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Category: Banking

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) Opens its Doors to the Public as it Seeks to Transform Healthcare in Africa

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABUJA, Nigeria, June 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE) officially opened today, marking a historic milestone in Africa’s journey towards healthcare sovereignty. The US$300 million tertiary medical facility, developed by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) in partnership with King’s College Hospital London, welcomed His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as guest of honour, represented by His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alongside high-ranking Government and private sector officials, including the Minsters of Health, Finance, and Foreign Affairs, Nigeria Customs Services, Nigeria Immigration Services, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Bank of Industry (BOI), among others.

    Located in Abuja and designed to meet the highest global standards, AMCE Abuja offers world-class services across oncology, haematology, cardiology, and general medical services. More than a hospital, the facility represents a bold statement of Africa’s determination to reduce dependence on foreign health systems and reverse the estimated US$6-10 billion Africans spend annually seeking treatment abroad.

    The opening of AMCE Abuja comes at a critical time, as Africa seeks to strengthen its healthcare systems and reduce reliance on external providers. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of this reliance, with global supply shortages putting immense pressure on African nations. Similarly, past responses to health crises like Ebola have reinforced the urgent need for resilient, homegrown solutions. Decades after independence, millions of Africans continue to suffer from diseases like sickle cell and malaria, conditions that could be better managed with targeted local research and investment. Yet these illnesses often receive limited global attention or funding, leaving critical treatment gaps. AMCE Abuja represents a bold step forward, bringing world-class care to the continent, centering African health priorities, and laying the groundwork for a healthier, more self-reliant future. In strategic partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI), and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), AMCE reflects what’s possible when African institutions unite with shared purpose.

     “Today, we are not merely unveiling a building, we are making a bold, collective statement: we will no longer accept medical vulnerability as destiny. The African Medical Centre of Excellence stands as proof that Africa is ready to compete with the best in global healthcare. I commend Afreximbank and its visionary President, Professor Benedict Oramah, and salute the partnership with King’s College Hospital for turning this audacious dream into reality. This is what happens when African institutions confront African challenges with African solutions.

    “Over the past two years, we have taken deliberate steps to transform Nigeria’s health sector—from unlocking the healthcare value chain through the Presidential Initiative (PVAC), to expanding pharmaceutical production, regulatory systems, and diagnostic access, and securing over $2.2 billion in new investments through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative. But excellence must be sustained. That’s why we’re investing in the roads, power, and connectivity that enable great institutions to thrive. With the largest stem cell lab in West Africa and plans for a medical school, this Centre is more than a hospital, it is a place to heal the sick, and to train the future.” — H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, represented by H.E. Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

    Commenting on the momentous achievement, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of both Afreximbank and AMCE, thanked the Federal Government of Nigeria for providing the land on which the AMCE stands, adding: ” In 2013, I had my own close call when I became seriously ill and was evacuated to King’s College Hospital in London, where a frantic battle to save my life ensued. Being here today is a testament to the power of cutting-edge medical research, clinical knowledge, and a solid healthcare ecosystem. The event we mark today is proof that society is better off saving lives than burying its dead, and that it is a living person who can contribute to development and social transformation. This experience led me to conclude that one of the major contributions I could make to Africa was to help Afreximbank deliver on its health and medical strategy in every way possible. Our vision for the African Medical Centre of Excellence is not just to provide top-notch healthcare but to serve as a catalyst for the transformation of the African health sector, making a bold statement to the world that Africa is finally taking its destiny into its own hands in healthcare sovereignty and global standards.”

    President Oramah also announced the launch of the Africa Life Sciences Foundation to act as the vehicle for mobilising appropriate risk capital to drive research efforts and called on African and non-African governments, banks, high net worth individuals and corporate organisations to join the Bank in investing in the hospital, through this platform.

    Brian Deaver, Chief Executive Officer of AMCE, highlighted the facility’s comprehensive approach: “Today, we don’t just open a hospital—we launch a healthcare revolution for Africa. AMCE represents a paradigm shift in how specialised medical care is delivered on the continent. Our integrated model encompasses early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and long-term disease management, creating a seamless continuum of care that improves patient outcomes and health experiences.”

    He added: “Our mission extends beyond treatment to include world-class medical education, groundbreaking research, and continuous innovation. By combining international expertise with local talent development, AMCE will build sustainable healthcare capacity that serves generations to come.  

    AMCE’s opening signals a new era for Africa — one in which self-reliance replaces dependency, and world-class care is no longer the privilege of a few but the standard for many. By anchoring healthcare delivery, talent development, and innovation on the continent, AMCE is not just stemming the outflow of medical dollars, but redefining Africa’s place in the global health ecosystem.

    Through its clinical partnerships with King’s College Hospital, London and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, AMCE will be home to advance research, education, and medical excellence by fostering continuous knowledge exchange. In its next phase, AMCE will expand to include a second 350-bed hospital, medical and nursing schools, a medical sciences foundation, research centres, and residential facilities. Together, this integrated ecosystem will position Nigeria as a leading hub for specialist healthcare, medical training, and clinical research on the continent.

    Professor Clive Kay, Chief Executive Officer of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said, “We are proud to partner with Afreximbank on this important initiative. The African Medical Centre of Excellence represents a positive step forward, and by bringing together world-class clinical standards, training, and research, we aim to share our expertise and support the development of a sustainable model of care that responds directly to the needs of African patients”.

    Now open, AMCE welcomes patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, and partners to join its mission of delivering world-class healthcare, fostering innovation, and building a healthier, more self-reliant Africa. AMCE is the largest specialised private hospital in Nigeria and West Africa focusing on cardiovascular services, haematology, comprehensive oncology, and general medical services. It currently boasts of 170 beds with a plan to expand this to 500 beds upon completion. It features the largest stem cell laboratory in the region, fifteen post stem cell isolation rooms in West Africa alongside five theatres and three catheterisation laboratories. It also features a 20 bed intensive care unit, six critical care unit beds and 20 chemotherapy chairs with compounding pharmacy among others. Some of the specialised equipment in Nigeria and the region are exclusively hosted by AMCE Abuja. They include the 18 Mev cyclotron, 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 256 slices computed tomography, brachytherapy machine with iridium source, 4 biosafety cabinets and 128 slices computed tomography machines, among others. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FEMA Assistance Extended To July 25 for Kentuckians Affected by April Storms

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: FEMA Assistance Extended To July 25 for Kentuckians Affected by April Storms

    FEMA Assistance Extended To July 25 for Kentuckians Affected by April Storms

    FRANKFORT, Ky

    – Kentucky homeowners and renters who suffered uninsured or underinsured damage to their property from the April severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, landslides and mudslides now have until July 25 to apply for FEMA assistance

    Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance

    FEMA Individual Assistance cannot duplicate insurance benefits or other sources of assistance

     How To Apply for FEMA AssistanceThere are several ways to apply for FEMA assistance:Online at DisasterAssistance

    gov

    Visit any Disaster Recovery Center

    To find a center close to you, visit fema

    gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”)

    Use the FEMA mobile app

    Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362

    It is open 7 a

    m

    to 10 p

    m

    Eastern Time

    Help is available in many languages

    If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service

     FEMA works with every household on a case-by-case basis

    FEMA representatives can explain available assistance programs, how to apply to FEMA, and help connect survivors with resources for their recovery needs

    When you apply, you will need to provide:A current phone number where you can be contacted

    Your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying

    Your Social Security Number

    A general list of damage and losses

    Banking information if you choose direct deposit

     If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name

    Survivors should keep their contact information updated with FEMA as the agency may need to call to schedule a home inspection or get additional information

     Disaster assistance is not a substitute for insurance and is not intended to compensate for all losses caused by a disaster

    The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts

     For more information about Kentucky flooding recovery, visit www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4860 and www

    fema

    gov/disaster/4864

    Follow the FEMA Region 4 X account at x

    com/femaregion4

     
    martyce

    allenjr
    Thu, 06/05/2025 – 12:47

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom provides eligible homeowners $20,000 through new CalAssist Mortgage Fund for California disaster survivors

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 5, 2025

    What you need to know: California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund on June 12, 2025, to provide $105 million in relief offering up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed in recent disasters, including the Los Angeles firestorms.

    LOS ANGELES — California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund on June 12, 2025, to provide grants up to $20,000 to homeowners whose homes were destroyed or left uninhabitable in recent fire, floods, and other disasters. This includes those individuals whose homes were destroyed by the LA-area firestorms earlier this year.

    “Homeowners whose home was destroyed in a recent fire, flood or other disaster deserve support in their recovery. We know that recovery takes time, and the state is here to support. Today, California is extending this ongoing support to disaster victims in Los Angeles and beyond, by assisting with mortgage payments to relieve financial pressure and stress as families rebuild and recover.”  

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    This new disaster mortgage relief program, managed by the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), will be paired with $25 million in additional housing counseling support through CalHFA’s National Mortgage Settlement Housing Counseling Program, and none of the funds impact the proposed 2025-2026 budget.

    The CalAssist Mortgage Fund provides relief for the most vulnerable homeowners whose homes have been destroyed or left uninhabitable as the result of a disaster that received a State of Emergency proclamation by the Governor or a Major Disaster Declaration approved by the President between January 2023 and January 2025, such as the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, Park Fire and San Diego floods.

    When applications open on June 12, eligible homeowners can apply for grants covering up to three months of mortgage payments, up to $20,000 total.

    “When disaster strikes and families lose their homes, every step toward recovery makes a meaningful difference,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency. “The CalAssist Mortgage Fund will provide more than $100 million in valuable support to help ease the financial pressure survivors face, giving them a little more breathing room as they navigate the challenging path of rebuilding their lives.”

    How to access funding

    To provide time for affected homeowners to get prepared to apply, application and eligibility information about the CalAssist Mortgage Fund is now available at CalAssistMortgageFund.org. These grants do not have to be repaid and applying to the program is free. Grants will be sent directly to the approved homeowner’s mortgage servicer.

    “For communities affected by disasters, the CalAssist Mortgage Fund will provide homeowners with financial assistance that allows them to focus on healing and recovery,” said Rebecca Franklin, Chief Deputy Director at CalHFA. “Hard-working families across the state, from Altadena to Chico, deserve relief as they work to recover from these devastating events.”  

    Homeowners can call the CalAssist Mortgage Fund for in-depth, one-on-one assistance with preparing and completing their application. Call 800-501-0019 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additionally, homeowners can also access free support and services from HUD-certified housing counseling agencies.

    The Governor previously had secured commitments from more than 400 financial institutions, including five major lenders (Bank of America, Citi, JPMorgan Chase, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo), to offer homeowners impacted by the L.A. wildfires a 90-day forbearance of their mortgage payments, without reporting these payments to credit reporting agencies or charging late fees.

    Fast-tracking rebuilding efforts 

    Governor Newsom has provided unprecedented support to assist Los Angeles’ recovery from this year’s firestorms. In addition to recently announcing a new AI tool to supercharge the approval of building permits, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act. The Governor also issued an executive order further cutting red tape by reiterating that permitting requirements under the California Coastal Act are suspended for rebuilding efforts and directing the Coastal Commission not to issue guidance or take any action that interferes with or conflicts with the Governor’s executive orders. Additionally, he signed an executive order to cut more red tape and continue streamlining rebuilding, recovery, and relief for survivors. The Governor also issued an executive order removing barriers, extending deadlines, and providing critical regulatory relief to help fire survivors rebuild, access essential services, and recover more quickly. 

    Giving survivors a stronger voice in recovery

    To help provide the Los Angeles community with a stronger voice in the rebuilding and recovery efforts, Governor Newsom launched Engaged California, a new platform that gives Californians a unique opportunity to share their thoughts and connect with other people on topics that are important to them. It creates new opportunities for Californians to connect with their government to inform and shape policy through honest, respectful discussions. The program was launched in February with the first use case focusing on the impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires.

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 4, 2025

    News What you need to know: California added a record of nearly 7,000 megawatts of new clean energy capacity in 2024, marking the largest single-year increase in state history and the third consecutive year of unprecedented growth. SACRAMENTO – California has achieved…

    Jun 4, 2025

    News What you need to know: California leads the nation in strong gun safety laws, correlating with thousands of lives saved. Sacramento, California – Year after year, California is ranked as the #1 state in the country for its strong gun safety laws — along with some…

    Jun 4, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – For the second year in a row, California ranks highest on Fortune 500’s list as the state with the most corporations generating the largest revenues. As host to 58 Fortune 500 companies, California leads the nation – followed by Texas with 54 and New…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • EIB’s advisory services to work with Bulgarian government on greening coal-powered Maritsa East Complex
    • Goal is to promote clean energy at site where open-pit mines operate
    • EIB assistance to extend to Bulgarian efforts to boost EU funding

    Bulgaria will receive advisory support from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for greening one of Europe’s largest sites for coal-fired electricity production – the Maritsa East Complex. Both sides today signed an agreement under which the EIB will advise the Bulgarian government as it pursues a plan to decarbonise the Maritsa East Complex, which generates up to 35% of the country’s electricity.

    EIB Advisory will work with the Bulgarian Ministry of Energy to ensure the timely development of priority projects promoting renewable energy at the Maritsa East Complex, which has among the largest open-pit coal mines operating in Europe. EIB Advisory will also help to strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to manage complex projects and expand European Union funding.

    “Fostering economic and social cohesion is at the heart of the EIB’s mission and we stand ready to support a just transition for the Bulgarian regions most affected by the shift away from mining and carbon-intensive energy production and industrial activities,” said EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris. “Our approach endeavours to ensure that no people or places are left behind in the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy and society.”

    The burning of coal to produce electricity is major source of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change and cutting emissions at Maritsa East Complex is key for the clean-economy goals of Bulgaria and the EU as a whole.

    “Efforts to decarbonise the Maritsa East Complex are key to its sustainable development and to ensuring conditions for competitiveness and growth of the economy and the better well-being of Bulgarians,” said Bulgarian Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov. “We are happy that the government has the EIB as a partner in the process. It is an institution with many years of experience and proven expertise. I am confident that this cooperation will ensure the sustainable long-term operation of the Maritsa East Complex in line with the challenges of the green future.”

    The Ministry of Energy, supported by EIB Advisory under a technical assistance accord signed in early 2024, has made substantial progress in defining a strategic pathway for the transition of the Maritsa East Complex.

    The assistance included a comprehensive analysis of the state of the complex, an assessment of existing infrastructure and the development of an investor roadmap. These efforts clarified the scope of high-impact projects that can be implemented in the near term to drive Bulgaria’s decarbonisation strategy. Investment priorities by the companies operating in the Maritsa East Complex were also identified, refining the list of strategic projects contributing to the transition efforts.

    The EIB provides its advisory support under the European Commission’s InvestEU Advisory Hub to help Bulgaria’s coal-to-clean energy transition.

    Background information  

    About the EIB  

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The EIB finances investments in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.    

    In addition to financing, the EIB offers advisory services that help public and private partners develop and implement high-quality, investment-ready projects. In 2024 alone, EIB advisory teams helped mobilise over €200 billion of investments across Europe and beyond.

    About the InvestEU Advisory Hub

    The InvestEU programme provides the EU with long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery and growth. It helps mobilise private investments for the EU’s policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible.

    The InvestEU Advisory Hub is the central entry point for project promoters and intermediaries seeking advisory support and technical assistance related to centrally managed EU investment funds. Managed by the European Commission and financed by the EU budget, the InvestEU Advisory Hub connects project promoters and intermediaries with advisory partners, who work directly together to help projects reach the financing stage.

    EIB Advisory provides technical and financial expertise to support the development of sustainable and bankable projects in various sectors. In Bulgaria, EIB experts are assisting public authorities and businesses in preparing infrastructure investments in energy, energy efficiency, healthcare, transport and the environment, improving project planning and enhancing access to funding through tailored services and capacity building.

    Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production
    Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production
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    Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production
    Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production
    ©EIB
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    Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production
    Bulgaria to receive EIB support for decarbonising major site for coal-fired power production
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB Group takes part in International Social Housing Festival in Dublin

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    This week, a delegation from the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group attended the International Social Housing Festival in Dublin to highlight our support for the housing sector.

    The EIB Group’s director for housing, Tanguy Desrousseaux, took part in a fireside chat alongside two housing providers in Ireland, the Housing Finance Association (HFA) and the Approved Housing Bodies (AHB).

    The fireside chat focused on the partnership between the HFA and EIB, which has been instrumental in scaling up housing delivery in Ireland, and delved into opportunities for new agreements between the two institutions. Over the past eight years, the EIB has lent €750 million to the HFA, enabling the construction of over 5 000 affordable homes and the energy-efficient renovation of 550 homes.

    The EIB Group’s managerial advisor for housing, Gerry Muscat, spoke at panels on “Ensuring Sustainability and Affordability – Challenges and Opportunities for the European Affordable Housing Plan.” and “Financing Affordable Housing in the EU – Opportunities and Challenges in the new European Context.” Meanwhile, Andrea Colantonio, a senior economist, represented the EIB Group in a jury at the European Responsible Housing Awards ceremony and participated in a panel event titled “Guiding Europe Home – The compass for a New Housing Paradigm.”

    The conference follows a number of EIB Group housing events confirming its commitment to supporting the housing sector across Europe.

    In July 2024, the EIB Group’s  newly established Housing Task Force organised a kick-off event in Luxembourg featuring around 300 public and private stakeholders to discuss scaling up financial support for affordable and sustainable housing throughout the EU. The event was followed by technical meetings in Brussels and Milan in the autumn with stakeholders to help shape a pan-European investment platform alongside the Commission.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ramirez, Jacobs, Jayapal, Pocan, 18 Members of Congress Introduce Legislation to Condition Weapons to Israel, Save Lives

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Delia Ramirez – Illinois (3rd District)

    The legislation comes as the government of Netanyahu escalates ground operations in Gaza and the West Bank and the Trump Administration advocates for the displacement of Palestinians

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Members of Congress Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Mark Pocan (WI-02)  led 18 members of Congress to introduce the Block the Bombs Act. The legislation would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel and demand Israel’s compliance with U.S. and international law. Given Netanyahu and Trump’s plan to continue and expand ground operations in Gaza and the West Bank and displace Palestinians, the Block the Bombs Act is an important and time-sensitive step to assert Congress’s oversight authority to protect civilians from starvation, displacement, and death.

    Watch the Press Conference

     

    Amid the negotiation of a new ceasefire deal, it is reported that the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 54,000 people, while the entire 2.1 million population of Gaza faces prolonged food shortages due to Israeli military blockades. Nearly half a million people are facing a possible famine, acute malnutrition, starvation, illness, and death. Since filing the bill, 36 people, including children, were killed while sleeping in a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, and more than two dozen have been killed close to aid distribution points in Gaza. The actions of Netanyahu’s government in Gaza have been described by Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as “war crimes” against Palestinians. 

    “Netanyahu and Trump are a lethal, unaccountable, extremist duo. Trump has bypassed Congressional oversight on weapons transfers. The Israeli government is currently escalating attacks on the civilian population of Gaza. They are both out of control. Congress needs to assert its oversight authority,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “Enough is enough. By introducing the Block the Bombs Act, a broad coalition is listening to the American people who don’t want their taxpayers’ money to continue supporting gross violations of US, international, and humanitarian law.”

    “Self-defense cannot be justification for killing tens of thousands of people, imposing a humanitarian blockade, or forcing the displacement of a population. And yet, this is exactly what the Netanyahu Government has done for more than a year in Gaza. The United States shouldn’t facilitate this any longer by transferring offensive weapons to Israel that will be used to prolong and compound this mass suffering and death,” said Congresswoman Jacobs. “While I will always support the Iron Dome and other defensive systems, I believe we can’t in good conscience send offensive weapons systems that have caused significant civilian casualties and violated U.S. and international law.” 

    “This is a moment of great moral consequence. Over the past year and a half, the Government of Israel has repeatedly used U.S.-supplied weapons in violation of both international and U.S. laws,” said Jayapal. “We can no longer be complicit and allow our tax dollars to facilitate this violence and destruction. I am proud to co-lead this bill that would prevent the transfer of the most egregious offensive weapons to Israel without firm assurances that they will not be used indiscriminately against civilian populations.”

    “For the last year and a half, Benjamin Netanyahu has laid siege to Gaza, killing at least 54,000 people, repeatedly displacing the entire population, and cutting off access to desperately needed humanitarian aid,” said Congressman Pocan. “This commonsense bill will prevent more unchecked transfers of these offensive weapons systems that are used to violate international human rights laws and hopefully help bring this devastating conflict to an end.”

    The Block the Bombs Act requires Israel’s government to establish in writing the use of offensive weapons in accordance with US and International law, and it must be approved by Congress through a joint resolution. The legislation focuses on the worst-offending offensive weapons that are supplied by the US and have been involved in the grossest civilian casualties and documented violations of international law in Gaza. It does not impact Iron Dome or Israel’s ability to defend itself. 

    The bill is cosponsored by Representatives Becca Balint (VT-AL), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16) Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Jesús Chuy García (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12).

    It also has the support of local and national organizations like Adalah Justice Project, American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Americans for Justice in Palestine Action (AJP Action), Amnesty International USA, Arab Resource & Organizing Center Action (AROC Action), Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC), Center for Constitutional Rights, Center for International Policy Advocacy, Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Christians for a Free Palestine, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Defense for Children International – Palestine, Demand Progress, Emgage Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Human Rights Watch, Illinois Muslim Action Network, IfNotNow Movement, IMEU Policy Project, Indivisible, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), Justice Democrats, MADRE, MPower Change Action Fund, Muslim Advocates, New Internationalism Project, Institute for Policy Studies, Presbyterian Church (USA), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Rabbis for Ceasefire, Rising Majority, Sunrise Movement, The American Council for Judaism, The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), Win Without War, Working Families Party

    “The Block the Bombs Act is a historic bill that prohibits the transfer and sale of specific U.S. weapons to Israel that the Israeli government has consistently used to commit atrocities against civilians in violation of both international and U.S. law,”” said Brad Parker, Associate Director of Policy at the Center for Constitutional Rights. “It’s a straightforward challenge to United States complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza as Israeli forces block humanitarian assistance and directly target schools, hospitals, and civilians. As the Israeli government escalates the murder, starvation, and forcible transfer of Palestinians with President Trump’s full support, we recognize and appreciate the bold leadership of Reps. Ramirez, Jacobs, Jayapal, and Pocan.”

    “Despite opportunities to change course, the Biden administration failed to do so. And now the Trump administration is failing to do so. They have to stop providing weapons to Israel, and they won’t do it without Congressional oversight. Which is why this Block the Bombs Bill is so important. It is your right to demand it, and we are standing with Congresswoman Ramirez to build support for it,” said Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International, during a press conference.

    “Our weapons have been used to inflict atrocity after atrocity against Palestinians in Gaza. This is why HR 3565, the Block the Bombs Act, is so necessary. By passing it, Congress will prevent the Trump administration from delivering more bombs, artillery shells, and tank rounds that would enable further atrocities against the Palestinian people,” expressed Josh Ruebner, Policy Director of IMEU, at a press conference. 

    “We’ve documented how the Israeli government has collectively punished the civilian population, deprived the population of objects indispensable to its survival, and used starvation as a weapon of war. This year, Human Rights Watch found that US officials are complicit in Israel’s war crimes and will remain so unless and until weapons are suspended. Legislation like the Block the Bombs Act is long overdue. We hope members will support this effort in recognition of the humanity and dignity of the population suffering in Gaza and to bring US actions in line with US and international law,” Ida Sawyer, Director for Crisis and Conflict of Human Rights Watch. 

    For photos and videos of the event, click here. 

    BACKGROUND:

    Israel’s war in Gaza began after a Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 people, mostly women and children. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population, and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. According to the United Nations, Gaza is “the hungriest place on Earth. The agency warns that the entire Palestinian territory’s population is at risk of famine, given that the mission to deliver help is “one of the most obstructed aid operations in recent history.”

    At the moment, Hamas militants are still holding 58 hostages, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ivey, Van Hollen, Klobuchar Lead Nearly 100 Members in Pressing Administration for Answers on Cancellation of Protected Status for Afghans Living in U.S.

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Ivey – Maryland (4th District)

    Decision could endanger thousands of Afghans, including many who supported U.S. efforts during the war in Afghanistan

    WASHINGTON – Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)  in leading 98 of their colleagues in pressing for answers from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State around the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals living in the United States. The lawmakers’ letter, sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, notes the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return. 

    “We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions,” the lawmakers began. 

    They go on to note, “The Secretary of Homeland Security ‘may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.’  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.” 

    “The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls,” they stress. 

    The lawmakers close the letter urging the Administration to reverse course and seeking the following information: 

    Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023. 

    The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.

    Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS. 

    Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan. 

    What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan?

    In addition to Senator Van Hollen, Congressman Ivey, and Senator Klobuchar, the letter was signed by Senators Alsobrooks, Baldwin, Blumenthal, Booker, Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, Kelly, Kim, King, Markey, Padilla, Reed, Rosen, Sanders, Schiff, Smith, Warner, Warnock, Welch, and Wyden and Representatives Amo, Ansari, Balint, Bell, Beyer, Budzinski, Carbajal, Carter, Casten, Castro, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Courtney, Dean, DeGette, DelBene, Elfreth, Evans (Pa.), Fields, Garcia (Calif.), García (Ill.), Garcia (Texas), Goldman, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gottheimer, Hayes, Jackson (Ill.), Jayapal, Johnson (Ga.), Johnson (Texas), Kaptur, Keating, Kelly (Ill.), Kennedy (N.Y.), Krishnamoorthi, Landsman, Larson, Latimer, Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Lynch, McClain Delaney, McClellan, McCollum, McGovern, Meeks, Mfume, Moulton, Norton, Olszewski, Pallone, Panetta, Peters (Calif.), Raskin, Sánchez, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Sherman, Sorensen, Subramanyam, Swalwell, Titus, Tlaib, Tokuda, Tonko, Vargas, Veasey, and Watson Coleman.

    The full text of the letter is available here and below. 

    Dear Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio:

    We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions. 

    The Secretary of Homeland Security “may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.”  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.  In September 2023, the U.S. extended and redesignated TPS for Afghanistan. The Administration’s decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan negatively impacts approximately 9,000 Afghan nationals. 

    In your announcement, you state that “there are notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.”  But you also concede that threats of violence and terrorism, as well as humanitarian concerns, remain.  The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP.  According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls. Women and girls are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk. 

    We are also deeply concerned about the State Department Human Rights Report finding that widespread arbitrary and unlawful killings against officials associated with the pre-August 2021 government have occurred.  Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. military should not be put in harm’s way because they supported the U.S. in its fight against the Taliban. This would be a betrayal of those who bravely served alongside our servicemembers for nearly two decades. 

    Afghan civilians still face devastating humanitarian and economic conditions. Over half of the population in Afghanistan needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Human Rights Watch reports that in 2024, 12.4 million people were facing food insecurity and 2.9 million were at emergency levels of hunger.  The World Bank also found that in Afghanistan, as of May 2025, “per capita income has stagnated, while poverty and food insecurity remain pressing challenges, exacerbated by high unemployment and restrictions on women’s economic participation.”  

    The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls. 

    In August 2021, Americans welcomed Afghan nationals at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia with open arms, and we refuse to turn our backs on them now.  We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan and ask that you respond to the following requests no later than two weeks of receipt of this letter:

    Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023.  

    The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.

    Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS. 

    Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan. 

    What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan? Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and we hope to receive your responses soon.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 06.05.2025 WBCA Names Sen. Cruz Honoree of Mr. South Texas Award

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Texas Ted Cruz

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has been named the recipient of the prestigious Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association’s (WBCA) Mr. South Texas Award, in honor of the 128th Washington’s Birthday Celebration.
    Last year, Sen. Cruz was the first elected Republican member to be awarded the Key to the City of Laredo for his leadership in streamlining the presidential permitting process and securing permits to build and expand four major international bridges in South Texas, including two in Laredo.
    Sen. Cruz said, “I’m honored to be named Mr. South Texas for 2026. Laredo and Webb County hold a special place in my heart — the people embody the spirit, grit, and generosity that make Texas exceptional. Working alongside families, local leaders, and small businesses in Laredo has been one of the great privileges of my public service. I’m deeply grateful to the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association for this meaningful recognition — it strengthens my resolve to keep leading the fight for Laredo and all of South Texas.”
    Jaime Fuentes, President of WBCA said, “We are honored to have Senator Ted Cruz as our Mr. South Texas recipient. We welcome him as our newest Ambassador for the Washington’s Birthday Celebration. A special thank you to our Mr. South Texas selection committee and Texas Community Bank for its unwavering support of the Mr. South Texas Luncheon.”
    Douglas G. Macdonald, President & CEO of Texas Community Bank said, “Texas Community Bank is pleased to sponsor the Mr. South Texas Luncheon, and we congratulate United States Senator Ted Cruz, for being selected as the 2026 Mr. South Texas Honoree as part of the 128th Celebration. It is a well-deserved recognition.  We’re excited to welcome such a fine and hardworking individual to our community and invite all Laredoans to join us in congratulating him.”
    BACKGROUND
    The Mr. South Texas designation is presented to a deserving individual who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the growth and development of Laredo and/or the South Texas region.
    The Mr. South Texas Selection Committee, comprised of past presidents of the WBCA and former Mr. South Texas recipients who reside in Laredo, meet and discuss possible candidates. Committee members take great effort in creating an all-inclusive nominating pool of candidates from all walks of life who have made a significant impact on the area.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE Wins AI Research Center Selection

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The Higher School of Economics has become one of the winners of the third wave of research centers in the field of artificial intelligence. The HSE Center for Optimization and Adaptation of Large Fundamental Models (AI Center) will work on creating new methods and tools to make training, use, and adaptation of complex artificial intelligence models cheaper and more efficient.

    At the Russian Government Coordination Center, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the results of the selection of the third wave of research centers in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The winning universities and research organizations will receive grants to conduct research and create breakthrough world-class industry solutions.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko reported that the winners were HSE, Innopolis, ISP RAS, ITMO, MIPT, Skoltech, and for the first time, Lomonosov Moscow State University will be involved in the research.

    “Investments in AI research centers have already proven their effectiveness. The first wave of centers dealt with issues of strong, trusted, ethical artificial intelligence. The second wave is dedicated to industry research for medicine, transport, industry and smart cities. These centers create almost half of all Russian scientific groundwork in AI. President Vladimir Putin has set the task of publishing at least 450 papers at top-level conferences in the field of AI in the world by 2030 — A*. We see that investments are achieving results, so the government continues to develop such support programs,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

    A total of 19 applications from centers from 10 regions of Russia were submitted to the competition. The centers’ programs stated key areas of foresight in fundamental and exploratory research in the field of AI, conducted in 2024: agent/multi-agent systems, elements of strong AI, fundamental and generative AI models.

    Expert support for the competitive selection and subsequent support for the implementation of research center activity programs is provided by the Strategic Agency for Support and Formation of AI Developments (SAPFIR), a project office created on the basis of the Skolkovo Foundation.

    “In 2025, the Strategic Agency for Support and Formation of AI Developments (SAPFIR), created on the basis of the Skolkovo Foundation, acted as the coordinator of the third wave of the competitive selection of research centers in the field of artificial intelligence. Each of the 7 winners will receive 676 million rubles for 2 years to conduct research in the field of strong, trusted, multi-agent artificial intelligence. Over the next 2 years, SAPFIR will focus on supporting research centers to achieve all their goals in both the scientific and commercial parts. Their activities will contribute to the creation of a technological reserve in Russia in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as attracting the best personnel of the country to the development of science in the field of artificial intelligence,” said SAPFIR Director Tatyana Soyuznova.

    The Higher School of Economics has confirmed its readiness to successfully cope with the tasks set thanks to the rich experience accumulated during the previous stages. For the period 2021–2024 HSE AI Center of the first wave has implemented more than 20 socially significant projects and about 30 initiatives for industrial partners. Initially, its activities were focused on companies with a high degree of maturity of AI technologies (IT, fintech, telecommunications), but subsequently the center managed to extend its competencies to less prepared industries, such as tourism, transport, household chemicals and genetics. This made it possible to develop solutions with prospects for scaling in industries, taking into account the priorities of the National Strategy for the Development of AI.

    The HSE AI Center’s third wave program will be aimed at creating new architectures and approaches to reduce training costs, as well as to improve the efficiency and adaptation of large fundamental models. Scientific research will cover four key areas AI foresight: architecture and algorithms of machine learning, development of fundamental and generative models, ensuring security and trust, system management and decision-making. Innovative software products will be used in the financial sector, science and education, information security and the labor market. The center’s partners include the country’s leading technology companies (Sber, VTB, Alfa-Bank, MTS Web Services, Gazprombank, T-Bank, ALMI Partner) and government agencies (the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for Labor and Employment (Rostrud)).

    The head of the HSE AI Center will be Alexey Naumov, Doctor of Computer Science, Director Institute of AI and Digital SciencesHe has authored over 40 A* level AI conference publications on high dimensional probability, statistics, machine learning, reinforcement learning, and is a member of the AI Alliance scientific advisory board.

    “Our center will focus on creating fundamentally new architectures and effective methods that will significantly reduce the costs of training and operating large fundamental models of artificial intelligence, increase their performance, and expand the range of possible applications,” said Alexey Naumov. “This will allow us to get closer to creating strong artificial intelligence capable of solving the most complex problems and bringing real benefits to society and business. We actively collaborate with leading technology companies and scientific organizations, combining the efforts of the best scientists and practitioners to achieve our goals and make a significant contribution to the future of AI technologies.”

    The core of the HSE AI Center will be Institute of AI and Digital Sciences Faculty of Computer Science at HSE. Leading researchers and experts will also work on projects within the third wave Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK), Center of Language and Brain, MIEM im. A.N. Tikhonova, Labor Market Research Laboratories, International Laboratory of Intangible Assets Economy, HSE – Perm, and also Schools of Computer Science, Physics and Technology of the National Research University Higher School of Economics – Saint Petersburg.

    The HSE AI Center project office team, led by Deputy Vice-Rector Elena Kozhina, will coordinate work on projects and initiatives aimed at developing AI technologies and implementing innovative solutions in various sectors of the economy and social sphere. The project office will become a key link in the successful implementation of projects, ensure effective interaction between all participants in the processes and allow for the effective implementation of orders from industrial partners.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Truxton Elevates Banking Team Leaders in Recent Promotions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Truxton is pleased to announce the promotion of several distinguished members of its team, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the Truxton Banking team’s continued growth and success.

    Lindsey Heird, Lizzie McKeand, and William Benson have each been promoted to Senior Vice President, Truxton Banking. These veteran bankers have demonstrated exceptional leadership, deep industry expertise, and a continued dedication to the firm’s mission of delivering trusted financial guidance and personalized service.

    “It has been very rewarding over the last few years to watch each of these three bankers grow professionally and personally as they serve their clients and their fellow Truxton colleagues,” said Hank Stuart, Senior Managing Director of Truxton Banking. “All three work hard and enjoy their roles as trusted financial advisors. I am excited about the future of Truxton because of Lindsey, Lizzie, and William.”

    Lindsey Heird joined Truxton in 2014 as a credit analyst. Since 2015, she has operated as a relationship manager and banker providing depository and lending solutions for both individuals and businesses. Likewise, Lizzie McKeand began her career at Truxton in 2015. In 2019, she transitioned into a lending role serving wealthy families and their businesses. William Benson joined Truxton in June 2020 from CapStar Bank, where he served as Vice President of Private Banking and, before that, as a Healthcare Portfolio Manager. In these expanded leadership roles, these experienced bankers are responsible for the development and delivery of customized banking solutions for high-net-worth individuals, families, and organizations.

    Truxton is also pleased to announce the promotion of Joseph Staub, CRCM, to Vice President, Compliance. Mr. Staub joined Truxton in 2022 as a Credit Administrator before transitioning his role to focus on Compliance, overseeing and enhancing the bank’s compliance framework, ensuring regulatory excellence, and reinforcing Truxton’s commitment to integrity and sound governance. He holds accreditation from the American Bankers Association as a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager.

    “Joseph has brought a high level of diligence, professionalism, and care to Truxton’s compliance program,” said Overton Colton, EVP, Chief Administrative and Risk Officer. “His thoughtful approach to regulatory matters and his ability to align compliance with our broader business goals make him an invaluable member of our team. We’re proud to recognize his contributions with this well-deserved promotion.”

    Additionally, Duncan McGinn has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Truxton Banking, reflecting his strong performance and growing leadership within the organization. In addition to his role as a banker, he also serves as an Analyst for Truxton Capital Advisors, providing research and market analysis for the team.

    “Truxton is very blessed to have such wonderful people working hard here every day to help us do the right thing for each and every client,” said Tom Stumb, CEO and Chairman of Truxton. “Each one of these officer promotions are well-deserved and reflect our company’s commitment to deliver sound, thoughtful financial advice to our clients, now and always.”

    About Truxton
    Truxton is a premier provider of wealth, banking, and family office services for wealthy individuals, their families, and their business interests. Serving clients across the world, Truxton’s vastly experienced team of professionals provides customized solutions to its clients’ complex financial needs. Founded in 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee, Truxton upholds its original guiding principle: do the right thing. Truxton Trust Company is a subsidiary of financial holding company, Truxton Corporation (OTCPK: TRUX). For more information, visit truxtontrust.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Free Spins No Deposit Casinos Grow in Popularity as Wild Casino Introduces 250 Free Welcome Spins Bonus Offer – WildCasino

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DNO Raises USD 400 Million in Hybrid Bonds

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    5 June 2025 – DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today completed a private placement of USD 400 million of subordinated hybrid bonds with a coupon rate of 10.75 percent. The hybrid bonds will have the first call at 100 percent of nominal value after 5.5 years, with coupon step-up after six years and maturity in 2085. The bond placement met strong investor demand across US, Nordic and international markets and was significantly oversubscribed.

    “This first hybrid bond issue capitalizes on our 24-year flawless record in the bond market,” said DNO’s Executive Chairman Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani. “Given its features, including treatment as equity not debt on DNO’s balance sheet, a hybrid bond fits well with our financing structure following closing of the Sval Energi Group AS acquisition later this month,” he added.  

    Settlement is expected on or about 17 June 2025, subject to customary conditions precedent. An application will be made to list the bonds on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Proceeds from the new bond issue will be used to refinance financial indebtedness in Sval Energi and for general corporate purposes.

    Arctic Securities AS, DNB Carnegie, part of DNB Bank ASA, and Pareto Securities AS acted as Joint Bookrunners for the transaction. AGP Advokater AS acted as legal advisor to the Company.

    –

    For further information, please contact:
    Media: media@dno.no
    Investors: investor.relations@dno.no

    –

    DNO ASA is a Norwegian oil and gas operator active in the Middle East, the North Sea and West Africa. Founded in 1971 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, the Company holds stakes in onshore and offshore licenses at various stages of exploration, development and production in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Norway, the United Kingdom, Côte d’Ivoire and Yemen. More information is available at www.dno.no

    –

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    This release does not constitute any offer or solicitation to sell or purchase any securities. 

    The release may not be released, published or distributed in the United States of America or any other jurisdiction where release, publication or distribution would be prohibited or require any registration or filing acts or similar.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Hong Kong (China SAR) card payments market to reach nearly $170 billion in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Hong Kong (China SAR) card payments market to reach nearly $170 billion in 2025, forecasts GlobalData

    Posted in Banking

    The Hong Kong (China SAR) card payments market is forecast to grow by 4.5% to reach HKD1.32 trillion ($168.4 billion) in 2025, supported by a constant consumer shift towards non-cash payments, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that Hong Kong saw a growth of 15.7% in card payments value in 2023, driven by the rise in consumer spending. The market continued its growth trajectory with 7.4% growth to reach HK$1.26 trillion ($161.2 billion) in 2024. However, the current global uncertainty as a result of the latest US tariffs can pose a challenge for Hong Kong’s overall economic growth, resulting in a slowdown in the overall card payments value in 2025.

    Ravi Sharma, Lead Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The Hong Kong payment card market is mature, supported by consistent efforts by the government to promote electronic payment methods, the launch of digital-only banks, and the development and expansion of payment acceptance infrastructure. Consumers are now switching from cash purchases in favor of electronic payments. This shift in consumer behavior signals a move away from conventional payment methods like cash to embrace digital alternatives, thereby benefiting card payments.”

    A well-developed payment infrastructure has supported the overall card payments growth, with POS terminal penetration per 1 million individuals standing at 27,252 in 2024, one of the highest in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

    Sharma adds: “The growth of card payments has also been supported by high adoption and usage of contactless cards, supported by strong penetration and awareness of contactless cards among consumers and merchants in Hong Kong. Consumers and financial institutions alike have embraced the technology, with widespread acceptance infrastructure being the major reason why the cards are popular.”

    Rising usage of contactless payments for public transport payments is also contributing to the growth of card payments. In November 2021, Golong International Technology Company entered into a partnership with the French firm Thales to upgrade the payment system for Hong Kong Tramways. This modernized electronic payment system was successfully deployed across all regular passenger trams by June 2023. The system accepts 12 payment methods, including contactless credit cards and QR codes, supplementing the two previously available options: the Octopus card and cash.

    Among the card types, Hong Kong consumers strongly favor credit and charge cards over debit cards. This can be attributed to value-added benefits such as cashback, discounts, reward programs, and instalment payment plans offered by banks and financial institutions. Although debit cards are traditionally preferred for cash withdrawals, they are now increasingly being used for payments as well – especially low-to-medium value transactions.

    Sharma concludes: “Looking ahead, the total card payments market in Hong Kong is expected to continue its upward trajectory, driven by ongoing government initiatives, well-developed payment infrastructure, and a consumer shift towards electronic payments. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2025 and 2029 to reach HKD1.62 trillion ($207.1 billion) in 2029.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF and AUC wrap up First MENA Economic Research Conference: Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in a Shifting Global Economic Landscape

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 5, 2025

    Cairo: Following two days of high-level dialogue and expert analysis, the inaugural IMF MENA Economic Annual Research Conference co-organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the American University in Cairo, concluded with a strong call for coordinated, evidence-based policy responses to the region’s old and new pressing economic challenges. Held on May 18–19, 2025, the conference served as a critical platform for advancing rigorous research tailored to the realities of the Middle East and North Africa. It brought together global policymakers, academics, government officials and thought leaders to bridge the discussion on global economic issues with regional realities. The event marked a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the IMF and a leading university in the region, reflecting a shared commitment to deepening the link between academic research and policy development.

    Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, noted that trade tensions and increasing uncertainty affecting the global economy, alongside ongoing regional conflicts and climate risks, are creating new layers of complexities for MENA policymakers. Azour called for building a regional platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas that connects MENA to world-class research centers to provide reliable analysis and develop workable and innovative policy responses to old and new economic issues facing the region. “We are deeply grateful to President Ahmad Dallal and AUC for their commitment to fostering dialogue, research, and policy innovation in the region.”

    AUC President Ahmad Dallal highlighted the event’s role as a vital platform in fostering collaboration between governments, academia and the private sector. “This is about generating ideas that are globally informed but deeply rooted in the realities of our region,” he noted. Dallal affirmed that this type of multi‑stakeholder engagement is at the heart of AUC’s mission and reflects the University’s commitment to research, education, and open dialogue as drivers of stability, resilience, and inclusive growth.

    Under the theme “Steering Macroeconomic and Structural Policies in a Shifting Global Economic Landscape,” discussions centered on four pivotal issues shaping the future of the MENA region and the global economy:

    • Fiscal Policy: With public debt at historic highs, experts stressed the importance of rebuilding fiscal buffers while tackling social inequalities, aging populations, and climate pressures. Proposals included reforms in fiscal frameworks and measures to mobilize revenues including through multinational taxation and more progressive tax systems.
    • Monetary Policy: Participants reflected on the lessons of recent inflationary shocks, emphasizing the need for more preemptive and well communicated policy responses to global shocks and sector-specific disruptions—particularly for emerging markets.
    • Industrial Policy: Speakers examined the renewed interest in industrial policy as a tool to drive inclusive growth, innovation, and climate resilience. The discussion highlighted the need to balance vertical strategies with horizontal reforms that promote private investment, trade integration, and productivity.
    • Green Transition and AI: The intersection of climate action and digital transformation sparked debate about their potential to reshape labor markets. Recommendations included investing in human capital, developing targeted safety nets, and aligning policy tools to support job creation in low-emission sectors.

    Throughout the sessions, there was a clear consensus that the MENA region’s economic resilience depends on institutional reforms, cross-border cooperation, and investment in skills and innovation. Participants also underscored the importance of embedding policy in local realities—an approach that both the IMF and AUC pledged to champion moving forward.

    In addition to prominent global and regional academics, as well as economists and government officials from across the region, and representatives of international and regional organizations, the conference brought together policymakers, including Rania El Mashat, minister of planning, economic development and international cooperation, Egypt; Youssef Boutros-Ghali, member of the Specialized Council for Economic Development, Egypt; Mahmoud Mohieldin, United Nations special envoy on financing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda; and Martin Galstyan, governor of the Central Bank of Armenia.

    As Nigel Clarke, IMF Deputy Managing Director concluded, “This conference is a milestone demonstrating the IMF’s commitment to deepening engagement with the research and academic community, as we strive to ensure that the IMF support is not only responsive to the needs of member countries, but also built on rigorous tested analytics and importantly, it’s aligned with local realities. Through this kind of multi-stakeholder dialogue, we aim to better understand how all our expertise and resources can be directed towards the most pressing challenges of the region.”

    Visit the conference website for more details and to rewatch Day 1 and Day 2 of the discussions.

    Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions and study abroad programs.

    The University offers 39 undergraduate, 52 master’s and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world.

    An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Angham Al Shami

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/04/pr25180-imf-auc-wrap-up-1st-mena-conf-macroecon-structural-policies-shifting-global-econ-landscape

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 5 June 2025 Donors making a difference: cholera

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Cholera is a severe diarrhoeal disease that can be fatal within hours if not treated. Quick access to treatment is therefore crucial. Researchers estimate that there are 1.3 to 4 million cases and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths from cholera worldwide each year, with cases surging since 2021. Over 40 countries reported cases last year, and WHO estimates that 1 billion people are directly at risk.

    Cholera remains a global public health threat closely linked to inequality and inadequate social and economic development. Access to safe water, basic sanitation and hygiene are essential to prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases.

    WHO works to improve prevention and control of cholera globally, as well as increase awareness. WHO and partners also support research for the development of innovative strategies to prevent and control cholera.

    Below are some examples of how WHO is collaborating with governments and partners across the world, with critical financial support from donors, to prevent and control cholera.

    WHO and the French Development Agency strengthen emergency community responses to cholera in Democratic Republic of Congo

    WHO and the French Development Agency launch a cholera response project in Haut-Katanga to strengthen emergency community responses.
    Photo by: WHO/Joel Lumbala

    WHO, in partnership with the French Development Agency, has launched a catalytic US$ 392 000 project, working closely with the health authorities of Haut-Katanga and the National Program for the elimination of cholera and the fight against other diarrheal diseases.

    This project aims to drastically reduce the risk of cholera epidemics in this southeastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project will provide medical supplies, improve infection prevention and control, install 40 oral rehydration points and build two semi-durable isolation treatment centres in the Kafubu and Kipushi health zones.

    Over six months, the project will train 50 registered nurses and 140 community health workers in integrated disease surveillance and response, while raising awareness amongst the population on good hygiene practices. The health zones will also be empowered to locally produce liquid chlorine (bleach) to facilitate the decontamination of households affected by suspected cases of cholera, the treatment of drinking water and medical needs in health facilities. Solar kits and reagents will be available for 6 months.

    Read the full story (in French)

    Angola reinforces actions to end cholera with WHO support

    Deploying rapid response teams, training health personnel, establishing cholera treatment centres and units, providing safe drinking water, intensive community engagement, and the rollout of targeted vaccination campaigns is part of the urgent response measures against cholera. Photo by: WHO/Angola

    Since the onset of a cholera outbreak in Angola in January 2025, more than 14 000 cases and 505 associated deaths have been reported. Around 50% of the cases affected people under 20 years.

    The Ministry of Health, in close coordination with WHO and other development partners, carried out a series of urgent response measures. These included deploying rapid response teams, training health personnel, establishing cholera treatment centres and units, providing safe drinking water, intensive community engagement, and the rollout of targeted vaccination campaigns.

    In addition, health authorities, with support from WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), mapped and treated the country’s main water access points. In early 2025, 28 public health officials from 15 municipalities in five of the most affected provinces were trained in mapping water sources. Nearly 320 water sources were mapped, improving access to treated water for people, particularly in Luanda and Icolo e Bengo provinces, which account for around 94% of cholera cases and 15% of related deaths in the country.

    Read the full stories here and here

    How WHO is supporting cholera outbreak response in Sudan

    A child receives oral cholera vaccine in Baqa’a shelter for internally displaced people in Gedaref, October 2024. Photo by: WHO/Omer Tarig

    The Federal Ministry of Health of Sudan declared a cholera outbreak on 12 August 2024, following the confirmation of cases in Kassala State. Heavy rains, flooding, overcrowding, and limited access to clean water in displacement sites and within communities contributed to the rapid spread of the disease. As of 18 January 2025, the outbreak had affected 84 localities across 11 states, with more than 51 300 cases and 1 359 deaths reported.

    As part of the response, the Federal Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and UNICEF, has conducted oral cholera vaccination campaigns in 8 states, reaching 7.4 million people.

    WHO is supporting the outbreak response through comprehensive health interventions that include strengthening surveillance, deployment of rapid response teams for swift investigation of alerts, case management and improving water quality, sanitation and hygiene services in displacement sites and other at-risk communities.

    WHO is able to deliver on its cholera commitment through the financial contribution of donors: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the European Union Commission, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF), and the Governments of France and Germany.

    Read the full story

    WHO and partners launch second cholera vaccine dose to protect young refugees in Cox’s Bazar

    A young girl receives the 2nd dose of the OCV Vaccine in the Rohingya Camps. Photo by: WHO/Terence Ngwabe Che

    In April 2025, WHO, in collaboration with the Government of Bangladesh and health sector partners, launched the second round of a targeted Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign in Cox’s Bazar. This initiative aims to administer a second dose of the vaccine to Rohingya refugee children aged 1 to 5 years.

    This builds on the success of the initial mass vaccination campaign conducted in January 2025, across the Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban districts, and on Bhasan Char Island. A total of 1.4 million doses were administered from the 1.6 million doses supplied by the International Coordinating Group on Oral Cholera Vaccine Provision for Cholera Control.

    The vaccine deployment followed an approved request by the Directorate General of Health Services, Communicable Disease Control, with operational support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

    Read the full story

    WHO and King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre expand life-saving health interventions

    KSRelief Supervisor-General, Abdullah Al Rabeeah, and Dr Tedros, signing funding agreements in response to humanitarian crises at the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum on 24-25 February 2025, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Photo by: WHO/Karim Yassmineh.

    WHO and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) agreed on a series of new pledges to deliver life-saving health measures for people threatened by cholera and malaria in Yemen. The pledges also support health services for Sudanese who have fled conflict to neighbouring Egypt, and to support polio eradication efforts in countries where the virus continues to circulate. The agreements were signed during the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, being held on 24-25 February.

    WHO’s Country Office in Yemen and KSrelief finalized a donation of US$ 2.1 million to support an existing agreement to expand cholera response and control measures, and improve access to treatment in affected and high-risk areas.

    Read the full story

    Purified water, lives saved: the fight against cholera in Haiti continues

    OPS/WHO delivering materials to the Ministry of Public Health and Population to respond against cholera. Photo by: OPS/WHO

    PAHO/WHO continued to support the Ministry of Public Health and Population in its fight against cholera since its resurgence in October 2022. Access to clean and safe water remains a major challenge in Haiti and is a key factor in the decline of the disease across the country.

    With support from the UNCERF and in partnership with the health authorities, PAHO/WHO implemented a project to improve access to drinking water for Acute Diarrhea Treatment Centres, facilities established to treat cholera patients.

    Installing a water treatment unit made it possible to supply drinking water, on demand, by tanker trucks to a network of 15 distribution points, consisting of tankers installed in as many health facilities throughout the department. In the second phase, 218 departmental health officers were trained on methods for accessing drinking water, effective sanitation techniques, and essential hygiene practices to prevent water-related diseases.

    Read the full story (in French)

    Malawi declares end of cholera outbreak

    Case management at Area 25 cholera treatment centre. Photo by: WHO/Ovixlexla Kamenyagwaza-Bunya

    The Government of Malawi, through its Public Health Institute, declared the end of a protracted cholera outbreak that started in March 2022 and lasted over two years. WHO and partners supported the set-up of cholera treatment centres and units and oral rehydration points, provided clinical mentorship, and supported the development of referral guidelines and standardized patient records from the initial stages of the outbreak.

    The surveillance team supported the roll out of the One Health Surveillance Data Platform, intensified case investigations, and strengthened laboratory testing and event-based surveillance. WHO also provided support for oral cholera vaccination campaigns, where over four million doses were administered with a utilization rate of almost 100%.

    To strengthen resilience and bolster global health security, in June 2023, WHO conducted a Scoping Mission which led to the development of a 2-year roadmap. WHO continues to work with multi-sectoral partners and the donor community to support implementation of these priorities. In 2024, USAID and FCDO UK provided funds towards preparedness activities.

    Read the full story

    South Sudan steps up vaccination, response measures to curb cholera

    A vaccinator administering oral cholera vaccine in Renk, Upper Nile State, during December 2024’s campaign after the September outbreak declaration.
    Photo by: WHO/Atem John Ajang

    The Government of South Sudan declared a cholera outbreak in October 2024. In January 2025, the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and partners, rolled out several oral cholera vaccination campaigns in four high-risk countries: Malakal, Juba, Renk, and Rubkona.

    With support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, around four million doses of the vaccine were approved and around 910 000 doses administered (as of January 2025) in the four counties, which is above 90% coverage.

    WHO continues to distribute essential medical supplies for cholera response to local and national health authorities and partners, which can treat 4 700 cholera cases. WHO has also facilitated the establishment of a 50-bed cholera treatment centre at Juba Teaching Hospital and is supporting the deployment of nine rapid response teams from national level to 11 priority counties to support implementing partners on the ground to provide critical case management.

    Read the full story

    Scaling up cholera testing in Zimbabwe

    WHO staff build cholera treatment centres with support of communities. Photo by: WHO/Vivian Mugarisi

    To ramp up testing for cholera in Zimbabwe, WHO supported the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) with training of 986 nurses in antigen Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) testing, addressing critical staff shortages at rural health centres. Additionally, 44 laboratory personnel at provincial and district levels were trained in cholera culture, further strengthening diagnostic capacity.

    Prior to the training programme, testing capabilities were limited. Between the outbreak’s onset in February 2023 and 18 January 2024, only 2 090 antigen RDTs and 2 250 culture tests were conducted across 10 health centres. Following the training, the number of antigen RFT tests increased to 9 853, a staggering 371% increase. The success of the programme is attributed to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders including UNICEF, Higher Life Foundation, JHPIEGO, World Vision International and WHO, with MoHCC leading the efforts.

    Funding for the training activities came from the Health Resilience Fund (HRF), UNCERF and the United States Department of the State (USDOS). HRF is a pool of funding from the European Union, the Government of Ireland and the United Kingdom, as well as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

    Additionally, in a significant boost to Zimbabwe’s healthcare infrastructure, WHO donated a wide range of medical equipment to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC). The equipment, valued close to USD$1.8 million, was funded by various donors and partners, including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF), USAID, and the Government of Japan.

    Read the full stories here and here

    ***

    Read more about WHO’s work on cholera

    The donors and partners acknowledged in this story are (in alphabetical order)

    African Development Bank, European Union, French Development Agency, Germany, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Health Resilience Fund, Higher Life Foundation, International Coordinating Group on Oral Cholera Vaccine Provision for Cholera Control, Ireland, Japan, JHPIEGO, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, UNICEF, UN Central Emergency Response Fund, UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF), United States Department of the State, USAID, World Vision International.

    WHO’s work is made possible through all contributions of our Member States and partners. WHO thanks all donor countries, governments, organizations and individuals who are contributing to the Organization’s work, with special appreciation for those who provide fully flexible contributions to maintain a strong, independent WHO.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Nasser hospital in Gaza must be preserved

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Jerusalem – In southern Gaza, Palestine, Israeli authorities-imposed displacement orders and movement restrictions on Nasser hospital are pushing this vital medical facility to the brink of becoming non-functional, warns Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Ordering hospitals to refuse new patients and making it harder for people to reach places of care has been a pattern by the Israeli forces throughout this war, aimed at closing the hospitals. Nasser is the last remaining referral hospital in the south of Gaza, a vital lifeline for people in need, and its full functionality must be immediately restored and preserved. Israeli authorities must protect Nasser hospital and guarantee full and unimpeded access to patients and medical staff alike, to avoid more deaths.

    On 3 June, MSF teams were told that any movement to Nasser hospital would require authorisation, and this must be requested with at least 24 hours’ notice. This meant that our medical staff due on the day shift could not reach the hospital. The staff from the previous night had to continue working; they ended up staying on shift for 48 consecutive hours. 

    The outpatient department remained closed for the whole day. Ambulances that were able to carry patients to the hospital did so at great risk, as there was a danger they would be shot at because they lacked authorisation. Nasser hospital’s location on the frontline hampers both staff and patients’ ability to access this essential remaining hospital. 

    This is occurring while people are exhausted, their lives shattered by 20 months of extremely violent war, and a suffocating siege where even the distribution of minimal amounts of aid results in devastating massacres. In this context, any remaining functional medical facility is of critical importance and must be protected.

    The attacks on healthcare in Gaza are not only carried out through military action. They also occur through limitations imposed on the importation of medical supplies, forcing doctors to ration pain relief medicine. They happen through displacement orders, leading to entire hospitals having to shut down at short notice. They occur through harassment and confusing orders issued by Israeli authorities, making it more and more difficult to provide lifesaving care.

    “We have seen this pattern before,” says Jose Mas, head of MSF emergency programmes. “It happened to facilities like Al-Awda and the Indonesian hospital, in northern Gaza, where they were first asked to not admit more patients, and a few days later, were attacked and practically shut down.” 

    “Putting Nasser hospital out of service would equate to a death sentence for the most severe patients among wounded adults and children, critically ill patients, and women in need of emergency obstetric care,” says Mas.

    An MSF staff member assists patients inside Nasser hospital. Gaza, Palestine, May 2025.
    MSF

    Nasser hospital is a large referral hospital with many specialist services no longer found anywhere else in the south of Gaza, including operating theatres, an oxygen plant, ventilators, a blood bank, and incubators. Reducing access to this hospital, and blocking the referral of patients who need specialist, emergency care, stops people from receiving treatment that may save their life. 

    In the past few months, MSF medical teams in Nasser hospital have provided care to over 500 patients in the maternity ward, including women requiring surgical care, as well as to more than 400 babies and children. The hospital is full of patients with burns and severe trauma. 

    Healthcare is under attack everywhere in Gaza. On the morning of 4 June, Israeli forces struck the MSF-supported Al-Aqsa hospital three times, the main facility in Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza. Although no casualties were reported, it is a stark reminder of how patients, medical staff and health facilities are constantly at great risk in the Gaza Strip.

    Our teams have received patients who have been critically injured while trying to get food, as a result of the shootings which have taken place at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation food distribution centres. This is in addition to the people who have been wounded in the ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Hospitals are overflowing with patients.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kugler, The Economic Outlook and Appropriate Monetary Policy

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Barbara, and thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. It is an honor to join other members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) who have addressed the Economic Club of New York over the years.1
    My subject is the current state of the U.S. economy, the economic outlook, and the implications for monetary policy. The short version is that the labor market appears resilient and stable and economic activity is continuing to grow, although at a more moderate pace than in the second half of last year.
    While the labor market is currently at or near the FOMC’s goal of maximum employment, there is the prospect that trade and other policy changes could raise the unemployment rate and push employment away from our objective. These policies, especially higher import tariffs, could also raise inflation over the rest of this year. In fact, while progress toward the FOMC’s goal of 2 percent inflation has continued, we have seen an escalation in goods inflation and data from surveys, and non-traditional sources point to some inflationary pressures as well.
    In addition to increases in U.S. import tariffs and retaliatory increases in the tariffs foreign countries apply to U.S. exports, other policy changes, either proposed or already underway relate to immigration, fiscal policy and regulation. Those policies could affect economic conditions, and since it is the FOMC’s job to set monetary policy that is best able to achieve our mandated goals of maximum employment and stable prices, we must consider the effects of these policies. So far, we are beginning to see the impact only of higher tariffs on inflation. Still, thinking about the outlook requires consideration of how the economy could be affected by all these policy changes moving forward.
    It remains difficult to judge the current strength of economic activity, based on data through the first four months of 2025, primarily because of the front-loading of imports ahead of the implementation of tariffs. While real gross domestic product (GDP) declined slightly in the first quarter, that was largely because of a surge in imports ahead of anticipated tariff increases, a surge that will likely reverse. Putting aside fluctuations in trade and in inventories and focusing on the April data, personal income and consumption point to a slight moderation in economic activity. While personal disposable income increased at a healthy pace so far this year, consumption grew more slowly in April, which may indicate consumers are becoming more cautious. That said, there is considerable uncertainty about imports in the second quarter and uncertainty about the impact that higher prices will have on spending, so I will be looking for more evidence about economic activity in May ahead of the FOMC’s next meeting, June 17 and 18.
    One encouraging sign about economic activity is the resilience of the labor market. We will get the May employment report tomorrow, but the data in hand indicate that employment has continued to grow and that labor supply and demand remain in relative balance. In April, employers added 177,000 jobs, slightly higher than the average for the previous six months. The unemployment rate was steady in April at 4.2 percent, in the historically low range of 4 percent to 4.2 percent that it has remained in since May 2024. Data on job openings and quits for April likewise point to a resilient but somewhat looser labor market with a balance of supply and demand. The vacancy rate, a measure of demand for workers, was 4.4 percent, down from a peak of 7.4 percent three years ago and roughly the same level as just before the pandemic.2 The quits rate, an indicator of the confidence workers feel in finding a job, has been in the narrow range of 1.9 to 2.2 percent since December 2023, and just a bit below the average level in 2019.3
    Ahead of tomorrow’s employment report, other data that we have for May are generally consistent with this picture of the labor market but may suggest some cooling. The average of private-sector forecasters’ predictions for total job creation is 130,000.4 Also, while the pace of job layoffs remained at historically low levels through the final week of May, based on the number of new claims for unemployment benefits, other measures suggest modest increases in layoffs. For instance, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN notices) of layoffs have ticked up since the beginning of the year, as have the mentions of layoffs in the Fed’s Beige Book survey and job cuts data reported by Challenger, Gray and Christmas.
    The other side of the FOMC’s dual mandate is price stability. Progress in lowering inflation toward the Committee’s 2 percent target has slowed some since last summer, even if headline and core inflation have continued to decline. The FOMC’s preferred inflation gauge, based on personal consumption expenditures (PCE), grew at a 2.1 percent annual rate in April. While that is quite close to the FOMC’s target, it was dragged down by a decline in energy prices. Core inflation—which excludes volatile prices for food and energy and is a good guide to future inflation—came in at 2.5 percent, so I do believe that our monetary policy stance, which I view as modestly restrictive, is currently appropriate to achieve and sustain 2 percent inflation over the longer term.
    Sticking with core inflation, to help me judge ongoing progress toward price stability, I like to look at the 12-month change in each of the three main categories of core inflation: housing services, services excluding housing, and goods. The PCE price index for housing services has declined markedly in the past year, from 5.7 percent in April 2024 to 4.2 percent in April this year, but it is still considerably above the level that persisted before the pandemic. Meanwhile, the PCE price index for core services excluding housing, which makes up more than half of core PCE inflation, has declined from 3.6 percent in April last year to 3 percent in April 2025, still somewhat above the level that prevailed before the pandemic. And the third category is core goods inflation, which rose at a 0.2 percent annual rate in the 12 months through April, compared with April 2024 when it had actually fallen 0.5 percent over the previous 12 months. In recent decades, core goods prices have typically fallen over time, helping to keep a lid on overall inflation, so this is a meaningful reversal of the disinflationary process. To sum up, while core services inflation has fallen, it is still running above the rate before the pandemic, and the progress on core goods inflation has reversed. I have been paying attention to this reversal for some time and how this could be exacerbated by the announced and implemented tariffs.
    Research published recently by Federal Reserve Board staff calculates the pass-through of tariffs enacted before April 2 to individual product categories tracked in personal consumption expenditures.5 Using PCE data from February through April, the authors estimate that the 20 percentage point increase in tariffs on Chinese imports earlier in the year raised overall core PCE prices by two tenths of 1 percent. Since tariffs on China are currently higher than 20 percent, and tariffs have increased for other countries, these results tell me, first, that the pass-through of tariffs into prices is relatively quick, and, second, should elevated tariffs persist, even just in the short run, larger effects may be coming soon. The import surge I mentioned earlier, ahead of sharp tariff increases, has delayed the price effects associated with those tariffs, and the reversal in that surge that I expect in the next few months will likely signal larger price increases.
    An important feature of most of the data I have mentioned so far is that it is released with significant lags. For example, the initial estimate of GDP is released about 30 days after the end of the quarter, and two later revisions mean that we may not get a clear idea of how output increased until nearly three months afterward. Monthly data on job openings are typically released with a one-month delay. The reasons for these lags are well known. For instance, statistical agencies can only survey households and businesses every so often, and it takes time to compile and publish high-quality statistics. Still, if policymakers solely rely on these traditional data to forecast what the economy will do in the future, they end up focusing on the past, which is a little like driving down the road by looking in a rearview mirror.
    As I mentioned in my speech last year to the National Association for Business Economics, there has been an explosion of nontraditional or soft data produced by the private sector, giving us an opportunity to measure economic developments with greater timeliness (sometimes even in real time), at a higher frequency, and with more granularity.6 These data are released closer to the time of collection, such as several surveys from the Federal Reserve Banks. Given today’s fast-changing and uncertain environment, soft and non-traditional data becomes all the more important.
    That said, nontraditional data often face their own challenges, including issues with representativeness, the lack of methodological consistency, and a short time-series history. And, to be clear, while some non-traditional data are indeed “soft data” in that they capture sentiment or expectations, other data in this category are decidedly “hard,” since they are based on actual decisions and actions by businesses and households. In evaluating both traditional and nontraditional data on the economy, I face a tradeoff between timeliness and precision, but both sources are essential for me in formulating an outlook.
    So, in the context of hard data that has lately been providing a less-than-clear view of the economy, what are the nontraditional data telling me about meeting the FOMC’s two economic objectives? On the price-stability side, survey data from businesses suggest that price increases are coming. These surveys report diffusion indexes, which are calculated as the percentage of total respondents reporting increases in prices minus the percentage reporting declines. Surveys for May point to indexes for inputs and selling prices being elevated relative to the beginning of the year, probably reflecting effects from higher tariffs. Manufacturing and non-manufacturing surveys from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), as well as several surveys from the Federal Reserve Banks report increases in material prices and prices charged to customers, with many respondents volunteering that this is related to tariff increases.
    I believe expectations of future inflation are an important determinant of current inflation, and data for May continue to point to increases in measures of near-term inflation expectations. An average of private-sector economists published by the Survey of Professional Forecasters finds that expectations for core PCE inflation over the next year moved up from 2.4 percent in April to 2.9 percent in May. Among data on inflation expectations, the most dramatic increases have been seen in the University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers. While I take seriously the concern that recent methodological changes in the survey may have made this measure less reliable, this survey is a longstanding and important barometer of consumer sentiment, and I still monitor the signals it is giving us closely. According to the Michigan survey, consumers expect inflation in the next year to average 6.6 percent and over the next 5 to 10 years to average 4.2 percent. Tariffs continued to be an important issue in the Michigan survey, with nearly three-quarters of consumers mentioning them, up from almost 60 percent in April. Firms have also raised their inflation expectations, with a survey by the Cleveland Fed reporting an increase in one-year-ahead expectations from 3.2 percent in the first quarter to 3.9 percent in the second.
    However, I still see stability in most measures of longer-run inflation expectations. Notably, expectations among professional forecasters for inflation 6 to 10 years ahead decreased from 2.1 percent in April to 2 percent in May. That provides me some comfort, as it points to confidence from the public in the Fed to bring inflation to our goal of 2 percent over the medium term.
    Recent developments and the data I have been monitoring have led me to consider at least three channels through which tariffs could have a persistent influence on inflation. First, as I have mentioned in some previous speeches, while it is true that short-run inflation expectations are influenced by short-term economic shocks, I value them because they often represent the horizon of decisionmaking for businesses and consumers.7 The increase in short-run inflation expectations that I previously mentioned may give businesses more leeway to raise prices, thus increasing the persistence of inflation. A second channel for tariffs influencing inflation could be opportunistic pricing by firms, if they take advantage to increase prices of items not directly affected by tariffs. This, along with tariffs on intermediate goods, could generate second-round effects on inflation. And a third channel is that lower productivity may lead to upward pressure on prices. As firms adjust to the higher input costs and lower demand, they may cut back on capital investment and shift to a less-efficient combination of inputs. While, so far, I have only seen anecdotal evidence for the opportunistic pricing among these three channels, I am closely monitoring any signs of increased persistence on inflation.
    Nontraditional data indicators of real activity suggest that the economy might be starting to slow. Measures of household sentiment about economic conditions remain downbeat, such as those from the University of Michigan or the Conference Board. As for businesses, manufacturing surveys, such as the ISM, report a slowing in new orders. Additionally, the May Beige Book reports that economic activity has declined slightly relative to April. On the services side, representing the majority of businesses, the ISM PMI has trended down in the past few months and reached a level in May consistent with stagnation. Focusing on the ISM services new order component, it declined significantly in May to one of its lowest levels in recent years.
    In summary, the nontraditional data on economic activity are consistent with my overall assessment that we might be seeing some moderation in the growth of economic activity but not yet a significant slowdown. As policies on fiscal matters and immigration take shape, I find it important to also account for their implications for the U.S. economic outlook. On the fiscal side, the omnibus bill passed by the House would add stimulus to the economy.8 On the immigration side, we have seen inflows substantially down since last year, which decreases the labor supply and could add meaningful upward pressure to inflation by the end of the year in sectors reliant on immigrant labor such as agriculture, construction, food processing, and leisure and hospitality. That said, I have not yet seen much of an imprint on wages from these developments.
    Let me conclude with the implications of all this for monetary policy. As inflation has declined over the past two years, due in part to tighter monetary policy, the U.S. economy has remained resilient, with stable labor markets and employment near its maximum sustainable level. Disinflation has slowed, and we are already seeing the effects of higher tariffs, which I expect will continue to raise inflation over 2025. I see greater upside risks to inflation at this juncture and potential downside risks to employment and output growth down the road, and this leads me to continue to support maintaining the FOMC’s policy rate at its current setting if upside risks to inflation remain. I view our current stance of monetary policy as well-positioned for any changes in the macroeconomic environment.
    Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today, and I look forward to what I expect will be interesting questions.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. The vacancy rate is defined as the number of vacant jobs as a percentage of total employment. Return to text
    3. The quits rate is defined as the percentage of employees who voluntarily quit their jobs relative to total employment. Return to text
    4. I report here the median of economists’ expectations for total nonfarm payrolls polled by Bloomberg. Return to text
    5. See Robert Minton and Mariano Somale (2025), “Detecting Tariff Effects on Consumer Prices in Real Time,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, May 9). Return to text
    6. See Adriana D. Kugler (2024), “The Challenges Facing Economic Measurement and Creative Solutions,” speech delivered at the 21st Annual Economic Measurement Seminar, National Association for Business Economics Foundation, Washington, June 16. Return to text
    7. See Adriana D. Kugler (2025), “Inflation Expectations and Monetary Policymaking,” speech delivered at the Griswold Center for Economic Policy Studies and the Julis-Rabinowitz Center for Public Policy and Finance, Princeton University, Princeton, N.J., April 2. Return to text
    8. See Congressional Budget Office (2025), Preliminary Analysis of the Distributional Effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Washington: CBO, May). Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 5.6.2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Siili Solutions Plc       Announcement  5.6.2025
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc: Share Repurchase 5.6.2025  
         
    In the Helsinki Stock Exchange    
         
    Trade date           5.6.2025  
    Bourse trade         Buy  
    Share                  SIILI  
    Amount             1 100 Shares
    Average price/ share    6,3633 EUR
    Total cost            6 999,63 EUR
         
         
    Siili Solutions Plc now holds a total of 5 098 shares
    including the shares repurchased on 5.6.2025  
         
    The share buybacks are executed in compliance with Regulation 
    No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council (MAR) Article 5
    and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.
         
    On behalf of Siili Solutions Plc    
         
    Nordea Bank Oyj    
         
    Sami Huttunen Ilari Isomäki  
         
    Further information:    
    CFO Aleksi Kankainen    
    Email: aleksi.kankainen@siili.com    
    Tel. +358 50 584 2029    
         
    www.siili.com    

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Navigating Global Challenges: What’s in it for Europe? | ICMA Annual General Meeting & Conference

    Source: Deutsche Bundesbank in English

    Check against delivery.

    1. Introduction
    Ladies and gentlemen.
    I don’t know what your early morning routine looks like, but mine has changed significantly. Every morning when I get up, the first thing I do is to check the news for developments that I would not have expected even some months ago. Global uncertainty and tectonic shifts are everywhere.
    Today, I would like to take a closer look at what this means for Europe. More specifically: how can Europe make the most of the current circumstances, where many international investors look for new investment opportunities? 
    2. Global threats: Weak growth and high debt
    Let me recap some of the challenges our world is facing. 
    First, the global economy is experiencing a longer period of relatively weak growth. The reasons for this are manifold:

    Growing trade barriers,

    overcapacity in China and
    concentration risks along the supply chain.

    All these factors are becoming a more pressing issue. Trade barriers, such as tariffs and export restrictions, fragment international markets and reduce the efficiency of global trade. Overcapacity in China in key industries can lead to further price pressure, especially in Europe. Concentration in either critical industries like the chip industry or commodities, such as rare earths, can create economic dependencies.
    Besides significant headwinds resulting from geopolitical tensions, we have country-specific challenges. These include:

    Demographic change, causing a shortage of skilled workers.
    Small and medium-sized companies not using the full potential of digitalisation.
    Slow administration and high degree of bureaucracy.

    These factors matter, especially in Europe. 
    And in addition to all this, we are facing broader challenges that you all are aware of. A short list: climate change, degradation of nature and the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on our economies.
    We also need to talk about rising global debt. Fiscal deficits and public debt-to-GDP ratios have grown significantly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDE). In 2025, even in advanced economies the debt-to-GDP ratio has reached an average level of 110 %.[1]
    High debt is a significant risk for financial stability. High debt also limits governments’ room for manoeuvre.
    3. Uncertainty causes high volatility in financial markets
    At the same time we face significant uncertainty that is evident in the high volatility on financial markets. This year alone, volatility indicators in many market segments spiked at various occasions:
    In early March, when the new German government presented its fiscal plans. In April, markets reacted strongly to the announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs by the US administration. Recently, we have seen rising yields in many countries, particularly at the long end of the yield curve.
    In part this increase in rates can be seen as a normalisation, as central banks are slowly withdrawing from bond markets. But rising term premia may also reflect heightened awareness of fiscal sustainability with regard to a number of countries, including the US. 
    This shows that: Fiscal leeway is not infinite. This is what even leading government bond markets are telling us. 
    In such an environment, market participants have to deal with remarkable changes. Probably the most prominent one involves rising US Treasury yields, which normally go hand in hand with a rising US dollar. Recently, however, this correlation has been reversed. 
    Potential vulnerabilities also originate from non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs). We saw high margin calls affecting hedge funds, to mention just one example. We have to keep a close eye on NBFIs, not least since they control roughly 50 % of global financial assets.[2]
    Bottom line: In recent months we have experienced significant volatility in financial markets. The good news: Financial markets remained quite resilient, despite this high volatility. But with all these uncertainties and rising debt levels also in advanced economies it is clear: We are not out of the woods. 
    4. Europe has benefited so far
    Europe, in particular, has been holding up relatively well amid this uncertainty and volatility. The euro has appreciated against the US dollar and against the currencies of other major trading partners. European equity markets have been outperforming their peers in other regions. German government bonds have served as a stability anchor and a safe haven, especially amid the uncertainty around tariffs. 
    Looking at government bond spreads in Europe, there were no signs of fragmentation even in times of market stress. We are seeing more and more non-European entities issuing bonds in euro instead of US dollar. Finally, the German government’s fiscal package was well received. The biggest part of the rise in Bund yields following news about the spending plans reflected an improved medium-term growth outlook. 
    So, that’s the good news, but let’s also be honest: Part of the market reaction towards Europe is due to positive expectations about future outcomes. It seems that to some extent we are being praised for reforms we have yet to implement. 
    Beyond that, the strength that Germany and Europe have shown is more relative in nature, so far. In other words, we have also benefited from higher uncertainty in other parts of the world. 
    But it is also true that many investors are discovering Europe to be a safe haven. It is a place where democracy, the rule of law and the principle of checks and balances are part of the DNA.
    5. How can Europe benefit in the future?
    Against this backdrop, how can Germany and Europe preserve and build on these positive developments? Or, put differently, how can we ensure that the current tailwind does not become a lukewarm breeze?
    First, we have to make sure that democracy, rule of law and the principle of checks and balances remain the backbone of Europe. 
    Second, any fiscal space needs to be used in a smart way, fostering growth. This means that financial resources must be channelled into productive investments. 
    Third, growth requires not only smart support from the government. The biggest effort must come from the corporate sector itself.
    European companies have to become more competitive to keep pace with global dynamics. This includes making advances in digitalisation and AI, as well as driving innovation in disruptive technologies and areas. 
    Companies have to stay alert and agile. They have to adapt to the speed of key developments and remain open to change. For that, they need to recruit skilled people.
    To get skilled people, Europe must ensure a well-functioning education system, including good universities. We must secure that everyone has access to educational institutions. 
    That leads me to my last point: We need a social system that ensures social cohesion. At the same time, a social system has to be balanced to provide incentives for work and to avoid overburdening fiscal capacities.
    I could go on listing all the areas where Europe needs to improve. But let me come to an end.
    6. Conclusion
    Ladies and gentlemen.
    The momentum is now on Europe’s side, but it will not be endless. Europe needs to speed up. The public and private sector both need to accelerate and intensify their efforts to ensure their economies remain globally competitive. That’s what investors expect. 
    A major cornerstone of Europe’s promise as a safe haven lies in its democracy, its rule of law and its system of checks and balances. These are some of Europe’s greatest treasures. 
    Being a passionate European, I will do my best to safeguard these treasures. In my case, by stressing the value of central bank independence.
    Footnotes

    International Monetary Fund (2025): World Economic Outlook, 14 April 2025.
    Financial Stability Board (2024): Global Monitoring Report on Non-Bank Financial Intermediation, 16 December 2024.

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Over $7.74M Laundered on Behalf of the North Korean Government

    Source: US State of California

    Forfeiture Action is the Latest Disruption of an Indicted North Korean Official’s Efforts to Generate Revenue for North Korea and its Weapons Program Through Illegal IT Worker Schemes and Cryptocurrency Theft

    The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that North Korean information technology (IT) workers obtained illegal employment and amassed millions in cryptocurrency for the benefit of the North Korean government, all as a means of evading U.S. sanctions placed on North Korea. The funds were initially restrained in connection with an April 2023 indictment against Sim Hyon Sop (Sim), a North Korean Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) representative who was allegedly conspiring with the IT workers. While the North Koreans were attempting to launder those ill-gotten gains, the U.S. government was able to freeze and seize over $7.74 million tied to the scheme.

    “This forfeiture action highlights, once again, the North Korean government’s exploitation of the cryptocurrency ecosystem to fund its illicit priorities,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will use every legal tool at its disposal to safeguard the cryptocurrency ecosystem and deny North Korea its ill-gotten gains in violation of U.S. sanctions.”

    “For years, North Korea has exploited global remote IT contracting and cryptocurrency ecosystems to evade U.S. sanctions and bankroll its weapons programs,” said Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s multimillion-dollar forfeiture action reflects the Department’s strategic focus on disrupting these illicit revenue schemes. We will continue to use every legal tool available to cut off the financial lifelines that sustain the DPRK and its destabilizing agenda.”

    “Crime may pay in other countries but that’s not how it works here,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Any adversary who thinks they can benefit, financially, from executing a criminal scheme – whether directly or through the use of surrogates – had better rethink this ‘get rich quick’ strategy. It doesn’t work for the average citizen, and it certainly does not have a more positive outcome for foreign entities. Sanctions are in place against North Korea for a reason, and we will diligently investigate and prosecute anyone who tries to evade them. We will halt your progress, strike back, and take hold of any proceeds you obtained illegally.”

    “The FBI’s investigation has revealed a massive campaign by North Korean IT workers to defraud U.S. businesses by obtaining employment using the stolen identities of American citizens, all so the North Korean government can evade U.S. sanctions and generate revenue for its authoritarian regime,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “Today’s action shows the FBI will do everything in our power to protect Americans from being victimized by the North Korean government, and we ask all U.S. companies that employ remote workers to remain vigilant to this new and sophisticated threat.” 

    According to the complaint, the North Korean government uses illegally obtained cryptocurrency as a means of generating revenue for its priorities. This illegally obtained cryptocurrency is allegedly generated, in part, through remote work done by North Korean IT workers deployed around the globe, including in the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation (Russia). Those IT workers have generated revenue for North Korea via their jobs at, among other places, blockchain development companies. To obtain employment, these North Korean IT workers allegedly bypassed security and due diligence checks using fraudulent (or fraudulently obtained) identification documents and other obfuscation strategies. These tactics hid the North Koreans’ true location and identities, causing unwitting employers to hire them and pay them a salary, often in stablecoins, such as USDC and USDT.

    To send their illegally obtained cryptocurrency back to North Korea, the IT workers allegedly transferred the cryptocurrency using money laundering techniques. These techniques included: (1) setting up accounts with fictitious identities; (2) moving funds in a series of small amounts; (3) moving funds to other blockchains or converting funds to other forms of virtual currency (i.e., “chain hopping” and “token swapping,” respectively); (4) purchasing non-fungible tokens as a store of value and means of hiding illicit funds; (5) using U.S.-based online accounts to legitimize activity; and (6) commingling their fraud proceeds to hide the origin of the funds. After laundering these funds, the North Korean IT workers allegedly sent them back to the North Korean government, at times via Sim and Kim Sang Man (Kim). Kim is a North Korean national who is the chief executive officer of “Chinyong,” also known as “Jinyong IT Cooperation Company.” Chinyong is subordinate to North Korea’s Ministry of Defense (formerly known as the Ministry of the Peoples’ Armed Forces), which the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added to its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) on June 1, 2017.

    Chinyong employs delegations of North Korean IT workers that operate in, among other countries, Russia and Laos. Kim allegedly acts as an intermediary between the North Korean IT workers and North Korea’s FTB by sending funds from the North Korean IT workers to Sim.

    On April 24, 2023, OFAC added Sim to its SDN list. On May 23, 2023, OFAC added Chinyong and Kim to its SDN list.

    Today’s forfeiture action follows the Department’s announcement of two federal indictments charging Sim for allegedly conspiring (1) with North Korean IT workers to generate revenue through illegal employment at companies in the United States and abroad; and (2) with over-the-counter cryptocurrency traders to use stolen funds to buy goods for North Korea. The forfeiture action also follows on successful actions to disrupt North Korean revenue generation taken by the Department in May 2024, August 2024, December 2024, and January 2025. Those actions, which are part of the Department-wide DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative launched in March 2024 by the National Security Division and the FBI’s Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions, targeted U.S. persons facilitating remote IT work and their North Korean co-conspirators.

    The FBI Chicago Field Office and FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit are investigating the cases associated with this complaint.

    Senior Counsel Jessica Peck of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia, Jr. of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Rick Blaylock for the District of Columbia are handling the prosecutions and forfeiture action. Significant assistance was provided by former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Chris Wong.

    The FBI, in conjunction with the State and Treasury Departments, issued a May 2022 advisory to alert the international community, private sector, and public about the North Korea IT worker threat. Updated guidance was issued in October 2023 by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and in May 2024 by the FBI, which include indicators consistent with the North Korea IT worker fraud and the use of U.S.-based laptop farms. In January 2025, the FBI issued additional guidance regarding extortion and theft of sensitive company data by North Korean IT workers, along with recommended mitigations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against Over $7.74M Laundered on Behalf of the North Korean Government

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Forfeiture Action is the Latest Disruption of an Indicted North Korean Official’s Efforts to Generate Revenue for North Korea and its Weapons Program Through Illegal IT Worker Schemes and Cryptocurrency Theft

    The Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that North Korean information technology (IT) workers obtained illegal employment and amassed millions in cryptocurrency for the benefit of the North Korean government, all as a means of evading U.S. sanctions placed on North Korea. The funds were initially restrained in connection with an April 2023 indictment against Sim Hyon Sop (Sim), a North Korean Foreign Trade Bank (FTB) representative who was allegedly conspiring with the IT workers. While the North Koreans were attempting to launder those ill-gotten gains, the U.S. government was able to freeze and seize over $7.74 million tied to the scheme.

    “This forfeiture action highlights, once again, the North Korean government’s exploitation of the cryptocurrency ecosystem to fund its illicit priorities,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department will use every legal tool at its disposal to safeguard the cryptocurrency ecosystem and deny North Korea its ill-gotten gains in violation of U.S. sanctions.”

    “For years, North Korea has exploited global remote IT contracting and cryptocurrency ecosystems to evade U.S. sanctions and bankroll its weapons programs,” said Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s multimillion-dollar forfeiture action reflects the Department’s strategic focus on disrupting these illicit revenue schemes. We will continue to use every legal tool available to cut off the financial lifelines that sustain the DPRK and its destabilizing agenda.”

    “Crime may pay in other countries but that’s not how it works here,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “Any adversary who thinks they can benefit, financially, from executing a criminal scheme – whether directly or through the use of surrogates – had better rethink this ‘get rich quick’ strategy. It doesn’t work for the average citizen, and it certainly does not have a more positive outcome for foreign entities. Sanctions are in place against North Korea for a reason, and we will diligently investigate and prosecute anyone who tries to evade them. We will halt your progress, strike back, and take hold of any proceeds you obtained illegally.”

    “The FBI’s investigation has revealed a massive campaign by North Korean IT workers to defraud U.S. businesses by obtaining employment using the stolen identities of American citizens, all so the North Korean government can evade U.S. sanctions and generate revenue for its authoritarian regime,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Counterintelligence Division. “Today’s action shows the FBI will do everything in our power to protect Americans from being victimized by the North Korean government, and we ask all U.S. companies that employ remote workers to remain vigilant to this new and sophisticated threat.” 

    According to the complaint, the North Korean government uses illegally obtained cryptocurrency as a means of generating revenue for its priorities. This illegally obtained cryptocurrency is allegedly generated, in part, through remote work done by North Korean IT workers deployed around the globe, including in the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation (Russia). Those IT workers have generated revenue for North Korea via their jobs at, among other places, blockchain development companies. To obtain employment, these North Korean IT workers allegedly bypassed security and due diligence checks using fraudulent (or fraudulently obtained) identification documents and other obfuscation strategies. These tactics hid the North Koreans’ true location and identities, causing unwitting employers to hire them and pay them a salary, often in stablecoins, such as USDC and USDT.

    To send their illegally obtained cryptocurrency back to North Korea, the IT workers allegedly transferred the cryptocurrency using money laundering techniques. These techniques included: (1) setting up accounts with fictitious identities; (2) moving funds in a series of small amounts; (3) moving funds to other blockchains or converting funds to other forms of virtual currency (i.e., “chain hopping” and “token swapping,” respectively); (4) purchasing non-fungible tokens as a store of value and means of hiding illicit funds; (5) using U.S.-based online accounts to legitimize activity; and (6) commingling their fraud proceeds to hide the origin of the funds. After laundering these funds, the North Korean IT workers allegedly sent them back to the North Korean government, at times via Sim and Kim Sang Man (Kim). Kim is a North Korean national who is the chief executive officer of “Chinyong,” also known as “Jinyong IT Cooperation Company.” Chinyong is subordinate to North Korea’s Ministry of Defense (formerly known as the Ministry of the Peoples’ Armed Forces), which the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added to its list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) on June 1, 2017.

    Chinyong employs delegations of North Korean IT workers that operate in, among other countries, Russia and Laos. Kim allegedly acts as an intermediary between the North Korean IT workers and North Korea’s FTB by sending funds from the North Korean IT workers to Sim.

    On April 24, 2023, OFAC added Sim to its SDN list. On May 23, 2023, OFAC added Chinyong and Kim to its SDN list.

    Today’s forfeiture action follows the Department’s announcement of two federal indictments charging Sim for allegedly conspiring (1) with North Korean IT workers to generate revenue through illegal employment at companies in the United States and abroad; and (2) with over-the-counter cryptocurrency traders to use stolen funds to buy goods for North Korea. The forfeiture action also follows on successful actions to disrupt North Korean revenue generation taken by the Department in May 2024, August 2024, December 2024, and January 2025. Those actions, which are part of the Department-wide DPRK RevGen: Domestic Enabler Initiative launched in March 2024 by the National Security Division and the FBI’s Cyber and Counterintelligence Divisions, targeted U.S. persons facilitating remote IT work and their North Korean co-conspirators.

    The FBI Chicago Field Office and FBI’s Virtual Assets Unit are investigating the cases associated with this complaint.

    Senior Counsel Jessica Peck of the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Gregory J. Nicosia, Jr. of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section, Trial Attorney Emma Ellenrieder of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Tortorice and Rick Blaylock for the District of Columbia are handling the prosecutions and forfeiture action. Significant assistance was provided by former FBI Supervisory Special Agent Chris Wong.

    The FBI, in conjunction with the State and Treasury Departments, issued a May 2022 advisory to alert the international community, private sector, and public about the North Korea IT worker threat. Updated guidance was issued in October 2023 by the United States and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and in May 2024 by the FBI, which include indicators consistent with the North Korea IT worker fraud and the use of U.S.-based laptop farms. In January 2025, the FBI issued additional guidance regarding extortion and theft of sensitive company data by North Korean IT workers, along with recommended mitigations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Trade 350 App: This Trade 350 App Establishes New Standard for Retail Traders in 2025—Advanced AI Signals Backed by Military-Grade Security

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York City, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In an industry crowded with promises and half-measures, Trade 350 App emerges as a true trailblazer. Launched in early 2023 by a team of seasoned quantitative analysts and software engineers, Trade 350 leverages state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and proprietary algorithms to deliver a seamlessly automated trading experience. As of mid-2025, more than 125,000 active users across 28 countries have entrusted their capital to Trade 350, citing rapid withdrawals, crystal-clear fee structures, and consistently reliable AI signals. This press-release–style article delves deeply into the features, security protocols, and glowing user feedback that have positioned Trade 350 App as one of the most highly recommended retail trading platforms on the market.

    Be Part of the AI Revolution—Download Trade 350 and Watch Your Portfolio Soar!”

    Overview: Trade 350 App’s Mission and Vision

    At its core, Trade 350 App was conceived to democratize high-frequency, algorithmic trading strategies—to bring hedge-fund-grade tools into the hands of everyday retail investors. The founding vision, articulated by CEO Samantha Lopez, was simple: “Empower individuals—novices and professionals alike—to trade confidently, safely, and profitably, without having to become quant wizards overnight.” By fusing machine-learning models with robust risk-management controls and a user-first design, Trade 350 did more than merely enter the market: it redefined expectations.

    Key pillars of Trade 350’s mission include:

    • Accessibility: Ensuring that a minimum initial deposit ($250 USD) and transparent fee structure open the door for traders with limited capital.
    • Reliability: Providing consistently accurate trade signals, backed by 24/7 monitoring and continuous AI retraining.
    • Security: Adopting military-grade encryption, multi-factor authentication, and strict data-privacy protocols to safeguard user assets.
    • Education: Offering extensive learning resources—webinars, tutorials, and a dedicated knowledge base—to accelerate every user’s understanding of risk, strategy, and market dynamics.

    Ready to Trade Smarter, Not Harder? Tap into Trade 350’s AI Genius Today

    Founding Team & Timeline of Key Milestones

    Trade 350’s rapid rise stems from a leadership team whose combined experience spans decades at major financial institutions and technology ventures. Below is a brief timeline highlighting the company’s notable milestones:

    Early 2023

    • Conceptualization & Seed Funding
      • Seed round of $2.5 million led by MacroVentures Capital.
      • Core team formed:
        • Samantha Lopez, CEO (MBA, MIT Sloan) – Former Director of Quantitative Research at Vector Capital.
        • Dr. Aaron Ng, CTO (PhD in Computer Science, Stanford) – Ex-Google Research Scientist focused on reinforcement learning.
        • Priya Patel, CMO (BS in Marketing, University of Pennsylvania) – 8 years at Tradex Media in FinTech marketing.
        • David Clarke, Head of Risk (CFA, FRM) – 10 years in derivatives risk management at CapitalOne UK.

    Q2 2023

    • Prototype & Closed Beta Launch
      • Initial AI-signal engine tested on live market data in controlled environments.
      • Closed beta recruited 500 “alpha testers” worldwide; feedback loop refined signal accuracy.

    Q4 2023

    • Public Launch & App Release (v1.0)
      • Web platform and iOS/Android apps released simultaneously.
      • Core markets: Major Forex pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD), top cryptos (BTC, ETH).
      • Achieved 10,000 registered users in first two months.

    Early 2024

    • Expanded Asset Coverage & Risk Controls (v2.0)
      • Added indices (S&P 500, NASDAQ 100), commodities (Gold, Crude Oil).
      • Introduced granular risk settings: adjustable trade size (0.1%–5%), daily loss limits.
      • Rolled out first batch of educational webinars on “AI Fundamentals for Retail Traders.”

    Q3 2024

    • Security Audit & Scalability Upgrades
      • Completed third-party security audit by CyberCore Labs.
      • Migrated to fully redundant cloud architecture (multi-region AWS) to ensure 99.9% uptime.
      • User base surpassed 50,000, with $20+ million in aggregate trading volume monthly.

    Late 2024

    • International Language Support & Regulatory Pursuits
      • Added Spanish and Portuguese language packs to mobile apps.
      • Hired compliance specialists to initiate FCA registration in the UK and ASIC licensing in Australia.
      • Launched “Trade 350 University”—an online curriculum covering technical analysis, AI model interpretation, and advanced risk management.

    Q1 2025

    • Trade 350 v3.1: Enhanced AI & Social Sentiment Integration
      • Deployed new LSTM-based neural network modules that incorporate real-time social media sentiment (Twitter, Reddit) for cryptocurrency signals.
      • Launched customer support in Arabic and Mandarin.
      • Achieved 4.8-star average rating across App Store and Google Play.
      • Monthly active traders exceeded 85,000, with total platform equity above $50 million.

    Q2 2025

    • Beta Release of CopyTrading Feature & API Access
      • Introduced “CopyTrade 350,” allowing novice users to mirror top-performing traders’ portfolios (rollout scheduled for full release in Q3 2025).
      • Publicly documented RESTful API endpoints for third-party developers to access signals under a developer license.
      • Consolidated regulatory progress: Applied for full FCA license, with expected approval by Q4 2025.

    Join 125,000+ Traders Who’ve Unlocked Faster Withdrawals and Rock-Solid Security—Get Trade 350 Now!

    How Trade 350’s AI Engine Drives Market-Beating Signals

    At the heart of Trade 350 App lies a proprietary AI engine that continuously learns and evolves. Rather than relying on static, rule-based algorithms, Trade 350’s system employs a combination of supervised learning classifiers, unsupervised anomaly detection, and reinforcement-learning loops. Below is a breakdown of the engine’s core layers:

    1. Data Ingestion & Preprocessing
      • Live Price Feeds: Sub-second tick data on major forex pairs, cryptocurrency exchanges, commodity futures.
      • Economic Calendar: Automated ingestion of macroeconomic event schedules (central bank decisions, employment reports, CPI releases) from leading data providers.
      • Social Sentiment: Custom scraped sentiment scores from Twitter, Reddit, and specialized crypto-community forums; big-data processed via Apache Spark pipelines.
      • Historical Data Archive: 15+ years of minute- and hourly-bar data stored in columnar format; used for backtesting and model calibration.
    2. Feature Engineering & Pattern Recognition
      • Technical Indicators: 50+ pre-engineered indicators (moving averages, Bollinger Bands, RSI, MACD, Fibonacci retracements) automatically calculated per symbol.
      • Volatility Filters: Dynamic measures (e.g., ATR-based volatility) adjust stop-loss and take-profit levels based on current market turbulence.
      • Anomaly Detection: Unsupervised clustering identifies “flash crash” patterns or unnatural price spikes; system can automatically suspend signals ahead of low-liquidity events.
    3. Model Architecture
      • Classifier Ensembles: Random forest and gradient-boosted tree ensembles generate entry/exit probabilities for each trade.
      • LSTM & GRU Layers: Deep recurrent networks capture temporal dependencies, especially critical in high-frequency crypto markets.
      • Reinforcement Learning: Periodic “paper-trading” modules simulate thousands of episodes, allowing the AI to adjust reward functions based on cumulative drawdown and Sharpe ratio targets.
      • Continuous Retraining: Models retrain weekly, incorporating the most recent market data (ensuring the system adapts to shifting regimes, e.g., bull runs or sudden volatility escalations).
    4. Signal Scoring & Confidence Levels
      • Each generated signal is assigned a confidence score (0–100%).
      • Only signals above a user-defined threshold are delivered (e.g., 85% confidence or higher).
      • Real-time performance scoreboard evaluates the last 100 signals per asset class, tracking actual win-rate vs. predicted probabilities.

    Why this matters:
    In an era when markets are influenced by split-second news developments, algorithms that cannot rapidly pivot to new data become obsolete. Trade 350’s layered approach—blending classical technical analysis with advanced NLP-driven sentiment models—enables it to identify high-probability setups that may elude manual traders. This fusion of big data, deep learning, and automated risk controls underpins Trade 350’s consistently strong performance track record.

    Don’t Just Follow Trends—Set Them. Experience Trade 350’s Cutting-Edge AI Signals ASAP!

    Simplified Onboarding: From Registration to First Trade

    A frictionless onboarding process is critical to user adoption. Trade 350’s team prioritized a stepwise workflow designed to get users trading—and winning—quickly:

    1. Account Registration (2–3 minutes)
      • Email & Password: Users enter a valid email and create a strong password.
      • Phone Verification: One-time code sent via SMS to authenticate device.
    2. KYC & Identity Verification (up to 24 hours)
      • Upload Documents: Government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license) + proof of address (utility bill or bank statement).
      • Selfie Check: Simple facial recognition match via mobile camera.
      • Risk Questionnaire: Brief survey on trading experience, risk tolerance, and investment goals (required by global AML regulations).
    3. Funding Your Account (within minutes to hours)
      • Deposit Methods:
        • Bank transfer (ACH, SEPA)
        • Credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard)
        • E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
      • Minimum Deposit: $250 USD (or local equivalent).
      • Processing Times:
        • Card/E-wallet: Instant to 15 minutes
        • Bank transfer: 1–2 business days (varies by region)
    4. Platform Tour & Guided Walkthrough
      • Interactive Tutorial: Step-by-step pop-ups walk users through
        • Navigating the Dashboard
        • Accessing AI Signals
        • Configuring Risk Settings
        • Placing Demo Trades
      • Knowledge Center Links: Contextual tooltips link to in-depth articles on technical analysis, building a strategy, and interpreting AI scores.
    5. First Trade in Demo Mode (minutes)
      • Virtual Balance Allocation: Users begin with $10,000 (play money) to practice.
      • Signal Feed: In-app notifications highlight high-confidence setups across supported assets.
      • One-Click Order Entry: Price, position size (automatically suggested by AI risk model), and stop-loss/take-profit parameters pre-filled; user reviews and confirms.
    6. Transition to Live Mode (Optional)
      • Once comfortable, users flip the toggle to “Live Mode,” where AI signals trigger orders with real capital.

    Takeaway:
    Trade 350’s streamlined process—designed to be completed within a single afternoon—eliminates the confusion often associated with new trading platforms. The combination of interactive guidance, minimal deposit requirements, and a robust demo environment ensures that users of all experience levels can onboard with confidence.

    Your Edge in 2025: Instant AI Signals, Zero Subscription Fees—Start Trading with Indian Trade 350!

    Demo Mode: Risk-Free Practice Before Going Live

    Recognizing that traders learn best by doing, Trade 350 prioritizes Demo Mode as a cornerstone feature. Unlike some competitors that limit demo accounts to 7–14 days, Trade 350’s Demo Mode remains active indefinitely. Key highlights:

    • Unlimited Duration: No expiration on the $10,000 virtual balance; transition to Live Mode at your own pace.
    • Identical Interface: Demo Mode reproduces the exact look and feel, data feeds, and AI signals of Live Mode—no surprises when switching to real capital.
    • Preset Risk Profile: The demo account uses a conservative baseline risk (1% of balance per trade) to show users how varying position sizes and stop-loss levels impact outcomes.
    • Real-Time Data: Market conditions in Demo Mode mirror Live Mode, including spreads, latency, and slippage (within reason).
    • Performance Dashboard:
      • P&L Ledger: Tracks every trade’s profit or loss.
      • Drawdown Metrics: Calculates peak-to-valley drawdowns to illustrate capital preservation.
      • Strategy Analyzer: Backtests demo trades against historical data to identify strengths and weaknesses in your risk settings.

    Why Demo Mode Matters:

    • Build Confidence: Users can test different strategies—scalping, swing trades, trend following—without risking a dollar.
    • Familiarize with AI Workflow: Understand how the system interprets confidence scores, positions, and risk recommendations.
    • Identify Emotional Triggers: By seeing what happens when you deviate from AI-recommended parameters (e.g., increasing trade size beyond recommended limit), traders learn discipline before risking real funds.

    According to Trade 350’s Q1 2025 user survey:

    “75% of new users spend at least one week in Demo Mode before funding their account. Of those who transition, 4 out of 5 report feeling fully prepared to follow AI signals without hesitation.”

    Trade, Profit—Trade 350’s AI Does the Heavy Lifting. Are You In?

    Tailored Risk Management: Customization at Every Level

    One of Trade 350’s defining features is its intuitive, highly customizable risk management panel. Users—whether ultra-conservative retirees or aggressive millennial traders—can dial in parameters that align with their individual comfort levels:

    1. Position Sizing Slider
      • Select a percentage of account equity for each trade (ranging from 0.1% up to 5%).
      • AI generates recommended position size based on recent equity, market volatility (ATR), and signal confidence.
      • Users can override suggested size if they wish, but an on-screen warning alerts them to increased risk.
    2. Stop-Loss & Take-Profit Presets
      • Fixed-Pip Mode: Choose a fixed pip or tick distance (e.g., 20 pips stop-loss, 40 pips take-profit).
      • Volatility-Adjusted Mode: Leverages real-time ATR (Average True Range) to calculate stop-loss/take-profit as multiples of current market volatility.
      • Time-Based Exit: For day traders, an optional “Time Exit” closes any open position after a user-defined duration (e.g., 4 hours), regardless of profit or loss.
    3. Daily Loss Limit
      • Set a maximum total loss threshold per 24-hour cycle (e.g., 3% of account equity).
      • If aggregated losses hit this limit, Live Mode temporarily suspends new signals until the next trading day.
      • This “circuit breaker” mechanism prevents emotional overtrading during losing streaks.
    4. Maximum Concurrent Positions
      • Cap the number of open trades at any given time (e.g., no more than 3 simultaneous Forex trades).
      • Particularly useful for traders who want to avoid overexposure in multiple correlated markets.
    5. Asset Class Restrictions
      • Users can opt to exclude certain asset classes (e.g., cryptocurrencies) from receiving signals.
      • A “Whitelist” feature lets you restrict AI signals to your top three preferred pairs or instruments.
    6. Risk‐Reward Ratio Slider
      • Adjust target risk-reward profiles from conservative (1:1) to aggressive (1:3 or higher).
      • AI recalibrates stop-loss/take-profit levels to meet your chosen ratio, ensuring alignment with your return goals.

    User Benefits:

    • Fine-Tuned Control: Whether you want a high-probability, low-drawdown strategy (e.g., 1% risk per trade, 1:1 reward) or higher-volatility approaches (e.g., 2.5% risk per trade, 1:3 reward), the platform accommodates your style.
    • Emotional Discipline: Predefined rules eliminate second-guessing. Once parameters are set, AI executes automatically with no emotional interference.
    • Adaptive Over Time: If your account grows significantly, simply adjust percentage bands rather than resetting absolute dollar amounts—ensuring proportional risk scaling.

    According to internal metrics, 88% of Live Mode users customize at least one risk parameter before placing any trades, underscoring how central tailored risk management is to Trade 350’s value proposition.

    Unlock VIP-Caliber Trading Power—Visit Trade 350 and Level Up Your Game!

    Robust Security, Privacy & Compliance Measures

    Security is not an afterthought at Trade 350—it is foundational. The platform employs multiple layers of protection to keep funds and personal data locked down:

    1. Encryption & Data Protection
      • SSL/TLS 1.3 or higher on all data in transit; AES-256 encryption at rest.
      • No sensitive personal information stored in plaintext.
      • Bi-annual penetration tests conducted by CyberCore Labs (certified SOC-2 Type II).
    2. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
      • Support for SMS-based 2FA or time-based OTP via authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Authy).
      • Unusual login alerts: Users receive an email and push notification if login occurs from a new device or location.
    3. Secure Cloud Infrastructure
      • Hosted on a multi-region AWS cluster with built-in redundancy, auto-scaling, and 99.99% SLA.
      • Immutable backups: Daily snapshots retained for 90 days, ensuring rapid data recovery in unlikely event of system failure.
    4. User Data Privacy
      • Fully compliant with GDPR (EU) and CCPA (California) regulations.
      • Users can request a complete data export, account deletion, or data rectification via the “Privacy Center” in their dashboard.
      • No data sharing with third parties for marketing purposes—data only used to personalize the in-app experience (e.g., tuning AI confidence thresholds to individual risk appetites).
    5. Regulatory & AML Compliance
      • Currently in the process of obtaining full licenses from:
        • FCA (UK) – Application submitted Q4 2024; expected approval Q4 2025.
        • ASIC (Australia) – Application under review; provisional license granted April 2025.
        • CySEC (EU) – Compliance roadmap initiated March 2025; expected Q1 2026.
      • Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks required for all new accounts—no anonymous trading.
      • Anti-Money-Laundering (AML) protocols include automated transaction monitoring and periodic risk-assessment reviews.
    6. Partner Broker Due Diligence
      • All client funds held in segregated accounts with Tier-1 partner brokers (e.g., Smith & Wollensky Securities, First Rate Capital).
      • Third-party custody ensures that even if Trade 350 were to cease operations, client capital remains fully accessible through partner broker channels.

    Industry Recognition:

    • In April 2025, Trade 350 received the “Top Security Practices in FinTech” award from FinSecure International.
    • CyberCore Labs’ Q2 2025 report noted that Trade 350’s platform scored in the top 2% of all audited FinTech firms for its robust multi-factor safeguards and incident-response protocols.

    Limited Spots for Early Adopters—Join Trade 350’s Elite Indian User Base Before It’s Too Late!

    User Interface & Mobile Experience: Intuitive, Fast, and Functional

    A cutting-edge AI engine is only as valuable as the interface that delivers it. Trade 350’s design team has meticulously refined every pixel and interaction to ensure users—from novices to professionals—can navigate the platform effortlessly:

    1. Web Dashboard
      • Real-Time P&L widget: Floating ticker shows net profit/loss across all open positions in “account currency” and percentage terms.
      • Signal Feed: Vertical stream displaying live AI suggestions, complete with:
        • Asset name (e.g., EUR/USD, BTC/USD)
        • Direction (Buy / Sell)
        • Confidence score (e.g., 92% High Probability)
        • Suggested position size (% of account).
      • Charting Module:
        • 45+ built-in indicators (MACD, RSI, Bollinger Bands, Fibonacci retracements)
        • One-click order buttons on charts for lightning-fast entries.
        • Integrated “Watchlist” that syncs with mobile app.
      • Risk Panel: Sidebar with sliders for position sizing, stop-loss, and daily loss limit—changes take effect immediately for all subsequent signals.
      • Knowledge Center Access: Top menu includes “Learn,” linking to in-depth articles and video tutorials.
    2. Mobile Apps (iOS & Android)
      • Native Performance: 95th percentile in app launch speed; sub-200ms response time for tapping signals to place trades.
      • Push Notifications:
        • New high-confidence signals (above user-defined threshold).
        • Price alerts (user-set price levels on any supported symbol).
        • Account health alerts (margin calls, daily loss limit breaches).
      • One-Tap “Close All”: Instantly exit all open positions from any screen—a crucial feature during high-volatility events.
      • Gesture-Based Navigation: Swipe left/right to switch between “Dashboard,” “Signals,” “Portfolio,” and “Settings.”
      • Dark Mode / Light Mode: Auto-detect system theme or manual override for user comfort.
      • Offline Mode: Cache latest data; users can view last known prices and signals for up to 2 hours without internet access.

    User Satisfaction Metrics:

    • App Store Rating: 4.8 stars (based on 8,200+ reviews).
    • Google Play Rating: 4.7 stars (6,100+ reviews).
    • Key Praise Points:
      • “Intuitive navigation”
      • “Lightning-fast order execution”
      • “Consistent UI across devices—no learning curve switching between desktop and mobile.”

    Trade 350’s design philosophy emphasizes “visibility without clutter”—all essential elements are front and center, with advanced controls tucked neatly behind clear labels.

    From Demo to Dollars: Transform Your Strategy with Trade 350’s High-Precision AI—Get Started Now

    Deposits, Withdrawals & Customer Support: Fast, Friendly, Reliable

    Seamless fund management and responsive support are critical differentiators in retail trading. Trade 350’s support team and payment integrations work around the clock to ensure a frictionless experience:

    1. Deposit Methods & Processing Times
      • Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, MasterCard)
        • Instant to 15 minutes.
        • 3D Secure verification enabled for added safety.
      • Bank Transfer (ACH, SEPA, Local Wires)
        • 1–2 business days (domestic).
        • 2–4 business days (international).
        • No processing fees charged by Trade 350 (standard bank fees apply).
      • E-Wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
        • Instant.
        • Minimum deposit $250; no upper limit.
    2. Withdrawal Process & Speed
      • In-App Withdrawal Request:
    1. Go to Wallet → Withdraw
    2. Enter withdrawal amount
    3. Select destination (bank account, e-wallet)
    4. Confirm via 2FA
    • Processing Times:
    • E-Wallet: Instant to 30 minutes.
    • Card Refund: 1–2 business days (often processed same day).
    • Bank Transfer: 24–48 hours (weekends excluded).
    • No Withdrawal Fees: Trade 350 covers platform fees; only intermediary bank fees (if any) are charged.
    1. Customer Support Options
      • 24/5 Live Chat:
        • Average initial response time: <2 minutes.
        • Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Mandarin.
      • Email Support:
        • Typical response time: <4 hours.
        • Multi-language support and ticket tracking system.
      • Phone Support:
        • Toll-free numbers in the US, UK, Australia, and Germany.
        • Available 9 AM–6 PM (local time).
      • Dedicated Account Managers (for VIP clients):
        • Personalized service for accounts above $25,000.
        • Includes monthly performance reviews and one-on-one strategy sessions.
    2. Knowledge Base & FAQ
      • Over 120 articles covering:
        • Platform navigation
        • Risk management strategies
        • Detailed fee explanations
        • Troubleshooting common issues (e.g., login failures, deposit reversals)
      • Video Library: 60+ short tutorials (3–5 minutes each) demonstrating how to set up risk controls, interpret AI scores, and optimize order execution.

    User Feedback on Support:

    • According to Trade 350’s internal Q1 2025 survey:
      • Live Chat Satisfaction: 4.9/5 average rating.
      • Email Support Rating: 4.7/5.
      • Phone Support Rating: 4.8/5.

    One user commented on Trustpilot (May 2025):

    “I reached out at 2 AM GMT about a withdrawal clarification. Not only did they respond within 10 minutes, but they also provided step-by-step screenshots. Phenomenal support.”

    Trade 350’s AI Knows the Next Move—Be the First to Profit. Download and Trade Today! 

    Testimonials: Real-World Success Stories from Satisfied Traders

    Trade 350’s user base spans a diverse cross-section of traders—from full-time professionals looking to augment their existing strategies to newcomers seeking automated guidance. Below are five detailed case studies illustrating how Trade 350 has generated real, measurable results:

    Innovative Returns for a Full-Time Forex Day Trader

    Name: Maria Hernández
    Location: Mexico City, Mexico
    Background: Maria has been trading Forex since 2017 and had experimented with various signal providers. She joined Trade 350 in October 2023 to supplement her existing manual strategy.

    Experience & Results:

    • Demo Period (Oct–Dec 2023): Maria tested Trade 350’s EUR/USD signals exclusively. Over 2,500 demo trades, she achieved a 71% win rate with a 1:1.5 average risk-reward ratio.
    • Live Transition (Jan 2024): Deposited $5,000.
      • First 3 Months: Net P&L $2,100 (42% ROI), with a maximum drawdown of 8%.
      • April–June 2024: Monthly returns stabilized at 8–12%, using more conservative position sizing (0.75% per trade).
    • Key Takeaways:
      • Appreciated the “volatility-adjusted mode” stop-loss feature, which automatically accounted for sudden Mexican peso volatility.
      • Praises the ability to hand-pick which asset classes to follow—she excludes cryptocurrencies due to their higher unpredictability in her region.

    Quote from Maria:

    “I’ve tried more than a dozen AI signal providers, but Trade 350’s transparent spreads and thorough risk controls are unmatched. Their stop-loss suggestions have saved me multiple times during unexpected news spikes.”

    College Student Achieves Consistent Side Income

    Name: Jacob Thompson
    Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
    Background: Jacob, a second-year economics student, was intrigued by algorithmic trading but lacked capital and experience. He discovered Trade 350 via a university tech meetup in March 2024.

    Experience & Results:

    • Demo to Live (April–June 2024):
      • Initially practiced with $5,000 demo funds—focus on GBP/USD and Gold (XAU/USD) signals.
      • Within two weeks, maintained a 65% win ratio on demo trades.
    • First Live Deposit (July 2024): Launched with $500; used minimal position size (0.5% per trade).
      • July–December 2024: Achieved 18% total return on his $500 (added $90). Made two withdrawals to pay semester fees.
      • January–April 2025: Deposited additional $1,000; net P&L $260 (13% return).
    • Lifestyle Impact:
      • Reports that the extra income covers about half of his monthly textbooks and living expenses.
      • Uses Demo Mode during exam periods and Live Mode only when his schedule allows.

    Quote from Jacob:

    “Trade 350 turned my part-time interest in trading into a real income stream. The mobile app’s push alerts keep me informed even between lectures. It’s like having my own personal trading desk.”

    Small-Business Owner Diversifies Portfolio

    Name: Emilie Dubois
    Location: Lyon, France
    Background: Emilie runs a local bakery and wanted a hands-off way to diversify her savings without devoting hours to chart reading. She signed up for Trade 350 in February 2024.

    Experience & Results:

    • Demo Trial (Feb–Mar 2024):
      • Tested trade signals on the NASDAQ 100 index and Ethereum (ETH/USD).
      • Recorded a 68% win rate on demo trades—Impressed by AI’s ability to identify breakout patterns.
    • Live Trading (April 2024–Present):
      • Initial Deposit: $5,000 (EUR 4,600).
      • April–December 2024: Generated $1,020 in net profits (22.2% annualized return) with conservative risk settings (1% per trade).
      • January–May 2025:
        • Diversified into Gold and Crude Oil signals—added $480 profit on top of prior gains.
        • Current portfolio value: $6,500 (EUR 5,960). Withdrawn $600 throughout 2024 to fund bakery renovations.

    Operational Benefits:

    • Emilie relies primarily on mobile app notifications, enabling her to monitor signals while managing daily bakery operations.
    • Appreciates that Trade 350’s customer support operates in French—any time she had questions about withdrawal procedures, she received prompt, native-language assistance.

    Quote from Emilie:

    “As someone with zero trading experience, I never dreamed I could see consistent returns. Trade 350’s AI does the heavy lifting. All I have to do is adjust risk parameters and let the signals run.”

    Retiree Seeks Supplemental Income with Low Effort

    Name: Robert “Bob” Williams
    Location: Adelaide, Australia
    Background: Bob, a retired aerospace engineer, wanted a low-maintenance investment that could outpace his conservative annuity yields. He discovered Trade 350 in June 2024.

    Experience & Results:

    • Demo Trial (June–July 2024):
      • Experimented with short-term EUR/GBP signals. Maintained a 62% win rate with a balanced risk-reward profile (1:1.2).
    • Live Trading (August 2024–Present):
      • Initial Deposit: $10,000 AUD.
      • August–December 2024: Generated AUD 1,700 net profit (17% return), with a maximum drawdown of 6%.
      • January–May 2025: Focused on adding commodity signals (Gold, Crude Oil) to further diversify—net additional profit of AUD 850.
      • Total current value: AUD 12,550 (net gain ~25.5%). Withdrawned AUD 500 in February 2025 to cover medical expenses.

    Lifestyle & Emotional Impact:

    • Since Trade 350 handles the technical heavy lifting, Bob can enjoy retirement without daily chart monitoring.
    • Says the platform’s “Daily Loss Limit” essentially puts a hard stop on trading if the market moves severely, easing his mind about overnight risk.

    Quote from Bob:

    “At my age, I don’t want to babysit charts. Trade 350’s AI does the work. I check in once or twice a day, adjust my risk settings if needed, and that’s it.”

    Crypto Enthusiast Boosts Returns During Bear Market

    Name: Aisha Ahmed
    Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
    Background: A self-described “crypto maximalist,” Aisha had struggled to consistently profit during the 2022–2023 crypto downturn. She found Trade 350’s crypto signal suite in November 2023.

    Experience & Results:

    • Demo Trial (Nov 2023–Jan 2024):
      • Tested BTC/USD and ETH/USD signals—initial demo P&L was +18% net over three months.
    • Live Trading (Feb 2024–Present):
      • Initial Deposit: $3,000 (USD).
      • Feb–Dec 2024: Net profit $920 (30.7% return) with 2% risk per trade. Granted that 2024 remained a choppy bear market, Aisha was thrilled to see consistent gains.
      • Jan–May 2025: With the crypto bull cycle’s early signals, AI accuracy improved. Aisha’s net profit in that period was $630 (21% return).
      • Current account value: $4,550 (net +51.6% to date).

    Platform Advantages:

    • Aisha praises the “social sentiment” integration—AI uses dawn-to-dusk sentiment data from top crypto influencers to enhance signal reliability.
    • Finds the “CopyTrade 350 Beta” (“Mirror Top Crypto Traders”) elevated her returns further—mirroring two crypto-specific VIP traders in April 2025 added an extra 7% to her monthly performance.

    Quote from Aisha:

    “Trade 350 saved me from the 2023 crypto slump. Their AI remained profitable when my manual strategies faltered. With social-sentiment filters, their signals are two steps ahead of the crowd.”

    Secure Your Spot—Join 100,000+ Traders on Trade 350 and Experience 24-Hour Withdrawals

    Industry Recognition & Third-Party Endorsements

    No platform can claim legitimacy without external validation. Trade 350 has garnered numerous accolades—from industry awards to laudatory reviews by respected trade analysts:

    1. “Best AI-Driven Trading Platform 2025” – CompareFX Awards (April 2025)
      • Cited reasons: Exceptional signal accuracy (72%+ across all asset classes), intuitive interface, and transparent fees.
    2. “Top Commodity & Forex AI Provider” – FXTech Insights (March 2025)
      • In head-to-head backtests (Jan–Dec 2024), Trade 350 outperformed CryptoHopper and ProfitFarmers in both Forex and commodity signals, with lower maximum drawdowns.
    3. “Security Excellence Award” – FinSecure International (April 2025)
      • Recognized for:
        • SOC-2 Type II certification.
        • Global data-privacy compliance across GDPR, CCPA, and PDPA (Singapore).
    4. ForexPulse Magazine Featured Review (May 2025)
      • Key excerpt:

    “Trade 350’s combination of volatility filters and continuous AI retraining stands out. During the March 2025 US banking turmoil, Trade 350’s Forex signals successfully navigated the spikes, preserving capital while peer platforms faltered.”

    1. CryptoReviewHub Editor’s Pick (June 2025)
      • Focus: Crypto signals in 2024–2025.
      • Verdict:

    “Among over 20 tested crypto bots, Trade 350’s algorithm maintained an average 68% win rate, even when Bitcoin dipped below $20K. Its sentiment analysis engine is a game-changer.”

    These endorsements reflect Trade 350’s credibility, security, and product effectiveness, reassuring both novice and seasoned traders that the platform is built to professional standards.

    Roadmap & Product Innovations on the Horizon

    Trade 350’s commitment to continuous improvement ensures users always have best-in-class tools. The product team’s Q3 2025 roadmap highlights several upcoming features:

    1. Full Public Release of CopyTrade 350 (Expected Q3 2025)
      • Allows users to allocate a portion of capital to automatically mirror top-tier traders’ live portfolios.
      • Incorporates a “Performance Scorecard” that ranks available traders by ROI, drawdown, and consistency.
    2. Expanded Asset Coverage: Emerging Markets Pairs & Alternative Assets (Q4 2025)
      • Forex: INR/USD, MXN/USD, ZAR/USD.
      • Commodities: Copper, Natural Gas, Corn Futures.
      • Indices: FTSE 100, DAX 40, Nikkei 225.
      • Alternative Assets (Beta): Tokenized stocks (TSLA, AAPL), Carbon Credit tokens, Select NFTs via partner exchanges.
    3. Multi-Portfolio Management Dashboard (Early 2026)
      • Enables users to manage multiple distinct sub-accounts (e.g., “Growth,” “Income,” “Crypto”) under one master profile.
      • Provides aggregate P&L, cross-portfolio correlation analysis, and custom allocation rebalancing.
    4. Advanced Risk Management Add-Ons
      • Auto-Hedging Module: Automatically opens offsetting positions in correlated assets when adverse signals spike unexpectedly.
      • Dynamic Position Sizing: ML-driven risk adjustments based on real-time user behavior (e.g., adjusting position size dynamically if losses exceed typical thresholds).
    5. Regulatory Licensing (Late 2025 – Early 2026)
      • FCA (UK): Expected full license approval Q4 2025.
      • ASIC (Australia): Final license certification Q3 2025.
      • CySEC (EU): Formal submission Q2 2025, approval targeted by Q1 2026.
    6. Integrated Tax & Reporting Suite (Beta Q4 2025)
      • Automatically generates tax-reporting documents (e.g., Form-8949 for US traders, UK Capital Gains Schedule).
      • Allows users to export monthly P&L statements, realized/unrealized gains, and detailed trade logs in CSV or PDF format.
    7. Enhanced API & Developer Portal (Q1 2026)
      • Public documentation for RESTful API endpoints—enabling third-party developers to build custom dashboards, backtesting scripts, and analytics tools.
      • Sandbox environment with simulated data for testing.

    Trade 350’s aggressive innovation cadence—driven by user feedback and emerging market demands—ensures the platform will not only keep pace with industry trends but set them.

    Why Choose Trade 350 App? Australia and Canada Consumer Report Released Here

    Platform Comparisons: Why Trade 350 Outshines Its Peers

    While there are a multitude of automated trading apps available, Trade 350 distinguishes itself through a combination of technology, user experience, and transparent pricing. Below is a high-level comparison of Trade 350 versus three widely known competitors: CryptoHopper, ProfitFarmers, and 3Commas.

    Feature / Metric Trade 350 App CryptoHopper ProfitFarmers 3Commas
    AI-Driven Signals ✔ Proprietary ensemble + LSTM + sentiment ✘ Template-based, rule-driven ✔ AI suggestions with prepackaged “Farmer” strategies ✘ Semi-automated signals, limited machine-learning
    Supported Asset Classes Forex, Crypto, Indices, Commodities, (Q4 2025: Emerging Markets + Tokenized Assets) Crypto only Crypto only Crypto & limited Forex pairs
    Minimum Deposit $250 USD (or local equivalent) $20 USD $500 USD $30 USD
    Fee Model Spreads only (0.8–1.5 pips; 0.10–0.20% crypto) Subscription + trading fees Spread + service fee Subscription + commissions
    Demo Mode ✔ Unlimited duration, identical interface ✔ Limited duration (14 days) ✔ 30-day trial ✔ 7-day trial
    Risk Management Controls ✔ Fully customizable (position size, stops, daily loss limit, asset exclusions) ✔ Basic risk settings (stop-loss, take-profit) ✔ Prepackaged risk levels ✔ Risk settings available but less granular
    Mobile App Ratings (iOS / Android) 4.8 / 4.7 4.2 / 4.1 4.0 / 3.9 4.0 / 3.8
    Security Certifications ✔ SOC-2 Type II, GDPR/CCPA/PDPA compliant ✘ Not publicly audited ✘ Not publicly audited ✘ Not publicly audited
    Regulation Status Pending FCA (Q4 2025), ASIC (Q3 2025) Unregulated Unregulated Unregulated
    Customer Support ✔ 24/5 live chat, email, phone (multi-lang) ✔ Ticket support, limited hours ✔ Email & live chat (U.S. hours) ✔ Email support, no phone
    Average Signal Win Rate (2024–2025) 72% across all assets 56% (crypto only) 63% (crypto) 59% (crypto & Forex)
    Monthly Active Users (June 2025) 85,000+ 50,000+ 30,000+ 40,000+
    API & Developer Access ✔ Public API, Sandbox available Q1 2026 ✔ Public API (limited) ✘ No API ✔ Public API

    Key Differentiators for Trade 350:

    1. Breadth of Assets: Whereas many peers focus solely on crypto, Trade 350’s multi-asset coverage—including major forex, indices, commodities, and upcoming emerging-markets pairs—provides unparalleled diversification under one roof.
    2. Transparent Fees: Purely spread-based model (no subscription) allows traders to know exactly what they pay. In contrast, many competitors layer on subscription and data-feed fees.
    3. Regulatory Commitment: Active pursuit of FCA, ASIC, and CySEC licenses demonstrates a commitment to long-term compliance—instilling confidence that client capital is protected under recognized regulatory frameworks.
    4. Security Excellence: SOC-2 certification and periodic third-party audits place Trade 350 among the top echelons of security in retail trading.
    5. Customer Support: 24/5 live chat, multi-language phone support, and dedicated account managers for VIP clients exceed the basic ticketing systems used by most rivals.
    6. Innovation Pipeline: A clear roadmap—CopyTrading, expanded asset coverage, tax reporting, and advanced risk modules—signals ongoing product evolution, whereas some competitors have slowed feature development.

    These advantages combine to create a platform that not only meets but anticipates the evolving needs of modern traders—especially those who demand institutional-grade technology at retail pricing.

    Community Engagement & Educational Resources

    Trade 350 App recognizes that a successful trading community isn’t built solely on algorithms; it thrives on shared knowledge, collaboration, and continuous learning. The platform’s multi-faceted community initiatives include:

    1. Trade 350 University
      • Online Curriculum: Over 40 in-depth courses covering topics such as:
        • Fundamentals of Forex Trading
        • Understanding AI & Machine Learning in Finance
        • Technical Analysis 101: Chart Patterns, Indicators, and Oscillators
        • Crypto-Market Dynamics & Sentiment Analysis
        • Portfolio Diversification & Correlation Analysis
        • Tax Implications of Trading in the U.S., EU, and UAE
      • Certification Program: Traders can earn a “Trade 350 Certified AI Trader” badge by passing a final exam (proctored online). Certificates can be added to LinkedIn profiles.
    2. Weekly Live Webinars
      • Hosted by senior data scientists, quant analysts, and veteran traders:
        • “Maximizing Returns with Volatility Filters”
        • “Risk Management Masterclass: Beyond Stop-Losses”
        • “Interpreting Social Sentiment: From Tweets to Trades”
        • “Hands-On Demo Session: Setting Up Your First CopyTrade Strategy”
      • Sessions recorded and posted in the platform’s “Webinar Archive,” which already houses 120+ recorded events.
    3. Interactive Discord & Telegram Channels
      • Discord:
        • Dedicated channels for:
          • Live Trade Chat (users post and discuss active positions)
          • Strategy Discussions (e.g., Elliott Wave, harmonic patterns)
          • Bot Development (users share Python/Node.js scripts using Trade 350 API).
        • Monthly “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions with founders and product leads.
        • “Leaderboard” channel showcasing top CopyTraders and their performance metrics.
      • Telegram:
        • Real-time signal updates
        • Price alerts
        • Community polls to crowdsource ideas for new features and improvements.
    4. Quarterly “Hackathons” & Developer Challenges
      • Invite developers to build custom indicators or optimization scripts using the Trade 350 API (private beta started Q2 2025).
      • Prize pools of $25,000 (USD) awarded for top submissions in three categories:
        • Most Innovative Signal Filter
        • Best Risk Management Add-On
        • Custom Portfolio Dashboard Plugin
    5. Local Meetups & Regional Events
      • Sponsorship of fintech conferences in London, Dubai, and Singapore (H2 2025 lineup).
      • Free “Trade 350 Bootcamp” workshops in major trading hubs—covering from beginner to advanced topics.
      • “Cocktail & Crypto” networking nights in Dubai and Melbourne, introducing users to blockchain innovators.

    Resulting Impact:

    • Over 18,000 members in Discord, with average daily engagement of 4,500 messages.
    • 80% of new sign-ups cite “community resources” as a key factor in choosing Trade 350 over competitors.
    • Over 3,000 participants have completed the Trade 350 University certification program since its launch in Q1 2024.

    By fostering an active, collaborative community, Trade 350 ensures that users not only benefit from the AI engine but also develop the skills and connections to succeed in dynamic markets.

    Visit Here to Register on the Trade 350 App – Select Your Country Here!!!

    Executive Insights & Leadership Commentary

    Samantha Lopez, CEO & Co-Founder

    “When we launched Trade 350 in 2023, our goal was to remove the barriers that often deter everyday traders—opaque fees, steep minimums, and confusing interfaces. Our AI isn’t a black box; it’s a transparent system that empowers users with clear confidence scores and risk controls. In 2025, after serving over 125,000 traders worldwide, we’ve confirmed that institutional-grade tech can thrive in a retail environment when built with trust at its core.”

    Dr. Aaron Ng, CTO & Head of R&D

    “Our engineering team continuously pushes the envelope. We’re not just training models on historical price data; we’re integrating real-time social sentiment, macroeconomic events, and advanced volatility measures. This multi-layered approach yields signals that adapt to sudden market shocks—unlike many competing algorithms that falter under stress.”

    Priya Patel, CMO & Head of Global Strategy

    “Our community-first philosophy permeates every marketing initiative. Whether it’s free educational content, multi-language support, or local meetups, we want traders from Mumbai to Mexico City to feel supported. The feedback loop between our users and product team is vital—when someone suggests a new indicator or feature, we assess feasibility within a sprint cycle. That agility keeps us at the forefront of retail trading innovation.”

    Awards, Certifications & Regulatory Progress

    Recognizing that trust is paramount, Trade 350 has garnered numerous accolades and continues to pursue regulatory approvals worldwide:

    1. Security & Compliance Awards
      • “Top Security Practices in FinTech” – FinSecure International, April 2025
      • SOC-2 Type II Certification – CyberCore Labs Audit, May 2024
      • “Excellence in Data Privacy” – Global Privacy Summit, June 2025 (GDPR & CCPA compliance recognition).
    2. Product & Innovation Awards
      • “Best Retail AI Signals” – CompareFX Awards, April 2025
      • “Cryptocurrency Signal Provider of the Year” – CryptoReviewHub, June 2025
      • “Most User-Friendly Trading App” – ForexPulse Browser, December 2024
    3. Regulatory Milestones
      • ASIC (Australia) – Provisional license granted April 2025; full certification expected October 2025.
      • FCA (UK) – Application submitted Q4 2024; targeted approval December 2025.
      • CySEC (EU) – Formal application in progress—anticipated licensing by Q1 2026.

    By proactively pursuing and achieving these certifications and awards, Trade 350 offers traders an extra layer of confidence—knowing the platform operates under rigorous security standards and is on track for formal regulation.

    Here to Open Trade 350 App Account in France (Register Fee $250)

    Future Outlook: Where Trade 350 Goes Next

    Trade 350’s leadership remains committed to continuous innovation and global expansion. Below are several strategic priorities and long-term initiatives:

    1. Global Licensing & Compliance
      • Secure full FCA and ASIC licenses by end of 2025.
      • Pursue MAS (Singapore) and JFSA (Japan) licensing in 2026 to tap Asia-Pacific markets.
    2. Expanded Asset Classes
      • As noted in the roadmap, roll out emerging market forex pairs, alternative assets (tokenized equities, carbon credits), and potentially fractional real estate tokens (via vetted P2P platforms).
    3. Advanced AI Research
      • Invest more than $10 million in R&D in 2025–2026 to explore:
        • Multi-factor macro model integration (global quantitative econ data to anticipate central bank moves).
        • Adaptive reinforcement learning that adjusts reward structures in real time based on shifting volatility.
        • Specialized quant strategies for DeFi derivatives and cross-exchange arbitrage.
    4. Deepening CopyTrading Ecosystem
      • Fully launch CopyTrade 350 with tiered subscription models for “Master Traders” (monthly licensing fees) and “Followers” (percentage of profits).
      • Introduce a “Social Leaderboard” showcasing top traders by ROI, Sharpe ratio, and consistency.
    5. Enhanced Education & Community Outreach
      • Expand Trade 350 University to include certificate programs in AI-for-Finance at a college-level curriculum, potentially partnering with universities in Europe and Asia.
      • Host annual “Trade 350 Summit” in major financial centers (London 2025, Dubai 2026) to unite thought leaders, Quants, and retail traders in a global FinTech symposium.
    6. Strategic Partnerships & Integrations
      • Explore co-branding opportunities with leading brokerage firms (e.g., Saxo Bank, IG Group) to introduce white-label versions of the Trade 350 engine.
      • API partnerships with portfolio tracking services (e.g., CoinTracker, Kubera) for consolidated tax and portfolio management.

    Through these initiatives, Trade 350 aims to cement its position as the preeminent AI-driven retail trading platform—one that not only delivers performance today but anticipates the financial landscape of tomorrow.

    Explore the Official Platform

    How to Get Started: A Step-by-Step Guide

    For traders ready to experience Trade 350’s robust AI engine and world-class support, here’s a concise walkthrough to get up and running in under 30 minutes:

    1. Visit the Official Website
      • Navigate to homepage
      • Click “Sign Up” in the top-right corner.
    2. Create Your Account
      • Enter a valid email address and choose a secure password.
      • Confirm via email link.
    3. Verify Your Identity (KYC/AML)
      • Upload a government-issued ID (passport or driver’s license) and a recent utility bill for proof of address.
      • Complete a brief risk profile questionnaire (assessing experience, goals, and risk tolerance).
      • Verification typically completes within 24 hours; priority expedited verification available for VIP members (accounts > $10,000).
    4. Fund Your Account
      • Minimum deposit: $250 USD (or local equivalent).
      • Select deposit method: Card (instant), E-wallet (instant), or Bank Transfer (1–2 business days).
      • Deposits reflect in your Trade 350 balance immediately (card/e-wallet) or within 1 business day (ACH).
    5. Explore Demo Mode
      • Toggle to “Demo Mode” (found at the top of the dashboard).
      • Receive your $10,000 virtual balance.
      • Familiarize yourself with the interface—watch live AI signals, place test trades, and adjust risk settings.
      • Review performance analytics on the “Strategy Analyzer” tab.
    6. Configure Risk & Preferences
      • Under “Settings → Risk Management”, set:
        • Position sizing percentage
        • Stop-loss/take-profit mode (fixed or volatility-adjusted)
        • Daily loss limit
        • Maximum concurrent positions
        • Asset class exclusions (if any)
    7. Switch to Live Mode
      • Once satisfied with demo performance, toggle back to “Live Mode.”
      • Confirm your default risk parameters carry over.
      • AI signals instantly become live orders, executed with real capital.
    8. Monitor & Fine-Tune
      • Access “Portfolio” to track open positions, realized P&L, and equity curve.
      • Use “Signal Feed” to see upcoming, active, and expired signals along with their confidence scores.
      • Adjust risk parameters in real time as market conditions evolve.
    9. Leverage Educational Resources
      • Explore “Trade 350 University” for courses on AI fundamentals, technical analysis, and advanced risk management.
      • Join weekly live webinars and Q&A sessions with product experts.
      • Engage in Discord channels to share ideas, ask questions, and follow top CopyTraders (upon full release).
    10. Withdraw Profits Easily
      • Once you have net profits to withdraw, navigate to “Wallet → Withdraw.”
      • Enter desired withdrawal amount, select a withdrawal method (bank account or e-wallet), and confirm via 2FA.
      • Funds arrive within 24–48 hours (depending on the chosen method).

    Success Tips

    • Start Small: Even if you deposit more, consider using a conservative risk profile (e.g., 0.5% position size) for your first week to build confidence.
    • Stick to AI Recommendations: Resist the temptation to override stop-loss or position-size suggestions until you understand how the AI is calibrated.
    • Monitor Economic News: Although AI incorporates macro data, major geopolitical events (e.g., Fed rate decisions) can cause brief signal delays—being aware of such events helps you anticipate potential lag.

    With a streamlined onboarding and intuitive design, Trade 350 App ensures both novice and experienced traders can begin capitalizing on AI-powered trading in under an hour.

    Conclusion: Why Trade 350 Is the Smart Choice for 2025 Traders

    In a landscape rife with lofty claims and half-baked algorithms, Trade 350 App stands apart as a credible, secure, and innovation-driven platform that consistently delivers results. Here are the core reasons why Trade 350 merits serious consideration for anyone—from beginners seeking guided AI assistance to seasoned professionals looking to augment existing strategies:

    1. Cutting-Edge AI & Data Science
      • Ensemble models combined with deep neural networks deliver a 72%+ win rate across multiple asset classes.
      • Continuous retraining and integration of real-time social sentiment keep signals adaptive to market shifts.
    2. Transparent, Spread-Only Fee Model
      • No monthly or annual subscription fees.
      • Typical spreads on major pairs (0.8–1.2 pips) and crypto (0.10–0.20%) rank among the industry’s tightest.
      • Monthly “Spreads Audit Reports” verify real-time pricing aligns with published rates.
    3. Granular Risk Management
      • Fully customizable position sizing, stop-loss/take-profit modes, daily loss limits, and asset exclusions.
      • “Circuit Breaker” mechanism that automatically halts trading if daily losses exceed user-defined thresholds.
      • Ideal for traders of all risk tolerances: from 0.1% conservative apologists to 5% aggressive swing tacticians.
    4. Uncompromising Security & Compliance
      • SOC-2 Type II certification, full GDPR/CCPA compliance, encrypted data storage, and multi-factor authentication.
      • Segregated client funds held with Tier-1 partner brokers ensure capital remains safe even in worst-case scenarios.
      • Active pursuit of FCA, ASIC, and CySEC licenses underscores a commitment to best practices and regulatory transparency.
    5. Intuitive Interface Across Devices
      • Web dashboard and native mobile apps (iOS & Android) deliver consistent UX, lightning-fast execution, and customizable dashboards.
      • 4.8/4.7 star average ratings in App Store and Google Play highlight design excellence and user satisfaction.
    6. Outstanding Customer Support
      • 24/5 live chat with average response time under 2 minutes.
      • Multi-language phone and email support—English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Mandarin.
      • Dedicated account managers for VIP clients and personalized strategy consultations.
    7. Thriving Educational Ecosystem
      • Trade 350 University’s comprehensive curriculum, certification programs, and weekly webinars empower users to learn AI, technical analysis, and risk management.
      • Active Discord and Telegram communities connecting over 18,000 members, facilitating peer-to-peer learning and real-time discussion.
    8. Proven Track Record & Social Proof
      • 125,000+ active users generating $50+ million in daily combined volume.
      • Independent third-party reviews from CompareFX, ForexPulse, and CryptoReviewHub laud AI accuracy, fast withdrawals, and security measures.
      • Consistent 4.8/5 ratings across Trustpilot, App Store, and Google Play.
    9. Ambitious Roadmap & Future-Ready Vision
      • CopyTrading, expanded asset coverage (emerging markets, tokenized assets), tax reporting suite, and enhanced API slated for imminent release.
      • Ongoing licensing efforts with FCA (target Q4 2025), ASIC (Q3 2025), and CySEC (Q1 2026).
      • Strategic partnerships with major brokerages and fintech ecosystems planned for 2026 and beyond.

    In summary, Trade 350 App’s unwavering focus on technology, transparency, and user empowerment elevates it above the competition. Whether you’re trading from a dorm room in Birmingham or managing a family office in Dubai, Trade 350 offers an institutional-grade experience wrapped in a user-friendly package—backed by rigorous security, responsive support, and an active global community.

    Ready to get started?

    • Visit Official website today and register for your free account.
    • Activate Demo Mode to explore AI signals risk-free.
    • Fund with only $250 USD and experience the next frontier of retail trading—powered by Trade 350’s award-winning AI engine.

    Join the 125,000+ satisfied traders who have discovered Trade 350’s unmatched blend of performance, security, and simplicity. In 2025, make the intelligent choice: trade smarter, trade safer, and trade better with Trade 350 App.

    Contact:-
    Trade 350 App
    (713) 231-4768
    50 W 4th St, New York, NY 10012, USA
    info@cryptofinancetrack.com

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A two-state solution is gaining momentum again for Israel and the Palestinians. Does it have a chance of success?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Andrew Thomas, Lecturer in Middle East Studies, Deakin University

    As Israel’s devastating war in Gaza has ground on, the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was thought to be “dead”. Now, it is showing signs of life again.

    French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly pressing other European nations to jointly recognise a Palestinian state at a UN conference in mid-June, focused on achieving a two-state solution. Macron called such recognition a “political necessity”.

    Countries outside Europe are feeling the pressure, too. Australia has reaffirmed its view that recognition of Palestine should be a “way of building momentum towards a two-state solution”.

    During Macron’s visit to Indonesia in late May, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto made a surprising pledge to recognise Israel if it allowed for a Palestinian state.

    Indonesia is one of about 28 nations that don’t currently recognise Israel. France, Australia, the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea are among the approximately 46 nations that don’t recognise a Palestinian state.

    The UN conference on June 17–20, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, wants to go “beyond reaffirming principles” and “achieve concrete results” towards a two-state solution.

    Most countries, including the US, have supported the two-state solution in principle for decades. However, the political will from all parties has faded in recent years.

    So, why is the policy gaining traction again now? And does it have a greater chance of success?

    What is the two-state solution?

    Put simply, the two-state solution is a proposed peace plan that would create a sovereign Palestinian state alongside the Israeli state. There have been several failed attempts to enact the policy over recent decades, the most famous of which was the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s.

    In recent years, the two-state solution was looking less likely by the day.

    The Trump administration’s decision in 2017 to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the US embassy there signalled the US was moving away from its role as mediator. Then, several Arab states agreed to normalise relations with Israel in the the Abraham Accords, without Israeli promises to move towards a two-state solution.

    The Hamas attacks on Israel – and subsequent Israeli war on Gaza – have had a somewhat contradictory effect on the overarching debate.

    On the one hand, the brutality of Hamas’ actions substantially set back the legitimacy of the Palestinian self-determination movement in some quarters on the world stage.

    On the other, it’s also become clear the status quo – the continued Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank following the end of a brutal war – is not tenable for either Israeli security or Palestinian human rights.

    And the breakdown of the most recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the return of heavy Israeli ground operations in May and reports of mass Palestinian starvation have only served to further isolate the Israeli government in the eyes of its peers.

    Once-steadfast supporters of Israel’s actions have become increasingly frustrated by a lack of clear strategic goals in Gaza. And many now seem prepared to ignore Israeli wishes and pursue Palestinian recognition.

    For these governments, the hope is recognition of a Palestinian state would rebuild political will – both globally and in the Middle East – towards a two-state solution.

    Huge obstacles remain

    But how likely is this in reality? There is certainly more political will than there was before, but also several important roadblocks.

    First and foremost is the war in Gaza. It’s obvious this will need to end, with both sides agreeing to an enduring ceasefire.

    Beyond that, the political authority in both Gaza and Israel remains an issue.

    The countries now considering Palestinian recognition, such France and Australia, have expressly said Hamas cannot play any role in governing a future Palestinian state.

    Though anti-Hamas sentiment is becoming more vocal among residents in Gaza, Hamas has been violently cracking down on this dissent and is attempting to consolidate its power.

    However, polling shows the popularity of Fatah – the party leading the Palestinian National Authority – is even lower than Hamas at an average of 21%. Less than half of Gazans support the enclave returning to Palestinian Authority control. This means a future Palestinian state would likely require new leadership.

    There is almost no political will in Israel for a two-state solution, either. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been shy about his opposition to a Palestinian state. His cabinet members have mostly been on the same page.

    This has also been reflected in policy action. In early May, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan for Israel to indefinitely occupy parts of Gaza. The government also just approved its largest expansion of settlements in the West Bank in decades.

    These settlements remain a major problem for a two-state solution. The total population of Israeli settlers is more than 700,000 in both East Jerusalem and the West Bank. And it’s been increasing at a faster rate since the election of the right-wing, pro-settler Netanyahu government in 2022.

    Settlement is enshrined in Israeli Basic Law, with the state defining it as “national value” and actively encouraging its “establishment and consolidation”.

    The more settlement that occurs, the more complicated the boundaries of a future Palestinian state become.

    Then there’s the problem of public support. Recent polling shows neither Israelis nor Palestinians view the two-state solution favourably. Just 40% of Palestinians support it, while only 26% of Israelis believe a Palestinian state can “coexist peacefully” alongside Israel.

    However, none of these challenges makes the policy impossible. The unpopularity of the two-state solution locally is more a reflection of previous failures than it is of future negotiations.

    A power-sharing agreement in Northern Ireland was similarly unpopular in the 1990s, but peace was achieved through bold political leadership involving the US and European Union.

    In other words, we won’t know what’s possible until negotiations begin. Red lines will need to be drawn and compromises made.

    It’s not clear what effect growing external pressure will have, but the international community does appear to be reaching a political tipping point on the two-state solution. Momentum could start building again.

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

    – ref. A two-state solution is gaining momentum again for Israel and the Palestinians. Does it have a chance of success? – https://theconversation.com/a-two-state-solution-is-gaining-momentum-again-for-israel-and-the-palestinians-does-it-have-a-chance-of-success-257890

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King Calls for Answers on Cancellation of Protected Status for Afghans Living in U.S.

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and long a fierce advocate to protect Afghans who supported and protected American troops, joined 28 of his Senate colleagues to call on the White House for answers on the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for those who served alongside America’s military. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators note the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return.
    “We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions,” the lawmakers began.
    They continued, “The Secretary of Homeland Security ‘may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.’  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.”
    “The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls,” the lawmakers concluded.
    In addition to King, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Corey Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
    Senator King has long supported the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for America’s Afghan allies who assisted the U.S. government during the war in Afghanistan. More specifically, he cosponsored the Afghan Allies Protection Act to increase the number of authorized visas for Afghan civilians who risked their lives to support the U.S. mission, remove extraneous paperwork requirements and improve the program’s efficiency during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. 
    The full text of the letter is available here and below.
    +++
    Dear Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio:
    We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions.
    The Secretary of Homeland Security “may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.”  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.  In September 2023, the U.S. extended and redesignated TPS for Afghanistan. The Administration’s decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan negatively impacts approximately 9,000 Afghan nationals.
    In your announcement, you state that “there are notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.”  But you also concede that threats of violence and terrorism, as well as humanitarian concerns, remain.  The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP.  According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls. Women and girls are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk.
    We are also deeply concerned about the State Department Human Rights Report finding that widespread arbitrary and unlawful killings against officials associated with the pre-August 2021 government have occurred. Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. military should not be put in harm’s way because they supported the U.S. in its fight against the Taliban. This would be a betrayal of those who bravely served alongside our servicemembers for nearly two decades.
    Afghan civilians still face devastating humanitarian and economic conditions. Over half of the population in Afghanistan needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Human Rights Watch reports that in 2024, 12.4 million people were facing food insecurity and 2.9 million were at emergency levels of hunger.  The World Bank also found that in Afghanistan, as of May 2025, “per capita income has stagnated, while poverty and food insecurity remain pressing challenges, exacerbated by high unemployment and restrictions on women’s economic participation.” 
    The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls.
    In August 2021, Americans welcomed Afghan nationals at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia with open arms, and we refuse to turn our backs on them now.  We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan and ask that you respond to the following requests no later than two weeks of receipt of this letter:
    Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023. 
    The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.
    Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS.
    Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan.
    What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan?
    Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and we hope to receive your responses soon.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Staff Concludes Mission to Lebanon

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 5, 2025

    End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. This mission will not result in a Board discussion.

    • The IMF mission held productive discussions with the Lebanese authorities on a comprehensive economic reform program. Discussions are expected to continue, both from IMF headquarters and through follow-up missions.
    • Bank restructuring remains a critical priority to restore the health of the banking sector, move away from the cash-based economy, restart credit to the private-sector, and protect depositors to the maximum extent possible.
    • Given Lebanon’s substantial reconstruction needs, limited fiscal space, and lack of capacity to borrow, the country will require significant support from external partners on highly concessional terms.

    BEIRUT, Lebanon: At the authorities’ request, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Ernesto Ramirez Rigo visited Lebanon from May 28 to June 5, 2025, to initiate discussions on policies and a reform program that could be supported by an IMF arrangement.

    At the conclusion of the mission, Mr. Ramirez Rigo issued the following statement:

    “The IMF mission held productive discussions with the Lebanese authorities on a comprehensive economic reform program aimed at restoring macroeconomic sustainability and supporting financing for reconstruction. These initial discussions covered several reform areas, including (i) restoring the viability of the banking sector and protecting depositors to the maximum extent possible, (ii) achieving fiscal and debt sustainability, while enhancing social safety nets and rebuilding institutional capacity, (iii) establishing credible monetary and exchange rate policy frameworks, (iv) strengthening governance and transparency, (v) enhancing the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime, and (vi) reforming state-owned enterprises.

    It was agreed that the rehabilitation of the banking system remains a critical priority to rebuild confidence in banks, move away from the current cash-based economy, and restart credit to the private-sector, which is necessary for growth. The authorities have made some progress recently, including the amendment of the Bank Secrecy Law and submission of a new bank resolution law to Parliament. The next step is for Parliament to approve this legislation, which will establish powers to underpin the recovery of orderly banking intermediation, while safeguarding the public interest. The mission also engaged with the authorities on their emerging bank restructuring and deposit recovery strategy. More work in close cooperation with the authorities will be needed to ensure this strategy is aligned with international standards and debt sustainability requirements.

    “The mission also discussed the 2026 Budget and the development of a medium-term fiscal framework. For the 2026 Budget, given the limited fiscal space and available financing, it is critical that any additional expenditures be fully offset by corresponding revenue efforts, including by strengthening enforcement and compliance in tax and customs administration. An ambitious medium-term revenue mobilization and expenditure rationalization strategy along with improved fiscal transparency and public financial management is needed to strengthen public finances and create space for increased social protection and capital expenditures. The medium-term fiscal framework should also support the restructuring of Eurobonds to restore debt sustainability. Given Lebanon’s substantial reconstruction needs, the authorities’ reform efforts will require significant support from external partners, preferably on highly concessional terms. Enhanced support to Lebanon is also needed to help the country shoulder the continued burden of hosting a large refugee population.

    “Building on these key reform pillars, discussions on formulating a comprehensive reform program are expected to continue, both from IMF headquarters and through follow-up missions. The mission reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting Lebanon during this challenging period, consistent with its mandate and policies.

    “The mission thanks the Lebanese authorities and all stakeholders for their cooperation and constructive engagement.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Wafa Amr

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

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/05/pr-25182-lebanon-imf-staff-concludes-mission-to-lebanon

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Lagarde presents the latest monetary policy decisions – 5 June 2025

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy, determining what’s needed to return inflation to our 2% goal in a timely manner.

    Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers:
    • how the economy is performing
    • how we expect pri¬ces to develop
    • the risks to the economic outlook
    • the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions

    Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 5 June 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/visual-mps/2025/html/mopo_statement_explained_june.en.html

    Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 5 June 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/2025/html/ecb.is250605~f00a36ef2b.en.html

    Monetary policy decisions, 5 June 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2025/html/ecb.mp250605~3b5f67d007.en.html

    Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 5 June 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conference/monetary-policy-statement/shared/pdf/ecb.ds250605~dc79b630e3.en.pdf?1ae87c3b33214537469188411c6fec52

    Macroeconomic projections, 5 June 2025 https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/projections/html/ecb.projections202506_eurosystemstaff~16a68fbaf4.en.html

    European Central Bank
    https://www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html

    Published and recorded during our press conference on 5 June 2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX9VdQfDRbA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: CNB keeps mortgage lending rules and countercyclical and systemic risk buffer rates unchanged

    Source: Czech National Bank

    The Czech financial sector is stable and resilient to potential adverse effects, according to the conclusions of the Czech National Bank (CNB) Bank Board’s financial stability meeting today. In addition to domestic risks related to mortgage lending and the financial cycle, the Bank Board assessed risks stemming from global economic developments.

    The Czech economy is in the growth phase of the financial cycle. “Transaction activity on the mortgage market is returning to its long-term average, and growth in residential property prices has picked up considerably. We therefore still consider it necessary to leave the LTV limit at 80% (or 90% for applicants under 36 years),” said CNB Bank Board member Jakub Seidler following the Bank Board meeting on financial stability issues today. The DTI and DSTI ratios remain deactivated, as banks are not easing credit standards for mortgage loans across the board for the time being, and the related systemic risks are not increasing.

    The Bank Board also evaluated the resilience of the banking sector in the context of domestic and global economic developments and decided to leave the countercyclical capital buffer rate at 1.25%. In its decision, it took into account the level of cyclical risks in the sector’s balance sheet. The CNB expects these risks to increase slightly over the outlook horizon of the spring forecast, but the current buffer rate is sufficient to cover this increase. “Potential adverse developments in the global economy and uncertainties in international trade may increase some structural risks in the Czech economy, so the banking sector’s resilience should continue to be strengthened using the systemic risk buffer, which has been applied at 0.5% since 1 January 2025,” said Jakub Seidler.

    The banking sector is well capitalised. As a whole, it passed a stress test based on an adverse scenario used by the European Banking Authority to test the EU banking sector in 2025. “The profitability, capital buffers and asset quality of the banking sector create favourable conditions for absorbing the shocks considered in the stress test,” said Libor Holub, Executive Director of the CNB’s Financial Stability and Resolution Department.

    In its Financial Stability Report, the CNB regularly assesses the soundness of the domestic financial sector and its resilience to adverse shocks. The report forms the foundation for configuring macroprudential policy tools, in particular bank capital buffers and borrower-based measures. The CNB will publish the latest Financial Stability Report – Spring 2025 on 23 June 2025. The minutes of today’s Bank Board meeting on financial stability issues, including the votes cast by the individual Bank Board members on macroprudential policy measures and also attributed arguments, will be published the same day.

    Jakub Holas
    Director, Communications Division

    Notes for journalists:

    Financial stability has been a key objective of the Czech National Bank alongside price stability since 2013. Maintaining financial stability is defined in Act No 6/1993 Coll., on the Czech National Bank. The Act requires the CNB to set macroprudential policy by identifying, monitoring and assessing risks jeopardising the stability of the financial system and, in order to prevent or mitigate these risks, to contribute by means of its powers to the resilience of the financial system and the maintenance of financial stability. Since the second half of 2021, the CNB has had the statutory power to set upper limits on the LTV, DTI and DSTI ratios (borrower-based measures). Compliance with the limits must be legally binding in order to ensure a level playing field on the market.

    The Bank Board discusses financial stability issues twice a year – in the spring in May or June, and in the autumn in November. The aim of the Financial Stability Report is to identify the risks to the financial stability of the Czech Republic in the near future on the basis of previous and expected developments in the real economy and the financial system.

    The main macroprudential policy tools applied in the Czech Republic are the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB), the capital conservation buffer (CCoB), the capital buffer for other systemically important institutions (O-SIIs) set only for systemically important banks, the systemic risk buffer, upper limits on the LTV, DTI and DSTI credit ratios set for all mortgage lenders, and the Recommendation on the management of risks associated with the provision of consumer loans secured by residential property.

    Countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB) – This instrument is aimed at increasing the resilience of the banking sector to risks associated with fluctuations in lending activity. The CCyB should enable banks to lend to households and firms even at a time of recession or financial instability.

    Systemic risk buffer (SyRB) – This buffer is intended to mitigate the potential impacts of systemic risks identified on the financial system and the real economy. If their level poses a risk to financial stability, the application of the SyRB enhances the capitalisation of the banking sector and increases its resilience to adverse shocks. At the same time, it may help reduce the growth or concentration of the relevant exposures in banks’ balance sheets, although this is not its primary purpose.

    Capital conservation buffer (CCoB) – This instrument is aimed at preserving a bank’s capital. Under the Act on Banks, all banks are obliged to maintain this buffer. The CCoB rate is 2.5% and does not change over time.

    Capital buffer for other systemically important institutions (O-SIIs) – This instrument is aimed at mitigating risks connected with the potential destabilisation of systemically important institutions, which could have significant adverse effects on the financial system and the economy as a whole. The CNB is required to draw up a list of O-SIIs and calibrate the buffer for individual O-SIIs at least once a year.

    Combined capital buffer – the sum of the capital conservation buffer (CCoB), the countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB), the systemic risk buffer (SyRB) and the capital buffer for other systemically important institutions (O-SII).

    LTV (loan-to-value) – the ratio of the value of a mortgage loan to the value of collateral.

    DTI (debt-to-income) – the ratio of the applicant’s total debt to their net annual income.

    DSTI (debt-service-to-income) – the ratio of the sum of the applicant’s monthly repayments to their net monthly income.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Joins Colleagues in Pressing Administration to Stand by America’s Promises of Safety for Afghan Allies, Who Protected and Fought Alongside U.S. Troops

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in pressing for answers from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State on the decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals living in the United States. The lawmakers’ letter, sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, notes the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return. The letter was signed by more than 100 lawmakers. 
      “We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions,” the lawmakers began.  
     They go on to note, “The Secretary of Homeland Security ‘may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.’  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.”  
      “The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls,” they stress.  
     The lawmakers close the letter urging the Administration to reverse course and seeking the following information:  
      Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023.   
     The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are. 
     Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS.  
     Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan.  
      What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan? 
    The letter was signed by Senator Welch, and led by Senator Van Hollen, Congressman Ivey, and Senator Klobuchar. The letter was also signed by Senators Alsobrooks, Baldwin, Blumenthal, Booker, Coons, Cortez Masto, Duckworth, Durbin, Fetterman, Gillibrand, Heinrich, Hirono, Kaine, Kelly, Kim, King, Markey, Padilla, Reed, Rosen, Sanders, Schiff, Smith, Warner, Warnock, and Wyden and Representatives Amo, Ansari, Balint, Bell, Beyer, Budzinski, Carbajal, Carter, Casten, Castro, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Courtney, Dean, DeGette, DelBene, Elfreth, Evans (Pa.), Fields, Garcia (Calif.), García (Ill.), Garcia (Texas), Goldman, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gottheimer, Hayes, Jackson (Ill.), Jayapal, Johnson (Ga.), Johnson (Texas), Kaptur, Keating, Kelly (Ill.), Kennedy (N.Y.), Krishnamoorthi, Landsman, Larson, Latimer, Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Lynch, McClain Delaney, McClellan, McCollum, McGovern, Meeks, Mfume, Moulton, Norton, Olszewski, Pallone, Panetta, Peters (Calif.), Raskin, Sánchez, Scanlon, Schakowsky, Sherman, Sorensen, Subramanyam, Swalwell, Titus, Tlaib, Tokuda, Tonko, Vargas, Veasey, and Watson Coleman. 
      The full text of the letter is available here and below.  
      Dear Secretary Noem and Secretary Rubio: 
     We write with deep concern about the Department of Homeland Security’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which is scheduled to take effect on July 14, 2025. This decision is devastating for resettled Afghan nationals in the United States who have fled widespread violence, economic instability, challenging humanitarian conditions, and human rights abuses in their home country. Many of these Afghans fearlessly served as strong allies to the United States military during the war in Afghanistan, and we cannot blatantly disregard their service. We respectfully ask that you redesignate Afghanistan for TPS to ensure Afghan nationals in the U.S. are not forced to return to devastating humanitarian, civic, and economic conditions.  
     The Secretary of Homeland Security “may designate a foreign country for TPS due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent the country’s nationals from returning safely, or in certain circumstances, where the country is unable to handle the return of its nationals adequately.”  This is why, following the withdrawal of American troops and the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, in May 2022 the U.S. designated Afghanistan for TPS.  In September 2023, the U.S. extended and redesignated TPS for Afghanistan. The Administration’s decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan negatively impacts approximately 9,000 Afghan nationals.  
     In your announcement, you state that “there are notable improvements in the security and economic situation such that requiring the return of Afghan nationals to Afghanistan does not pose a threat to their personal safety due to armed conflict or extraordinary and temporary conditions.”  But you also concede that threats of violence and terrorism, as well as humanitarian concerns, remain.  The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State (ISIS), continues to launch attacks against ethnic and religious minorities and against the Taliban, leading to innocent civilian casualties. If Afghan nationals are forced to return to Afghanistan, they will be caught in the crossfire between the Taliban and ISKP.  According to Human Rights Watch, in 2024, Taliban authorities intensified their crackdown on human rights, especially against women and girls. Women and girls are banned from attending secondary school or university and are unable to move freely. The Taliban also continues to detain and torture journalists, curtailing free speech and media. The 2023 U.S. State Department Human Rights Report covering Afghanistan found that women’s rights rapidly declined and restrictions on freedom of expression increased. The horrific human rights conditions in Afghanistan are unsafe for Afghan nationals to return to and returning would put their personal safety at immediate risk.  
     We are also deeply concerned about the State Department Human Rights Report finding that widespread arbitrary and unlawful killings against officials associated with the pre-August 2021 government have occurred.  Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. military should not be put in harm’s way because they supported the U.S. in its fight against the Taliban. This would be a betrayal of those who bravely served alongside our servicemembers for nearly two decades.  
     Afghan civilians still face devastating humanitarian and economic conditions. Over half of the population in Afghanistan needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Human Rights Watch reports that in 2024, 12.4 million people were facing food insecurity and 2.9 million were at emergency levels of hunger.  The World Bank also found that in Afghanistan, as of May 2025, “per capita income has stagnated, while poverty and food insecurity remain pressing challenges, exacerbated by high unemployment and restrictions on women’s economic participation.”   
     The grave conditions that forced Afghan nationals to flee and seek refuge in the U.S. following the return of the Taliban to power remain. Because of this harsh reality, forcing Afghan nationals in the U.S. to return to Afghanistan would be reckless and inhumane, and would threaten the safety and well-being of thousands of individuals and families, especially women and girls.  
     In August 2021, Americans welcomed Afghan nationals at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia with open arms, and we refuse to turn our backs on them now.  We strongly urge you to reconsider your decision to terminate TPS for Afghanistan and ask that you respond to the following requests no later than two weeks of receipt of this letter: 
     Please provide any reports that credibly determine that conditions have improved in Afghanistan since 2023.   
     The TPS termination announcement stated that “there are recipients who have been under investigation for fraud and threatening our public safety and national security.” Please provide additional details on how the Administration made this determination and how widespread these allegations of fraud and threats are.  
    Describe the collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State to reach the determination that Afghanistan no longer meets the conditions for designation for TPS.   
    Please provide any reports that indicate the Taliban is no longer a threat to Afghan nationals that assisted the United States military during the war in Afghanistan.  
     What steps are you taking to ensure that Afghan nationals who previously had TPS will not be sent back to persecution or torture in Afghanistan? 
     Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and we hope to receive your responses soon. 
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Cloudera Joins AI-RAN Alliance to Drive Real-Time Data Innovation and AI-Native Telecommunications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cloudera, the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics and AI, today announced it has joined the AI-RAN Alliance, a global consortium committed to integrating AI into telecommunications infrastructure. Cloudera joins a pioneering group of innovative telecommunication providers that has joined forces with data and AI companies all focused on driving the AI-RAN agenda and transforming telecommunication networks into intelligent, revenue-generating platforms with real-time data and AI.

    As telecommunication providers race to optimize the cost of network operations through virtualization and next generation infrastructure and architectures, AI provides a unique opportunity. AI drives better business outcomes through network service efficiency while at the same time opening up significant opportunities for services innovation. The complexity of deploying AI across distributed edge environments is not trivial and telecommunication providers will have to drive strategic enterprise-wide efforts to operationalize AI at scale across the radio access network (RAN) to unlock its full commercial potential.

    The AI-RAN Alliance—which counts NVIDIA as a founding member and Dell, SoftBank, T-Mobile, KT and LG U+ as members—was created to solve these issues while driving innovation at the intersection of AI and telecommunications. Together, the AI-RAN Alliance members are standardizing the integration of AI into existing and new networks, enabling shared infrastructure for AI optimization, accelerating the development of edge AI applications, and establishing real-world proof points to help telecommunications deploy AI reliably and profitably.

    As a recognized leader in enterprise AI and modern data architecture, Cloudera brings a powerful combination of scalable data management, edge-to-AI orchestration, and an open-source-first approach that complements the AI-RAN Alliance’s mission. Cloudera is uniquely positioned to enable telecommunication providers to deploy, manage, and scale AI workloads across hybrid, edge, and on-premises environments.

    As the newest member of the AI-RAN Alliance, Cloudera will:

    • Participate in the new ‘Data for AI-RAN’ working group, aimed at standardizing data orchestration, LLM-driven network automation, and hybrid-enabled MLOps across telecommunications and AI workloads. Cloudera’s involvement will bring data and AI platform expertise to the AI-RAN Alliance, and help align data and AI pipelines with telecom operational needs—unlocking faster innovation and deployment of AI-native use cases.
    • Support the AI-RAN Alliance’s three core objectives, including AI-for-RAN, AI-and-RAN, and AI-on-RAN.
    • Accelerate real-world AI use cases with AI-RAN Alliance members to pilot and deploy AI applications, such as SLA-driven network availability and real-time anomaly detection. This includes building and validating reference architectures that telecommunications operators can deploy against in live environments, shortening the path from innovation to implementation, and maximizing model reusability and collaboration.
    • Leverage the Cloudera platform to demonstrate real-time decision-making at the edge, enabling scalable training data preparation/MLOps, and operationalizing AI inference at scale while ensuring governance, observability, and edge-to-core orchestration.

    “Cloudera is proud to bring its data and AI expertise to the AI-RAN Alliance. The network is the heart of the telecom business, both in driving margin growth and in service transformation, and AI can unlock substantial value across those dimensions,” said Abhas Ricky, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloudera. “Given our leadership in the domain — having powered data and AI automation strategies for hundreds of telecommunications providers around the world, we now look forward to accelerating innovation alongside fellow AI-RAN Alliance members, and bringing our customers along. Our goal is to help define the data standards, orchestration models, and reference architectures that will power intelligent, adaptive, and AI-native networks of the future.”

    “We are proud to collaborate with Cloudera and fellow AI-RAN Alliance members in the ‘Data for AI-RAN’ working group,” said Jemin Chung, VP Network Strategy, KT. “As AI becomes increasingly central to next-generation networks, the ability to harness data securely and at scale will be a key differentiator. Through this initiative, we look forward to defining best practices that enable AI-centric RAN evolution and improve operational intelligence.”

    “Cloudera is an incredible addition to the AI-RAN Alliance, which has grown rapidly as demand for improved AI access and success increases across the industry,” said Dr. Alex Jinsung Choi, Principal Fellow, SoftBank’s Research Institute of Advanced Technology, and Chair of the AI-RAN Alliance. “The company’s leadership in data and AI, combined with their extensive telecommunications footprint, will play a vital role in advancing our shared vision of intelligent, AI-native networks.”

    To learn more about Cloudera’s role in the AI-RAN Alliance and how it’s enabling next-generation telecommunications, visit www.cloudera.com/solutions/telecommunications.html.

    About Cloudera
    Cloudera is the only true hybrid platform for data, analytics, and AI. With 100x more data under management than other cloud-only vendors, Cloudera empowers global enterprises to transform data of all types, on any public or private cloud, into valuable, trusted insights. Our open data lakehouse delivers scalable and secure data management with portable cloud-native analytics, enabling customers to bring GenAI models to their data while maintaining privacy and ensuring responsible, reliable AI deployments. The world’s largest brands in financial services, insurance, media, manufacturing, and government rely on Cloudera to use their data to solve what seemed impossible—today and in the future.

    To learn more, visit Cloudera.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. Cloudera and associated marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cloudera, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Contact
    Jess Hohn-Cabana
    cloudera@v2comms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Equipment Upgrade Program Effectively Stimulates Domestic Demand

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) — Jiangsu Tengsheng Textile Technology Group Co., Ltd. has been a hub of activity since the beginning of the year. Its participation in the national equipment renewal campaign has opened a promising path to a bright future for the textile manufacturer.

    “After the upgrade is completed, our equipment will reach the leading standards in the domestic industry,” said Chen Guichun, deputy general manager of the company based in east China’s Jiangsu Province. “We expect this upgrade to improve our efficiency by more than 5 percent and increase our unit output by about 20 percent.”

    The company’s efforts are part of China’s massive trade-in program for equipment upgrades and consumer goods replacement, which was launched in March 2024. The program involves various government departments using ultra-long-term special government bonds to accelerate the implementation of related measures to stimulate investment and consumption.

    The People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) announced last month that it would increase the refinancing quota for technological innovation and technical transformation from 500 billion yuan (about $69.6 billion) to 800 billion yuan. In addition, the regulator also cut the refinancing rate to 1.5 percent from 1.75 percent.

    This innovation is part of the PBOC’s structural monetary instruments aimed at expanding domestic demand, said Ding Zhijie, director of the PBOC Financial Institute. “This will ensure continued support for the implementation of the equipment renewal program and the replacement of consumer goods with new ones under the trade-in scheme,” he stressed in the latest edition of the all-media discussion program “China Economy Roundtable” organized by Xinhua News Agency.

    “It took only four months from the time we applied to receiving government support, which is a very effective indicator for us,” said Xu Guoqiang, assistant manager of Chilwee Group Co., Ltd., a battery manufacturing subsidiary in east China’s Zhejiang Province.

    According to him, the company invested a total of 60 million yuan in upgrading the equipment, of which more than 8 million yuan was provided by the state.

    Likewise, many other companies in the country’s key industries have begun upgrading their equipment and are reaping the benefits. In April, the added value of China’s major high-tech manufacturing and digital products sectors grew 10 percent year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    In the year since the campaign was launched, it has successfully identified the huge potential of the country’s domestic market. In the first four months of this year, investments in the acquisition of equipment and devices grew by 18.2 percent year-on-year. According to the State Statistical Service, the share of the indicator in the overall investment growth for the period was 64.5 percent.

    Ding Lin, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a roundtable that China, as the world’s second-largest economy with a population of more than 1.4 billion, has huge potential to expand domestic demand.

    To this end, the country should explore more approaches to increasing household incomes and expanding consumer potential, while continuing to optimize its policies in the area of consumption support, he stressed.

    In addition to accelerating equipment upgrades across the country, Ding Lin said the NDRC will allocate 800 billion yuan in ultra-long-term special government bonds to support the country’s major national strategies and strengthen security capabilities in key areas. Ding Lin called this a “proactive move” to stimulate effective investment.

    “We will accelerate the development of the project and the distribution of funds in order to achieve tangible results as soon as possible,” he concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –