Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Life of a firefly

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    When was the last time you saw a field full of fireflies? In Bill Angelo Bontigao’s “Life of a Firefly,” a poem written in his native Bicol, one of Greenpeace Philippines’ youngest activists ruminates on waning innocence, gradual loss, and how our neglect threatens to dim the little lights we take for granted.

    [In Bicolano]

    Buhay kan sarong Aninipot
    ni: Bill Angelo Bontigao

    Pag dulom an kalangitan,
    Warang ilaw hale sa mga kaharungan,
    Oras ko naman para magpahiling kan sakuyang kagayunan.
    Talentong sakong ighahambog sa gabos na insektong naglalayog.

    Hale sa kahoy na Mangga minsan sa dakulang kahoy na Naga.
    Kasabay kan mga Duliduli nagkakanta,
    Sakong iilawan ang lubot asin masayaw na maogma,
    Sarabay kami kan sakong mga amiga asin amigo liwanag samong ibabalangibog.

    Minasayaw nin pantomina, cha-cha asin minasabay sa tugtug kan gitara.
    Nagsasabay sa taghoy kan paros bahala na kun saen man madara.
    Pag na swetehan ko, sa kamot kan mga aki ako dadarakupon,
    Ihihinghing sako ang mga tugon dangan ako papalayugon.

    Dara ko ang mga kahilingan kan mga kasaradayan,
    habang pasildang na ang aldaw sakuya ining iataman,
    bago ako magkaturog sako ining ipangadyi sa kaitaasan,
    bako man kaya ako ang matupad kundi ang kagurangnan.

    Sa pagmuklat ko liwat kan sakong mga mata,
    Dae ko na bistado ang dating lugar kun saen ako nag-oogma.
    Dae ko na kayang makipagsabayan sa liwanag kan mga dalan,
    Dae ko na namamati ang preskong paros na sakuyang pigduduyanan.

    Dae na ako bistado kan mga kasaradayan,
    Dae na sakong nag-aabang sa mga gilid kan dalan,
    Maski sa mga kanta kan gamo-gamo nata bako na makukusog,
    Nata wara na akong gitarang nadadangog.

    Nata pagmati ko ako nagluluya,
    Siguro oras na para ako maghale na,
    Salamat sa mga oras na naging parte ako kan saimong pagdakula,
    Sa saimong mga maku-apo, ako saimo na sanang iistorya,

    Kun sana ako man makakapaghagad nin tugon saindo,
    kun ako mawara aram ko may mga amigo pa ako,
    Sana sinda atamanon nindo,
    Dae nindo pagpabayaang magpundi ang ilaw nyamo.


    [In Tagalog]

    Buhay ng Isang Alitaptap
    ni: Bill Angelo Bontigao
    Isinalin ni: Karl Orit

    Sa pagdilim ng kalangitan,
    Wala nang ilaw sa mga tahanan,
    Panahon ko na para ipamalas ang alindog kong tangan.
    Ipinagmamalaki sa lahat ng insektong lumilipad ang aking kakayahan.

    Minsan mula sa punòng Mangga, minsan sa punòng Nara.
    Kasabay ng mga umaawit na kuliglig,
    Pinaiilawan ko ang aking puwit at masayang nagsasasayaw,
    Kasabay ng aking mga kaibigan nangungutitap upang magpakitang-gilas.

    Sumasayaw ng pantomina, chacha, at sumasabay sa tugtog ng gitara.
    Sumasabay sa pagsipol ng hangin, bahala na kung saan kami dalhin.
    Kapag sinuwerte, sa kamay ng mga bata ako kukupkupin,
    Makikiusap para sa kanilang pinapangarap bago ako pakawalan muli.

    Bitbit ko ang kanilang mga hiling at ligayang lihim
    Na lubos kong iingatan, hanggang ang araw ay sumilip.
    Bago ako humimbing, magsusumamo ako sa langit,
    Bahala na ang Diyos sa mga katuparang di ko na aabutan.

    Sa aking muling pagdilat,
    Hindi ko na makikilala ang lugar na lunan ng aking sayá.
    Hindi ko na kakáyahing sumabay sa mga nagniningning sa daan,
    Hindi ko na madarama ang maginhawang simoy sa aking pinapasyalan.

    Kahit ang kabataan, hindi na ako kilala,
    Wala nang naghihintay sa akin sa gilid ng lansangan.
    Kahit ang awit ng mga kuliglig ay nawalan na ng sigla,
    Wala na ring naririnig na tugtog ng gitara.

    Nanghihina na yata ako,
    Marahil ito na ang panahon upang mamaalam.
    Salamat sa mga sandaling naging bahagi ako ng iyong paglaki,
    Ikuwento mo sana ako sa iyong magiging mga anak at apóng mumunti.

    At kung maaari, mag-iwan ako ng huling pakiusap sa inyo,
    Kapag wala na ako, alam kong may mga kaibigan pa ako.
    Alagaan din ninyo sana sila
    At huwag ninyo hayaang ang liwanag namin ay tuluyang mapundi.


    [In English]

    The Life of a Firefly
    by: Bill Angelo Bontigao
    Translated by: Pocholo Goitia

    When the sky turns dark,
    And no light shines from nearby houses,
    It is my time to show my beauty.
    Flaunt it to all the other insects soaring through the night.

    Sometimes I’m a glimmer from the Mango tree,
    sometimes from the towering Narra.
    Alongside the cicadas singing their gentle song,
    I light up my tail and dance happily,
    Together with my friends, we shine and show each other’s prowess.

    We sway to pantomina, to cha-cha, to the strum of the guitar,
    We follow the whistle of the wind—wherever it takes us.
    If I’m lucky, a child’s hand might catch me and cradle,
    Whisper to me their wishes before setting me free.

    I carry their desires and secret joys,
    I handle these with care until the slip of first light.
    Before I sleep, I make my own pleas to heaven,
    Not by my light, but by God’s grace, may they be granted.

    When I open my eyes again,
    I will no longer recognize the districts of my happiness.
    I won’t be able to keep up with the city’s shining streets,
    I won’t feel the cool breezes of my old gentle haunts.

    The children don’t know who I am,
    No one waits for me by the roadsides.
    Even the cicada songs have lost vigor,
    The sound of strumming guitars, gone.

    I feel myself growing weak,
    Perhaps it is time for me to leave.
    Thank you for the moments when I was part of your growth,
    Please tell your children and their children my story.

    If I could make one final request:
    I know friends who will remain, even after I go.
    I hope you look after them, as you’ve looked after me,
    Don’t let our light extinguish completely.

    If we continue to allow habitat loss to climate change and pollution, fireflies and other species will fade to memory. By taking action, we can help stem the decline and ensure they remain a part of our world.


    You might want to check out Greenpeace Philippines’ petition called Courage for Climate, a drive in support of real policy and legal solutions in the pursuit of climate justice.

    Courage for Climate

    The climate crisis may seem hopeless, but now is the time for courage, not despair. Join Filipino communities taking bold action for our planet.

    Make an Act of Courage Today!

    MIL OSI NGO

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier to visit Indonesia, attend ASEAN-GCC-China summit in Malaysia

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

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang will pay an official visit to Indonesia from May 24 to 26 at the invitation of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and will attend the ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-GCC (the Gulf Cooperation Council)-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 28 at the invitation of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia, ASEAN’s rotating chair, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Thursday.

    MIL OSI China News

  • “Desh nahi mitne dunga, desh nahi Jhukne dunga”: PM Modi hits out at Pakistan in first rally after Operation Sindoor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a large gathering in Bikaner, hailing the bravery of the Indian Armed Forces and launching a sharp attack on Pakistan.
     
    Recalling his 2019 statement after the Balakot airstrikes, the Prime Minister said, “Saugandh mujhe iss desh ki mitti ki, main desh nahi mitne dunga, main desh nahi jhukne dunga.” Referring to the recent military action, he added, “Those who came to erase sindoor, we have demolished them.”
     
    The Prime Minister invoked the spirit of Rajasthan, calling it “Veerbhoomi”, and said, “This brave land teaches us that nothing is greater than the nation and its citizens. On April 22, terrorists destroyed the vermilion from the foreheads of our sisters by questioning their religion. The bullets were fired in Pahalgam, but they pierced the hearts of 140 crore Indians. The nation resolved that the terrorists would face punishment beyond their imagination.”
     
    Highlighting a symbolic coincidence, PM Modi noted that his first rally after the Balakot airstrikes in 2019 was also held in Rajasthan. “It is a coincidence that after the country conducted the Balakot airstrikes five years ago, my first public meeting was on this very borderland of Rajasthan. Now again, after Operation Sindoor, I am holding my first rally here among you in Bikaner,” he said.
     
    Speaking about the military operation, PM Modi revealed that Indian forces destroyed nine major terrorist hideouts in just 22 minutes. “With your blessings and the valour of our armed forces, we have fulfilled our pledge. Our government gave full freedom to the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Together, they created such a ‘Chakravyuh’ that Pakistan was forced to kneel,” the Prime Minister said.
     
    He continued, “The world and enemies of the country saw what happens when the sindoor of our sisters turns into gunpowder. In response to the April 22 attack, terrorist camps were destroyed within 22 minutes.”
     
    Shifting focus to development, PM Modi spoke about the government’s efforts to modernize India’s infrastructure. “Today, I come to you after seeking blessings from Karni Mata. Her grace strengthens our resolve for a Viksit Bharat. A grand effort is underway to create world-class infrastructure across the country. In the last 11 years, there has been a sixfold increase in infrastructure spending. Roads, airports, and railway stations are being rapidly modernized,” he said.
     
    (ANI)
  • MIL-OSI China: Western China trade fair inks deals worth over 200B yuan

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

    The 7th Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade kicked off in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Thursday, with on-site project agreements exceeding 200 billion yuan (about 27.8 billion U.S. dollars).

    The event invited Thailand as the guest country of honor, Sichuan Province as the permanent guest province, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as a newly added guest city.

    The fair attracted over 1,300 enterprises from 39 countries and regions, including 56 central state-owned enterprises, 47 Fortune Global 500 companies, 93 multinational corporations, and 286 leading private firms.

    According to the organizing committee, manufacturing and modern service industries accounted for over 75 percent of the total contracted projects, spanning sectors such as aerospace, advanced materials, energy, and smart equipment.

    MIL OSI China News

  • India’s pharma sector powers ahead with growth, innovation and govt support

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s pharmaceutical sector is witnessing robust growth, driven by rising global demand, the introduction of innovative products, and strong policy support from the government.

    Having grown at over 10% annually for the past five years, the industry recorded a turnover of Rs 4,17,345 crore in 2023–24. According to India Ratings, a Fitch Group company, pharma sector revenue likely rose 7.8% year-on-year in April 2025.

    India now ranks third globally in pharmaceutical production by volume and 14th by value. It has become a major player in supplying affordable vaccines and generic medicines—accounting for 20% of the world’s generic drug supply. The country meets 55–60% of UNICEF’s vaccine requirements, supplies 99% of the WHO’s DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) vaccine demand, 52% of BCG vaccines, and 45% of measles vaccines.

    In 2023–24, the sector attracted Rs 12,822 crore in foreign direct investment. With 100% FDI permitted in medical devices and greenfield pharma projects, India continues to solidify its position as a global pharma hub.

    Much of this success is credited to targeted government schemes that promote affordability, boost local manufacturing, and strengthen supply chains.

    Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), 15,479 Jan Aushadhi Kendras now offer generic medicines at prices up to 80% lower than their branded counterparts. For instance, a heart medicine that once cost Rs 500 is now available for as little as Rs 100.

    The government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for pharmaceuticals, with an outlay of Rs 15,000 crore, supports 55 projects aimed at producing high-end drugs, including treatments for cancer and diabetes.

    A separate PLI scheme worth Rs 6,940 crore focuses on the production of key raw materials such as Penicillin G, helping reduce India’s reliance on imports.

    Another PLI initiative, with Rs 3,420 crore allocated to medical devices, is boosting the domestic manufacturing of equipment like MRI machines and heart implants.

    The Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks scheme, backed by Rs 3,000 crore, is establishing major pharma manufacturing hubs in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh to enhance efficiency and lower production costs.

    Additionally, the Rs 500 crore Strengthening of Pharmaceuticals Industry (SPI) scheme is helping upgrade labs and fund R&D, enabling Indian companies to compete more effectively in global markets.

    From affordable generic medicines to vital vaccines reaching the world’s most underserved regions, India’s pharmaceutical sector is not only saving lives but also building a healthier, more self-reliant future—both for the country and for the world.

  • Operation Sindoor is a new form of justice: PM Modi unveils 3-pronged counter-terror doctrine

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday declared that India’s armed forces avenged the April 22 terror attack within just 22 minutes, destroying nine terror hideouts across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor.
     
    Describing the operation as a “new form of justice” for terrorists and their supporters, the Prime Minister also unveiled a three-pronged doctrine to combat terrorism.
     
    “If there is any terror attack on Indian territory, the enemy will be given a befitting response. Our armed forces will decide the target, timing, and the mode of response,” said PM Modi.
     
    Outlining the core of India’s new counter-terror approach, the Prime Minister stated:
     
    1. India will respond decisively to any terror attack on its soil.
     
    2. Nuclear blackmail will not deter India.
     
    3. Terrorists, their masters, and the governments that support them will be judged by the same yardstick.
     
    Taking direct aim at Pakistan, he added, “Pakistan’s game of distinguishing between state and non-state actors will no longer work as a pretext for its open support to terror.”
     
    Referring to the recent retaliation, PM Modi said:
     
    “Those who went after our sisters and tried to wipe their sindoor, we have razed them to the ground. This is a new form of justice — this is Operation Sindoor.”
     
    He stressed that the response to terrorism has fundamentally changed over the past decade.
     
    “Earlier, we struck inside their territory, but this time, we hit them at their heart. Those who thought India would remain silent are now shuddering in fear. Those who boasted about their weapons are now buried under the rubble.”
     
    The Prime Minister also said that the entire nation stands united following the Pahalgam terror attack, adding that the people of India — 140 crore strong — have resolved to punish terrorism beyond the enemy’s imagination.
     
    “Because of our armed forces, we have taught Pakistan a lesson. Our government gave full operational freedom to our forces, and they brought Pakistan to its knees,” he said.
     
    (ani)
  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Budget 2025 – ProCare concerned by 12-month prescribing extension in Budget 2025

    Source: ProCare

    ProCare, Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest network of general practices, is concerned that the Government has chosen to disregard sector feedback by announcing a full 12-month repeat prescribing extension in Budget 2025, bypassing a more balanced 6-month approach recommended in formal submissions made in October 2024.

    ProCare’s submission to Manatū Hauora in October 2024 made a strong case for a staged approach, recommending a 6-month limit in the first instance, with potential for further extension once safety and equity impacts were evaluated.

    Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “While we acknowledge the Government’s intention to ease pressure on the health system and reduce costs for patients, we remain deeply concerned about the patient safety implications, equity risks, and unintended consequences for the primary care workforce.

    “We believe a 6-month prescribing model would have achieved a much better balance. It would have reduced unnecessary appointments and made access easier for patients, without undermining the crucial relationship between patients and their primary care teams,” continues Norwell.

    ProCare supports increased efficiency in repeat prescribing, but believes that 12-month prescriptions risk reducing proactive clinical oversight, particularly for patients with long-term or complex health conditions. We are particularly concerned for some of our vulnerable communities with limited health literacy or those with minimal engagement with general practice.

    Dr Allan Moffitt, Clinical Director at ProCare says: “General practices are already under significant pressure. This change risks creating longer and more complex consultations down the line, and may reduce opportunities to catch early signs of deterioration in a patient’s condition. We also have questions around the allocation of the $10 million allocated, and if it is going to mainly cover technical changes, rather than educating patients on the need to maintain strong relationships with their General Practice care teams.”

    ProCare warns it may destabilise continuity of care without clear guidelines and appropriate wraparound support like clinical pharmacist follow-up or nurse-led monitoring.

    Bindi Norwell says: “This isn’t about resisting change. It’s about making sure we get it right for patients – the devil will be in the details, and our priority will be ensuring high-quality, clinically appropriate care for patients. Primary care must remain the front door of the health system, not a check-out aisle.”

    ProCare remains committed to working with Government to ensure that patient safety, health equity, and system sustainability are protected as these changes roll out.

    About ProCare

    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods and alternative smoking products worth about $1.5 million (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected counterfeit goods and alternative smoking products worth about $1.5 million (with photo) 
    Through risk assessment, Customs on that day intercepted an incoming lorry at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. After inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected counterfeit goods, including watches and memory cards, and the batch of alternative smoking products inside the cargo compartment of the lorry. A 55-year-old male driver was subsequently arrested.
     
    An initial investigation revealed that the batch of suspected counterfeit goods and alternative smoking products would have been transhipped to overseas regions.
     
    The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.
     
    Customs will continue to take stringent enforcement action against counterfeit goods and smuggling activities through risk assessment and intelligence analysis.
     
    Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.
     
    Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.
     
    Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the above-mentioned Ordinances to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:05

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Former Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes

    Source: US State of California

    Defendant Admits Concealing 50% Ownership of $7B Defense Contracting Business to Evade Taxes

    A former defense contractor pleaded guilty today to tax crimes related to his scheme to defraud the United States and evade taxes on income that he earned from his contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense.

    The following is according to court documents and statements made in court: Douglas Edelman founded and owned 50% of Mina Corp. and Red Star Enterprises (Mina/Red Star), a defense contracting business that received more than $7 billion from contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide jet fuel in the United States’ post-9/11 military efforts in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

    Working with others, Edelman engaged in a lengthy scheme to hide his Mina/Red Star profits to evade U.S. taxes, including by concealing his income in undisclosed foreign bank accounts, creating false documents and making false statements that one of his co-conspirators — a French citizen residing abroad and without U.S. tax obligations — founded and owned Mina/Red Star.

    For example, when the company became profitable in 2005, Edelman began taking distributions which he deposited into Swiss bank accounts, primarily at Credit Suisse, in the name of other companies he owned. In 2008, Credit Suisse informed Edelman that he had to either close his accounts or disclose them to U.S. authorities. Rather than come into compliance with his tax and reporting obligations, Edelman closed his accounts and opened new ones at Bank Julius Baer in Singapore in the name of a nominee entity, the beneficiaries of which were purportedly Edelman’s daughters. He then directed the subject income he earned from Mina/Red Star to those bank accounts.

    In 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs began investigating allegations of corruption in connection with Mina/Red Star’s contracts with the Department of Defense. As part of this inquiry, the subcommittee became interested in the identity of Mina/Red Star’s owners. At this time, Edelman had not filed U.S. tax returns to report the millions of dollars he had earned from Mina/Red Star and had not paid U.S. taxes on his income.

    Rather than disclose his ownership, Edelman caused his attorneys to tell Congress a false story that a French co-conspirator who had no U.S. tax or reporting obligations founded and co-owed Mina/Red Star with another individual. To corroborate the false story, Edelman and a co-conspirator caused false and backdated paperwork to be created.

    To continue the scheme, Edelman conveyed the false story about Mina/Red Star’s ownership to other arms of the U.S. government, including to the Department of Defense during contract negotiations in 2010 and 2011, to the IRS in a 2016 application to the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program, and to the Justice Department in a 2018 presentation.

    In conjunction with his 2016 application to the IRS’s Voluntary Disclosure Program, Edelman filed false tax returns for several prior years that only reported income from gifts or purported consulting payments, continuing to conceal the millions he had earned from his company. On the returns, he  also concealed profits he had earned from a separate business to provide internet service to members of the armed forces at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan.

    Instead of paying the taxes that he knew he owed, Edelman used the money to fund his lifestyle and additional investments. He invested in a music television franchise in Eastern Europe, a land venture in Tulum, Mexico, and a farm in Kenya, and purchased property around Europe, including a home in Ibiza, Spain, and a townhouse in London.

    Edelman faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count to which he has pleaded. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia, and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C., Field Office made the announcement.

    Special agents from IRS-CI’s International Tax & Financial Crimes specialty group, a team based out of Washington, D.C., that is dedicated to uncovering international tax crimes, along with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted in the investigation. Also providing assistance were His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs of the United Kingdom; the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), which brings together the taxing authorities of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States; and authorities from Belize, Israel, and Cyprus.

