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Category: Asia

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is a downburst? These winds can be as destructive as tornadoes − we recreate them to test building designs

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amal Elawady, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University

    A downburst blasts Bangkok, Thailand, in 2017. Natapat Ariyamongkol/iStock/Getty Images Plus

    From a distance, a downburst can look like a torrent of heavy rain. But at ground level, its behavior can be far more destructive.

    When a downburst’s winds hit the ground, they shoot out horizontally in all directions, sometimes with enough force to shatter windows and overturn vehicles.

    These winds behave in complicated ways, particularly in cities, as our latest research shows. Downburst winds can deflect off tall buildings, increasing the pressure on neighboring buildings’ windows and walls. The result can blow out glass and chip off facade. Even buildings designed to survive hurricanes can suffer major damage in a downburst.

    As engineers, we study downbursts with the goal of designing buildings, components such as solar panels and windows, and infrastructure such as power lines that can stand up to that powerful force. To do this, informed by field measurements, we create our own powerful downbursts using a hurricane simulator known as the Wall of Wind at Florida International University.

    An illustration of how the winds of a downburst fan out in open space. In a city with tall buildings, the wind can deflect off buildings, causing damage in unexpected ways.
    NASA/Wikimedia Commons

    What is a downburst?

    Downbursts can be as destructive as tornadoes, but their winds develop in a very different way.

    A downburst forms when a thunderstorm pulls cooler, heavier air down from high in the atmosphere. As this rain-cooled air rushes downward, it gains speed. Once it slams into the ground, it has nowhere to go but outward, sending strong winds in all horizontal directions.

    Dust in the air shows the curling rotation of a downburst’s winds.
    NOAA

    The wind speed in a downburst can reach over 150 miles per hour. That’s the strength of a Category 4 hurricane and strong enough to knock down trees and power lines, damage buildings and flip vehicles.

    These winds also rotate, but not in the same way tornadoes do. Downburst winds are typically considered straight-line winds, but they rotate around a horizontal axis as the wind curls upward after hitting the ground. Tornadoes, in contrast, spin around a vertical axis.

    Powerful storm systems known as derechos are often made up of multiple downburst clusters, each containing many smaller downbursts, sometimes called microbursts.

    Recreating Houston’s downburst in a warehouse

    On May 16, 2024, a derecho hit Houston with a downburst that was so strong, it blew out windows in several high-rise buildings that had been built to survive Category 4 hurricanes. The winds also pried off chunks of buildings’ facades.

    Two months later, Hurricane Beryl hit Houston with similar wind speeds, yet it left minimal damage to the downtown buildings.

    When a downburst hit downtown Houston on May 16, 2024, it shattered windows on some sides of buildings but not others, and not always in the line of the storm. The damage offered clues to how downbursts interact with tall buildings.
    Cécile Clocheret/AFP via Getty Images

    To understand how a downburst like this can be so much more destructive – and what cities and building designers can do about it – we simulated both the Houston downburst winds and Hurricane Beryl’s winds in the Wall of Wind.

    The test facility is equipped with a dozen jet fans, each almost as tall as the workers who run them and powerful enough to simulate a Category 5 hurricane. Our team used these fans to recreate powerful downburst winds that hit horizontally with the maximum wind speeds near ground level. Then, we put several models of buildings to the test to see how roofs, windows, facades and the structures of power lines reacted under that force.

    How the Wall of Wind’s fans mimic a downburst’s horizontal force.

    In the Houston derecho, a downburst hit downtown with 100 mph winds. It cracked some lower windows, likely with blowing debris, but it also caused widespread unexpected damage midway up some of the buildings.

    The Chevron Building Auditorium actually suffered the most damage on a side that wasn’t directly in the line of the storm but was facing another tall building. That left some intriguing questions. It suggested that the way the buildings channel the wind may have created a strong suction that blew out windows midway up the tower. Another burning question is whether building design codes are outdated when it comes to how well their cladding can stand up to these localized winds.

    Using the Wall of Wind, we were able to test those pressures on models of the Houston buildings and see how downburst winds increased the pressured on a tall building model with excessive forces near the ground level.

    The ability to simulate these winds is important for improving engineers’ understanding of the differences in how downbursts and other wind events exert force on buildings. The results ultimately inform building standards to help create more resilient and better-protected communities.

    Building better power lines

    Big storms, like downbursts, can also take down power lines.

    Power lines extend hundreds of miles between cities and states, making them more susceptible to a hit from a localized severe storm, such as a downburst. If one of the towers falls, it can cause a chain reaction, like dominoes falling one after another. That can knock out power for large numbers of people.

    The derecho that hit Houston with a downburst also crumpled transmission towers in Texas.
    AP Photo/David J. Phillip

    With colleagues, we have been testing transmission towers and multispan power-line systems under downburst and hurricane winds to understand how these structures respond, with the goal of developing better construction techniques. That work has helped to update the American manual for the design of power lines, which engineers use for designing safer, more storm-resilient transmission towers.

    What’s next

    Low-rise and mid-rise buildings are also vulnerable to downbursts, but the effects are less well understood. Downburst winds are most intense between 10 and 300 feet above the ground, meaning the roofs and walls of some low-rises can be hit with intense horizontal wind.

    Recent building codes have offered design guidelines to help ensure these buildings can withstand tornadoes. However, the way downbursts rotate in a short time around a building or a community of buildings puts pressure on the walls and the roof in different ways. Similar to straight-line winds, we expect high suction on the roof. Due to their short duration, varying wind direction and intense wind speed, downbursts may also cause excessive vibrations and varying pressure distribution on the roof components.

    How microbursts form.

    We’re now testing downburst damage to low- and mid-rise buildings to better understand the risks and help highlight changes that can make buildings more resilient.

    As populations grow, cities are adding more buildings. At the same time, powerful storms are becoming more frequent and more intense. Understanding the effects of different types of storms will help engineers construct high-rises, low-rises and power lines that are better able to withstand extreme weather.

    Amal Elawady receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    Fahim Ahmed, Mohamed Eissa, and Omar Metwally do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What is a downburst? These winds can be as destructive as tornadoes − we recreate them to test building designs – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-downburst-these-winds-can-be-as-destructive-as-tornadoes-we-recreate-them-to-test-building-designs-254931

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is a downburst? These winds can be as destructive as tornadoes − we recreate them to test building designs

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Amal Elawady, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University

    A downburst blasts Bangkok, Thailand, in 2017. Natapat Ariyamongkol/iStock/Getty Images Plus

    From a distance, a downburst can look like a torrent of heavy rain. But at ground level, its behavior can be far more destructive.

    When a downburst’s winds hit the ground, they shoot out horizontally in all directions, sometimes with enough force to shatter windows and overturn vehicles.

    These winds behave in complicated ways, particularly in cities, as our latest research shows. Downburst winds can deflect off tall buildings, increasing the pressure on neighboring buildings’ windows and walls. The result can blow out glass and chip off facade. Even buildings designed to survive hurricanes can suffer major damage in a downburst.

    As engineers, we study downbursts with the goal of designing buildings, components such as solar panels and windows, and infrastructure such as power lines that can stand up to that powerful force. To do this, informed by field measurements, we create our own powerful downbursts using a hurricane simulator known as the Wall of Wind at Florida International University.

    An illustration of how the winds of a downburst fan out in open space. In a city with tall buildings, the wind can deflect off buildings, causing damage in unexpected ways.
    NASA/Wikimedia Commons

    What is a downburst?

    Downbursts can be as destructive as tornadoes, but their winds develop in a very different way.

    A downburst forms when a thunderstorm pulls cooler, heavier air down from high in the atmosphere. As this rain-cooled air rushes downward, it gains speed. Once it slams into the ground, it has nowhere to go but outward, sending strong winds in all horizontal directions.

    Dust in the air shows the curling rotation of a downburst’s winds.
    NOAA

    The wind speed in a downburst can reach over 150 miles per hour. That’s the strength of a Category 4 hurricane and strong enough to knock down trees and power lines, damage buildings and flip vehicles.

    These winds also rotate, but not in the same way tornadoes do. Downburst winds are typically considered straight-line winds, but they rotate around a horizontal axis as the wind curls upward after hitting the ground. Tornadoes, in contrast, spin around a vertical axis.

    Powerful storm systems known as derechos are often made up of multiple downburst clusters, each containing many smaller downbursts, sometimes called microbursts.

    Recreating Houston’s downburst in a warehouse

    On May 16, 2024, a derecho hit Houston with a downburst that was so strong, it blew out windows in several high-rise buildings that had been built to survive Category 4 hurricanes. The winds also pried off chunks of buildings’ facades.

    Two months later, Hurricane Beryl hit Houston with similar wind speeds, yet it left minimal damage to the downtown buildings.

    When a downburst hit downtown Houston on May 16, 2024, it shattered windows on some sides of buildings but not others, and not always in the line of the storm. The damage offered clues to how downbursts interact with tall buildings.
    Cécile Clocheret/AFP via Getty Images

    To understand how a downburst like this can be so much more destructive – and what cities and building designers can do about it – we simulated both the Houston downburst winds and Hurricane Beryl’s winds in the Wall of Wind.

    The test facility is equipped with a dozen jet fans, each almost as tall as the workers who run them and powerful enough to simulate a Category 5 hurricane. Our team used these fans to recreate powerful downburst winds that hit horizontally with the maximum wind speeds near ground level. Then, we put several models of buildings to the test to see how roofs, windows, facades and the structures of power lines reacted under that force.

    How the Wall of Wind’s fans mimic a downburst’s horizontal force.

    In the Houston derecho, a downburst hit downtown with 100 mph winds. It cracked some lower windows, likely with blowing debris, but it also caused widespread unexpected damage midway up some of the buildings.

    The Chevron Building Auditorium actually suffered the most damage on a side that wasn’t directly in the line of the storm but was facing another tall building. That left some intriguing questions. It suggested that the way the buildings channel the wind may have created a strong suction that blew out windows midway up the tower. Another burning question is whether building design codes are outdated when it comes to how well their cladding can stand up to these localized winds.

    Using the Wall of Wind, we were able to test those pressures on models of the Houston buildings and see how downburst winds increased the pressured on a tall building model with excessive forces near the ground level.

    The ability to simulate these winds is important for improving engineers’ understanding of the differences in how downbursts and other wind events exert force on buildings. The results ultimately inform building standards to help create more resilient and better-protected communities.

    Building better power lines

    Big storms, like downbursts, can also take down power lines.

    Power lines extend hundreds of miles between cities and states, making them more susceptible to a hit from a localized severe storm, such as a downburst. If one of the towers falls, it can cause a chain reaction, like dominoes falling one after another. That can knock out power for large numbers of people.

    The derecho that hit Houston with a downburst also crumpled transmission towers in Texas.
    AP Photo/David J. Phillip

    With colleagues, we have been testing transmission towers and multispan power-line systems under downburst and hurricane winds to understand how these structures respond, with the goal of developing better construction techniques. That work has helped to update the American manual for the design of power lines, which engineers use for designing safer, more storm-resilient transmission towers.

    What’s next

    Low-rise and mid-rise buildings are also vulnerable to downbursts, but the effects are less well understood. Downburst winds are most intense between 10 and 300 feet above the ground, meaning the roofs and walls of some low-rises can be hit with intense horizontal wind.

    Recent building codes have offered design guidelines to help ensure these buildings can withstand tornadoes. However, the way downbursts rotate in a short time around a building or a community of buildings puts pressure on the walls and the roof in different ways. Similar to straight-line winds, we expect high suction on the roof. Due to their short duration, varying wind direction and intense wind speed, downbursts may also cause excessive vibrations and varying pressure distribution on the roof components.

    How microbursts form.

    We’re now testing downburst damage to low- and mid-rise buildings to better understand the risks and help highlight changes that can make buildings more resilient.

    As populations grow, cities are adding more buildings. At the same time, powerful storms are becoming more frequent and more intense. Understanding the effects of different types of storms will help engineers construct high-rises, low-rises and power lines that are better able to withstand extreme weather.

    Amal Elawady receives funding from the National Science Foundation.

    Fahim Ahmed, Mohamed Eissa, and Omar Metwally do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What is a downburst? These winds can be as destructive as tornadoes − we recreate them to test building designs – https://theconversation.com/what-is-a-downburst-these-winds-can-be-as-destructive-as-tornadoes-we-recreate-them-to-test-building-designs-254931

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rick Baldoz, Associate Professor of American Studies, Brown University

    New York Tribune of Jan. 3, 1920, announcing massive roundups of ‘aliens’ deemed to be ‘Reds.’ Library of Congress

    The recent deportation orders targeting foreign students in the U.S. have prompted a heated debate about the legality of these actions. The Trump administration made no secret that many individuals were facing removal because of their pro-Palestinian advocacy.

    In recent months, the State Department has revoked hundreds of visas of foreign students with little explanation. On April 25, 2025, the administration restored the legal status of many of those students, but warned that the reprieve was only temporary.

    Because of their tenuous legal status in the U.S., immigrant activists are vulnerable to a government seeking to stifle dissent.

    Critics of the Trump administration have challenged the legality of these removal orders, arguing that they violate constitutionally protected rights, including freedom of speech and due process.

    The administration asserts that the executive branch has nearly absolute authority to remove immigrants. The White House has cited legislation passed during the peak of the nation’s Cold War hysteria, like the McCarran-Walter Act of 1952, which expanded the government’s deportation powers.

    I’m a historian of immigration, U.S. empire and Asian American studies. The current removal orders targeting student activists echo America’s long and lamentable past of jailing and expelling immigrants because of their race or what they say or believe – or all three.

    The arrest of Turkish graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk by Department of Homeland Security agents in Somerville, Mass., on March 25, 2025.

    Where it began

    The United States’ current deportation process traces its roots to the late 19th century as the nation moved to exercise federal control of immigration.

    The impetus for this shift was anti-Chinese racism, which reached a fever pitch during this period, culminating in the passage of laws that restricted Chinese immigration.

    The influx of Chinese immigrants to the West Coast during the mid-to-late 19th century, initially fueled by the California Gold Rush, spurred the rise of an influential nativist movement that accused Chinese immigrants of stealing jobs. It also claimed that they posed a cultural threat to American society due to their racial otherness.

    The Geary Act of 1892 required Chinese living in the U.S to register with the federal government or face deportation.

    The Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of these statutes in 1893 in the case of Fong Yue Ting v. United States. Three plaintiffs claimed that anti-Chinese legislation was discriminatory, violated constitutional protections prohibiting unreasonable search and seizure, and contravened due process and equal protection guarantees.

    The Supreme Court affirmed the Geary Act’s deportation procedures, formulating a novel legal precept known as the plenary power doctrine that remains a key tenet of U.S. immigration law today.

    Court confirms the law

    The doctrine included two key assertions.

    First, the federal government’s authority to exclude and deport aliens was an inherent and unqualified feature of American sovereignty. Second, immigration enforcement was the exclusive domain of the congressional and executive branches that were charged with protecting the nation from foreign threats.

    The court also ruled that the deportation of immigrants in the country lawfully was a civil, rather than criminal matter, which meant that constitutional protections like due process did not apply.

    The government ramped up deportations in the aftermath of World War I, fueled by wartime xenophobia. American officials singled out foreign-born radicals for deportation, accusing them of fomenting disloyalty.

    The front page of the Ogden Standard, from Ogden City, Utah, on Nov. 8, 1919, announcing the arrest and planned deportation of ‘alien Reds.’
    Library of Congress

    Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, who ordered mass arrests of alleged communists, pledged to “tear out the radical seeds that have entangled Americans in their poisonous theories” and remove “alien criminals in this country who are directly responsible for spreading the unclean doctrines of Bolshevism.”

    This period marked a new era of removals carried out primarily on ideological grounds. Jews and other immigrants from southern and eastern Europe were disproportionately targeted, highlighting the cultural affinities between anti-radicalism and racial and ethnic chauvinism.

    ‘Foreign’ agitators

    The campaign to root out so-called subversives living in the United States reached its apex during the 1940s and 1950s, supercharged by figures like anti-communist crusader Sen. Joseph McCarthy and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.

    The specter of foreign agitators contaminating American political culture loomed large in these debates. Attorney General Tom Clark testified before Congress in 1950 that 91.4% of the Communist Party USA’s leadership were “either foreign stock or married to persons of foreign stock.”

    Congress passed a series of laws during this period requiring that subversive organizations register with the government. They also expanded the executive branch’s power to deport individuals whose views were deemed “prejudicial to national security,” blurring the lines between punishing people for unlawful acts – such as espionage and bombings – and what the government considered unlawful beliefs, such as Communist Party membership.

    While deporting foreign-born radicals had popular support, the banishment of immigrants for their political beliefs raised important constitutional questions.

    Harry Bridges, a West Coast labor leader, and his daughter, Jacqueline, 14, as they listen to proceedings during Bridges’ deportation hearing in San Francisco in July 1939.
    Underwood Archives/Getty Images

    Prosecution or persecution?

    In a landmark case in 1945, Wixon v. Bridges, the Supreme Court did assert a check on the power of the executive branch to deport someone without a fair hearing.

    The case involved Harry Bridges, Australian-born president of the International Longshoremen and Warehousemen’s Union. Bridges was a left-wing union leader who orchestrated a number of successful strikes on the West Coast. Under his leadership, the union also took progressive positions on civil rights and U.S. militarism.

    The decision in the case hinged on whether the government could prove that Bridges had been a member of the Communist Party, which would have made him deportable under the Smith Act, which proscribed membership in the Communist Party.

    Since no proof of Bridges’ membership existed, the government relied on dodgy witnesses and assertions that Bridges was aligned with the party because he shared some of its political positions. Accusations of “alignment” with controversial political organizations are similar to the charges made against foreign students currently at risk of deportation by the Trump administration.

    The Supreme Court vacated Bridges’ deportation order, declaring that the government’s claim of “affiliation” with the Communist Party was too vaguely defined and amounted to guilt by association.

    As the excesses and abuses of the McCarthy era came to light, they invited greater scrutiny about the dangers of unchecked executive power. Some of the more draconian statutes enacted during the Cold War, like the Smith Act, have been overhauled. The federal courts have toggled back and forth between narrow and liberal interpretations of the Constitution’s applicability to immigrants facing deportation – shifts that reflect competing visions of American nationhood and the boundaries of liberal democracy.

    From union leaders to foreign students

    There are some striking parallels between the throttling of civil liberties during the Cold War and President Donald Trump’s crusade against foreign students exercising venerated democratic freedoms.

    Foreign students appear to have replaced the immigrant union leaders of the 1950s as the targets of government repression. Presumptions of guilt based on hyperbolic claims of affiliation with the Communist Party have been replaced by allegations of alignment with Hamas.

    As in the past, these invocations of national security offer the pretext for the government’s efforts to stifle dissent and to mandate political conformity.

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

    – ref. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to pro-Palestinian activists: The evolution of politically motivated deportations – https://theconversation.com/from-the-chinese-exclusion-act-to-pro-palestinian-activists-the-evolution-of-politically-motivated-deportations-254683

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: U.S. imports of major transportation fuels decreased in 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 29, 2025

    U.S. imports of petroleum products decreased by 210,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2024 to average 1.8 million b/d. Imports of all major transportation fuels, such as motor gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, as well as other products, such as unfinished oils, decreased.

    Motor gasoline makes up the largest share of U.S. petroleum product imports because it is the most widely consumed petroleum fuel in the United States. In 2024, the United States imported 651,000 b/d of motor gasoline, about 36% of all petroleum product imports and 75,000 b/d less than in 2023. U.S. gasoline consumption in 2024 was largely unchanged from 2023; inventories fell in 2024 after they had increased in 2023, reflecting the decrease in imports.

    Although the United States imports more gasoline than any other petroleum product, the United States exported 226,000 b/d more gasoline than it imported in 2024. The United States has been a net exporter of gasoline every year since 2016.

    U.S. petroleum product exports primarily originate from the Gulf Coast due to the region’s concentrated refining capacity and proximity to major ports. U.S. Gulf Coast refinery production exceeds regional market demand, resulting in exports by waterborne tankers. Although Gulf Coast refineries have a wide distribution network, infrastructure constraints limit their ability to supply fuels to all parts of the country. Consequently, certain regions rely on imported petroleum products instead of transporting them from the Gulf Coast.

    U.S. gasoline imports came from a variety of countries, but the largest five suppliers were Canada, the Netherlands, India, the United Kingdom, and South Korea. All these countries except Korea are among the top five sources for U.S. gasoline imports over the last 10 years (2014–23). Imports from Canada are the primary source of gasoline for several northeastern states and make up a small share in other markets throughout the country.

    Canada is also the largest source of distillate imports into the United States. The United States imported 144,000 b/d of distillate fuel oil in 2024, 95% of which came from Canada. U.S. imports of distillate primarily come into the East Coast (112,000 b/d, or 78%). In addition to use as a transportation fuel, distillate imports are also the primary source of home heating oil for the U.S. Northeast.

    Jet fuel imports in 2024 totaled 109,000 b/d, down from 127,000 b/d in 2023. Jet fuel imports flowed primarily to the West Coast. South Korea supplied 77,000 b/d, or 71%, of U.S. jet fuel imports last year. The next-largest suppliers were Canada, China, India, and Kuwait.

    Imports of petroleum products other than gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and jet fuel primarily consisted of residual fuel oil for use as a marine bunker fuel and unfinished oils used as feedstock for U.S. refineries to produce other finished products.

    Principal contributor: Kevin Hack

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Flywire and Avanse Financial Services Announce Strategic Partnership to Digitize Student Loan Disbursements from India

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Integrated solution enables Flywire to unlock new payment flows from India to academic destinations worldwide

    Flywire further expands footprint in India, capitalizes on the billions of dollars of payment volume from education loans

    BOSTON and MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Flywire Corporation (Nasdaq: FLYW) (Flywire), a global payments and enablement and software company, today announced its strategic partnership with Avanse Financial Services, India’s second-largest education-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC). The collaboration simplifies the process of disbursing education loan payments for Indian students pursuing education opportunities abroad. The collaboration helps Flywire capitalize on tuition loan disbursements initiated by Avanse in Indian Rupees (INR) and builds on Flywire’s existing banking and loan integrations in India. The solution is available immediately and supports payment flows from India to academic destinations worldwide.

    Through this integration, Flywire streamlines the entire payments experience for students who opt to get educational loans from Avanse. After loan approval, students process payments via Flywire entirely in Indian rupees, with the ability to monitor transactions until funds reach their university. Flywire ensures transparency over all loan disbursements, facilitates efficient refunds, and automates the complex Tax Collected at Source (TCS) calculations—ultimately saving both students and providers valuable time and resources while ensuring adherence to relevant tax guidelines.

    “We’re excited to collaborate with Avanse to enhance the process of student loan disbursements from India,” commented Mina Fakhouri, SVP, APAC & Global Agents at Flywire. “The combination of Avanse’s presence in India and Flywire’s innovative payment technology addresses a crucial market gap for both students and lending institutions. India remains an important market for Flywire, and we’re excited to work together to deliver value to our partners, payers, educational institutions and beyond.”

    Additional benefits of the integration between Flywire and Avanse are expected to include:

    • Competitive foreign exchange conversion rates for students
    • Providing transparent payment tracking for students, schools and financial institutions
    • Enhancing compliance with international banking regulations
    • Managing TCS calculations for payments
    • Simplifying the documentation requirements for both students and institutions

    Rajesh Kachave, Chief Business Officer – Student Lending International Business of Avanse Financial Services, commented: “We believe in providing a holistic education financing experience. This collaboration with Flywire will create compelling and sustaining value for our customers, enabling them to focus entirely on their academics while leaving the financial complexities to us.”

    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 4,500 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.

    About Avanse Financial Services
    Avanse Financial Services Limited is an education-focused non-banking financial company (NBFC) on a mission to provide seamless and affordable education financing for every deserving Indian student. The company offers loans across three key segments:

    Student Loan – International – Customized education financing solutions for Indian students pursuing undergraduate & postgraduate courses overseas
    Education Loans Domestic – Customized financing solutions for Indian students seeking higher education at domestic institutions. It also includes loans for professionals engaging in executive learning programs, as well as financing for both curriculum fees for students enrolled in accredited schools and non-curriculum fees associated with skilling programs, executive education, and test preparation courses, all in India.
    Educational Institution Loans – Collateral-backed financing solutions to private educational institutions, generally K-12 schools, located in peripheral areas of tier I cities and in tier II and beyond cities in India. For more information, please click here.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    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, which is 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

    Flywire

    Media:
    Sarah King
    Media@Flywire.com

    Investor Relations:
    Masha Kahn
    IR@Flywire.com

    Avanse Financial Services
    Koeli Dutta | Lead – Corporate Communication & Content
    Mobile: +91 8879330544
    Email ID: koeli.dutta@avanse.com   

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sewage sampling clarified

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Department of Health’s (DH) Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said today adjusting the number of sampling sites under the Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme does not affect the effectiveness of surveillance.

    Responding to a media report that claimed the current number of sampling sites has been substantially reduced under the programme, the CHP clarified and emphasised that the decision to adjust the number of sampling sites was made to align with the programme’s latest objectives and was based on scientific analysis, with a view to enhancing cost-effectiveness while ensuring that the effectiveness in monitoring the activity level of COVID-19 in Hong Kong would not be compromised.

    It pointed out that with the resumption of normalcy, COVID-19 has been managed as a general respiratory disease and the objective of sewage surveillance has shifted from source tracing to routine surveillance of virus activity in the community.

    The CHP used simulation models to analyse different combinations of sampling sites to optimise the programme while maintaining the effectiveness of the surveillance.

    Results showed that by changing the number of sampling sites from three to 14 per district to one per district located further downstream which covered the largest population, the trend of the sewage viral load data and the relevant clinical surveillance indicators were highly correlated.

    The CHP further explained that the optimised strategy, implemented since April 2024, continues to monitor the activity of COVID-19 effectively, while significantly reducing operating costs by nearly 80%.

    Surveillance results and analyses will be disseminated weekly through “COVID-19 & Flu Express” for public information, it added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: BYDFi Partners with Ledger to Launch Limited Edition Hardware Wallet, Debuts at TOKEN2049 Dubai

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As an official sponsor of TOKEN2049 Dubai, global crypto exchange BYDFi has teamed up with industry-leading hardware wallet provider Ledger to release a limited edition co-branded Ledger Nano X. The exclusive wallets made their debut at the TOKEN2049 event, where attendees had the chance to receive them for free through on-site interactive activities.

    This special edition wallet retains the advanced security features of the original Ledger Nano X, while incorporating custom BYDFi design elements, including visual branding and customized packaging. Symbolizing a deep collaboration on user asset protection and Web3 innovation, the wallet is equipped with a secure element chip, supports the offline storage of a wide range of digital assets, and defends against common forms of cyberattack—offering users an enhanced standard of self-custody.

    Secure by Design: Ledger x BYDFi Hardware Wallet Makes Its Official Launch

    The launch drew large crowds to the BYDFi booth at TOKEN2049, where many attendees successfully received the limited edition wallet by completing live interactions. Designed for secure self-custody, the Ledger x BYDFi wallet gives users full control over their private keys and assets, reducing reliance on centralized platforms and elevating personal asset sovereignty.

    Michael, Co-founder of BYDFi, commented at the event:

    “TOKEN2049 coincides with BYDFi’s fifth anniversary, making this a milestone moment for us. This collaboration with Ledger reflects our continued commitment to asset security. The limited edition wallet is designed especially for high-net-worth individuals who demand institutional-grade protection for their digital assets.”

    Expanding Horizons: BYDFi’s Vision for Global Growth and Market Leadership

    In addition to the co-branded wallet, BYDFi showcased its on-chain trading solution, MoonX, at the event. As a flagship product of BYDFi’s “CEX + DEX” dual-engine strategy, MoonX merges the transparency of on-chain execution with the high-speed performance of centralized systems—delivering an ultra-smooth, seamless trading experience tailored to the rising demands of DeFi users.

    The launch of MoonX not only expands the boundaries of BYDFi’s trading ecosystem, but also promotes greater diversity in trading methods and empowers users with more choice and flexibility.

    Looking ahead, BYDFi will continue to strengthen collaborations with global partners and infrastructure providers, accelerating the deployment of innovative products and further solidifying its global service capabilities.

    About Ledger Nano X

    The Ledger Nano X is a hardware wallet certified by independent security labs. It features a tamper-proof secure element chip that safely stores users’ private keys. Any unauthorized access attempts trigger a self-destruct mechanism, ensuring maximum protection. Additional features include PIN protection, a 24-word recovery phrase, encrypted Bluetooth connectivity, and hidden wallets accessible via separate PINs—delivering comprehensive security for crypto asset holders.
    More info: https://www.ledger.com

    About BYDFi

    Founded in 2020, BYDFi has been recognized by Forbes as one of the world’s top 10 crypto exchanges, officially listed on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko, and holds MSB licenses in multiple jurisdictions. It is also a member of South Korea’s CODE VASP Alliance.

    Today, BYDFi serves users in 190+ countries, with a global user base exceeding 1,000,000. The platform supports spot, perpetual, and on-chain trading, enabling access to over 600 cryptocurrencies and 500,000+ memecoin pairs. BYDFi is committed to delivering a world-class crypto trading experience. BUIDL Your Dream Finance.

    • Website: https://www.bydfi.com
    • Support Email: cs@bydfi.com
    • Business Partnerships: bd@bydfi.com
    • Media Inquiries: media@bydfi.com

    Twitter( X )| LinkedIn| Facebook | Telegram| YouTube

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6a0f58b8-d323-40de-b689-70c3558a6f89
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9a49e6b-ad0d-4464-8213-42e029343cae

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/ITALY – Pope Francis’ “recommendations” to his cousin Ana Rosa Sivori, a missionary nun

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 30 April 2025

    FMA

    by Antonella PrennaRome (Fides Agency) – “I insist that this donation be made available to those most in need,” said Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, cousin of Pope Francis, quoting the Pope himself, who in a conversation with Sister Ana Rosa recommended that a sum of money donated to him and entrusted to the community of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), to which Sister Ana Rosa belongs, be used for the construction of homes for needy families in Bam Pong.The 83-year-old cousin of Pope Francis, who originally comes from Buenos Aires, has been a missionary in Thailand for 60 years. She began her journey in Turin, where she was sent from Argentina to study, then moved on to India, where she spent three years, and finally to Thailand.“I arrived in Rome on the night of April 23 and didn’t manage to pay my last respects to Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica until April 25. I stayed from 9 in the morning until 6 in the evening. I prayed and talked with him in front of his coffin, and I am sure he was listening to me. I was very impressed by the enormous influx of people from all over the world,” reports the nun.“This morning, April 30, I was able to say goodbye to him at his grave in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore,” Sister Ana Rosa continued. ”It made a deep impression on me to stand in front of the white marble, and I was very happy that he is exactly where he always wanted to be. We are a very close family, and although we hadn’t spoken to each other for a long time, we always knew everything about each other. My father was very close to ‘Jorge’, as he continued to call him, and he always knew everything he was doing. We were baptized in the same basilica in Buenos Aires where the Don Bosco sisters work. He celebrated the funerals of my parents, our grandfather, and my sister’s wedding. We knew that he always called his sick sister on Sunday afternoons and that we talked about family matters. I celebrated my 80th birthday with him here in Rome after I had been in Argentina and before I returned to Thailand.“We often spoke with him about missionary work. He wanted to learn about the relationship between priests and Buddhists, who make up the majority of the population in Thailand. We always shared the idea of looking into each other’s faces and seeing what the other person needs. I hope that the cardinals who will meet in the conclave will follow Francis’ line for a Church of the people,” emphasizes the missionary.The FMA are represented in Thailand by eight communities and are active in the field of education. Specifically, they are located in the northwest of the country in the city of Chom Tong, in the northeast in the cities of Phon Sung and Udon Thani, further south in the city of Bam Pong, in San Phran, and finally with two communities in Bangkok.Sister Ana Rosa is currently working in the community in Bam Pong. Due to her age and health, she no longer teaches, but helps where needed and assists with the “chronicles” that the house collects every year from January to December.“There are 80 FMA sisters throughout Thailand,” explains the nun, ”and 17 of us are in Bam Pong. Our community is the first house that the FMA sisters opened in this country in 1933. Our pioneers supported and trained the local sisters and took in the first sisters who had been expelled from China. There are very few Christians in Bam Pong, but we have a very good relationship with the Buddhists, who also attend our schools. Education is of fundamental importance to us, and in order to give as many people as possible a chance, we have the lowest school fees of any school in the country. Our schools are overcrowded; in Bam Pong alone, we have 3,200 students, of whom at most a hundred are Christians. We teach the young girls the charisma of our founder, Mother Mazzarello. The schools in our communities range from nursery to middle school. They are mainly girls’ schools, with the exception of the kindergarten, which is mixed, and another school located outside the city. In this school, we have accepted the request of parents who have several children to accompany them all, so boys and girls can attend school together until the third grade.”“The Catholic community has a strong presence in Bam Pong,” concludes Sister Ana Rosa. ”There is a Capuchin monastery, a hospital run by the Camillian Missionaries, a Salesian Don Bosco school, the parish of St. Joseph, which is very large and run by the Salesians of Don Bosco, and a cemetery right next to our parish.” (Fides Agency 30/4/2025)
    FMA

    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sagtec Global Limited Achieves Strong Fiscal Year 2024 Performance with US$11.6 Million Revenue, Marking 78% Year-over-Year Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customizable software solutions, today announced its audited financial results for the financial year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Financial Results”).

    • Sagtec achieves record high revenue of US$11.6 million, for fiscal year 2024, reflecting a record high 78% Year-over-Year (YoY) growth.
    • Gross profit surged 49% YoY to US$2.8 million, driven by substantial increases in revenue.
    • Revenue contribution from the Speed+ smart ordering and QR ordering system subscriptions nearly doubled to 23% in 2024, reflecting strong market adoption.
    • Software development services also saw steady growth, contributing 10% of total revenue in 2024.
    • The company is now delivering stronger margins as it moves toward a more scalable and sustainable business model.

    “We are proud to have reached this milestone despite ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties. This success is a testament to the resilience of our business model and the unwavering dedication of our team. Our strong financial results underscore the growing demand for our innovative solutions and the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives. With significant growth in both revenue and gross profit, we are well-positioned for continued success. Looking ahead to 2025, we are focused on accelerating our expansion into key regional markets, including Indonesia, Hong Kong, and other Southeast Asian countries. This momentum reinforces our commitment to delivering sustained value to our clients, shareholders, and stakeholders as we continue to scale our presence in the digital economy,” said Kevin Ng Lok, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec.

    FINANCIAL RESULTS

    Revenue was US$11.6 million for fiscal year 2024, representing a surge of 78% YoY from US$6.5 million for fiscal year 2023. The growth in revenue is primarily attributed to strong performance across all core verticals – both services provided and tangible products, driven by the expansion in markets.

    • Sagtec’s revenue from services surged by 122% to US$6.8 million for the fiscal year 2024, compared to US$3.1 million in fiscal year 2023. This increase was primarily driven by strong client retention through subscription renewals and the successful acquisition of new subscribers during the year.
    • The company’s revenue generated from tangible products grew by 50%, reaching US$4.8 million for fiscal year 2024, compared to US$3.2 million in fiscal year 2023. This growth was largely fueled by the increased distribution of food ordering kiosks with screens, in response to shifting market behaviors and significant labor shortages in the F&B industry. Additionally, rising revenue from power bank charging stations highlights the success of Sagtec’s expansion strategy via dealers and resellers.
    • Sagtec’s revenue generated from rentals declined significantly to zero in fiscal year 2024. This strategic shift reflects the company’s decision to move away from the rental service model – which involves a long return on investment – in favor of direct machine sales, with ongoing maintenance supported by third-party operators.
      For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31  
      2024   2023   Change  
      USD   USD   %  
    Revenue from services 6,857,639   3,093,276   122 %
    Revenue from tangible products 4,774,291   3,192,013   50 %
    Revenue from rentals –   146   -100 %
    Others –   264,459   -100 %
    Total Revenue 11,631,930   6,549,894   78 %
                 

    Other income for fiscal year 2024 was zero, showing a significant decrease of 100% compared to US$264 thousand in fiscal year 2023.

    EBITDA stood at US$2.1 million in fiscal year 2024, reflecting a 17.7% margin of revenue, with a significant increase of 60%, compared to US$1.3 million in fiscal year 2023. This growth was primarily driven by higher profits and the reduction of non-essential expenses.

    Net income for the fiscal year 2024 amounted to US$1.6 million, representing a US$0.6 million increase from a net income of US$1.0 million for the fiscal year 2023.

    Cost of Service was US$8.9 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2024 representing an increase of 89% from US$4.7 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2023.

    • Cost of sales from services increased by 140% to US$5.9 million for the fiscal year 2024, compared to US$2.5 million for the fiscal year 2023. The rise is primarily due to the increase of server capacity and proportional maintenance expenses due to the growth in the expanding subscriber base.
    • Expenses for tangible products increased by 37% from US$2.1 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2023, to US$2.9 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2023. The increase is driven by the consistent growth in operational costs.
    • Cost of sales from rentals edged up by 1%, from US$0.73 million in fiscal year 2023 to US$0.74 million in 2024. The slight increase was mainly due to the expansion of rental spaces to support operations and accommodate growing client demand.
      2024   2023   Change  
      USD   USD   %  
    Cost of Sales – Services 5,943,246   2,477,397   140 %
    Cost of Sales – Tangible Products 2,895,333   2,118,865   37 %
    Cost of Sales – Rental 73,695   73,002   1 %
    Total 8,912,274   4,722,794   89 %
                 

    The expenses for the director compensation increased by 26% from US$0.12 million for fiscal year 2023 to US$0.15 million for the fiscal year 2024. The increase was due to the company’s commitment to rewarding management leadership for driving growth and enhancing overall performance.

    Non-controlling interests increased to 16% to US$17 thousand in fiscal year 2024 from US$11 thousand in fiscal year 2023. The increase of non-controlling interests is driven by the increase of other income.

    Operating income increased to US$2.1 million in fiscal year 2024, reflecting an increase of 55% compared to US$1.3 million in fiscal year 2023. This substantial growth was driven by effective and efficient cost management, despite rising operating expenses. It also reflects strong revenue growth from both services (146%) and tangible products (40%).

    As a result of the above, net profit was US$1.6 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2024, compared to US$1.0 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

    Basic and diluted earnings per share was US$0.14 for the financial year ended December 31, 2024, compared to US$0.09 for the financial year ended December 2023, reflecting an increase of US$0.05 or 56%.

    CASH POSITION AND CAPITAL ALLOCATION

    Net cash generated from operating activities was US$1.3 million in fiscal year 2024, a significant increase of 134% from US$0.5 million in fiscal year 2023. This was primarily driven by net profit, adjustments for non-cash expenses, an increase in other receivables and prepayments, and a decrease in trade receivables.

    Net cash used in investing activities amounted to US$1.3 million in fiscal year 2024, representing a slight increase of 4% compared to US$1.2 million in fiscal year 2023. This increase was primarily driven by continued investment in plant and equipment.

    Net cash generated from financing activities declined to US$57 thousand in fiscal year 2024, reflecting a 92% decrease from US$788 thousand in fiscal year 2023. This decrease was primarily due to higher bank loan repayments and increased overdraft charges.

    Cash and cash equivalents stood at US$82 thousand as of December 31, 2024, marking a 254% increase compared to -US$52 thousand as of December 31, 2023. This figure includes cash on hand, bank balances, and cash held in share trading accounts. While the Company’s cash position improved significantly compared to the prior year, we continue to actively monitor and manage our liquidity position to ensure sufficient working capital to support operations and growth initiatives.

    About Sagtec Global Limited

    Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd.

    For more information on the Company, please log on to https://www.sagtec-global.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “continue” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    Contact Information:

    Sagtec Global Limited Contact:
    Ng Chen Lok
    Chairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer
    Telephone +6011-6217 3661
    Email: info@sagtec-global.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: LaPorte Man Found Guilty by Jury

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Ron Deming, 38 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was found guilty today of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.

    Sentencing is scheduled for August 14, 2025. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police and the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.

    The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI and Gary Police Seek Help Locating Missing Gary Teen

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    Ja’Niyah McMichael Would Be 14 Years Old Today

    The FBI and Gary Police Department are asking for the public’s help to locate Ja’Niyah McMichael, a teenager, who has been missing since August 12, 2024. Ja’Niyah was reported missing by her mother from their home in the 1900 block of Malcom X Blvd in Gary, Indiana.

    Investigators believe Ja’Niyah may be the victim of foul play and the search for her remains an active and ongoing investigation.

    At the time of her disappearance, Ja’Niyah was last seen wearing black pajama pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, and red and black shoes. She has known connections to Gary and East Chicago, Indiana.

    Today, Ja’Niyah would be 14 years old.

    In an effort to bring Ja’Niyah home and hold those responsible accountable, there is a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for her disappearance. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 and the City of Gary is also offering a $10,000 reward.

    Anyone with information—no matter how small—is urged to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), Gary or online at tips.fbi.gov.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Banco Santander-Chile Announces First Quarter 2025 Earnings

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTIAGO, Chile, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Banco Santander Chile (NYSE: BSAC; SSE: Bsantander) announced today its results1 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, and first quarter 2025 (1Q25).

    Solid financial performance with a ROAE2of 25.7% in 1Q253, the fourth consecutive quarter with a ROAE of over 20%.

    As of March 31, 2025, the bank’s net income attributable to shareholders totaled $278 billion ($1.47 per share and $0.62 per ADR), representing a 131.0% YoY4 increase and an ROAE of 25.7%, compared to an ROAE of 11.2% in 1Q24. The increase in results is explained by an increase in the bank’s main revenue lines. Operating income increased 33.2% YoY, driven by better net interest and readjustment income.

    Compared to the previous quarter, 4Q24, the bank’s net income attributable to shareholders increased by 0.5%. The UF variation in 1Q25 was slightly lower than in 4Q24, which reduced QoQ5 readjustment gains. This was offset by higher fees and results from financial transactions and improved expense control. This resulted in a ROAE of 25.7% in 1Q25, marking the fourth consecutive quarter with ROAEs above 20%.

    Dividend payment of Ch$3.19 per share with a dividend yield of 5.4%. A solid CET1 ratio6of 10.7%.

    At our Ordinary Shareholders’ Meeting on April 22, 2025, the distribution of 70% of our 2024 earnings, amounting to $857,623 million, was approved. These earnings represent a dividend of $3.18571574 Chilean pesos per share, for a total of $600,336 million.

    Likewise, it was approved that the remaining 30% be partially allocated to increasing the Accumulated Earnings from previous years by the amount necessary to cover the payment of the next three interest coupons on the fixed-term bonds for $29.993 billion and to increase the Bank’s Reserves and Other Retained Earnings by $227.294 billion.

    Our CET1 ratio remains at a solid 10.7% at the end of March 2025, with the overall Basel III ratio reaching 16.9%. The Bank’s capital includes a dividend payment provision of 70% of 2024 earnings and a 60% provision of 2025 earnings to date.

    Strong recovery of NIM7, reaching 4.1% in 1Q25

    Net interest and readjustment income (NII) accumulated as of March 31, 2025, increased 41.7% compared to the same period in 2024. This increase in NII was due to higher net interest income due to the impact of a lower monetary policy rate on our funding cost, which fell from 5.3% to 3.9% in 3M25. The increase is also explained by higher readjustment income, resulting from a greater variation in the UF during the quarter compared to the same quarter last year.

    Compared to 4Q24, net interest and readjustment income decreased slightly due to lower inflation in 1Q25 compared to the previous quarter.

    Given the above, the NIM increased from 2.7% in 1Q24 to 4.2% in 4Q24 to 4.1% in 1Q25.

    Gravity: Migration of our systems to the cloud. Best-in-class efficiency8of 35.0% in 1Q25.

    In 1Q25, the Bank celebrated the major milestone of the Gravity project, the migration from the Mainframe to the Cloud. In January, we transitioned processing to our new Cloud, which resulted in higher technology expenses related to the change and write-downs and impairments related to legacy systems.

    The Bank’s efficiency ratio reached 35.0% as of March 31, 2025, better than the 47.4% of the same period in the previous year. Total operating expenses (which include other expenses) decreased 1.7% in 3M25 compared to 3M24, driven by lower other operating expenses related to the restructuring of our branch network and the transformation to Work/Café.

    The customer base continues to expand, with total customers increasing by 9.4% YoY and digital customers increasing by 6.6% YoY.

    Our strategy of strengthening our digital products has led to continued growth in our customer base, reaching approximately 4.3 million customers, of which nearly 2.3 million are digital customers (88% of our active customers).

    The Bank’s market share in checking accounts remains strong at 22.5% through February 2025, driven by increased customer demand for US dollar checking accounts, as customers can open these types of accounts digitally through our platform in a few easy steps. This also demonstrates the success of Getnet’s strategy to encourage cross-selling of other products such as the Cuenta Pyme Life.

    Net commissions increased by 16.8% in 3M25, reaching recurrence levels9of 61.8%.

    Net commissions increased 16.8% in the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, driven by increased customer numbers and greater product usage. As a result, the recurrence ratio (total net commissions divided by structural support expenses) increased from 57.8% as of March 2024 to 61.8% as of March 2025, demonstrating that more than half of the Bank’s expenses are financed by commissions generated by our customers.

    Banco Santander Chile is one of the companies with the highest risk ratings in Latin America, with an A2 rating from Moody’s, A- from Standard & Poor’s, A+ from the Japan Credit Rating Agency, AA- from HR Ratings, and A from KBRA. All of our ratings have a stable outlook as of the date of this report.

    As of March 31, 2025, the bank had total assets of Ch$67,059,423 million (US$70,284 million), total gross loans (including those owed by banks) at amortized cost of Ch$41,098,666 million (US$43,075 million), total deposits of Ch$30,607,715 million (US$32,080 million), and bank owners’ equity of Ch$4,400,233 million (US$4,612 million). The BIS capital ratio was 16.9%, with a core capital ratio of 10.7%. As of March 31, 2025, Santander Chile employed 8,712 people and had 237 branches throughout Chile.

    CONTACT INFORMATION
    Cristian Vicuña
    Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Investor Relations
    Banco Santander Chile
    Bandera 140, Floor 20
    Santiago, Chile
    Email: irelations@santander.cl Website: www.santander.cl

    1 The information contained in this report is presented in accordance with Chilean Bank GAAP as defined by the Financial Markets Commission (FMC).
    2 Annualized net income attributable to shareholders of the Bank divided by the average equity attributable to equity holders
    3 The first quarter of 2025
    4 Year on year.
    5 Quarter on quarter
    6 Common Equity Tier 1 under Chilean regulation.
    7 NIM: Net interest margin. Net interest income and annualized adjustments divided by interest-earning assets.
    8 Efficiency: operating expenses including impairment and other operating expenses/ financial margin + fees+ financial transactions and net other operating income.
    9 Recurrence: net commissions divided bycore support costs.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Indonesia Energy Files 2024 Annual Report and Provides an Update on Operations and Planned Drilling During the Remainder of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    2024 investments in seismic and other exploration work at Kruh Block set the stage for new drilling in the second half of 2025

    JAKARTA, INDONESIA AND DANVILLE, CA, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Indonesia Energy Corporation (NYSE American: INDO) (“IEC”), an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on Indonesia, today announced that it has filed today its annual report on Form 20-F which contains its financial and operating results for the year ended December 31, 2024.

    Also provided in that report is an update on IEC’s planned drilling activity for the second half of 2025. During 2024, IEC curtailed drilling activity at its Kruh Block asset in lieu of investing in seismic and other exploration work intended to maximum the return on new drilling. That drilling is expected to commence in the second half of 2025, as IEC plans to drill at least one new well this year as part of its multi-year program to drill 18 new wells at Kruh Block.

    Mr. Frank Ingriselli, IEC’s President, commented “We are pleased to have filed our year end 2024 annual report, which shows our investments in Kruh Block as we look to recommence drilling activity this year. We believe our seismic data in hand will make our drilling even more effective and help us maximize the returns from this important asset.”

    More information regarding IEC’s financial and operating results for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, including IEC’s full audited financial statements and footnotes, can be found in IEC’s annual report on Form 20-F which was filed earlier today with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on IEC’s website at: https://ir.indo-energy.com/sec-filings/

    A hard copy of the annual report is also available to be sent free of charge by contacting IEC at the following link: https://indo-energy.com/contact/

    About Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited

    Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited (NYSE American: INDO) is a publicly traded energy company engaged in the acquisition and development of strategic, high growth energy projects in Indonesia. IEC’s principal assets are its Kruh Block (63,000 acres) located onshore on the Island of Sumatra in Indonesia and its Citarum Block (195,000 acres) located onshore on the Island of Java in Indonesia. IEC is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia and has a representative office in Danville, California. For more information on IEC, please visit www.indo-energy.com.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    All statements in this press release, and related statements of Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited (“IEC”) and its representatives and partners that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Acts”). In particular, the words “could,” “estimates,” “believes,” “hopes,” “expects,” “intends,” “on-track”, “plans,” “anticipates,” or “may,” and similar conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Acts and are subject to the safe harbor created by the Acts. Any statements made in this news release other than those of historical fact, about an action, event or development, are forward-looking statements. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, without imitation those related to IEC’s future drilling plans at Kruh Block. While management has based any forward-looking statements contained herein on its current expectations, the information on which such expectations were based may change. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of significant risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are outside of the IEC’s control, that could cause actual results to materially and adversely differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to, those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed on April 29, 2025, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Copies are of such documents are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov and IEC’s website at https://ir.indo-energy.com/sec-filings/. IEC undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

    Company Contact:

    Frank C. Ingriselli
    President, Indonesia Energy Corporation Limited
    Frank.Ingriselli@Indo-Energy.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lending and Deposit Rates of Scheduled Commercial Banks – April 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Data on lending and deposit rates of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) (excluding regional rural banks and small finance banks) received during the month of April 2025 are set out in Tables 1 to 7.

    Highlights:

    Lending Rates:

    • The weighted average lending rate (WALR) on fresh rupee loans of SCBs stood at 9.35 per cent in March 2025 (9.40 per cent in February 2025).

    • The WALR on outstanding rupee loans of SCBs declined to 9.77 per cent in March 2025 from 9.80 per cent in February 2025.1

    • 1-Year median Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate (MCLR) of SCBs remained unchanged at 9.00 per cent in April 2025.

    Deposit Rates:

    • The weighted average domestic term deposit rate (WADTDR) on fresh rupee term deposits of SCBs stood at 6.65 per cent in March 2025 as compared to 6.49 per cent in February 2025.

    • The weighted average domestic term deposit rate (WADTDR) on outstanding rupee term deposits of SCBs was 7.03 per cent in March 2025 (7.02 per cent in February 2025).1

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/223

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin meets with Eswatini king and queen mother, cohosts groundbreaking for strategic oil reserve facility

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin meets with Eswatini king and queen mother, cohosts groundbreaking for strategic oil reserve facility

    • Date：2025-04-24
    • Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 24, 2025  
     No. 116  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy to Taiwan’s African ally Eswatini, met with Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala and had an audience with King Mswati III on the afternoon of April 23. He and King Mswati III jointly presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for a strategic oil reserve facility, broadening bilateral cooperation into a new area.

     

    The king and the queen mother expressed appreciation for President Lai’s appointment of Minister Lin as special envoy for the king’s 57th birthday celebrations. They thanked Taiwan for its long-term assistance in developing Eswatini’s infrastructure, which they said had played an important role in economic growth. The king and the queen mother reaffirmed the robust diplomatic partnership between the two countries and pledged to continue to support Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.

     

    Special Envoy Lin extended birthday wishes to King Mswati III on behalf of President Lai and presented the king with a congratulatory letter from the president as well as special envoy credentials. He also delivered birthday gifts to the king, including cattle in accordance with local customs, high-tech products and delicacies from Taiwan, and a wooden sculpture entitled Infinite Wisdom by Taiwanese artist Kang Mu-xiang. 

     

    In his remarks, Special Envoy Lin thanked King Mswati III for leading a delegation to the inauguration of President Lai in May 2024 to convey support for Taiwan’s new administration. He said that Taiwan, as an important ally of Eswatini, would continue to contribute to the development of key infrastructure projects. He commended the king for fully supporting the launch of the strategic oil reserve facility and noted that it was the largest cooperation project to be undertaken by the two nations since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Special Envoy Lin said the project demonstrated that Taiwan was Eswatini’s steadfast partner, adding that the two countries had always supported each other. He stressed that Taiwan would continue to promote and expand the scope of bilateral exchanges and cooperation to further assist Eswatini in realizing its development goals.

     

    Following their meeting, Special Envoy Lin and King Mswati III jointly presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the strategic oil reserve facility. The milestone in bilateral relations was witnessed by prominent leaders from all sectors of Eswatini society. King Mswati III also hosted a reception for Special Envoy Lin, the delegation, and other guests, demonstrating the high regard of the Eswatini royal family and government for the visitors and the project.

     

    Taiwan and Eswatini established diplomatic relations in 1968. Over the past 57 years, bilateral ties have been stable and cordial. The government of Eswatini has actively and unfailingly supported Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. It is one of Taiwan staunchest allies. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the DPRK Pak Thae-song took part in the ceremony to start construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Construction of a bridge crossing over the Tumannaya River is beginning in Primorsky Krai. The automobile bridge will connect Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Currently, only a railway bridge and air traffic operate between Russia and the DPRK. The automobile bridge will increase cargo traffic and develop passenger transportation.

    The total length of the bridge crossing (with access roads) is 4.7 km. The length of the bridge itself is 1 km. The length of the Russian side is 424 m, the Korean side is 581 m. The width of the bridge is 7 m (two traffic lanes).

    Estimated construction time is one and a half years.

    A vehicle checkpoint will be set up near the bridge crossing.

    Mikhail Mishustin’s speech at the ceremony to mark the start of construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River

    12 hours ago

    Speech by Mikhail Mishustin:

    Dear Comrade Pak Tae-sung! Dear Colleagues! Dear Friends!

    I am pleased to welcome you to a significant event – the ceremony to begin construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River at the junction of the borders of the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

    This is a truly significant stage for Russian-Korean relations. Its significance goes far beyond a simple engineering task. It symbolizes our common desire to strengthen friendly, good-neighborly relations, and to increase interregional cooperation. We are creating a reliable foundation for closer cooperation, a path for open and fruitful dialogue, the rapprochement of our peoples, an increase in the number of trips, meetings, exchange of new impressions, and acquaintance with the history and traditions of Russia and North Korea.

    Last year, Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un signed a fundamental interstate Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This document secured the entry of our relations to a new qualitative level that meets the requirements of the time, and created the necessary conditions for launching mutually beneficial joint projects.

    Of course, the key priority for us is the construction of a bridge crossing, through which year-round automobile traffic will go. Currently, the only operating route is the railway connection along the Druzhby Bridge across the Tumannaya River. But its capabilities are no longer sufficient.

    The future bridge is of particular importance for the Russian Far Eastern Federal District, and above all for Primorsky Krai, where additional opportunities will appear for businesses and local residents. The transport and logistics infrastructure will begin to develop more actively.

    Another route that will be laid here will allow entrepreneurs to significantly increase the volume of transportation and reduce transportation costs, will ensure reliable and stable supplies of various products, which will contribute to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation between our countries. And of course, good prospects will open up for tourism.

    Dear friends!

    Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the DPRK Pak Thae-song took part in the ceremony to start construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River

    April 30, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the DPRK Pak Thae-song took part in the ceremony to start construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River

    April 30, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Mikhail Mishustin and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the DPRK Pak Thae-song took part in the ceremony to start construction of a road bridge across the Tumannaya River

    I cannot help but separately mention everyone who makes a significant contribution to the implementation of this project, who participated in the preparation of the design documentation. These are builders, engineers, workers, specialists of many professions on both sides of the border.

    You have months of intense and difficult work ahead of you. We are counting on your experience, work and initiative, which will allow us to do everything efficiently and on time.

    I am convinced that the new bridge will become a lasting symbol of peace and good-neighborliness between Russia and the DPRK.

    I wish you all success. Thank you for your attention.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Data on India’s Invisibles for Third Quarter (October-December) of 2024-25

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The Reserve Bank today released data on India’s invisibles as per the IMF’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) format for October-December of 2024-25.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/221

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Monthly Data on India’s International Trade in Services for the Month of March 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    The value of exports and imports of services during March 2025 is given in the following table.

    International Trade in Services
    (US$ million)
    Month Receipts (Exports) Payments (Imports)
    January – 2025 34,726
    (12.0)    		 16,706
    (12.6)
    February – 2025 31,625
    (11.6)    		 14,506
    (-4.8)
    March – 2025 35,600
    (18.6)    		 17,475
    (5.3)
    Notes: (i) Data for January-March are provisional; and
    (ii) Figures in parentheses are growth rates over the corresponding month of the previous year which have been revised on the basis of balance of payments statistics.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/222

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Datatec Ltd to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Datatec Ltd (JSE: DTC; OTCQX: DTTLF, DTTLY), an international ICT solutions and services group, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market.

    Datatec Ltd begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbols “DTTLF and DTTLY.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    Admission to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors.  For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

    Datatec management commented:
    “We are delighted to begin trading on the OTC Market’s premier tier, OTCQX. This additional trading venue will allow US investors access to Datatec shares quoted in US dollars and provides a platform to disseminate Datatec’s corporate disclosure to US investors with transparency. The company remains committed to maintaining the best possible disclosure for its shareholders.”

    About Datatec Ltd
    Datatec is a global digital channels group providing Cybersecurity, Networking and Hybrid Cloud infrastructure solutions and services in more than 50 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Through its core divisions, the group offers Value-added Technology Distribution (Westcon International) and Integration and Managed Services (Logicalis International and Logicalis Latin America). Datatec has been listed on the JSE Limited for the past 30 years.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.
    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATSTM are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fitch updates Marex’s outlook to positive due to strong earnings and diversification of franchise

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fitch Ratings (Fitch) yesterday announced that it has revised the outlook of Marex Group plc’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to positive from stable, and has affirmed its Long-Term IDR at ‘BBB-’.

    The revision of the outlook reflects Marex’s strong and growing earnings across variable market conditions, expansion and diversification of the franchise both organically and through bolt-on acquisitions, well-managed liquidity and adequate buffer over regulatory capital requirements.

    Ian Lowitt, CEO of Marex, commented: “Fitch’s upgrade to our outlook to positive from stable reflects the strength and scalability of our diversified global platform as well as our 10-year track record of sequential growth through a range of market environments. At the core of our strategy is Marex’s risk control framework, which keeps pace with our expanding business. We view our investment grade rating as a differentiator, and this is a further validation of our strategy.”

    Click here for the full Fitch press release.

    About Marex:
    Marex Group plc (NASDAQ: MRX) is a diversified global financial services platform providing essential liquidity, market access and infrastructure services to clients across energy, commodities and financial markets. The Group provides comprehensive breadth and depth of coverage across four services: Clearing, Agency and Execution, Market Making and Hedging and Investment Solutions. It has a leading franchise in many major metals, energy and agricultural products, with access to 60 exchanges. The Group provides access to the world’s major commodity markets, covering a broad range of clients that include some of the largest commodity producers, consumers and traders, banks, hedge funds and asset managers. With more than 40 offices worldwide, the Group has over 2,400 employees across Europe, Asia and the Americas. For more information visit www.marex.com.

    Enquiries please contact:
    Marex:
    Nicola Ratchford / Adam Strachan
    +44 778 654 8889 / +1 914 200 2508
    nratchford@marex.com/ astrachan@marex.com

    FTI Consulting US / UK
    +1 919 609 9423 / +44 777 611 1222
    marex@fticonsulting.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: William Morris: new exhibition reveals how Britain’s greatest designer went viral

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Marcus Waithe, Professor of Literature and the Applied Arts, University of Cambridge

    Hadrian Garrard, the curator of Morris Mania – an innovative exhibition now showing at the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, east London – tells the story of being in King’s Cross Station and spotting someone wheeling a shopping trolley covered in a plasticised Morris pattern. It reminded me of the time when a student thanked me for my teaching with a pair of Morris-themed flip-flops.

    Mugs, tea towels, notepads, handbags and all manner of other incongruous objects make up this world of Morris merchandise. Much of it is made in China and remote from the purposes William Morris had in mind. How did this Victorian designer and socialist, known for championing craftsmanship and preferring substance over style, become an icon of consumer culture?

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The exhibition’s tagline – How Britain’s Greatest Designer Went Viral – makes good sense. It’s not just that Morris stages an escape from the Victorian decorative world, but that his art proliferates in uncontrolled ways. The walk from Walthamstow station lays the groundwork in this regard: exhibition posters in shop windows, end-of-terrace murals and even the civic architecture, speak of something leaking from the gallery walls.

    The first display in the exhibition tell the story of how we got here. Morris began spreading thanks to the commissions he received from aristocratic and royal clients. They were drawn to the medieval ethos of his work, and its rejection of industrialism in the arts. An important early contract was for the interiors at St James’s Palace.

    But these establishment associations soon morphed and mutated, first among the English middle classes, who welcomed Morris’s designs into their suburban villas despite his new fondness for revolution, and then more remotely: one photograph shows Morris-patterned walls at St Peterburg’s Winter Palace, taken shortly after the Bolsheviks stormed the building. The socialism as it were, is turned inside out.

    The earliest Morris merchandise was printed for a centenary exhibition at the V&A Museum in 1934. One of its patterned postcards appears in a display case, the souvenir of Morris’s own daughter, May, whose handwriting is on the back. In 1966, Morris’s designs went out of copyright, marking a watershed. Pop Victoriana and Laura Ashley floral dresses depended on it for their reproductive freedoms.

    George Harrison’s “golden lily” jacket, from the Chelsea boutique Granny Takes a Trip, stands out as a poignant example of the ways in which Morris was recut and repurposed for the counterculture.

    Morris’s “rose” pattern proves a particularly intrepid traveller, as the design chosen for the officers’ cushions on HMS Valliant, an early nuclear-powered submarine. Its onboard domesticity blends curiously with the menace of its mission.

    Three turning points prepare us for the newest forms of Morris mania. The V&A’s 1996 exhibition repopularised Morris’s work, and thanks to new digital technology, its merchandise included printed mugs.

    Then, in 2001, the British government instructed public collections to open their doors for free. In search of new income streams, museums turned to selling themed objects through their shops. The rise of China as a manufacturing hub complemented this emphasis – less by revolutionising working conditions and democratising design, as Morris had hoped, than with a flood of cheaply produced goods.

    Beyond this revealing timeline, what really impresses is the exhibition’s care in preserving distinctions. It’s particularly careful to show that going viral need not mean selling out. From Nanjing – a major centre of Chinese manufacturing – comes a poster for the 2023 exhibition Beyond William Morris at the Nanjing Museum. It attracted over a million visitors, reminding us that behind the merchandise are new wells of love and respect.

    Something similar applies at the level of making. For every sweatshop Hello Kitty, the same character appears in a beautifully crafted yukata (a casual kimono) in Liberty fabrics made in Japan.

    A Brompton Bike hangs from the wall – manufactured in London, and sporting a handsome “willow bough” livery. Likewise, a neon “strawberry thief” motif, made at Walthamstow’s God’s Own Junk Yard, rekindles the embers of local production. This emphasis extends to the exhibition’s own making. A film documents the weaving of the Axminster carpet that furnishes the main room. Even the labels were dyed by hand with weld, a natural pigment whose use Morris revived.

    In these ways, the exhibition champions ethical and bespoke production, while confronting the darker currents that move objects around our world. It also stays curious enough to push further by exploring the kitsch new frontier of “Morris” patterns generated by AI, or by populating a Victorian dresser with “crowdsourced” Morris bric-a-brac.

    There might have been more space to consider why the surface effects of pattern travel so readily, and to quote Morris’s writings on the subject. But much of that is implicit and there for audiences to follow up.

    Morris Mania excels by nurturing the joy behind all this promiscuous growth. Most pleasingly, that trolley from King’s Cross makes a reappearance, dressed here in an AI-adapted “strawberry thief”, courtesy of Sholley Trolleys, Clacton-on-Sea. Just like Morris himself, it was made in Essex.

    Morris Mania: How Britain’s Greatest Designer Went Viral is at the William Morris Gallery until September 21 2025.

    Marcus Waithe 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. William Morris: new exhibition reveals how Britain’s greatest designer went viral – https://theconversation.com/william-morris-new-exhibition-reveals-how-britains-greatest-designer-went-viral-254761

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Azerbaijan

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Azerbaijan

    • Date：2025-04-24
    • Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 24, 2025  

      

    Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited China from April 22 to 24. Following a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on April 23, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Among other spurious content, the statement falsely claimed that Taiwan was an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns the Chinese government for continuing to issue preposterous pronouncements that aim to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty on the international stage. It also expresses deep regret at the Azerbaijani government’s submission to, and compliance with, authoritarian China. 

    MOFA reaffirms that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent, sovereign country and that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the Chinese Communist Party-governed People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. No statement intended to distort Taiwan’s sovereign status or undermine international peace and stability can alter the internationally recognized status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

    MOFA calls on the international community to recognize China’s authoritarian nature, as well as its efforts to deceitfully frame the issue of Taiwan as being a domestic matter and block international support for Taiwan. It also urges the international community to continue to respond with concrete action and clearly oppose China’s malicious attempts to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait so as to help jointly maintain peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin concludes successful visit to Eswatini, elevating bilateral relations to new heights

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin concludes successful visit to Eswatini, elevating bilateral relations to new heights

    • Date：2025-04-27
    • Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 27, 2025  

    No. 122  

    On April 26, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as a special presidential envoy, successfully completed a five-day visit to Eswatini and returned to Taiwan.

    On the final day of the trip, Special Envoy Lin announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would cooperate with Big Game Parks, an Eswatini wildlife conservation organization, and contribute one million emalangeni to assist the protection of rhinoceros habitat. The donation was witnessed by Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane. In a gesture symbolizing the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, Special Envoy Lin named a newborn baby rhino in the national park Formosa. The announcement represented a further expansion of the scope of bilateral collaboration into the sphere of preserving ecological diversity.

    In his remarks, Special Envoy Lin thanked Big Game Parks for its contributions to conservation. He said that Taiwan attached great importance to biodiversity and understood that every species played an indispensable role in human survival. Special Envoy Lin explained that as well as prioritizing conservation work, the government of Taiwan had also enacted the Wildlife Conservation Act and incorporated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora into national law. He added that Taiwan had worked hard to protect plants and animals at home and abroad to stop illegal exploitation of natural resources. Looking ahead, Special Envoy Lin said he hoped Taiwan and Eswatini would continue to jointly engage in related efforts.

    Acting on behalf of President Lai Ching-te, Special Envoy Lin led a large delegation including industry representatives to Eswatini from April 21 to 26 to join celebrations for the 57th birthday of King Mswati III. The visit demonstrated Taiwan’s high regard for Eswatini and further deepened the cordial relations and constructive cooperation between the two countries. 

    During the trip, Special Envoy Lin had audiences with the king and queen mother of Eswatini and met with other senior officials including the prime minister and foreign minister. He discussed bilateral cooperation plans and signed memorandums and joint statements that covered areas such as providing medical care, building 5G infrastructure, countering disinformation, and conserving wildlife. Special Envoy Lin also visited the referral and emergency complex and operating theater of Mbabane Government Hospital, which were built with assistance from Taiwan, as well as a factory that receives investment from local Taiwanese businesspeople.

    The successful trip further strengthened Taiwan-Eswatini diplomatic ties, broadened cooperation between the two nations, demonstrated Taiwan’s active contributions to the international community, and laid even more solid foundations for the countries to progress toward common prosperity. (E)

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA demands Somali government immediately revoke notification to airline operators not to accept Taiwan passport for travel to Somalia

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA demands Somali government immediately revoke notification to airline operators not to accept Taiwan passport for travel to Somalia

    • Date：2025-04-29
    • Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 29, 2025  

    No. 128  

    The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) on April 22 issued a notification to all airline operators and stakeholders that, starting from April 30, passports and related travel documents issued by Taiwan and its subordinate authorities could no longer be used to enter, exit, or transit through Somalia. The SCAA stated that the Somali government’s decision was made in line with the “one China principle” based on United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758. 

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly protests Somalia’s imposition of restrictions on Taiwan nationals’ freedom and safety of travel at China’s instigation. It demands that the government of Somalia immediately revoke this notification. MOFA also solemnly refutes and strongly condemns the Somali government’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758, conflation of the resolution with the so-called “one China principle,” and propagation of the falsehood that Taiwan is subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.

    MOFA and the Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland as well as the government of Somaliland have jointly requested that like-minded nations and international organizations take concrete steps to press for the abjuration of this wrongful action. To ensure Taiwan nationals’ travel safety and convenience, MOFA reminds them not to travel to either Somalia or Somaliland until the Somali government revokes the notification.

    Since declaring independence in 1991, Somaliland has held four presidential elections. It enjoys political stability and a deepening democracy. Somaliland and Taiwan are like-minded countries that uphold freedom and democracy. The Somali government controls Somaliland’s airspace, and its crass efforts to halt interactions between peoples of democratic nations have a deleterious effect on the situation in the Horn of Africa. MOFA will provide timely updates should there be subsequent developments. (E) 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA sincerely thanks United States for condemning China’s misuse of UNGA Resolution 2758 for first time at UN Security Council

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA sincerely thanks United States for condemning China’s misuse of UNGA Resolution 2758 for first time at UN Security Council

    Date：2025-04-24
    Data Source：Department of International Organizations

    April 24, 2025 
    No. 117 

    At a United Nations Security Council meeting on April 23, the United States severely condemned China for misusing UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 in its attempts to isolate Taiwan, mischaracterize other countries’ policies, and constrain their choices. The United States also reiterated that the resolution did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other multilateral fora. This is the second time that the current US administration has spoken up for Taiwan at the United Nations, following its public statement rejecting China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758 at a meeting of the World Health Organization Executive Board in February. This is also the first time that the United States has clearly expressed its position on the resolution at the UN Security Council, which is of great significance.
     
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung thanks the Trump administration for staunchly supporting Taiwan’s efforts to participate in the international arena and for denouncing China’s relentless attempts to suppress Taiwan’s sovereign status and international participation by maliciously distorting UNGA Resolution 2758. The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country, and neither Taiwan nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. This is the objective reality across the Taiwan Strait and an internationally recognized fact. UNGA Resolution 2758 makes absolutely no mention of Taiwan, nor does it state that Taiwan is part of the PRC. Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent its 23 million people in the United Nations system and other international organizations. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Azerbaijan

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between PRC and Azerbaijan

    Date：2025-04-24
    Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 24, 2025  
      
    Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited China from April 22 to 24. Following a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on April 23, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Among other spurious content, the statement falsely claimed that Taiwan was an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly condemns the Chinese government for continuing to issue preposterous pronouncements that aim to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty on the international stage. It also expresses deep regret at the Azerbaijani government’s submission to, and compliance with, authoritarian China. 

    MOFA reaffirms that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent, sovereign country and that neither the ROC (Taiwan) nor the Chinese Communist Party-governed People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other. No statement intended to distort Taiwan’s sovereign status or undermine international peace and stability can alter the internationally recognized status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

    MOFA calls on the international community to recognize China’s authoritarian nature, as well as its efforts to deceitfully frame the issue of Taiwan as being a domestic matter and block international support for Taiwan. It also urges the international community to continue to respond with concrete action and clearly oppose China’s malicious attempts to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait so as to help jointly maintain peace, stability, and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin concludes successful visit to Eswatini, elevating bilateral relations to new heights

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin concludes successful visit to Eswatini, elevating bilateral relations to new heights

    Date：2025-04-27
    Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 27, 2025  
    No. 122  

    On April 26, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as a special presidential envoy, successfully completed a five-day visit to Eswatini and returned to Taiwan.

    On the final day of the trip, Special Envoy Lin announced that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would cooperate with Big Game Parks, an Eswatini wildlife conservation organization, and contribute one million emalangeni to assist the protection of rhinoceros habitat. The donation was witnessed by Eswatini Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu and Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Jane Mkhonta-Simelane. In a gesture symbolizing the friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, Special Envoy Lin named a newborn baby rhino in the national park Formosa. The announcement represented a further expansion of the scope of bilateral collaboration into the sphere of preserving ecological diversity.

    In his remarks, Special Envoy Lin thanked Big Game Parks for its contributions to conservation. He said that Taiwan attached great importance to biodiversity and understood that every species played an indispensable role in human survival. Special Envoy Lin explained that as well as prioritizing conservation work, the government of Taiwan had also enacted the Wildlife Conservation Act and incorporated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora into national law. He added that Taiwan had worked hard to protect plants and animals at home and abroad to stop illegal exploitation of natural resources. Looking ahead, Special Envoy Lin said he hoped Taiwan and Eswatini would continue to jointly engage in related efforts.

    Acting on behalf of President Lai Ching-te, Special Envoy Lin led a large delegation including industry representatives to Eswatini from April 21 to 26 to join celebrations for the 57th birthday of King Mswati III. The visit demonstrated Taiwan’s high regard for Eswatini and further deepened the cordial relations and constructive cooperation between the two countries. 

    During the trip, Special Envoy Lin had audiences with the king and queen mother of Eswatini and met with other senior officials including the prime minister and foreign minister. He discussed bilateral cooperation plans and signed memorandums and joint statements that covered areas such as providing medical care, building 5G infrastructure, countering disinformation, and conserving wildlife. Special Envoy Lin also visited the referral and emergency complex and operating theater of Mbabane Government Hospital, which were built with assistance from Taiwan, as well as a factory that receives investment from local Taiwanese businesspeople.

    The successful trip further strengthened Taiwan-Eswatini diplomatic ties, broadened cooperation between the two nations, demonstrated Taiwan’s active contributions to the international community, and laid even more solid foundations for the countries to progress toward common prosperity. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA demands Somali government immediately revoke notification to airline operators not to accept Taiwan passport for travel to Somalia

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA demands Somali government immediately revoke notification to airline operators not to accept Taiwan passport for travel to Somalia

    Date：2025-04-29
    Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    April 29, 2025  
    No. 128  
    The Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) on April 22 issued a notification to all airline operators and stakeholders that, starting from April 30, passports and related travel documents issued by Taiwan and its subordinate authorities could no longer be used to enter, exit, or transit through Somalia. The SCAA stated that the Somali government’s decision was made in line with the “one China principle” based on United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758. 

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strongly protests Somalia’s imposition of restrictions on Taiwan nationals’ freedom and safety of travel at China’s instigation. It demands that the government of Somalia immediately revoke this notification. MOFA also solemnly refutes and strongly condemns the Somali government’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758, conflation of the resolution with the so-called “one China principle,” and propagation of the falsehood that Taiwan is subordinate to the People’s Republic of China.

    MOFA and the Taiwan Representative Office in the Republic of Somaliland as well as the government of Somaliland have jointly requested that like-minded nations and international organizations take concrete steps to press for the abjuration of this wrongful action. To ensure Taiwan nationals’ travel safety and convenience, MOFA reminds them not to travel to either Somalia or Somaliland until the Somali government revokes the notification.

    Since declaring independence in 1991, Somaliland has held four presidential elections. It enjoys political stability and a deepening democracy. Somaliland and Taiwan are like-minded countries that uphold freedom and democracy. The Somali government controls Somaliland’s airspace, and its crass efforts to halt interactions between peoples of democratic nations have a deleterious effect on the situation in the Horn of Africa. MOFA will provide timely updates should there be subsequent developments. (E) 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to Czech Senate adopting resolution on China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to Czech Senate adopting resolution on China’s misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758

    Date：2025-04-30
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    April 30, 2025 

    The Czech Senate on April 29 adopted a resolution on the misrepresentation of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 by the People’s Republic of China and support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. In the resolution, the Czech Senate opposed China’s mischaracterization of UNGA Resolution 2758, emphasizing that it did not substantiate the “one China principle,” and rejected China’s related claim that Taiwan was part of China. The resolution also reiterated its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the resolution and expresses its sincere appreciation.
     
    The resolution stated that when UNGA Resolution 2758 was adopted on October 25, 1971, it made no mention of Taiwan, the Taiwanese people, or Taiwan’s political status; did not establish PRC sovereignty over Taiwan; and did not discuss Taiwan’s status or participation in UN agencies. Moreover, the resolution pointed out that China’s deliberate distortion of UN resolutions endangered the legitimacy of the United Nations and infringed on the basic principles of international law. It called on China to respect the content of UNGA 2758 and stop misusing it for its own political ends.
     
    In addition, the resolution supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in multilateral organizations and fora such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and the International Criminal Police Organization. It urged the Czech government to address China’s misrepresentation and misuse of UNGA Resolution 2758 in the UN system and support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations and other international organizations.
     
    The Czech Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee adopted a resolution on December 12, 2024, opposing China’s improper linking of UNGA Resolution 2758 with the “one China principle.” The new Czech Senate resolution therefore once again demonstrates the Czech Parliament’s staunch backing of Taiwan and underscores the close and cordial relations between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
     
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung expresses sincere gratitude to the Czech Senate for supporting Taiwan through concrete action and calls on the international community to likewise counter China’s false narratives regarding UNGA Resolution 2758. Taiwan will continue to work hand in hand with like-minded partners worldwide to resist the efforts of authoritarian regimes seeking to undermine the international order and to jointly safeguard the core values shared by the global democratic community.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: During visit to Eswatini, Foreign Minister Lin meets with Prime Minister Dlamini and announces additional funding for women’s microfinance revolving fund

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    April 24, 2025
    No. 115

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung is currently visiting Eswatini as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy. He continues to carry out important engagements in Taiwan’s African ally. 
     
    On the morning of April 23, the second day of his visit, Special Envoy Lin called on Prime Minister Russell Dlamini to thank him for his friendship with Taiwan. Prime Minister Dlamini, who assumed office in November 2023, led a delegation to Taiwan in March 2024. In the same year, he spoke up for Taiwan on behalf of the government of Eswatini at major international events, including the United Nations General Assembly and the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, demonstrating staunch support for the diplomatic alliance between the two countries.
     
    Prime Minister Dlamini warmly welcomed Special Envoy Lin to Eswatini and thanked Taiwan for its long-standing support. He reaffirmed that relations with Taiwan were rock-solid and emphasized that Eswatini, as a sovereign nation, had the right to choose its own friends without being influenced by other countries. He underlined that Eswatini was firmly committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with Taiwan.
     
    Also on the morning of April 23, Special Envoy Lin joined Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Pholile Shakantu; Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo; and other high-level officials at an event to showcase the results of a microfinance revolving fund implemented by Taiwan and Eswatini to help women start businesses.
     
    In his remarks, Special Envoy Lin stated that Taiwan had announced an investment of US$1 million to establish the revolving fund in September 2023. He said the program provided start-up loans for women in rural areas, increased household incomes, and contributed to the economic and social development of Eswatini. In the past year or more since the fund was launched, over 500 loans had been approved, leading to changes in people’s lives and helping women achieve economic independence, he added. Highlighting a touching result of the initiative, Special Envoy Lin noted that one beneficiary had named her newborn baby Taiwan to thank Taiwan for its assistance. He further announced that the Taiwan government would inject an additional US$500,000 into the fund to further expand the virtuous cycle.  Special Envoy Lin said this underscored Taiwan’s strong commitment to economic empowerment in Eswatini.
     
    Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Dladla recalled her 2019 visit to Taiwan as foreign minister, during which she presented a proposal to the Taiwan government for the revolving fund on behalf of Queen Mother Ntombi Tfwala. She said that in 2020 the Technical Mission of the International Cooperation and Development Fund in Eswatini had introduced the Women’s Microenterprise Mentoring and Capacity Building Project, under which more than 6,000 women had received entrepreneurship skills training. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla said this was followed by a bilateral cooperation agreement to launch the fund, signed at a ceremony witnessed by the heads of state of both nations in September 2023. She praised the results that the program had achieved since it was launched just over a year ago in effectively giving women in rural areas of Eswatini an avenue to finance their start-up plans.
     
    Around 100 beneficiaries of the fund attended the event. Participants sang classic Taiwanese songs such as “Fight to Win,” creating a warm and lively atmosphere. Special Envoy Lin presented a stuffed leopard cat to the child named Taiwan, highlighting the profound friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini.
     
    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with the government of Eswatini to enhance the well-being of the peoples of both countries and further deepen bilateral relations. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –