh Government-to-Government (G2G) Conference June 4-5 at the Bismarck Event Center.

    The two-day conference brings together tribal, state, federal and private industry leaders to strengthen relationships and advance meaningful collaboration. The conference is hosted by the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission.

    The free event is open to the public, including all who are committed to building stronger partnerships with North Dakota’s five federally recognized tribal nations: Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation (Three Affiliated Tribes), Spirit Lake Nation, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Nation.

    Speakers will include tribal leaders, state officials and federal representatives. Gov. Kelly Armstrong is scheduled to deliver welcome remarks on June 4.

    The conference also will feature a wide range of breakout sessions addressing timely topics relevant to the state and region.

    Conference registration is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI China: Top political advisor urges joint efforts across Taiwan Strait to promote Chinese culture

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

    China’s top political advisor Wang Huning on Tuesday called for joint efforts across the Taiwan Strait to promote Chinese culture.

    Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when he met with Taiwan guests who were in Beijing to attend the second Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit.

    Noting that Chinese culture is the root and soul of the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Wang called for efforts to uphold cultural confidence, jointly carry forward the spirit of Chinese culture, shoulder the historic responsibility together, and unite and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

    Wang said efforts should be made to promote Chinese cultural exchanges, enhance cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation across all sectors, and foster deeper spiritual alignment between compatriots on both sides.

    He also called for promoting the national spirit with patriotism at its core.

    Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery, Wang said joint efforts must be made to adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and to resolutely oppose “Taiwan independence.”

    He also called for jointly standing firm on the position of Chinese culture and working together to meet external challenges.

    The Taiwan guests, including Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party, said that as Chinese, they take great pride in and have unwavering confidence in Chinese culture.

    They expressed the expectation to see compatriots across the Strait uphold the one-China principle, oppose “Taiwan independence,” strengthen cultural exchanges, and jointly promote national reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 

    MIL OSI China News