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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Vancouver, Senator Murray Meets with Local Businesses, ILWU, Port of Kalama to Discuss How Trump’s Chaotic Trade War is Hurting Washington State

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: In Tacoma, Senator Murray Meets with Local Businesses, Port Commissioners to Discuss How Trump’s Chaotic Trade War is Hurting Washington State
    ICYMI: In Senate Floor Speech, Senator Murray Hammers Trump and Republicans on Chaotic, Painful Trade War and Steep Tariffs Raising Costs on Families and Small Businesses in WA
    ***PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***
    Vancouver, WA— Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion in Vancouver highlighting how local businesses, ports, and the overall economy in Washington state is suffering from President Trump’s senseless and chaotic trade war. Senator Murray was joined for the discussion by John Rudi, CEO of Thompson Metal Fab in Vancouver; Miriam Halliday, CEO of Workforce Southwest Washington; Jared Moultrie, Vice President of the International Longshore & Warehouse Workers’ Union (ILWU) Local 4 in Vancouver; Augusto Bassanini, CEO of United Grain; and Mark Wilson, Executive Director of the Port of Kalama.
    On April 2nd, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on nearly every country, including a 10 percent baseline tariff on all imported goods, and country-specific so-called reciprocal tariffs. Just hours after the reciprocal tariff rates took effect last Wednesday, Trump abruptly changed his mind and put a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs. But Trump is still taxing goods from every country, across the board, at 10 percent at least, and he is escalating his trade war with China, with 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods—which is already leading to higher prices and serious pain for families and small business across Washington state. Senator Murray has always been vocal about the need to out-compete China, but warned that waging an all-out trade war with China on a whim will cause serious economic pain for consumers and small businesses across the country.
    Even with his “pause,” Trump’s new tariff rates are still the highest in decades, and are estimated to cost American families more than $4,000 per year—the largest tax increase since 1968.
    “Trump’s tariffs are a tax—a tax that will hit hardworking Americans the most. Families will be paying higher prices, small businesses will have to lay off workers, and Washington’s ports will be gutted as trade drops. That’s a lot of jobs on the line in our ports like Kalama and Vancouver along the Columbia River,” said Senator Murray. “Congress has the power to step in and put a stop to these senseless tariffs, we can bring back certainty to protect American businesses and the economy.”
    “Businesses can’t function when they are waiting to see if Trump will change his mind again about what countries will have tariffs, and at what rate, as if this should be something decided on a whim,” Senator Murray continued. “Every morning small business owners, port longshoremen, warehouse workers, and families wake up wondering if today will be the day they have to close up shop or will lose their job. Congress needs to step up and put an end to these tariffs—but we need Republicans to join us in order to do that. I will keep shining a light on the consequences of Trump’s painful trade war will bring and amplifying the voices and concerns of people in Washington state.”
    Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs tied to international commerce. Washington state is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will struggle to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs.
    Canada is Washington’s largest overall trading partner, accounting for nearly $20 billion in imports and $10 billion in exports. China is the world’s second-largest economy and Washington state exported over $12 billion in goods to China last year—making China Washington state’s top export partner—and imported $11.2 billion in goods, the second-most in imports from any country aside from Canada. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—for example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.
    “Tariffs simply add cost to major infrastructure projects, and there are very few ways the additional cost impacts of tariffs can be reduced or mitigated,” said John Rudi, CEO of Thompson Metal Fab, a veteran-owned, Vancouver-based metal fabrication company that makes products for the gas and oil industries, and is entering new markets creating products for nuclear, high-tech, and renewable energies. “There are serious concerns about the impact of tariffs on projects that have already been contracted or bid—and an even larger concern than the direct financial impact of tariffs is the uncertainty it creates. Uncertainly only delays, and possibly freezes, major industrial projects. When work is delayed, highly-skilled workers are lost, resulting in long-term impacts to industrial capacity. And once industrial demand stabilizes and returns to normal, the surge in business can result in inflationary costs due to increased competition for workers and resources… Senator Murray has been a strong and consistent advocate for job creation and infrastructure projects in our region and we are pleased to have her visit today to discuss how businesses and the local workforce are impacted by tariffs.”
    “The continued volatility in international tariff strategies is creating significant challenges for workforce development across industries in Southwest Washington,” said Miriam Halliday, CEO of Workforce Southwest, the Local Workforce Development Board designated as the policy, planning and oversight body for the public workforce system in Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum counties. “Companies are increasingly hesitant to expand or invest in talent due to rising costs and economic uncertainty. For instance, a mid-sized IT Managed Service Provider located in Vancouver WA is facing a 15% increase in order costs, making it difficult to forecast budgets and commit to workforce growth. Similarly, a mid-sized die casting manufacturer located in Vancouver WA has paused its expansion this quarter—not due to lack of demand, but because financial institutions are withholding loans for new equipment out of recession fears. As a result, plans to hire and upskill workers have been deferred, highlighting how external economic pressures are directly stalling local and regional workforce development.”
    “Our ports face significant challenges and uncertainties in light of potential trade wars,” said Jared Moultrie, Vice President of the International Longshore & Warehouse Workers’ Union (ILWU) Local 4 in Vancouver, representing dock workers in the region. “In 2024, the Port of Vancouver supported nearly 20,000 jobs and generated $2.9 billion in regional economic benefits. United Grain Corporation, Longshoremen, Railroad workers, Tugboat crews, Truck operators, and Farmers from the American West and Midwest facilitated the movement of 5.9 million metric tons of agricultural commodities through the Port of Vancouver. The retaliatory tariffs imposed by China have the potential to significantly reduce employment opportunities for these men and women and diminish the economic benefits within our regionThe Port of Vancouver operates as a breakbulk port, and proposed tariffs would heavily impact everything we handle. Steel is projected to experience an estimated 30 percent decrease, having never recovered from the previous set of tariffs. Currently, we service two aluminum ships per month and conduct weekly aluminum loadouts onto trucks or railcars. The aluminum sector would be seriously jeopardized if tariffs were to deepen. As the number one importer of Subaru vehicles, we are already anticipating around a 20 percent decrease in cars arriving at our dock.”
    “At Local 4, our workers are concerned about job security due to the proposed tariffs. We are already contending with rising car payments, mortgage payments, and costs of goods and services. We worry about whether we will be able to afford our children’s tuition, take planned vacations, make substantial purchases, or even dine out. The trickle-down effect on regional companies, truck drivers, farmers, small businesses, and everyone in between could be devastating,” Moultrie continued. “We extend our gratitude to Senator Murray for her dedication and continued commitment to supporting the ILWU and our ports, working-class individuals, our region, our state, and the United States of America.”
    “We greatly appreciate Senator Murray’s engagement and efforts to understand how the proposed tariffs are impacting American grain exports,” said Augusto Bassanini, CEO of United Grain Corporation, which sources grain and oilseeds from more than 2,000 suppliers in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains. “To help the 2,000 American farmers we work with remain competitive in the global market, we need certainty to navigate a global marketplace so we can continue to create jobs, domestic economic development opportunities and feed the world.” 
    Senator Murray has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s chaotic trade war and has been lifting up the voices of people in Washington state harmed by this administration’s approach to trade. Senator Murray continues to call on Republicans to end Trump’s trade war—which Congress has the power to do—and take back Congress’ Constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs. Earlier this month, Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state who highlighted how Trump’s ongoing trade war is already a devastating hit to Washington state’s economy, businesses, and our agriculture sector. Senator Murray also took to the Senate floor to lay out how Trump’s chaotic trade war is seriously threatening our economy, American businesses, families’ retirement savings, and so much else. Earlier this week, Senator Murray joined her colleagues in pressing U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration’s tariffs are affecting farmers across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Murray Visits Downtown Vancouver, Highlights Importance of Federal Investment Amid Local Concerns Over Trump Funding Freezes, Tariff Chaos

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: In Vancouver, Senator Murray Meets with Local Businesses, ILWU, Port Commissioner to Discuss How Trump’s Chaotic Trade War is Hurting Washington State
    ***PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***
    Vancouver, WA— Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured businesses in downtown Vancouver, as part of the Main Street Promise project, to see how federal investment has supported their growth and how Trump’s chaotic trade war and federal funding freezes are harming the local economy. Senator Murray was joined for the tour by Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle; Michael Walker, Executive Director of the Vancouver Downtown Association; Chris Harder, Deputy Economic Development Director for the City of Vancouver; Julie Arenz, Small Business Connector and Advocate for the City of Vancouver; Ryan Hart, Chair of Visit Vancouver and Chief External Affairs Officer for the Port of Vancouver; Kelsey Jennings, Owner of Ronald Records in downtown Vancouver; and Crystal Lary, Owner of Eryngium Papeterie in downtown Vancouver.
    During the visit, Senator Murray heard from business owners and leaders at the City of Vancouver about how federal investment in Vancouver has helped lay the groundwork for thriving small businesses and spurred other construction and renovation projects in the downtown core. The City of Vancouver has been working on a 20-year revitalization effort that Senator Murray helped kickstart by securing initial federal funding for the Waterfront Redevelopment Project in 2009. The Main Street Promise Project is one of the last phases of the revitalization effort and was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act Senator Murray played a leading role in crafting as then-Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The major reconstruction project on Main Street broke ground in December 2024—with original planning work done in 1993 with the goal of improving the heart of Vancouver. The Main Street Promise Project will reconstruct Main Street to provide a safe, accessible, and connected transportation system to support existing small businesses along Main Street and attract more visitors to Downtown Vancouver.
    Senator Murray also heard from small business owners and local leaders about how the Trump administration’s illegal withholding of federal funding owed to communities across the country and his reckless trade war is leading to serious uncertainty for businesses, consumers, and communities across Southwest Washington. Trump is currently taxing goods from every country—including close allies like Canada—at a minimum 10 percent tariff rate across-the-board, and he has significantly escalated his trade war with China, with 145 percent tariffs on Chinese goods—meaning higher prices and serious pain for families and small businesses across the country. Even with his 90-day “pause” on reciprocal tariffs, Trump’s new tariffs are still the highest tariff rates in decades, and are estimated to cost American families more than $4,000 per year—the largest tax increase since 1968.
    “It’s wonderful to see how the federal investment I’ve fought to bring to Southwest Washington over the years has helped downtown Vancouver thrive—with so many great small businesses and new infrastructure and renovation projects that are making the heart of Vancouver a destination for shopping, eating, nightlife, and more,” said Senator Murray. “Trump is putting all the progress our communities have made at risk by illegally canceling and holding up federal funding our communities are owed, and he is putting businesses in constant turmoil with his pointless and destructive trade war. I will continue to sound the alarm on the consequences Trump’s illegal funding freezes and his ham-fisted trade war will have for American families, and I will always lift up the voices and concerns of people in Washington state.”
    “The transformation of Vancouver’s downtown into a regional and national destination is years in the making,” said Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. “The current reconstruction of Main Street into a pedestrian-centered and vibrant commercial corridor represents downtown Vancouver’s most recent evolution. Over the past 20+ years, Senator Murray has been one of Vancouver’s biggest champions, helping to steer critical federal funds, such as American Rescue Plan Act dollars, to our community to help fund placemaking and infrastructure investments. The City of Vancouver would like to thank Senator Murray for her leadership and we are grateful for her willingness to partner on important local projects like Main Street Promise.”    
    “The Main Street Promise is a realization of a vision that’s been decades in the making. This is the third time our community has tried to bring this project to life, and now—thanks to Senator Patty Murray and the American Rescue Plan—we finally have what we need to get it done,” said Michael Walker, Executive Director of Vancouver’s Downtown Association. “This is the largest investment in Main Street in 116 years, and it’s going to reshape the heart of our downtown into a safer, more connected, and more accessible place for everyone. This project is about building a strong foundation for the future of our downtown—leaving something great for the next generation and beyond. Senator Patty Murray’s steadfast advocacy on behalf of Vancouver has helped us achieve real outcomes in the heart of our community—improving quality of life, supporting local businesses, and strengthening our downtown economy for the long term.”
    “In addition, thanks to the unique opportunity provided by ARPA dollars, we’re able to go beyond traditional infrastructure work,” Walker continued. “We have staff on the ground every day and thoughtful mitigation efforts in place—like block-by-block construction—to help minimize disruption. Businesses are staying open, sidewalks remain accessible, and we’ve built a strong network of peer support to help keep our business community resilient and thriving throughout the process. For a project of this scale, we’re doing everything we can to make sure it’s as smooth and supportive as possible.
    Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs tied to international commerce. Washington state is the top U.S. producer of apples, blueberries, hops, pears, spearmint oil, and sweet cherries—all of which risk losing vital export markets due to retaliatory tariffs from key trading partners including Canada. Additionally, more than 12,000 small and medium-sized companies in Washington state export goods and will be unlikely to be able to absorb the impact of retaliatory tariffs. Canada is Washington’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly $20 billion in imports and $10 billion in exports. China is the world’s second-largest economy and Washington state exported over $12 billion in goods to China last year—making China Washington state’s top export partner—and imported $11.2 billion in goods, the most in imports from any country aside from Canada. Trump’s tariffs during his first term were extremely costly for Washington state—for example, India imposed a 20 percent retaliatory tariff on U.S. apples, causing Washington apple shipments to India to fall by 99 percent and growers to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.
    Senator Murray has been a vocal opponent of Trump’s chaotic trade war and has been lifting up the voices of people in Washington state harmed by this administration’s approach to trade and calling on Republicans to end Trump’s trade war—which Congress has the power to do—and take back Congress’ Constitutionally-granted power to impose tariffs. Earlier this month, Senator Murray brought together leaders across Washington state who highlighted how Trump’s ongoing trade war is already a devastating hit to Washington state’s economy, businesses, and our agriculture sector. Senator Murray also took to the Senate floor to lay out how Trump’s chaotic trade war is seriously threatening our economy, American businesses, families’ retirement savings, and so much else. Earlier this week, Senator Murray joined her colleagues in pressing U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on how the Trump administration’s tariffs are affecting farmers across the country.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China extends anti-dumping duties on Japanese electrolytic capacitor paper

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s Ministry of Commerce announced Thursday that it would extend anti-dumping duties on imported paper for electrolytic capacitors from Japan for another five years, starting Friday.

    This decision follows a sunset review initiated in April 2024 at the request of China’s electrolytic capacitor paper industry.

    If these anti-dumping measures were terminated, the dumping of imported electrolytic capacitor paper from Japan could continue or recur, potentially causing ongoing or renewed harm to China’s domestic industry, the ministry said.

    Under the extended measures, Japanese companies will continue to face an anti-dumping duty of up to 40.83 percent.

    Electrolytic capacitor paper is used as the base material to absorb electrolytes in electrolytic capacitors, playing a crucial role in the functioning of the capacitors. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SEN ELIZABETH WARREN: Social Security is under attack. Gutting it is a broken promise

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    April 15, 2025

    We shouldn’t be cutting Social Security services and threatening Americans’ benefits — we should be making the program stronger

    Gutting Social Security isn’t “efficient” — it’s a broken promise. Democrats and Republicans should stand up and fight back to protect it.

    Social Security is not charity. Americans pay in, paycheck after paycheck, over a lifetime of hard work. When they get older, they get that money back to help them retire. That’s the iron-clad, take-it-to-the-bank promise that America makes to workers.

    But right now, Social Security is under attack like it has never been before. Billionaire Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said seniors won’t complain if they miss a Social Security check. Elon Musk called Social Security the “world’s biggest Ponzi scheme.” Musk then sent his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to gut the agency by indiscriminately firing workers, closing down offices, and trying to cut phone services.

    What does it mean to slash staff and services with no rhyme or reason? Two things: more mistakes in delivering checks to Americans, and fewer workers to fix those mistakes. And when people don’t get their checks, that’s a cut to the benefits they have earned.

    Mistakes are already showing up. After DOGE got its hands on Social Security, Ned, a retiree from Washington state, was marked “dead” in the Social Security system — despite being very much alive. He had $5,000 in benefits snatched right out of his bank account (paid while he was “dead”) and his monthly checks ceased. Ned spent weeks trying to fix the mistake and still hasn’t gotten paid back for two months of missing checks.
    Or take Tom and Chris from Westborough, Massachusetts, whose son has autism. For years, disability benefits through Social Security have helped pay for his care. And for years, those benefits have come through on time, without fail. But when they checked their son’s Social Security account recently, his benefits had been terminated. No explanation — just stopped. The money eventually came through, but it led to panic over how they would pay the bills.

    And while people aren’t getting their checks, there are fewer Social Security workers to help fix problems. Slashing staff and shutting down regional offices means Americans are forced to drive hours to get help with their applications or missing benefits. Once they get to an office, the lines can be out the door. They wait hours before they can get help — if they get help at all.

    Elon Musk and DOGE claim the reason they’re hacking away at people’s Social Security is to cut down on “extreme levels of fraud,” saying tens of millions of dead people over the age of 100 are getting payments. But even current Social Security Acting Administrator Leland Dudek — put in place by Donald Trump in February — contradicts that claim.
    Here’s the thing: if Elon Musk and DOGE truly want to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, there are easy ways to do it. I gave them 30 suggestions that would cut $2 trillion in government waste. Gutting the Social Security Administration so that it works worse for our seniors, veterans, and Americans with disabilities is not one of those ways.
    But don’t just take it from me. President George W. Bush’s Social Security Administration Commissioner said that if Elon Musk and DOGE wanted to make changes to increase efficiency at the agency, they could, “but we’re doing it the way that 22-year-old frat boys that have never seen the system think is a good idea, and that’s a mistake.”
    Musk himself said he’ll make mistakes, and it’s clear that coming for Social Security is a giant one. If he’s really honest enough to admit his own mistakes, why doesn’t he reverse course? Instead of recognizing that DOGE’s Social Security takeover is only hurting Americans, he’s doubling down, even encouraging President Trump to make the same false claims. President George W. Bush’s Social Security Commissioner called it “a real disservice to President Trump.” More importantly, it’s a deep disservice to the American people.
    We shouldn’t be cutting Social Security services and threatening Americans’ benefits — we should be making the program stronger. People are struggling with sky-high prices while their retirement savings are evaporating. We need a temporary increase in benefits right now to give people some relief. We should also protect the long-term security of the system by lifting the cap on the amount millionaires and billionaires pay into Social Security, which would also yield enough money to permanently expand benefits.
    Social Security shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It was first created by a nearly unanimous vote by members of Congress from both parties. Even now, as gutting the agency has become a key part of the administration’s agenda, Republicans know that DOGE’s “efficiency” mission isn’t working. They’re seeing reports of long lines at offices, long waits on the phone, and website crashes from their own constituents in places like Arizona, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. So where are they? Why are Democrats the only ones concerned about what happens with Social Security?
    Social Security isn’t something we give away out of the goodness of our hearts. It’s something Americans earned over a lifetime of hard work — an ironclad contract that they can count on. Now, Donald Trump, Musk, and DOGE are trying to skip out on that contract and calling it “efficient.” But it isn’t efficiency — it’s a broken promise to the American people, and Democrats and Republicans alike should stand up and fight back.
    Read the op-ed on Fox News here. 

    By:  Senator Elizabeth Warren
    Source: Fox News

    Previous Article

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, Cambodia agree to build all-weather community with shared future in new era

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

    China, Cambodia agree to build all-weather community with shared future in new era

    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    PHNOM PENH, April 17 — Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Thursday agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism.

    Xi said the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia enjoys a profound history, a solid political foundation and a strong internal driving force, adding that no matter how the international situation changes, the two countries have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

    Xi noted that at present, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, saying that deepening the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

    China will, as always, support Cambodia in following a development path that suits its national conditions, support the Cambodian government’s successful governance of the country, and back Cambodia in playing a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added.

    Xi called on both sides to take the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era as a new starting point, build on the momentum, continue to implement a new action plan on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

    He also urged the two sides to deepen political mutual trust at a higher level, expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality, consolidate security guarantees of a higher level, carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges at a higher frequency, and strengthen strategic coordination of higher standards, so as to bring greater benefits to the two peoples.

    The Chinese president called for maximizing the role of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, ensuring the strategic dialogues between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries a success, strengthening exchanges through such channels as political parties and legislative bodies, jointly addressing risks and challenges, and safeguarding the common interests of both sides.

    The Chinese side, Xi said, is ready to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia.

    He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts.

    China, Xi said, encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country.

    The people of the two countries should enhance mutual understanding and friendly feelings for each other, and promote exchanges and mutual learning between Chinese and Cambodian civilizations, he added.

    China will continue to offer government scholarships to Cambodia, support the establishment of a dialogue and exchange mechanism for youths between the two countries, and encourage more exchanges at the local level, as well as between media outlets and think tanks, so as to bring the people of the two countries closer and closer, he said.

    He called on the two countries to take stronger and more effective measures to resolutely crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, and to maintain social stability and the normal order of exchanges among regional countries.

    Xi said China and Cambodia, important forces in the Global South, should stick to the common values of peace, unity and cooperation.

    He called on both sides to oppose unilateral bullying, practice true multilateralism, firmly oppose bloc confrontation, strengthen coordination and cooperation within the frameworks of ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly safeguard hard-won regional peace and development, so as to contribute to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

    For his part, Hun Manet said Cambodia and China have long respected each other and treated each other as equals, hailing China as Cambodia’s most reliable and trustworthy friend.

    He said Xi’s visit is of great significance, which will deepen political mutual trust between the two countries and effectively promote the building of an all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era.

    Hailing China’s achievements in economic and social development, Hun Manet said he firmly believes that under Xi’s strong leadership, China will achieve the Second Centenary Goal as scheduled. He thanked China for its strong support for Cambodia’s economic development and for safeguarding its independence.

    The prime minister said Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that Cambodia is firmly committed to its friendship with China and is willing to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic and security cooperation, and deepen the ironclad friendship.

    Noting that China is Cambodia’s largest trading partner and the top source of investment, Hun Manet said Cambodia is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, investment, industrial and supply chains, agriculture and infrastructure, jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, strengthen people-to-people exchanges in such fields as education and culture, and ensure the Cambodia-China Year of Tourism a success.

    He said Cambodia highly appreciates China’s active role in international and regional affairs, and supports Xi’s vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as the three major global initiatives and the Belt and Road cooperation proposed by Xi.

    Amid global turbulence caused by unilateralism and shocks to the multilateral trading system, China has played a leading role and provided valuable stability to the world, Hun Manet said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard their common interests.

    After the meeting, leaders of the two countries witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering fields including production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and news.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Goldman Joins New York Voting Rights Groups to Condemn Republican Voter Suppression Bill and Demand Senate Reject It

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    SAVE Act Intended to Dismantle Electoral Reforms Across Country and Create Mass Voter Disenfranchisement and Suppression 

     

    Bill Passed by GOP in House Yet to be Brought to Senate Floor  

     

    Watch Recording of the Event Here

    New York, NY – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today joined Let NY Vote Coalition, Common Cause New York, and other voting rights and advocacy organizations to condemn the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which seeks to disenfranchise and suppress legal, eligible voters nationwide by reversing key election reforms and making it significantly harder for Americans to register and cast their ballots. Passed in the GOP-led House, the legislation has not yet been brought to the floor of the Senate.

    ““The SAVE Act is yet another attempt by Donald Trump and the complicit GOP to erode the foundations of American democracy by undermining its most essential pillar: the right to vote,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “This bill threatens same-day registration, early voting, and automatic voter registration in a deliberate effort to disenfranchise millions of legal American voters, making it as difficult as possible for many to cast their ballots. The SAVE Act doesn’t solve any real issues—it was crafted to intensify the challenges that women, servicemembers, and rural Americans already face at the polls. If passed, it would undo decades of hard-fought voting reform in New York and across the country. Every senator who believes in the sanctity of democracy and the importance of the vote must unequivocally reject this bill.”
     

    Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York, said “Congress should be working to make voting easier, not harder. In New York, the Let NY Vote Coalition has worked closely with the Governor and the Legislature to improve access to the ballot for New York voters. The so-called SAVE Act would reverse the progress New York has made modernizing its elections and making its election administration more voter-centered, potentially preventing countless eligible New York voters across the state from making their voices heard. This destructive bill claims to address a non-existent problem. We urge the Senate to reject this shameless voter suppression bill, and to oppose any future version that makes registering to vote needlessly difficult for everyday people.” 

    Brianna Cea, Executive Director and Founder of Generation Vote, said, “This past month, 220 members of Congress voted to silence a generation. The so-called SAVE Act targets students, trans youth and working-class voters, and threatens to upend how young people participate in our democracy. By requiring eligible young voters to show proof-of-citizenship documents in person, it would block millions of young people from registering to vote—especially those who rely on online, mail, and

    campus voter registration drives. GenVoters across the country have been organizing to

    stop this dangerous anti-voter bill, and we demand the Senate stop it in its tracks.”

    Sean Eldridge, Founder and President of Stand Up America, said, “We know that the SAVE Act would prevent millions of eligible citizens from accessing the ballot box. This isn’t hypothetical or hyperbole. When Kasas enacted a similar bill a decade ago, over 31,000 American citizens were blocked from voting. And despite that, not one Republican in the House of Representatives had the courage to vote no and protect our freedom to vote. Shame on them. In the United States of America, voters should pick their leaders. Politicians should not get to pick their voters.”

    Ann Toback, CEO of Workers Circle, said, “The SAVE Act is a federal voter suppression bill plain and simple. Republican leaders in Congress are trying to undermine tens of millions of Americans’ freedom to vote because they know the vast majority of voters are not behind their regressive agenda. We’ll not rest until this bill is defeated in the Senate.”

    Jan Combopiano, Executive Committee member of Brooklyn Voters Alliance, said, “There literally is no proof that there is widespread noncitizen voting happening in this country, but there is proof that many Americans do not have the documents to confirm their citizenship, so the SAVE Act is a solution without solving a problem. This is

    election integrity theater, rather than the safeguarding of the right to vote.”

    Erica Smitka, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of New York State, said, “The SAVE Act is driven by misinformation and fear rather than facts. There is no credible evidence of widespread non-citizen voter registration or voting in state or federal elections. The League of Women Voters of New York State firmly opposes this bill as it advances to the Senate. We applaud Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for rejecting this harmful legislation and urge them to reject any future iterations that would allow for the requirement of a passport or birth certificate to vote.”

    Karla Bradley, Executive Director, New York Civic Engagement Table, said, “Our democracy cannot work when only a small portion of the population is making decisions that impact the whole. The SAVE Act is a dangerous bill that would disenfranchise New Yorkers, disproportionately impacting BIPOC, transgender, working class, and rural voters – communities who already face systemic barriers to participating in our elections. It is critical that New York stand strong against this anti-voter bill and ensure that the voices and votes of all voters are heard in our elections.”

    John Park, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action (Convenor of APA VOICE), said, “The SAVE Act is a direct attack on our democracy and on our fundamental right to vote—especially for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and other communities of color. It imposes costly and unnecessary documentation requirements, like passports or birth certificates. This bill would disenfranchise married women, trans people, active-duty service members, and millions of eligible voters whose lives don’t fit neatly into bureaucratic boxes. Instead of protecting our elections, the SAVE Act silences voices. This bill is voter suppression wrapped in red tape. Our communities deserve access, not exclusion.”

    Jarret Berg, Co-Founder of Vote Early New York, said, “The SAVE act would undermine America’s modern voter registration system, raising unnecessary barriers to online registration and registration-by-mail that are likely to prevent large swaths of eligible citizens from participating in future elections. At the same time, this unjustifiable solution-in-search-of-a-problem would curb most local voter registration drives. The Senate and the American people must reject this assault on democracy.”

    Mae Lee, Executive Director of the Chinese Progressive Association, said, “Community based organizations like ours often conduct voter registration drives in the community. We bring registration to the people where they are. We reach young people who have just turned eighteen or newly minted citizens. Our community members work and/or go to school. They would not be able to go to a board of elections office during when they are working or going to school. The requirements as outlined in the SAVE Act would restrict our community’s access to voter registration, making us unable to vote and have a say in who represents us.”

    Karen Wharton, Democracy Coalition Coordinator, Citizen Action of NY, said, “The SAVE Act is a solution in search of a problem being pushed by MAGA extremists in Congress. It’s not about protecting our democracy—it’s about undermining it. This bill would strip away the rights of eligible voters, especially women, people with disabilities, and communities that have long been marginalized, all while addressing a problem that doesn’t exist. There’s no real evidence of non-citizen voting. What this bill really does is create unnecessary barriers to silence voices. We should be making it easier—not harder—for people to participate in our democracy. We must reject it.”

    Congressman Goldman has made strengthening and improving voting rights, and ballot box access a cornerstone of his time in office. 

    In February, 2023, Congressman Goldman announced the Early Voting Act as his first bill in Congress, which would require at least a 14-day window of in-person early voting for federal elections across the country. The bill would also require that election officials maximize polling place accessibility and would take steps to address unacceptably long wait-times for voters in line to cast their ballots and for election results by mandating that election officials start processing and scanning ballots at least 14 days prior to Election Day
    In March of 2025, Congressman Goldman joined Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) in introducing the ‘John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act,’ which would restore and modernize the protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) to address modern-day voter suppression and ensure every voter, regardless of race or background, has equal access to the ballot box.   

    Congressman Goldman is a member of the Voter Rights Caucus. 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: [Interview] How Samsung Embeds Accessibility and User-Centered Values Into Its Home Appliances

    Source: Samsung

    Guided by its vision of “AI for All,” Samsung Electronics continues to develop home appliances that are intuitive and convenient for a wide range of home environments. Among the most impactful advancements are accessibility features designed to make these appliances easier to use for individuals with disabilities and older adults — reflecting the company’s commitment to inclusive design.
     
    Samsung Newsroom sat down with Bona Lee, Vice President and Head of Customer eXperience (CX) Insight Group at Digital Appliances (DA) Business, Samsung Electronics, to discuss the latest accessibility features in Samsung’s home appliances and the philosophy that shapes them.
     
    ▲ Bona Lee from Samsung Electronics demonstrates the negative color mode on the Family Hub refrigerator’s display.
     
     
    Q. What core value or principle guides your approach when designing accessibility features for home appliances?
     
    Using home appliances typically involves a combination of sensory input — such as sight, sound and touch — along with cognitive functions like making selections and adjusting settings, as well as physical actions like pulling, pushing or lifting. These steps can present challenges for some users.
     
    Samsung is working to reduce or eliminate these usability barriers to ensure that everyone can access all features and benefit from the latest technologies. As part of our broader commitment to inclusive design, we offer tailored solutions for different accessibility needs — such as tactile stickers for buttons, audio cues for users with visual impairments and control panels positioned at heights accessible to wheelchair users.
     
     
    Q. What are some standout accessibility features or services that users might not be aware of?
     
    ▲ Visibility enhancement settings on the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo
     
    The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo offers a significantly more streamlined control experience than before. While previous models required users to turn a dial and strain to read small text to select a cycle, the new model features a built-in digital screen with large, easy-to-read fonts. AI further enhances usability by prioritizing frequently used cycles at the top of the menu.
     
    What’s more, SmartThings routines empower individuals with limited mobility by automating device control. A simple voice command like “I’m going to sleep” can turn off lights and appliances, creating a more comfortable and accessible home environment.
     
     
    Q. What new accessibility features have been introduced in the 2025 Bespoke AI appliance lineup?
     
    In the 2025 lineup of Bespoke AI appliances, Bixby can now recognize individual voices using Voice ID technology and provide accessibility settings tailored to each person. In addition, with built-in microphones and speakers, users can ask Bixby about the appliance’s status and receive key alerts via voice responses.
     
    Moreover, the Auto Open Door feature — highly praised by users with limited mobility — has been expanded to more products, including refrigerators, washing machines, ovens and dishwashers. A light tap or simple voice command like “Open the [device] door” provides easy, hands-free access.
     
    ▲ The Auto Open Door feature on the Family Hub refrigerator
     
     
    Q. Are there any ongoing collaborations focused on enhancing accessibility in home appliances?
     
    Samsung is actively collaborating with various organizations to identify and address real-world accessibility challenges. We receive objective evaluations and expert guidance from various professional organizations including the Korea Center for Accessibility Assessment & Research. Additionally, accessibility features for our screen-equipped appliances — such as voice guidance and improved visibility — are being developed in alignment with the European Accessibility Act that goes into effect this June.
     
    Internal collaboration is just as vital. The Samsung Family Supporters group — comprised of employees with disabilities and those with family members who have disabilities — is actively involved in shaping accessibility initiatives. Furthermore, the newly established Accessibility Employee Resource Group (ERG) within the Device eXperience (DX) Business fosters open dialogue by encouraging members to share real-life experiences and ideas to improve accessibility across our products and services.
     
     
    Q. What results or improvements have come from these collaborations so far?
     
    While many visually impaired users found voice guidance for operating SmartThings-connected appliances helpful, some reported that the initial device connection process was challenging.
     
    To address this, we improved the SmartThings app and partnered with TUAT Corp. — the developer of AI-powered visual assistance app Sullivan Plus — to introduce a dedicated mode that recognizes Samsung appliances and helps users easily connect them to SmartThings. Selected for Samsung’s C-Lab Outside startup incubator, Sullivan Plus is expected to further enhance the overall user experience.
     
    We’ve also developed assistive tools based on ideas and feedback from employees and the Samsung Family Supporters group. Designs for these tools are shared on ITDA, a public platform for customizing and 3D-printing assistive devices. One example is a stick-on handle for drawers, designed to support users with limited hand mobility. Development continues toward creating more automated assistive solutions that offer even greater convenience.
     
     
    Q. What steps is Samsung taking to further advance its vision of “AI for All” in the future?
     
    “AI for All” reflects Samsung’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of technology are seamlessly integrated into everyday life — regardless of a user’s physical abilities or environment. It’s about transforming individual features into connected, inclusive experiences that make life better for everyone.
     
    Looking ahead, Samsung will continue to embed universal design principles that prioritize inclusivity into product development. This includes gathering input from diverse user groups during the planning stage, leveraging user data to identify new opportunities and collaborating with both internal and external experts and organizations to create more meaningful solutions.
     
    As AI capabilities in home appliances evolve, the goal is to create a truly intelligent in-home experience — one that understands each user, their family and their environment by automating tasks and reducing the need for manual input. Rather than addressing diversity with isolated features, Samsung strives to deliver integrated, all-in-one solutions that adapt to any situation.
     
    We see this as the future of innovation — where accessibility and technology come together to serve everyone, under the vision of “Universal Accessibility, Universal Technology.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says unilateralism, hegemonism receive no support of the people

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

    Building China-Cambodia community with shared future a choice of history, the people: Xi

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    PHNOM PENH, April 17 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people.

    Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

    China and Cambodia are not only friendly neighbors but also ironclad friends, he said, noting that both countries are currently at a critical stage of national development.

    Xi said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century.

    China believes that Cambodia’s road to national development and revitalization will become wider and wider, and will, as always, support the Cambodian People’s Party in leading the Cambodian people to maintain national stability and economic development, Xi said, adding that China supports Cambodia in playing a more important role in the regional and international arena.

    The Chinese president said that the two sides should make good use of the newly established “2+2” strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries to strengthen strategic coordination.

    The two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia’s Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China’s development opportunities, Xi said.

    Xi emphasized that China is willing to engage in exchanges and mutual learning with Cambodia on major issues such as strengthening party building and advancing reform and development, and to deepen friendly cooperation between China’s National People’s Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference with National Assembly and Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

    Unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, Xi said.

    History has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity, Xi said, adding that no country wants to return to isolation.

    The trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order, Xi said, urging all countries to unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, uphold mutual respect, pursue win-win cooperation and common development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    As Asia embarks on a new journey of collective revitalization, Xi noted, China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries, so as to share the fruits of Chinese modernization more widely across the region, promote the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and work together to advance Asia’s modernization.

    For his part, Hun Sen said this visit is of great significance to Cambodia.

    Noting that China is Cambodia’s most steadfast supporter and most reliable partner, Hun Sen said China’s support has made significant contributions to Cambodia’s economic and social development and improvement of people’s lives, for which the Cambodian side expresses its deep gratitude.

    Cambodia firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China’s positions on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Xizang, and opposes any forces’ interference in China’s internal affairs, he said.

    China and Cambodia are ironclad friends, and the two countries’ decision to build a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era will make further progress, promoting high-level, high-quality and high-standard development of bilateral relations, Hun Sen said.

    The two countries will always move forward hand in hand, stand together through thick and thin and share a common destiny, he added.

    Hun Sen said that Cambodia is willing to strengthen strategic security cooperation with China and expand bilateral trade.

    Cambodia welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, and will join hands with China to promote the deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and intensify the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud, he added.

    The Cambodian side highly appreciates China’s constructive role in promoting world peace and sustainable development, and supports the Belt and Road cooperation and the three major global initiatives proposed by China, which are conducive to safeguarding the common interests of the international community and promoting world peace, security and stability, Hun Sen said.

    Trade wars and tariff wars have undermined the legitimate interests of all countries and triggered turmoil in the international situation, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China and jointly address various risks and challenges.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China, Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes

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

    Xi says China, Cambodia set model for equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    PHNOM PENH, April 17 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes.

    Xi made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni during his state visit to Cambodia.

    Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Sihamoni’s enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi said he is delighted to visit the beautiful country of Cambodia at the invitation of the king, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people.

    Xi said that Cambodia’s nation-building is thriving, and he firmly believes that, under the blessings of King Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation.

    Xi pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.

    China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, said Xi.

    He said that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years.

    Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

    He noted that China firmly supports Cambodia in maintaining stability, accelerating development, improving people’s livelihoods and following a development path that suits its national conditions.

    Xi said that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to Cambodia and other neighboring countries and expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

    For his part, King Sihamoni said the friendship between Cambodia and China was created and cultivated by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries, adding that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened.

    The Cambodian side, he said, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, highly appreciates the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and appreciates the huge development opportunities brought to Cambodia via the Belt and Road cooperation.

    He hailed Xi’s visit a historic one, which will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the cooperation framework of the “Diamond Hexagon,” and take bilateral ties to a new level.

    The king also said his country is ready to enhance coordination and cooperation with China in such multilateral mechanisms as ASEAN-China Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

    The king also presented the National Order of Independence – Grand Collar to Xi.

    He said Xi holds special friendly feelings towards Cambodia and has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations, adding that Xi is a great friend of Cambodia.

    It is believed that under the leadership of President Xi, China will achieve greater development accomplishments and play a more important role in international and regional affairs, he added.

    Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia’s high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people.

    This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni presents the National Order of Independence – Grand Collar to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi meets Cambodian Queen Mother

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

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodia’s Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    PHNOM PENH, April 17 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship.

    In his meeting with the Queen Mother at the Royal Palace, Xi said she has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, and she is well-deserved to be awarded the Friendship Medal of the People’s Republic of China.

    Xi also said that China is her second home, adding that she is welcome to come to China at any time.

    Cambodia’s King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of the China-Cambodia friendship, said Xi, adding that together with the elder generation of Chinese leaders, he personally forged an unbreakable ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia.

    “We will always remember the historic contributions he made,” Xi added.

    For her part, the Queen Mother said Xi is the greatest friend of Cambodia, and it is a great pleasure to see that the China-Cambodia friendship forged by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries has been continuously consolidated and developed.

    The Queen Mother said she believes that the ironclad friendship between the two countries will grow even deeper and more unbreakable.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bigstack Opportunities I Inc. Announces Receipt of TSXV Conditional Approval and Filing of Filing Statement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    TORONTO, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bigstack Opportunities I Inc. (“Bigstack”) (TSXV: STAK.P), a capital pool company as defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSXV” or the “Exchange”), is pleased to announce that the TSXV has conditionally approved the previously announced business combination with Reeflex Coil Solutions Inc. (“Reeflex”), as described in Bigstack’s press releases dated November 4, 2024, January 17, 2025 and April 16, 2025 (the “Transaction”), which will constitute Bigstack’s Qualifying Transaction (as such term is defined in Policy 2.4 – Capital Pool Companies of the Corporate Finance Manual of the Exchange).

    In connection with the Transaction, Bigstack has filed its filing statement dated April 14, 2025 (the “Filing Statement”) on its SEDAR+ profile. Investors are encouraged to review the Filing Statement on Bigstack’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, as well as Bigstack’s press releases dated November 4, 2024, January 17, 2025 and April 16, 2025. The Filing Statement provides detailed information about, among other things, the Transaction, Reeflex, Coil Solutions Inc. (“Coil”), Reeflex’s expected acquisition of Coil pursuant to a share purchase agreement dated April 14, 2025 (the “Share Purchase Agreement”) between Reeflex and all of the shareholders of Coil (the “Coil Acquisition”), and the resulting company following completion of the Transaction (the “Resulting Issuer”).

    Assuming all conditions are satisfied, Bigstack and Reeflex anticipate closing of the Transaction to occur on or around May 1, 2025, or such other date as may be agreed to between the parties, and that trading of the Resulting Issuer’s common shares will commence shortly thereafter. Bigstack will issue a further press release once the Exchange issues its bulletin announcing its final approval of the Transaction and the date that trading of the common shares of the Resulting Issuer is expected to commence on the Exchange. The Resulting Issuer’s trading symbol will be “RFX”.

    In connection with the Transaction, Bigstack is expected to change its name to “Reeflex Solutions Inc.”

    Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, the satisfaction of all conditions provided for in the agreements governing the Transaction, which include representations, warranties, covenants and conditions customary for a transaction of this nature, the receipt of all necessary regulatory, corporate and third party approvals, including final TSXV acceptance, the release of the escrowed proceeds to Reeflex pursuant to the concurrent financing of the Reeflex, as described in Bigstack’s press release dated April 16, 2025, the closing of the Coil Acquisition, and the receipt of approval for the listing of the common shares of the Resulting Issuer by the Exchange, all subject to the completion of the Transaction. There can, however, be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. Shares of Bigstack are currently halted from trading on the Exchange, and trading is not expected to resume until after closing of the Transaction. The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

    Business and History of Reeflex

    Reeflex is a privately-held corporation incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on June 14, 2024. Its head and registered offices are located in Calgary. Reeflex currently has no business operations or assets other than cash and a management team that has been working on the Transaction and the proposed going public structure for the past year. On April 14, 2025, Reeflex entered into the Share Purchase Agreement.

    Business and History of Coil

    Founded in 2007 in Redcliff, Alberta, Coil specializes in innovative drilling products and services for the global oil and gas industry. In 2010, Coil expanded its operations, opening a second facility in Calgary, Alberta, introducing a line of downhole fracking tools and venturing into custom tool design. In 2012, Coil launched its coil tubing injector line. In 2013, Coil opened a third facility in Red Deer, Alberta. In 2014, Coil developed two distinct models of, and manufactured, its first full coil tubing units. In 2016, Coil expanded sales to Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America and Europe. In 2017, Coil designed and built the largest free-standing mast unit in the world. In 2022, Coil established a dedicated manufacturing division in Calgary, Alberta, operating under its tradename, Ranglar, for injectors and mobile equipment. In 2024, Coil completed a reorganization with its shareholders, which resulted in the conversion of preferred shares and debt into common shares. Today, Coil continues to focus on coiled tubing solutions and downhole tools, offering a comprehensive range of services including rentals, sales, training, testing and consulting. With 41 employees, Coil has developed patented products that are distributed worldwide, including a key distributor in Germany and more than 60 active clients. On April 14, 2025, Coil entered into the Share Purchase Agreement.

    Overview of Bigstack

    Bigstack is a “capital pool company” under the policies of the Exchange and it is intended that the Transaction will constitute the “Qualifying Transaction” of Bigstack, as such term is defined in CPC Policy. The Bigstack Shares are currently listed on the Exchange and Bigstack is a reporting issuer in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. Bigstack was incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on November 25, 2020.

    Additional Information

    All information contained in this press release with respect to Reeflex and Coil was provided by Reeflex and Coil, respectively, to Bigstack for inclusion herein. Bigstack and its directors and officers have not independently verified such information and have relied exclusively on Reeflex and Coil for any information concerning Reeflex and Coil.

    Forward Looking Information

    This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” (“forward-looking information”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this press release. Any statement that discusses predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking information.

    More particularly and without limitation, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Transaction and its constituents steps, including the Coil Acquisition and the Transaction (including the completion, structure, terms and timing thereof), the expected corporate structure of the Resulting Issuer and its subsidiaries, if any, the future financial performance of the Resulting Issuer or any of the parties, the concurrent financing of Reeflex and the potential release of escrowed proceeds therefrom, and the trading of Bigstack’s securities and any securities of the Resulting Issuer on the TSXV. Although Bigstack believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, it can give no assurance that the expectations of any forward-looking information will prove to be correct. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; inability to complete the Concurrent Financing on the terms described herein or at all; and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. There can be no certainty that the Transaction and related transactions will be completed on the terms set out in the agreements among the parties and described in press releases of Bigstack or at all. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Except as required by law, Bigstack disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking information or otherwise.

    Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Filing Statement, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

    The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

    Bigstack Opportunities I Inc.

    For further information, please contact Eric Szustak, the President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary and a director of Bigstack.

    Eric Szustak
    President, CEO, CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director
    Email: eszustak@jbrlimited.com
    Telephone: (905) 330-7948

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Nine facing federal immigration-related offenses in southern Illinois

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury has charged nine illegal aliens with immigration-related offenses in Effingham, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties over the last two months.

    “Every time an illegal immigrant unlawfully enters the United States, they commit a federal crime. But eight of these individuals are repeat offenders—often deported after earlier crimes, only to reenter and face new charges,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The only person who wasn’t a prior offender was indicted for a firearms offense. These charges show our commitment to prioritizing repeat offenders and those who threaten public safety.”

    Josue Lopez-Serrano, 35, a Mexican national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Monroe County.

    Angel Carmona-Perez, 44, a Mexican national, is facing one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Madison County.

    Gaspar Lux-Lopez, 30, a Guatemalan national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Madison County.

    Luis Morocho-Minga, 42, an Ecuadorian national, is facing one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm in St. Clair County.

    Pedro Ramos-Garcia, 36, a Guatemalan national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in Effingham County.

    Andres Jimenez-Santiago, 26, a Mexican national, is facing one count of illegal reentry after deportation in St. Clair County.

    Jose Ariza-Angula, 37, a Mexican national, is facing one count of illegal reentry after deportation in St. Clair County.

    Erick Roman-Roman, 49, a Mexican national, was charged with one count of illegal reentry after deportation in St. Clair County.

    Mayorie Fernandez-Ormeno, 44, a Chilean national, is facing one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, access device fraud, attempted access device fraud and illegal entry after deportation in Madison County and two counts of aggravated identity theft.

    An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.

    In February, a southern Illinois jury convicted an illegal alien from India for participating in an imposter scam and working to exploit more than $400,000 from elderly victims across the Midwest. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 29 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. 

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is leading the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Kapsak, Madalyn Campbell and Kathleen Howard are prosecuting the cases.

    The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: WISeKey Releases 2024 Audited Financial Results and Outlines its 2025 Vision for Post Quantum Technology Convergence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WISeKey Releases 2024 Audited Financial Results and Outlines its 2025 Vision for Post Quantum Technology Convergence

    Schedules Conference Call and Webcast for Tuesday, April 22 at 10:00 am ET (4:00 pm CET)

    Geneva, Switzerland – April 17, 2025 – Ad-Hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 of SIX Listing Rules – WISeKey International Holding Ltd (NASDAQ: WKEY / SIX: WIHN) (“WISeKey” or “the Company”), a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT technologies, today announced its audited financial results for the year ended December 31, 2024, and shared its strategic vision for 2025, a year expected to be defined by the convergence of foundational technologies and the emergence of Sovereign AI.

    Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey, commented: “2024 has been a pivotal year for WISeKey. We ended the year with a very strong balance sheet, strategic technological milestones, and a clear roadmap to take advantage of new opportunities ahead. From launching 17 secure satellites in partnership with SpaceX and further advancing negotiations on our semiconductor personalization center strategy, to scaling our blockchain platforms and developing post-quantum chips, we have created a solid foundation across every layer of digital trust infrastructure.

    We started 2025 on a very strong note and have now entered what I define as the ‘Year of WISeKey Convergence.’ This is more than a strategy, it is a paradigm shift. We are bringing together four foundational pillars: semiconductors, satellites, blockchain, and digital identity, into unified and interoperable ecosystems. This convergence allows us to offer end-to-end solutions where each component reinforces the other, enabling exponential innovation and resilience.

    For instance, our post-quantum secure chips, developed by our semiconductor subsidiary SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), are now being embedded into WISeSat satellites to create a secure foundation for a decentralized IoT infrastructure. Blockchain and identity platforms like SEALCOIN and WISeID are being deployed to power autonomous, tamper-proof transactions between machines, satellites, and users. Combining this with our partnership with the Hedera distributed ledger, brings transparency and immutability to these transactions. Additionally, our work with the Swiss Army is proceeding with the testing of a secure smartphone and secure communications with our WISeSat Satellites.

    This convergence approach positions WISeKey at the intersection of some of the most critical transformations of our time, such as quantum-resilient security, space-based connectivity, and the decentralized economy. We are not just adapting to the digital future, we are building it. For WISeKey, 2025 is expected to be a year of execution and scale, where our integrated business units aim to deliver tangible impact.”

    FY 2024 HIGHLIGHTS

    • $90.6 million cash balance (as of December 31, 2024) alongside a much cleaner balance sheet.
    • $11.9 million FY 2024 revenue, down from $30.1 million in FY 2023, reflects an expected decrease as a result of a transitional year with semiconductors customers gradually shifting to our next-generation quantum-resistant solutions and delayed building inventory until the release alongside the impact of the excess inventory accumulation by customers in 2023.
    • $7.0 million investments in R&D for the development of new projects and technologies, including SEALSQ’s post-quantum chip, SEALCOIN, and our WISeSat next generation satellites.
    • First engineering samples of our new quantum resistant secure microcontroller delivered in Q4 2024, in line with our semiconductors’ R&D plan initiated in 2022. We are on target to make our QVault-TPM, the next generation of secure microcontrollers built by SEALSQ on our new Secure RISC-V CPU, available on the market in Q4 2025.
    • Signed a landmark agreement with the Swiss Army to co-develop advanced cybersecurity and space-based capabilities. The first new generation WISeSat satellite under this initiative was launched in January 2025.
    • $115 million pipeline of secured and pending business opportunities over the period from 2026 to 2028 as of April 15, 2025.

    LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025

    Strong Financial Foundation to Support Strategic Growth

    WISeKey’s 2024 year-end solid cash position in excess of $90 million (predominantly secured via the over $80 million capital raised during 2024 by SEALSQ), alongside the availability of any additional financing should it be required, and its much cleaner balance sheet, place the Company in a very strong position to invest in high-growth areas such as post-quantum cybersecurity, next-generation semiconductors, satellite infrastructure, and blockchain-based ecosystems.

    Despite certain sector-wide headwinds, the Company’s overall outlook remains robust with a pipeline of secured and pending business opportunities exceeding $115 million for the period from 2026 to 2028, supported by growing public sector and defense partnerships.

    WISeKey anticipates strong growth in 2025, propelled by SEALSQ’s quantum-resistant technology developments and expanding IoT security demand. This growth is expected to be driven by the integration of chip revenue from new sources, an expansion in chip personalization services, additional revenue generated by WISeSat, and the consolidated revenue from our planned investments.

    In our semiconductors vertical, SEALSQ has been the main revenue contributor in 2024 and in prior years. We anticipate that our new Quantum-Resistant chips will be available on the market in Q4 2025. WISeKey foresees generating substantial returns from the full-scale commercial deployment of this quantum resistant chip starting in 2026.

    WISeKey has therefore taken several initiatives to develop new revenue streams and strengthen net results.

    These initiatives include:

    • Quantix Edges: Semiconductor Personalization & Design Center in Spain

    WISeKey and SEALSQ jointly, together with OdinS and TProtege, two Spanish companies with extensive experience in R&D&I (Research & Development & Innovation) worldwide and in the design and manufacturing of IoT devices and solutions, plan to establish in the Region of Murcia a “Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity and Microchips” under the financial umbrella of the Microelectronics and Semiconductors Plan (PERTE CHIP) initiated by Spain.   The project called Quantix Edges is in the final stages of the approval process by SETT, the Spanish government’s entity responsible for funding under the PERTE budgets.

    • Consolidated revenue from acquisition opportunities

    The potential IC’ALPS acquisition, if completed, would bolster SEALSQ’s Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) development, and further strengthen WISeKey’s portfolio of products.

    • WISeSat’s new generation satellites

    Six more launches are planned during 2025 and 2026, with the next one currently scheduled for June 2025.

    • SEALCOIN’s TIoT commercial launch

    Following on from the successful Proof of Concept carried out in Q1 2025, SEALCOIN is working to identify partners to perform other PoCs and further demonstrate its readiness for industrialization of its TIoT solution.

    • Quantum as a Service

    In 2025, WISeKey advanced its commitment to quantum computing by investing in ColibriTD, a pioneering quantum technology company, aiming to integrate ColibriTD’s Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS) platform into its Quantum Roadmap.

    • Scaled Up Global Footprint

    WISeKey continues to strategically expand its global presence, secure key partnerships with renowned distributors and sales representatives in crucial markets. These alliances have strengthened WISeKey’s market position while fueling growth by leveraging each partner’s expertise and established networks.

    KEY DEVELOPMENTS BY SUBSIDIARY

    SEALSQ: Leadership in IoT and Post-Quantum Cryptography Era

    SEALSQ advanced the Company’s mission to secure the connected world by focusing on post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and IoT security. Through its QUASAR platform, SEALSQ developed quantum-resistant technologies to protect data against future quantum threats, aligning with global standards like those from NIST. SEALSQ’s future strategy is built around four key priorities:

    1. Commercial Launch of Post-Quantum Chips

    • Commercial launch of two new post-quantum semiconductors, targeting IoT, PC, Tablets, and various industrial applications including medical, military and automotive sectors.
    • Expansion of chip fabrication partnerships to increase output for enterprise and government security solutions.
    • SEALSQ has set an ambitious five-year target to capture 20% of the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) market, a goal supported by strong market engagement. By the end of 2024, SEALSQ had secured over 60 qualified leads and one Design-IN for its TPM products, which are slated for commercial launch in 2025.
    • Developing Quantum resistant ASIC (custom design secure chips) for specific large client needs.

    2. Executing Targeted Acquisitions, Investments and Joint Ventures

    • Advanced and exclusive negotiations to acquire 100% of IC’ALPS; expected to be finalized in 2025.
    • As part of its global expansion strategy, SEALSQ is in final stage negotiations with Spanish authorities to establish an Outsourced Semiconductor Personalization and Test Center (OSPTC) in Spain. SEALSQ is exploring the development of similar OSPTCs in India, the United States, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
    • Planned continuing investment in startups engaged in quantum computing and AI initiatives as part of the SEALQUANTUM Initiative.

    3. R&D and Strategic Investments in Post-Quantum Security

    • SEALSQ is investing in the final development, qualification, certification (Common Criteria EAL5+ and FIPS 140-3 Level 3) process and the Industrialization (Wafer Test, Final Test, Packaging, Key Injection) of its Quantum-Resistant TPM 2.0 chip with a commercial launch target date set for Q4 2025. We are in discussions with over 60 interested potential customers, including major electronics manufacturers.
    • Scaling the first TPM PQC chip in broader ASIC offer for addressing the Medical, Defense, and IoT market segments.
    • First deployment of SEALSQ’s Quantum Resistant IoT chips on the WISeSat picosatellite constellation, enhancing secure connectivity in remote regions.

    4. Expanding Trust Services

    • Scaling managed PKI solutions for Matter IoT and enterprise security.
    • Expanding SSL/TLS and GSMA certificate offerings to reinforce global digital trust ecosystems.
    • Pushing adoption of INeS PKI Post quantum Cryptography latest features.

    WISeSat: Expanding Secure Space Capabilities

    WISeKey advanced its WISeSat.Space project, deploying low-earth-orbit picosatellites to provide secure IoT connectivity for remote applications. The Company continued to invest in this innovative satellite network, aiming to enhance global coverage for IoT ecosystems. With further deployments planned for 2025, WISeSat.Space is poised to address growing market demand for secure, satellite-based communication solutions, supporting critical infrastructure and underserved regions.

    Strategic Partnership with Swiss Armed Forces in the Space Sector
    In 2024, the WISeSat.Space division not only reinforced its strategic partnership with the Swiss Armed Forces in the space sector through the initiation of new projects, but it also formalized agreements with RUAG, the strategic integrator for the Swiss Armed Forces, for a national defence project focused on device-to-device communications.

    European Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation
    To date, WISeSat.Space has launched 17 mini-satellites with Space X into orbit through a strategic investment and partnership with FOSSA Systems, aimed at expanding its portfolio of space technology assets. Over the next 36 months, WISeSat.Space plans to deploy 88 next-generation satellites, following the January 2025 launch from California, which should significantly enhance global IoT connectivity and environmental monitoring capabilities, supporting applications such as climate change analysis, disaster response, and precision agriculture.

    Pioneering Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Transactions from Space
    In 2024, we took steps to launch a groundbreaking mission that harnesses WISeKey’s advanced security solutions in conjunction with the Hedera network to pioneer the exchange of SEALCOIN from space. Successfully tested in Q1 2025, this initiative marked the first-ever demonstration of secure digital cryptocurrency transactions conducted from orbit and established a proof-of-concept redefining boundaries of blockchain integration, a new era of space-based digital economies. Through this innovative endeavour, we reaffirmed our commitment to leading the development of digital currencies in an expanding technological landscape.

    Blockchain Ecosystem: SEALCOIN and WISe.ART

    SEALCOIN, WISeKey’s transactional IoT platform, made significant progress toward deploying decentralized digital identity solutions, leveraging blockchain to enable secure Web 3.0 transactions using our WISelD platform to incorporate Distributed Identity capabilities. With a development timeline set for key milestones in 2025, SEALCOIN aims to deliver scalable solutions for secure, trust-based interactions across digital networks, enhancing user control over identity and data.

    WISe.ART advanced its blockchain-based ecosystem for digital art and NFTs, integrating Web 3.0 technologies to ensure secure authentication and tokenization, capitalizing on the digital collectibles market. The WISe.ART platform has been developed to serve galleries, museums, and collectors, backed by WISeKey’s root-of-trust and blockchain compatible certificates of authenticity.

    WISeID: Empowering Private Digital Identity

    WISeID, WISeKey’s flagship digital identity platform, introduced biometric authentication, self-sovereign identity (SSI), and post-quantum cryptographic protocols, making it one of the world’s most secure digital identity systems.

    Complementing this, during 2024 WISeKey announced the ongoing development and planned launch of the SEALPhone, an ultra-secure smartphone designed with a privacy-by-design architecture. Currently in testing mode with several strategic clients, SEALPhone integrates WISeID and SEALCOIN, enabling secure communication, identity protection, and digital asset storage on a single hardware platform.

    FILING OF 2024 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F

    WISeKey filed its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in the Form 20-F for the full year period ended December 31, 2024, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 17, 2025. The Form 20-F can be accessed by visiting the Company’s website at www.wisekey.com.
    In addition, the Company’s stockholders may receive a hard copy of the Form 20-F, which includes complete audited financial statements, free of charge by contacting its Investor Relations Representative at lcati@equityny.com or +1 212 836-9611.

    CONFERENCE CALL

    The Company will host a conference call to review its results on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 10:00 am ET (4:00 pm CET). To join, please use the following dial-in numbers:

    • Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 877-445-9755
    • International Dial-In Number: 201-493-6744

    The webcast of the call can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of WISeKey’s website at www.wisekey.com. An archived version of the call will also be made available.

    ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL DATA

    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) [as reported]

      12 months ended December 31,
    USD’000, except earnings per share 2024   2023   2022
               
    Net sales 11,875   30,918   23,814
    Cost of sales (7,104)   (15,754)   (13,588)
    Depreciation of production assets (478)   (420)   (132)
    Gross profit 4,293   14,744   10,094
               
    Other operating income 184   167   2,073
    Research & development expenses (7,026)   (4,398)   (3,862)
    Selling & marketing expenses (8,550)   (6,523)   (7,275)
    General & administrative expenses (16,324)   (17,290)   (11,466)
    Total operating expenses (31,716)   (28,044)   (20,530)
    Operating loss (27,423)   (13,300)   (10,436)
               
    Non-operating income 1,629   2,374   3,937
    Debt conversion expense (32)   (562)   (827)
    Interest and amortization of debt discount (1,013)   (624)   (168)
    Non-operating expenses (2,018)   (3,107)   (5,551)
    Loss before income tax expense (28,857)   (15,219)   (13,045)
               
    Income tax income / (expense) (3,086)   (230)   3,238
    Loss from continuing operations, net (31,943)   (15,449)   (9,807)
               
    Discontinued operations:          
    Net sales from discontinued operations –   –   1,805
    Cost of sales from discontinued operations –   –   (978)
    Total operating and non-operating expenses from discontinued operations –   –   (5,274)
    Income tax recovery from discontinued operations –   –   25
    Loss on disposal of a business, net of tax on disposal –   –   (15,026)
    Income / (loss) on discontinued operations –   –   (19,448)
               
    Net loss (31,943)   (15,449)   (29,255)
               
    Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (18,497)   (89)   (1,780)
    Net loss attributable to WISeKey International
    Holding Ltd    		 (13,446)   (15,360)   (27,475)
               
    Earnings per Class A Share (USD)          
    Earnings per Class A Share from continuing operations          
    Basic (0.92)   (0.50)   (0.44)
    Diluted (0.92)   (0.50)   (0.44)
    Earnings per Class A Share from discontinued operations          
    Basic –   –   (0.87)
    Diluted –   –   (0.87)
               
    Earning per Class A Share attributable to WISeKey International Holding Ltd          
    Basic (0.39)   (0.51)   (1.22)
    Diluted (0.39)   (0.51)   (1.22)
               
    Earnings per Class B Share (USD)          
    Earnings per Class B Share from continuing operations          
    Basic (9.17)   (5.01)   (4.36)
    Diluted (9.17)   (5.01)   (4.36)
    Earnings per Class B Share from discontinued operations          
    Basic –   –   (8.65)
    Diluted –   –   (8.65)
               
    Earning per Class B Share attributable to WISeKey International Holding Ltd          
    Basic (3.86)   (5.06)   (12.22)
    Diluted (3.86)   (5.06)   (12.22)
               
    Other comprehensive income / (loss), net of tax:          
    Foreign currency translation adjustments 287   (842)   (1,434)
    Reclassifications out of the OCI arising during period –   –   1,156
    Defined benefit pension plans:          
    Net gain (loss) arising during period (1,206)   (1,151)   2,934
    Other comprehensive income / (loss) (919)   (1,993)   2,656
    Comprehensive income / (loss) (32,862)   (17,442)   (26,599)
               
    Other comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (28)   (99)   (964)
    Other comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to WISeKey International Holding Ltd (891)   (1,894)   3,620
               
    Comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests (18,525)   (188)   (2,744)
    Comprehensive income / (loss) attributable
    to WISeKey International Holding Ltd    		 (14,337)   (17,254)   (23,855)

    The notes are an integral part of our consolidated financial statements.

    Consolidated Balance Sheets [as reported]

      As at December 31,   As at December 31,
    USD’000 2024   2023
           
    ASSETS      
    Current assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents 90,600   15,311
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses 4,285   5,471
    Notes receivable, current 13   63
    Inventories 1,418   5,230
    Prepaid expenses 1,364   1,290
    Government assistance 2,247   1,718
    Other current assets 573   1,008
    Total current assets 100,500   30,091
           
    Noncurrent assets      
    Notes receivable, noncurrent 32   –
    Deferred income tax assets –   3,077
    Deferred tax credits 250   15
    Property, plant and equipment net of accumulated depreciation 3,275   3,392
    Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization 96   96
    Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,502   2,052
    Goodwill 8,317   8,317
    Equity securities, at cost 455   486
    Other noncurrent assets 261   275
    Total noncurrent assets 14,188   17,710
    TOTAL ASSETS 114,688   47,801
           
    LIABILITIES      
    Current Liabilities      
    Accounts payable 13,496   12,863
    Notes payable 5,900   4,085
    Indebtedness to related parties, current 78   79
    Convertible note payable, current 9   190
    Deferred revenue, current 93   217
    Current portion of obligations under operating lease liabilities 607   638
    Income tax payable 2   4
    Other current liabilities 1,135   832
    Total current liabilities 21,320   18,908
           
    Noncurrent liabilities      
    Bonds, mortgages and other long-term debt 102   1,820
    Convertible note payable, noncurrent –   1,519
    Deferred revenue, noncurrent 21   24
    Indebtedness to related parties, noncurrent 1,387   –
    Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent 853   1,443
    Employee benefit plan obligation 3,877   3,001
    Other noncurrent liabilities 4   2
    Total noncurrent liabilities 6,244   7,809
    TOTAL LIABILITIES 27,564   26,717
    Commitments and contingent liabilities      
           
    SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
    Common stock – Class A 16   400
               Par value – CHF 0.01 and CHF 0.25      
    Authorized – 2,000,880 and 2,000,880 shares      
    Issued and outstanding – 1,600,880 and 1,600,880 shares      
    Common stock – Class B 359   8,170
    Par value – CHF 0.10 and CHF 2.50      
    Authorized – 6,194,267 and 6,194,267      
    Issued – 3,365,560 and 3,076,150      
    Outstanding – 3,309,052 and 2,954,097      
    Share subscription in progress 1   –
    Treasury stock, at cost (56,508 and 122,053 shares held) (502)   (691)
    Additional paid-in capital 316,431   289,448
    Accumulated other comprehensive income / (loss) 3,150   4,041
    Accumulated deficit (294,407)   (280,961)
    Total shareholders’ equity attributable to WISeKey shareholders 25,048   20,407
    Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries 62,076   677
    Total shareholders’ equity 87,124   21,084
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 114,688   47,801

    The notes are an integral part of our consolidated financial statements.

    Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the 2024 annual report, identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting relating to an ineffective review control that was identified by the auditor.  As a result, an adjustment was made to the additional paid-in capital and noncontrolling interest in the equity accounts by the Company prior to the issuance of the financial statements ended December 31, 2024, which did not impact upon the total equity. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

    About WISeKey
    WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a global leader in cybersecurity, digital identity, and IoT solutions platform. It operates as a Swiss-based holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

    Each subsidiary contributes to WISeKey’s mission of securing the internet while focusing on their respective areas of research and expertise. Their technologies seamlessly integrate into the comprehensive WISeKey platform. WISeKey secures digital identity ecosystems for individuals and objects using Blockchain, AI, and IoT technologies. With over 1.6 billion microchips deployed across various IoT sectors, WISeKey plays a vital role in securing the Internet of Everything. The company’s semiconductors generate valuable Big Data that, when analyzed with AI, enable predictive equipment failure prevention. Trusted by the OISTE/WISeKey cryptographic Root of Trust, WISeKey provides secure authentication and identification for IoT, Blockchain, and AI applications. The WISeKey Root of Trust ensures the integrity of online transactions between objects and people. For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit www.wisekey.com.

    Disclaimer

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our business strategy, financial performance, results of operations, market data, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, as well as any other statements which are not historical facts and can be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and “would” or similar words. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include WISeKey’s ability to continue beneficial transactions with material parties, including a limited number of significant customers; market demand and semiconductor industry conditions; the growth of the post-quantum cryptography market; the adoption by developers and customers of quantum computing; the successful launch our post-quantum chips; our ability to sell post-quantum cryptography products to consumers; our ability to develop NIST-approved algorithms for our post-quantum semiconductor technologies; our ability to expand our chip personalization services; our ability to derive consolidated revenue from our planned investments; growth in our cybersecurity certificate and managed PKI services and acquisitions; our ability to expand our Semiconductor personalization and design facilities and semiconductor production; our ability to grow our U.S., Middle East and Asia-Pacific market presence; our ability to expand our Trust services; our development and tokenization of WISe.ART; our expansion of the WISeSat.Space project and the deployment of our next generation satellites; our proposed expansion into EMEA, North America and Asia; the deployment and commercialization of SEALCOIN and TIoT; the ongoing development and adopted of WISeID; and the risks discussed in WISeKey’s filings with the SEC. Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by WISeKey with the SEC.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

    Press and Investor Contacts

    WISeKey International Holding Ltd
    Company Contact:  Carlos Moreira
    Chairman & CEO
    Tel: +41 22 594 3000
    info@wisekey.com     		 WISeKey Investor Relations (US) 
    The Equity Group Inc.
    Lena Cati
    Tel: +1 212 836-9611
    lcati@equityny.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EUROPE/ITALY – Farewell to Father Angelo Lazzarotto, a great friend of Chinese Catholics

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    photo Lino Giudice

    by Gianni ValenteRancio di Lecco (Agenzia Fides) – The old group photo chosen to accompany this memory portrays him in civilian clothes, just behind Deng Xiaoping. It was May 22, 1978. At 53 years old, the priest and PIME missionary – his friend Lino Giudice tells us today – had managed to be included in the delegation, accredited in his visa application as a “spiritual advisor” to the Milanese politician Vittorino Colombo, visible in the photo to the left of the “Little Helmsman.”Colombo, a Christian Democrat senator, was at the time one of the “bridge builders” with post-Maoist China led by Deng on the path of open-minded reforms. Father Angelo took advantage of even the smallest opportunity to reach out and see how he could support the Chinese Catholic communities, severely affected by the turbulent years of the Red Guards and Cultural Revolution.Father Lazzarotto died this Tuesday, April 15, at the nursing home for missionaries of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Rancio di Lecco, where he had been receiving care since 2017. He would have turned 100 on May 14. The photo published in the “Quotidiano del Popolo” in 1978 sums up a long and passionate life dedicated to bearing witness to Christ, with a special love for his Chinese brothers and sisters.Born in Falzè di Piave, in the province of Treviso, Father Angelo discovered his missionary vocation during high school in Conegliano Veneto. He entered the PIME high school seminary in Genoa at the age of 15 and was soon impressed by the stories of faith shared by missionaries in China. He was ordained a priest on December 20, 1947, and the following year began studies in Missiology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, where he earned a degree three years later. In 1955, he also earned a degree in Missionary Law from the same university. During his time in Rome, he became acquainted with the Focolare Movement and immersed himself in the spirituality of unity and communion of Chiara Lubich.Throughout his life, Father Lazzarotto served the universal Church and especially the Church in China in many ways. Sent for the first time to Hong Kong in 1956, then a British colony, he experienced first-hand the difficulties faced by Chinese Catholic communities. After several years of service at his missionary Institute, he returned to Hong Kong in 1979. From 1985 to 1990, he was appointed Rector of the Pontifical Urban College of Propaganda Fide, by Cardinal Prefect Jozef Tomko. Later, in the 1990s, as the PIME website notes, “he actively collaborated with the CUM (United Center for the Missionary Cooperation among Churches ) in Verona, especially in the sections dedicated to Africa and Asia, for which he was responsible.”His passion for the Church in China can also be seen in his countless publications, books, articles, conferences, speeches and numerous trips to maintain contact with Chinese Catholic communities, listening first-hand to their desires, sufferings and prayers.Father Angelo was part of that group of missionary-Sinologists who, with different sensibilities but a common passion, helped in the decades following the Cultural Revolution to understand and accompany the reality of the Catholic Church in China and its journey in following the faith of the Apostles. Among them were Frenchman Jean Charbonnier, Polish Roman Malek, and his PIME confrere Giancarlo Politi, who preceded him in eternal rest.His intentions and speeches, always aimed at recognizing living faith in the midst of difficulties, promoted paths of communion and reconciliation, encouraging Chinese Catholic communities to overcome, or at least not exacerbate, contrasts and divisions.Father Lazzarotto’s funeral will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the PIME house in Rancio, Lecco. His remains will rest in the PIME Missionaries Cemetery in Villa Grugana, in the province of Lecco, Lombardy (Italy). (Agenzia Fides, 16/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MALAYSIA – More than two thousand young people and adults will receive baptism at the Easter Vigil

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    photo stignatiuspj.org

    Kuala Lumpur (Agenzia Fides) – The Gospel attracts young people and adults seeking baptism in Malaysia: according to official communications from the local Church, the Catholic community in Malaysia will welcome more than 2,000 new faithful at the 2025 Easter Vigil, which will be celebrated on the evening of April 19: 1,047 newly baptized in Peninsular Malaysia and an equivalent number in Malaysian Borneo. During Lent, the catechumens celebrated the “Rite of Election,” a liturgical act marking the formal reception of catechumens into the Church, while the faithful united in prayer.In Kajang, in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, the rite took place in the Church of the Holy Family and brought together 549 catechumens. Archbishop Julian Leow, who presided over the Mass, recalled the theme of the Jubilee Year, “Pilgrims of Hope,” inviting the catechumens to grow in holiness: “All of us have been ‘elected,’ chosen by God to be part of His People,” he recalled.In the Diocese of Malacca-Johore, more than 281 catechumens from 17 parishes gathered in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Rite of Election. Addressing them, Bishop Bernard Paul emphasized the importance of the journey of preparation for baptism and exhorted them “to listen attentively to the voice of God, and not to be distracted. His voice is gentle, welcoming, and encouraging. God’s dream is that we are united to Him, that we are one in Him, as one people.”In the Diocese of Penang – also in Peninsular Malaysia – the Rite of Election included 156 catechumens from the deaneries of the North and Islands, and another 61 young catechumens from the deanery of Perak, who were received as “elect” at St. Michael’s Church in Ipoh. Cardinal Sebastian Francis presided over both celebrations, encouraging everyone to “embrace the joy of hope,” guided by figures such as Blessed Carlo Acutis.On the island of Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo, 1,125 catechumens from various parishes in the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu will receive baptism at Easter 2025. During the Rite of Election, which marked the conclusion of the Catechumenate period, Archbishop John Wong welcomed their intention to join the Catholic Church and declared them ready to complete the period of purification and enlightenment, a final and intense phase of preparation to receive the first three Sacraments (Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation) on Easter night. (Agenzia Fides, 17/4/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Westport Announces Annual General and Special Meeting and Timing of Q1 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westport Fuel Systems Inc. (TSX: WPRT / Nasdaq: WPRT) (“Westport” or the “Company”) announces that the Company will release Q1 2025 financial results on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, after market close. A conference call and webcast to discuss the financial results and other corporate developments will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

    Time: 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
    Call Link: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI73bcac200e5f4652873668cf803d72ed
    Webcast: https://investors.wfsinc.com

    Participants may register up to 60 minutes before the event by clicking on the call link and completing the online registration form. Upon registration, the user will receive dial-in info and a unique PIN, along with an email confirming the details.

    The webcast will be archived on Westport’s website and a replay will be available at https://investors.wfsinc.com.

    Annual General and Special Meeting

    Westport will host its 2025 Annual General and Special Meeting (the “Meeting”) virtually on May 15, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. PT (1:00 p.m. ET).

    To streamline the virtual meeting process, Westport encourages shareholders to vote in advance of the Meeting using the voting instruction form or the form of proxy which has been shared with shareholders with the Meeting materials. Further instructions on voting and accessing the meeting are contained in the Management Information Circular under “Section 1: Voting” – upon receipt, please review these materials carefully.

    Registered Shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders can attend the meeting online at https://meetnow.global/MD2JR55 to participate, vote, or submit questions during the meeting’s live webcast.

    About Westport Fuel Systems

    At Westport Fuel Systems, we are driving innovation to power a cleaner tomorrow. We are a leading supplier of advanced fuel delivery components and systems for clean, low-carbon fuels such as natural gas, renewable natural gas, propane, and hydrogen to the global transportation industry. Our technology delivers the performance and fuel efficiency required by transportation applications and the environmental benefits that address climate change and urban air quality challenges. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with operations in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, we serve our customers in approximately 70 countries with leading global transportation brands. At Westport Fuel Systems, we think ahead. For more information, visit www.wfsinc.com.

    Investor Inquiries:
    Investor Relations
    T: +1 604-718-2046
    E: invest@wfsinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Army Wickr: secure communications for mission success

    Source: United States Army

    WASHINGTON —The U.S. Army Office of the Chief Information Officer’s Enterprise Cloud Management Agency announced that Army Enterprise Wickr is now available to a wider audience, and that ECMA is now broadly accepting new user requests and is prioritizing requirements and mission needs.

    The Army faces a critical juncture in its tactical messaging and collaboration capabilities. End users need an easy-to-use, lightweight and secure platform for seamless communications to support joint, multinational and interagency interoperability during exercises and operations. Without these capabilities, users often choose unauthorized consumer applications for operational communications – applications that present substantial security and compliance risks and are often in volitation of Army and DoD policy.

    Army Wickr is an accredited, FedRAMP high, DoD IL5-authorized, cloud-native messaging and collaboration solution. It is managed and governed by ECMA in the cArmy landing zone and has been used in various pilot programs service-wide. Army Wickr retains operational security during planned exercises and emerging operations, and delivers end-to-end encryption for file sharing, video, chat, text and voice communications. The application provides enterprise-level data retention and administrative controls needed to meet recordkeeping requirements, manages user and device data remotely, and includes federation capabilities between networks.

    The platform also seamlessly integrates with the Android Tactical Assault Kit, a geospatial infrastructure and situational awareness application that provides a real-time common operating picture of people and assets within a map-based view.

    A key core capability inherent to the Army Wickr capability has been Wickr bot integrations. Wickr Bots are containerized code that provide agentic workflows to support customized activities. Currently, Army Wickr has deployed on-demand translation, data retention and broadcast bots to support various use cases. On the roadmap, ECMA is looking to integrate Army Wickr with enterprise cross-domain solution and cross-platform chat for interoperability with Army Vantage, Army Intelligence Data Platform, and MSS, and deployment of a custom bot for chat with generative artificial intelligence/ large language models.

    Army Wickr has been effective in supporting interagency collaborations, multinational exercises and warfighting efforts, including Hurricane Helene, U.S. southern border support operations, and Dark Horizon in Japan.

    ECMA continues to onboard new user requests on a rolling basis, contingent on mission priority. Organizations interested in implementing Army Wickr into their communications PACE plan can start onboarding users by sending a list of names and emails to usarmy.ecma.mbx.wickr-ops@army.mil.

    Learn more about ECMA here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Carthage Man Pleads Guilty to Burglary

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jackson, MS – On April 17, 2025, a Leake County man pleaded guilty to burglarizing the Red Water Day Care located in the Red Water Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

    According to court documents, in May of 2024, John Edward Tubby, Jr., 34, burglarized the day care, taking multiple electronic devices. Tubby was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of 2024.

    Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, made the announcement.  The Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.

    Tubby is scheduled to be sentenced in July and faces a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian K. Burns and Kevin J. Payne prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Cambodia’s path from conflict to contributing to UN Peacekeeping | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    UN Peacekeeping played a major role in Cambodia’s recovery following years of internal conflict.
    Today, Cambodia contributes to peacekeeping efforts with its mine action expertise, helping to save lives in places like South Sudan and Lebanon.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S6hOm12BZs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM chairs meeting on cleaning and rejuvenating the Yamuna

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 10:51PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired a meeting on cleaning and rejuvenating the Yamuna as well as addressing drinking water related issues of Delhi, yesterday. He affirmed that Centre will work closely with the Delhi Government to ensure world class infrastructure and ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of  Delhi.

    He wrote in a post on X:

    “Yesterday, chaired a meeting on cleaning and rejuvenating the Yamuna as well as addressing drinking water related issues of Delhi. Centre will work closely with the Delhi Government to ensure world class infrastructure and ‘Ease of Living’ for my sisters and brothers of Delhi.”

     

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (ANRF) to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players, says Dr Jitendra Singh;

    Source: Government of India

    “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (ANRF) to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players, says Dr Jitendra Singh;

    ANRF to Anchor India’s Scientific Future: Dr. Jitendra Singh Charts Roadmap for Cross-Ministry Collaboration

    ‘No More Silos’: Dr. Jitendra Singh Pitches Unified Scientific Vision

    From Lab to Market: Govt Taps ANRF to Turn Research into Scalable Public Goods with commercial viability

    Dr. Jitendra Singh Chairs Joint Review Meet of All Science Ministries, Charts Unified Innovation Roadmap

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 10:19PM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant move aimed at transforming India’s scientific research and innovation ecosystem into a collaborative and commercially viable enterprise, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh today called for positioning the newly constituted “Anusandhan” National Research Foundation (ANRF) as a critical organisation for all science ministries and departments across the government and declared that ANRF has been envisaged to anchor upscaled collaborations involving private players.

     Chairing a high-level joint  meeting of all the science Ministries and departments in Govt of India  at the National Science Centre here today, the Minister laid out a vision for aligning research outcomes across departments with national priorities, private sector participation, and market readiness.

    At the core of this shift, said Dr Jitendra Singh,  is the aspiration to build a unified research strategy that breaks silos, avoids duplication and delivers tangible, scalable benefits to society. “All the science ministries must work with the intent to deliver market-relevant, public-good products,” he  emphasised, adding that ANRF will not only act as a coordinating body but also serve as a catalyst to bring in private sector investment and innovation.

    The ANRF’s newly appointed CEO, Dr.Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, outlined a bold roadmap that envisions catalytic funding models, deep private sector integration, and AI-led scientific acceleration. The agency is set to model its functioning on globally successful institutions like the NSF and DARPA, launching cross-ministerial missions focused on economic growth and societal impact.

    Notably, ANRF is set to launch a “Small Business Deep Tech Innovation” programme inspired by global best practices, aimed at supporting startups and MSMEs in scaling technologies for real-world application. In a bid to maximise national research infrastructure, ANRF will also roll out a “Cloud of Research and Innovation Infrastructure” to allow deep-tech startups and institutions to access underused equipment across the country.

    The foundation’s AI-for-Science initiative is another key highlight, focusing on using AI to model scientific equations in physics, chemistry, and biology — a leap expected to drastically shorten the time from theory to practice in core scientific domains.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the importance of projects with visible public utility, citing CSIR’s HANSA-NG aircraft, the Department of Atomic Energy’s Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and space-based applications as models to emulate.

    The HANSA-NG, a two-seater trainer aircraft developed indigenously by CSIR-NAL, is already witnessing strong market interest with 110 orders and production lined up in collaboration with Pioneer Clean Arms Pvt Ltd. Dr. Jitendra Singh noted the project’s potential to reduce India’s dependency on expensive foreign pilot training, and suggested roping in private airlines and aerospace component manufacturers to scale up production beyond Bengaluru.

    Similarly, the Department of Atomic Energy is developing the Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), a 200 MW pressurised water reactor intended for industrial applications and grid-independent power generation. These initiatives demonstrate the type of innovation the Minister wants the ANRF to incubate and scale.

    India’s space programme also featured prominently in the review. From the recent success of the SPADEX satellite docking to the development of reusable engine technology and advanced space exploration missions, the Department of Space reported rapid strides, including preparations for India’s human spaceflight mission by 2040.

    Across the spectrum — whether it’s ocean mining technology from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, bio-manufacturing hubs by DBT, or cutting-edge chips and AI solutions in partnership with semiconductor labs — the government is pushing for synergy, scalability, and sustainability.

    Concluding the meeting, Dr. Jitendra Singh reiterated that the future of Indian science lies in integration and innovation. “The time for working in silos is over. We must institutionalise collaboration and deliver solutions that matter,” he said, signalling a new era for India’s science ecosystem — one where policy, private investment, and research institutions converge under the stewardship of ANRF.

    The meeting was attended by Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Prime Minister; Hari Ranjan Rao, Additional Secretary in the PMO; Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology; Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology; Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR; Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, ISRO and Secretary, Department of Space, along with other senior officials.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Tribal Affairs Reviews Tribal Welfare Schemes in Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Tribal Affairs Reviews Tribal Welfare Schemes in Delhi

    Three-Day National Review Charts Roadmap for Holistic Tribal Development

    Emphasis on Ground-Level Execution of PM-JANMAN & DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

    Special Focus on Education, Empowerment, and Tribal Heritage

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 10:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Government of India remains steadfast in its commitment to the holistic development of tribal communities across the country. A comprehensive suite of initiatives—ranging from scholarships, Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS), Article 275(1) grants, PM-JANMAN, DhartiAabaJanjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA), to livelihood programs and Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs)—continue to drive inclusive growth and empowerment among tribal populations.

    In line with this vision, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs conducted a three-day National Review and Orientation Meeting from 15th to 17th April 2025 in New Delhi, under the chairmanship of Shri VibhuNayar, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and the guidance of Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri JualOram. The review brought together Principal Secretaries, Tribal Welfare Secretaries, Directors, and senior officials from States and Union Territories to evaluate progress and recalibrate strategies for accelerated implementation.

    Strengthening IEC Campaign, Benefit Saturation Camp &Ground-Level Implementationof PM-JANMAN & DAJGUA

    In his inaugural address, Secretary Shri VibhuNayar stressed the importance of district- and block-level capacity building and robust institutional mechanisms to ensure effective on-ground execution& IEC Campaign ofPM-JANMAN and DAJGUA.

    Key Highlights:

    • PM-JANMAN, launched on 15th November 2023 from Khunti (the birthplace of Bhagwan Birsa Munda), aims to uplift 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 30,000 habitations, providing comprehensive last-mile delivery of housing, water, sanitation, education, healthcare, nutrition, and digital connectivity for approximately 45 lakh beneficiaries.
    • DAJGUA, a convergence-based initiative across 17 Union Ministries, targets the transformation of 63,843 tribal villages in 549 districts, impacting over 5.5 crore tribal citizens through 25 integrated interventions.
    • States have been directed to achieve complete saturation of interventions under PM-JANMAN by 15th November 2025, marking the 150th birth anniversaryofBhagwan Birsa Munda.
    • Emphasis was placed on village-wise tracking, physical completion, and quarterly progress reporting ending June 2025, with certification from Gram Sabhas as a mandatory milestone for saturation.
    • States were encouraged to replicate best practices from high-performing districts and bring lagging areas at par through knowledge-sharing and convergence.
    • States were encouraged to start IEC Campaign & Benefit saturation camp for DAJGUA in coming few weeks.
    • States were encouraged to sanction interventions under DAJGUA at faster pace.

    Elevating Quality of Education through EMRS

    The review laid strong emphasis on improving academic and infrastructural standards in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS). The Ministry’s vision is to transform EMRS into centres of academic excellence, nurturing future tribal leaders and innovators.

    Action Points:

    • Recruitment and continuous training of qualified teachers
    • Infrastructure upgrades and smart classroom facilities
    • Integration of experiential learning and 21st-century skills
    • Enhanced student and staff welfare mechanisms
    • State-wise progress on each EMRS construction was closely reviewed

    Expanding Access and Efficiency in Scholarships

    To ensure no tribal student is left behind, the Secretary urged states to step up efforts to increase awareness and timely disbursal of pre- and post-matric scholarships.

    Directives to States:

    • Ensure timely and transparent disbursal
    • Remove bureaucratic and procedural bottlenecks
    • Integrate all states into the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) or states having portal to integrate NSP portal throughAPI-based systems
    • Ensure disbursal at the beginning of the academic year to maximize impact

    Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh: A Year of Impactful Action

    Recognizing the year as Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, Shri VibhuNayarhas given special emphasis to States and TRIs to organize thematic events/ activities / campaigns / initiatives that honour tribal heritage while promoting social and economic inclusion. The key themes include:Education & Skill Development, Health & Nutrition, Livelihood & Entrepreneurship, Preservation of Tribal Art, Culture, and Language, Infrastructure and Service Delivery.

    A whole-of-government approach—involving collaboration with Line Ministries, State Departments, NGOs, and Corporates—was advocated to ensure deeper engagement and measurable impact.

    Preserving Tribal Arts, Culture, and Languages: Adi Sanskriti& Adi Vaani

    The Secretary emphasized accelerating theinitiatives like Adi Sanskriti and Adi Vaani.

    • Adi Sanskriti Project focuses on creating quality content for Tribal Art Academy, Digital Repository, and Tribal Haat to curate and promote tribal art, cuisine, rituals, and cultural expressions.
    • Adi Vaani, an AI-driven multilingual translation platform, is being leveraged to overcome language barriers in education and governance.
    • States have been instructed to identify low-resource tribal languages for AI-based documentation and development.

    Combating Sickle Cell Disease: Centers of Competency

    As part of the National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia, the Ministry announced the establishment of Centers of Competency in tribal regions. These centres will act as hubs for screening, treatment, capacity building, and community outreach.

    The three-day review culminated in a renewed commitment to inclusive, technology-driven, and community-centric approaches to tribal development. The roadmap ahead emphasizes:

    • Stronger inter-ministerial convergence
    • Capacity building at every administrative level
    • Active community participation for sustainable outcomes
    • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs continues to lead with vision and resolve, ensuring that
    • tribal citizen becomes a key stakeholder in India’s growth storyTop of Form    

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Newly Developed 220-Bedded ESIC Hospital in Ranchi, Jharkhand

    Source: Government of India

    Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Newly Developed 220-Bedded ESIC Hospital in Ranchi, Jharkhand

    “This ESIC hospital is not just a building but a temple” – Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya

    Union Minister Distributes Cash Benefit Certificates/Sanction Letters to ESIC Beneficiaries and Honours Construction Workers

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 9:59PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, today, on April 17, 2025, inaugurated the newly developed 220-bedded ESIC Hospital in Namkum, Ranchi, Jharkhand. This state-of-the-art hospital marks a significant milestone in strengthening healthcare delivery under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme in the state of Jharkhand. The event was graced by Union Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth along with Shri Pradip Verma, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), and senior officers of ESIC.

    During the programme, Dr. Mandaviya honoured the ESIC beneficiaries and presented them with cash benefit certificates/sanction letters. He also felicitated the construction workers involved in the construction of the hospital.

    In his address, Dr. Mandaviya said that today is a momentous day for Ranchi and in the coming days, this hospital will provide healthcare services to over 5 lakh workers.

    He stated that this hospital is not just a structure but a symbol of the hard work and dedication of our workers. Referring to the government’s post-COVID initiatives, he highlighted that 80 crore people are being provided with free food grains and more than 60 crore people are receiving free healthcare worth ₹5 lakh per annum under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

    Concluding his address, Union Minister said, “This hospital is not just a building, it is a temple. All the doctors and staff working here are like priests, and the patients who come here are akin to God for us. We will serve them with complete devotion and dedication.”

    Union Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth congratulated everyone on the inauguration of the hospital and urged that more services be provided to the poor and underprivileged. He advocated for the early establishment of a medical college at the facility to further enhance healthcare services in the region. He also welcomed Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to the land of Jharkhand and lauded his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic as the then Health Minister.

    The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) had approved the construction of this 200-bedded hospital in June 2018 to enhance healthcare services in the region. Construction began on 31st May 2018 and has now been completed. The hospital has now been upgraded to a 220-bedded facility. It is noteworthy that ESIC has also approved the establishment of a medical college with 50 MBBS seats in October 2024, which is expected to commence operations soon.

    The hospital is equipped with essential departments such as General Medicine, Surgery, Gynecology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, and Dentistry, along with various support services. It offers both Outpatient (OPD) and Inpatient (IPD) care. As such, the medical needs of ESIC beneficiaries will be effectively addressed. The upgraded hospital will now also provide specialty and super-specialty care, significantly enhancing access to advanced healthcare for residents of Ranchi and neighbouring districts.

    Over 5 lakh insured persons (IPs) and their dependents are expected to benefit from this modernized hospital. The hospital complex includes a basement, ground floor, and four additional floors, spread over 7.9 acres. The new building has been constructed at a cost of ₹99.06 crore and covers a built-up area of 17,559 square meters.

    This four-storeyed hospital houses three modern operation theatres (OTs), with provision for an additional OT. It comprises 34 wards and 6 isolation wards, 40 OPD rooms, and ample space for doctors, administrative officials, and staff.

    It is worth mentioning that the ESIC Hospital in Namkum, Ranchi was originally established in 1987 with the primary objective of providing accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare to insured workers and their families. For over four decades, this hospital has catered to the healthcare needs of industrial workers in Ranchi and surrounding areas.

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    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ombudsman welcomes and thanks CE for establishing a working group to follow up on recommendations made by his Office

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Office of The Ombudsman:

    ​The Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, today (April 17) welcomes and thanks the Chief Executive for his announcement of a working group led by the Chief Secretary for Administration to conduct in-depth review on the recommendations from the Office of The Ombudsman’s direct investigation operations, ensuring that these recommendations are proactively followed up. Mr Chan is very encouraged by the support and recognition of the Chief Executive on the work of his Office.

    Mr Chan said, “I am grateful for the Chief Executive’s recognition of the work of my Office. The establishment of the working group fully reflects the current term Government’s commitment and determination to strengthening the departmental management systems and reinforcing performance accountability among departmental managerial staff, so as to enhance public service management and efficiency, as well as for good governance.”

    The Office will fully co-operate with the working group and join hands with various government departments to strengthen the effectiveness of public administration, ensuring that the public will receive high-quality and efficient government services.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CS at Launch Ceremony of JC Project MuSE (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Launch Ceremony of the JC Project MuSE today (April 17):

    Mr Michael Lee (Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TRAI releases report on Independent Drive Tests (IDT) conducted in six LSAs covering City/ Highways/ Railway routes/ coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh LSA, Himachal Pradesh LSA, Kerala LSA, UP-West LSA, Gujarat LSA and Odisha LSA during Feb 2025.

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 7:07PM by PIB Delhi

    TRAI, through its appointed agency, conducted Independent Drive Tests (IDT) in cities/highways/Railway/Coastal area of Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh LSA), City & Railway route of Shimla (Himachal Pradesh LSA), Alappuzha & Alappuzha Backwaters (Kerala LSA), Dehradun (UP-West LSA), Rajkot (Gujarat LSA), Highway route of Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur, Railway route from Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar and Coastal area of Paradeep (Odisha LSA). Drive tests were conducted to assess the quality of service provided by Cellular Mobile Telephone Service providers for voice and data services in February 2025.

    1. In IDT, the performance of M/s Bharti Airtel Ltd., M/s BSNL/MTNL, M/s Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. and M/s Vodafone Idea Ltd., providing services in a Licensed Service Area (LSA) through various technologies (like 2G/ 3G/ 4G/ 5G) for voice and data, has been measured by conducting drive test. The observations presented in drive test reports represent the performance of the service providers on the area/ route under test on the day/ time of conducting the drive test.
    2. The following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Voice as well as Data service were assessed for the networks of all Telecom service providers operating in the region:
    1. Voice services:
    1. Call setup success rate
    2. Drop call rate (DCR)
    3. Speech Quality using MOS (mean opinion score)
    4. Downlink & Uplink packet (voice) drop rate
    5. Call Silence Rate
    6. Coverage (%)- Signal strength

     

    1. Data Service:
    1. Data Throughput (Downlink and uplink both)
    2. Packet drop rate (Downlink & Uplink)
    3. Video streaming delay
    4. Latency
    5. Jitter

     

    1. The details of drive tests conducted in the six areas are given below:

    S. No.

    City / Routes Covered

    Licensed Service Area

    Period of Drive Test

    Distance Covered

    Performance summary

    (attached at)

    1

    Alappuzha & Alappuzha Backwaters

    Kerala

    11-02-2025 to 14-02-2025

    City: 309 Kms

    Walk Test: 3.7 Kms

    Coastal: 11.7 Kms

    Annexure A

    2

    Dehradun

    UP West

    04-02-2025 to 07-02-2025

    City: 227.5 Kms

    Annexure B

    3

    Shimla

    Himachal Pradesh

    24-02-2025 to 27-02-2025

    City: 158.1 Kms

    Railway: 95.7 Kms

    Annexure C

    4

    Highway: Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur,

    Railway: Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar and Coastal: Paradeep

    Odisha

    19-02-2025 to 20-02-2025

    Highway:268.5 Kms

    Railway: 165.8 Kms

    Coastal: 2.8 Kms

    Annexure D

    5

    Hyderabad

    Andhra Pradesh

    03-02-2025 to 06-02-2025

    City: 391 Kms

    Walk Test: 5 Kms

    Annexure E

    6

    Rajkot

    Gujarat

    17-02-2025 to 20-02-2025

    City: 367.8 Kms

    Walk Test: 1 Kms

    Annexure F

     

    1. The detailed reports are available at TRAI website www.trai.gov.in. For any clarification/information, Shri Tejpal Singh, Advisor (QoS-I) TRAI may be contacted on email: adv-qos1@trai.gov.in or at Tel. No. +91-11-20907759.

     

    (Atul Kumar Chaudhary)

    Secretary

    Annexure-A

    1. Drive test route Map: (Alappuzha City & Alappuzha Backwaters- Kerala LSA)

    This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Alappuzha & Alappuzha Backwaters under Kerala LSA.

    Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below
    1. Performance against key QoS parameters:

    CSSR: Call setup success rate (in %), CST: Call setup time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop call rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score.

     

     

    1. Drive test route Map: (Dehradun City- UP West LSA)

    This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Dehradun City under UP West LSA. Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below

     

    1. Performance against key QoS parameters:

    CSSR: Call setup success rate (in %), CST: Call setup time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop call rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score.

     

     

    1. Drive test route Map: (Shimla – Himachal Pradesh LSA)

    This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Shimla City and Railway route from Shimla to Kalka under Himachal Pradesh LSA.

    Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below

     

    1. Performance against key QoS parameters:

    CSSR: Call setup success rate (in %), CST: Call setup time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop call rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score.

     

     

    Drive test route Map: (Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur Highway & Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar Railway Route & Paradeep Coastal area – Odisha LSA)

    This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Visakhapatnam to Brahmapur Highway & Brahmapur to Bhubaneswar Railway Route & Paradeep Coast under Odisha LSA.

    Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below

     

    1. Performance against key QoS parameters:

    CSSR: Call setup success rate (in %), CST: Call setup time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop call rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score.

     

    1. Drive test route Map: (Hyderabad City- Andhra Pradesh LSA)

    This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Hyderabad City under Andhra Pradesh LSA.  Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below

     

    1. Performance against key QoS parameters:

    CSSR: Call setup success rate (in %), CST: Call setup time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop call rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score.

     

    1.   Drive test route Map: (Rajkot City- Gujarat LSA)

    This route map indicates the routes covered in independent drive test in Rajkot City under Gujarat LSA.

    Legends for the Drive Tests route & area are as below

     

    2.   Performance against key QoS parameters:

            CSSR: Call setup success rate (in %), CST: Call setup time (in milli seconds), DCR: Drop call rate (in %) & MOS: Mean Opinion Score.

     

     Summary-Voice Service

    Call Setup Success Rate:  Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have call setup success rate of 99.85%, 91.75%, 99.86% and 100.00% respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).

    Call Setup Time: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have call setup time of 1.25, 1.56, 0.72 & 0.77 seconds respectively in Auto-selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).

     Drop Call Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have drop call rate of 0.00%, 0.90%, 0.14% & 0.15% respectively in Auto selection mode (5G/4G/3G/2G).

    Call Silence/Mute Rate: Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have silence rate of 0.00%, 6.95%, 0.56% & 0.56% respectively in packet switched network (4G/5G).

    Mean Opinion Score (MOS): Airtel, BSNL, RJIL and VIL have MOS score of 4.02, 2.91, 3.91 & 4.53 respectively.

         *****

    Samrat/Allen

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government holds seminar on “United Response to US’s Unjustified Imposition of Tariffs” for HKSAR Deputies to NPC and HKSAR members of National Committee of CPPCC (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Government held a seminar today (April 17) at the Central Government Offices to exchange views with around 100 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on the United States (US)’s unjustified imposition of tariffs. The seminar aimed to address the risks posed by the US’s bullying and barbaric actions and to unite all sectors in analysing and seizing opportunities in the new international trade order.

    The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, stated at the seminar that the US’s recent imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” on multiple countries and regions seriously violates the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and recklessly undermines the international trade order. He pointed out that the US’s imposition of a so-called 145 per cent tariff on Hong Kong, which has zero tariffs, is full of fallacies and violates logic. The Government has repeatedly issued stern statements expressing strong disapproval and urged the US to cease disrupting free trade.

    The opinions expressed at the seminar reflected that the US Government’s bullying and unjustified imposition of tariffs is a disruption to the global trade order, severely impacting the global supply chain that many countries have worked hard to establish over the past few decades. Hong Kong will not yield and will face challenges with a firm attitude of turning crises into opportunities. In the process of restructuring global trade relations and supply chains, Hong Kong must maintain confidence, stand shoulder to shoulder with our country, grasp the emerging new order, explore new trade frontiers, safeguard economic security, and promote economic upgrading and transformation.

    The Government is fully committed to leading society in unity and co-operation, strengthening regional trade collaboration, deepening international exchanges and co-operation, exploring emerging markets, and driving the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

    As members of the country’s major institutions, HKSAR deputies to the NPC and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC are leaders from various sectors of Hong Kong. They will leverage their influence in their respective roles, consolidate strength, and play a driving role in the “long battle” of restructuring the trade order. They will also provide advice to the Government to jointly navigate through this “long battle”.

    Also attending the seminar were the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing; the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Acting Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mr Liu Chun-san; and the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan.

    Under the guidance of the Chief Executive, the current-term Government has established a regular exchange mechanism with HKSAR deputies to the NPC and HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC to enhance the Government’s communication and collaboration with them. This includes exchanges and meetings on a regular and non-regular basis, seminars and exchange sessions on various issues and policies. An exchange and liaison office and an exclusive contact point for the NPC deputies and CPPCC members have also been set up to better collect their views and recommendations. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau will continue to take forward the regular exchange mechanism for strengthening the organisation and unity of patriots with affection for the country and our city.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS leads working group to strengthen departmental management regime establishment and performance accountability

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​To enhance governance efficiency and strengthen performance accountability, the Chief Executive has instructed the Chief Secretary for Administration to lead a working group to conduct in-depth reviews of the direct investigation operation reports issued by the Office of The Ombudsman from time to time. This aims to ensure that all heads of government departments proactively follow up on the recommendations from these investigations while strengthening the establishment of departmental management systems and reinforcing performance accountability among departmental managerial staff to enhance public service management.

    Regarding the report released by the Office of The Ombudsman yesterday (April 16) on its direct investigation operation into the Government’s regulation of occupational safety and health (OSH) in the construction industry, the Chief Secretary for Administration will meet with the Ombudsman, Mr Jack Chan, to discuss the investigation findings and analyses in depth. The working group will gain a thorough understanding of the bottlenecks and core issues in the Government’s regulation of OSH in the construction industry, with a view to further enhancing the establishment of relevant departmental management systems, particularly the leadership and supervisory functions of managerial staff.

    The Development Bureau, the Labour Department (LD), and the Buildings Department are thoroughly examining and studying the report released by the Office of The Ombudsman and are actively following up on the recommendations. The LD has referred the suspected criminal fraudulent acts discovered during the investigation to law enforcement agencies for follow-up.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: C-DOT and Sterlite Technologies Ltd. (STL) achieve India’s First Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) over Multi-Core Fibre

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 4:49PM by PIB Delhi

    In a landmark achievement, C-DOT, jointly with Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL), has successfully tested India’s first QKD transmission over a 4-core Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) — marking a major milestone in the nation’s journey towards quantum-secured communication networks.

    Multi-Core Fibre (MCF) technology provides a powerful solution by enabling data transmission  across multiple cores within a single fibre, significantly saving physical space and infrastructure costs. In the context of QKD — which typically requires a dedicated dark fibre for the quantum  channel, MCF offers a significant advantage: it enables the physical separation of quantum  and classical signals into distinct cores within single fibre. This allows for the simultaneous transmission of QKD and high-capacity data traffic on a single fibre without compromising quantum signal integrity thereby saving fibre cost.

    In this activity, the quantum signals of QKD were transmitted through one core, while simultaneously, the other three cores on the same fibre were used to carry high-speed user data. A stable QKD link was established over a distance exceeding 100 km, validating the robustness and stability of quantum communication even amidst high-capacity classical data traffic.

    The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), India’s premier telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of  India, has emerged as a key player in advancing India’s quantum communication ecosystem.  C-DOT has successfully developed and deployed industry-grade Quantum Key Distribution  (QKD) systems. Notably, C-DOT’s QKD systems have received Technology Approval from the  Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), a body under the DoT. 

    Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL) is a leading global provider of integrated digital networks, specialising in optical fibre manufacturing and network designs, with 10+ global manufacturing plants and a customer base spanning 100+ countries. As a trailblazer in Optical  Networking, Optical Connectivity, Data Centres, and Enterprise solutions, STL has recently developed Multi-Core Fibre (MCF), positioning it at the forefront of building future-ready,  scalable fibre networks. STL’s Multicore fibre leverages Space Division Multiplexing in 7 and 4  core fibre to achieve ultra-high transmission capacity per fibre within the same diameter. 

    Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, stated, “This initiative is a  key milestone for India’s telecom ecosystem. This achievement clearly establishes the  feasibility of integrated quantum-classical networks over next-generation optical fibres saving  costs for QKD deployments drastically”.

    Rahul Puri, CEO, Optical Networking Business, STL said: “This breakthrough collaboration with C-DOT underscores India’s growing prowess in pioneering next-gen digital infrastructure. By successfully integrating QKD with our indigenously developed MCF, we have demonstrated how cutting-edge optical innovations can revolutionized secure communication. We are committed to advancing India’s quantum communication ambitions while driving global optical leadership. This milestone is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in building a digitally sovereign and secure nation.”

    Both C-DOT and Sterlite Technologies (STL) reaffirm their commitment to advancing India’s capabilities in quantum communication and optical network innovations. This achievement is a foundational step toward realizing a cost effective, secure and resilient national quantum communication infrastructure.

    *****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurates a national dialogue on ‘Self-Empowerment through Inner Awakening’ for security forces personnel at Abu Road, Rajasthan

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurates a national dialogue on ‘Self-Empowerment through Inner Awakening’ for security forces personnel at Abu Road, Rajasthan

    Brahma Kumari Sansthan has created a wonderful environment of simplicity, abstinence and cooperation in the world through sacrifice, penance and its brilliance

    Brahma Kumari Sansthan is working as an ambassador of Indian culture by taking the message of peace and dialogue to the whole world

    Prime Minister Modi Ji has done the work of giving our Vedic tradition to the whole world by celebrating International Yoga Day on 21st June

    Today, crores of people in the world are walking the path of yoga, meditation and spirituality; this will become the path of world peace in the coming times

    For the last 25 years, the efforts of Brahma Kumaris to reduce the stress of security personnel and lead them towards peace are commendable

    Pujya Lekhraj Kripalani Ji established Brahma Kumari Sansthan and turned each one’s soul into a lamp to help them walk on the path of light

    Posted On: 17 APR 2025 6:56PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today inaugurated a national dialogue on ‘Self-Empowerment through Inner Awakening’ for security forces personnel in Rajasthan. Many dignitaries including Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma were present on the occasion.

    In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Brahma Kumaris are working to light a lamp of peace and spiritual practice in every human being across the world through yoga and meditation. He said that efforts are made here to awaken the goodness within every person and they have been doing it for a long time now. He added that one can feel an amazingly peaceful atmosphere when they arrive here and it is because of the spiritual energy existing in this place.

    Shri Amit Shah said that when one finds a Guru in personal life, he is able to lead the path of righteousness and there are many examples of it. He said that some people do such work that it turns every person’s soul into a lamp and help them walk on the path of light. He said that by establishing Brahma Kumari, Lekhraj Kripalani Ji made a big call to make every person’s soul a lamp and move forward on the path of light, which is having a huge impact on the society today.

    Union Home Minister said that Brahma Kumaris have worked to create a wonderful environment of simplicity, abstinence and cooperation across the world through their sacrifice, penance and brilliance. He said that two programs have taken place here simultaneously today – first, the launch of the theme of the year 2025-26 of the Brahma Kumari Sansthan, ‘Meditation for World Unity and World Faith, and, second, the inauguration of the national dialogue on self-empowerment through inner awakening of security force personnel.

    Shri Amit Shah said that after 75 years of independence, our country has come a long way and has become the fifth largest economy in the world and in a few years we will become the third largest economy. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are aiming to become the leader in every field in the world on the centenary of independence in 2047. He said that India’s goal should be to take forward our traditions, that have the ability to lead to world brotherhood, connect the soul of every human with the divine and lead every life on the path of virtue, and organizations like Brahma Kumari are doing well in this direction.

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the nation’s safety today is the result of the immense sacrifice and dedication of our security forces. He acknowledged the tireless efforts of our personnel who guard the borders under the most challenging conditions. He emphasized that in matters of internal security, the Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and state police forces work diligently to uphold law and order and protect the vulnerable — a responsibility that often brings significant stress. Highlighting the importance of mental and emotional well-being, he said that helping security personnel find peace in their mind, body, and soul is a crucial mission. In this regard, he praised the Brahma Kumaris for their commendable efforts over the past 25 years in reaching out to security forces, alleviating their stress, and promoting inner peace, which in turn contributes to a stronger and more secure nation.

    Shri Amit Shah highlighted India’s ancient tradition of harmonizing the mind, body, intellect, and soul through yoga and spirituality. He said that this legacy has long guided us on the path of knowledge, progress, and thoughtful policymaking to solve complex problems. He noted that today India continues to share this timeless wisdom with the world. He emphasized that the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the idea that the whole world is one family—originated from India’s Upanishads, which embraced a global sense of unity and belonging. Shri Shah added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India took a significant step in promoting its Vedic heritage globally by establishing International Yoga Day on 21st June. He added that today millions around the world are embracing yoga, meditation, and spirituality as a way of life. He expressed confidence that this path will increasingly become a foundation for global peace in the years to come.

    Union Home Minister said that the profound knowledge of the soul, God, and the cycle of creation received by Pujya Lekhraj Kripalani Ji came to be known as “Brahma,” and the Brahma Kumaris organization was founded to share this spiritual wisdom with the world. He highlighted the vital role of women in this mission, noting that for generations, the divine feminine has been revered, and women have been at the heart of the Brahma Kumaris’ leadership and service. He emphasized that true change in the world begins with self-transformation—only when an individual transforms from within can they inspire change in others. Guided by this principle, the Brahma Kumaris have spread powerful and positive thoughts around the world. The Home Minister praised the organization for promoting values such as celibacy, vegetarianism, de-addiction, simplicity, and meditation. Through these practices, they help individuals connect the soul with God and realize their inner nature as pure, peaceful, and eternal beings—all in an accessible and relatable way. He said that through the strength of womanhood, the Brahma Kumaris have become ambassadors of Indian culture, spreading the message of peace, dialogue, and spiritual harmony across the globe.

    *****

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    Read this release in: Hindi

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