NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI: No KYC, 100x Leverage, Big Bonuses, Simple Interface — Why Beginners Love BexBack

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin has officially shattered the long-anticipated $100,000 barrier, marking a historic milestone for the crypto market. As shown in the latest TradingView chart, BTC continues to push higher, riding the upper edge of the Bollinger Bands with no signs of slowing down.

    While the bull run creates exciting opportunities, traders are now facing a critical question: Which platform is best positioned to help them capitalize on this volatility?

    Introducing BexBack — A Streamlined Futures Trading Platform Built for This Moment

    In a sea of exchanges that are often overloaded, overcomplicated, or overregulated, BexBack stands out with its fast, frictionless, and fully non-KYC approach to crypto derivatives trading.

    Whether you’re a seasoned leverage trader or just getting started, BexBack delivers a powerful yet simple experience, offering:

    • No KYC Required — Trade anonymously with just an email
    • 100% Deposit Bonus + $100 Trading Bonus — Double your capital and get a head start
    • Up to 100x Leverage — Maximize your position in times of volatility
    • Free Demo Account — Practice with 10 BTC and 1,000,000 USDT risk-free
    • 50+ Perpetual Contracts — Including BTC, ETH, XRP, ADA, SOL and more
    • Zero Spread, No Slippage — What you see is what you get

    Security and Speed in One Package

    BexBack isn’t just fast — it’s secure. With cold wallet fund storage, multi-signature withdrawal approvals, and real-time risk monitoring, the platform ensures your assets and trades are well protected.

    Global Access, Real Freedom

    BexBack proudly serves a global user base. With no mandatory KYC, even traders from regions with limited access to traditional exchanges can participate freely and instantly.

    About BexBack?

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

    As Bitcoin Enters Price Discovery, Don’t Get Left Behind

    Markets like this don’t come around often. Whether you’re aiming to ride short-term price swings or position for long-term growth, BexBack provides the tools, leverage, and freedom you need to trade your way.

    Create your account, claim your bonuses, and trade with confidence — all on BexBack.

    Website: www.bexback.com

    Contact: business@bexback.com

    Contact:
    Amanda
    business@bexback.com

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TMD Energy Limited Announces Strategic Expansion into Oil Waste Collection as Core ESG Initiative

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TMD Energy Limited (the “Company” or “TMDEL”) (NYSE American: TMDE), together with its subsidiaries is a Malaysia and Singapore based services provider engaged in integrated bunkering services which involves ship-to-ship transfer of marine fuels, ship management services and vessel chartering services, today announced a strategic expansion into oil waste collection, marking a significant enhancement of its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments. This initiative aims to collect sludge oil and used cooking oil and sell to third-party partners for processing into biodiesel, which also helps diversify the Company’s revenue streams.

    Following a successful Initial Public Offering, the Company is poised to leverage its extensive logistics network and industry expertise to meet the increasing demand for sustainable waste disposal. It plans to collect residual oils from maritime operators and the food industry, facilitating their conversion into cleaner biodiesel. This circular economy approach not only mitigates greenhouse gas emissions but also supports Malaysia’s national commitment to renewable energy adoption.

    Leadership in Sustainable Innovation

    The biodiesel market in Malaysia, supported by government incentives, presents substantial growth opportunities. TMDEL’s entry into this sector aligns with evolving regulatory frameworks and the corporate demand for eco-conscious partnerships. “Our expansion signifies a strategic shift toward long-term environmental stewardship,” stated Dato’ Sri Kam Choy Ho, Chairman and CEO of the Company. “By collaborating with businesses, agencies and environmental organizations, we aim to redefine waste as a valuable resource—transforming sustainability commitments into actionable and scalable solutions.”

    “This initiative reinforces TMDEL’s dual commitment to operational excellence and ecological responsibility. The Company’s established infrastructure ensures efficient collection, and we target to engage in processing and distribution of biodiesel in the near future, so as to position the Company as a key player in Southeast Asia’s green energy transition.”

    “Furthermore, this milestone underscores our vision to lead the bio-green industry while upholding our commitment to exceptional service standards,” added Dato’ Sri Kam Choy Ho. “Every step forward is a step toward a future where economic growth and environmental responsibility coexist.”

    About TMD Energy Limited

    TMD Energy Limited and its subsidiaries (“TMDEL Group”) are principally involved in marine fuel bunkering services specializing in the supply and marketing of marine gas oil and marine fuel oil of which include high sulfur fuel oil, low sulfur fuel oil and very low sulfur fuel oil, to ships and vessels at sea. TMDEL Group is also involved in the provision of ship management services for in-house and external vessels, as well as vessel chartering. As of today, TMDEL Group operates in 19 ports across Malaysia with a fleet of 15 bunkering vessels. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.tmdel.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company’s Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may”, “could”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s financial results filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
    TMD ENERGY LIMITED
    e-Mail : corporate@tmdel.com

    WFS INVESTOR RELATIONS
    e-Mail : services@wealthfsllc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: South Korea spent $222 billion on defense from 2021 to 2025, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    The rising tensions with North Korea, coupled with China’s increasing assertiveness, have necessitated South Korea to bolster its military capabilities and readiness. These strategic enhancements include investments in advanced weapons systems, military preparedness, and fortification of cybersecurity infrastructure. In light of these developments, the country has allocated $222 billion for the period from 2021 to 2025, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest report, “South Korea Defense Market Size and Trends, Budget Allocation, Regulations, Key Acquisitions, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2025–30,” reveals that as part of its modernization drive, the country has undertaken significant acquisitions, including the KF-21 Boramae Multirole Aircraft, the K239 Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launch System, and the K9 Self-Propelled Artillery Systems. Notably, all these military platforms are indigenously manufactured.

    Akash Pratim Debbarma, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Over the years, South Korea has successfully diminished its reliance on imports and enhanced the capabilities of its armed forces through the indigenous development of several advanced military systems. The country’s allocation of funds toward acquisition and research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) underscores its commitment to addressing the evolving security challenges within the region.”

    The successful flight of the KF-21 prototype by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in 2022 marks a significant stride toward self-reliance in combat aircraft production. While the induction of the KF-21 is slated for 2028, it is expected to considerably enhance South Korea’s aerial combat capabilities with advanced onboard avionics and near-stealth performance.

    Debbarma concludes: “As North Korea continues its nuclear-capable missile tests, South Korea remains steadfast in enhancing its deterrence strategies, bolstering its air, naval, and missile defense capabilities. However, South Korea is still mainly dependent on the 28,500 US troops to maintain a credible deterrence against potential hostilities from North Korea.

    “With looming uncertainties about the continuance of its reliance on US support following Trump’s return to office, South Korea will likely redirect most of its defense budgets into indigenization efforts. While supporting its armed forces, South Korea will also try to achieve economy of scale to keep the cost down for its domestic defense systems by exporting them to its allies worldwide.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: APAC deal activity down by 2.6% YoY during January-April 2025, finds GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    APAC deal activity down by 2.6% YoY during January-April 2025, finds GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    The overall deal activity (comprising mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and venture financing deals) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has experienced a slight contraction in early 2025. Primarily driven by a downturn in venture financing activities, the total number of deals announced in the APAC region fell by 2.6% during January-April 2025 compared to the same period in the previous year, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database revealed that the total number of venture capital (VC) deals announced in the APAC region registered a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 8.2% in the first four months of 2025.

    Conversely, M&A and private equity transactions have remained stable. The number of M&A deals in the region increased by 2.4% during January-April 2025 compared to January-April 2024, whereas private equity deals volume was also up by around 2% YoY during the same period.

    Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The APAC deal landscape is showcasing a mixed trend characterized by a blend of resilience in M&A and private equity, juxtaposed with a fall in VC funding activity. This mixed trend reflects the intricate economic dynamics at play across the region, with varying performances across key markets.”

    The performance of key markets within the APAC region reveals significant disparities. China, the top APAC market in deal-making, has experienced a decline in deal volume of more than 15% during January-April 2025 compared to the first four months of 2024. In contrast, India and Japan have seen an uptick in deal activity, with a YoY growth rate of around 13% and 25%, respectively. Meanwhile, other key APAC markets, including Australia, South Korea and Singapore, also showcased signs of contraction in deal activity.

    Note: Historic data may change in case some deals get added to previous months because of a delay in disclosure of information in the public domain

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Strengthening protection of World Heritage Archives with JFIT support

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    World Heritage site managers and archive specialists throughout South-East Asia are benefitting from a series of capstone activities under the “Safeguarding World Heritage Site Archives” JFIT project, developed in collaboration between CLT and CI sectors.

    Launched in 2023, the project has contributed to conserving important archival collections related to World Heritage by applying global standards on documentary heritage, notably from the Memory of the World programme. Encompassing diverse material such as photographs, maps, restoration plans and digital media, these collections play a crucial role in understanding, protecting and monitoring World Heritage properties.  Made possible through the generous support of the Government of Japan through UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust, the initiative responds to urgent challenges facing archives today.

    In Cambodia, the project has focused on the newest World Heritage property of Koh Ker: Archaeological Site of Ancient Lingapura or Chok Gargyar. Under the auspices of the  National Authority for Preah Vihear, a Standard Operating Procedure is being finalized in order to provide customized guidance for managing the archives of the Koh Ker site.

    In Indonesia, four World Heritage sites will participate in a workshop on “Developing Policies for Disaster Risk Management of Indonesian World Heritage Sites’ Archival Collections” organized collaboratively with the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia on 3-4 June 2025. The workshop targets policy-making levels at the Ministry of Culture and the World Heritage sites of Prambanan Temple Compounds, Borobudur Temple Compounds, Ombilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto, and Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta.

    In Thailand, UNESCO and the Thai Fine Arts Department joined hands to organize a practical training workshop on “Archives and Record Management for World Heritage Sites” on 22-23 May 2025 at the Historic City of Ayutthaya in Thailand. Led by experts from the National Archives of Thailand, this training is designed to equip cultural World Heritage site managers from Thailand and Lao PDR with knowledge and skills in managing their historic documents.  The workshop is planned to showcase archives activities undertaken at Ayutthaya throughout the project, including an upgraded records management facility holding both paper-based and digital records.

    Finally, the project will also see the upcoming launch of UNESCO’s new manual on World Heritage conservation archives management, which will be available in English along with Baha Indonesia, Chinese, Khmer, Russian and Thai through the coordination of UNESCO Jakarta, UNESCO Beijing, UNESCO Phnom Penh, UNESCO Almaty and UNESCO Bangkok, respectively.

    For further information, please contact:

    Culture Unit, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok: culture.bgk@unesco.org 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Macao sees nearly 19 pct year-on-year growth in visitor arrivals in April

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

    MACAO, May 21 — China’s Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) welcomed over 3.09 million visitors in April 2025, marking an 18.9 percent year-on-year increase, the SAR’s Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) said on Wednesday.

    Same-day visitors jumped by 30.1 percent to over 1.75 million, while overnight visitors rose 6.9 percent to nearly 1.34 million. However, the average length of stay slightly dropped to 1.1 days due to the higher share of same-day travelers.

    As regards the source of visitors, the Chinese mainland remained the largest source of visitors, contributing over 2.12 million arrivals, up 22.4 percent. Arrivals from China’s Hong Kong and China’s Taiwan also grew, up 13.4 percent and 4.4 percent respectively.

    International visitor numbers increased by 10.4 percent to 230,014, with strong gains from India (up 50 percent) and Southeast Asian markets like Thailand and the Philippines, while some declines were recorded from Singapore and Malaysia.

    The DSEC also noted that from January to April, total arrivals in the Macao SAR reached 12,955,456, up 12.9 percent year-on-year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Model OSCE in Andorra: Empowering young professionals to engage in peace and security

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Model OSCE in Andorra: Empowering young professionals to engage in peace and security

    From 19 to 21 May, the OSCE Secretariat in collaboration with the Government of Andorra, the US Mission to the OSCE, and University of Andorra co-organized the first-ever Model OSCE in Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra.
    The three-day event brought together 25 young people with diverse backgrounds from Andorra, Algeria, the United States of America, Japan and Morocco, offering them a unique opportunity to strengthen their soft skills and deepen their understanding of peace and security issues through peer-to-peer learning on multilateralism, international relations and diplomacy.
    The programme featured sessions on the OSCE’s mandate, history, structure, and decision-making processes, as well as its co-operation with OSCE Partners. It also included discussions on Finland’s priorities on 2025 Chairpersonship, the Youth and Security Agenda, the role of women in diplomacy and multilateralism, and hands-on training in negotiation and mediation.
    In her opening remarks, Andorra’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Imma Tor Faus emphasized the country’s ongoing support of youth engagement in international affairs: “After hosting the OSCE activities in 2022 focused on Youth and Security, today’s event reaffirms Andorra’s strong and ongoing commitment to the OSCE’s Youth and Security Agenda. We are proud to support the efforts of the Office of the Secretary-General, both politically and financially, to advance this vital work. The Model OSCE reflects the values we stand for and aligns closely with our priority of promoting youth participation in international organizations.”
    Omar Cardentey, Head of Public Affairs for the US. Mission to the OSCE also shared his personal experience in working in the multilateral settings and encouraged young participants to never give up or doubt their ability to make an impact.
    The Model OSCE echoed the motto “nothing about youth without youth”, underscoring the crucial role of young people in building sustainable and peaceful societies.
    One participant, Lisa Cruz Lackner from Andorra, captured the spirit of the event: “Capacity-building initiatives like this are more than trainings. They create a unique space for dialogue, understanding, and mutual learning. When we come together with different experiences, perspectives, and identities, we don’t just learn about the issues—we learn how to listen, negotiate, and collaborate beyond borders. These events empower us not only to understand global challenges, but to see ourselves as part of the solution. In a setting like the Model OSCE, you quickly realize that diversity is not a challenge to overcome—it is the key to building more inclusive, effective and lasting approaches to peace and security.”
    Participants also engaged in exchanges with young diplomats and parliamentarians from Andorra and Malta, gaining firsthand insights into diplomatic careers. The event encouraged collaborative learning and dialogue throughout its session.
    The Model OSCE was held as part of the Extra-budgetary Project “Accelerating the implementation of the Youth and Security Agenda in the OSCE region”, which aims to empower young people to shape a more secure and co-operative future across the OSCE region.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA takes steps to enhance state importation programs to help lower prescription drug prices

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 21, 2025

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is continuing to take steps to help state importation programs provide safe, effective and more affordable drugs for American patients, as part of its efforts to implement Executive Order Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First. Today, the agency is announcing enhancements to the pathway under section 804 of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act that allows states and Indian tribes to import certain prescription drugs from Canada to significantly reduce the cost of these drugs to the American consumer, without imposing additional risk to public health and safety.
    “For too long, Americans have been getting taken advantage of. Drug prices in the U.S. are sometimes 5-10 times higher than in wealthy European countries. “ said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Today’s actions will support the ability to import drugs at much  lower prices  while also maintaining the high quality and safety of medicines that Americans expect and deserve.”
    The agency will offer individual states and tribes the opportunity to submit a draft proposal for pre-review and meet with the agency to obtain initial feedback from FDA prior to formally submitting their section 804 importation program (SIP) proposal. Meetings between individual states and the FDA will be optional and informal with the goal of reducing the burden on the state or tribe and helping it develop a robust SIP proposal. The agency also will develop a user-friendly tool that will assist states in developing their proposals. These actions will further clarify requirements and enhance the quality of proposals submitted to the agency, shortening the review timeline.  
    Additionally, the agency is working to assist states with options to streamline the required cost savings analysis, and to provide input regarding the information states may rely on as they estimate cost savings for American consumers.
    This fall, the agency anticipates meeting with states that have expressed interest in the program to discuss these enhancements and gather feedback. This meeting will provide a forum to exchange information that will make it easier for states to obtain authorization while protecting public safety.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    Consumer:888-INFO-FDA

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation and for regulating tobacco products.

    Content current as of:
    05/21/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire Surpasses $320 Million in Past-Due Tuition Collected and 161,000+ Student Enrollments Saved at U.S. Higher Education Institutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Flywire’s Student Financial Software helps U.S. institutions boost enrollment and accelerate cash flow

    Automated payment innovation fuels accelerated adoption of Flywire’s Third-Party Invoicing and 529 Disbursement solutions

    BOSTON, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flywire Corporation (Flywire) (Nasdaq: FLYW) – a global payments enablement and software company – announced today that more than 100 colleges and universities in the United States that use Flywire’s Student Financial Software (SFS) collected more than $320 million in past-due tuition to keep more than 161,000 at-risk students enrolled. These results are part of the ongoing commitment that Flywire is making to its higher education clients in the U.S. to help them accelerate revenue, while optimizing for student success.

    Faced with mounting pressure to create more sustainable revenue streams, U.S. higher education institutions have adopted Flywire’s SFS solution to better streamline the student journey and address education affordability by providing more dynamic payment plans and accelerating past-due collections to help retain students. The return on investment from Flywire’s Collection Management offering of SFS is particularly strong, as it helps institutions avoid the costly process of sending students to collections, which typically charges on average 20% to collect past-due tuition owed. As one example, Purdue University – a Flywire client for cross-border tuition payments and digital 529 disbursements since 2021 – went live with Flywire’s Collection Management offering of SFS in March of 2024 to automate communications and payment plans to collect more past-due tuition faster. Within months, Purdue saved more than 300 students from going to collections, and recovered more than $1 million in revenue that would otherwise have been written off.

    “I can’t imagine how much extra work we’d have to be doing if we were still doing collections the old way. It’s kind of a lifesaver. Our write-offs will go down because of Flywire.” – Chad Lester, Associate Bursar, Account Resolution and Loan Administration, Purdue University

    Ongoing innovation also solves payment challenges around 529 disbursements and third-party payments

    Flywire’s U.S. clients have also begun adopting its third-party invoicing solution, which streamlines the payment experience for third-party sponsors paying a student’s tuition and fees, as well as its 529 disbursements, which digitizes the otherwise manual process of 529 plan payment checks. Since the inception of its 529 solution, Flywire has digitized over $2 billion in tuition payments by eliminating the manual processing of more than 502,000 checks for institutions in the U.S., with more than 750 institutions in the U.S. signed on for the solution. This expansion of these payment capabilities demonstrates Flywire’s commitment to addressing every aspect of the student payment journey, extending its expertise beyond cross-border transactions to deliver comprehensive payment solutions that help clients work smarter.

    “When I first started with Flywire, they were just payments. Now they’ve put 529 solutions in, again a big problem in our university, all the checks. They’ve put in collections and now third-party invoicing. Everything they do makes our jobs easier.” – Janet Hicks, Associate Controller, Student Accounting Services, University of South Florida

    Strengthening partnerships to enhance capabilities for clients and embed deeper within broader education ecosystem

    Flywire directly integrates with a number of leading technology providers, from large ERPs like Ellucian, to Admission and Enrollment Providers like CommonApp, and other software systems. Through these integrations, Flywire is helping institutions improve operational efficiency to ultimately provide better staff and student experiences.

    To strengthen its footprint in the U.S., Flywire has recently partnered with some of the largest and most recognized education technology providers to provide:

    • Tuition insurance through GradGuard to provide Flywire’s higher education clients in the U.S. access to an integrated policy disclosure process that assures greater financial literacy of students and their families
    • Streamlined payment experience through BlackBaud to provide international students enables a seamless payment experience, and help independent schools streamline incoming payments, including tuition and enrollment fees
    • Digital delivery of student loan payments funded and managed by some of the largest banks and loan providers in India, including Credila and State Bank of India   
    • Strengthened international recruitment network of more than 20,000 key recruitment counselors such as IDP, KC Overseas and more to help institutes diversify their recruitment efforts and streamline enrollment from international students.

    Resources

    • Meet with Flywire at NAFSA 2025, May 26 – May 30, Booth #626 and join Flywire’s sessions with NYU, IDP, ICEF, AIRC, INTO and GeNEOus to learn more about how Flywire is powering the global education ecosystem.
    • To learn more about Flywire’s solutions for the U.S. higher education industry, visit here
    • The Flywire Fusion U.S. Education Client Conference & Awards Ceremony is taking place October 20-22 at the Lansdowne Resort in historic Leesburg, Virginia. Save your spot here.

    About Flywire

    Flywire is a global payments enablement and software company. We combine our proprietary global payments network, next-gen payments platform and vertical-specific software to deliver the most important and complex payments for our clients and their customers.

    Flywire leverages its vertical-specific software and payments technology to deeply embed within the existing A/R workflows for its clients across the education, healthcare and travel vertical markets, as well as in key B2B industries. Flywire also integrates with leading ERP systems, such as NetSuite, so organizations can optimize the payment experience for their customers while eliminating operational challenges.

    Flywire supports more than 4,600 clients with diverse payment methods in more than 140 currencies across more than 240 countries and territories around the world. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA, USA with global offices. For more information, visit www.flywire.com. Follow Flywire on X , LinkedIn and Facebook.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    ​​This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Flywire’s expectations regarding the benefits of its education clients and business, Flywire’s business strategy and plans, market growth and trends. Flywire intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as, but not limited to, “believe,” “may,” “will,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks, changes in circumstances, assumptions, and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in Flywire’s forward-looking statements include, among others, the factors that are described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of Flywire’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and available on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov/. The information in this release is provided only as of the date of this release, and Flywire undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release on account of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contacts

    Media:
    Sarah King
    Media@Flywire.com

    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    IR@Flywire.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: KraneShares Launches Strategic Wealth Model Portfolios — An Endowment-Style Approach to ETF Model Portfolios Emphasizing Alternatives and International Exposure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Krane Funds Advisors, LLC (“KraneShares”), an asset management firm known for its global exchange-traded funds (ETFs), today announced the launch of the KraneShares Strategic Wealth Model Portfolios.

    These ETF model portfolios provide a comprehensive, global portfolio solution for financial advisors. They leverage the best of KraneShares’ and their leading asset management partners’ ETFs and market insights, emphasizing liquid alternatives and international exposure.

    “Over the years, we have developed a unique set of ETFs at KraneShares. The Strategic Wealth Models can help investors understand how our ETFs fit into a total portfolio solution,” said Jonathan Krane, KraneShares CEO. “Through combining KraneShares’ strategies and expertise with products and inputs from our partners, we are able to create ETF model portfolios across various risk ranges that are unique in the marketplace.”

    The KraneShares Strategic Wealth Model Portfolios expand global diversification compared to most model portfolio offerings and include 15-20% exposure to liquid alternatives, helping to protect the portfolio when traditional investments decline.

    “We see a shift coming in global markets,” added Jonathan Shelon. “After a decade of US equity outperformance and a dominant US dollar, more globally diversified and alternatives-oriented portfolios will be important for growing and maintaining wealth. We are helping our clients prepare for a shifting macro landscape with our Strategic Wealth Models.”

    The models currently include the following ETFs:

    • KraneShares Value Line Dynamic Dividend Equity ETF (Ticker: KVLE)
    • KraneShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China Index ETF (Ticker: KEMX)
    • KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (Ticker: KWEB)
    • KraneShares Hedgeye Hedged Equity Index ETF (Ticker: KSPY)
    • KraneShares Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (Ticker: AGIX)
    • iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (Ticker: AGG)
    • iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (Ticker: USHY)
    • Quadratic Interest Rate Volatility and Inflation Hedge ETF (Ticker: IVOL)
    • KraneShares Sustainable Ultra Short Duration Index ETF (Ticker: KCSH )
    • KraneShares Asia Pacific High Income USD Bond ETF (Ticker: KHYB)
    • KraneShares Mount Lucas Strategy ETF (Ticker: KMLM)
    • KraneShares Global Carbon Strategy ETF (Ticker: KRBN)
    • iShares Mortgage Real Estate Capped ETF (Ticker: REM)
    • KraneShares China Internet & Covered Call ETF (Ticker: KLIP)
    • KraneShares Man Buyout Beta Index ETF (Ticker: BUYO)
    • iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (Ticker: IVW)
    • iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (Ticker: IJR)
    • KraneShares Bosera MSCI China A 50 Connect Index ETF (Ticker: KBA)
    • iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (Ticker: ICLN)
    • iShares 3-7 Year Treasury Bond ETF (Ticker: IEI)

    For more information on the KraneShares Strategic Wealth Models, please visit portfolios.kraneshares.com/kraneshares-strategic-wealth-model-portfolios/ or consult your financial advisor.

    About KraneShares

    Krane Funds Advisors, LLC is the investment manager for KraneShares ETFs. Our team is determined to provide industry-leading, differentiated, and high-conviction investment strategies that offer access to key market trends. KraneShares offers innovative investment solutions tailored to three key pillars: China, Climate, and Alternatives. Our mission is to empower investors with the knowledge and tools necessary to capture the importance of these themes as an essential element of a well-designed investment portfolio.

    Contact:
    KraneShares Investor Relations
    info@kraneshares.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange Appoints Dan Liu as CEO Ahead of 14th Anniversary Milestone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, today announces the appointment of Dan Liu as its new Chief Executive Officer. Liu, who previously served as Chief Research Officer at BTCC, brings extensive expertise in both traditional finance and cryptocurrency markets to his new role.

    As BTCC approaches its 14th anniversary in June, Dan Liu’s appointment as CEO marks a new chapter for the exchange. Under his leadership, BTCC aims to build upon its legacy as the world’s most established crypto exchange while pursuing sustainable growth. This vision will carry BTCC confidently into the future, elevating the platform beyond traditional security to drive meaningful industry evolution.

    From Research Visionary to CEO

    Since joining BTCC in 2019, Liu has been instrumental in the exchange’s rapid growth and innovation in the cryptocurrency space. As a dynamic young leader, he previously served as Chief Research Officer at the exchange. With his strategic vision over the years, BTCC expanded its services to users from over 160 countries and significantly enhanced its product offerings in both futures and spot trading markets while maintaining high security standards.

    Liu’s forward-thinking approach to market dynamics has made him a sought-after and respected voice in the cryptocurrency space, with regular features in prominent crypto media outlets including Cointelegraph, Markets Insider, and Japanese publication Monthly Digital Assets.

    “I am deeply honored to lead BTCC Exchange at such a pivotal time for both our platform and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem,” said Liu. “My crypto journey began back in 2013, and that early passion has only grown stronger over the years. As we celebrate our 14th anniversary this year, I’m excited to combine my background in traditional finance with my love for blockchain innovation. We remain committed to bridging these two worlds, continuing to build trust within the community while accelerating our global expansion.”

    Building on Legacy, Focused on Future

    Since joining BTCC in 2019, Liu has guided the exchange through various market conditions while driving innovation and growth. His leadership has positioned BTCC as an industry pioneer across multiple market cycles.

    One of Liu’s most notable contributions was leading the launch of Tokenized Futures, an innovative financial product rarely seen in the industry. This bold step bridged the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology and positioned BTCC as a forward-thinking exchange.

    Additionally, under Liu’s strategic guidance, BTCC launched its highly successful Copy Trading feature, which has received exceptional user engagement and positive feedback. This feature provides an accessible entry point for those exploring cryptocurrency markets, aligning perfectly with BTCC’s mission of making digital asset trading more inclusive.

    With his academic background in conventional markets, Liu brings valuable analytical skills to the evolving cryptocurrency space. His leadership represents a new approach where trust, transparency, and blockchain technology work together.

    Looking ahead, Liu’s focus is on global expansion while navigating increasingly diverse regulatory standards across markets. “One of my most important missions is educating the general public about cryptocurrency and making trading accessible to everyday users,” Liu explains. To support this vision, he plans to deepen BTCC’s community connections by attending global industry events and creating direct dialogue with users and partners across different markets—insights that will help shape the platform’s future and inform regional strategies.

    Under Liu’s leadership, BTCC Exchange is poised to continue its legacy as one of the most trusted, secure, and innovative cryptocurrency exchanges globally.

    About BTCC

    Founded in 2011, BTCC is one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, offering secure and user-friendly trading services to millions of users globally. With a commitment to security, innovation, and community building, BTCC continues to be a trusted platform in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

    Website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

    X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

    Contact: press@btcc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d56fc540-d6fd-4c6f-ae1a-a3ea93410608

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: American Rebel CEO Andy Ross to Rock Coca-Cola 600 Weekend with Multiple High-Energy Concerts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Three Days of Music, Racing, Patriotism and American Rebel Light Beer – Andy Ross will Perform for Thousands at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s THOR Camper Appreciation Party, Iron Thunder Saloon/Speedway Harley-Davidson, and BetMGM Speed Street Stage

    Nashville, TN, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), announces that American Rebel CEO Andy Ross will perform multiple concerts for thousands of race fans during the Coca-Cola 600 Weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (charlottemotorspeedway.com) May 22 – 25.

    Festivities will begin Thursday, May 22 as Andy Ross will headline the THOR Camper Appreciation Party, performing for campers throughout the sold out 2700 campsite facility. Driver appearances will kick off each stop of the THOR Camper Appreciation Party, followed by a 30-minute set by Andy Ross. The party begins at the Camping World Racing Resort Log Cabin at 6 pm, followed by the Turn 4 Campground at 7, the Turn 1 Campground at 8 and the final stop at 9 at the Legendary Infield Campground.

    Saturday, May 24, Andy will perform a 90-minute set at Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill at 2:30 pm, prior to the running of the NASCAR Infinity Series BetMGM 300. The concert at Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill will be a collaboration with Speedway Harley-Davidson, bringing together race fans and Harley enthusiasts and getting everyone pumped up for the NASCAR Infinity Series BetMGM 300.

    Closing out the weekend, Andy will perform a 90-minute set at the BetMGM Speed Street Stage starting at 2 pm, getting everyone ready for the Coca-Cola 600. The BetMGM Speed Street Stage will be a center for entertainment all weekend as Smash Mouth will appear on the BetMGM Speed Street Stage on Saturday night along with driver appearances, merchandise, games and prizes all weekend long.

    “I can’t wait to get back to Charlotte,” said Andy Ross. “Our concert at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals was a blast and Rebel Light was the #1 selling beer over that weekend in terms of number of beers sold and dollar volume. The midway was packed and everyone had a great time. Race fans will be ready to explode right before the Coca-Cola 600; and we’ll work hard to get them ready for the race each time we play. Each concert will be great, so if you’re a camper, come see us Thursday night. All are welcome Saturday at the Iron Thunder/Speedway Harley-Davidson concert and then everyone coming to the Coca-Cola 600 should be there early for our 2 pm concert on the BetMGM Speed Street Stage.”

    The Andy Ross concerts at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend will keep American Rebel Light Beer top of mind and highly visible to build on the initial awareness created at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

    The Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill is located at 10023 Weddington Road Extension in Concord, right next to Speedway Harley-Davidson.

    About American Rebel Light:

    American Rebel Light is more than just a beer – it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

    Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or Instagram.com/americanrebelbeer/.

    Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

    American Rebel Light is all natural, crisp, and clean with a bold taste and a lighter feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

    About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

    American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
    info@americanrebel.com

    American Rebel Beverages, LLC
    Todd Porter, President
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of a launch parties and concerts, actual launch timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Company Contact:
    tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
    info@americanrebel.com

    Media Contact:
    Matt Sheldon
    Matt@PrecisionPR.co

    For more details on American Rebel Light Beer and upcoming events, visit AmericanRebelBeer.com or follow @AmericanRebelBeer on social media.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Pricing of Upsized Offering of US$600 Million Convertible Senior Notes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced the pricing of its upsized offering (the “Notes Offering”) of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “Notes”). The Notes have been offered to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has granted the initial purchasers in the Notes Offering an option to purchase up to an additional US$90 million principal amount of the Notes, exercisable for settlement within a 30-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the Notes are first issued.

    The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to enhance its content ecosystem to facilitate user growth, facilitate IP asset creation, and unleash its inherent potential. The Company also plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to improve its overall monetization efficiency, fund the Concurrent Repurchase (as defined below), fund future repurchases (from time to time) under its share repurchase program, and for other general corporate purposes.

    When issued, the Notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of the Company. The Notes will mature on June 1, 2030, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. Holders may convert their Notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the seventh scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 42.1747 Class Z ordinary shares per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately HK$185.63 per Class Z ordinary share and represents a conversion premium of approximately 27.1% above the closing price HK$146.00 per Class Z ordinary share of the Company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 21, 2025) and a premium of approximately 32.5% to the clearing share price of the Concurrent Delta Offering of HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share of the Company, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events described below. Upon conversion, subject to certain procedures and conditions set forth in the terms of the Notes, the Company will cause to be delivered the Company’s Class Z ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. Holders may elect to receive the Company’s American depositary shares (“ADS”), each representing one Class Z ordinary share, in lieu of Class Z ordinary shares deliverable upon conversion.

    The Company may redeem for cash all or any part of the Notes on or after June 6, 2028 if the last reported sale price of the Class Z ordinary shares has been at least 130% of the conversion price for the Notes then in effect for at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during any 30 consecutive trading day period preceding the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption (the “Optional Redemption”). In addition, the Company may redeem for cash all but not part of the Notes at any time if less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued remains outstanding at such time (the “Cleanup Redemption”). The Company may also redeem the Notes upon the occurrence of certain tax-related events (the “Tax Redemption”). Holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes in cash on June 1, 2028, or in the event of certain fundamental changes. In connection with certain corporate events or if the Company issues a notice of Optional Redemption, Cleanup Redemption or Tax Redemption, it will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for holders who elect to convert their Notes in connection with such corporate event or such Optional Redemption, Cleanup Redemption or Tax Redemption.

    The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 0.625% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2025.

    The Company also announced the pricing of the previously announced concurrent offering of its 10,281,240 Class Z ordinary shares that are being borrowed from non-affiliate third parties and offered in a separate underwritten offering by Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited (the “Underwriters” and the “Concurrent Delta Offering”, respectively), each acting severally on behalf of itself and/or its respective affiliates, at HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share. The Underwriters will use the resulting short position to facilitate hedging transactions by certain investors subscribing for the Notes, who employ a convertible arbitrage strategy (the “Convertible Arbitrage Investors”). The Company has been advised that each Underwriter is concurrently entering into off-market privately negotiated derivative transactions relating to the Class Z ordinary shares, enabling Convertible Arbitrage Investors to establish their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes. The number of Class Z ordinary shares subject to the Concurrent Delta Offering generally corresponds to such initial short positions of the Convertible Arbitrage Investors. No new Class Z ordinary shares will be issued in the Concurrent Delta Offering. Any securities sold in the Concurrent Delta Offering are being offered and sold through a concurrent SEC-registered offering pursuant to a separate prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Concurrent Delta Offering. The Notes Offering and the Concurrent Delta Offering are contingent upon each other.

    The Company will use part of the proceeds from the Notes Offering for the Concurrent Repurchase. The Concurrent Repurchase enables investors to establish some of their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes and reflects the Company’s confidence in its long-term strategy and growth. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

    Other Matters

    The Notes, the Class Z ordinary shares deliverable upon conversion of the Notes or the ADSs deliverable in lieu thereof have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws. They may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons, except in reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of these securities, nor shall there be a sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

    This press release contains information about the pending Notes Offering, and there can be no assurance that the Notes Offering will be completed.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the terms of the Notes, whether the Company will complete the Notes Offering, a description of various hedging activities, and statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, contain forward-looking statements. Bilibili may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: results of operations, financial condition, and stock price; Bilibili’s strategies; Bilibili’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Bilibili’s ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, provide quality content, products and services, and expand its product and service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; Bilibili’s ability to maintain its culture and brand image within its addressable user communities; Bilibili’s ability to manage its costs and expenses; PRC governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this announcement and in the attachments is as of the date of the announcement, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    About Bilibili Inc.

    Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

    For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    Bilibili Inc.
    Juliet Yang
    Tel: -86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
    Email: ir@bilibili.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Helen Wu
    Tel: -86-10-6508-0677
    Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: -1-212-481-2050
    Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Pricing of Offering of Class Z Ordinary Shares in Connection with Hedging Transactions of Certain Convertible Notes Investors and Terms of Concurrent Repurchase

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced the pricing of the separate SEC-registered underwritten offering of its Class Z ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Concurrent Delta Offering”).

    Concurrently, the Company announced pricing of the upsized offering (the “Notes Offering”) of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company intends to grant the initial purchasers in the Notes Offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional US$90 million in principal amount of the Notes.

    In connection with the Notes Offering, the Company announced the Concurrent Delta Offering, under which 10,281,240 of the Company’s Class Z ordinary shares, that have been borrowed from non-affiliate third parties are being offered in a separate underwritten offering by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited (the “Underwriters”), each acting severally on behalf of itself and/or its respective affiliates, at HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share. The Underwriters will use the resulting short position to facilitate hedging transactions by certain investors subscribing for the Notes, who employ a convertible arbitrage strategy (the “Convertible Arbitrage Investors”). The Company has been advised that each Underwriter is concurrently entering into off-market privately negotiated derivative transactions relating to the Class Z ordinary shares, enabling Convertible Arbitrage Investors to establish their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes. The number of Class Z ordinary shares subject to the Concurrent Delta Offering generally corresponds to such initial short positions of the Convertible Arbitrage Investors. No new Class Z ordinary shares will be issued in the Concurrent Delta Offering. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Concurrent Delta Offering. The Notes Offering and the Concurrent Delta Offering are contingent upon each other.

    The Company will use part of the proceeds from the Notes Offering for the Concurrent Repurchase. The Concurrent Repurchase enables investors to establish some of their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes and reflects the Company’s confidence in its long-term strategy and growth. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

    The Company has filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (including a prospectus) with the SEC. The Concurrent Delta Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Concurrent Delta Offering. You may obtain these documents by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, a copy of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department, Email: Prospectus-ny@ny.email@gs.com, Telephone: 1 (866) 471-2526; or Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department, Email: prospectus@morganstanley.com, Telephone: 1 (866) 718-1649.

    Other Matters

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of these securities, nor shall there be a sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

    This press release contains information about the pending Concurrent Delta Offering and Concurrent Repurchase, and there can be no assurance that the Concurrent Delta Offering and Concurrent Repurchase will be completed.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the terms of the Notes, whether the Company will complete the Notes Offering, whether the Concurrent Delta Offering and/or Concurrent Repurchase will be completed, a description of various hedging activities, and statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, contain forward-looking statements. Bilibili may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: results of operations, financial condition, and stock price; Bilibili’s strategies; Bilibili’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Bilibili’s ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, provide quality content, products and services, and expand its product and service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; Bilibili’s ability to maintain its culture and brand image within its addressable user communities; Bilibili’s ability to manage its costs and expenses; PRC governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this announcement and in the attachments is as of the date of the announcement, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    About Bilibili Inc.

    Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

    For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In China:

    Bilibili Inc.
    Juliet Yang
    Tel: -86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
    Email: ir@bilibili.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Helen Wu
    Tel: -86-10-6508-0677
    Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    In the United States:

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Brandi Piacente
    Tel: -1-212-481-2050
    Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Universities face getting stuck with thousands of obsolete robots – here’s how to avoid a research calamity

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Carl Strathearn, Lecturer in Computer Science, Edinburgh Napier University

    For more than a decade, the French robotics company Aldebaran has built some of the most popular robots used in academic research. Go to most university robotics departments and you’ll find either Pepper, the iconic three-wheeled humanoid robot, or its smaller two-legged sibling, Nao.

    These fast became the robots of choice for many academics for all research into the capabilities and potential of social robots. They are quick to set up and easy to use out of the box, without the need for any programming skills or engineering knowledge.

    With base prices at around £17,000 for Pepper and £8,000 for Nao – typically plus a few thousand pounds more for extras, online training sessions, service plans, warranties and so on – the robots could be purchased via university research grants.

    With Pepper robots also appearing in customer service jobs, for example in HSBC banks across the US, buyers were attracted by the lure of long-term educational and financial benefits from a state-of-the-art tech supplier. Aldebaran says it has sold approximately 37,000 machines worldwide (20,000 Naos and 17,000 Peppers).

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    However, the company stopped developing Pepper robots in 2021, having struggled to sell as many as it had hoped, and was offloaded by long-time Japanese owner Softbank.

    In February of this year, Alderbaran filed for bankruptcy and restructured amid ongoing financial difficulties. Currently looking for a buyer, it has halved its staff numbers, though it is still making Nao (and a serving assistant on wheels called Plato).

    The uncertainty around the company’s future has stoked fears that it will become impossible to get its robots repaired in future, and that Aldebaran could stop supporting the AI cloud network that the machines need to access to be able to function.

    What does this mean for the future of robotics research in universities?

    Besides fears about Aldebaran’s future, there have long been issues with Pepper and Nao’s durability. They both have rigid, fragile plastic shells, and the machines sometimes overheat. This means they have to be left to cool down after 20-30 minutes, which has often interfered with experiments and data-gathering – as documented in this 2022 study of Nao.

    A spokesperson for Aldebaran agreed that motors can overheat, depending on their use and environment. They said the next generation of Nao, currently in development, has taken this into account in its design.

    For repairs, the only option is Aldebaran or an authorised reseller, or you risk voiding your warranty. This typically involves shipping overseas, which can be slow and costly – more so if the replacement parts are out of stock.

    One of us (Emilia) encountered this during the COVID pandemic. Nao’s batteries need to be used regularly to keep functioning, which led the university’s machine to fail because it was inaccessible during lockdowns. Aldebaran couldn’t supply replacement batteries quickly, which halted research projects at the university for many months and meant that important submission deadlines were missed.

    Meanwhile, software upgrades for Pepper stopped when the company halted development in 2021 (sales stopped in 2024). This robot’s limited processing capabilities make it troublesome to run the large language models (LLMs) that power interfaces like ChatGPT (although these can be run in conjunction with a computer with modifications).

    Nao does have an AI edition that can handle LLMs, though this too requires external modifications. Nao’s upgrades also seem to have been limited, which in our experience appears to have made them more error-prone too. Both robots are already considerably less useful for research purposes in our opinion.

    Finally, Nao and Pepper were not built with adaptability in mind. Unlike more recent machines like the 3D-printed InMoov, made by French designer Gael Langevin, there’s no way of customising their components or appearance.

    Their fixed expressions, gestures and plastic body make them difficult to adapt to different user needs or applications, such as helping at home or in healthcare. This again reduces their usefulness from a research point of view.

    Addressing these concerns, the Aldebaran spokesperson said:

    Spare parts availability on Nao is very good, [barring] the normal supply chain issues, and these were exacerbated during COVID like the rest of the commercial world. Pepper is more limited as it has not been in production for some time, but we are generally able to solve any customer issues.

    Nao is still very active as a product, with production continuing along with software upgrades. We recently launched Nao Activities, a major software upgrade that provides generative AI capabilities for Nao.

    The spokesperson added that are were no plans to switch off AI cloud support for Nao or Pepper, and that the robots are not difficult to use in robotics research, “testament of which is the thousands of units being used in that environment”.

    What can be done?

    If Pepper and Nao do become unusable for research, universities will have to either scrap them or try to redevelop them with custom parts and components. It’s possible they could be hacked and gutted, replacement parts could be 3D-printed, new microprocessors installed and the software made local and open source, which may be enough to get the robots back up and working again.

    However, it probably makes sense for researchers to look forwards instead. But towards what? At a time when university finances are very tight, there may be a reluctance to buy new machines with potentially limited shelf lives. Robots from alternative providers such as Futhat and Unitree are supported by similar cloud-based AI systems.

    Some institutions may consider reallocating vital funding to other departments, with a significant impact across robotics research and education. Universities are at the heart of robotics research, upholding high ethical standards and rigorously testing machines without the conflicts of interest that manufacturers can have.

    Universities can also bring together diverse disciplines like computer science, engineering and cognitive science, fostering collaboration that encourages innovation. With the UK number one globally for research quality in this field, these are the training grounds for the next generation of roboticists at a time when there is a growing skills shortage.

    A different way forward would be for universities to start building and programming robots from scratch. For the cost of a new research robot, say £15,000, you could buy several high-spec 3D printers, hardware and components.

    This wouldn’t be about building entire humanoid robots but prototypes of key aspects such as facial expressiveness or skin, human gestures or emotions. This would allow students to gain important hands-on engineering and programming skills, while conducting novel research exploring current gaps in the field.

    It would make personalising them easier and repairing them quicker and cheaper, if you could 3D-print parts or use parts that could be easily replaced off-the-shelf.

    If universities are to remain relevant in this rapidly evolving field, it’s vital that they learn from their difficulties with Pepper and Nao. At a time when robots are starting to be perceived as reliable and cost-effective support for people, this is a cautionary tale for all.

    The authors 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. Universities face getting stuck with thousands of obsolete robots – here’s how to avoid a research calamity – https://theconversation.com/universities-face-getting-stuck-with-thousands-of-obsolete-robots-heres-how-to-avoid-a-research-calamity-256829

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The psychology of climate traps and how to avoid them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lucrezia Nava, Assistant Professor, Climate Psychology, Carbon Dioxide Removals, Business School, University of Exeter

    Victor Guerrero Diez/Shutterstock

    Each year, the world loses around 5 million hectares of forest, with 95% of this deforestation occurring in tropical regions. South America is a major hotspot, with Brazil in particular facing severe forest loss — much of it driven by cattle ranching, which accounts for more than 70% of all Amazon deforestation.

    Many of these clearings are carried out by farmers, particularly smallholders, who are trying to cope with intensifying drought and other effects of climate change. This leads to a paradox: the people most exposed to climate threats are often pushed by survival pressures to make choices that further degrade the environment.

    Imagine standing in a field of dry, cracked soil, watching the crops you planted with hope fail to grow. It hasn’t rained in months. You know that planting trees could help protect your land and water sources in the long run. But you need food next week.

    So instead, you clear some forest to sell timber and raise a few cows — a choice that might get you through the season, even if it further reduces soil moisture and water retention on your own farm.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    As one farmer told me: “The problem is: does the agricultural producer die now, or does he die later? Now, he dies of hunger. Later, he dies of thirst. He prefers to die later of thirst.”

    This is what my team of environmental researchers calls a “climate trap”: a vicious cycle where short-term survival decisions deepen long-term climate vulnerability. Our recent study investigates this phenomenon among smallholder cocoa producers in the south of the Brazilian state of Bahia.

    We tracked more than 3,000 farms over four years and conducted dozens of interviews with farmers. One of our most striking findings was that those most affected by droughts were less likely to employ adaptive strategies such as reforestation, and more likely to make environmentally harmful choices such as clearing forest for pasture.

    This contrasts sharply with research from high-income countries, where more exposure to climate risks typically encourages protective action. Why the difference?

    The answer, according to our research, lies in emotion. Many farmers spoke of fear and hopelessness. One told us: “We plant, replant and it dies. Plant, replant, it dies. There’s no rain! Everything we took care of, everything we watered, everything we did with love. It’s no use!”

    These emotions influence decisions. When fear and hopelessness set in, people naturally narrow their focus to the short term — what can I control today?

    Climate shocks such as drought trigger emotional distress, which can lead to environmentally harmful choices that increase vulnerability.
    Scott Book/Shutterstock

    The future becomes too uncertain, too frightening to plan for. As one farmer explained: “Today, I work more in the short term. I’m worried about today’s drought, okay? I’m not starting to think about next year’s drought or in two years’ time.”

    Even when farmers understand that long-term strategies like reforestation would help, those solutions can feel unattainable under emotional and economic stress.

    We call this a maladaptive feedback loop: climate shocks trigger emotional distress, which limits long-term thinking, leading to environmentally harmful choices that further increase vulnerability to future shocks. And the cycle repeats.

    Learning from the loop

    Climate traps are real and probably more widespread than many people realise. Similar dynamics have been reported in parts of Africa, Asia and across the developing world. These are the communities facing the brunt of climate change with the fewest resources to respond.

    To spot climate traps, businesses and governments need to recognise when short-term incentives are driving long-term harm. If a decision solves an immediate problem but increases climate risk over time, it may be part of a trap.

    They need to watch out for indicators such as repeated deforestation after droughts, or a shift from sustainable crops to quick-fix options such as cattle pasture. In areas heavily affected by climate change, these responses often signal a deeper cycle of short-term survival and long-term vulnerability.

    Also, listen out for resignation. Phrases like “there’s no point” and “we just survive however we can” or “there’s nothing we can do except pray for a change” may signal emotional fatigue — which points to a loss of agency and diminished belief in the usefulness of long-term action.

    When people no longer believe their efforts can make a difference, even the best technical solutions are likely to be ignored.

    Climate adaptation is about more than just providing technical solutions. In our study, producers were well aware of the pros and cons of their practices. The real barriers were emotional.

    We believe interventions need to address fear and hopelessness directly — through the use of safety nets, financial buffers and community-led support systems, as well as narratives that rebuild a sense of control and agency. Reducing hopelessness requires not just money but presence. Trusted advisors, peer learning networks and visible examples of successful adaptation can all help.

    Avoiding climate traps isn’t easy. But for climate adaptation to succeed — especially where it’s needed most — we have to stop treating emotions as a side issue. They’re central. The solutions we offer must speak to both the mind and the heart.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. The psychology of climate traps and how to avoid them – https://theconversation.com/the-psychology-of-climate-traps-and-how-to-avoid-them-255832

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China and ASEAN Complete Negotiations on CAFTA Version 3.0 /Detailed Version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — China and 10 ASEAN countries have fully concluded negotiations on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0, the Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

    The achievement was announced on Tuesday during a special online meeting of China-ASEAN economy and trade ministers.

    CAFTA 3.0 will send a strong signal in support of free trade and open cooperation, the Commerce Ministry official said, noting that it will bring greater certainty to regional and global trade and play a guiding and exemplary role for different countries in upholding the principles of openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Negotiations on CAFTA version 3.0, which began in November 2022, were substantially concluded in October 2024 after nine rounds of formal negotiations.

    Version 3.0 contains nine new chapters covering areas such as the digital economy, green economy and supply chain connectivity, according to the ministry.

    CAFTA 3.0 will create an inclusive, modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial free trade agreement. The new additions will provide the parties with the opportunity to advance regional economic integration in a broader and deeper manner and effectively facilitate the deep integration of their production and supply chains in the new environment.

    Moreover, CAFTA 3.0 will provide important institutional guarantees for the construction of the China-ASEAN mega market, thereby giving a steady impetus to the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future and promoting the common prosperity and development of both sides, the MOC noted.

    The parties will actively advance their respective internal signature and ratification procedures with a view to formally signing the CAFTA Modernization Protocol version 3.0 by the end of this year, the department added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: China dominates global trade of battery minerals

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    May 21, 2025

    Data source: United Nations Statistics Division, UN Comtrade
    Note: Excludes trade within regions.

    China has a major role at each stage of the global battery supply chain and dominates interregional trade of minerals. China imported almost 12 million short tons of raw and processed battery minerals, accounting for 44% of interregional trade, and exported almost 11 million short tons of battery materials, packs, and components, or 58% of interregional trade in 2023, according to regional UN Comtrade data.

    In this article, we consider trade of three key minerals needed for batteries—graphite, lithium, and cobalt—among China and key global regions. These minerals are mined or extracted from natural and synthetic sources, processed for battery material manufacturing, and then used to produce batteries and battery components, with robust trade at each stage. As global demand for electric vehicles, energy storage, and other energy technologies increases, the importance of these minerals and materials also increases.

    Battery mineral production and raw battery minerals trade
    Lithium is produced through brine extraction or hard rock mining, cobalt is primarily produced as a byproduct of nickel and copper mining, and graphite is mined as a natural ore or synthetically produced from pitch and coke. China domestically produced approximately 18% (33,000 short tons) of the world’s mined lithium in 2023, and Chinese companies control 25% of the world’s lithium mining capacity.

    According to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Tearline Project, Chinese companies have significant investments in multiple mining and extraction projects in Argentina, giving China access to the lithium triangle, an area in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile that contains 50% of the world’s lithium. Domestically, China produced 79%, or 1.27 million short tons, of the world’s natural graphite in 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey; the United States did not produce any natural graphite that year. Chinese companies own 80% of cobalt production in Congo-Kinshasa, where more than half of global cobalt production is located.

    After production, raw battery minerals are shipped globally to be used as feedstock for refining. China accounted for 46% of the world’s raw battery mineral import trade in 2023, according to the UN Comtrade data. Australia, the world’s largest lithium producer, sent almost all its exports to China alone. China, Australia, and the rest of Asia and Oceania (particularly India and Japan) accounted for 71% of the world’s raw battery mineral import trade in 2023.

    Battery mineral processing and processed battery minerals trade
    China processes over 90% of the world’s graphite, and in 2022, Chinese companies accounted for over two-thirds of the world’s cobalt and lithium processing capacity.

    China imported 20% of the world’s processed battery minerals in 2023, made up of mainly cobalt from Africa. That same year, China exported 58% of the world’s processed battery minerals, mainly synthetic graphite to the rest of Asia and Oceania. China began implementing export restrictions on graphite products related to electrode manufacturing in 2023, and we expect such restrictions to lead to lower graphite exports from China in 2024 and 2025.

    Battery materials manufacturing and battery materials and component trade
    Processed battery minerals are used to produce battery materials, which vary depending on a battery’s chemical composition. China accounted for 53% of the world’s battery material export trade in 2023.

    Battery materials are then used to produce battery components like electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. For example, a lithium-ion battery cell usually includes a graphite anode, lithium-based cathode, and a dissolved lithium salt electrolyte. In 2022, China produced 85% of the world’s anodes, 82% of electrolytes, 74% of separators, and 70% of cathodes.

    China accounted for 74% of the world’s battery pack and component exports in 2023. That same year, China controlled nearly 85% of the world’s battery cell production capacity by monetary value.

    Principal contributor: Gavin Clark

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: HTX Celebrates Crypto Loans 2.0 Launch with Unprecedented Lending Benefits

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, unveiled its next-generation “Crypto Loans 2.0” product on May 19. This enhanced version brings a refined structure and superior user experience, featuring multi-asset collateral, a smart dynamic Loan-to-Value (LTV) model, instant fund access, flexible repayment options, and zero fees. To mark this significant launch, HTX has rolled out two exclusive promotions: “Borrow & Earn” #7, where users can share a massive 5,000,000,000 $HTX prize pool, and the “Millions in Rewards Plus Margin Power-up” event, which provides BTC loan interest rates as low as 0.09% and an extra 10% discount on USDT loans.

    Unlock Multiple Benefits with HTX Loan Products

    To celebrate the grand launch of Crypto Loans 2.0 and commemorate the 15th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day, HTX is simultaneously launching “Borrow & Earn” #7 and an exclusive limited-time margin promotion, delivering substantial rewards to our valued users.

    “Borrow & Earn” #7 runs from May 19 at 02:00 (UTC) to June 2 at 15:59 (UTC), featuring a total prize pool of 5,000,000,000 $HTX. Users simply need to borrow USDT using the Crypto Loans Flexible product during the event to earn a share of the $HTX prize pool, based on the interest paid — the more interest paid, the greater the rewards. Rewards will be credited to winners’ Spot accounts within 7 working days after the event ends.

    Concurrently, HTX has launched an exclusive margin promotion, “Millions in Rewards Plus Margin Power-up”, active from May 20 at 10:00 (UTC) to June 2 at 10:00 (UTC). For a single USDT loan of $1,000,000 or more, users can enjoy an extra 10% interest rate discount! This brings the annual interest rate down to as low as 3.9% (or 0.01% daily). There is no limit on borrowing frequency and each qualifying loan benefits from this generous discount.

    Don’t miss the Pizza Day 15th Anniversary Bonus! During the event, the top 10 users by cumulative loan volume will share 264,000,000 $HTX (worth $500). Register via the provided link to participate. Leverage these ultra-low interest rates to maximize potential returns and aim for substantial gains.

    Optimized Borrowing Experience with Multi-Asset Collateral

    Loan efficiency and asset liquidity have always been two major user-focused concerns. As a key highlight of this upgrade, HTX’s “Crypto Loans 2.0” introduces a multi-asset collateral mechanism, supporting over 20 mainstream cryptocurrencies as collateral assets, including USDT, BTC, ETH, TRX, DOGE, XRP, SOL, and AVAX. This significantly boosts users’ asset utilization efficiency.

    To further enhance the borrowing experience, HTX has expanded its loanable assets to include SOL, TON, and USDC, with USDC also available as a collateral option. Unlike the traditional single-asset collateral model, the multi-asset collateral mechanism allows users to unlock liquidity from their holdings while effectively reducing the risk of forced liquidation due to single-asset volatility.

    Another standout feature of this upgrade is HTX’s limited-time offer: an ultra-low 0.09% annual interest rate for BTC Flexible Loans, with borrowing limits up to 100 BTC. This remarkable rate represents a 555-fold reduction from the previous annual rate of over 5.0%, making it an exceptional deal. For example, borrowing BTC equivalent to approximately 1,000,000 USDT would incur a mere 2.37 USDT in daily interest — a truly remarkable saving.

    Crypto Loans 2.0 also offers the following advantages:

    • Smart Dynamic LTV Mechanism: Interest rates adjust in real time based on market conditions, ensuring industry-leading competitiveness. Annualized interest rates for Flexible Loans include 3.9% for USDT, 2.4% for ETH, and as low as 0.09% for BTC.
    • Flexible Term Options: Supports flexible configuration for both flexible and fixed terms (7/30/45/90 days).
    • Instant Fund Access & Flexible Repayment: Borrowed funds are delivered instantly, interest accrues every hour, and users enjoy the freedom to repay at any time, ensuring optimal fund efficiency.
    • Institutional-Grade Risk Control: Supports overcollateralized loans with leverage capped under 1X and tiered liquidation to safeguard accounts. Users retain all remaining collateral assets.
    • Personalized 1-on-1 VIP Service: Delivers customized loan limits, flexible currency selections, and special discounted interest rates for SVIP users.

    Crypto Loans 2.0 is now live! Users can access it via the HTX website by clicking “Loans” > “Crypto Loans”, or through the HTX App by tapping “More” > “Crypto Loans”. Here’s how to get started:

    HTX’s Crypto Loans 2.0 leads the industry with its ability to boost capital efficiency, lower liquidation risk, provide flexible investment options, and allow multi-asset collateral. Moving forward, HTX will continue to enhance its lending products, pushing the platform’s financial services toward greater efficiency, lower barriers, and broader diversification. Try Crypto Loans 2.0 now to enjoy seamless borrowing, ultra-low interest rates, and access to massive prize pools. Make every digital asset your strategic liquidity advantage on the road to financial freedom.

    About HTX

    Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
    As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
    To learn more about HTX, please visit HTX Square or https://www.htx.com/, and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord.

    For further inquiries, please contact Ruder Finn Asia ,glo-media@htx-inc.com.

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

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14b88ed3-a6c4-4385-a159-c4c19897c5fe

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/890afb12-c1fa-4228-aace-ec265f82d5c3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The West v China: Fight for the Pacific – Episode 1: The Battlefield

    Al Jazeera

    How global power struggles are impacting in local communities, culture and sovereignty in Kanaky, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Samoa.

    In episode one, The Battlefield, tensions between the United States and China over the Pacific escalate, affecting the lives of Pacific Islanders.

    Key figures like former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and tour guide Maria Loweyo reveal how global power struggles impact on local communities, culture and sovereignty in the Solomon Islands and Samoa.

    The episode intertwines these personal stories with the broader geopolitical dynamics, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the Pacific’s role in global diplomacy.

    Fight for the Pacific, a four-part series by Tuki Laumea and Cleo Fraser, showcases the Pacific’s critical transformation into a battleground of global power.

    This series captures the high-stakes rivalry between the US and China as they vie for dominance in a region pivotal to global stability.

    The series frames the Pacific not just as a battleground for superpowers but also as a region with its own unique challenges and aspirations.

    Republished from Al Jazeera.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s Wong condemns ‘abhorrent, outrageous’ Israeli comments over blocked aid

    Asia Pacific Report

    Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has released a statement saying “the Israeli government cannot allow the suffering to continue” after the UN’s aid chief said thousands of babies were at risk of dying if they did not receive food immediately.

    “Australia joins international partners in calling on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza,” Wong said in a post on X.

    “We condemn the abhorrent and outrageous comments made by members of the Netanyahu government about these people in crisis.”

    Wong stopped short of outlining any measures Australia might take to encourage Israel to ensure enough aid reaches those in need, as the UK, France and Canada said they would do with “concrete measures” in a recent joint statement.


    An agreement has been reached in a phone call between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, reports Al Jazeera.

    According to the Palestinian news agency WAM, the aid would initially cater to the food needs of about 15,000 civilians in Gaza.

    It will also include essential supplies for bakeries and critical items for infant care.

    ‘Permission’ for 100 trucks
    Earlier yesterday, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office in Geneva said Israel had given permission for about 100 aid trucks to enter Gaza.

    However, the UN also said no aid had been distributed in Gaza because of Israeli restrictions, despite a handful of aid trucks entering the territory.

    “But what we mean here by allowed is that the trucks have received military clearance to access the Palestinian side,” reports Tareq Abu Azzoum from Deir el-Balah, central Gaza.

    “They have not made their journey into the enclave. They are still stuck at the border crossing. Only five trucks have made it in.”

    Israel’s Gaza aid “smokescreen” showing the vast gulf between what the Israeli military have actually allowed in – five trucks only and none of the aid had been delivered at the time of this report. Image: Al Jazeera infographic/Creative Commons

    The few aid trucks alowed into Gaza are nowhere near sufficient to meet Gaza’s vast needs, says the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF.

    Instead, the handful of trucks serve as a “a smokescreen” for Israel to “pretend the siege is over”.

    “The Israeli authorities’ decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving,” said Pascale Coissard, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Khan Younis.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Shine your light’: responding to challenges facing the charity sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    ‘Shine your light’: responding to challenges facing the charity sector

    Charity Commission Chief Executive David Holdsworth delivers keynote speech at Charity Times’ Annual Conference 2025.

    Thank you Srabani and good morning everyone / bore da pawb.

    It’s a privilege to be speaking to at this conference for the first time as the Commission’s CEO, after rejoining the organisation last summer.

    I probably don’t need to explain to this audience why I returned to work with the charity sector.

    Current operating environment and challenges 

    The Charity Commission stands at a unique vantage point, where the perspectives of charities, government, the public and donors meet.

    From this position, we see three trends.

    First, an incredibly challenging economic environment for the sector.

    Like other sectors, charities face inflationary pressures and rising operational costs.

    But charities are also dealing with increased demands for their services.

    The cumulative impact of these trends on charities is, in some cases, extremely challenging.

    Second, charities, like other organisations, are contending with rapid technological and social change.

    Some tech innovations, notably in the space of AI, offer tools that can help charities do more with less and increase their impact.

    But looking ahead, these technologies potentially challenge the very role of organisations and institutions in the traditional sense.

    Notably when coupled with changing attitudes, especially among younger people, whose allegiances are increasingly to causes, not ‘bricks and mortar’ or brands and institutions and where technology platforms offer alternatives of direct giving to those in need.  

    Thirdly – global conflicts, geo political shifts and instability. The shocking invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the middle east have seen demands on and need of charity increase significantly. Whilst at the same time the once seemingly immovable, solid post war geo political system is shifting, creating uncertainty and instability. This makes responding to increased global need more difficult and challenging to navigate.

    Impact and Potential

    Despite those challenges the sector has never been more important – and let’s be clear what charities achieve for society is astonishing, both in terms of scale and impact.

    Based on Annual Returns submitted to the Commission for 2023’s accounts, the sector had an annual income of over £96 billion – up around 7% on the previous year.

    We registered just over 5,000 new charities last year, having assessed a record 9,840 applications – a 9% increase on the previous year.

    And there are around 700,000 trustees who collectively steward the sector though good times and bad, and whose work often goes unrecognised and uncelebrated – though we at the Commission are all too aware of their service and contribution.

    But numbers alone don’t tell of the human impact of charity. Of the positive difference charities make in transforming or enriching communities, our environment, our wildlife, heritage, culture as well as saving and improving countless individual lives.

    It is that impact that charities, their amazing trustees, volunteers and employees have – that we must not lose sight of – nor let the challenges shroud.

    There are so many examples to tell.

    Like the Felix Project which had a landmark year, providing 38 million meals through its network of 1,264 community organisations and schools by growing its network of collaborations. Building on that success it has launched its Multibank, which has seen 1.46 million non-food essential items distributed to try and ensure no Londoner in need goes without.

    Welsh Women’s Aid and its partners helped 739 survivors access refuge-based support. That is life-saving intervention happening every day, across the country – offering not just physical shelter but a sense of home and safety when people need it most.

    That the osprey – that magnificent bird of prey – which was once driven to near extinction in the UK – is now thriving, with over 250 nesting pairs living in Britain today, is thanks to charities.

    And it is thanks to charity that, on average, two lives are saved at sea every single day by RNLI volunteers.  

    Also I know from my last CEO role at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, thanks to animal welfare charities’ campaigning work over decades, the UK now has one of the most advanced legal frameworks protecting animal health and welfare.

    These a just a few examples of what has been made possible by the charity sector.

    Potential and Opportunity

    So whilst I don’t underestimate for one moment the challenges charities face – and which I have seen first hand on my many visits – I would urge you not to let those challenges dim nor shroud the huge impact you are having, everyday.

    I also firmly believe that as Albert Einstein once said:

    in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

    Arguably, the bigger the challenge, the greater the opportunity. Ideas previously rejected as too radical; innovation that once felt too big; conversations which felt too challenging can suddenly feel possible – and necessary.

    Take for example, the city I call home, Liverpool. Which is incidentally also the Commission’s main home, where most of our staff are based.

    I grew up in Liverpool in the 1980s. It was a time when the city felt like it had lost its way, with ever increasing challenges and ever dwindling opportunity and resources.

    Today my home city is transformed. And that transformation happened through collaboration – a combination of philanthropic investments, national and local government investment, alongside renewed community action notably in the arts, culture and tourism which acted as catalysts for wider renewal.

    Each individual project mattered, but what made for game-changing transformation was the cumulative impact of collaborative and complementary efforts from a number of actors. And that is true across the sector today.

    Take for example, Fareshare. Working collaboratively, supporting other charities in their network, they’ve helped distribute 92% more food over the last year, and made their budgets go 78% further.

    This resulted in them distributing a whopping 135 million meals, reaching nearly 1 million people.

    If you’ll allow me to return once more to my hometown.

    In late 2024, Zoe’s Place, a hospice in Liverpool which provides care to children, faced an uncertain future. The community of Liverpool, supported by business leaders and politicians, as well as a fellow charity the Institute of our Lady of Mercy, fellow hospice Claire’s Place and regional media collectively rallied to save Zoe’s Place, with the Commission playing a key facilitating role.

    Now, ownership has been transferred to the newly registered Liverpool Zoe’s Place. The charity’s trustees have also finalised plans to build the charity’s new home, securing the continuation of the former charity’s legacy.

    The hospice had been helping families through the unimaginable since 1995 – to see that vital service disappear would have been gutting for the community, and a huge blow to the families who rely on the organisation’s support.

    Instead, by reawakening their community’s passion and pride in the service, the charity will now continue to provide that support for years to come.

    In addition to this kind of public appeal, forging new corporate partnerships is another option being explored by many charities. Indeed, the Charities Aid Foundation estimates that UK businesses contribute around £4 billion to the sector.

    Take one example – a mere stone’s throw from here: national homelessness charity, Shelter.

    The organisation has partnered with clothing brand, Lucy and Yak. Last year they held a successful pop-up shop in Kings Cross, and now, they’ve launched donation boxes in several Lucy and Yak shops across the country encouraging customers to donate clothing.

    Shelter has responded to competition facing charity shops with the rise of preloved selling platforms in an agile and innovative way. Through this partnership, they’ve added a funding stream to their ‘bow’ and potentially reached new supporters.

    But I appreciate that public appeals and new corporate partnerships won’t work for everyone.  

    As a result of the Covid pandemic, many charities needed to re-evaluate their financial resilience and ability to weather further storms – many had dipped into their reserves, while others had little to fall back on.

    With the same desire to ensure services do not come to an end, some charities with similar goals turned to mergers – combining resources to create something more sustainable.

    For example, Community Integrated Care, one of the largest social care providers in the UK, merged with Inspire, a social care provider based in Scotland, in 2023. The charities saw how funding shortfalls, economic pressures and workforce shortages were impacting social care more broadly and chose to secure their future together rather than struggle through apart. And it paid off.

    Community Integrated Care’s income increased by £22 million in the year after the merger, and the charities reported publicly that the merger was a good strategic fit. These charities found strength in unity while continuing to provide that sense of belonging their beneficiaries depend on.

    Mergers are not the answer for all – and I don’t underestimate the work that can be involved in navigating a successful transition. But where you decide a merger is the best way forward, the Commission is on hand.

    Conclusion: strength in collaboration

    I’ve touched upon a few examples today to evidence my underlying confidence in this sector’s collective power. Just as no home is built by a single pair of hands, no lasting social change comes from isolated efforts.

    Our dear late Queen, Elizabeth II, once said:

    On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.

    In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan we should remember those words and that out of darkness can come something brighter and better than before.

    From the darkness of tyranny, fascism and unfathomable loss came a renewed determination for peace, democracy and equality. That which charities had long fought for then came forward in the form of the NHS, welfare state, expansion of access to higher education, and workers’ rights.

    While the challenges facing society may be less existential, I believe this sector can again play a transformational role across communities, across government, local and national, with businesses and philanthropists to once again tackle our biggest issues with joint purpose.

    There is no greater charity sector in the world than here and my message is clear.

    Keep shining a light, charities.

    Shine a light on your charitable purpose.

    Shine a light of hope, and of refuge to those in need.

    Shine a light on your innovation and impact.

    And always remember that you not only stand on the shoulders of giants, but you too are now building that better brighter future for the next generation.

    Thank you. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and taking your questions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 – Shimsha Sahakara Bank Niyamitha, Maddur, Mandya District – Extension of Period

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank of India issued Directions under Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 to Shimsha Sahakara Bank Niyamitha, Maddur, Mandya District vide Directive BLR.DOS.SSMS.No.S2174/12-08-295/2022-23 dated February 23, 2023, for a period of six months up to August 24, 2023, as modified from time to time, which were last extended up to close of business on May 24, 2025 vide Directive DOR.MON/D-73/12.23.292/2024-25 dated November 21, 2024. The Reserve Bank of India is satisfied that in the public interest, it is necessary to further extend the period of operation of the Directive beyond May 24, 2025.

    2. Accordingly, the Reserve Bank of India, in exercise of the powers vested in it under sub-section (1) of Section 35A read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, hereby extends the Directive for a further period of six months from the close of business on May 24, 2025, to close of business on November 24, 2025, subject to review.

    3. All other terms and conditions of the Directive under reference shall remain unchanged.

    (Puneet Pancholy)  
    Chief General Manager

    Press Release: 2025-2026/383

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: GCM Grosvenor to Present at the William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference on June 4, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GCM Grosvenor (Nasdaq: GCMG), a global alternative asset management solutions provider, announced today that Michael Sacks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GCM Grosvenor, will present at the William Blair 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference on Wednesday, June 4 at 8:40 a.m. CDT.  

    A link to the live audio webcast of the presentation will be available on GCM Grosvenor’s public shareholders website and the event website. For those unable to listen to the live audio webcast, a replay will be available for 90 days following the presentation. 

    About GCM Grosvenor 

    GCM Grosvenor (Nasdaq: GCMG) is a global alternative asset management solutions provider with approximately $82 billion in assets under management across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and absolute return investment strategies. The firm has specialized in alternatives for more than 50 years and is dedicated to delivering value for clients by leveraging its cross-asset class and flexible investment platform.

    GCM Grosvenor’s experienced team of approximately 550 professionals serves a global client base of institutional and individual investors. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul and Sydney. For more information, visit: gcmgrosvenor.com.

    Public Shareholders Contact
    Stacie Selinger
    sselinger@gcmlp.com
    312-506-6583

    Media Contact 
    Tom Johnson and Abigail Ruck 
    H/Advisors Abernathy 
    tom.johnson@h-advisors.global / abigail.ruck@h-advisors.global
    212-371-5999 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN shares insights with Vietnamese media ahead of 46th ASEAN Summit

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    In an exclusive interview with Vietnamese Media, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, shared that the upcoming 46th ASEAN Summit will deliberate on a wide-range of political, economic, and social issues that are vital to ASEAN Community building. Amidst geopolitical and economic dynamics, SG Dr. Kao emphasized ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to an open, rules-based multilateral trading system, highlighting efforts to deepen intra-regional integration and enhance partnership with different partners and stakeholders with a view to bolstering the region’s economic resilience, stability and long-term competitiveness.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN shares insights with Vietnamese media ahead of 46th ASEAN Summit appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE boosts solar energy skills to support Kyrgyzstan’s clean energy transition

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE boosts solar energy skills to support Kyrgyzstan’s clean energy transition

    To help drive Kyrgyzstan’s transition to clean energy and meet its growing demand for renewables, the OSCE organized a joint initiative in Bishkek focused on both high-level policy dialogue and technical training. This effort was carried out in partnership with the Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU) and the Bulan Institute for Peace Innovations.
    On 19 May, over 70 participants – including representatives from government, academia, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society – gathered at KSTU for a roundtable discussion titled “Integration of Renewable Energy Sources into the Energy System of the Kyrgyz Republic and Prospects for RES Development.” The event explored key policy, regulatory, and technical challenges related to scaling up renewable energy – particularly solar and wind power – and examined ways to improve grid integration and expand access to clean energy across the country.
    High-level officials delivered opening remarks, including Dinara Kemelova, Special Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic on Mountain Regions Development; Emilbek Ysmanov, First Deputy Minister of Energy; and  Nicolas Faye,  Ambassador of France to the Kyrgyz Republic.
    Alongside the policy discussions, the OSCE, together with KSTU and the Bulan Institute, launched the first of two hands-on training courses on solar photovoltaic system installation and maintenance. The course brought together 24 electricians from various parts of  Kyrgyzstan – including many from rural and remote areas – to gain practical skills in solar system design, installation, and safety. Notably, the active participation of women in the training marked a positive step toward greater gender equality in the energy sector. A second training is scheduled for June 2025.
    “This initiative goes beyond solar panels – it’s about giving people the skills to shape their own energy future,” said Giulia Manconi, OSCE Senior Energy Security Adviser. “By investing in skills development, we’re not only helping Kyrgyzstan unlock its solar potential, but also creating meaningful jobs, promoting local value, and ensuring an inclusive transition to renewable energy that supports the country’s broader energy and climate goals.”
    By building local expertise, this initiative lays the foundation for the creation of a dedicated Solar Training Centre at KSTU, providing long-term support for Kyrgyzstan’s clean energy transition and offering a model that can be replicated across the region.
    This activity is part of the OSCE project on Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Energy Sector in Central Asia, funded by Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Poland.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Shine a light’: responding to challenges facing the charity sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    ‘Shine a light’: responding to challenges facing the charity sector

    Charity Commission Chief Executive David Holdsworth delivers keynote speech at Charity Times’ Annual Conference 2025.

    Thank you Srabani and good morning everyone / bore da pawb.

    It’s a privilege to be speaking to at this conference for the first time as the Commission’s CEO, after rejoining the organisation last summer.

    I probably don’t need to explain to this audience why I returned to work with the charity sector.

    Current operating environment and challenges 

    The Charity Commission stands at a unique vantage point, where the perspectives of charities, government, the public and donors meet.

    From this position, we see three trends.

    First, an incredibly challenging economic environment for the sector.

    Like other sectors, charities face inflationary pressures and rising operational costs.

    But charities are also dealing with increased demands for their services.

    The cumulative impact of these trends on charities is, in some cases, extremely challenging.

    Second, charities, like other organisations, are contending with rapid technological and social change.

    Some tech innovations, notably in the space of AI, offer tools that can help charities do more with less and increase their impact.

    But looking ahead, these technologies potentially challenge the very role of organisations and institutions in the traditional sense.

    Notably when coupled with changing attitudes, especially among younger people, whose allegiances are increasingly to causes, not ‘bricks and mortar’ or brands and institutions and where technology platforms offer alternatives of direct giving to those in need.  

    Thirdly – global conflicts, geo political shifts and instability. The shocking invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the middle east have seen demands on and need of charity increase significantly. Whilst at the same time the once seemingly immovable, solid post war geo political system is shifting, creating uncertainty and instability. This makes responding to increased global need more difficult and challenging to navigate.

    Impact and Potential

    Despite those challenges the sector has never been more important – and let’s be clear what charities achieve for society is astonishing, both in terms of scale and impact.

    Based on Annual Returns submitted to the Commission for 2023’s accounts, the sector had an annual income of over £96 billion – up around 7% on the previous year.

    We registered just over 5,000 new charities last year, having assessed a record 9,840 applications – a 9% increase on the previous year.

    And there are around 700,000 trustees who collectively steward the sector though good times and bad, and whose work often goes unrecognised and uncelebrated – though we at the Commission are all too aware of their service and contribution.

    But numbers alone don’t tell of the human impact of charity. Of the positive difference charities make in transforming or enriching communities, our environment, our wildlife, heritage, culture as well as saving and improving countless individual lives.

    It is that impact that charities, their amazing trustees, volunteers and employees have – that we must not lose sight of – nor let the challenges shroud.

    There are so many examples to tell.

    Like the Felix Project which had a landmark year, providing 38 million meals through its network of 1,264 community organisations and schools by growing its network of collaborations. Building on that success it has launched its Multibank, which has seen 1.46 million non-food essential items distributed to try and ensure no Londoner in need goes without.

    Welsh Women’s Aid and its partners helped 739 survivors access refuge-based support. That is life-saving intervention happening every day, across the country – offering not just physical shelter but a sense of home and safety when people need it most.

    That the osprey – that magnificent bird of prey – which was once driven to near extinction in the UK – is now thriving, with over 250 nesting pairs living in Britain today, is thanks to charities.

    And it is thanks to charity that, on average, two lives are saved at sea every single day by RNLI volunteers.  

    Also I know from my last CEO role at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, thanks to animal welfare charities’ campaigning work over decades, the UK now has one of the most advanced legal frameworks protecting animal health and welfare.

    These a just a few examples of what has been made possible by the charity sector.

    Potential and Opportunity

    So whilst I don’t underestimate for one moment the challenges charities face – and which I have seen first hand on my many visits – I would urge you not to let those challenges dim nor shroud the huge impact you are having, everyday.

    I also firmly believe that as Albert Einstein once said:

    in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

    Arguably, the bigger the challenge, the greater the opportunity. Ideas previously rejected as too radical; innovation that once felt too big; conversations which felt too challenging can suddenly feel possible – and necessary.

    Take for example, the city I call home, Liverpool. Which is incidentally also the Commission’s main home, where most of our staff are based.

    I grew up in Liverpool in the 1980s. It was a time when the city felt like it had lost its way, with ever increasing challenges and ever dwindling opportunity and resources.

    Today my home city is transformed. And that transformation happened through collaboration – a combination of philanthropic investments, national and local government investment, alongside renewed community action notably in the arts, culture and tourism which acted as catalysts for wider renewal.

    Each individual project mattered, but what made for game-changing transformation was the cumulative impact of collaborative and complementary efforts from a number of actors. And that is true across the sector today.

    Take for example, Fareshare. Working collaboratively, supporting other charities in their network, they’ve helped distribute 92% more food over the last year, and made their budgets go 78% further.

    This resulted in them distributing a whopping 135 million meals, reaching nearly 1 million people.

    If you’ll allow me to return once more to my hometown.

    In late 2024, Zoe’s Place, a hospice in Liverpool which provides care to children, faced an uncertain future. The community of Liverpool, supported by business leaders and politicians, as well as a fellow charity the Institute of our Lady of Mercy, fellow hospice Claire’s Place and regional media collectively rallied to save Zoe’s Place, with the Commission playing a key facilitating role.

    Now, ownership has been transferred to the newly registered Liverpool Zoe’s Place. The charity’s trustees have also finalised plans to build the charity’s new home, securing the continuation of the former charity’s legacy.

    The hospice had been helping families through the unimaginable since 1995 – to see that vital service disappear would have been gutting for the community, and a huge blow to the families who rely on the organisation’s support.

    Instead, by reawakening their community’s passion and pride in the service, the charity will now continue to provide that support for years to come.

    In addition to this kind of public appeal, forging new corporate partnerships is another option being explored by many charities. Indeed, the Charities Aid Foundation estimates that UK businesses contribute around £4 billion to the sector.

    Take one example – a mere stone’s throw from here: national homelessness charity, Shelter.

    The organisation has partnered with clothing brand, Lucy and Yak. Last year they held a successful pop-up shop in Kings Cross, and now, they’ve launched donation boxes in several Lucy and Yak shops across the country encouraging customers to donate clothing.

    Shelter has responded to competition facing charity shops with the rise of preloved selling platforms in an agile and innovative way. Through this partnership, they’ve added a funding stream to their ‘bow’ and potentially reached new supporters.

    But I appreciate that public appeals and new corporate partnerships won’t work for everyone.  

    As a result of the Covid pandemic, many charities needed to re-evaluate their financial resilience and ability to weather further storms – many had dipped into their reserves, while others had little to fall back on.

    With the same desire to ensure services do not come to an end, some charities with similar goals turned to mergers – combining resources to create something more sustainable.

    For example, Community Integrated Care, one of the largest social care providers in the UK, merged with Inspire, a social care provider based in Scotland, in 2023. The charities saw how funding shortfalls, economic pressures and workforce shortages were impacting social care more broadly and chose to secure their future together rather than struggle through apart. And it paid off.

    Community Integrated Care’s income increased by £22 million in the year after the merger, and the charities reported publicly that the merger was a good strategic fit. These charities found strength in unity while continuing to provide that sense of belonging their beneficiaries depend on.

    Mergers are not the answer for all – and I don’t underestimate the work that can be involved in navigating a successful transition. But where you decide a merger is the best way forward, the Commission is on hand.

    Conclusion: strength in collaboration

    I’ve touched upon a few examples today to evidence my underlying confidence in this sector’s collective power. Just as no home is built by a single pair of hands, no lasting social change comes from isolated efforts.

    Our dear late Queen, Elizabeth II, once said:

    On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.

    In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan we should remember those words and that out of darkness can come something brighter and better than before.

    From the darkness of tyranny, fascism and unfathomable loss came a renewed determination for peace, democracy and equality. That which charities had long fought for then came forward in the form of the NHS, welfare state, expansion of access to higher education, and workers’ rights.

    While the challenges facing society may be less existential, I believe this sector can again play a transformational role across communities, across government, local and national, with businesses and philanthropists to once again tackle our biggest issues with joint purpose.

    There is no greater charity sector in the world than here and my message is clear.

    Keep shining a light, charities.

    Shine a light on your charitable purpose.

    Shine a light of hope, and of refuge to those in need.

    Shine a light on your innovation and impact.

    And always remember that you not only stand on the shoulders of giants, but you too are now building that better brighter future for the next generation.

    Thank you. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and taking your questions.

    Updates to this page

    Published 21 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on Almonty Industries, Inc. (TSX: AII) (ASX: AII) (OTCQX: ALMTF)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research, a leading equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has released an Update Note Almonty Industries, Inc. (TSX: AII) (ASX: AII) (FWB: ALI) (OTCPK: ALMT.F). The update note includes detailed information on the Almonty Industries’ business model, services, industry overview, financials, valuation, management profile, and risks.

    The full research report is available below.

    Almonty Industries Update Note May 2025

     Highlights from the report include:

    • Almonty Industries Secures Strategic Three-Year Offtake Agreement for Tungsten Oxide with Tungsten Parts Wyoming; Provides Predictable Revenue and Strengthens Strategic Alliances within U.S. and Allied Defense Networks: Almonty Industries Inc. recently announced a binding offtake agreement with Tungsten Parts Wyoming, Inc. (TPW), a prominent U.S.-based defense contractor, and Metal Tech (MT), an Israel-based tungsten processor, significantly enhancing its strategic position within the critical materials supply chain for U.S. defense applications. Under the agreement, TPW commits to purchasing at least 40 metric tons of tungsten oxide monthly from Almonty, exclusively for use in critical defense applications, including missiles, drones, and ordnance systems. MT will process the supplied tungsten oxide into tungsten metal powder in Israel or the U.S., exclusively for TPW’s defense production programs. Notably, the arrangement includes a hard floor price with no ceiling, providing revenue predictability and substantial upside potential. The initial term of the agreement spans three years from the commencement of deliveries, with provisions for automatic annual renewal thereafter. This offtake agreement is strategically significant for Almonty, ensuring predictable revenues and deepening its integration into defense-oriented supply chains. Management has highlighted the importance of securing long-term demand specifically tied to high-value defense programs, emphasizing the company’s ability to align commercial interests with strategic national security priorities. It should be that that these substantial offtake commitments signal strong confidence in Almonty’s asset quality and operational delivery capabilities. Investors tend to place a premium on predictable revenues and consistent cash flows, making this agreement particularly valuable from a market valuation perspective. We view this development positively, as it further solidifies Almonty’s competitive advantage in supplying critical materials to allied defense markets.
    • Q1 2025 Financial Results Reflect Stable Revenue, Enhanced Mining Margins, and Elevated Non-Cash Charges: In the first quarter of 2025, Almonty Industries reported a 1.3% year-over-year revenue increase to $7.9 million, driven by higher tungsten concentrate pricing under long-term contracts. Income from mining operations rose significantly by 24.1% to $0.75 million, supported by favorable pricing dynamics and increased output at the Panasqueira mine. Operating expenses rose substantially to $9.5 million from $4.3 million in the prior year quarter, largely due to higher non-cash share-based compensation, losses related to the revaluation of embedded derivative liabilities, and increased expenditures associated with the company’s planned redomiciling. The company reported a net loss of $34.6 million, compared to $3.8 million in the prior-year period, primarily due to a non-cash loss of $25.8 million arising from the revaluation of warrant liabilities. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $(3.5) million compared to $(1.3) million in the same quarter of the previous year, reflecting a 169.2% increase on a non-IFRS basis. As of March 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents totaled $16.9 million, up from $7.8 million at year-end 2024, primarily due to the receipt of $8.7 in equity placement proceeds and $3.3 million from the exercise of warrant, partially offset by ongoing investments in the Sangdong Project in South Korea. Post the quarter-end, Almonty secured an additional $3.6 million through further warrant exercises. 
    • Valuation: The forthcoming commercialization of the high-grade Sangdong project, now construction-complete and in its final pre-production phase, is anticipated to serve as a key catalyst for Almonty’s growth trajectory and potential valuation re-rating. Strong operational performance at Panasqueira and a robust cash position of nearly $17 million provide a solid foundation for near-term execution. Strategic advancements, including a binding offtake agreement with a U.S. defense contractor and expanded partnerships with American Defense International and MZ Group, further reinforce Almonty’s position as a critical supplier within the allied tungsten value chain. Rolling over our financial model while incorporating the latest quarterly results and updated shares outstanding, we arrive at a valuation of $4.00 per share, contingent upon successful execution by the company.

    About Almonty Industries, Inc.  

    Almonty Industries Inc. is a global leader in tungsten mining, with strategically positioned assets in geopolitically stable regions including South Korea, Portugal, and Spain. The company is set to become the largest tungsten producer outside China upon the commissioning of its flagship Sangdong Mine. 

    About Diamond Equity Research

    Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

    For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com.

    Disclosures:

    Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by Almonty Industries, Inc. for producing research materials regarding Almonty Industries, Inc. and its securities, which is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security, however the views in the report reflect that of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for research engagement. As of 05/22/25 the issuer had paid us $50,000 for our company sponsored research services, which commenced 03/07/2025 and is billed annually. Diamond Equity Research LLC may be compensated for non-research related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, press releases and other additional services. The non-research related service cost is dependent on the company, but usually do not exceed $5,000. The issuer has not paid us for non-research related services as of 05/22/2025. Issuers are not required to engage us for these additional services. Additional fees may have accrued since then. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities including the complete loss of their investment. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for Almonty Industries, Inc.

    Contact:
    Diamond Equity Research
    research@diamondequityresearch.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDONESIA – The Director of the PMS: “Social justice as part of the mission, inspired by Pope Leo”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 21 May 2025

    Archdiocese of Jakarta

    Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “Social justice is one of the central themes today for a great nation like Indonesia, an emerging nation on the international scene. It is also a crucial issue for the Church’s mission in Indonesia. And we see that Pope Leo XIV, inspired by his predecessor Leo XIII, the Pope of Rerum Novarum, has placed the theme of social justice among the central points of his vision and action.This can also be of help to us,” says Father Alfonsus Widhiwiryawan, a Xaverian missionary originally from Java and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Indonesia, in an interview with Fides.Fr. Alfonsus recalls Pope Leo XIV’s recent speech to the Diplomatic Corps, in which he stated that “the pursuit of peace requires the practice of justice.” And, evoking Leo XIII, he added that “in the era of change we are experiencing, the Holy See cannot fail to make its voice heard in the face of the numerous imbalances and injustices that cause, among other things, undignified working conditions and increasingly fragmented and conflict-ridden societies. It is also necessary to correct global inequalities, where opulence and poverty leave deep gaps between continents, countries, and even within individual societies.” “This need is felt in Indonesia, a nation characterized by a great diversity of regions, cultures, religious contexts, and socio-economic situations. The risk is fragmentation, even within the Church itself,” the missionary emphasized. “That is why our national motto is unity in diversity, and we are called to practice it every day also within the Church,” added the national director of the PMS. Social justice, he recalls, “is also one of the fundamental principles of Pancasila, the five-principle charter that is the basis of the Indonesian nation, and is a particularly relevant issue for many Muslim organizations.”The Indonesian bishops have clearly expressed their commitment in this area. For example, the prelates of the Flores region, in their message for Lent 2025, issued a joint appeal for “justice for the poor and a renewed commitment to Gospel values.” In particular, they expressed concern about the development of geothermal projects, which, they noted, “harm the environment, food security, social balance, and cultural sustainability.” They also denounced the persistence of chronic malnutrition, which continues to affect many young children, stressing that “this is not simply a question of health, but of justice.” “All children deserve food, love, and dignity,” they wrote, encouraging targeted support for vulnerable families and the implementation of solid nutrition education programs. It is in this context that the debate surrounding the economic policy of the new President, Prabowo Subianto, is taking place. In keeping with his campaign promises, he has launched an ambitious program to support school canteens and a budget efficiency plan. However, the latter has sparked protests over job cuts and the suspension of scholarships until 2025. Fr. Alfonsus comments on this: “Instead of allocating public resources to welfare measures that bring easy consensus, the government should consider and implement policies capable of stimulating economic growth, combating unemployment, and promoting authentic and sustainable development.” Social justice was also the central theme of Pope Francis’ first speech during his trip to Indonesia, on September 4, 2024, at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, before both the outgoing President Joko Widodo and President-elect Prabowo Subianto. On that occasion, the Pontiff called for a “true and far-sighted commitment” to achieving social justice, so that a substantial part of humanity is not left “on the margins, without a dignified existence and without any defense against the serious social imbalances that trigger acute conflicts.” “In a rapidly changing society,” concludes the National Director of the PMS, “the Indonesian Catholic Church is called to understand and expand its mission, reflecting and actively engaging in the field of social justice.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 21/5/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Jewelry from the Russian Ethnographic Museum’s collection on display in Hangzhou

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — An exhibition of jewelry from the 18th-20th centuries from the collection of the Russian Ethnographic Museum, “Jewelry Box,” has opened at the West Lake Museum in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province. The event is an important project within the framework of the China-Russia Cross-Culture Years, and will run until September 1 this year.

    The exhibition, organized by the West Lake Scenic Area Management Committee with the assistance of the above-mentioned two museums, displayed a total of 209 pieces/sets of jewelry and clothing, covering the unique artistic styles of nearly 40 ethnic groups in Russia, local media reported.

    It is reported that the exhibits presented at the exhibition are being shown in China for the first time. Among them are exquisitely painted ornaments of ethnic Russians, magnificent Siberian products, skillful ornaments from Central Asia, openwork ornaments by Caucasian craftsmen, etc.

    According to a senior official of the West Lake Museum, the current exhibition aims to create a model platform for dialogue between Chinese and Russian civilizations, thereby giving a sustainable impetus to humanitarian exchanges between the two countries.

    The exhibition is also part of the events marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the West Lake Museum. -0-

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