    The Government of the Kingdom of Spain arrested and extradited Edelman to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in securing Edelman’s arrest and extradition.

    Assistant Chief Sarah Ranney and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: MiL.k (MLK) Achieves its Arbitrum Migration with Over 80,000 Wallets in Five Weeks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEOUL, South Korea, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In the latest news, MiL.k shatters all records with over 80,000+ wallets migration to Arbitrum within a month. Following its official migration to Arbitrum, the platform gained momentum across the Layer 2 ecosystem. Over 80,000 users successfully transitioned their MLK assets to the Arbitrum network, marking a major shift in MiL.k’s technical and strategic direction.

    According to the DappRadar data as of May 14, the project now achieves an unprecedented milestone within just five weeks of the April 10 migration.

    Known for connecting traditional reward systems with decentralized infrastructure, MiL.k enables users to convert real-world loyalty points from airlines, retailers, and travel agencies into Milk Coin (MLK), its native utility token.

    The Web2-to-Web3 bridging model has led MiL.k to form strategic partnerships with major conglomerates including AirAsia, OK Cashbag (Loyalty platform operated by SK Group, the second largest group in Korea) and L.Point (Loyalty platform operated by Lotted Group), and NOL, Korea’s largest online travel agency. These integrations go beyond symbolic collaborations—users actively redeem and exchange points through MiL.k’s mobile application, which has become a popular lifestyle app in South Korea. Services like booking flights with AirAsia mileage or exchanging offline retail points into MLK for real-time liquidity are already live, and adoption continues to grow. The platform has reported consistent monthly active user growth, driven by its ease of use and the tangible financial value users gain from consolidating previously siloed loyalty assets.

    In addition to on-chain traction, MiL.k launched its first decentralized trading pool on Camelot, a leading DEX native to Arbitrum, where the MLK-ETH pair has already surpassed $450,000 in trading volume. The project also partnered with Galxe, a credential-based Web3 platform with over 33 million users, onboarding thousands of new global participants through its post-migration quest campaign.

    These developments reflect MiL.k’s growing role as a gateway between mainstream consumers and emerging blockchain infrastructure. Rather than focusing solely on crypto-native audiences, the project leverages its real-world utility and corporate partnerships to draw a wider demographic into Web3 ecosystems. This approach has resulted in steady user base growth, with MiL.k attracting a blend of retail users from Korea’s top mobile services and a growing international user segment engaging via campaigns and liquidity activities.

    1.5M+ Users and Growing Cross-Border Demand
    A MiL.k spokesperson noted, “The success of our Arbitrum migration proves that real-world loyalty programs can evolve into scalable, interoperable assets in the decentralized economy. We’re now entering a phase of cross-sector collaboration—integrating MLK into DeFi, quests, and community-driven applications that align with how modern consumers engage online.”

    With an established user base, measurable product-market fit, and increasing activity across major blockchain platforms, MiL.k is well-positioned to redefine how loyalty points function in the digital economy.

    About MiL.k:

    MiL.k is a South Korea-based blockchain platform that connects loyalty programs from travel, retail, and lifestyle services through its native Milk Coin (MLK). The project enables seamless exchange and integration of reward points across service providers, offering users real value and liquidity. Having secured partnerships with some of Asia’s leading corporations, MiL.k recently joined the Arbitrum ecosystem to expand its global reach and bring loyalty assets into the Web3 age.

    Media Contact:

    Company name: Milk Partners Co., Ltd.
    Contact Person: Lily Lee
    Contact Person title: Head of Partnerships
    Email: info@milkplay.com
    Company Website: https://milkplay.com/?lang=en

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

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    The MIL Network

  • Jaishankar meets Danish PM Frederiksen, discusses green partnership and anti-terror cooperation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings in Denmark on Wednesday, aimed at deepening Indo-Danish ties and reinforcing strategic cooperation on key global challenges, including counter-terrorism and green partnerships.

    Jaishankar’s visit to Copenhagen is part of his ongoing three-nation tour to the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany from May 19 to 24. After concluding a successful two-day official visit to the Netherlands, where he engaged in bilateral discussions, Jaishankar reached Denmark to further India’s diplomatic outreach in Europe.

    Jaishankar was received by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen, where the two leaders held discussions aimed at advancing the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership. The talks highlighted the shared commitment of both nations to sustainable development and climate action. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Thank PM Mette Frederiksen for warmly receiving me in Copenhagen this evening. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM Narendra Modi. Thank Denmark for its solidarity and support in combating terrorism.”

    A key highlight of the visit was Jaishankar’s meeting with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen. The two ministers discussed ways to further strengthen India-Denmark relations and exchanged views on key global developments. Jaishankar lauded Denmark’s consistent support for India’s stand against terrorism. “Delighted to meet FM Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Copenhagen this evening… Our wide-ranging conversation on bilateral ties and global issues testifies to the strength of our relationship,” he said on X.

    Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar also met Morten Bodskov, Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. The meeting explored ways to enhance existing collaborations and identify new areas of economic cooperation between the two countries. “Pleased to meet Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bodskov in Copenhagen today. We discussed deepening existing areas of cooperation and exploring new possibilities,” Jaishankar said.

    The foreign minister also held talks with Soren Gade, Speaker of the Danish Parliament (Folketing). He expressed appreciation for Denmark’s consistent support and solidarity with India’s counter-terrorism efforts. “A very warm meeting with Speaker Soren Gade in Copenhagen today. Appreciate his solidarity as India resolutely combats terrorism. Also value his sustained support for building India-Denmark relations,” he said.

    Additionally, the external affairs minister interacted with members of the Indian community in Copenhagen. He lauded their role in strengthening people-to-people connections and enhancing India’s image abroad. “Great to meet with Indian community representatives in Copenhagen. They hold the Indian flag high in Denmark and shape our positive image in this country,” he said.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Consumer Price Indices for April 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (May 22) the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures for April 2025. According to the Composite CPI, overall consumer prices rose by 2.0% in April 2025 over the same month a year earlier, larger than the corresponding increase (1.4%) in March 2025. The larger increase was mainly attributable to the lower ceiling of rates concession in April 2025 when compared with the same month last year. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the year-on-year rate of increase in the Composite CPI (i.e. the underlying inflation rate) in April 2025 was 1.3%, also larger than that in March 2025 (1.0%). The larger increase was mainly due to the increases in the charges for package tours as well as inbound and outbound transport fares.  

         On a seasonally adjusted basis, the average monthly rate of change in the Composite CPI for the 3-month period ending April 2025 was -0.1%, and that for the 3-month period ending March 2025 was 0.0%. Netting out the effects of all Government’s one-off relief measures, the corresponding rates of change were both 0.0%.   

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Republican Tax Plan Fails in Budget Committee as Rep. Peters Urges Fiscal Sanity

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

    Washington, D.C — Today, the House Budget Committee rejected the Republican tax plan, which will kick 13.7 million Americans off of their healthcare, by a vote of 21-16, with all Democrats and five Republicans voting against. During the committee’s consideration of the bill, Representative Peters urged his colleagues who have traditionally preached fiscal conservatism to reject the bill because it adds to the massive government debt and annual deficits. Many of the Republicans who voted no echoed Rep. Peters’ fiscal concerns. The Budget Committee is expected to reconsider the legislation on Sunday evening.

     

    During his remarks, Rep. Peters stated, “Unfortunately, this is from a budget perspective, a disaster for the United States, despite the flowery language you hear. Every year this country has been racking up $2 trillion of debt because we don’t pay our expenses. And that means, the national debt, unless we do something about that, will grow from 36 to 38 to 40 to 42 trillion. And despite all the cuts you hear about, none of them are applied to lowering that annual deficit number that adds to our national debt, not any of them.” 

     

    He continued, “Scott Besant, the Treasury Secretary, says we need to get our deficits down to 3% of GDP to dig out of this hole. Today, without this law, that’s going to take about $7 trillion of savings and revenues over the next 10 years. But when you add in the cost of this bill, this budget busting bill, that number goes to $11 to $12 trillion, we’re going to have to save over the next 10 years. This is not going in the right direction at all. 

     

    And he concluded, “The tax gap, the difference between what is owed and what we collect, is $697 billion. And what are we doing about that? We see DOGE cutting the IRS’s ability to collect taxes. This is irresponsible. It’s the wrong thing to do budget. We need a bipartisan process that deals with this honestly, with revenues and cuts. We don’t have it. Please vote this down.” 

     

    Representative Peters is the co-author of the Fiscal Commission Act, legislation to create a bicameral, and open-doored commission to tackle our nation’s long-term debt, help us avoid automatic and across-the-board cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and secure a more prosperous future for our children. 

     

    CA-50 Medicaid Facts:  

    1.       156,100 people in the district rely on Medicaid for health coverage—that’s 20 percent of all district residents. 

    a.       34,700 children in the district are covered by Medicaid. 

    b.       17,700 seniors in the district are covered by Medicaid. 

    c.       64,900 adults in the district have Medicaid coverage through Medicaid expansion—that includes pregnant women who are able to access prenatal care sooner because of Medicaid expansion, parents, caretakers, veterans, people with substance use disorder and mental health treatment needs, and people with chronic conditions and disabilities. 

    2.       At least five hospitals in the district had negative operating margins in 2022. These hospitals would be especially hard-hit by cuts to Medicaid. For example: 

    a.       Scripps Mercy Hospital had a negative 25.3 percent operating margin—and nearly 22 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid. 

    b.       Sharp Coronado Hospital had a negative 3.5 percent operating margin—and over 36 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid. 

    c.       University of California San Diego Medical Center had a negative 2.4 percent operating margin—and nearly 19 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid. 

    3.       There are 54 health center delivery sites in the district that serve 529,944 patients. 

    4.       Those health centers and patients rely on Medicaid—statewide, 69 percent of health center patients rely on Medicaid for coverage. 

    5.       Health centers will not be able to stay open and provide the same care that they do today, with more uninsured and underinsured patients. They are already operating on thin margins—in 2023, nationally, nearly half of health centers had negative operating margins. 

    6.       Medicaid cuts put health centers at risk, including: 

    a.       Family Health Centers of San Diego 

    b.       Neighborhood Healthcare 

    c.       North County Health Project 

    d.       San Diego American Indian Health Centers 

    e.       St. Vincent De Paul Village 

      

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Marine Department strengthens publicity of Marine Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Ordinance ahead of Dragon Boat Festival

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Marine Department strengthens publicity of Marine Safety (Alcohol and Drugs) Ordinance ahead of Dragon Boat Festival 
         The Ordinance stipulates that any person involved in operating a vessel or performing designated duties relating to the safety and security of a vessel, or the protection of the marine environment, commits an offence if he/she is under the influence of alcohol or drugs to such an extent that he/she becomes incapable of having proper control of the vessel concerned or performing designated duties properly, or has an alcohol level exceeding the prescribed limit in the person’s body, or has any specified illicit drugs in the person’s body. Upon conviction, the maximum penalty is a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for three years as well as disqualification from operating or performing designated duties on board or operating a vessel in Hong Kong waters for life.
     
         A spokesman for the MD said, “As everyone on board a dragon boat (including the helmsman, drummer, and paddlers) must work together to propel and navigate the boat, they are all considered as persons operating the boat under the Ordinance and are subject to the regulation of the Ordinance.” The MD urges members of the public not to paddle dragon boats while under the influence of alcohol or drugs in order to avoid accidents caused by impaired judgment and alertness, which may endanger their own safety and the safety of other people at sea.
     
         The MD has earlier briefed 11 sports associations or dragon boat competition organisations, and issued letters to organisers of dragon boat races, explaining the scope of the Ordinance. In order to strengthen publicity on the Ordinance, the MD also displayed banners at popular dragon boat venues, such as Shing Mun River in Sha Tin and typhoon shelters, as well as distributed posters and leaflets to dragon boat associations and paddlers.
     
         Water sports are popular among the public in summer. The MD therefore also reminds members of the public that individuals operating non-motorised vessels such as kayaks are subject to regulations under the Ordinance as well. Regular swimmers using buoyancy devices such as swimming rings and floating beds in a normal manner are not considered as operating vessels.
     
         The MD is actively helping members of the public to better understand the contents of the Ordinance through a series of promotional activities, including distributing leaflets to the public, displaying posters and banners at water sports hotspots, organising briefings for maritime industry players and stakeholders, and broadcasting a TV Announcement in the Public Interest (API) and a radio API. Members of the public are welcome to browse the MD’s websiteIssued at HKT 15:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • PM Modi inaugurates Amrit Bharat Deshnoke Railway Station, flags off Bikaner-Mumbai train service

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Amrit Bharat Deshnoke Railway Station and flagged off the Bikaner-Mumbai train service in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district on Thursday. He also inspected an exhibition at the railway station and interacted with the students, who gifted him some paintings.

    Earlier, he landed at Nal Airbase in Bikaner and proceeded directly to the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok. PM Modi offered prayers at the famous temple. Upon his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal. Temple authorities welcomed him with a replica of the Karni Mata Temple, and he also offered ‘prasad’ and a donation at the sanctum.

    This is his first visit to Rajasthan following India’s attack on terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7. He will also address a large public meeting in Palana village near Bikaner.

    His total stay in Bikaner is scheduled for 3 hours and 25 minutes. This visit is reminiscent of his public address in Churu, delivered on the morning of the airstrikes following the Pulwama attack.

    The Prime Minister will depart for Palana village by road, a journey of about 8 kilometres. A massive crowd of over one lakh people is expected at the public meeting venue, where elaborate seating arrangements and a large pandal have been set up.

    During the event, PM Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit Stations nationwide and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth Rs 26,000 crore. These projects include 1,000 km of electrified railway tracks, seven major road projects, three vehicle underpasses, a PowerGrid transmission project and 900 km of national highways in Rajasthan. After the public meeting, the Prime Minister will return to Nal Airport by helicopter around 12.30 p.m. and depart for Delhi at around 1.15 p.m. (IANS)

  • Jitin Prasada urges innovation, new varieties to boost tea sales

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Commerce Minister Jitin Prasada on Thursday called for a renewed push to brand and market Indian teas, aiming to reassert India’s leadership in tea exports.

    Speaking at a convention in New Delhi to mark International Tea Day, Prasada emphasized the cultural and economic importance of tea in India and urged the industry to adopt innovation-driven strategies.

    Prasada called for developing new varieties of tea that appeal to younger and niche consumers. He stressed the need to ensure that all stakeholders — from growers to end consumers — benefit from better infrastructure and support.

    Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal underlined the need for enhanced “tea literacy” through awareness campaigns that showcase the unique attributes of Indian teas.

    The event featured several panel discussions on themes such as “Organic Teas: The Sustainable Way Ahead,” “Global Consumption Patterns – New Age Teas and Youth Connect,” and “India Teas – Looking Ahead.”

    In a statement, the Ministry of Commerce said the deliberations aimed at shaping “a brighter future for Indian tea through extensive branding and marketing initiatives in addition to quality control measures.”

    A highlight of the convention was the India Tea Appreciation Zone, where producers, exporters, small tea growers (STGs), farmer producer organisations (FPOs), and startups showcased a diverse range of teas. Offerings included premium single-origin teas from Darjeeling, Assam, Nilgiri, Kangra, and Sikkim, as well as innovative blends and flavoured teas — from classic masala chai to modern infusions — curated to appeal to evolving global tastes.

  • Indian All-Party Delegation Begins UAE Visit, Reaffirms Commitment to Counter-Terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An Indian all-party delegation arrived in the United Arab Emirates early Thursday morning, marking a significant step in New Delhi’s diplomatic outreach under Operation Sindoor. The initiative aims to engage key international partners on counter-terrorism cooperation and regional security concerns.
     
    Leading the delegation is Shiv Sena MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde. The team comprises a diverse group of Indian parliamentarians, including BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, and Rajya Sabha member Manan Kumar Mishra, BJD’s Sasmit Patra, IUML MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer, senior BJP leader S.S. Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. Their collective presence signals a unified national stance on the global fight against terrorism.
     
    During their two-day stay in the UAE, the delegation will participate in high-level meetings in Abu Dhabi, beginning with an interaction with Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence. They are also scheduled to hold discussions at the Federal National Council with Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuami and other senior council members.
     
    Additional meetings have been arranged with officials from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Media Office. The delegation will engage with local media through an interaction with The National newspaper and participate in a session with strategic political affairs analyst Amjad Taha.
     
    A significant component of the visit includes outreach to the Indian diaspora community, with an event planned at the Indian Embassy’s auditorium in Abu Dhabi. This engagement reflects India’s emphasis on maintaining strong connections with its overseas communities while advancing diplomatic objectives.
  • MIL-OSI: Nokia and Three Sweden expand access to fast broadband through 5G Fixed Wireless Access for improved connectivity

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia and Three Sweden expand access to fast broadband through 5G Fixed Wireless Access for improved connectivity

    • New options for high-speed broadband where fiber is unavailable.
    • Stronger local market presence for Nokia in Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
    • Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway 2 brings faster high-performance broadband delivery.

    22 May 2025
    Espoo, Finland: Nokia has been selected by Hi3G Access AB (known as ‘Three’ in Sweden) to supply its high-performance Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) technology towards Three’s Business to Business (B2B) customers. The collaboration enables Three Sweden to offer faster, more accessible, reliable high-capacity broadband to households and small businesses across the country – particularly in areas not yet covered by fiber networks.

    This milestone deployment brings a new, trusted Western vendor into the Swedish FWA market and strengthens Nokia’s position in one of the most competitive broadband markets in Europe. With Nokia’s FastMile 5G Gateway 2, users will benefit from easier access to reliable, high-speed internet where fiber is not available or would be too expensive to deploy. For consumers and businesses, this means the ability to stream, work, study and connect faster than ever before, even in hard-to-reach or underserved areas.

    “Our goal is to give customers broadband they can trust, which is fast, reliable and ready to support whatever they want to do online. Nokia’s solution gives us the quality and performance we need, and it’s backed by a company we know we can trust to scale with us,” said Patrik Flodin, Product Manager at Three Sweden.

    “Welcoming Three Sweden as a new customer is a significant moment in our FWA journey. This project reflects our shared ambition to deliver dependable, high-performance broadband experiences using mobile networks as the foundation. With one of the best 5G FWA solutions in the market, Nokia supports operators who want to scale fixed, wireless and mobile broadband quickly and cost-effectively,” added Peter Wennerström, Country Manager for Sweden at Nokia.

    This cooperation reinforces Nokia’s commitment to supporting service providers across Europe as they address the digital divide and offer high-performance connectivity to more users more efficiently.

    Multimedia, technical information and related news
    Product Page: Fixed Wireless Access

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    About Hi3G Access AB (known as ‘Three’ in Sweden)
    Three Scandinavia (Hi3G Access AB) was founded in December 2000 with the vision of creating an entirely new platform for mobile communication. Today, Three owns and operates 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile networks in Sweden and Denmark and has approximately 2,000 employees. Three Scandinavia, part of the global 3 Group with operations in eleven countries, is owned by Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison (60%) and Swedish Investor AB (40%). Learn more about Three at www.tre.se and about the 3 Group at www.three.com.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

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    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI China: Wu Lei returns for China’s critical World Cup qualifiers

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

    Star forward Wu Lei is set to return to the national team from injury as China announced a 27-player roster on Thursday for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers against Indonesia and Bahrain.

    Wu Lei (L) of China controls the ball during an international freindly match between New Zealand and China in Auckland, New Zealand, March 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

    Wu, who had been sidelined for months with a severe knee injury, missed six consecutive World Cup qualifying matches since last October. He returned to the pitch in April and scored his first goal of the season last Saturday.

    Also included in the squad for the first time is 29-year-old naturalized midfielder Yang Mingyang from Chengdu Rongcheng. Yang previously represented Switzerland at youth international level.

    China is scheduled to face Indonesia away on June 5 before hosting Bahrain in Chongqing on June 10.

    With two rounds remaining, China and Bahrain both sit on six points, three behind group leader Indonesia. The Chinese team must win both matches to qualify for the playoff round of the Asian qualifiers.

    The 27-man roster is as follows:

    Goalkeepers: Yan Junling, Liu Dianzuo, Wang Dalei;

    Defenders: Jiang Guangtai, Wei Zhen, Yang Zexiang, Zhu Chenjie, Han Pengfei, Hu Hetao, Li Lei, Wu Shaocong, Wang Shiqin;

    Midfielders: Xu Haoyang, Yang Mingyang, Cao Yongjing, Sai Erjiniao, Huang Zhengyu, Xie Wenneng, Wang Shangyuan;

    Forwards: Wu Lei, Liu Ruofan, Liu Chengyu, Wei Shihao, Wang Ziming, Zhang Yuning, Lin Liangming, Wang Yudong.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-Evening Report: Floods, fires and even terrorist attacks: how ready are our hospitals to cope when disaster strikes?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mitchell Sarkies, Senior Lecturer, Horizon Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the Sydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney

    Floodwaters have engulfed large parts of New South Wales, with at least one person dead and almost 50,000 evacuated after days of heavy rainfall in a “one-in-500-year” flood event. The scale of the disaster is still unfolding and affected communities will be recovering for some time to come.

    One question worth asking is: how ready are our hospitals to cope when disaster strikes?

    A growing body of research, including our own, has looked at how hospitals might contend with disasters like floods, bushfires, heatwaves, cyclones or even mass injury events such as a stadium collapse. The answer? There’s room for improvement.

    Australia is already prone to natural disasters, which are expected to become more frequent and severe as the climate changes.

    Research around the world shows hospital administrators can better plan for how they’d cope if a disaster or terrorist attack wiped out their hospital’s capacity to function normally.

    When flood strikes, large parts of the hospital stop working

    In March 2022, rapidly rising floodwaters on Australia’s east coast posed an imminent threat to Ballina Hospital, on the NSW far north coast.

    With a few hours’ notice, staff safely evacuated the whole hospital to a nearby high school. This included 55 patients, essential equipment, supplies and medications.

    Our study documented this remarkable achievement via seven interviews with doctors and nurses integral to the evacuation.

    Several key themes emerged:

    • communication was disrupted: there was no mobile phone reception. Field hospital staff requested a satellite phone, but it was sent without any battery charge or a charging device
    • staff shortages: flooded roads prevented doctors and nurses from reaching the hospital. However, they could get to the high school field hospital, which still had road access
    • managing volunteers was tricky: community support was praised. However, there were so many volunteers, security was called to ensure volunteers didn’t get into spaces that would compromise the patient confidentiality, privacy and safety
    • patient tracking was a challenge: it was hard to keep track of vulnerable evacuated patients with cognitive decline or behavioural impairment
    • transport had to be improvised: cars, buses and taxis were used to transport equipment, medication and supplies
    • triage for patient transfers and discharging was crucial: health professionals prioritised less critical patients first, as they often make up the majority. By swiftly addressing their needs, staff could then concentrate on the smaller group of patients requiring intensive care.

    Some workers, dealing with their own personal losses during the evacuation, had to be sent home. One staff member told us:

    There were a couple of nursing staff who also lived within the flood risk area, and they had children at home, so we needed to let them go home.

    Another said:

    We did end up with almost too many people wanting to help, which is lovely, but it becomes a problem because we don’t need this many people.

    A third staff member said:

    Everybody was accounted for. We had a list of patients at one end and then when they got there, they put a new list of who was there and who was coming; that was all written on a big whiteboard.

    Disaster simulation: when a semi-trailer crash causes a stadium collapse

    Natural disasters aren’t the only kind of catastrophe for which hospitals must prepare.

    Our research has also looked at how hospitals might contend with a human-made disaster such as a mass casualty or injury event.

    Our team studied a mass casualty simulation exercise at one of Australia’s largest public hospitals.

    More than 200 hospital staff participated in the three‐hour long exercise, which simulated a semi‐trailer crashing into a stadium grandstand. Some 120 “patients” were taken to the hospital with crush, burn, smoke inhalation and other injuries.

    In the simulation, clinicians had to adapt quickly. New patients were continuously coming via the ambulance ramp and private cars.

    Participants had to make rapid collective decisions on treatment and transfers based on patient conditions and severity.

    During the exercise, additional random disruptive scenarios were introduced to test the clinicians’ ongoing responses. This included the city mayor repeatedly calling the Hospital Emergency Operations Centre for updates.

    Some key challenges included:

    • some of the hypothetical patients died from a lack of critical care equipment
    • an overwhelming number of minor injuries had to be managed
    • clinicians were uncertain about how many casualties were en route to the hospital and how many beds to make available for them
    • a shortage of orderlies to accompany transfers from the emergency department to surgical theatres or for scans
    • difficulties in keeping track of patients and bed allocations.

    We also observed hospital staff adapting to the situation. This included:

    • paediatricians treating adult patients with minor injuries
    • staff fast‐tracking triage
    • staff manually ventilating patients using a specialised resuscitation balloon when mechanical ventilation equipment was unavailable
    • running scans and imaging in batches instead of individually, due to the limited number of orderlies.

    A growing body of research

    Research shows that despite many hospitals having excellent, longstanding hospital disaster management plans, things can still go wrong. After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, nearly half of evacuated stroke and renal failure patients died in vehicles or on arrival to another hospital.

    Learning from hospital responses to disasters can help hospitals prepare for the future.

    Overall, our research shows many Australian hospitals have excellent disaster preparedness planning. However, some areas require improvement well before disaster strikes. Adapting on-the-fly as your hospital is inundated with floodwater or struck by another disaster means things have been left too late.

    Faran Naru is the recipient of a Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship (20203593). He works for the Australian government’s National Emergency Management Agency. This article reflects his work as a researcher, not the views of his employer.

    Janet Long, Jeffrey Braithwaite, Kate Churruca, and Mitchell Sarkies do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Floods, fires and even terrorist attacks: how ready are our hospitals to cope when disaster strikes? – https://theconversation.com/floods-fires-and-even-terrorist-attacks-how-ready-are-our-hospitals-to-cope-when-disaster-strikes-257318

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Algeria officially becomes member country of New Development Bank

    Source: New Development Bank

    Algeria has officially become a new member country of the New Development Bank (NDB).

    On May 19, 2025, Algeria deposited its instrument of accession, in line with the provisions of the Articles of Agreement of the New Development Bank.

    “On behalf of New Development Bank, I truly congratulate Algeria for joining the Bank. Algeria plays an important role not only in the economy of Northern Africa, but also at a global scale, and will definitely contribute to enhancing NDB’s position in the global financial arena,” said H.E. Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, NDB President.

    “Rich in natural resources, with a dynamic economy and strategic geographic position, Algeria has immense potential for growth and development. NDB is fully committed to becoming a reliable and trustworthy partner for Algeria, supporting its sustainable development agenda,” said President Dilma Rousseff.

    “The New Development Bank is a financial institution mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects. It is a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among its member countries. Together with Algeria, we will work to finance impactful projects that drive progress, improve lives, and contribute to development,” added President Dilma Rousseff.

    “We are delighted to announce the formalization of Algeria’s membership of the New Development Bank and thus becoming a full member of this prestigious international financial institution,” said H.E. Mr. Abdelkrim Bouzred, Minister of Finance of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. “This membership is a testament to our belief in this institution’s vital role in financing global development, and its status as a key player capable of providing alternative and innovative solutions to promote the growth and resilience of its member countries’ economies.”

    “I remain convinced that my country’s membership of the NDB will create promising opportunities for collaboration and mutual support,” said Mr. Abdelkrim Bouzred.

    NDB’s membership expansion is in line with the Bank’s strategy to become a leading provider of solutions for infrastructure and sustainable development for emerging market economies and developing countries (EMDCs).

     

    Background information

    Established in 2015 by BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank aimed at mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other EMDCs. Complementing the ongoing efforts of other multilateral and regional financial institutions, NDB aims to contribute to global growth and development by helping address the needs and aspirations of EMDCs.

    Since its establishment in 2015, NDB approved over 120 investment projects totalling USD 40 billion and spanning several key areas, including clean energy and energy efficiency, transport infrastructure, environmental protection, water supply and sanitation, social infrastructure and digital infrastructure.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam Kikuta Yutaka, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They exchanged views on ASEAN-Japan relations, including Japan’s collaboration with Brunei Darussalam that contributes to the strengthening of ASEAN-Japan cooperation and advancing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • World is surprised seeing development in India, says PM Modi in Bikaner

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for several major development projects worth over Rs 26,000 crore in Rajasthan’s Bikaner on Thursday. 
     
    He also inaugurated 102 redeveloped railway stations across 86 districts in 18 states and Union Territories under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at a cost of approximately Rs 1,100 crore.
     
    These include a mix of major and minor stations spread across Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
     
    Addressing the public rally, PM Modi said, “Today, I came in front of you all after seeking the blessings of Karni Mata. Due to the blessings of Karni Mata, our resolution of Viksit Bharat is strengthening. Just a few minutes back, the inauguration and foundation stone of development projects worth Rs 26,000 crore were laid. I congratulate the people of Rajasthan for this.”
     
    “To make a Viksit Bharat, today, an extensive campaign is ongoing to develop a modernised infrastructure in the country. To modernise the roads, highways, trains and railway stations, work has been done with an unprecedented pace in the last 11 years. Today, the amount spent by the nation on these infrastructural developments is six times what was used before,” he said.
     
    “Today, even the world is surprised seeing the developmental works being carried out by India,” PM Modi said, giving examples of Chenab Bridge, Arunachal Pradesh’s Sela Tunnel, Mumbai’s Atal Setu and Pamban Bridge in South India.
     
    The Prime Minister also said that today, India is “modernising” its train network by introducing trains like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains, which shows the “new pace and progress of the country’s technology.”
     
    Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister also offered prayers at the sacred Karni Mata Temple, followed by a visit to the newly redeveloped Deshnoke railway station.
     
    This station is one of the 103 stations revamped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
     
    PM Modi also flagged off the new Bikaner-Mumbai Express train.
     
    Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, railway stations across the country are being upgraded to offer enhanced passenger facilities, accessibility for Divyangjan (persons with disabilities), and culturally rich designs.
     
    A total of 103 stations, modernised for Rs 1,100 crore, were inaugurated by the Prime Minister. These include eight stations in Rajasthan — Fatehpur Shekhawati, Deshnok, Bundi, Mandalgarh, Gogamedi, Rajgarh, Govindgarh, and Mandawar-Mahua Road.
     
    The Deshnoke station, in particular, has been designed to reflect local architectural traditions, including temple-style arches and decorative pillars.
     
    As part of this vision, the Prime Minister laid the foundation for the 58 km Churu-Sadulpur rail line and dedicated the electrification of key railway sections, including Suratgarh-Phalodi (336 km), Phulera-Degana (109 km), Udaipur–Himmatnagar (210 km), Phalodi–Jaisalmer (157 km), and Samdari–Barmer (129 km).
     
    In terms of road infrastructure, the Prime Minister launched projects aimed at both enhancing civilian connectivity and strengthening national security.
     
    This includes laying the foundation for three vehicular underpasses on NH-58 in Pushkar, as well as the widening of NH-11 and NH-70.
     
    Additionally, he dedicated seven major national highway projects worth Rs 4,850 crore, which are expected to improve military mobility and boost the regional economy.
     
    The Prime Minister’s visit also emphasised India’s commitment to clean energy. He laid the foundation stone for several solar power initiatives, including a 300 MW ground-mounted solar project by NEEPCO in Bikaner and a 100 MW project by SJVN in Nawa.
     
    Solar projects in Didwana and Kuchaman were also initiated. Transmission systems under Powergrid’s Sirohi and Mewar divisions were launched to enhance grid connectivity.
     
    Furthermore, he inaugurated three key power infrastructure projects — Power Grid Neemuch Transmission System, a power evacuation project in Bikaner, and capacity expansion of the Fatehgarh-II Power Station.
     
    Among other projects, the 500 MW Kalasar and 300 MW Shimbhu Ka Bhurj solar power plants will play a pivotal role in strengthening India’s renewable energy framework, supported by indigenous solar PV modules under the “Make in India” mission.
     
    Strengthening regional connectivity further, the Prime Minister launched the upgradation and maintenance of 12 state highways covering 757 km under the Rajasthan State Highway Development Programme, with a total investment of Rs 3,240 crore.
     
    Prominent routes include Mangaliyawas-Padukalan (State Highway-102), Beawar-Tehla-Alniyawas (SH-59 and SH-104), and Dantiwada-Pipar-Merta City (SH-21).
     
    Plans are in place for the future upgradation of another 900 km of roadways, including the Gotan-Sathin Highway, linking industrial and border areas more efficiently.
     
    To bolster the state’s healthcare infrastructure, the Prime Minister also inaugurated four new nursing colleges in Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, and Dholpur.
     
    These institutions will help strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve access to quality medical education across Rajasthan.
     
    In addition, two electrical substations — 132 kV GSS Rajpura in Bikaner and 132 kV GSS Sarda in Udaipur — will be inaugurated to improve power distribution in the region.
     
    These upgrades are a vital part of ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply across the state.
     
    –IANS
  • CAQM invokes Stage-I of GRAP in NCR to curb worsening air quality

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR), as Delhi’s air quality continues to linger in the ‘Poor’ category with no significant signs of improvement.

    According to the daily Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s AQI on May 21 stood at 213—placing it in the ‘Poor’ category. Over the past two days, the AQI has been hovering slightly above the 200 mark, with only marginal improvements predicted by forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

    The poor air quality has been primarily attributed to variable wind conditions.

    In response, the Sub-Committee met to assess the situation and, based on current data and forecasts, decided to invoke all measures under Stage-I of GRAP across the NCR. The primary aim of this preemptive action is to prevent further deterioration of the region’s air quality and to avoid slipping into more severe air quality categories.

    Stage-I of GRAP includes a 27-point action plan to be implemented by various agencies including the Pollution Control Boards of the NCR states and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). These measures primarily focus on controlling dust from construction and demolition (C&D) activities, ensuring proper waste management, intensifying mechanized road cleaning, enforcing emission norms, and promoting cleaner fuels and transportation options.

    Some of the immediate steps include strict enforcement of dust mitigation at C&D sites, regular removal of municipal and industrial waste, increased use of anti-smog guns and water sprinkling on roads, prohibition of open waste burning, and stringent vehicle emission checks. Agencies have also been directed to regulate industrial emissions, ensure use of approved fuels, and penalize violations rigorously.

    To support these efforts, citizens have been urged to comply with the GRAP Stage-I Citizen Charter. This includes maintaining vehicle fitness and pollution control certificates, avoiding the use of outdated vehicles, refraining from open burning or the use of firecrackers, reporting pollution-related activities through mobile applications like 311 App, Green Delhi App, and SAMEER, and adopting eco-friendly habits such as tree plantation and unified commuting.

    Additionally, eateries and restaurants are required to switch to electricity or clean fuel-based appliances, avoiding the use of coal or firewood in tandoors. DISCOMs have been instructed to minimize power outages to reduce reliance on diesel generator sets.

    The CAQM has also called for widespread dissemination of information related to pollution levels, measures being taken, and avenues for public complaints through mobile apps, social media, and bulk SMS campaigns. Agencies have been asked to ensure swift redressal of complaints to bolster public participation in tackling the pollution crisis.

    The Commission emphasized that it would closely monitor the air quality situation and review the implementation of these measures. Depending on the evolving AQI trends and future forecasts, further stages of GRAP could be activated if necessary.

    With the air quality situation in a precarious state, the CAQM has reiterated the urgent need for collective responsibility, both from authorities and citizens, to ensure timely and effective action to safeguard public health and the environment in the National Capital Region.

  • Operation Sindoor: Indian parliamentary team in Tokyo to rally support against terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A high-level all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, reached Tokyo on Thursday as part of a five-nation diplomatic outreach under ‘Operation Sindoor’. The initiative is aimed at highlighting India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

    “An All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Hon’ble MP Sanjay Kumar Jha has arrived in Tokyo and was welcomed by Ambassador Sibi George. India’s unwavering stand against cross-border terrorism, as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor, will be highlighted in all engagements,” the Indian Embassy in Japan said in a post on X.

    The nine-member delegation includes a diverse political representation with BJP MPs Dr. Hemang Joshi, Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, and Pradan Baruah; CPI(M) MP John Brittas; TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee; and Ambassador Mohan Kumar. The tour, which spans Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, aims to brief international partners about India’s decisive response to terrorism and its broader anti-terror framework.

    The group was briefed at the Indian Embassy, where George provided a detailed overview of Japan’s stance and reaction to the recent terror attack. He noted that Japan was among the first nations to respond to the attack, underscoring Tokyo’s solidarity with India in the fight against terrorism.

    “Our parliamentary delegation is here to strongly present India’s position on cross-border terrorism,” George said. “This engagement is crucial in setting the tone for strong international messaging against terrorism.”

    BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi expressed optimism about the outreach’s effectiveness, saying, “The visit started with an in-depth discussion at the Indian Embassy in Japan. We were briefed by Ambassador Sibi George on Japan’s perspective regarding the Pahalgam attack. This diplomatic outreach, initiated by Prime Minister Modi’s government, is a well-thought-out exercise to communicate India’s united stand to the global community.”

    Jha emphasized the need to expose what he called Pakistan’s state policy of sponsoring terrorism. “Terrorism is a part of Pakistan’s state policy. Operation Sindoor is a reflection of our resolve. We want the world to know that India will not tolerate terrorist activities supported and perpetrated by Pakistan. Enough is enough,” he said before departing from India.

    CPI(M) MP John Brittas, part of the delegation, noted that the initiative demonstrates national consensus on the issue of terrorism. “We are united as a nation in condemning terrorism in all forms. Our delegation’s purpose is to project that unity and resolve globally.”

    The delegation is set to hold discussions with senior Japanese government officials, including the Foreign Minister, and engage with key policymakers and diplomatic figures. Similar high-level meetings are scheduled throughout the other four countries on the tour.

    India launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK). In retaliation to subsequent Pakistani aggression, the Indian Armed Forces targeted Pakistani airbases. Following a call from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) to his Indian counterpart, both nations have agreed to halt further military actions.

    ANI

  • MIL-OSI: RUBIS: Evolutions at the Supervisory Board and its Committees – Communication following the requests received for the inclusion of resolutions to the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, 22 May 2025, 7:45am

    1.  The Supervisory Board announces the cooptation of Antoine Sautenet and reorganises its specialised Committees following Nils Christian Bergene’s departure

    Following Nils Christian Bergene’s departure on 15 May 2025, the Supervisory Board decided at its meeting on 21 May 2025, upon the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee’s recommendation, to coopt Antoine Sautenet, Head of Sustainable Development at Michelin, as independent member of the Supervisory Board.

    Antoine Sautenet joins the Board, effective 21 May 2025 and subject to ratification by the upcoming Shareholders’ Meeting, for the remainder of Nils Christian Bergene’s term of office, i.e., until the end of the Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2027 to approve the financial statements for the 2026 fiscal year. Antoine Sautenet’s profile was identified during the appointment process to enrich the work of the Board. He will bring his expertise to the Board, particularly in the areas of corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSR) and climate issues.

    Upon the Supervisory Board’s recommendation, the Managing Partners have included a new resolution to the agenda of the next annual Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled for 12 June 2025 and invites shareholders to ratify this co-optation in accordance with applicable regulations.

    The composition of the Board Committees has also been adjusted to reflect the new composition of the Board, in line with the Board succession plan. Alberto Pedrosa (independent member) has been appointed, with immediate effect, Chairman of the Audit and CSR Committee, which Marc-Olivier Laurent (independent member) joins as ex officio member in his capacity as the new Chairman of the Board. Benoît Luc (independent member) joins the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee, replacing Nils Christian Bergene. The Audit and CSR Committee and the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee comprise 100% independent members.

    2.  The Supervisory Board issued a positive opinion on the two proposed resolutions submitted by Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), which the Managing Partners have consequently approved, upon the Supervisory Board’s recommendation

    As indicated in its press release dated 16 May 2025, Rubis received on 15 May 2025, from Compagnie Nationale de Navigation (CNN), a request to add two resolutions to the agenda. These resolutions pertain to the appointment of Patrick Molis and Anne Lauvergeon as members of the Supervisory Board, for a term of three years.

    The Supervisory Board, which met on 21 May 2025, expresses a favourable opinion regarding the appointment of these two candidates. The Board believes that the proposals to appoint Patrick Molis and Anne Lauvergeon, as independent members, do not alter the overall composition of the Supervisory Board and were submitted following discussions between the Company and CNN, a shareholder with a 9.3% stake, demonstrating CNN’s willingness to engage in a constructive dialogue, to which the Supervisory Board, representing shareholders, is sensitive.

    It was also noted that CNN, which has engaged in a constructive manner and has a significant stake in the Company’s share capital, supports all the resolutions proposed by the Managing Partners and endorsed by the Supervisory Board.

    Patrick Molis also expressed his desire to contribute to the ongoing improvement of the functioning of the Supervisory Board following the strengthening of its duties formalised in October 2024 and, in this regard, proposed the appointment of a new independent member, Anne Lauvergeon.

    Finally, committed to complying with the corporate governance rules applicable to the Group, the Supervisory Board emphasised that the members of the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee had the opportunity to interview both candidates.

    The Managing Partners added these two draft resolutions to the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025 and decided to approve these two nominations, following the favourable opinion of the Supervisory Board, on its own composition, which it has always followed. Shareholders are therefore also invited to approve the two draft resolutions submitted to the vote of the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025, at the initiative of CNN.

    Consequently, if the resolutions proposed or approved by the Supervisory Board are adopted, the Supervisory Board will be composed, following the Shareholders’ Meeting of 12 June 2025, of 14 members, including 13 independent members (i.e., 93%) and six women (i.e., 43%).

    3.  Request for amendment to the by-laws relating to the methods used to calculate the dividend of the General Partners

    At its meeting on 20 May 2025, the Managing Partners reviewed a request to include a draft resolution submitted by a shareholder1 representing approximately 2.78% of Rubis’ share capital, dated 17 May 2025 and brought to Rubis’ attention on 19 May 2025, aimed at amending Article 56 of Rubis’ by-laws relating to the methods used to calculate the dividend of the General Partners, so as to provide that the Total Shareholder Return (TSR) would now be calculated on the basis of the highest of the average of the opening prices of the last 20 trading days of all the fiscal years preceding the Relevant Fiscal Year, without any time limit.

    Rubis reiterates its strong commitment to ensuring the best possible alignment between the interests of all shareholders and those of the General Partners, and notes that the current Total Shareholder Return formula, calculated by reference to the three financial years preceding the financial year in which a possible dividend payment to General Partners is determined, is the result of an evolution proposed in line with expressed expectations. It was approved with very wide support by shareholders, representing 99.8% of the votes cast at the Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of 9 December 2020.

    This method currently in force ensures a certain stability in the assessment of Rubis’ performance and is consistent with the structural shift in the valuation of European companies operating in the fossil fuel sector. It is moreover recalled that this method did not result in any dividend distributions to General Partners for fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    Considering the complexity and sensitivity of each of the parameters on which the formula is based, any new evolution to the General Partners dividend mechanism requires in-depth simulations and analysis to measure its direct and indirect effects, with a view to proposing a formula that protects the interests of shareholders and all other Rubis stakeholders.

    Acknowledging in particular the absence of approval by the General Partners for this proposed amendment to the by-laws, which therefore could not be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the French Commercial Code, the Managing Partners had no option but to conclude that the proposed resolution should not be included on the agenda of the Shareholders’ Meeting scheduled to be held on 12 June 2025.

    However, following discussions with this shareholder as part of its shareholder engagement, to which it pays close attention, Rubis will conduct an in-depth analysis of a possible evolution to the methods for calculating the dividend of the General Partners, which could be submitted, as appropriate, upon completion of this analysis and under an appropriate corporate governance framework, at the annual Shareholders’ Meeting to be held in 2026.

    The resolution proposals submitted by CNN, along with their statements of reasons and the opinions of the Supervisory Board and the Managing Partners, are covered in an Addendum that complements the main Notice of Meeting for the Shareholders’ Meeting. This Addendum is available on Rubis’ website: https://www.rubis.fr/en/investors/shareholders-meetings/.

    BIOGRAPHY OF ANTOINE SAUTENET

    With a PhD in international law and a master’s degree in economics from the École normale supérieure in Rennes, Antoine Sautenet is currently Michelin Group’s Director of Sustainable Development. He is responsible for orchestrating the social and environmental aspects of the Group’s CSR performance.

    Within the Michelin Group, Antoine Sautenet previously held various positions in charge of public affairs and international trade in North America (Michelin representative in Canada) (2019 to 2022), Asia (Thailand) (2016 to 2019) and Europe (Paris) (2013 to 2016). He was also a project officer at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a research associate at the Asia Centre of the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI).

    BIOGRAPHY OF PATRICK MOLIS

    Patrick Molis is the Chairman of CNN, a successor to Navale Worms, a historical branch of the Worms Group founded in the 19th century and specialising in shipping and logistics, particularly oil.

    CNN was acquired in 1999 by Patrick Molis, and has developed in land-based oil logistics (Compagnie Industrielle Maritime, TRAPIL), specialised shipping on ro-ro vessels for the benefit of Arianespace, Airbus, the French Armed Forces, air transport with Héli-Union, a company operating helicopters for transport to oil and gas platforms and maintenance in operational conditions of helicopters for the benefit of the French Armies.

    The historical operations have been gradually sold and CNN has focused on acquiring stakes in the industrial, maritime, logistics, energy, aeronautics and defense sectors.

    Patrick Molis, through CNN, also participated in the refinancing and takeover of the Arc Group, the world’s leading glassmaker, concluded in April 2025.

    He is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and a Knight of the Légion d’honneur.

    BIOGRAPHY OF ANNE LAUVERGEON

    Anne Lauvergeon has led the French nuclear industry for a decade, as Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Areva NC from June 1999 to July 2011, then Chairwoman of the Management Board (Directoire) of Areva from July 2001 to June 2011.

    From 1997 to 1999, she was a member of the Executive Committee of Alcatel, in charge of international and industrial investments; from 1995 to 1997, Managing Partner of Lazard Frères & Cie. In 1990, she was assigned as a special advisor for international economy and foreign trade at the French Presidency, then from 1991 to 1995, Deputy Secretary General and sherpa to the French President for the organisation of international summits (G7/G8).

    She was ranked twice by Time Magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world. She also has more than 30 years of experience on Boards of Directors and co-chairs the Medef State Simplification and Reform Commission.

    She is an Officer of the French National Order of Merit and an Officer of the Légion d’honneur.

    Media Relations Contact
    RUBIS – Communication RUBIS – Clémence Mignot-Dupeyrot, Head of IR
    Tel. : + 33 (0)1 44 17 95 95

    presse@rubis.fr

    Tel. : + 33 (0)1 45 01 87 44

    investors@rubis.fr


    1 The funds Tweedy, Browne International Value Fund, Tweedy, Browne Value Fund, Tweedy, Browne Worldwide High Dividend Yield Value Fund et Tweedy, Browne International Value Fund II – Currency Unhedged.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Euronext launches an offering of bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (“OCEANEs”) for a nominal amount of €425 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Euronext launches an offering of bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares (“OCEANEs”) for a nominal amount of €425 million

    Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Milan, Oslo and Paris – 22 May 2025 – Euronext (ISIN Code: NL0006294274) (the “Company”), the leading European capital market infrastructure, announces today the launch of an offering of senior unsecured bonds due 2032 convertible into new shares and/or exchangeable for existing shares of the Company (“OCEANEs”) (the “Bonds”), by way of a placement to qualified investors only (within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below)), for a nominal amount of €425 million (the “Offering”).

    On 17 April 2025, the Company entered into a bridge loan facility with, among others, affiliates of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering, to finance the acquisition of Admincontrol. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for the repayment of a portion of such bridge financing and general corporate purposes.

    Main terms of the Bonds

    The Bonds will be issued with a denomination of €100,000 each (the “Principal Amount”), will be convertible and/or exchangeable into new and/or existing shares of Euronext (the “Shares”) and are expected to pay a fixed coupon at a rate between 1.5% and 2.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrear on 30 May and 30 November of each year (or on the following business day if this date is not a business day), and for the first time on 30 November 2025.

    The initial conversion price of the Bonds will be set between 30% and 35% above the Company’s reference share price on the regulated market of Euronext in Paris (“Euronext Paris”)1. The final terms and conditions of the Bonds are expected to be determined following the completion of the bookbuilding process later today, and settlement and delivery of the Bonds is expected to take place on 30 May 2025 (the “Issue Date”).

    Unless previously converted, exchanged, redeemed or purchased and cancelled, the Bonds will be redeemed at par on 30 May 2032 (or on the following business day if such date is not a business day) (the “Maturity Date”).

    The Bonds may be redeemed prior to the Maturity Date at the option of the Company, under certain conditions.

    In particular, the Bonds may be fully redeemed early at par plus any accrued interest at the Company’s option, subject to a prior notice of at least 30 (but not more than 60) calendar days, (i) at any time from 20 June 2030 (inclusive), if the arithmetic average, calculated over a period of 10 consecutive trading days chosen by the Company from among the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the day of the publication of the early redemption notice, of the daily products on each of such 10 consecutive trading days of the volume weighted average price of the Shares on Euronext Paris over the applicable conversion price on each such trading day, exceeds 130%; or (ii) at any time if 80% or more in principal amount of the Bonds issued (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any tap issues of the Bonds) have been converted/exchanged and/or redeemed and/or purchased by the Company and cancelled.

    Bondholders will be granted the right to convert or exchange the Bonds into new and/or existing Shares (the “Conversion/Exchange Right”) which they may exercise at any time from the 41st day (inclusive) following the Issue Date up to the 7th business day (inclusive) preceding the Maturity Date or, as the case may be, the relevant early redemption date.

    The conversion ratio of the Bonds will be set at the Principal Amount divided by the prevailing initial conversion price, subject to standard adjustments, including anti-dilution and dividend protections, as described in the terms and conditions of the Bonds. Upon exercise of their Conversion/Exchange Right, holders of the Bonds will receive at the option of the Company new and/or existing Shares, carrying in all cases all rights attached to existing Shares as from the date of delivery.

    Application will be made for the admission of the Bonds to trading on Euronext AccessTM in Paris to occur within 30 calendar days from the Issue Date.

    Legal framework of the Offering and placement

    The Bonds will be issued by way of a placement to qualified investors only (within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”)) (excluding the United States of America, Australia, Japan, Canada or South Africa), pursuant to the authorization granted by the Company’s annual general meeting held on 15 May 2025 (15th and 16th resolution), without an offer to the public (other than to qualified investors) in any country.

    Existing shareholders of the Company shall have no preferential subscription rights, and there will be no priority subscription period in connection with the issuance of the Bonds or any underlying new Shares to be issued upon conversion.

    Intentions of existing shareholders

    The Company is not aware of the intention of any of its main shareholders to participate in the Offering.

    Lock-up undertaking

    In the context of the Offering, the Company will agree to a lock-up undertaking with respect to its Shares and securities giving access to share capital of the Company for a period starting from the announcement of the final terms of the Bonds and ending 90 calendar days after the Issue Date, subject to certain customary exceptions or waiver from the joint global coordinators appointed in the context of the Offering.

    Dilution

    For illustrative purposes, considering a nominal amount of €425 million, a reference share price of €145.02 and a 32.5% conversion premium corresponding to the mid-point of the marketing range, the potential dilution would represent approximately 2.1% of the Company’s outstanding share capital, if the Conversion/Exchange Right was exercised for all the Bonds and the Company decided to deliver new Shares only upon exercise of the Conversion/Exchange Right.

    Available information
            
    Neither the offering of the Bonds, nor the admission of the Bonds to trading on Euronext AccessTM is subject to a prospectus approved by the Stichting Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) in Netherlands or the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in France. No key information document required by the PRIIPs Regulation or the UK PRIIPs Regulation (as defined below) has been or will be prepared. Detailed information about Company, including its business, results, prospects and the risk factors to which the Company is exposed are described in the Company’s universal registration document for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, filed with the AFM on 28 March 2025 and the Company’s first quarter 2025 results press release which includes the unaudited financial statements of the Company as at and for the three months ended 31 March 2025, which are all available on the Company’s website (https://www.euronext.com/en/investor-relations).

    Important information

    This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for or to sell securities to any U.S. person or to any person in the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada or South Africa or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer is unlawful, and the Offering of the Bonds is not an offer to the public in any jurisdiction (other than to qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation) or an offer to retail investors as such term is defined below.

    CONTACTS  

    ANALYSTS & INVESTORS ir@euronext.com

    Investor Relations        Aurélie Cohen                 

            Judith Stein        +33 6 15 23 91 97          

    MEDIA – mediateam@euronext.com 

    Europe        Aurélie Cohen         +33 1 70 48 24 45   

            Andrea Monzani         +39 02 72 42 62 13 

    Belgium        Marianne Aalders         +32 26 20 15 01                 

    France, Corporate        Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella        +33 1 70 48 24 45                 

    Ireland        Catalina Augspach        +33 6 82 09 99 70                

    Italy         Ester Russom         +39 02 72 42 67 56                 

    The Netherlands        Marianne Aalders         +31 20 721 41 33                 

    Norway         Cathrine Lorvik Segerlund        +47 41 69 59 10                 

    Portugal         Sandra Machado        +351 91 777 68 97                                 

    About Euronext  

    Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway and Portugal.

    As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.

    For the latest news, go to euronext.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

    Disclaimer

    This press release is for information purposes only: it is not a recommendation to engage in investment activities and is provided “as is”, without representation or warranty of any kind. While all reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the content, Euronext does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Euronext will not be held liable for any loss or damages of any nature ensuing from using, trusting or acting on information provided. No information set out or referred to in this publication may be regarded as creating any right or obligation. The creation of rights and obligations in respect of financial products that are traded on the exchanges operated by Euronext’s subsidiaries shall depend solely on the applicable rules of the market operator. All proprietary rights and interest in or connected with this publication shall vest in Euronext. This press release speaks only as of this date. Euronext refers to Euronext N.V. and its affiliates. Information regarding trademarks and intellectual property rights of Euronext is available at www.euronext.com/terms-use.

    © 2025, Euronext N.V. – All rights reserved. 

    The Euronext Group processes your personal data in order to provide you with information about Euronext (the “Purpose”). With regard to the processing of this personal data, Euronext will comply with its obligations under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and Council of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”), and any applicable national laws, rules and regulations implementing the GDPR, as provided in its privacy statement available at: www.euronext.com/privacy-policy. In accordance with the applicable legislation you have rights with regard to the processing of your personal data: for more information on your rights, please refer to: www.euronext.com/data_subjects_rights_request_information. To make a request regarding the processing of your data or to unsubscribe from this press release service, please use our data subject request form at connect2.euronext.com/form/data-subjects-rights-request or email our Data Protection Officer at dpo@euronext.com.

    Disclaimer

    The contents of this announcement have been prepared by and are the sole responsibility of the Company.

    The information contained in this announcement is for information purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness.

    This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of Prospectus Regulation.

    This announcement does not contain or constitute an offer of, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, Bonds to any U.S. person or to any person in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or in any jurisdiction to whom or in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. The Bonds and the Shares, if any, to be issued upon exercise of the Conversion/Exercise Right (together, the “Securities”) referred to herein may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons unless registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) or offered in a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    In addition, until 40 days after the commencement of the Offering, an offer or sale of Bonds within the United States by a dealer (whether or not it is participating in the Offering) may violate the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The offer and sale of Securities referred to herein has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. Subject to certain exceptions, the Bonds referred to herein may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan. There will be no public offer of the Securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, South Africa or Japan or elsewhere.

    In member states of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”), this announcement and any offer is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (“Qualified Investors”). In the United Kingdom this announcement and any offer is directed exclusively at persons who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (“EUWA”) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”), (ii) who fall within Article 49(2)(A) to (D) of the Order, or (iii) to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together with Qualified Investors in the EEA being referred to herein as “Relevant Persons”). This document is directed only at Relevant Persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons.

    This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes”, “estimates”, “plans”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company’s and its group’s business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth or strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

    Each of the Company, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and their respective affiliates expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

    Each of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering is acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective client in relation to the Offering and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

    In connection with the Offering, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may take up a portion of the Bonds in the Offering as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such Bonds and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references to the Bonds being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt in should be read as including any issue or offer to, or subscription, acquisition, placing or dealing by, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates acting in such capacity. In addition, the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences) with investors in connection with which the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Bonds and/or Shares. The joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

    None of the joint bookrunners appointed in the context of the Offering or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available, or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

    Information to Distributors: Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended and supplemented (“MiFID II”) and local implementing measures (together, the “Product Governance Requirements”), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any “manufacturer” (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Bonds have been subject to a product approval process, which has determined that: (i) the target market for the Bonds is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Bonds to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Bonds (a “distributor”) should take into consideration the manufacturers’ target market assessment; however, a distributor (for the purposes of the Product Governance Requirements) is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Bonds (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers’ target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels.

    The target market assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual or legal selling restrictions in relation to any offering of the Bonds.

    For the avoidance of doubt, the target market assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Bonds.

    PRIIPs Regulation / Prospectus Regulation / Prohibition of sales to EEA and UK retail investors – The Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA or the UK. For these purposes, a “retail investor” means (a) in the EEA, a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 as amended or superseded (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation and (b) in the UK, a person who is one (or more) of (i) a retail client within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No. 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the UK (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA or (iii) not a Qualified Investor as defined in Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “EU PRIIPs Regulation”) or the EU PRIIPS Regulation as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the “UK PRIIPS Regulation”) for offering or selling the Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or the UK may be unlawful under the EU PRIIPs Regulation and/or the UK PRIIPs Regulation.


    1 The reference share price will be equal to the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of the Shares recorded on Euronext Paris from the launch of the Offering today until the determination of the final terms (pricing) of the Bonds on the same day.
    2 i.e. Euronext’s share price on Euronext Paris, at close of trading on 21 May 2025

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Health centre contracts awarded

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The service contract for Eastern District Health Centre (DHC) has been awarded to the Society for Rehabilitation, while the Yan Chai Hospital Board has been awarded the future service contract for Kwai Tsing DHC, the Health Bureau announced today. 

    Under the new contract, the existing Eastern DHC Express will be upgraded and the new DHC is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. The existing service contract for Kwai Tsing DHC will expire in the third quarter. 

    The service contracts for the two DHCs were awarded via open tenders and will last for three years.

    The core centre of Eastern DHC will be located at Siu Sai Wan Health Integrated Building. It will comprise a floor area of about 1,000 sq m, which is about three times the size of the current Eastern DHC Express.

    The core centre will have additional consultation rooms, rehabilitation facilities and an audio-visual assessment room, and will include facilities for enhanced health education activities. The Society for Rehabilitation is to establish two satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation.

    The core centre of Kwai Tsing DHC will remain on 30/F, Tower 2 of Kowloon Commerce Centre, with main services including chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services being unchanged.

    Yan Chai Hospital Board is required to establish four satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation.

    Together with Eastern DHC, plus the two DHCs in Central & Western and Yau Tsim Mong Districts, the total number of DHCs across the city will increase to 10 this year.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Underwriting Auction for sale of Government Securities for ₹27,000 crore on May 23, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Government of India has announced the sale (re-issue) of Government Securities, as detailed below, through auctions to be held on May 23, 2025 (Friday).

    As per the extant scheme of underwriting commitment notified on November 14, 2007, the amounts of Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) and the minimum bidding commitment under Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) auction, applicable to each Primary Dealer (PD), are as under:

    (₹ crore)
    Security Notified Amount MUC amount per PD Minimum bidding commitment per PD under ACU auction
    6.75% GS 2029 15,000 358 358
    7.09% GS 2054 12,000 286 286

    The underwriting auction will be conducted through multiple price-based method on May 23, 2025 (Friday). PDs may submit their bids for ACU auction electronically through Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) System between 09:00 A.M. and 09:30 A.M. on the day of underwriting auction.

    The underwriting commission will be credited to the current account of the respective PDs with RBI on the day of issue of securities.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/387

    MIL OSI Economics