NewzIntel.com

Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Family offices

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ5: Family offices 
    Question:
     
         According to a consultancy study commissioned by Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), it was estimated that around 2 700 single family offices were operating in Hong Kong as at end-2023. However, it has recently been reported that quite a number of “fake family offices” have emerged in the market and some of them may even be involved in money laundering or illegal fund-raising activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it will consider drawing up a clear official definition and establishing a regulatory regime for family offices, and stepping up regulation through legislation or administrative measures to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes; if so, of the specific details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) whether it has developed corresponding monitoring mechanisms or regulatory measures when considering enhancing the preferential tax regimes for family offices and funds, so as to prevent the relevant regimes from being abused as tax avoidance tools; if so, of the specific details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) whether it has plans to provide more systematic training and accreditation schemes for professional talents to meet the demand from family offices for multi-disciplinary professionals, and whether it will regularly assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the policies relating to family offices, including market responses, economic contributions and potential risks; if so, of the specific details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         As an international financial centre and the freest economy in the world, Hong Kong maintains an open market environment. Meanwhile, we also attach great importance to safeguarding the integrity of our financial systems by implementing international standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing to deter and detect inward and outward flows of illicit funds.
     
         In consultation with Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) and the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy (HKAWL), my reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) The Government welcomes all lawful and rule-compliant family offices (FOs) to set up in Hong Kong and respects the private financial arrangement of single FOs. Regarding the regulation of investment activities of FOs, the licensing regime under the Securities and Futures Ordinance is activity-based. Generally speaking, a single FO refers to an arrangement established by members of a single family to manage the family’s assets, investments, and long-term interests. A single FO is required to apply for a licence under the Securities and Futures Ordinance if it carries on a business of regulated activity in Hong Kong, for example, providing asset and wealth management services to clients other than members of the relevant family, and to fulfil relevant code of conduct and statutory requirements applicable to licensed corporations. The above requirements are also applicable to investment companies or multi-FOs. To facilitate the industry’s understanding of the regulatory regime in Hong Kong, the SFC has issued circular on the licensing obligations of FOs and quick reference guides to provide additional guidance.
     
         In addition, professionals of various sectors providing services concerned to FOs will conduct necessary due diligence in compliance with the statutory requirements and relevant guidelines. Among others, the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (Cap. 615) provides that financial institutions (including banks, SFC-licensed corporations, insurance companies, money services operators, etc.) and designated non-financial businesses and professions (including solicitors, accountants, estate agents, and trust or company service providers) shall conduct customer due diligence, including identifying and verifying the identity of beneficial owners, continuously monitoring the business relationships with customers, as well as maintaining records. When service providers identify any suspicious transactions, they are also under the legal obligation to report to law enforcement agencies.
     
         Our systems and measures for combating money laundering and terrorist financing have all along adhere to international standards and best practices. We will closely monitor the risks related to money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as the developments in international standards, and will keep our systems and measures under constant review so as to safeguard the integrity and stability of Hong Kong’s financial system.
     
    (2) Family-owned investment holding vehicles (FIHVs) managed by single FOs in Hong Kong fulfilling the minimum asset threshold of HK$240 million and substantial activities requirement can enjoy profits tax exemption for qualifying transactions. Currently, a series of anti-avoidance measures have been put in place for the preferential tax regimes for single FOs and funds. For example, a business undertaking for general commercial or industrial purpose is not eligible for tax concessions with a view to avoiding abuse. The tax regimes also contain the anti-round tripping provisions to prevent abuse or round-tripping by resident persons to take advantage of the profits tax exemption via a fund or FIHV. Meanwhile, the general anti-avoidance provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO) are also applicable to the preferential tax regimes for single FOs and funds. Through these provisions, the IRD can address any artificial or fictitious transaction, disposition that is not in fact given effect to and transaction entered into for the sole or dominant purpose of enabling a person to obtain a tax benefit.
     
         To attract more FOs and high-net-worth individuals to choose Hong Kong as a destination for wealth management, we will enhance the preferential tax regimes for funds, single FOs and carried interest, including expanding the scope of “fund” under the tax exemption regime, increasing the types of qualifying transactions eligible for tax concessions for funds and single FOs, enhancing the tax concession arrangement on the distribution of carried interest by private equity funds, etc.
     
         The Government also proposes to introduce a tax reporting mechanism under the enhanced tax regime for funds to ensure that the funds and special purpose entities meet the relevant tax exemption conditions under the IRO. The Government will continue to closely communicate with the industry on formulating the details of the tax reporting regime, and minimise the compliance burden on funds and special purpose entities under the tax reporting regime.
     
    (3) The Government is committed to expanding the talent pool for wealth management and FOs to support the long-term development of the industry. We have since 2016 implemented the Pilot Programme to Enhance Talent Training for the Asset and Wealth Management Sector to nurture more industry talents. To date, over 4 700 applications for reimbursement of professional training course fees have been approved, and the Programme has provided internship opportunities for over 920 tertiary students, supporting the industry to offer more professional training and learning opportunities, thereby enhancing the professional standards of practitioners. Besides, we have included “management professionals in asset and wealth management (WAM)” and “professionals in compliance in WAM” under the Talent List since 2018 and 2021 respectively, so as to facilitate high-quality talents in these professions to pursue development in Hong Kong.
     
         The Government has also established the HKAWL in 2023 to provide a platform for collaboration, networking, knowledge sharing and talent development, and to provide relevant training for asset owners, wealth inheritors and the FO sector. In 2024-25, the HKAWL organised, co-organised, and participated in over 20 events, enabling asset owners, wealth inheritors and FO practitioners to engage in discussions and exchanges. These events brought together over 3 100 participants.
     
         The Government will maintain close communication with FOs to understand their needs, evaluate the effectiveness of relevant policies and introduce enhancements in a timely manner. For example, the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES) has been well-received by the industry since its launch. As of end-May this year, the New CIES has received over 1 370 applications. The current applications are expected to bring an investment amount of over HK$41 billion into Hong Kong. The Government has also implemented enhancement measures with effect from March 1 this year, allowing investment under the New CIES to be made through an eligible private company wholly owned by the applicant, creating synergy with the tax concession regime for FOs.
     
         According to the research findings of the consultant commissioned by InvestHK and publicised in March 2024, there were around 2 700 single FOs operating in Hong Kong as of end-2023. The number is expected to exceed 3 000 in the near future. Separately, since its establishment in June 2021 up to end-May this year, the dedicated FamilyOfficeHK team of InvestHK has assisted over 190 FOs to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong, and around 150 FOs have indicated that they are preparing or have decided to set up or expand their business in Hong Kong. The performance indicator to attract no less than 200 FOs to establish or expand their operations in Hong Kong by end-2025 as set out in the 2022 Policy Address is likely to be achieved.
     
         Thank you, President.
    Issued at HKT 14:58

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector to benefit from Mainland’s expedited patent pre-examination service starting June 30

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong’s innovation and technology sector to benefit from Mainland’s expedited patent pre-examination service starting June 30 
         Under the enhanced measure, Hong Kong’s I&T sector (including innovative entities such as enterprises, higher education institutions and research institutions) seeking patent protection on the Mainland may submit patent pre-examination requests to the Shenzhen Intellectual Property Protection Center if they meet the relevant criteria (e.g. the inventions in their applications fall within the specified industry sectors). Upon passing the pre-examination, their patent applications can enter the expedited examination channel of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), significantly shortening the period of examination.
     
         The Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, said, “This cross-boundary facilitation measure for patent applications can effectively accelerate the legal protection and commercialisation of research outcomes in the vast Mainland market by Hong Kong’s I&T sector. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses its gratitude to the CNIPA for supporting Hong Kong in the advancement of I&T and IP trading, which enables Hong Kong to seize the opportunities brought by the national development of new quality productive forces and contribute to the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.”
     
         For details of the measures, please refer to the Intellectual Property Department’s website 
         The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone of Shenzhen Municipality jointly promulgated the 16 Co-operation Measures in February 2023, aiming to advance IP development in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, foster cross-boundary IP and innovation, exchange and co-operation, and support Hong Kong’s development into a regional IP trading centre.
    Issued at HKT 17:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Promoting the development of the popular artistic toy industry

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by the Hon Jeffrey Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):
     
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that in recent years, the popular artistic toy industry and the “goods economy” (i.e. economic activities relating to intellectual property (IP) peripheral products of animation, comics, games, idols, etc) have expanded rapidly worldwide. Last year, the global market of “blind boxes” (i.e. sealed boxes whose IP peripheral products are not made known to consumers in advance) reached US$14.5 billion (approximately HK$113.1 billion), with some IP merchandise created by Hong Kong designers generating hundreds of millions of dollars in value in the international market. However, there are views that the popular artistic toy industrial chain in Hong Kong is not yet mature and requires precise policy support. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics for the period between 2022 and 2024 on (i) the number of companies registered in Hong Kong that were involved in the design, production or sale of popular artistic toys, (ii) the contribution of the popular artistic toy industry to Gross Domestic Product, (iii) the number of professional practitioners in the popular artistic toy industry, and (iv) among the projects approved under the Government’s funding schemes or funds for driving the development of the cultural and creative industries (e.g. the CreateSmart Initiative), the proportion of projects related to the popular artistic toy industry and the total amount of funding involved; if such data is unavailable, whether the Government will review if this emerging industry is outside the scope of the existing policy;
     
    (2) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of registrations filed with the Intellectual Property Department by local designers for artistic toy character designs from 2022 to 2024, and the number of cases in which Hong Kong enterprises have successfully turned local IP into mass-produced merchandise;
     
    (3) of the number of pop-up stores or exhibitions relating to the theme of popular artistic toys that were approved to be held in public venues (e.g. the West Kowloon Cultural District and galleries of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department) in the past year, and the average duration of such exhibitions;
     
    (4) among the events supported by the Mega Events Coordination Group last year, of the proportion of mega events that had the theme of popular artistic toys (e.g. designers’ autograph and sale sessions and blind box bazaars), as well as the data on the number of people who attended such events; and
     
    (5) as the Financial Secretary pointed out earlier on in a blog post that some IP with Hong Kong elements created by Hong Kong designers has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in value, and there are views that this reflects that the calibre of the local creative industry is of an international standard, whether the Government has formulated specific measures to assist in the development of the industrialisation of Hong Kong’s IP and to promote the maximisation of the value of local IP; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    Art toy refers to toys designed by designers and artists, and infused with rich cultural connotations and fashionable creativity. It can be traced back to figures in the 1960s of the 20th century which were mostly derivative models of anime characters for the purposes of appreciation and collection. Noting the emergence and development of art toy in recent years which bring in opportunities for the creative industries in Hong Kong, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has been actively supporting projects related to Hong Kong’s art toy industry, including setting up Hong Kong pavilions at exhibitions in the Mainland and overseas to support the industry in the promotion of art toys originated in Hong Kong.

    My reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Jeffrey Lam’s question, in consultation with the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) and the Intellectual Property Department (IPD), is as follows:
     
    (1) The cultural and creative industries (CCI) form an integral part of creating a diversified economy in Hong Kong. CCI covers the design sector whereas art toy design is grouped under this sector. According to the C&SD’s latest statistics, the value added by the design sector reached over $4.2 billion in 2023, accounting for over 0.1% of Gross Domestic Product in Hong Kong, and 3.1% of that of CCI. The number of establishments and practitioners engaged in the design sector were around 7 490 and 18 650 respectively.
     
    From 2022 till now, the CCIDA funded and fostered eight Hong Kong art toy-related projects through the CreateSmart Initiative (CSI). Overseas projects included driving the industry to participate in “Promote Hong Kong Designer Toys through Thailand Exhibitions”, “Promote Hong Kong Designer Toys through Thailand Toy Expo 2024”, “Promote Hong Kong Art Toys through Indonesia Exhibition 2024” and “Promote Hong Kong Art Toys through Thailand Toy Expo 2025”. These four projects facilitated over 20 business deals and more than 370 business enquiries and contacts, and ideal selling records were made for individual participating designers. For example, a Hong Kong art toy designer sold art toys of over $0.5 million and successfully reached out an Indonesian toy agent to expand his retail business in Indonesia. In the Mainland, the CSI funded the industry to participate in “Hong Kong Creative Pavilion@China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industry Expo and Trade Fair plus Hong Kong@Shenzhen Cultural Industry Expo”, “Hong Kong Creative Pavilion@2024 Hangzhou Cultural & Creative Industry Expo”, “China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (Hangzhou)” and “China International Animation Copyright Fair (Dongguan)”. The CCIDA set up Hong Kong pavilions in these exhibitions to promote Hong Kong’s art toy, animation, game and related industries. These four Hong Kong pavilions attracted a total of over 160 000 participants, reaching out over 1 300 business deals and more than 120 business enquiries and contacts. The eight projects obtained about $38 million of the CSI funding.

    In fact, Hong Kong creators made great achievements in the global art toy industries in recent years. Their art toy characters designed and the products generated by their intellectual properties (IPs) successfully occupy a remarkable market share in markets of Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas. Among them, Hong Kong renowned designers Lung Ka-sing and Kenny Wong created iconic art toy products, making great profits for the art toy industries. Lung also won an illustration award in Belgium, being the first Chinese designer to win this prize. Besides, Wong’s designs have collaborations with various international trendy brands for rolling out IP products.
     
    (2) According to the IPD, the Locarno classification published by the World Intellectual Property Organization is the system adopted for classifying articles under the local registered designs system. There is no specific class for “artistic toy characters”, which are instead classified under Class 21 (sub-class 01) – “games and toys”. The numbers of applications and registrations under this sub-class from 2022 to 2024 are as follows:
     

      2022 2023 2024
    Number of applications
    (Number of designs involved (Note 1))    		 31
    (66)    		 39
    (79)    		 59
    (82)
    Number of registrations (Note 2) 78 76 41

    Note 1: Each design application may contain one or more designs.
    Note 2: Since it takes time to process applications, the number of registrations shown may not equal to the number of applications received in a particular year.
     
    Other than obtaining protection for the design of an article under the registered designs system, the same may also be considered as a sign for registration under the trade marks system, or as an original artistic work protected by the copyright system (registration not required). Rights holders need to consider their overall IP protection and utilisation strategy, as well as the relevant legal requirements.

    Over the years, there have been numerous examples of Hong Kong businesses transforming local cultural and creative IPs into mass-produced products. This may be done by various ways such as sales and licensing, and it also depends on the types of IPs being utilised. The Government does not have statistics in this regard.
     
    (3) and (4) Different types of mega events in Hong Kong cover various areas, among which many of the events with profound IP elements are well received by the public. Events in 2024 include “100% DORAEMON & FRIENDS” Tour, Pokémon GO City Safari, PANDA GO! FEST HK, ComplexCon Hong Kong, Hypefest Hong Kong, and the annual Ani-com & Games Hong Kong that gathers animation, comics and figurines, etc. The CSTB supported these activities in different ways. As an estimate, these events attracted over five millions of participants.
     
    In 2024, there were nine art toy-related projects exhibited in venues of the West Kowloon Cultural District and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Their average exhibition period was about 17 days. In addition, there were lots of activities relating to the theme of art toy held in different government and private venues (such as shopping malls).
     
    (5) The Government has been promoting the development of the trading and commercialisation of local IPs, including various measures related to CCI.
     
    In strengthening IP protection, the copyright system is an essential component of the IP regime, offering protection for original works including those in the literary and artistic fields, and is crucial to the development of the local creative industries and a knowledge-based economy. The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 came into effect in May 2023 to enhance copyright protection in the digital environment. The IPD is also conducting a comprehensive review of the local registered design system and plans to launch a public consultation within this year to ensure that the system remains up-to-date, aligns with current international standards, and meets the needs of Hong Kong’s future economic development. Besides, the CCIDA is actively supporting cultural IP projects (including those related to art toy mentioned above) through the CSI, and driving applicants to make applications for IP protection for their cultural and creative products, formulate IP agreements and manage IP portfolios, etc. so as to assist creators in exploring business opportunities.

    In enhancing capacity building, the IPD has in recent years provided more comprehensive and in-depth IP training courses and practical workshops for practitioners across various sectors, including those in the cultural and creative industries, with a target to benefit 5 000 practitioners across different industries within the current term of the Government. Besides, in collaboration with the Law Society of Hong Kong, the IPD has been providing free IP consultation services for small and medium enterprises through practising lawyers on a pro bono basis.

    On promotion effort, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) continues to enrich large-scale activities such as the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market, the Hong Kong International Licensing Show and the Hong Kong Book Fair in order to support local original works to exploit the Mainland and international markets. The CCIDA has also funded the HKTDC to enhance the Asia IP Exchange portal, adding a database for arts, cultural and creative IPs to facilitate potential buyers in searching for relevant information, and introducing more elements of market transaction, such as business matching events, market information and professional service packages on IP trading to foster cross-sectoral collaboration. The CCIDA will facilitate more registration of local and non-local cultural and creative products on the Asia IP Exchange portal to promote the transactions of cultural IPs. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mainland-Hong Kong Green Energy Matchmaking Event promotes development of green maritime fuel supply chain

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Mainland-Hong Kong Green Energy Matchmaking Event organised by the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and co-organised by the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province was held today (June 25) simultaneously in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The Event aims to provide a collaborative platform for relevant suppliers and companies with demand to catalyse a comprehensive green maritime fuel supply chain and trade.
     
         The Event is supported by the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, the Commercial Office of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as a number of relevant organisations, associations and enterprises from Hong Kong and the Mainland. More than 200 representatives from various enterprises, including those from Hong Kong companies with demand for green maritime fuels and relevant fuel suppliers from the Mainland, gathered in the two venues to exchange views and discuss collaborations in relation to fuel off-take and to sign relevant Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
     
         The Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, said at the Hong Kong venue, “Hong Kong and the Mainland share the same roots and are closely connected, with strong complementarity in the development of green maritime fuels. The Mainland’s core strength lies in the production of green fuels, while Hong Kong, as the southern gate of Mainland China and an international financial, trading and maritime centre, is not only home to a large number of international shipping enterprises, but also enjoys advantages such as free flow of capital, a financial and legal system that is in line with the rest of the world, and a trade settlement mechanism that allows immediate payment settlements. In addition, Hong Kong is the top bunkering centre in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the second largest in the whole of China and ranks seventh globally. By adopting the ‘north-to-south sales’ model, under which the high-quality green maritime fuels produced on the Mainland can be exported to the world through Hong Kong’s international trading gateway, we will open up new ‘blue ocean’ opportunities for enterprises from the two places.
     
         “Today’s Event demonstrates the impactful materialisation of the target of the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering promulgated by the HKSAR Government in November last year. We will develop Hong Kong into the preferred green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre in the region. We have clearly set out in the Action Plan that we will establish a collaborative platform and provide facilitation measures for stakeholders engaged in green maritime fuel bunkering and related businesses, to help establish an efficient supply chain and trading channels. Today’s first-of-a-kind Event provides a high-quality and efficient networking platform for the supply and demand sides of green maritime fuels, to help Hong Kong and the Mainland to jointly build a green maritime fuel supply chain.”
     
         The signing of nine MOUs by various parties was witnessed by Ms Chan and representatives of relevant enterprises at the Hong Kong venue, and the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, Mr Chang Hui; Deputy Director-General of the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce Mr Zeng Huacheng; the Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Department and Head of the Commercial Office of the LOCPG in the HKSAR, Mr Zhou Qiang; Deputy Director-General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province Mr Sun Bin; member of the Legislative Council Mr Frankie Yick; the Commissioner for Maritime and Port Development, Miss Amy Chan, and representatives of various attending enterprises at the Shenzhen venue. Among them, the TLB signed MOUs with the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters, a representative industry organisation; Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical Co Ltd, a bunkering service provider; CIMC Enric Holdings Limited and the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, green methanol producers, to collaborate on promoting the development of green maritime fuel-related businesses and establishing a market for the trade of green maritime fuels, etc, with a view to integrating the needs of Hong Kong with the capabilities of industry, and further promoting the development of Hong Kong into a green maritime fuel bunkering and trading centre, thereby achieving mutually beneficial co-operation. In addition, the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited and the Pacific Basin Shipping Limited signed an MOU at the Hong Kong venue on their preliminary intent for business collaboration on green maritime fuels, which is a solid step forward for the development of a green maritime fuel trading centre in Hong Kong.
     
         In addition, Miss Chan briefed representatives of the attending enterprises on the direction and latest progress of the development of green maritime fuel bunkering and trading in Hong Kong at the Shenzhen venue, including announcing that the Marine Department will gazette the Code of Practice for Methanol Bunkering within this month, and launch the Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering Incentive Scheme which will offer incentives of up to $1 million per enterprise to pioneer enterprises that provide and engage in green maritime fuel bunkering in Hong Kong, for bunkering operations for specific fuels in Hong Kong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ22: Technology Voucher Programme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ22: Technology Voucher Programme 
    Question:
     
         The Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) launched the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) in 2016 to subsidise enterprises in using technological services on a matching basis to enhance their productivity. It has been reported that since the launch of TVP, a total of nearly 35 000 projects involving a total of over $6.2 billion of public funding have been approved. However, suspected abuse cases have been found in a number of projects, including: (i) individuals with the same name registering with different companies and repeatedly applying for subsidies for the research and development of the same projects, (ii) nearly 2 000 projects and over 1 000 projects being approved with the same funding amount (accurate to one decimal place and some economists have described the figures as rather “statistically odd”), (iii) some applicant companies are suspected of having no actual operational activity or having already closed down, and (iv) there are doubts about the time taken to complete the development of the approved projects (e.g. $180,000 was granted to a company that updated its website and developed its mobile phone application in a speedy manner within two days; there was also a case in which a company developed an “Intelligent Anatomical Model Measurement System” in 27 days and was granted $480,000), etc. This has aroused suspicion that there are loopholes in the monitoring of TVP. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether the authorities have conducted random checks for subsidised projects granted under TVP in the past three years; if so, of the number and content of the random checks conducted and, among them, the respective numbers of applications suspected and confirmed to be abusive; if not, whether it will expeditiously activate the investigations in the light of the aforesaid media reports;
     
    (2) in respect of each application involving abuse of public subsidies or even fraud under TVP, of the follow-up actions actually taken by the authorities and the respective amounts of subsidies successfully and unsuccessfully recovered in such cases;
     
    (3) as the aforesaid reports have pointed out that some companies funded under TVP closed down shortly after receiving grants, of the measures put in place by the authorities to eradicate this situation; whether enterprises receiving approved grants will be required to regularly submit data on the use of technology projects/systems for monitoring purposes; and
     
    (4) whether the authorities will conduct a comprehensive review of TVP’s effectiveness since its implementation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; whether they have assessed the actual increase in productivity, competitiveness and entrepreneurial return achieved by enterprises that applied for subsidies after upgrading their technological level?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In response to the Hon Paul Tse’s question, our consolidated reply is as follows:
     
         The Government ceased accepting new applications for the Technology Voucher Programme (TVP) after December 31, 2024. To ensure proper use of public funds, the Hong Kong Productivity Council as the TVP Secretariat (the Secretariat) has been rigorously reviewing the applications, final project reports and supplementary information submitted by the applicants, and conducting random on-site checks on individual projects in order to ensure that the applications are eligible for funding and that the project deliverables conform to relevant requirements. When submitting TVP applications, every applicant must provide documentary evidence proving its substantive business operations in Hong Kong. Relevant documents include information on business operations, financial operations and employment. If any suspicious cases are identified, Innovation and Technology Commission will immediately withhold processing the relevant cases, cease disbursing any payments, and refer them to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. 
     
         After rigorous review by the Secretariat, each eligible TVP application will be assessed based on individual merits and considered on a case-by-case basis. According to the TVP Guidance Notes, the TVP Committee/the Secretariat will assess whether the project budget is reasonable by making reference to market prices of the technologies as known to them. If a project is worthy of support in principle but the project budget is higher than the estimated price, the Secretariat will, on a modular basis, adjust the level of funding with reference to the project cost approved by the TVP Committee. Therefore, projects/technological solutions of similar nature and scale (e.g. Enterprise Resource Planning System) will have the same approved amounts after the aforementioned adjustments. In addition, since the amount of funding is calculated on the basis of the funding ratio, there may be odd cents after the calculation.
     
         TVP has established rigorous checking mechanism to verify whether the approved projects are implemented. Applicants are required to implement the project in accordance with the approved application and funding agreement, and submit a final project report to the Secretariat upon completion of the project, together with evidence of deliverables (such as hardware photos and system screen captures), copy of invoice(s) and corresponding receipt(s) in relation to the payment for each expenditure item, an audited statement of income and expenditure for the project from an independent auditor (if the approved funding exceeds HK$50,000)/a final income and expenditure statement prepared by the applicant (if the approved funding is HK$50,000 or below). The Secretariat will also conduct random on-site checks on individual projects, requiring applicants to demonstrate the developed technological solutions on the spot so as to verify whether they comply with the requirements of the approved application and the TVP. Taking the cases with “progress issues” mentioned by media report and quoted in the question as an example, the final reports failed to pass the Secretariat’s assessment and no funding was disbursed.
     
         According to the TVP funding agreement, applicants are required to keep the relevant hardware and software for at least one year after project completion, and keep a proper and separate set of books and records for the project for seven years after project completion for checking. The Secretariat will conduct random checks on applicants to see if they comply with the relevant requirements.  
     
         In the past three years, the Secretariat has conducted random on-site checks on 1 860 projects and referred 15 suspicious cases to law enforcement agencies for follow-up. The Secretariat will recover the funding from applicants convicted in the cases. As the investigations/judicial proceedings by the law enforcement agencies are still ongoing, we have no record of funding recovery for the time being.
     
         To assess the effectiveness of the TVP on the funded enterprises/organisations, we require enterprises/organisations to submit evaluation reports six months after project completion on whether the project could achieve the objectives of improving productivity, or upgrading or transforming their business processes. As at end-2024, 8 587 of the funded enterprises/organisations with completed projects had submitted evaluation reports to the Secretariat. Ninety-nine per cent of them were of the view that the projects were conducive to enhancing their competitiveness. Specific benefits include saving manpower, time and/or cost, increasing revenue, and upgrading/transforming/streamlining business processes.
     
         The Government conducted a fundamental review on the TVP in 2024 and considered that the programme has achieved its original intent. In recent years, the Government has continued to strengthen support measures for different industries, and many bureaux and departments have introduced more targeted funding schemes dedicated to the specific conditions or operational needs of individual industries. It was therefore decided that TVP would cease accepting new applications after December 31, 2024.
     
    The Secretariat will continue to review and enhance the vetting procedures of TVP so as to process the outstanding cases. In view of the large number of applications received before the deadline on December 31, 2024, the Secretariat has adopted a stringent vetting approach, requiring applicants to provide documents to prove that they have substantive business operations, the procurement procedures meet the requirements, and the budget and other details of the proposed technological solutions are reasonable and realistic. The Secretariat will continue to rigorously review the documents submitted by applicants for each application to ensure proper use of public funds.
    Issued at HKT 11:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Preventing dog excreta from fouling public places and streets

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4

    Following is a question by the Hon Judy Chan and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (June 25):

    Question:

    At present, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department have both drawn up guidelines for people walking dogs on cleaning up dog excreta in public places and on streets. However, there are views that the cleaning methods set out in such guidelines are inadequate. For example, people walking dogs are advised to use paper to wrap up dog faeces and deposit it in rubbish bins or dog excreta collection bins, and rinse the floor with water only, which are all ineffective in cleaning up dog excreta and removing its lingering odour, thereby affecting the cityscape. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of cases and total amount of fines imposed in each of the past three years for allowing dogs to foul (i) the streets or public places with faeces, and (ii) the common parts of buildings with excreta;
     
    (2) of the number of surprise inspections conducted by the authorities in each of the past three years to address the issue of dogs excreting indiscriminately (broken down by the 18 districts across the territory);
     
    (3) given that the existing legislation does not impose penalties on people walking dogs who allow their dogs to urinate and foul the streets, whether the Government has plans to amend the legislation to impose regulation; and
     
    (4) whether the authorities have plans to update the guidelines on cleaning up dog excreta (e.g. instructing people walking dogs to use cleaning agents with deodorising and stain-removing properties to rinse the areas where their dogs excrete); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,

    Under the Public Cleansing and Prevention of Nuisances Regulation (Cap. 132BK), a person who allows his dog to cause fouling by depositing faeces in the common parts of a building or in any street or public place is liable on a first conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000 and on each subsequent conviction to a maximum fine of $25,000; and a person who allows his dog to cause fouling by depositing urine in the common parts of a building is liable on a first conviction to a maximum fine of $5,000 and on each subsequent conviction to a maximum fine of $10,000. Moreover, under the Fixed Penalty (Public Cleanliness and Obstruction) Ordinance (Cap. 570), any person allowing dogs to foul the streets or public places with faeces is liable to a fixed penalty of $3,000.

    The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) have provided the public with guidelines on prevention of fouling of places by dog excreta, advising dog walkers to take enough paper to wrap up the faeces and place it into the dog excreta collection bin, and bring sufficient clean water to rinse the spot where the dog has urinated in order to maintain environmental hygiene.

    My reply to the question raised by the Hon Judy Chan is as follows:

    (1) The number of cases in which the FEHD took enforcement actions against fouling of streets or public places by dog faeces, as well as the total amount of fines imposed between 2022 and 2024 are as follows:
     

      2022 2023 2024
    Number of cases 16 19 24
    Total amount of fines imposed on cases handled ($) 22,500 33,000 70,000*

    *The significant increase in fines was mainly due to the increase in the amount of fixed penalty for fouling of street by dog faeces from $1,500 to $3,000 with effect from October 22, 2023.

    Having considered its enforcement priorities and resource deployment, the FEHD focuses its enforcement efforts against cleanliness offences in streets and public places, while the management and hygiene problems of the common parts of buildings are generally followed up by owners or management companies. The FEHD does not maintain records of enforcement against dogs fouling the common parts of buildings with excreta between 2022 and 2024.

    (2) The numbers of blitz operations conducted by the FEHD in the 18 districts across the territory in response to dog fouling between 2022 and 2024 are as follows:
     

    District 2022 2023 2024
    Central and Western 10 12 14
    Wan Chai 17 15 23
    Eastern 12 10 17
    Southern 10 11 9
    Islands 4 15 8
    Yau Tsim Mong 22 30 28
    Sham Shui Po 11 13 18
    Kowloon City 14 16 16
    Wong Tai Sin 30 24 28
    Kwun Tong 24 24 26
    Kwai Tsing 12 10 10
    Tsuen Wan 15 12 18
    Tuen Mun 20 19 20
    Yuen Long 15 12 16
    North 8 8 10
    Tai Po 12 12 12
    Sha Tin 8 10 12
    Sai Kung 12 12 12
    Total 256 265 297

    The AFCD and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) also conduct enforcement operations at their respective sites from time to time, addressing various irregularities such as dogs fouling. The AFCD and the LCSD do not maintain specific figures on enforcement actions solely targeting dog fouling issues.

    (3) In general, rinsing the spot where the dog has urinated with sufficient clean water is enough to clean the spot properly and avoid causing environmental hygiene problems. Considering the habits of dogs marking their territory with urine and urinating outdoors, as well as the fact that using sufficient clean water is enough for cleaning, the Government currently has no plans to amend the legislation to regulate dog urination in streets or public places.

    The Government will continue to promote the message of “be a responsible pet owner” to the public and educate dog walkers to properly clean up after their dogs through various channels, including posters, pamphlets, thematic websites and roving exhibitions, so as to maintain environmental hygiene.

    (4) The guidelines issued by the FEHD and the AFCD have clearly required dog walkers to clean up after their dogs by properly wrapping up the faeces with sufficient paper or cleaning urine with sufficient clean water. As regards the requirement for dog walkers to use cleaning agents, we have to consider the impact on the public and the environment, such as whether the cleaning agents may cause pedestrians to slip and whether the discharge of cleaning agents into stormwater drains may cause pollution. The Government will continue its promotional and educational efforts so that dog walkers will follow the guidelines and properly dispose of the droppings of their dogs.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCED attends China Forum in Paris, France (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SCED attends China Forum in Paris, France  
         Speaking at the forum, Mr Yau remarked that Asia is currently contributing 60 per cent to global growth, and that the Asian market, in particular the Mainland market, presents a unique opportunity for businesses looking to expand their horizons across the global trade landscape. As a “super connector” between foreign investors and the Mainland market, Hong Kong serves as a perfect springboard for French businesses to tap into the Mainland market.
     
         Mr Yau said that in 2024, Hong Kong’s total trade amounted to US$1,350 billion, and was the world’s fifth-largest trading entity. Every year Hong Kong channels a massive volume of trade between the Mainland and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the most liberal free trade agreement ever offered by the Mainland, Hong Kong enterprises and professionals can enjoy the most preferential access to the Mainland market. CEPA is also nationality neutral and does not impose any restrictions on the source of investments. He encouraged the French business sector to set up company in Hong Kong to enjoy the preferential treatment under CEPA to enter the Mainland market.
     
         Mr Yau added that Hong Kong has a simple and low tax system and there is no restriction on the flow of capital. In addition to the Mainland market, French businesses can also access the Southeast Asian market by using Hong Kong as a base for their regional operations in Asia. Hong Kong is also deepening its trade ties with the Middle East and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, and is reaching out to Central Asia to explore new markets. 
     
         Mr Yau concluded that Hong Kong already has strong links with France, adding that the French community is one of the largest and most successful in Hong Kong. Among the European Union member states, France is the third largest in merchandise trade with Hong Kong and second largest in services trade. He believes that there is still significant trade potential between Hong Kong and France that would bring better synergy and mutual benefits.
     
         During his stay in Paris, Mr Yau also paid a courtesy call on Minister of the Chinese Embassy in France Mr Chen Dong to update him on Hong Kong’s latest economic and trade developments, and new initiatives such as the reduction of liquor duty to promote liquor trading.
     
         Mr Yau also visited the headquarters of Elior Group SA and its facilities to learn about the company’s operation and business development. He then hosted a dinner for representatives of the France Hong Kong Business Association to learn about the latest development directions of local enterprises and exchange views on enhancing co-operation between Hong Kong and France.
     
         Before proceeding to Paris, Mr Yau visited a wine cellar in Armagnac and met with representatives of the Armagnac trade on June 23 (France time) to promote the advantages of Hong Kong as a liquor trading hub.
     
         Mr Yau will depart for Hong Kong on June 25 (France time). 
    Issued at HKT 9:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Toobit Launches DEX+, On-Chain Trading Now Available on Spot Accounts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toobit, the award-winning global cryptocurrency exchange, today introduces DEX+, a powerful new feature that simplifies on-chain trading. This allows users to access and trade a wide array of early-stage, trending, and high-potential on-chain assets directly from their Toobit Spot account.

    Despite DeFi’s explosive growth to over $90 billion in TVL this year and thousands of monthly token launches, widespread adoption is deterred by complex wallets, costly gas fees, and persistent security concerns, which have resulted in billions in financial losses.

    DEX+ removes these barriers, letting users trade on-chain assets, from governance tokens to meme coins, directly from their Spot accounts with no wallets, keys, or gas required.

    “DeFi is where true innovation happens, and with DEX+, we’re ensuring everyone can participate in that future,” said Mike Williams, Chief Communication Officer at Toobit. “We’ve made accessing decentralized opportunities as intuitive as any spot trade, giving our users the confidence to explore cutting-edge assets within their familiar Toobit account.”

    Key advantages of DEX+

    • Seamless account integration: Existing USDT funds within a Toobit Spot account can now provide access to on-chain opportunities, bypassing the need for separate transfers and additional steps.
    • Lightning-fast and reliable: On-chain trades can be executed with exchange-grade speed and stability, seizing market opportunities instantly.
    • Early access to trending tokens: Traders can discover and acquire high-potential on-chain projects before they reach major exchanges.
    • Enhanced security: Trade with confidence, as on-chain assets are backed by Toobit’s robust account system and multi-layered security infrastructure.

    DEX+ is now available in the latest version of the Toobit app. To start your on-chain trading journey, simply update your app and tap into the DEX+ section under Spot.

    About Toobit

    Toobit is where the future of crypto trading unfolds—an award-winning cryptocurrency derivatives exchange built for those who thrive exploring new frontiers. With deep liquidity and cutting-edge technology, Toobit empowers traders worldwide to navigate the digital asset markets with confidence. We offer a fair, secure, seamless, and transparent trading experience, ensuring every trade is an opportunity to discover what’s next.

    For more information about Toobit, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Instagram

    Contact: Davin C.

    Email: market@toobit.com

    Website: www.toobit.com

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d497155a-c15a-4b84-8b37-476185a7dd45

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Agillic approved as ‘SKI’ vendor for the Danish public sector

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release – Copenhagen, 25 June 2025 – Agillic A/S

    Agillic has been approved as a SKI vendor under the framework agreement ’02.06 standard software’, allowing organisations across state, regions, and municipalities to include Agillic’s marketing automation platform in tenders and to procure directly from Agillic.

    SKI – Staten og Kommunernes Indkøbsservice A/S – is a procurement organisation for the Danish public sector with the goal to establish sustainable procurement agreements and financial manoeuvrability for public entities by offering framework agreements for goods, services, and IT. 

    Christian Samsø, CEO at Agillic, comments: “We are proud to be recognised as a trusted provider to the public sector. Agillic already enables personalisation and marketing automation for several public organisations, and the SKI approval makes it easier and faster for new organisations to engage – essentially accelerating the entire public sector’s access to a trusted Nordic marketing automation platform.”  

    For further information, please contact
    Christian Samsøe, CEO
    +45 24 88 24 24
    christian.samsoe@agillic.com
      
    About Agillic A/S
    Agillic A/S (Nasdaq First North Growth Market Copenhagen: AGILC) is a Danish software company offering brands a platform through which they can work with data-driven insights and content to create, automate, and send personalised communication to millions. Agillic is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. For further information, please visit agillic.com.  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: £300,000 boost for Edinburgh International Book Festival

    Source: Scottish Government

    Young people to benefit from schools programme.

    Over 5,000 schoolchildren will continue to enjoy free literary events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the next three years, thanks to a £300,000 grant from the Scottish Government.

    The one-off funding will support the festival’s acclaimed schools programme with more than 60 in-person and livestreamed events, including author talks with How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell and award-winning storyteller Frank Cottrell-Boyce. 

    The grant will also maintain travel cost support and free tickets for pupils whose families are unable to cover the cost of ticketed events, ensuring young people of all backgrounds across Edinburgh have an opportunity to participate in the internationally renowned festival. Children attending will receive a free book through the philanthropy of Book Festival donors as well.

    This investment comes as part of a record £34 million increase in Scotland’s Culture budget for 2025-26, which includes an increase of £4 million for Scottish Festivals, towards the government’s commitment to invest an additional £100 million annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29.

    Creative Scotland has already awarded the Edinburgh International Book Festival £1,880,000 in public multi-year funding for the next three years, more than doubling previous support.

    Minister for Business and Employment Richard Lochhead said:

    “The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country’s most significant cultural institutions. Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from free events and resources.

    “This funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take part in one of the world’s leading literary festivals.”

    Jenny Niven, Festival Director & CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival said:

    “The work the Book Festival does for children and young people is a cornerstone of what we do. Publishing for children and young people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading never better evidenced.

    “The Festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them. This aspect of what we do is vital, and we’re delighted to have specific public funding support to develop this work further in the coming years. 

    “We’ve identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed to maintaining free access for as many children as possible. We’re delighted that the Scottish Government’s increased support for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work further in the coming years and we look forward to widening our reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential of what we do.”

    Background:

    About | Edinburgh International Book Festival 

    Schools Programme – Learning | Edinburgh International Book Festival

    Multi-Year Funding Outcome Announcement | Creative Scotland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RAF F-35A marks a significant step in delivering a more lethal Integrated Force and joining NATO Nuclear Mission25 Jun 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force

    The RAF will be equipped with twelve new F-35A fifth-generation aircraft, as part of the Security Defence Review. The procurement of F-35A marks a significant step in delivering a more lethal “Integrated Force”, to maintain operational relevance, which deters, fights, and wins.

    The F-35A aircraft will be available to fly NATO’s nuclear mission in a crisis, deepening the UK’s contribution to NATO’s nuclear burden-sharing arrangements, and deter those who would do the UK and our Allies harm. It reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.

    This complements the UK’s own operationally independent nuclear deterrent, strengthens NATO’s nuclear deterrence, and underlines the UK’s unshakeable commitment to NATO and the principle of collective defence under Article V.

    As part of the second phase procurement plans of 27 aircraft, we will purchase a combination of twelve F-35A and fifteen F-35B variants, with options on further purchases examined in the Defence Investment Plan. The UK has a declared headmark of 138 aircraft through the life of the F-35 programme.

    Day-to-day, the F-35As will be used in a training role on 207 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). As the F-35A carries more fuel than the F-35B variant, it can stay airborne for longer, extending the available training time in each sortie for student pilots. As F-35As also require fewer maintenance hours, there will be increased aircraft availability on the OCU. These factors combined will improve pilot training and reduce the amount of time for pilots to reach the front-line squadrons.

    The F-35A will complement the existing F-35B, offering a family of strike aircraft that significantly reduces life-cycle costs, meets operational requirements, and improves F-35 Force Generation for Carrier Strike operations.

    Designed to operate from conventional runways, the F-35A offers increased range, increased payloads, and increased agility. The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham and support the stand-up of a third front line F-35 Lightning Squadron. 

    The F-35A is the common variant in Europe making it a force multiplier for NATO. This will strengthen allied deterrence and interoperability, supporting the Alliance for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

    “The threat we now face is more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War. We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber attacks at home. Equipping the RAF with F-35A aircraft demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to our ‘NATO First’ principle, acting as a potent deterrent to those who would do the UK and our Allies harm.” 
    Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton

    “For routine day-to-day operations, we have deliberately chosen to home the F-35A on the Operational Conversion Unit, as it can provide greater flying time per sortie and requires less maintenance hours. Consequently, it will reduce the time taken to train new pilots and improve F-35 Force Generation to support Carrier Strike operations around the world.” 
    Director Capability and Programmes, Air Vice-Marshal Beck 

    Typhoon will remain a fundamental part of the UK’s Combat Air mix. The synergy between Typhoon and F-35 Lightning forms a powerful, interoperable force, offering a blend of air-to-air dominance, stealth, and versatile air-to-ground capabilities. We will create an RAF with new generation jets including GCAP, F35A, F35B and Typhoon, supported by autonomous wingmen, to defend Britain’s skies and strike anywhere in the world.

    Specification F-35A Lightning II F-35B Lightning II
    Length 51.4 ft / 15.7 m 51.2 ft / 15.5 m
    Speed Mach 1.6 Mach 1.6
    Wingspan 35 ft / 10.7 m 35 ft / 10.7 m
    Wing Area 460 ft² / 42.7 m² 460 ft² / 42.7 m²
    Combat Radius (Internal Fuel) >590 n.mi / 1,093 km >450 n.mi / 833 km
    Range (Internal Fuel) >1,200 n.mi / 2,200 km >900 n.mi / 1,667 km
    Internal Fuel Capacity 18,250 lb / 8,278 kg 13,100 lb / 5,942 kg
    Max G-Rating 9.0 7.0
    Weapons Payload 18,000 lb / 8,160 kg 15,000 lb / 6,800 kg
    Propulsion F135-PW-100 F135-PW-600
    Thrust (Max / Mil) 40,000 lb / 25,000 lb 38,000 lb / 26,000 lb (40,500 ib vertical)

    *Maximum Power (Max) = With Afterburn

    Military Power (Mil) = Without Afterburn

    To view the official government announcement, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-purchase-f-35as-and-join-nato-nuclear-mission-as-government-steps-up-national-security-and-delivers-defence-dividend

    All imagery is current RAF F-35B variant.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council secures new tourism office for Edinburgh’s Royal Mile

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    249 High street is to the right of the arches in front of the City Chambers

    Edinburgh’s visitor information centre at 249 High Street has been secured for the next 25 years.

    Councillors on the Finance and Resources Committee have unanimously agreed to lease the prominent location for £150,000 a year to the Cobbs group, a family-run hospitality business with 35 sites across Scotland.

    The decision follows the departure of Visit Scotland from the building in March, as it closes all of its in-person tourism hubs in Scotland.

    With Living Wage employer Cobbs at the helm, up to 15 jobs are expected to be created at the visitor information centre. It will feature stalls promoting Edinburgh attractions and Scottish tour operators, a Cobbs café selling traditional Scottish baking and a ‘Made in Scotland’ showcase as part of the centre’s retail offering.

    Councillor Mandy Watt, Finance and Resources Convener, said:

    While more and more visitors are planning their trips to Edinburgh online, you can’t beat a warm Scottish welcome face to face.

    We believe there remains an appetite for this type of in-person experience for visitors, particularly with the draw of a shop and a café, so I’m pleased that we’ve been able to secure the visitor information centre’s future.

    This will prove invaluable as we encourage tourists to visit all parts of the city in all seasons as part of the city’s tourism strategy, and as we introduce Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy next summer. The lease will also support us to raise income worth £3.5 million over the next 25 years.

    Cobbs is well established throughout Scotland with the family nearing 40 years of tourism experience and we’re looking forward to welcoming them into the space.

    Fraser Campbell, Managing Director of the Cobbs Group, said:

    We’re well established in Scotland as the Cobbs group and we proudly operate 35 sites across the country. Opening a tourism office in the heart of Edinburgh is a dream and we’re excited to take over the lease. Right in the heart of Edinburgh’s festival action, it is the ideal site for showcasing everything the city and Scotland has to offer.

    We’re particularly keen to highlight local experiences and ‘Made in Scotland’ items where we can and I’d urge makers and crafters to please get in touch so that we can offer a unique and authentic range for tourists to enjoy on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.

    Makers, crafters and businesses selling locally produced products are welcome to contact irene.hurwood@cobbs.info to express an interest in collaborating with Cobbs on their ‘Made in Scotland’ retail showcase. 

    Published: June 25th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Announces Humanity Protocol (H) Listing with $90,000 H and 50,000 USDT Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announces the listing of Humanity Protocol (H) on June 25, 2025 (UTC). To celebrate the listing, MEXC is launching a special event for new and existing users, featuring a total prize pool of $90,000 in H and 50,000 USDT.

    Humanity Protocol is a decentralized identity network that enables users to prove their authentic humanness through palm scan technology while maintaining complete privacy. Built on zero-knowledge cryptography, the protocol creates a Sybil-resistant identity system that works seamlessly across digital and physical environments. Humanity Protocol utilizes H tokens as the native utility token for governance, staking, and verification services, with a total supply of 10 billion H tokens.

    The Airdrop+ event runs from June 24, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to July 3, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) and includes the following benefits:

    • Benefit 1: New users who deposit will share $75,000 in H.
    • Benefit 2: All users can participate in the Spot Challenge to share $5,000 in H.
    • Benefit 3: All users can participate in the Futures Challenge to share 50,000 USDT in Futures bonus.
    • Benefit 4: All users can invite new users to share $10,000 in H.

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising crypto projects. According to the TokenInsight report , MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings and fastest listing speed, maintaining high-frequency launches within bi-weekly cycles and demonstrating its ability to quickly capture market trends. To date, MEXC has listed more than 3,000 digital assets.

    With exceptional trading depth, competitive trading fees, and robust security measures, MEXC delivers a superior trading experience for users. Moving forward, MEXC will continue to maintain its industry-leading listing efficiency, innovate continuously, and expand its product offerings, ensuring users can access the best opportunities in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.

    For full event details and participation rules, please visit here.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜X｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/358d3620-cb53-48c1-82f8-e482df5c1e8f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Announces Humanity Protocol (H) Listing with $90,000 H and 50,000 USDT Prize Pool

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, announces the listing of Humanity Protocol (H) on June 25, 2025 (UTC). To celebrate the listing, MEXC is launching a special event for new and existing users, featuring a total prize pool of $90,000 in H and 50,000 USDT.

    Humanity Protocol is a decentralized identity network that enables users to prove their authentic humanness through palm scan technology while maintaining complete privacy. Built on zero-knowledge cryptography, the protocol creates a Sybil-resistant identity system that works seamlessly across digital and physical environments. Humanity Protocol utilizes H tokens as the native utility token for governance, staking, and verification services, with a total supply of 10 billion H tokens.

    The Airdrop+ event runs from June 24, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) to July 3, 2025, 10:00 (UTC) and includes the following benefits:

    • Benefit 1: New users who deposit will share $75,000 in H.
    • Benefit 2: All users can participate in the Spot Challenge to share $5,000 in H.
    • Benefit 3: All users can participate in the Futures Challenge to share 50,000 USDT in Futures bonus.
    • Benefit 4: All users can invite new users to share $10,000 in H.

    MEXC has established itself as an industry leader by consistently providing users with early access to promising crypto projects. According to the TokenInsight report , MEXC leads the industry with the highest number of spot listings and fastest listing speed, maintaining high-frequency launches within bi-weekly cycles and demonstrating its ability to quickly capture market trends. To date, MEXC has listed more than 3,000 digital assets.

    With exceptional trading depth, competitive trading fees, and robust security measures, MEXC delivers a superior trading experience for users. Moving forward, MEXC will continue to maintain its industry-leading listing efficiency, innovate continuously, and expand its product offerings, ensuring users can access the best opportunities in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.

    For full event details and participation rules, please visit here.

    About MEXC
    Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
    MEXC Official Website｜X｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC

    Risk Disclaimer:
    The information provided in this article regarding cryptocurrencies does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, the fundamentals of projects, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/358d3620-cb53-48c1-82f8-e482df5c1e8f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: DRML Miner Launches Free Crypto Cloud Mining with USDC Payouts—A Game-Changing Opportunity for Passive Income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, UK, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a bold move that’s reshaping how everyday users approach crypto mining, DRML Miner has officially launched a new phase of its cloud mining platform—offering free, no-cost mining access to Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and, for the first time, USD Coin (USDC).

    As cryptocurrency markets stabilize and users seek more sustainable income options, DRML Miner is delivering a timely solution: free, reliable, and green-powered crypto mining, now available to users in over 100 countries.

    No Hardware, No Overhead—Just Real Daily Rewards

    Forget expensive mining rigs, noisy hardware, and high electricity bills. DRML Miner removes all the traditional barriers by offering cloud-based mining that runs on 100% renewable energy, with data centers strategically located in Iceland and Kazakhstan.

    **Every new user gets a $10 starter mining contract—completely free—**allowing anyone to begin earning cryptocurrency immediately after signing up. Payouts are processed daily and can be received in BTC, LTC, DOGE, or USDC, depending on user preference.

    Why the USDC Option Matters

    In a market known for volatility, DRML Miner’s new USDC mining reward option is especially significant. USDC is a regulated stablecoin backed by U.S. dollar reserves, making it a powerful tool for users who want the upside of mining without unpredictable price swings.

    Choosing USDC lets users:

    • Shield themselves from crypto price volatility
    • Reinvest or withdraw with ease
    • Use rewards for everyday spending or saving

    The result is a low-risk, consistent income stream—perfect for both first-time miners and seasoned crypto earners.

    How It Works:

    Getting started with DRML Miner is fast and frictionless:

    1. Register at the DRMLMiner website. [ https://drmlminers.com/ ]
    2. Activate your free $10 contract and start mining immediately
    3. Track daily earnings and withdraw anytime via a user-friendly dashboard or mobile app

    For those who want to scale up, DRML offers tiered mining contracts with greater earning potential and access to seasonal promotions and top-up bonuses.

    Build More with the DRML Affiliate Program

    Alongside mining, users can grow additional income through DRML Miner’s affiliate program, earning a percentage of their referrals’ mining profits. With global accessibility and multi-language support, users are turning personal networks into passive income sources.

    Bonus: Frequent cashback events, community contests, and limited-time rewards incentivize users to stay engaged.

    A Trusted, Regulated, and Responsible Mining Platform

    DRML Miner is registered in the UK, ensuring a secure and transparent experience for all users. With increasing scrutiny on the crypto space, DRML stands out by combining regulatory oversight with cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure and an eco-friendly mission.

    “We built DRML Miner to make crypto mining simple, fair, and available to everyone, not just tech experts,” said a company spokesperson. “Whether you’re in London, Lagos, or Lima, this platform is for you.”

    Join the Mining Movement—Start Earning Today

    With zero investment required and daily rewards available right away, DRML Miner is opening the door for thousands of new users to earn from the blockchain economy.

    Free $10 starter mining contract
    Available in 100+ countries
    Daily payouts in BTC, LTC, DOGE, or USDC
    Green-powered, zero-maintenance cloud mining

    About DRML Miner

    DRML Miner is a next-generation cloud mining platform offering simplified, secure, and sustainable cryptocurrency income solutions. Based in the UK and fully compliant with regulatory standards, DRML Miner combines cutting-edge technology with eco-conscious operations to deliver a seamless mining experience.

    Visit DRMLMiner.com to create your free account and start earning crypto today.

    The future of mining is stable, sustainable, and finally accessible to everyone.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson held a bilateral meeting with United States (US) @StateDept Senior Advisor for Africa, H.E. Massad Boulos, & Senior Bureau Official, Hon. @tdf_dc


    Download logo

    H.E. @ymahmoudali held a bilateral meeting with US @StateDept Senior Advisor for Africa, H.E. Massad Boulos, & Senior Bureau Official, Hon. @tdf_dc, on the sidelines of the US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda.

    The Chairperson welcomed renewed US engagement in Africa, particularly in trade, investment, & peace & security. He underscored the importance of fostering a mutually enabling environment, including on trade, investments & market access to promote & advance a more balanced & partnership.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exhibition of works by Chinese and Russian artists opens in Changchun

    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 25 (Xinhua) — The Jilin Provincial-Russia Association for Foreign Economic Cooperation held an exhibition of works by Chinese and Russian artists in Changchun, capital of northeast China’s Jilin Province. The event is aimed at deepening cultural exchanges between China and Russia and popularizing the rich heritage of Chinese traditional culture.

    According to a post on the association’s official WeChat account on June 24, the exhibition features 100 paintings by representatives of the Russian academic school of painting, authentic works by modern Chinese calligraphy and painting masters, as well as porcelain from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

    Chairman of the board of the association Guo Hongjia stressed that the organization consistently promotes trade, economic and cultural cooperation between the countries, playing a key role in establishing business contacts between enterprises. He also pledged further support for Chinese companies’ export and import operations with Russia to deepen bilateral cooperation.

    To gain a deeper understanding of the exhibits, expert sessions are organized, where art historians tell the story and reveal the artistic value of each work.

    The association plans to hold such events regularly, strengthening Chinese-Russian friendship through cultural dialogue and bringing new impetus to bilateral relations. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In January-May of this year, the volume of import and export cargo through the Khorgos checkpoint exceeded 18 million tons

    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

    URUMQI, June 25 (Xinhua) — The Horgos border crossing in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region handled a total of 18.175 million tonnes of import and export cargo in the first five months of this year, up 3.7 percent year on year, according to Horgos Customs.

    The range of goods imported through the said checkpoint during the reporting period mainly consisted of electromechanical products, unprocessed copper and copper materials, agricultural products, food products, metal ore, concentrate, etc. At the same time, exports were mainly represented by new energy vehicles, electromechanical and high-tech products, clothing and other goods.

    According to Liu Xingwen, CEO of the local Yifan Export and Import Trading Company, his organization currently imports about 20 categories of goods, including safflower oil, honey, chocolate, dry camel milk, etc. These goods are imported to China from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland and other countries.

    “From January to May 2025, our company’s import volume was more than 1,000 tons, with a total value of over 20 million yuan,” Liu Xingwen said.

    Let us recall that Khorgos is located near the border with Kazakhstan and is the country’s first-class land port with the longest history and the largest total volume of transportation in the western region of China. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Political polarisation is rising globally and posing new challenges for businesses, according to Willis latest report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rising political polarisation is associated with increased political violence and unpredictable oscillations in government policies, according to the latest Political Risk Index by Willis (NASDAQ: WTW), a leading global advisory, broking, and solutions company. This edition of the Index focusses on political polarisation in countries worldwide and its main drivers and consequences.

    Findings from the index reveal affective polarisation* is at a historic high, on a global average basis. This suggests that people are increasingly likely to perceive supporters of opposing political parties as hostile. Countries enduring violent political conflicts tend to be the most polarised, but on average, affective polarisation is rising fastest in democracies like the US, Germany, India, Brazil and Bulgaria.

    The index also covers ideological polarisation** (the degree to which people agree on core policy issues) and elite polarisation*** (the degree to which political rivals consider each other as legitimate). The US is the only country globally where affective, ideological and elite polarisation have all increased at a rapid pace over the past 15 years.

    After reviewing over a century’s worth of data from more than 200 countries, Willis found that in democracies, surges in polarisation tended to follow economic crises or corruption scandals, which appeared to discredit traditional political leaders. These surges were often accompanied by the growth of populist political movements and an increased frequency of political violence events.

    Other key findings include:

    • The highest levels of affective polarisation globally are in countries where political competition happens along ethnic or religious lines.
    • Long-serving political leaders and controversial populists are a polarising force in several countries.
    • Geopolitical and foreign policy divides can also lead to polarisation of societies.
    • Polarisation and populism are rising both in the US and Europe and in the emerging world.

    The research also identifies some hopeful trends. Truth and reconciliation processes, cross-party coalitions, and open and transparent investigations in cases of corruption or other crises have been accompanied by rapid reductions in political polarisation in the past. There is reason to believe that lessons from these examples could be applied to current challenges.

    Sam Wilkin, director of political risk analytics at Willis, said: “There is a well-established correlation between polarisation and political violence. But polarisation is also being felt on a more personal basis, such as how we perceive our friends and colleagues. Businesses face growing challenges from operating in increasingly polarised societies.”

    The complete report can be downloaded here.  

    *Affective polarisation refers to the phenomenon of individuals developing strong positive feelings toward members of their own group (in-group) and negative feelings towards members of opposing groups (out-groups), particularly in a political context. It involves a difference between how people feel about their own party or group and how they feel about those who support opposing parties or groups. This can lead to increased hostility, reduced willingness to compromise, and a lack of empathy for those with different political views. 

    **Ideological polarisation refers to the extent to which political attitudes become more divided and extreme, often along partisan lines. This can manifest as individuals and groups holding increasingly divergent views on issues, and a greater emphasis on partisan identity over shared values or common ground. 

    ***Elite polarisation refers to the ideological divide and political disagreement among elites—such as elected officials, party leaders, policymakers, and influential media figures—typically along partisan lines.

    About WTW

    At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

    Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.

    Learn more at wtwco.com.

    Media contact

    Lauren David:

    Lauren.david@wtwco.com / +44 7385947619

    Candela Farroni:

    Candela.farroni@haggiepartners.com / +44 7795 155654

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramkalawan Chairs Inaugural Government-Private Sector Economic Forum


    Download logo

    President Wavel Ramkalawan presided over a landmark economic forum on Tuesday afternoon, bringing together high-level government officials and private sector representatives in an unprecedented collaborative dialogue aimed at strengthening Seychelles’ economic foundation and fostering sustainable growth.

    The historic gathering held at State House, marked the commencement of a structured partnership between the government and business community. President Ramkalawan articulated his vision for enhanced economic cooperation, expressing profound enthusiasm for the collaborative framework being established to streamline business operations and accelerate the nation’s economic trajectory. He emphasized the administration’s dedication to creating an environment where private sector innovation and investment can flourish, recognizing that such an environment is essential for achieving long-term economic prosperity. The collaborative approach established through this inaugural forum represents a significant step toward more inclusive economic governance and strategic partnership between public and private sectors.

    The forum commenced with comprehensive discussions on strategic land development and reclamation initiatives. The Minister of Investment, entrepreneurship and Industry Mrs. Devika Vidot provided an insightful overview of land utilization policies, establishing the foundation for CEO Jitesh Shah’s detailed presentation on reclamation projects. These discussions illuminated significant opportunities for strategic land development that would support industrial expansion while addressing the growing demand for commercial spaces.

    Financial sector modernization emerged as a central theme throughout the deliberations. The Chairman of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry delivered comprehensive presentations addressing the acceleration of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer(KYC) reforms, initiatives designed to enhance business growth prospects while ensuring robust financial inclusion. These reforms represent crucial steps toward maintaining Seychelles’ competitive position in the international financial sector and addressing compliance requirements that have become increasingly stringent in the global marketplace.

    The forum also extensively examined payment system modernization, with particular emphasis on the systematic phase-out of traditional cheque systems and the implementation of contemporary digital payment infrastructure and its associated disadvantages.

    The forum concluded with a commitment to establishing regular dialogue mechanisms that will ensure ongoing communication between government and private sector stakeholders on a monthly basis. This framework is designed to create responsive policy development processes that can adapt to changing market conditions and emerging business needs.

    The successful convening of this forum demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparent dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, establishing a foundation for continued engagement that will support Seychelles’ economic development objectives while addressing the practical challenges faced by businesses operating in the modern economy.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: APO Group and Bytesview Analytics Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Media Intelligence in Africa


    Download logo

    APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading Pan-African media relations and communications consultancy, is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Bytesview Analytics Private Limited, a technology company specialising in artificial intelligence and data analytics.

    This collaboration will leverage NewsData.io, a flagship product by Bytesview Analytics. NewsData.io is an advanced news aggregation and analysis platform that provides real-time and historical news data from over 84,000 sources in 206 countries and 89 languages. It is designed to support media monitoring, sentiment analysis, and data-driven decision-making.

    Through this partnership, APO Group and Bytesview Analytics will work together to enhance the monitoring, analysis, and distribution of African news. APO Group will integrate Bytesview’s AI-powered tools to provide clients with deeper insights into how their stories are received across different languages and regions, helping them measure visibility, impact, and public sentiment more effectively.

    “This is a powerful example of how smart data and strategic communications can come together to drive better media outcomes,” said Bas Wijne, CEO of APO Group. “Our partnership with Bytesview Analytics brings new depth to the services we offer, especially in tracking and analysing media coverage across Africa.”

    “We’re excited to collaborate with APO Group to strengthen our visibility in Africa and to support better storytelling with reliable, data-driven insights,” said Piyush Khatri, Director at Bytesview Analytics. “This partnership opens new doors for both our team and the organisations we serve.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

    About APO Group:
    Founded in 2007, APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) is the leading award-winning pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. Renowned for our deep-rooted African expertise and expansive global perspective, we specialise in elevating the reputation and brand equity of private and public organisations across Africa. As a trusted partner, our mission is to harness the power of media, crafting bespoke strategies that drive tangible, measurable impact both on the continent and globally.  

    Our commitment to excellence and innovation has been recognised with multiple prestigious awards, including a PRovoke Media Global SABRE Award and multiple PRovoke Media Africa SABRE Awards. In 2023, we were named the Leading Public Relations Firm Africa and the Leading Pan-African Communications Consultancy Africa in the World Business Outlook Awards, and the Best Public Relations and Media Consultancy of the Year South Africa in 2024 in the same awards. In 2025, Brands Review Magazine acknowledged us as the Leading Communications Consultancy in Africa for the second consecutive year. They also named us the Best PR Agency and the Leading Press Release Distribution Platform in Africa in 2024.  Additionally, in 2025, the Davos Communications Awards 2025 awarded us the Gold Award for Best PR Campaign and the Bronze Award for Special Event.

    APO Group’s esteemed clientele, which includes global giants such as Canon, Nestlé, Western Union, the UNDP, Network International, African Energy Chamber, Mercy Ships, Marriott, Africa’s Business Heroes, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies, reflects our unparalleled ability to navigate the complex African media landscape. With a multicultural team across Africa, we offer unmatched, truly pan-African insights, expertise, and reach across the continent. APO Group is dedicated to reshaping narratives about Africa, challenging stereotypes, and bringing inspiring African stories to global audiences, with our expertise in developing and supporting public relations campaigns worldwide uniquely positioning us to amplify brand messaging, enhance reputations, and connect effectively with target audiences. 

    About Bytesview Analytics:
    Bytesview Analytics Private Limited is a technology-focused company specializing in AI-powered analytics and real-time data solutions. With a dedicated team of developers and data scientists, Bytesview delivers high-performance digital products across industries such as media, fintech, edtech, marketing, environmental sciences, and social media intelligence.

    Its flagship product, NewsData.io, is a news aggregation and analytics platform that offers real-time and historical news data through a developer-friendly API. It is designed for researchers, analysts, developers, media professionals, and organizations seeking structured news data from global sources in various languages.

    To learn more, visit:
    www.Bytesview.com
    www.NewsData.io

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ruzizi III Holding Power Company Limited invites Anzana Electric Group Limited to become a Strategic Partner in the Ruzizi III Regional Hydropower Project

    During the US – Africa Business Summit in Luanda, Angola, Ruzizi III Holding Power Company Limited (RHPCL) announced the signing of an Invitation to Partner Agreement for a potential pivotal partnership with Anzana Electric Group (Anzana) (www.Anzana.com), aimed at advancing the $760 million Ruzizi III Regional Hydropower Project.

    The 206 MW Ruzizi III Regional Hydropower Project is the first of its kind tri-national Public Private Partnership in the Great Lakes Region, formulated on a partnership between the Private Sector (RHPCL) and the three Contracting States, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) and Rwanda.

    Located on the Ruzizi River between western Rwanda and eastern DRC, the hydropower plant will supply reliable electricity to benefit development for approximately 30 million people across Burundi, the DRC and Rwanda, in a region where 54% live below the poverty line and electricity access averages just 24%. The project will nearly double Burundi’s current capacity, boost Rwanda’s by 30%, and deliver critical baseload and dispatchable power to eastern DRC, advancing economic growth, regional integration, and energy security in one of Africa’s most underserved regions.

    “The Directors of RHPCL are enthusiastic about this potential strategic alliance and, assuming a successful outcome of the partnering process, look forward to harnessing Anzana’s expertise and experience to realize the full potential of the Ruzizi III Project, extending critical energy access and fostering development in the region,” said Aleem Karmali, Director for RHPCL.

    Anzana, a leading American electricity company developing, investing in, and operating power generation and distribution projects in Africa and the Great Lakes region, has expressed an interest in acquiring a minority equity interest in RHPCL.

    “As an American electricity company committed to powering opportunity across Africa, Anzana is proud to partner with RHPCL and the governments of Burundi, DRC, and Rwanda at this pivotal moment,” said Brian Kelly, CEO of Anzana, during the 2025 U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Angola. “Ruzizi III will deliver sustainable, affordable, and reliable electricity to millions. Through this partnership, we are not only powering homes, communities, and industries, we are helping to drive regional integration, strengthen energy security and stability, and pave the way for expanded U.S. investment and trade in Africa’s energy future.”

    Both parties are committed to negotiating toward a binding Partnership Agreement by September 15, 2025, in which Anzana may acquire no less than a 10% equity stake in RHPCL. The agreement will outline governance rights, investment commitments, and the trajectory for further collaboration.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Anzana Electric Group.

    For further information, please contact: 
    Aleem Karmali
    Director RHPCL
    +254 724 787786

    Thom Wallace
    Communications for Anzana 
    thom.wallace@anazana.com

    About Anzana Electric Group:
    Anzana Electric Group is a leading developer, investor, and operator of hydropower and grid distribution projects across Africa. With presence in East, Central, and Southern Africa, Anzana delivers reliable, affordable power to communities, businesses, and industries. Its innovative approach to partnerships with government, development funders, and private sector in the region is intended to unlock the potential that electricity infrastructure can bring to economic growth.

    For more information visit www.Anzana.com

    About Ruzizi III Energy Holding Power Company Limited:
    Ruzizi III Energy Holding Power Company Limited (RHPCL) a special purpose vehicle registered in Rwanda, is the private sector partner to the project company Ruzizi III Energy Limited (the PPP company) set up, under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) structure, to develop, construct and operate the 206 MW Ruzizi III regional hydroelectric power project — one of the largest infrastructure initiatives in the Great Lakes region. The project is a public-private partnership between RHPCL, the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, and is located on the Ruzizi River between Rwanda and the DRC. RHPCL is, during the development stage, mainly led by Industrial Promotion Services (IPS Group).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: By the end of the year, the capital will put up for auction almost 700 non-residential real estate properties

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    By the end of 2025, the capital will put almost 700 commercial properties up for public auction. This was announced by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The city is systematically involving property in economic turnover. Thus, by the end of the year, it is planned to transfer almost 700 real estate objects to online auctions for subsequent sale. These are buildings, including historical monuments, and non-residential premises. Entrepreneurs will be able to use the acquired property to open stores, points of issue of goods, offices, restaurants and other types of businesses. Thanks to this, the infrastructure of the districts will improve and new jobs will be created, and the capital’s budget will receive additional deductions,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The property will be sold at an electronic auction. Anyone can take part in it. Investors will be offered objects of different sizes and locations.

    “Commercial properties are in demand among investors. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, following competitive procedures, the city has concluded contracts for the sale and purchase of 500 commercial properties with a total area of almost 82 thousand square meters with the winners of the auctions. Businesses are showing increased interest in both large capital real estate and small premises in which they can open a cozy coffee shop or point of sale. Properties in the center of Moscow, where there is high traffic and developed infrastructure, as well as in remote areas are in demand. The cost of lots there is lower, which allows entrepreneurs to reduce initial investments and recoup them faster,” she noted.

    Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of City Property.

    All information about the premises and buildings put up for auction is presented on the capital’s investment portal. You can learn more about them, study the lot documentation and auction rules inin the section “Property from the city”The organizer of the land and property auction is Moscow City Department of Competition Policy.

    The development of electronic services for entrepreneurs is being implemented within the framework of the national project “Data Economy”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155781073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Gorky Park, the GES-2 Culture Center, and VDNKh: the Get to Know Moscow portal has a selection of favorite places for Moscow youth

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the eve of Youth Day in Russia, the portal “Learn Moscow” and the project participants “Youth of Moscow” compiled a selection of favorite places of the capital’s youth. It included Gorky Park, VDNKh, the GES-2 Culture House, the multi-format space “Youth of Moscow” and other sites. You can view the selection and read interesting facts about each place at website.

    “This rating is based on the real preferences of young Muscovites – aged 18 to 35. Together with the “Youth of Moscow” project, we found out where people most often go for the atmosphere, communication and new impressions. Initially, the list included about 50 places – from parks and cultural centers to historical corners of the city. After analysis, we selected 10 most popular locations. The result is a selection of places that are especially loved by young people. Both Muscovites and those who are just getting to know the capital will be able to find something interesting for themselves,” the press service of the city said.

    Department of Information Technology.

    More than 200 people took part in the survey — students, active participants of the project “Youth of Moscow”. Each of them was asked to tell about the places where they especially like to walk in company, where they most often go for solitude, about what spaces are associated with study, what is important when choosing a place to relax in Moscow and what kind of leisure is closer to them.

    The selection of favorite venues of the capital’s youth opens with Gorky Park – one of the symbols of Moscow, a popular recreation area and a unique complex that unites the architecture of different eras on its territory. It opened in 1928 and became the world’s first park of a new type, which combined the functions of a space for leisure, sports and cultural events. Almost 30 years later, in 1957, it hosted participants of the VI World Festival of Youth and Students from 131 countries. Today, Gorky Park hosts large-scale city events, festivals, exhibitions and concerts, attracting millions of Muscovites and tourists. This place is often mentioned by lovers of walking and cycling.

    The selection also includes VDNKh. This place is especially popular with those who prefer to relax in the fresh air. In 1935, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition began to grow on the territory of the city suburbs, the main goal of which was to demonstrate not only the accomplished successes of various branches of the economy, but also to show the prospects of the bright future of all Soviet citizens planned by the government. Over the decades of its existence, the exhibition changed its appearance, name, and purpose. Now it is a complex with an area of 325 hectares with historical pavilions, arches, museums, ponds, parks, alleys, fountains, flower beds and sculptures.

    In addition, the selection included the GES-2 Culture Center. Many respondents called it one of the most memorable places they had visited recently. The central electric station of the city tram (GES-2) is a unique example of industrial architecture of the early 20th century, transformed into a modern cultural space. The station was conceived as a real industrial giant of its time with a design capacity of at least 15 thousand kilowatts, designed to provide energy to city trams. Its architectural appearance combined industrial style and motifs of ancient Russian architecture, and the hallmark of the building was a tent-shaped tower with a clock. The station operated for 100 years until it was decommissioned in 2006 due to equipment wear and tear.

    In 2015, restoration work began on the building. Specialists returned it to its original appearance and simultaneously improved the territory. This project has become the world’s largest example of transforming an industrial facility into a cultural space in recent years. The new space combines exhibition halls, a library, a cinema and a concert hall, workshops, studios and artist residences, shops, a restaurant and a café, a playground and auditoriums for public events.

    Another popular place is the multi-format space “Youth of Moscow”. It was created as part of the city project of the same name. Here you can book a coworking space, a media studio, halls for events, training sessions and other areas for free. This is the place that most respondents associate with youth.

    The “Youth of Moscow” project started five years ago, and during this time the team has organized more than five thousand events – from career forums and competitions to creative festivals and educational programs. Many of them help city residents find employment and start their own business. More than three thousand initiatives of young Muscovites in various fields received support from the project.

    The selection of favorite places of young Muscovites also included Zaryadye Park, Kitay-gorod, Arbat, Vorobyovy Gory, Chistye Prudy and Khodynskoye Pole Park.

    “Get to Know Moscow”— a joint project of departments information technology, cultures, cultural heritage, education and science. The interactive guide contains, for example, photographs and descriptions of over 3,500 buildings, monuments, historical sites, over 290 walking routes and information about over 320 historical figures. Users also have access to a mobile application “Get to Know Moscow”.

    You can learn more about why microchips are being put on books in city libraries, how to walk around the capital with a personal tour guide, or plan a trip around the city and country in a couple of clicks from the final episode of the popular science film “Moscow in Digital”.

    Moscow is a city of youth. The capital offers wide opportunities for its development, creative self-expression, comfortable life and interesting leisure. The corresponding infrastructure is being created here, thousands of events of different scale and focus are held.

    In honor of the upcoming Youth Day, themed events will be held at more than 250 city venues. The flagship event will be the festival, which will take place on June 28 and 29 at Bolotnaya Square. You can find more detailed information and a map with all city events on the portal “Youth of Moscow”.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155793073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Semen allergies may be surprisingly common – here’s what you need to know

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Carroll, Reader / Associate Professor in Reproductive Science, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Yuriy Maksymiv/Shutterstock

    Imagine itching, burning, swelling, or even struggling to breathe just moments after sex. For a small but growing number of women, that’s not an awkward anecdote – it’s a medical condition. It’s called seminal plasma hypersensitivity (SPH) – an allergy to semen.

    This rare but underdiagnosed allergy isn’t triggered by sperm cells, but by proteins in the seminal plasma — the fluid that carries sperm. First documented in 1967, when a woman was hospitalised after a “violent allergic reaction” to sex, SPH is now recognised as a type 1 hypersensitivity, the same category as hay fever, peanut allergy and cat dander.

    Symptoms range from mild to severe. Some women experience local reactions: burning, itching, redness and swelling of the vulva or vagina. Others develop full-body symptoms: hives, wheezing, dizziness, runny nose and even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening immune response.

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

    Until 1997, SPH was thought to affect fewer than 100 women globally. But a study led by allergist Jonathan Bernstein found that among women reporting postcoital symptoms, nearly 12% could be classified as having probable SPH.

    I conducted a small, unpublished survey in 2013 and found a similar 12% rate. The true figure may be higher still. Many cases go unreported, misdiagnosed, or dismissed as STIs, yeast infections, or general “sensitivity”. One revealing clue: symptoms disappear when condoms are used.

    A 2024 study reinforced this finding, suggesting that SPH is both more common and more commonly misdiagnosed than previously believed.

    The problem isn’t the sperm

    The main allergen appears to be prostate-specific antigen (PSA): a protein found in all seminal plasma, not just that of a particular partner. In other words, women can develop a reaction to any man’s semen, not just their regular partner’s.

    There’s also evidence of cross-reactivity. For example, Can f 5, a protein found in dog dander, is structurally similar to human PSA. So women allergic to dogs may find themselves reacting to semen too. In one unusual case, a woman with a Brazil nut allergy broke out in hives after sex, probably due to trace nut proteins in her partner’s semen.

    Diagnosis begins with a detailed sexual and medical history, often followed by skin prick testing with the partner’s semen or blood tests for PSA-specific antibodies (IgE).

    In my own research involving symptomatic women, we demonstrated that testing with washed spermatozoa, free from seminal plasma, can help confirm that the allergic trigger is not the sperm cells themselves, but proteins in the seminal fluid.

    And it’s not just women. It’s possible some men may be allergic to their own semen.

    This condition, known as post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), causes flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog and muscle aches, immediately after ejaculation. It’s believed to be an autoimmune or allergic reaction. Diagnosis is tricky, but skin testing with a man’s own semen can yield a positive reaction.

    What about fertility?

    Seminal plasma hypersensitivity doesn’t cause infertility directly, but it can complicate conception. Avoiding the allergen – usually the most effective treatment for allergies – isn’t feasible for couples trying to conceive.

    Treatments include prophylactic antihistamines (antihistamine medications taken in advance of anticipated exposure to an allergen, or before allergy symptoms are expected to appear to prevent or reduce the severity of allergic reactions), anti-inflammatories and desensitisation using diluted seminal plasma. In more severe cases, couples may choose IVF with washed sperm, bypassing the allergic trigger altogether.

    It’s important to note: SPH is not a form of infertility. Many women with SPH have conceived successfully – some naturally, others with medical support.

    So why don’t more people know about this?

    Because sex-related symptoms often go unspoken. Embarrassment, stigma and a lack of awareness among doctors mean that many women suffer in silence. In Bernstein’s 1997 study, almost half of the women who had symptoms after sex had never been checked for SPH, and many had spent years being misdiagnosed and getting the wrong treatment.

    If sex routinely leaves you itchy, sore or unwell – and condoms help – you might be allergic to semen.

    It’s time to bring this hidden condition out of the shadows and into the consultation room.

    Michael Carroll 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. Semen allergies may be surprisingly common – here’s what you need to know – https://theconversation.com/semen-allergies-may-be-surprisingly-common-heres-what-you-need-to-know-259308

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Generations of the Unconquered: the State University of Management summed up the results of the International Patriotic Competition “Family History. Immortal Memory”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On June 24, 2025, the State University of Management Assembly Hall hosted a solemn awards ceremony for the winners of the International Patriotic Competition “Family History. Immortal Memory”.

    Opening the award ceremony, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev reported that 745 applications from 1,443 people from 66 regions of Russia and 5 regions of Belarus were received for the competition.

    “Our university initiated the competition, which we have been working on for six months. GUU is closely connected with the Great Patriotic War, because in 1941 many of our students, teachers and even representatives of the university administration voluntarily went to defend the Motherland. Many of them, even the majority, died in the battles for Moscow, to which the memorial in our yard is dedicated. That is why the theme of the competition is so important for us, because every family in one sense or another took part in that war, if not in direct combat, then in providing the front with everything necessary. This was not only our war, it was a fight for the life and freedom of all mankind,” said Vladimir Stroyev.

    The Chairperson of the Coordination Council of the League of Higher Education Teachers, Elena Lyapuntsova, admitted that it was difficult, sensitive and responsible to evaluate the competition entries.

    “All the participants are great, but a competition is a competition, let the losers not be upset, because the main thing is that you were able to tell the whole country about your relatives. If we do not know history, then we will have no future, so it is doubly important to pass on to the next generations not only the information from textbooks, but also your family, personal stories,” noted the Chairperson of the Coordination Council of the League of Higher Education Teachers.

    Elena Lyapuntsova also thanked the State University of Management for its cooperation and invited everyone to the All-Russian Forum of Higher Education Teachers, the first day of which, like last year, will be held at the State University of Management, and also announced free advanced training courses for teachers, including on project activities.

    A welcoming letter from State Duma deputy Biysultan Khamzaev was read by his assistant Natalya Belova. In it, the deputy emphasized the importance of patriotic initiatives for the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and noted that such competitions inspire young people to study history, and also wished further creative success to the participants and organizers.

    Competition results

    Nomination: “Best Video” (students aged 18 to 25): 1st place – “A Soldier’s Feat”, team of Kuzma Dashchenko, Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics; 2nd place – “There Are Twenty Million of Us Unforgotten”, Ksenia Kovalenko, N.M. Fedorovsky Polar State University; 3rd place – “When the Poppies Bloom”, team of Victoria Spanake, Kazan branch of the All-Russian State University of Justice (RPA of the Ministry of Justice of Russia).

    Nomination: “Best Video” (young teachers aged 18 to 35): 1st place – “Until the Next Waltz”, Grigory Sotnikov’s team, Siberian Federal University; 2nd place – “Letter from a Peer”, Maria Brokar’s team, Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University; 3rd place – “The Holy Name of My Great-Grandfather”, Sofia Atrokhova, Moscow Finance and Law University MFUA.

    Nomination: “Best Video” (young teachers aged 35 and above): 1st place – “Generation of the Unconquered”, Anna Bychkova, A.S. Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language; 2nd place – “1941. Evacuation. Memories of E.A. Kosyreva”, Lyubov Belyaeva’s team, N.V. Vereshchagin Vologda State Dairy Farming Academy; 3rd place – “Turning the Pages of Memory”, Yulia Morudenko, N.F. Katanov Khakass State University.

    Nomination: “Best Literary Work” (students aged 18 to 25): 1st place – “The Last Letter”, Aleksey Zemsky, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin; 2nd place – “From My Grandmother’s Wartime Childhood”, Olesya Taras, Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin; 3rd place – “A Letter from Grandmother Hannah”, Maria Karabun and Sofia Antonova, Belarusian State University.

    Nomination: “Best Literary Work” (young teachers aged 18 to 35): 1st place – “Step, Step, Another Step!”, Ekaterina Bugrysheva, Russian State University for the Humanities; 2nd place – “Frontline Album of My Family”, Natalia Bogoslovskaya, Lipetsk State Pedagogical University named after P. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky; 3rd place – “Where the Steel Was Tempered”, Maxim Sokolov, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

    Nomination: “Best Literary Work” (young teachers aged 35 and above): 1st place – “Childhood Scorched by War”, Elena Fayzieva, Elektrostal branch of Moscow Polytechnic University; 2nd place – “Petka’s Childhood”, Iya Suslova, International Innovation University; 3rd place – “The Last Battle of Red Army Soldier Bogdan”, Marina Borisova, Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University.

    The competition was organized by the State University of Management and the Moscow City Branch of the Russian Military Historical Society with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation under the auspices of the activities of the Association of Student Patriotic Clubs “I am proud”.

    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: Oxford Economics Acquires Alpine Macro, Montreal-based Global Investment Research Firm

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON and MONTREAL, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Economics, the leading independent global forecasting and economics consultancy, has acquired a majority stake in Alpine Macro, a prominent global investment research firm based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    Founded in 2017, Alpine Macro provides forward-looking financial market forecasts and investment strategy to institutional clients across more than 60 countries. The firm is widely recognized for its provocative financial market insights, bold investment ideas, and out-of-consensus forecasts.

    “The acquisition brings together Oxford Economics’ world class macroeconomic analysis with Alpine Macro’s deep financial market expertise, allowing us to deliver even more comprehensive and well-rounded advice, not only to our existing clients but also to a broader spectrum of asset managers, hedge funds, investment banks, and pension funds,” said Adrian Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Economics.

    “This strategic acquisition will accelerate Oxford Economics’ global expansion and strengthen our service offering. It builds on our proven track record of robust global modelling, extensive country and industry knowledge, and accurate economic forecasting,” Cooper added.

    “I am thrilled that Alpine Macro is joining forces with Oxford Economics, a firm renowned for its high-quality macroeconomic and market research,” said Arun Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Macro.

    “This transaction will enable us to dramatically deepen our research capabilities, enrich our client experience and deliver cutting-edge research via an AI enabled platform. Together we become the largest, most comprehensive privately held independent research firm in the world,” added Kumar.

    “Oxford Economics sets the gold standard in global macroeconomic research, and Alpine Macro has always aspired to become the gold standard in top-down investment strategy,” said Chen Zhao, Chief Global Strategist and founder of Alpine Macro. “Tapping into Oxford Economics’ depth, breadth, and analytical rigor in macro research, Alpine Macro will achieve that goal sooner.”

    Blake, Cassels & Graydon provided legal counsel to Oxford Economics. Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin provided legal counsel to Alpine Macro. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    About Oxford Economics: Founded in 1981 as a commercial initiative with Oxford University’s business college, Oxford Economics began by providing economic forecasting and modelling services to UK companies and financial institutions expanding internationally. Today, we are one of the world’s leading independent global advisory firms, delivering high-quality forecasts, reports, and analytical tools covering over 200 countries, 100 industries, and 7,000 cities and regions. Our best-in-class economic and industry models give us a unique ability to anticipate market trends and evaluate their economic, social, and business impacts.

    For media inquiries please contact:

    Julio C. Urdaneta
    Global Head of Media Relations, Oxford Economics.
    Email: jurdaneta@oxfordeconomics.com
    Phone: +1.646.503.3069
    www.oxfordeconomics.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Oxford Economics Acquires Alpine Macro, Montreal-based Global Investment Research Firm

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON and MONTREAL, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Oxford Economics, the leading independent global forecasting and economics consultancy, has acquired a majority stake in Alpine Macro, a prominent global investment research firm based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    Founded in 2017, Alpine Macro provides forward-looking financial market forecasts and investment strategy to institutional clients across more than 60 countries. The firm is widely recognized for its provocative financial market insights, bold investment ideas, and out-of-consensus forecasts.

    “The acquisition brings together Oxford Economics’ world class macroeconomic analysis with Alpine Macro’s deep financial market expertise, allowing us to deliver even more comprehensive and well-rounded advice, not only to our existing clients but also to a broader spectrum of asset managers, hedge funds, investment banks, and pension funds,” said Adrian Cooper, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Economics.

    “This strategic acquisition will accelerate Oxford Economics’ global expansion and strengthen our service offering. It builds on our proven track record of robust global modelling, extensive country and industry knowledge, and accurate economic forecasting,” Cooper added.

    “I am thrilled that Alpine Macro is joining forces with Oxford Economics, a firm renowned for its high-quality macroeconomic and market research,” said Arun Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Alpine Macro.

    “This transaction will enable us to dramatically deepen our research capabilities, enrich our client experience and deliver cutting-edge research via an AI enabled platform. Together we become the largest, most comprehensive privately held independent research firm in the world,” added Kumar.

    “Oxford Economics sets the gold standard in global macroeconomic research, and Alpine Macro has always aspired to become the gold standard in top-down investment strategy,” said Chen Zhao, Chief Global Strategist and founder of Alpine Macro. “Tapping into Oxford Economics’ depth, breadth, and analytical rigor in macro research, Alpine Macro will achieve that goal sooner.”

    Blake, Cassels & Graydon provided legal counsel to Oxford Economics. Raymond James served as exclusive financial advisor and Fasken Martineau DuMoulin provided legal counsel to Alpine Macro. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

    About Oxford Economics: Founded in 1981 as a commercial initiative with Oxford University’s business college, Oxford Economics began by providing economic forecasting and modelling services to UK companies and financial institutions expanding internationally. Today, we are one of the world’s leading independent global advisory firms, delivering high-quality forecasts, reports, and analytical tools covering over 200 countries, 100 industries, and 7,000 cities and regions. Our best-in-class economic and industry models give us a unique ability to anticipate market trends and evaluate their economic, social, and business impacts.

    For media inquiries please contact:

    Julio C. Urdaneta
    Global Head of Media Relations, Oxford Economics.
    Email: jurdaneta@oxfordeconomics.com
    Phone: +1.646.503.3069
    www.oxfordeconomics.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI:  Notice of compulsory acquisition and request for delisting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 23

            

    Notice of compulsory acquisition and request for delisting of Spar Nord Bank A/S’ shares from Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR TO ANY JURISDICTION WHERE DOING SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

    Compulsory acquisition of the remaining minority shareholders in Spar Nord Bank A/S

    With reference to Spar Nord Bank A/S’ (“Spar Nord Bank”) company announcement no. 15 of 28 May 2025, announcing that Nykredit Realkredit A/S (“Nykredit”) had completed its tender offer for Spar Nord Bank A/S and acquired a total ownership interest of 96.54 per cent of the share capital and associated voting rights in Spar Nord Bank (excluding treasury shares), Nykredit has today decided to complete a compulsory acquisition of the remaining Spar Nord Bank shares held by minority shareholders in Spar Nord Bank (except for Spar Nord Bank’s treasury shares).

    All remaining minority shareholders in Spar Nord Bank are requested to transfer their Spar Nord Bank shares to Nykredit within a period of four weeks expiring on 23 July 2025, at 23:59 CEST. Spar Nord Bank minority shareholders who do not voluntarily transfer their Spar Nord Bank shares to Nykredit before the expiry of this deadline will, upon expiry of the deadline, have their Spar Nord Bank shares compulsorily acquired at a price of DKK 210.50 per share, corresponding to the price paid by Nykredit for the Spar Nord Bank shares acquired in connection with the tender offer.

    Reference is made to Nykredit’s announcement regarding compulsory acquisition, which is attached to this announcement.

    Request for delisting of Spar Nord Bank A/S shares from Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S

    Following Nykredit’s decision to initiate a compulsory acquisition of the shares held by the remaining minority shareholders in Spar Nord Bank, Spar Nord Bank’s Board of Directors has, at the request of Nykredit, resolved to request Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S to remove the Spar Nord Bank shares (ISIN DK0060036564) from trading and official listing on Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S.

    Provided that Nasdaq Copenhagen A/S accepts the request, the delisting will be effected on 23 July 2025, which is the last business day of the four-week compulsory acquisition period.

    Any questions may be addressed to CFO Rune Brandt Børglum on telephone: +45 96 34 42 36.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Opposition starts on challenge of crafting (yet another) energy policy

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    The opposition is commencing the challenging task of framing a new energy policy, including deciding whether to stick by its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.

    Liberal leader Sussan Ley, appearing at the National Press Club, announced a Coalition working group on energy and emissions reduction policy. It will report to her and Nationals leader David Littleproud.

    Led by energy spokesman Dan Tehan, the group will include shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien, resources spokeswoman Susan McDonald, industry spokesman Alex Hawke, environment spokeswoman Angie Bell and shadow assistant ministers Dean Smith and Andrew Willcox.

    The work comes against the background of a significant number of the Nationals and some Liberals wanting to drop the commitment to 2050 net zero. The Coalition signed up to net zero under then Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

    Ley said over the course of the term the Coaltion’s task would be to develop a plan with two goals

    • a stable energy grid producing affordable and reliable power for households and businesses, and

    • reducing emissions so Australia was playing its part in the global effort.

    “Our approach must be practical and principled as we address both these goals,” she said.

    Ley said every member of both Coalition parties would have the opportunity to engage with the work.

    She said crippling power price increases had been taking small businesses and factories to the brink.

    The opposition this week is having meetings of its frontbenchers and party room, as it ponders on the election disaster. Ley declared bluntly in her speech that the Liberals didn’t just lose – they were “totally smashed”.

    The Liberal party has already set up a review of the election defeat but Ley said more was needed.

    “This is why our federal executive will soon discuss a more broad-ranging and wider review process of the fundamentals of the Liberal party.

    “I believe there is a need for the party as a whole to have a deeper look at the existential issues we face, how our divisional constitutions operate and how we can better serve, support and most importantly grow our membership.

    “This will not be an academic exercise. My parliamentary team and I will stay in close touch with out state and territory divisions to ensure success in this important area.”

    Queensland Liberal senator James McGrath “will play an integral role in bringing this longer term body of work together”.

    “It will be a crucial part of our efforts to better respect, reflect and represent modern Australia.”

    Ley stressed she was highly committed to getting more women into the Liberal ranks, without being wedded to a particular way of doing it.

    “I’m agnostic on specific methods to make it happen, but I am a zealot that it does actually happen.

    “Current approaches have clearly not worked, so I am open to any approach that will.

    “The Liberal Party operates as a federated model, meaning each state division determines its own preselection rules.

    “If some state divisions choose to implement quotas, that is fine. If others don’t, that is also fine.

    “But what is not fine is not having enough women.

    “As the first woman leader of our federal party, let me send the clearest possible message: we need to do better, recruit better, retain better and support better.

    “That is why I will work with every division, as will my parliamentary team, to ensure we preselect more women for the 2028 election.”

    Michelle Grattan 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. Opposition starts on challenge of crafting (yet another) energy policy – https://theconversation.com/opposition-starts-on-challenge-of-crafting-yet-another-energy-policy-259683

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –