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  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump orders Marines to Los Angeles as protests escalate over immigration raids, demonstrating the president’s power to deploy troops on US soil

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William C. Banks, Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and International Affairs, Syracuse University

    National Guard members watch protests in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump ordered a contingent of about 700 Marines to Los Angeles on June 9, 2025, in response to what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth described as “increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings.”

    This dramatic escalation of the military presence in Los Angeles followed Trump’s June 7 order to send about 2,000 National Guard troops into the city.

    Both measures were Trump’s response to what he called “numerous incidents of violence and disorder” by those protesting his administration’s actions rounding up and deporting immigrants in the Los Angeles area.

    State and local officials decried Trump’s actions, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom calling the move “purposefully inflammatory,” as well as “an illegal act.” California sued the Trump administration on June 9 to block its deployment of National Guard members. Other critics of Trump’s actions said the scale and character of the protests did not warrant such extreme measures.

    Amy Lieberman, a politics and society editor at The Conversation U.S., spoke with William C. Banks, a scholar of the role of the military in domestic affairs, to understand the extent of a president’s power to send American troops to Los Angeles.

    Hundreds of protesters march in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025, demanding an end to Immigration and Customs Enforcement workplace raids.
    Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

    Can American troops be used inside the country?

    They can, but it is an extraordinary exercise of authority to use troops domestically. It has rarely been done in the U.S. as a way of responding to a civil disturbance.

    Congress has delegated that authority of deploying American troops domestically to the president in limited circumstances. Otherwise, the only authority is exercised by governors, who have control of the National Guard.

    Why was American law set up this way?

    The U.S. was founded in response to heavy-handed English use of the military by King George to interfere with the civil liberties and rights of the colonists in the lead-up to the American Revolution. So, when the founders created the U.S. Constitution, they were very careful to insert roadblocks that would make it difficult for the government to use troops to carry out its own programs.

    The country’s framers also understood there might be occasions when it would be necessary to use the military domestically. They did a couple of things to control the exercise of military authority. One was to ensure that the commander in chief of the military was a civilian. Second, they gave the authority to call up the National Guard, what was known as the “militia” in those days, to Congress, not to the president, in order to create a separation of powers.

    Under what circumstances can the president deploy troops to an American city?

    Under the Insurrection Act, which was signed into law in 1807, a president can deploy troops during what is called an insurrection, simply meaning when all hell breaks loose. The president can decide that it is “impracticable,” according to the Insurrection Act, to enforce the laws of the U.S. in a given city, and he may call forth the military or the National Guard to help restore law and order.

    In order to invoke the Insurrection Act, the president first has to make a proclamation to those he calls the insurrectionists to cease and desist. Unless the alleged insurrectionists immediately do what the president says, the president then has the authority to deploy forces.

    Trump has repeatedly called the protesters in Los Angeles “insurrectionists,” but has also walked those remarks back and hasn’t made any kind of formal proclamation yet. When Trump ordered California’s National Guard members to deploy to Los Angeles on June 7, he did so on a narrow statutory authority to protect federal buildings, properties and personnel that were trying to enforce immigration laws.

    What is the Posse Comitatus Act and how does it apply to the current situation in Los Angeles?

    Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act in 1878. This act’s name derives from an arcane Latin term that means “the power of the county.” This law establishes a legal presumption in the U.S. that the military, if it is deployed domestically, should not engage in law enforcement.

    This act is an important part of American law. It means that the military and National Guard are trained on this principle that they are not to engage in domestic law enforcement activities. Those are reserved for police, sheriffs and marshals. Invoking the Insurrection Act is the principal exception to this law.

    So the Insurrection Act allows the military to act as law enforcement officials?

    That’s right. By invoking the Insurrection Act the military could act as cops and have the right to arrest, investigate and detain civilians, with only the Constitution as a check on its power.

    This is not a situation that California National Guard members have trained for. They are trained to fight actual wildfires, but this is something entirely different.

    Demonstrators hold signs and fly flags, facing California National Guard members, in Los Angeles on June 9, 2024.
    Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

    Are there any legal roadblocks that could curb the president’s authority to send U.S. troops to Los Angeles?

    The short answer to this question is no.

    Can state governors or other elected officials prevent U.S. troops from being sent to their cities?

    In many ways that is the main question right now. California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, has said that the state doen’t need these military forces. Newsom’s June 9 lawsuit against the Trump administration argues that the authority over the National Guard is reserved for states, “unless the State requests or consents to federal control.” That has not happened in this case.

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

    – ref. Trump orders Marines to Los Angeles as protests escalate over immigration raids, demonstrating the president’s power to deploy troops on US soil – https://theconversation.com/trump-orders-marines-to-los-angeles-as-protests-escalate-over-immigration-raids-demonstrating-the-presidents-power-to-deploy-troops-on-us-soil-258527

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Kenya pledges to accelerate efforts to boost intra-African trade

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

    NAIROBI, Kenya, June 9, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Kenya is working towards fast-tracking implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock opportunities for businesses in the country across the continent.

    Speaking during the Kenya IATF2025 Business Roadshow event, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui said the government is positioning and consolidating Kenya as a Trade, industrial and innovation hub to strategically tap into trade and investment opportunities presented by AfCFTA.

    “The solutions to Africa’s problems lie with Africans. It is essential for countries within the continent to strengthen intra-African trade.

    The IATF 2025 offers a vital platform to advance the AfCFTA agenda. With a well-educated population, abundant resources, and banks ready to finance investment, Africa has what it takes to elevate itself to the next level.,” the Cabinet Secretary said.

    The Kenya IATF2025 Business Roadshow attracted over 200 members of Kenya’s business community, including buyers, creatives, automotive sector players, policymakers and investors together with executives and officials of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and African Union Commission (AUC). It focused on exploring ways of promoting intra-African trade. The theme was Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness under the AfCFTA.

    Harnessing regional and continental value chains under the AfCFTA is crucial for Africa’s industrial growth and global competitiveness. By creating a large, integrated market, the AfCFTA encourages countries to tap into the continental market by scaling up productive capacity and add value to products, create an enabling environment, attracting investment and creating jobs. This boosts economic diversification, expand productive base, and supports Africa’s vision for sustainable and inclusive development.

    The roadshow is one of the five in the series of planned for Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, Lagos and Algiers ahead of the fourth edition of the biennial Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) that will be held in Algiers, Algeria from 4 – 10 September 2025 under the theme Gateway to New Opportunities. IATF is Africa’s premier trade and investment event that serves as a crucial platform for fostering economic growth, collaboration, and innovation across the continent. Over the years, the IATF has established a track record as the premier African trade and investment platform and has achieved significant milestones since it was established in 2018 as an instrument to implement the AfCFTA Agreement. Hosted by the Government of Algeria and promoted by Afreximbank, in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the IATF2025 event will provide businesses from Africa and beyond with a platform to showcase their goods and services and exchange trade and investment information.

    Addressing the forum, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Mr. Haytham Elmaayergi said: “One of the key objectives of the IATF is to address access to trade and market information for intra-African trade to take place. For instance, as a result of a lack of information on African production and supply, countries like Tunisia, Morocco and South Africa import in excess of around US$400 million worth of leather products, mainly from Europe and South America, while countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan—which have the supply capacity to meet a substantial part of this demand—continue to export their leather products to markets in Europe and Asia.”

    “Kenya has rapidly emerged as a major force in digitalisation and innovation, both within the region and across Africa. The IATF presents a great opportunity for Kenyan Fintech companies, mobile money innovators and other technology companies to come together and showcase their ingenuity to diverse sectors on the continent. It could potentially help them scale beyond the Kenyan borders as well as attract investment to their respective businesses.” added Mr. Elmaayergi. 

    Mr Elmaayergi made a clarion call for businesses, public and private sector in Kenya to participate and showcase their goods and services in IATF2025, where more than 2,000 exhibitors, including businesses from the African continent and globally, will exchange trade, market and investment information and showcase their goods and services to over 35,000 visitors and buyers from more than 140 countries. This is projected to translate into over US$44 billion in trade and investment deals.

    IATF is a platform for boosting trade and investment in Africa. In the last three editions of IATF, over $100 billion in trade and investment deals have been closed cumulatively with over 70,000 visitors and more than 4,500 exhibitors participating.

    Some of the activities lined up for the week-long IATF2025 include a trade exhibition by countries and businesses; the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme with a dedicated exhibition and summit on fashion, music, film, arts and craft, sports, literature, gastronomy and culinary arts; a four-day Trade and Investment Forum featuring leading African and international speakers; and the Africa Automotive Show for auto manufacturers, assemblers, original equipment manufacturers and component suppliers.

    Special Days will also be held, dedicated for countries as well as public and private entities to showcase trade and investment opportunities, and tourism and cultural attractions, as well as Global Africa Day to highlight commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora, featuring a Diaspora Summit, market and exhibition, cultural and gastronomic showcase.

    Also planned is a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) platform for matchmaking and business exchanges; the AU Youth Start-Up programme showcasing innovative ideas and prototypes; the Africa Research and Innovation Hub @ IATF targeting university students, academia and national researchers to exhibit their innovations and research projects; and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) to promote trade, investment, educational and cultural exchanges at the local level. The IATF Virtual platform is already live, connecting exhibitors and visitors throughout the year.

    To participate in IATF2025 please visit www.IntraAfricanTradeFair.com.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Philip Harrison, Professor School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand

    South African president Cyril Ramaphosa met senior leaders of Johannesburg and Gauteng, the province it’s located in, in March 2025 to discuss ways to arrest the steep decline in South Africa’s largest city.

    Ramaphosa announced a two-year-long presidential intervention to tackle some of the city’s most pressing issues. It is to be led by the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group with eight cross-governmental and multi-stakeholder workstreams.

    Johannesburg was established 130 years ago, where the world’s largest-ever gold deposits were discovered. It grew rapidly in the early 20th century and became the country’s economic heartland and largest population centre. Like all South African cities, it was deeply scarred by apartheid policies. People were divided by racially defined groups. Good services and a strong economy benefited a minority, and a black majority were pushed into impoverished ghettos.

    But, for about the first two decades of post-apartheid rule from 1994, Johannesburg led the country with innovation and progressive change. It pioneered the new local government system, institutional reforms, new practice on city strategy and planning, pro-poor service delivery, and modern transport infrastructure.

    Today, however, the city is in a dire state. Over the past decade, roughly coinciding with the arrival of messy coalition governance in 2016, sound political leadership, administrative stability and financial management have crumbled. Underinvestment in infrastructure maintenance has led to collapsing services. Public trust is deteriorating among increasingly frustrated communities. This was evident in local election results. It also shows up in recent data released by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory on public trust in local government.

    The local economy has stagnated. The city’s official unemployment rate of 34.3% is higher than the national average of 32.9%. Mounting joblessness and dwindling incomes have intertwined with depleted trust to knock levels of payment for property rates and service charges. In turn this has deepened the financial and service maintenance crisis.

    Corruption in many parts of the city is an endemic complicating factor.

    The presidential intervention is designed to address this complex interplay between embedded legacies and failings post-apartheid. The workstreams involving city officials and concerned stakeholders are generating ideas for priority actions. There is also a new energy in the city government, with the executive mayor and members of his mayoral committee making turnaround promises.

    This long overdue attention is heartening. But some caution is called for. While some “quick wins” are needed, there will be no easy turnaround. The best prospect is likely to be a process of recovery that will require patience and methodical attention over the long term. A city cannot be repaired in the way an automobile can. A city has a trillion moving parts and is in a constant state of makeover, as dynamics of economy, technology, demography, environment, society, politics, and more, interact and produce change.

    The question is not whether a city is fixed – it can never finally be – but rather what trajectory it is on. For Johannesburg, the question is how to exit the downward spiral and begin the process of reconstruction.

    We are a group who previously worked in the City of Johannesburg as officials, who are now academics with decades of experience observing local governance trends and dynamics, or scholars engaged in civil society coalitions or communities mobilising around the crisis. Some of us have been involved in the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group over the last few months.

    Our view is that there are four areas needing urgent but sustained attention.

    Focus areas

    The first is the need for a joint effort across national, provincial and municipal government to resolve the crisis. We are pleased that this has begun. The political leadership in the city (and of the province) failed to grasp the opportunity provided by the post-2024 election national compromises to put together a broad-based government of local unity to lead reconstruction. There is no option now but to pursue an inter-governmental initiative led by national government with the committed involvement of the other spheres.

    Only genuine collaboration will succeed.

    In this respect, the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group holds promise. But what will be needed is careful, concerted work focused first on short-term priorities. Then, over years, on key structural challenges facing the city.

    Second, the city needs civil society in all its forms to hold a careful balance between keeping up the pressure on municipal government, constantly holding it accountable to its residents, and working with government to help it solve problems. The Joburg Crisis Alliance, Jozi-my-Jozi, WaterCAN and similar initiatives are claiming well-recognised and respected voice in the affairs of the municipality.

    Johannesburg needs a city government that is open to this scrutiny, accepting the need for transparency, and open to the help that civil society can offer.

    To raise the level of accountability and collaboration, a clear programme of restoration has to be communicated openly to the public. Milestones and expenditure requirements need to be set that allow for constant monitoring. There must be open council meetings, and regular online and in-person briefings.

    Also required are new mechanisms for citizen-based monitoring. These may include trained citizen monitors reporting on service delivery. Alternatively, the establishment of a sort of “Citizen’s Council” which meets regularly to receive reports from these monitors and the city administration.

    International examples include the Bürgerrat model. This is now fully institutionalised in parts of Germany and Austria to strengthen local democracy and accountability. In this model, citizens are randomly selected to sit on a council which monitors performance of local government and provides new ideas.

    Another approach could be for civil society organisations to be invited to a Citizen’s Council that would act in support of the oversight processes of the elected Municipal Council.

    Third, there has to be a solution to unstable coalition governments. These seem to be structured to facilitate separate political fiefdoms where spoils can be divided in the allocation of portfolios. At minimum, the presidential intervention must provide for a check and balance on processes where bureaucratic appointments and budgetary allocations may serve the interests of cronyism. For example, there should be transparency and rigour in appointments to the boards of Johannesburg’s municipally owned companies.

    Regulatory reforms are required in the political arena. This should include rules for the distribution of seats on the municipal executive and the election of mayors. Between January 2023 and August 2024 a tiny minority party held the mayoralty because the larger parties could not agree on a mayoral selection or, more cynically, to ensure that the executive mayor could not call large parties to account.

    More importantly, though, there has to be a change in political culture. This is a longer-term process.

    Fourth, the problems run far deeper than what bureaucratic reorganisation can achieve.

    The longer-term project is to build a capable administration with clear political direction and oversight but insulated from personal agendas and factional battles. The administration became confused and demoralised because of the political instability over an extended period. There are, however, still many capable and committed public servants in the city bureaucracy. The focus should be on working with them to rebuild the administration, making it a place where talent and initiative are recognised and rewarded.

    Restored political leadership and a rejuvenated administration is needed for a long term process, extending far beyond the quick wins. This process will involve refurbishing the decaying network infrastructure, restoring financial stability, reestablishing social trust and returning confidence to the city’s economy.

    2025 marks 30 years since the first democratic local elections. National government is looking seriously at sweeping municipal reforms. And the next municipal election – likely to be held at the end of 2026 – is an opportunity to make a deep transformation effort. Citizens can ensure that parties contesting the election place Johannesburg’s recovery at the heart of their agenda.

    – Johannesburg’s problems can be solved – but it’s a long journey to fix South Africa’s economic powerhouse
    – https://theconversation.com/johannesburgs-problems-can-be-solved-but-its-a-long-journey-to-fix-south-africas-economic-powerhouse-256013

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alex Ezeh, Dornsife Endowed Professor of Global Health, Drexel University

    The Lancet has released its second global commission report on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. Adolescents are defined as 10- to 24-year-olds. The report builds on the first one, done in 2016. The latest report presents substantial original research that supports actions it recommends to be taken across sectors as well as at global, regional, country and local level. The co-chairs of the commission, Sarah Baird, Alex Ezeh and Russell Viner, together with the youth commissioners lead, Shakira Choonara, give a guide to the report’s findings.

    What were the key findings?

    The report noted significant improvements in some aspects of adolescent health and wellbeing since the 2016 report. These include reductions in:

    • communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, particularly among female adolescents

    • the burden of disease from injuries

    • substance use, specifically tobacco and alcohol

    • teenage pregnancy.

    It also found that there had been an increase in age at first marriage and in education, especially for young women.

    Despite this progress, adolescent health and wellbeing is said to be at a tipping point. Continued progress is being undermined by rapidly escalating rates of non-communicable diseases and mental disorders, accompanied by threats from compounding and intersecting megatrends. These include climate change and environmental degradation, the growing power of commercial influences on health, rising conflict and displacement, rapid urbanisation, and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    These megatrends are outpacing responses from national governments and the international community.

    What’s unique about today’s cohort of adolescents?

    Born between 2000 and 2014, this is the first cohort of humans who will live their entire life in a time when the average annual global temperature has consistently been 0.5°C or higher above pre-industrial levels.

    At roughly 2 billion adolescents, they are the largest cohort of adolescents in the history of humanity. And this number will not be surpassed as populations age and fertility rates fall in even the poorest countries.

    They are the first generation of global digital natives. They live in a world of immense resources and opportunities, with unprecedented connectedness made possible by the rapid expansion of digital technologies. This is true even in the hardest-to-reach places.

    Growing participation in secondary and tertiary education is equipping adolescents of all genders with new economic opportunities and providing pathways out of poverty.

    These opportunities, however, are not being realised for most adolescents. Increasing numbers continue to grow up in settings with limited opportunities. In addition, investments in adolescent health and wellbeing continue to lag relative to their population share or their share of the global burden of disease.

    Investments in adolescents accounted for only 2.4% of the total development assistance for health in 2016-2021. This was despite the fact that adolescents accounted for 25.2% of the global population in that period and 9.1% of the total burden of disease. We use development assistance as a measure because, while governments also invest in adolescents, it’s difficult to account for how much this is. For example, when a government supports a health facility, it serves the entire population.

    Yet, the report provides evidence to show that the return on investments in adolescent health and wellbeing is highly cost-effective and at par with investments in children.

    What’s the news for adolescents in Africa?

    The report recognises the special place of Africa in the global future of adolescents. It notes that, by the end of this century, nearly half of all adolescents will live in Africa.

    Currently, adolescents in Africa experience higher burdens of communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases, at more than double the global average for both male and female adolescents. They also have a higher prevalence of anaemia, adolescent childbearing, early marriage and HIV infection. They are much less likely to complete 12 years of schooling and more likely to not be in education, employment, or training.

    Female adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have the highest adolescent fertility rate at 99.4 births per 1,000 female adolescents aged 15-19 (the global average is 41.8). They have also experienced the slowest decline between 2016 and 2022.

    Globally, there was progress in reducing child marriage between 2016 and 2022. But in eight countries in 2022, at least one in three female adolescents aged 15–19 years was married. All but one of these eight countries were in sub-Saharan Africa. Niger (50.2%) and Mali (40.6%) had the highest proportion of married female adolescents.

    The practice of child marriage is declining in south Asia and becoming more concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. As the report notes:

    it continues because of cultural norms, fuelled by economic hardships, insurgency, conflict, ambiguous legal provisions, and lack of political will to enforce legal provisions.

    What should be Africa’s focus areas?

    Beyond adolescent sexual and reproductive health concerns in sub-Saharan Africa, obesity is increasing fastest in the region. This illustrates the vulnerability of adolescents to the power of commercial interests.

    Since 1990, obesity and overweight has increased by 89% in prevalence among adolescents aged 15–19 years in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the largest regional increase.

    The absence of data on adolescents is a problem. Adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are absent in many data systems. For example, data on adolescent mental health in sub-Saharan Africa is virtually absent.

    Stronger data systems are needed to understand and track progress on the complex set of determinants of adolescent health and wellbeing.

    Another area of concern is the massive inequities within countries, often gendered or by geography. While female adolescents in Kenya are experiencing substantial declines in the burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, adolescent males are experiencing increasing burdens. In South Africa, years of healthy life lost to maternal disorders show more than 10-fold differences between the Western Cape and North West provinces.

    Where there’s been strong political leadership, remarkable changes have been seen. Take the case of Benin Republic. The adolescent fertility rate in the country declined from 26% in 1996 to 20% in 2018 and child marriage from 39% to 31% over the same period. Strong political leadership has also led to substantial reductions in female genital mutilation or cutting. This fell from 12% of girls in Benin in 2001 to 2% in 2011–12 among 15–19-year-old girls in Benin Republic. Political leadership also facilitated the expansion, by the national parliament in 2021, of the grounds under which women, girls, and their families could access safe and legal abortion.

    But for every country that takes positive steps to protect the health and wellbeing of adolescents, several others regress.

    The last decade has witnessed regression in several countries. In 2024, The Gambia attempted to repeal a 2015 law criminalising all acts of female genital mutilation or cutting. In 2022, Nigeria’s federal government ordered the removal of sex education from the basic education curriculum.

    What are the recommended courses of action?

    The report calls for a multisectoral approach across multiple national ministries and agencies, including the office of the head of state, and within the UN system.

    Coordination and accountability mechanisms for adolescent health and wellbeing also need to be strengthened.

    Laws and policies are needed to protect the health and rights of adolescents, reduce the impact of the commercial determinants of health, and promote healthy use of digital and social media spaces and platforms.

    Strong political leadership at local, national, and global levels is essential.

    The report also calls for prioritised investments, the creation of enabling environments to transform adolescent health and wellbeing, and the development of innovative approaches to address complex and emerging health threats.

    It calls for meaningful engagement of adolescents in policy, research, interventions and accountability mechanisms that affect them.

    Without these concerted actions, we risk failing our young people and losing out on the investments being made in childhood at this second critical period in their development.

    The current adverse international aid climate is particularly affecting adolescents as much development assistance relates to gender and sexual and reproductive health. Concerted action in addressing adolescent health and wellbeing is an urgent imperative for sub-Saharan Africa.

    – A quarter of the world’s population are adolescents: major report sets out health and wellbeing trends
    – https://theconversation.com/a-quarter-of-the-worlds-population-are-adolescents-major-report-sets-out-health-and-wellbeing-trends-257282

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: Russia to build 8 nuclear plants in Iran: atomic chief

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

    People work at the construction site of the second phase of Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Bushehr, southern Iran, on Nov. 10, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Iranian atomic chief has announced that Russia will construct eight nuclear power plants in Iran under a previously signed contract between the two countries, the official news agency IRNA reported.

    President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami made the remarks on Monday during a visit by members of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee to the AEOI headquarters in Tehran.

    Eslami stated that four of the eight planned nuclear reactors would be constructed in the southern province of Bushehr.

    He also updated lawmakers on the ongoing construction of units 2 and 3 at the existing Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, emphasizing that those units are being built by Iranian companies.

    Speaking to reporters after the parliamentary delegation’s visit, Eslami added that the AEOI has plans to triple Iran’s nuclear power generation capacity, as part of the country’s broader energy development strategy.

    Completed by Russia in May 2011, the Bushehr plant, Iran’s first and only operational nuclear power facility, has been central to the country’s civilian nuclear energy program and has long involved cooperation with Russia’s state nuclear agency, Rosatom. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s foreign trade maintains resilience despite headwinds

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

    China’s foreign trade demonstrated resilience in the first five months of 2025, with total trade value rising 2.5 percent year on year, driven by the country’s efforts to optimize its trade structure and stabilize growth.

    The growth rate marked an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to that registered in the first four months of 2025. The total value of goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms stood at 17.94 trillion yuan (about 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars) in the January-May period, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC) data released Monday.

    During the first five months of 2025, China’s exports rose 7.2 percent year on year to 10.67 trillion yuan while imports fell 3.8 percent to 7.27 trillion yuan, the data showed.

    An aerial drone photo shows vehicles to be exported at Yantai Port in east China’s Shandong Province, Jan. 2, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Strong resilience

    Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC’s Department of Statistics and Analysis, said China’s goods trade has maintained “relatively strong resilience” despite external pressures, as the country’s economy has continued its recovery trend since the beginning of the year.

    “In May, China’s foreign trade continued its growth trend, with the pace of expansion accelerating notably following the high-level China-U.S. economic and trade talks (held in Geneva last month),” the official said.

    In May alone, China’s total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms rose 2.7 percent year on year. Goods exports rose 6.3 percent year on year, while imports went down 2.1 percent, according to the data.

    “In the face of a more complex and challenging international situation, China’s foreign trade has overcome difficulties and withstood pressure, maintaining stable growth and demonstrating strong resilience,” said Wang Xuekun, head of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce.

    This resilience has been underpinned by dedicated efforts to boost trade at the local level. In east China’s Jiangsu Province, the provincial government has pledged increased funding to support exporters’ participation in overseas exhibitions. Since the beginning of the year, it has helped more than 1,400 companies take part in over 120 exhibitions overseas.

    In southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, cross-border freight vehicles carrying Chinese products, such as motorbike components and agricultural machinery, can reach Vietnam in as little as two days after clearing customs in Chongqing.

    Thanks to the timeliness and flexibility of the road transport corridor, Chongqing’s cross-border freight trucks transported goods worth 5.7 billion yuan in the first five months of 2025, marking a 4.3-fold increase year on year.

    An aerial drone photo taken on May 22, 2025 shows China-Europe freight train X8489 loaded with autos, machine parts and home appliances before its departure for Duisburg, Germany, in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Structural improvements 

    Monday’s GAC data also showed continued structural improvements in China’s foreign trade. High-tech product exports performed strongly in the first five months of 2025, rising 6.1 percent year on year in U.S.-dollar term, while exports of mechanical and electrical products grew by 8.1 percent over the same period.

    In terms of trading partners, ASEAN remained China’s largest trading partner in the January-May period. During this period, trade between China and ASEAN totaled 3.02 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.1 percent.

    During the same period, China’s trade with the European Union went up 2.9 percent year on year to nearly 2.3 trillion yuan, while its trade with the United States decreased by 8.1 percent year on year to 1.72 trillion yuan, according to the data.

    Trade with Belt and Road partner countries rose 4.2 percent to 9.24 trillion yuan, and trade with African countries hit a record high, with the China-Africa trade volume increasing 12.4 percent to 963.21 billion yuan during the period.

    Wang said that against the headwinds of rising unilateralism and protectionism, China would rise to the challenges and take multiple measures to properly handle trade frictions and stabilize foreign trade.

    According to him, these measures include seizing trade opportunities by diversifying trading partners and supporting Chinese exporters in exploring the domestic market through promotional campaigns and channels such as supermarkets and e-commerce platforms to sell high-quality foreign trade products.

    Wang also emphasized the need for greater support for foreign trade enterprises, calling for enhanced government efforts to help companies secure deals through matchmaking services at major trade exhibitions, as well as increased financing support. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s passenger car sector reports steady growth in May

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

    An automatic assembly line is pictured at a smart factory of Changan Auto in Chongqing, southwest China, Jan. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s passenger car sector recorded a double-digit growth in retail sales in May as the country’s policies to boost consumption continued to take effect, the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) said on Monday.

    Last month, retail sales of passenger cars in China grew by 13.3 percent year on year to exceed 1.93 million units, data from the CPCA shows.

    China launched a new round of its consumer goods trade-in program last year to boost spending, offering subsidies for trading in automobiles, home appliances, and home decorations. The scope of the program was further expanded earlier this year.

    In the first five months of this year, the program has driven the sale of 4.12 million new vehicles, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    Last month, China produced nearly 1.17 million new energy passenger vehicles, with retail sales exceeding 1.02 million units, representing year-on-year increases of 30.2 percent and 28.2 percent, respectively.

    In the first five months of the year, retail sales of passenger cars exceeded 8.81 million units, increasing 9.1 percent year on year, according to the CPCA data. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: US wholesale inventories tick up in April

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

    U.S. wholesale inventories ticked up in April as stockpiling occurred, just before President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs were implemented.

    Inventories increased 0.2 percent, according to data released Monday by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau.

    This came on the heels of a 0.3 rise in March.

    Year on year, inventories gained 2.3 percent in April.

    Some of this was due to a 1.3 percent increase in prescription medication stocks in April. A rise in stocks of automobiles, groceries and apparel also accounted for the rise.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: True American Hero – Army Special Forces Capt. Gary Michael Rose (FULL VIDEO)

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    —————
    @usarmy Capt. Gary M. Rose served as a Special Forces Combat Medic in the #VietnamWar. During a 4-day mission, Capt. Rose, braving the hail of bullets, administered first aid to half of the company. Using his own body to protect the casualties from further injury, he was wounded multiple times. For his gallantry and intrepidity, he earned the #MedalofHonor.

    #military #trueamericanhero

    True American Heroes Playlist

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
    —————
    Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!

    Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Instagram: http://instagram.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DeptofDefense

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKZLAmI-yi0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: How this hero SPARKED the Revolutionary War

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    About the U.S. Army: The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force. Interested in joining the U.S. Army? Visit:
    spr.ly/6001igl5L
    Connect with the U.S. Army online: Web:
    https://www.army.mil
    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X:

    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts #Army

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4MAW7tieWw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: U.S. Army Vehicles have arrived for Army 250 Birthday!

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    About the U.S. Army: The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force. Interested in joining the U.S. Army? Visit:
    spr.ly/6001igl5L
    Connect with the U.S. Army online: Web:
    https://www.army.mil
    Facebook:
    https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X:

    Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts #Army

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIWKZO7cHP8

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: “Europe is investing EUR 1 billion in 50 projects around the world”

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    On 9 June, 2025, at the UN Ocean Conference, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presents the European Ocean Pact:

    “We want to build a strong global alliance for the Ocean, because the fight to promote and protect our Ocean is a global challenge. As the declaration from this Conference makes clear, there is a funding shortfall to support ocean conservation, science and sustainable fishing. So I am delighted to announce today that:

    Europe is investing EUR 1 billion in 50 projects around the world. We will invest in those who make a living from the sea, and we will invest in scientists and conservationists who seek to protect it. We will help to promote sustainable fishing in Tanzania, regenerate mangrove forests and their natural supply chains in Guyana and protect the coral and seagrass which sustain 20% of global fish stocks. Knowledge is one of the most powerful tools for ocean conservation, so one-third of the EUR 1 billion in funding announced today is targeted for research and scientific projects.”

    Read the full speech here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_25_1457

    Follow live events and access media content here:
    https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/

    Stay updated — follow us on X: https://x.com/EC_AVService

    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rtLB7FuTko

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sleep with one eye open: how Librarian Ghouls steal data by night

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: Sleep with one eye open: how Librarian Ghouls steal data by night

    Introduction

    Librarian Ghouls, also known as “Rare Werewolf” and “Rezet”, is an APT group that targets entities in Russia and the CIS. Other security vendors are also monitoring this APT and releasing analyses of its campaigns. The group has remained active through May 2025, consistently targeting Russian companies.

    A distinctive feature of this threat is that the attackers favor using legitimate third-party software over developing their own malicious binaries. The malicious functionality of the campaign described in this article is implemented through command files and PowerShell scripts. The attackers establish remote access to the victim’s device, steal credentials, and deploy an XMRig crypto miner in the system.

    Our research has uncovered new tools within this APT group’s arsenal, which we will elaborate on in this article.

    Technical details

    Initial infection vector

    Attacks by Librarian Ghouls continued almost unabated throughout 2024. We observed a slight decline in the group’s activity in December, followed immediately by a new wave of attacks, which is ongoing. The group’s primary initial infection vector involves targeted phishing emails that contain password-protected archives with executable files inside. These malicious emails are typically disguised as messages from legitimate organizations, containing attachments that appear to be official documents. The infection process is as follows: the victim opens the attached archive (the password is usually provided in the email body), extracts the files inside, and opens them.

    We managed to get hold of a malicious implant from an archive disguised as a payment order. The sample is a self-extracting installer made with the Smart Install Maker utility for Windows.

    The installer contains three files: an archive, a configuration file, and an empty file irrelevant for our analysis. They are later renamed into data.cab, installer.config and runtime.cab respectively.

    The primary malicious logic resides in the installer’s configuration file. It uses a variety of registry modification commands to automatically deploy the legitimate window manager, 4t Tray Minimizer, onto the system. This software can minimize running applications to the system tray, allowing attackers to obscure their presence on the compromised system.

    Once 4t Tray Minimizer is installed, the installer pulls three files from data.cab and puts them into the C:Intel directory, specifically at:

    File Name when archived Path on the infected system
    Legitimate PDF as a decoy 0  IntelPayment Order # 131.pdf
    Legitimate curl utility executable 1 Intelcurl.exe
    LNK file 2 IntelAnyDeskbat.lnk

    The PDF decoy resembles an order to pay a minor amount:

    PDF document imitating a payment order

    rezet.cmd

    Once data.cab is unpacked, the installer generates and executes a rezet.cmd command file, which then reaches out to the C2 server downdown[.]ru, hosting six files with the JPG extension. rezet.cmd downloads these to C:Intel, changing their file extensions to: driver.exe, blat.exe, svchost.exe, Trays.rar, wol.ps1, and dc.exe.

    • driver.exe is a customized build of rar.exe, the console version of WinRAR 3.80. This version has had user dialog strings removed: it can execute commands but provides no meaningful output to the console.
    • blat.exe is Blat, a legitimate utility for sending email messages and files via SMTP. Attackers use this to send data they steal to an email server they control.
    • svchost.exe is the remote access application AnyDesk. Attackers use this to remotely control the compromised machine.
    • dc.exe is Defender Control, which allows disabling Windows Defender.

    After downloading the files, the script uses the specified password and the driver.exe console utility to extract Trays.rar into the same C:Intel directory and run the unpacked Trays.lnk. This shortcut allows starting 4t Tray Minimizer minimized to the tray.

    Next, the script installs AnyDesk on the compromised device and downloads a bat.bat file from the C2 server to C:IntelAnyDesk. Finally, rezet.cmd runs bat.lnk, which was previously extracted from data.cab.

    bat.bat

    Opening the bat.lnk shortcut runs the bat.bat batch file, which executes a series of malicious actions.

    Disabling security measures and a scheduled task

    First, the BAT file sets the password QWERTY1234566 for AnyDesk, which allows the attackers to connect to the victim’s device without asking for confirmation.

    Next, the script uses the previously downloaded Defender Control (dc.exe) application to disable Windows Defender.

    To verify that the victim’s computer is on and available for remote connections, the batch file runs the powercfg utility six times with different parameters. This utility controls the local machine’s power settings.

    Next, bat.bat runs the schtasks utility to create a ShutdownAt5AM scheduler task, which shuts down the victim’s PC every day at 5 AM as the name suggests. It is our assessment that the attackers use this technique to cover their tracks so that the user remains unaware that their device has been hijacked.

    Disabling security measures and the power management configuration in bat.bat

    Wakeup script and data theft

    Next, the batch file executes the wol.ps1 script via PowerShell.

    Contents of the “wol.ps1” script

    This script launches Microsoft Edge every day at 1 AM. We found no evidence of msedge.exe being replaced or compromised, leading us to believe it is a genuine Microsoft Edge executable. This daily browser activation wakes the victim’s computer, giving attackers a four-hour window to establish unauthorized remote access with AnyDesk before the scheduled task shuts the machine down at 5 AM.

    Following the execution of the PowerShell script, bat.bat removes the curl utility, the Trays.rar archive, and the AnyDesk installer. The attackers no longer need these components: at this stage of the infection, all necessary malicious files and third-party utilities have been downloaded with curl, Trays.rar has been unpacked, and AnyDesk has been installed on the device.

    After that, the batch file sets environment variables for Blat. These variables contain, among other things, the email addresses where the victim’s data will be sent and the passwords for these accounts.

    The next step is to collect information stored on the device that is of interest to the attackers:

    • Cryptocurrency wallet credentials and seed phrases
    • Dumps of the HKLMSAM and HKLMSYSTEM registry keys made with reg.exe

    Data collection by bat.bat

    The BAT file uses driver.exe to pack data it has collected into two separate password-protected archives. Then, the script runs blat.exe to send the victim’s data and AnyDesk configuration files to the attackers via SMTP.

    Miner installation and self-deletion

    Next, bat.bat deletes the files generated during the attack from the C:Intel folder and installs a crypto miner on the compromised system. To do this, the script creates a bm.json configuration file containing the mining pool address and the attackers’ identifier, and then downloads install.exe from hxxp://bmapps[.]org/bmcontrol/win64/Install.exe.

    install.exe is an installer that checks for the JSON configuration file and the bmcontrol.exe process in the system. If the process is detected, the installer terminates it.

    Then, install.exe downloads an archive with mining tools from hxxps://bmapps[.]org/bmcontrol/win64/app-1.4.zip.

    The archive contains the following files:

    • _install.exe: a new version of the installer. While the samples in the attacks we analyzed were identical, we suspect the attackers have a scenario for updating the malware.
    • bmcontrol.exe: miner controller
    • run.exe, stop.cmd, uninstall.cmd: tools for starting, stopping, and removing the controller
    • XMRig miner

    Depending on the parameters of the JSON file, the unmodified original installer file is used, or _install.exe is renamed to install.exe and run. After that, the installer adds run.exe to autorun. This utility checks for an already running bmcontrol.exe controller on the compromised system, and if it doesn’t find one, runs it from the downloaded archive.

    Once running, bmcontrol.exe creates two processes: master and worker. The master process launches and constantly monitors the worker, and also restarts it if the latter quits unexpectedly. In addition, the master passes the JSON configuration file to the worker process.

    Before launching the XMRig miner, the worker process collects the following system information:

    1. Available CPU cores
    2. Available RAM
    3. GPU

    This data is used to configure the miner on the compromised device and also sent to the attackers’ server. While XMRig is running, the worker maintains a connection to the mining pool, sending a request every 60 seconds.

    After installing the miner on the system, bat.bat removes itself from the victim’s device.

    Legitimate software utilized by the attackers

    It is a common technique to leverage third-party legitimate software for malicious purposes (T1588.002), which makes detecting and attributing APT activity more difficult. We have seen this pattern in current campaigns by various APT groups, in particular in the Likho cluster.

    Beyond the utilities discussed above, we also identified the following software in Librarian Ghouls attacks:

    • Mipko Personal Monitor: a DLP system that the attackers use to monitor the victim. The application can collect screenshots and record keystrokes among other things.
    • WebBrowserPassView: a password recovery utility that can extract passwords stored in web browsers. The attackers use this to steal victims’ credentials.
    • ngrok: a global reverse proxy that secures and accelerates network services. Used by the attackers to connect to target machines.
    • NirCmd: a legitimate utility that facilitates various OS tasks without a visible user interface. The attackers use this to covertly run scripts and executables.

    Phishing campaign

    Our investigation revealed several domains that we assess with low confidence to be associated with the ongoing Librarian Ghouls campaign. At the time of the investigation, some of them remained active, including users-mail[.]ru and deauthorization[.]online. These domains hosted phishing pages, generated with PHP scripts and designed to harvest credentials for the mail.ru email service.

    Example of a phishing page associated with the APT campaign

    Infrastructure

    The implant detailed in this article communicated with the command-and-control servers downdown[.]ru and dragonfires[.]ru. Both resolve to the IP address 185.125.51[.]5.

    Our analysis of the attackers’ infrastructure revealed a notable characteristic: several malicious web servers associated with this campaign had directory listing enabled, allowing us to inspect files they stored.

    Directory listing on a malicious server

    Victims

    Our telemetry indicated that, during the investigation period, hundreds of Russian users fell victim to this campaign. It primarily focuses on industrial enterprises, with engineering schools also being a target of interest. Furthermore, the attacks described also impacted users in Belarus and Kazakhstan.

    The phishing emails are notably composed in Russian and include archives with Russian filenames, along with Russian-language decoy documents. This suggests that the primary targets of this campaign are likely based in Russia or speak Russian.

    About the attackers

    Librarian Ghouls APT exhibits traits commonly associated with hacktivist groups, such as the use of self-extracting archives and a reliance on legitimate, third-party utilities rather than custom-built malware binary modules.

    Since the beginning of the current campaign in December 2024, we have seen frequent updates to the implants, which vary in configuration files and the bundled sets of legitimate utilities. At the time of publishing this, our data encompassed over 100 malicious files connected to this campaign.

    Takeaways

    At the time of this report’s release, the Librarian Ghouls APT campaign described in it is still active, as evidenced by attacks we observed in May 2025. Consistent with previous activity, the attackers leverage third-party legitimate utilities rather than developing custom tools. All of the malicious functionality still relies on installer, command, and PowerShell scripts. We observe that the attackers are continuously refining their tactics, encompassing not only data exfiltration but also the deployment of remote access tools and the use of phishing sites for email account compromise. We constantly monitor this threat actor and will continue to share up-to-date information about its activity.

    Indicators of compromise

    * Additional indicators of compromise and a YARA rule for detecting Librarian Ghouls activity are available to customers of our APT Intelligence Reporting service. Contact intelreports@kaspersky.com for more details.

    Implants

    d8edd46220059541ff397f74bfd271336dda702c6b1869e8a081c71f595a9e68
    2f3d67740bb7587ff70cc7319e9fe5c517c0e55345bf53e01b3019e415ff098b
    de998bd26ea326e610cc70654499cebfd594cc973438ac421e4c7e1f3b887617
    785a5b92bb8c9dbf52cfda1b28f0ac7db8ead4ec3a37cfd6470605d945ade40e
    c79413ef4088b3a39fe8c7d68d2639cc69f88b10429e59dd0b4177f6b2a92351
    53fd5984c4f6551b2c1059835ea9ca6d0342d886ba7034835db2a1dd3f8f5b04

    Implant configuration files

    f8c80bbecbfb38f252943ee6beec98edc93cd734ec70ccd2565ab1c4db5f072f
    4d590a9640093bbda21597233b400b037278366660ba2c3128795bc85d35be72
    1b409644e86559e56add5a65552785750cd36d60745afde448cce7f6f3f09a06
    7c4a99382dbbd7b5aaa62af0ccff68aecdde2319560bbfdaf76132b0506ab68a
    702bf51811281aad78e6ca767586eba4b4c3a43743f8b8e56bb93bc349cb6090
    311ec9208f5fe3f22733fca1e6388ea9c0327be0836c955d2cf6a22317d4bdca

    Malicious archive attachments

    fd58900ea22b38bad2ef3d1b8b74f5c7023b8ca8a5b69f88cfbfe28b2c585baf
    e6ea6ce923f2eee0cd56a0874e4a0ca467711b889553259a995df686bd35de86
    6954eaed33a9d0cf7e298778ec82d31bfbdf40c813c6ac837352ce676793db74

    Malicious BAT files

    e880a1bb0e7d422b78a54b35b3f53e348ab27425f1c561db120c0411da5c1ce9
    c353a708edfd0f77a486af66e407f7b78583394d7b5f994cd8d2e6e263d25968
    636d4f1e3dcf0332a815ce3f526a02df3c4ef2890a74521d05d6050917596748
    c5eeec72b5e6d0e84ff91dfdcbefbbbf441878780f887febb0caf3cbe882ec72
    8bdb8df5677a11348f5787ece3c7c94824b83ab3f31f40e361e600576909b073
    2af2841bf925ed1875faadcbb0ef316c641e1dcdb61d1fbf80c3443c2fc9454f

    Decoy documents

    cab1c4c675f1d996b659bab1ddb38af365190e450dec3d195461e4e4ccf1c286
    dfac7cd8d041a53405cc37a44f100f6f862ed2d930e251f4bf22f10235db4bb3
    977054802de7b583a38e0524feefa7356c47c53dd49de8c3d533e7689095f9ac
    65f7c3e16598a8cb279b86eaeda32cb7a685801ed07d36c66ff83742d41cd415
    a6ff418f0db461536cff41e9c7e5dba3ee3b405541519820db8a52b6d818a01e
    6c86608893463968bfda0969aa1e6401411c0882662f3e70c1ac195ee7bd1510

    Malicious PS1 scripts

    8b6afbf73a9b98eec01d8510815a044cd036743b64fef955385cbca80ae94f15
    7d6b598eaf19ea8a571b4bd79fd6ff7928388b565d7814b809d2f7fdedc23a0a
    01793e6f0d5241b33f07a3f9ad34e40e056a514c5d23e14dc491cee60076dc5a

    Miner installer (install.exe)
    649ee35ad29945e8dd6511192483dddfdfe516a1312de5e0bd17fdd0a258c27f

    Miner controller (bmcontrol.exe)
    9cce3eaae0be9b196017cb6daf49dd56146016f936b66527320f754f179c615f

    Miner launcher (run.exe)
    d7bcab5acc8428026e1afd694fb179c5cbb74c5be651cd74e996c2914fb2b839

    Legitimate software

    AnyDesk
    Blat
    curl
    Defender Control
    Customized RAR 3.80
    AnyDesk
    Mipko Personal Monitor
    ngrok
    NirCmd
    4t Tray Minimizer
    WebBrowserPassView

    Librarian Ghouls malicious domains

    vniir[.]space
    vniir[.]nl
    hostingforme[.]nl
    mail-cheker[.]nl
    unifikator[.]ru
    outinfo[.]ru
    anyhostings[.]ru
    center-mail[.]ru
    redaction-voenmeh[.]info
    acountservices[.]nl
    accouts-verification[.]ru
    office-email[.]ru
    email-office[.]ru
    email-informer[.]ru
    office-account[.]ru
    deauthorization[.]online
    anyinfos[.]ru
    verifikations[.]ru
    claud-mail[.]ru
    users-mail[.]ru
    detectis[.]ru
    supersuit[.]site
    downdown[.]ru
    dragonfires[.]ru
    bmapps[.]org

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Electronics Maintains No. 1 Position in European Microwave Market for 10 Consecutive Years

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung Electronics today announced that it achieved the highest market share in the European microwave segment in 2024, maintaining its No. 1 position for the tenth consecutive year.1
     
    According to data analytics company Euromonitor International, Samsung was ranked as Europe’s No. 1 selling microwave brand based on microwave sales volume in 2024. With this result, Samsung has held the top spot every year since 2015.
     
    “Samsung’s success in the European microwave market comes from our ability to align with what consumers value — a balance of design and intuitive usability,” said Taehwan Hwang, EVP and Head of the Sales & Marketing Team for the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “We will continue to lead the market by leveraging our strengths in smart connectivity and premium design.”
     

    Making Design and Innovation Central to the Kitchen
    Samsung has targeted the European market with products offering premium design, reflecting the interest of local consumers in kitchen interiors. Since 2019, the company has offered its Bespoke Microwave lineup, which features seven colors2 options and a glass finish, a combination that quickly gained popularity across the region.
     
    To further enhance everyday convenience, Samsung introduced the MW7300B All-in-one Microwave Oven in 2024. Thanks to its SmartThings3 compatibility, users can monitor and control the microwave remotely4 with their smartphones, even when they are not in the kitchen. It can also be operated using voice assistants5 such as Bixby,6 for a seamless, connected cooking experience.

     
    To find out more about Samsung’s microwave products, visit Samsung.com.
     
     
    1 Source Euromonitor International Limited; Consumer Appliances 2025ed, “microwaves” as per Passport definitions; Retail Volume Sales in Units, 2024 data
    2 The available colors may differ by country. Once the color of the panels has been selected it cannot be changed again.
    3 Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required. The SmartThings Energy and SmartThings Home Care services are only available in certain countries.
    4 Only available when the Smart Control button on the microwave oven is turned on with hands.
    5 A Wi-Fi connection is required
    6 Bixby is Samsung’s Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on the country. Bixby recognizes certain accents/dialects of English (US, UK, Indian), Chinese, Korean, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. A Samsung account log-in and Wi-Fi connection are required.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Moving the Boundaries of Financial Inclusion- A Regulatory Perspective – Address delivered by Shri M Rajeshwar Rao, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India – June 05, 2025 – at HSBC’s event for Financial Inclusion in Mumbai

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Distinguished guests, participants, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening.

    At the outset, let me thank the organisers for inviting me to share some of my thoughts on the theme of financial inclusion. Before that, let me take a moment to acknowledge that today i.e., June 05, 2025, is the World Environment Day, an UN-recognized day that brings together people across the globe in a shared mission to safeguard and restore our planet. This year’s theme of ending plastic pollution is a call to all of us to make a behavioural shift in our daily life choices. In the spirit of preserving the purity of our environment and safeguarding our well-being, let us commit toward making more sustainable choices.

    2. Coming back to our theme for the day, let me begin by stating the obvious that financial inclusion is not just a policy objective but a collective obligation and responsibility for all stakeholders in the financial ecosystem. The importance of the theme can be underscored by the fact that at least seven out of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 view financial inclusion as a key enabler for achieving sustainable development worldwide by improving the quality of lives of poor and marginalized sections of the society. It is seen as a way to bridge the gap between the privileged and the under-privileged and a way to bring people out of poverty. An inclusive financial system has the potential to reduce income inequality and poverty, promote social cohesion and enable shared economic development. It also can dissuade the disadvantaged and low-income segments of society from seeking out informal options that renders them vulnerable to financial distress, debt, and poverty.

    History of Financial Inclusion in India

    3. Given the theme for today’s discourse, it would be worthwhile to set the historical context regarding financial inclusion in India. While the financial inclusion initiatives in our country can in many ways be traced back to the 1950s, with significant developments ensuing in the subsequent decade, it was the National Credit Council meeting of July 1968 that paved the way for framing of Priority Sector Lending (PSL) guidelines, nationalisation of select private banks in July 1969 and launch of the Lead Bank Scheme in December 1969 that were the precursors of this journey. The branch expansion policy adopted by RBI during the 1970s, which required a specific number of branches to be opened in rural areas for every branch opened in urban areas, became the foundation for expanding the reach of banking services that we see today. Besides, the experiments with group-based lending towards the turn of the last century and proliferation of microfinance institutions have also helped link the unserved section of the population with the formal banking system.

    4. Interestingly, the above initiatives were taken during a period when the term ‘financial inclusion’ was not prevalent in the country. The first reference to the term was made in RBI’s Annual Policy Statement for the Year 2005-06 by Dr Y.V. Reddy2, the then Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, who highlighted ‘financial exclusion’ that resulted due to certain banking practices. Banks were then urged to review their existing practices to align them with the objective of financial inclusion, leading to the genesis of ‘no frills’ account, which are now known as Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts.

    Financial Inclusion in Indian Context

    5. The first step in promoting financial inclusion is understanding its nuances, which are as dynamic and diverse as the Indian economy itself, and thereafter outline its ambit in the Indian context. Given its multi-faceted nature, various organisations and jurisdictions have defined financial inclusion in different ways. In India, the formal definition of financial inclusion3 was given in January 2008 by the Committee on Financial Inclusion chaired by Dr C Rangarajan as “the process of ensuring access to financial services and timely and adequate credit where needed by vulnerable groups such as weaker sections and low-income groups at an affordable cost”. Reflecting the priorities of that time, the definition focused largely on the access to financial services. Currently we have a scenario, where more than 95% households have access to a bank account4, which reflects remarkable progress on one out of three parameters of Financial Inclusion Index developed by the Reserve Bank to measure the extent of financial inclusion in the country.

    6. While there has been a significant progress in expanding the banking reach, it is also important to ensure that inherent barriers to a gamut of financial products and services are eliminated and usage of these services expands to various segments of yet underserved and un-served population in the country. Efforts towards making financial services accessible become futile if they are not used by the intended population or are used without appropriate awareness of its risks and benefits. Thus, the other two parameters of RBI’s financial inclusion index, viz., usage and quality of the financial services cannot be overlooked while defining or measuring financial inclusion. Over the last few years this index has shown reasonable improvement, but there is a scope for improvement in some aspects.

    Current Scenario

    7. To get a perspective on the current scenario, it would be worthwhile to dwell a bit on some of the recent developments in the journey of financial inclusion in the country. Several policy measures towards furthering financial inclusion have been undertaken from time to time, but it was the launch of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) that became the watershed moment in this journey. The Jan Dhan Yojana – Aadhar – Mobile i.e., JAM trinity provided a quantum leap in our endeavour to ensure access to banking services for all adults, making it the world’s largest financial inclusion program. As of May 21, 20255, 55.44 crore Jan Dhan accounts, 56% of which belong to women, have over ₹2.5 lakh crore worth of deposits, which speaks volumes about the impact of the scheme. The provision of universal access to bank accounts has not only increased the potential reach of other financial services but has also enabled frictionless delivery of welfare programs to the targeted segment through adoption of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

    Digital Payments

    8. Access to a bank account is a prerequisite for availing other financial services, and a robust payments and settlements system is an indispensable enabler for proliferation of formal financial services. Over the past decade, the fundamentals of banking have changed with the advent of digital modes of banking like net banking and mobile banking as well as digital payments systems like Unified Payment Interface (UPI). In FY 2024-25, digital payments surged 35% Y-o-Y by volume to 60.81 crore transactions per day, with UPI accounting for 83.73% of such transactions6. The extraordinary uptake of UPI stands as a testament to the power of collaborative and use-case-driven innovation in driving financial inclusion. A particularly compelling example of this transformation can be seen in the informal sector—where today a street vendor or pop-up store owner nonchalantly places a QR code at the fore and receives payment for services without any hassle for cash and quietly integrating himself into the formal financial system with dignity and ease.

    9. For further expanding and deepening the digital payments ecosystem in the country, a Payments Infrastructure and Development Fund has been constituted to encourage deployment of payment acceptance infrastructure. Further, all State and Union Territory Level Bankers’ Committees have been advised to identify districts and assign them to designated banks, with an endeavour to make these districts 100 per cent digitally enabled. The objective is to provide every eligible individual in the identified district at least one mode of digital payments viz., cards, net banking, UPI, AEPS7, etc. It is understood that as on March 31, 2025, 514 districts across 15 states and 6 UTs are 100 percent digitally enabled. This marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a digitally inclusive economy.

    RBI’s financial inclusion index.

    10. RBI’s financial inclusion index, which captures the extent of financial inclusion across the country, with four iterations published till date, has increased from 60.1 in March 2023 to 64.2 in March 2024, showing a Y-o-Y increase of 6.82 per cent. While the progress is appreciable, credit gaps still exist in the system which may be attributed amongst others to a lack of documentation available with the individuals/ entities in the informal system and of awareness regarding the various government schemes. There is as such a need to make concerted efforts to fill them.

    Recent regulatory initiatives

    11. The RBI has been sensitive to need to bring about improvement in the financial inclusion in the country. Some of the measures taken recently in this regard include raising the limit for collateral-free agriculture loans to ₹2 lakh per borrower, enhancing various loan limits under PSL, expansion of the list of eligible borrowers under the category of ‘Weaker Sections’ alongwith removal of existing cap on loans by UCBs to women beneficiaries. The scope of co-lending is proposed to be broadened by expanding the list of permitted regulated entities (REs) that can enter a co-lending arrangement and extending the same beyond PSL loans. A comprehensive review of the Lead Bank Scheme is also underway with an objective to enhance the effectiveness and impact of the scheme.

    12. With respect to digital payments, permissible transaction limit on UPI Lite has been revised in FY 2025 from ₹500 to ₹1000 and on UPI 123PAY from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 to encourage their wider adoption. Further, with a view to promote digital payments among individuals without bank accounts, UPI Circle has been introduced which allows a secondary user to make UPI transactions up to a limit from the primary user’s bank account in a secure manner. Besides, in an effort to enhance ease of access to digital infrastructure for persons with disabilities, payment system participants (PSPs) have been advised to review their payment systems and devices and carry out necessary modifications so that all such systems and devices can be easily accessed and used by persons with disabilities.

    Financial Literacy

    13. Meaningful financial inclusion also requires access and awareness in right proportions for ensuring responsible and equitable service delivery of financial services. Therefore, financial literacy and financial inclusion need to be considered as two sides of the same coin – promoting financial inclusion without adequate financial literacy would lead to underutilization of financial services and increased chances of errors and frauds. Conversely, educating the consumers without facilitating their access to the formal financial system would result into unmet demand for financial services. The efforts towards augmenting financing literacy have been institutionalised by setting up of the National Centre of Financial Education (NCFE) jointly by the financial sector regulators. RBI as a regulator has been at the forefront of financial literacy with the launch of annual Financial Literacy Week campaigns targeted at specified sections of the population. Financial awareness empowers borrowers to assess and understand financial products, thereby supporting informed decision-making. To facilitate informed decision making by the customers and enhance transparency by the lenders, the RBI has mandated that all REs provide a standardised disclosure of key terms and conditions in the form of Key Fact Statement (KFS) to all retail and MSME borrowers.

    Challenges

    14. Even as all the stakeholders in the financial system, including the regulator and the REs, play their part in advancing financial inclusion, certain issues that act as impediments to the efforts made in this regard have come to the fore and will need to be addressed. Let me briefly highlight a few such issues.

    Grievance Redressal

    15. Having an effective grievance redressal mechanism is non-negotiable for financial sector enterprises as non-resolution of consumer’s concerns not only leads to erosion of customer base but also results in loss of trust in the broader financial system and deters new consumers from entering the system. It is concerning that the complaints received at the Offices of RBI Ombudsmen as well as Centralized Receipt and Processing Centres (CRPCs) marked a sharp 33% year-on-year increase8 in FY2023-24. This raises questions on the products, practices, and handling of grievances at the level of the RE. REs, therefore, need to analyse the gaps and strengthen their processes to reverse the trend of increasing grievances.

    Mis-selling

    16. While financial inclusion entails a bouquet of financial services, pushing the same indiscriminately to unaware consumers may be detrimental to their well-being and undermine its stated intent. There are reports of mis-selling of financial services such as insurance products. The concern is that such mis-selling without regard to suitability and appropriateness would beget distrust in schemes aimed at providing a safety net to the low-income households by creating artificial boundaries. We are examining whether it necessitates framing of guidelines to address mis-selling of financial products and services by REs.

    Cyber Safety and Digital Literacy

    17. As digitalization becomes more pervasive, the need for increasing digital literacy becomes even more pronounced. Empowering individuals to use digital devices and platforms with confidence and security is essential to ensuring inclusive participation in the digital economy. Often, apprehensions related to uncertainty, the possibility of errors, or financial loss create psychological barriers that hinder the adoption of technological solutions such as ATMs, mobile banking, and other digital services. The rising incidents of frauds through novel techniques makes it imperative that REs collaborate with other stakeholders like SROs, NGOs, etc. to generate awareness and promote safe digital practices among customers.

    18. At the same time, it is critical for REs to implement effective measures to combat digital frauds. One such area warranting attention is the use of One-Time Passwords (OTPs) as a means of Additional Factor Authentication (AFA). While this method has served well in the past, the evolving threat landscape in the arena of cybersecurity now calls for the development and adoption of more secure and resilient alternatives. Further, REs must diligently adopt the designated 160 number series9 for all service and transactional voice calls as prescribed by the Government. This initiative is critical to maintaining the integrity of communication channels and protecting customers from phishing and other forms of cyber-attacks.

    19. RBI has been running extensive multimedia awareness campaigns using audio-visual messages under the name ‘RBI Kehta Hai’ and text messages as ‘RBI Says’. Further, RBI has introduced the bank.in and fin.in domains exclusively for banks and non-bank entities to curb cyber security threats and malicious activities. Also, to aid the customers in verifying Digital Lending Apps’ (DLAs) association with RE, the RBI has created a public repository of DLAs deployed by the REs which will soon be available on RBI’s website.

    Developments in Microfinance

    20. Let me now focus on a few developments in Microfinance sector. Microfinance has placed itself as a promising avenue for providing formal financial services to the excluded sections of population. While microfinance has played an important role in financial inclusion, there are some issues which need attention. The sector continues to suffer from vicious cycle of over-indebtedness, high interest rates and harsh recovery practices. While some moderation in interest rates charged on microfinance loans has been observed in recent quarters, pockets of high interest rates and elevated margins continue to persist. Even lenders having access to low-cost funds have been found to be charging margins significantly higher than the rest of the industry and which in several instances appear to be excessive. The lenders should look beyond the conventional “high-yielding business” tag for the sector and approach it with an empathic and developmental perspective, recognising the socio-economic role that microfinance plays in empowering vulnerable communities.

    21. The frequency of disruptions in the microfinance sector has increased of late. Incidents of high borrower indebtedness, coupled with coercive recovery practices, sometimes lead to tragic consequences. It is in the collective interest of all stakeholders that such disruptions are pre-emptively addressed and avoided. In this regard, REs must also enhance their credit appraisal frameworks to prevent over-leveraging of borrowers. Additionally, they must eschew any coercive or unethical recovery practices, ensuring that financial services are delivered in a manner that is both responsible and sustainable. While the business model may be sound, the organisational structure and the incentive schemes framed to deliver the services may be flawed resulting in perverse outcomes for customers. This calls for an introspection around the models.

    Way Forward

    22. Even as we reflect on some of these challenges, we need to be clear about the path that we must take to ensure greater financial inclusion. As we look to the future, the way forward for financial inclusion lies in the strategic deployment of emerging technologies to build a more accessible, equitable, and efficient financial ecosystem. Innovations such as AI, blockchain, and digital public infrastructure are revolutionizing how financial services are delivered, especially to the underserved and remote communities. One such innovation in this space is the Account Aggregator (AA) framework. By empowering individuals to securely share their financial data with consent, the AA system enables more accurate credit assessments and potentially facilitates the delivery of customized financial products. Building on this foundation, the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) standardizes and streamlines the digital lending process by providing lenders with a host of alternate data including digitised state land records, milk pouring data and satellite data. It’s RBI’s belief that the JAM trinity will be followed by the new trinity of JAM-UPI-ULI in revolutionizing digital infrastructure and credit delivery and provide necessary fillip to financial inclusion efforts, pushing it to new highs.

    23. The development and implementation of India Stack has revolutionised the banking landscape in India and has been instrumental in furthering financial inclusion by reducing infrastructural, geographical, and linguistic frictions and plugging leakages. REs have been encouraged to innovate in product design, offering solutions that reflect the unique needs of their customer base; for instance, offering flexibility in repayment schedules, variable savings contributions, and locally tailored financial products shaped by seasonal income cycles, occupational patterns, or behavioural tendencies. Such customisation can go a long way in further improving access, usage, and quality of financial services. REs can bring some of these innovations under the theme neutral ‘On Tap’ Regulatory Sandbox framework, which provides a structured environment for testing state-of-the-art solutions in the interest of consumers and financial stability. As connectivity can pose challenges in remote and rural areas, REs can explore the development of lightweight mobile applications and web interfaces optimised for low-bandwidth environments. These measures will go a long way in extending the reach of digital financial services to the last mile, thereby ensuring inclusive and accessible banking for all.

    24. A lot has been achieved in the journey for achieving financial inclusion thus far, yet a lot more needs to be done. It cannot be merely achieved by standalone policy initiatives but by implementation of such initiatives both in letter and spirit by all stakeholders in the financial ecosystem. Also, those who remain outside the ambit of formal finance today represent untapped potential that can meaningfully contribute to economic growth in the future. The dividends of such inclusion will not only accrue to the institutions involved but will also strengthen the foundation of a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous society. Financial inclusion should not be viewed as an act of philanthropy, but rather as a strategic investment in the nation’s economic and social development. With the right mix of well thought of and carefully crafted regulation, technological advancement, and institutional empathy, our collective efforts can dismantle longstanding barriers and usher in a new era of inclusive and sustainable financial growth – one that leaves no citizen behind and resonates far beyond set boundaries.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Large Exposures Framework – Amendment in the list of exempted exposures

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/48
    DOR.CRE.REC.27/21.01.003/2025-26

    June 9, 2025

    All Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding Regional Rural Banks)

    Madam / Dear Sir,

    Large Exposures Framework – Amendment in the list of exempted exposures

    Please refer to paragraph 3.1 of the Annex to the circular DBR.No.BP.BC.43/21.01.003/2018-19 dated June 03, 2019 on ‘Large Exposures Framework’ (LEF) in terms of which “deposits maintained with NABARD on account of shortfall in achievement of targets for priority sector lending” are excluded from being considered for exposure limits under LEF.

    2. In this connection, it is advised that in addition to NABARD, the above exemption shall also be applicable to contribution made by the scheduled commercial banks to funds with NHB, SIDBI, MUDRA Ltd., or any other entity specified by RBI, on account of shortfall in achievement of targets for priority sector lending.

    3. The above instruction is applicable with immediate effect.

    Yours faithfully,

    (Vaibhav Chaturvedi)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Non-achievement of PSL targets – Prudential treatment of contribution towards eligible funds with NABARD, NHB, SIDBI and MUDRA Ltd.

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/49
    DoR.CRE.REC.28/07.10.002/2025-26

    June 9, 2025

    Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks other than Salary Earners’ Banks

    Madam / Dear Sir,

    Non-achievement of PSL targets – Prudential treatment of contribution towards eligible funds with NABARD, NHB, SIDBI and MUDRA Ltd.

    A. Exemption from exposure norms

    In terms of para 2.1 of circular DOR (PCB).BPD.Cir No.10/13.05.000/2019-20 dated March 13, 2020 on ‘Limits on exposure to single and group borrowers/parties and large exposures and Revision in the target for priority sector lending – UCBs’, the prudential exposure limits for UCBs for a single borrower/party and a group of connected borrowers/parties are specified as 15 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, of their tier-I capital.

    2. On a review, it has been decided that the contribution1 by UCBs towards eligible funds with NABARD, NHB, SIDBI, MUDRA Ltd., or any other entity specified by RBI, on account of shortfall in PSL targets shall not be included while computing the aggregate exposure of a UCB to such counterparties for the purpose of deciding the above prudential exposure limits.

    B. Risk weight

    3. It is further clarified that contribution by UCBs towards above eligible funds on account of shortfall in PSL targets, shall fall under the category of ‘all other assets’, attracting a risk weight of 100 per cent2 for capital adequacy purposes, in terms of Annexure 1 of the RBI circular UBD.No.POT.PCB.Cir.No.45/09.116.00/2000-01 dated April 25, 2001 on ‘Application of Capital Adequacy Norms to Urban (Primary) Co-operative Banks’.

    C. Applicability

    4. The above instructions are applicable with immediate effect.

    Yours faithfully,

    (Vaibhav Chaturvedi)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Basel III Capital Regulations – External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI)

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    RBI/2025-26/50
    DOR.STR.REC.29/21.06.008/2025-26

    June 09, 2025

    All Scheduled Commercial Banks
    (including Small Finance Banks)
    (excluding Local Area Banks, Payments Banks and Regional Rural Banks)

    Dear Sir/ Madam,

    Basel III Capital Regulations – External Credit Assessment Institution (ECAI)

    Please refer to paragraph 6.1.2 of the Master Circular No. DOR.CAP.REC.2/21.06.201/2025-26 dated April 1, 2025 on Basel III Capital Regulations, wherein the list of domestic credit rating agencies accredited for the purpose of risk weighting banks’ claims for capital adequacy purposes has been prescribed.

    2. A reference is also invited to the circular DOR.STR.REC.26/21.06.008/2024-25 dated July 10, 2024 in terms of which, banks were permitted to use the ratings of Brickwork Ratings India Private Limited (BRIPL) for risk weighting their claims for capital adequacy purposes subject to the restrictions/limits specified therein.

    3. On a review, it has been decided to remove the restrictions/ limits placed on the use of ratings of BRIPL by the banks.

    4. All other provisions regarding external credit ratings stipulated in the Master Circular ibid remain unchanged.

    Yours faithfully,

    (Vaibhav Chaturvedi)
    Chief General Manager

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ADB, CGIAR, and Gates Foundation Partner to Transform Rice Sector, Uplift Millions of Smallholder Farmers in Asia and the Pacific

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    ADB and CGIAR, with support from the Gates Foundation, have launched a new initiative to boost investments in sustainable and low-carbon rice production with the aim of improving the lives of millions of vulnerable smallholder farmers across Asia and the Pacific.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Development Asia: Moa Housing: A Small-Scale Approach to Transform Seoul’s Aging Neighborhoods

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Introduction

    The city of Seoul’s Moa Housing initiative is an innovative urban renewal strategy launched in 2022 to revitalize aging, low-rise residential areas that are difficult to redevelop on a larger scale. These neighborhoods—developed in the 1960s and 1980s—consist of compact, multi-family housing districts with narrow streets, insufficient parking, outdated infrastructure, and limited green spaces.

    To overcome these challenges, the initiative introduces a new model that consolidates small plots of land for collective development, enabling residents to build high-quality housing while securing underground parking, green spaces, and other infrastructure. Once consolidated and infrastructure is established, these areas are designated as “Moa Towns.”

    Unlike conventional redevelopment—which can take 10 years and require two-thirds of buildings to be in poor condition—Moa Housing operates on a faster four to five-year timeline. It streamlines the process and offers favorable conditions, including regulatory exemptions and incentives. The program is built on resident participation, supported by public–private partnerships, and aims to provide 30,000 new homes across 100 Moa Towns in 25 years, with the first town scheduled for completion in 2028.

    What is the Moa Housing initiative?

    Moa Housing is a maintenance project in which homeowners collectively own and manage individual parcels of land and develop them together into high-quality housing on a block-by-block basis. It is a small-scale urban renewal model focused on low-rise residential areas that are hard to redevelop under traditional large-scale projects.

    How does the Moa Housing model work?

    The model gathers low-rise areas (within 100,000 square meters) with a mix of old and new buildings, establishes a regional unit, and creates a management plan. Once underground parking and green spaces are secured, the area is designated as a “Moa Town” and implemented through a streamlined process with better incentives than conventional redevelopment.

    What problems does Moa Housing address?

    Moa Housing targets long-standing issues common in aging, low-rise neighborhoods that hinder livability and safety. These include:

    • High-density housing areas with illegal parking and resident conflict
    • Narrow streets that obstruct fire trucks and emergency response
    • Topographical challenges that make access during emergencies and evacuation difficult
    • Inadequate infrastructure such as parking lots, parks, and green space
    • Fragmented development when using building-by-building improvements

    How does Moa Housing differ from conventional redevelopment?

    Moa Housing offers a more flexible and expedited alternative to traditional redevelopment models. Key differences include the following:

    • Traditional redevelopment requires at least two-thirds of buildings be in poor condition—Moa Housing does not.
    • Projects can proceed without major building deterioration in hard-to-develop locations.
    • Moa Housing projects are exempt from architectural and urban management standards, such as height and floor area ratio, as long as site conditions are met.
    • Timeline is significantly faster: 4–5 years versus 10 years or more for conventional projects.

    How are Moa Towns selected?

    There are two methods:

    • A contest conducted by borough offices
    • Consultation based on residents’ proposals

    After meeting eligibility conditions, a management plan must be submitted to the autonomous district. The required conditions are:

    • At least two cooperatives must be established to implement small-scale housing maintenance.
    • Consent from at least two-thirds of the land area targeted by the project must be obtained.

    As of June 2025, 111 neighborhoods have been selected as Moa Town project sites. One site is currently under construction and expected to be completed around 2028.

    What happens once an area is designated as a Moa Town?

    Each autonomous district prepares a Moa Town Management Plan, which is shared with residents and reviewed by a committee. After approval, the plan is granted legal status as a “small housing maintenance management area.” The project then proceeds.

    What financial support does the city provide?

    The Seoul Metropolitan Government pledges to provide 70% of the establishment cost (up to 380 million won per site) for management plan formulation. The remaining 30% is covered by the district.

    What kinds of projects are included under Moa Housing?

    Moa Housing includes various small-scale maintenance types under the Small-scale Housing Maintenance Act:

    • Autonomous housing maintenance
    • Street housing maintenance
    • Small-scale reconstruction
    • Small-scale redevelopment

    Projects are implemented through joint development using architectural agreements.

    What types of improvements are made in Moa Towns?

    Moa Towns are designed to enhance livability through shared infrastructure and better land use. These improvements include:

    • Underground parking lots and increased green spaces
    • Community and shared facilities along low-rise streets
    • Upgraded living infrastructure, including community amenities
    • More integrated, accessible environments for residents

    What makes the business model feasible and attractive?

    The Moa Housing model streamlines redevelopment and offers strong financial and regulatory support, including:

    • Shorter business cycle of 4–5 years compared to 10 years
    • Exemptions from zoning and urban design rules
    • Upzoning and simplified commercial use changes
    • Government subsidies improve project profitability
    • Public architect support for design and planning

    Were there any early difficulties with the project?

    Residents initially had limited understanding of the project’s scope, and promotional efforts were insufficient. Momentum improved after the SH Corporation launched a pilot Moa Town site, focusing on areas with constraints (e.g., height restrictions) and helping raise awareness.

    What are some example sites of Moa Housing in action?

    • An old low-rise residential area near Jungnang Station with a high density of multi-family dwellings.
    • Junghwa 1-dong, Jungnang-gu: Existing dilapidated housing is being transformed into a complex with new infrastructure and essential amenities.

    What are the long-term goals and outcomes of the project?

    Moa Housing aims to transform Seoul’s aging neighborhoods into vibrant, sustainable communities. Its key goals include:

    • Deliver 30,000 homes in 25 years
    • Designate 100 Moa Towns across Seoul
    • Rejuvenate aging districts while addressing housing shortages
    • Enhance quality of life and revitalize local economies
    • Promote energy-efficient buildings, green spaces, and job creation

    How does Moa Housing promote inclusion and diversity in housing?

    By providing a range of housing types, the initiative accommodates varied income levels and lifestyles, promoting a more inclusive housing market.

    The Moa Town project is predicated on the principle of community participation, with residents playing an active role in the planning and execution of the project. Residents are directly involved in the planning and implementation of the project, creating a customized residential environment that reflects the actual needs and wants of the residents. The development of the local economy is twofold: (i) it contributes to improving living spaces, and (ii) it contributes to the economic development of the local area.

    What are the economic development benefits?

    Moa Housing injects public funds into key infrastructure like public parking and parks, which improves local conditions and boosts business profitability. The simplified regulatory framework enhances efficiency for developers.

    What partnerships support Moa Housing?

    Moa Housing is driven by collaboration between the public and private sectors to ensure efficient project delivery. This joint approach ensures cost-effective execution.

    • Public sector: responsible for licensing, financing, and infrastructure
    • Private sector: responsible for construction and project implementation

    Figure 1: Overview of available support for joint project

    Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government.

    What are the risks or drawbacks of the model?

    While Moa Housing offers many benefits, it also faces some limitations that can impact implementation:

    • Higher construction costs than typical redevelopment
    • Requires resident consent, which may be hard to obtain
    • Less popular than large-scale complexes
    • As a new initiative, outcomes are not yet fully determined

    When selectively applied, Moa Housing facilitates more efficient urban maintenance.

    What lessons can cities learn from Moa Housing?

    The initiative provides valuable insights into small-scale, community-centered urban renewal:

    • Supports structural change in low-rise housing at appropriate densities
    • Addresses issues such as isolated projects, inadequate infrastructure, and disconnected living environments
    • Demonstrates how community engagement, sustainable design, and localized planning can deliver high-impact results
    • Offers a scalable, replicable model for other urban centers facing similar renewal challenges

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: BYD’s growth hinges on EV demand stability and financial transparency, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    BYD’s growth hinges on EV demand stability and financial transparency, says GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    Following the news that China-based electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD Co Ltd is under scrutiny as its rapidly rising accounts payables raise concerns over a potential hidden debt burden;

    Murthy Grandhi, Company Profiles Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

    “BYD posted record 2024 results with revenues of $108.1 billion (CNY777.1 billion) (+29% year-on-year (YoY)) and net profit of $5.6 billion (CNY40.2 billion) (+34% YoY). However, experts warn that the company’s growing reliance on supply chain financing could expose it to serious financial risks if market conditions deteriorate.

    “Despite holding $17.8 billion (CNY102.5 billion) in cash and reducing total debt to $5.8 billion (CNY194.2 billion), BYD’s accounts payables rose 24.3% YoY to $33.6 billion (CNY241.6 billion) in 2024, reaching $34.9 billion (CNY250.8 billion) by March 2025. Over five years, this figure has grown at a CAGR of 41.2%, outpacing both revenue and profit growth.

    “BYD’s financing method involves issuing commercial paper to suppliers, who then sell it to banks. These are treated as trade finance, not corporate debt. However, if credit sentiment shifts, this paper could trade below par. Banks may demand cash, suppliers may go unpaid, and production lines could stall—like Evergrande’s liquidity crisis.

    “The broader risk is systemic. BYD anchors a vast ecosystem of parts suppliers, particularly in Guangdong and Hunan provinces, employing over 900,000 people. A disruption in payments could trigger a liquidity shock across the supply chain.

    “GlobalData emphasizes that this model is only vulnerable under significant market stress. If EV demand drops or credit tightens, BYD may need to accelerate supplier payments or seek external funding—both of which could strain its liquidity. BYD’s capacity to sustain growth while ensuring financial transparency will be vital to preserving investor confidence amid its increasingly leveraged expansion.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the ASEAN Committee in Oslo

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, started off his working visit to Norway with the meeting with the ASEAN Committee in Oslo (ACO), on 9 June 2025. During the meeting, Dr. Kao thanked the Committee for its active role and contribution in promoting the profile and visibility of ASEAN in Norway, and in enhancing ASEAN-Norway relations. Dr. Kao also shared thoughts on ways to further strengthen the ASEAN-Norway Sectoral Dialogue Partnership and briefed the Committee on the latest developments in ASEAN. The Meeting was followed by a dinner reception with the ACO and other key stakeholders, including Norway-ASEAN Business Association, where Dr. Kao delivered remarks reaffirming ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to deepening its partnership with Norway in the years to come.
     
    Download the full remarks here.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the ASEAN Committee in Oslo appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new features that push iPad even further

    Source: Apple

    Headline: iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new features that push iPad even further

    June 9, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new features that push the capabilities and versatility of iPad even further

    iPadOS 26 brings a new design; an entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system; new features powered by Apple Intelligence; major enhancements to working with files, audio, and video; and more

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today previewed iPadOS 26, the biggest iPadOS release ever, taking a huge leap forward and pushing the unique capabilities and versatility of iPad even further. A beautiful design brings a new look to iPad, making the experience even more expressive and delightful. While maintaining the simplicity of iPad, iPadOS 26 introduces an entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system with new features that help users control, organize, and switch between apps. Apple Intelligence becomes even more capable and integrated across iPadOS 26, with new features that help users communicate, express themselves, and get things done, including Live Translation, new ways to create with Genmoji and Image Playground,1 and intelligent actions with Shortcuts. The supercharged Files app offers new ways to organize files and customize folders. And with Folders in the dock, users can conveniently access downloads, documents, and more from anywhere. The Preview app comes to iPad, giving users a dedicated app to view and edit PDFs, with powerful features like Apple Pencil Markup and AutoFill built in. And with Background Tasks, audio input selection, and Local capture, iPadOS 26 unlocks new capabilities for creative pros working with audio and video.

    “iPadOS 26 is our biggest iPadOS release ever, with powerful features that take the experience to the next level and transform what users can do on iPad,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “With a beautiful new design, an entirely new powerful and intuitive windowing system, even more features powered by Apple Intelligence, huge improvements to working with files, and new capabilities for creatives to power their workflows, iPadOS 26 makes our most versatile device even more capable.”

    A Beautiful New Design

    The beautiful new design brings more expressive and delightful experiences to iPad users, while maintaining the familiarity of iPadOS. It’s crafted with Liquid Glass — a translucent new material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, while reacting to user input and dynamically transforming to bring greater focus to the content they care about most. It enables a new level of vitality across experiences like the Lock Screen and Control Center, and gives users new ways to personalize their Home Screen with updated app icons that come to life in light or dark appearances, colorful new light and dark tints, as well as an elegant new clear look. And updated controls and navigation extend to apps including Mail, Safari, Apple TV, Apple Music, and more.

    An Entirely New Powerful and Intuitive Windowing System

    iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new features that help users work with, control, organize, and switch between app windows — all while maintaining the immediacy and simplicity that iPad users expect. The new windowing system lets users fluidly resize app windows, place them exactly where they want, and open even more windows at once.

    Familiar window controls allow users to seamlessly close, minimize, resize, or tile their windows. Window tiling is designed for the unique capabilities of iPad, and enables users to arrange their windows with a simple flick. If a user previously resized an app, it opens back in the exact same size and position when they open it again. With Exposé, users can quickly see all their open windows spread out, helping them easily switch to the one they need. The new windowing system works great with Stage Manager for those who want to group their windows into distinct stages, and with an external display for those who want even more space to work across their apps.2

    With a new menu bar, users can access the commands available in an app with a simple swipe down from the top of the display, or by moving their cursor to the top. Users can quickly find a specific feature or related tips in an app by using search in the menu bar. Additionally, developers can now customize the menu bar in their own apps.

    New Features Powered by Apple Intelligence

    Apple Intelligence, the personal intelligence system that delivers helpful and relevant intelligence while taking an extraordinary step forward for privacy in AI, becomes even more capable and even more integrated across iPadOS 26. Live Translation in Phone, FaceTime, and Messages enables iPad users to communicate seamlessly across languages. In Messages, incoming texts — including group messages — are automatically translated into the user’s preferred language.3 On FaceTime, a user can follow along with translated live captions while still hearing the speaker’s voice. And when on a phone call, the translation is spoken aloud throughout the conversation.4

    iPadOS 26 brings users new ways to create Genmoji, giving them the ability to start with existing emoji and descriptions, modify personal attributes like hair length or accessories, and select expressions. Users will also have more control of personal attributes and expressions in Image Playground, and can tap into brand-new styles with ChatGPT, like an oil painting style for a friend’s Contact Poster. For moments when users have a specific idea in mind, they can tap Any Style and describe exactly what they want. And Image Playground can now send a user’s description or photo to ChatGPT and create a unique image.

    Shortcuts features new intelligent actions that allow users to create shortcuts that are more powerful than ever, including summarizing text with Writing Tools and creating images with Image Playground. Users can also tap directly into Apple Intelligence models to provide responses that feed into the rest of their shortcuts. For example, a student can build a shortcut that uses Apple Intelligence models to compare an audio transcription of a class lecture to the notes they took, and add any key points they may have missed.

    Powerful New Ways to Work with Files

    iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new ways to manage, access, and edit files. An enhanced Files app with an updated List view allows users to see more of their document details in resizable columns and collapsible folders. To make folders easier to identify at a glance, Files also offers folder customization options that include custom colors, icons, and emoji that sync across devices. For quicker access, users can now drag any folder from the Files app right into the Dock. Additionally, users can set a default app for opening specific files or file types.

    The Preview App Comes to iPad

    Preview comes to iPad, giving users a dedicated app for creating a quick sketch, as well as viewing, editing, and marking up PDFs and images with Apple Pencil or by touch. Users can access all of their PDFs and images in the Files app right from Preview, create an empty page, use Apple Pencil to draw and write on it, and use AutoFill to quickly fill out PDF forms.

    New Ways to Work with Apps

    Taking advantage of the incredible power of Apple silicon, iPadOS 26 unlocks the ability to perform computationally intensive Background Tasks. When users start a long-running process in an app, Background Tasks will show up with Live Activities, giving users complete control and a clear sense of what is running. And developers can use an updated Background Tasks API that allows users to perform long-running tasks from their apps, too.

    iPadOS 26 also brings new audio features that offer more flexible input and streamlined recording. Users now have better control over their audio input, with the ability to choose different microphones for each app, as well as individual websites. Recorded audio will be made even better with the availability of Voice Isolation, which blocks ambient noise, and allows clear and crisp recordings. And with AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and AirPods Pro 2, studio-quality audio recording allows users to record their content with great sound quality and enjoy clear calls.

    With Local capture, users can produce high-quality recordings right from iPad with any video conferencing app, and easily share audio and video files once the call is over. Echo cancellation of other participants’ audio keeps the user’s voice front and center, allowing for a clear recording of their side of the call.

    New Apps, Plus More Ways to Communicate

    With iPadOS 26, Journal comes to iPad, making it easy for users to capture and write about the details of everyday moments or special events. Using Apple Pencil or touch, users can incorporate drawings and handwriting, along with photos, videos, audio recordings, places, their state of mind, and more. Users can keep multiple journals for various aspects of life, and now have access to a beautiful map view that organizes entries by location.

    The all-new Apple Games app brings users a new home for gaming, and iPadOS 26 introduces Game Overlay, which allows users to quickly see new events and updates, adjust settings, call or invite a friend mid-game, and more.

    The Messages app brings conversation Backgrounds, which lets a user personalize their chats with stunning designs and create unique backgrounds that fit their conversation with Image Playground. Messages also brings Polls and a redesigned details view that helps users easily navigate what has been shared in a conversation, and supercharges group chats with typing indicators, as well as the ability to request and receive Apple Cash.5 Additionally, the Phone app comes to iPad, and includes updates like Hold Assist6 and Call Screening.7

    Additional iPadOS 26 updates:

    • Available in the tool palette, the new reed pen uses stroke-angle presets to enable a traditional calligraphy experience with Apple Pencil or touch in apps like Notes, Preview, Freeform, and Journal; when using Markup; and in third-party apps using the PencilKit API.
    • Calculator introduces new 3D graphing capabilities in Math Notes, allowing users to write an equation with three variables and create a graph in three dimensions.
    • Notes adds the ability to import and export a note into a markdown file, along with support for capturing conversations in the Phone app as audio recordings with transcriptions.
    • Accessibility features include Accessibility Reader, a new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users who are blind, have low vision, or have other disabilities affecting reading; an all-new Braille Access experience that offers a user-friendly interface for users with a connected braille display; Share Accessibility Settings to temporarily use accessibility settings on another person’s device; and more.

    Availability

    All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. New software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPad Pro (M4), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (A16), iPad (8th generation and later), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad mini (5th generation and later). The Apple Intelligence features detailed require supported devices, which include all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad and Mac models with M1 and later that have Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri and device language set to the same supported language: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese (simplified). More languages will be coming by the end of this year: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (traditional), and Vietnamese. For more information, visit apple.com/os/ipados and apple.com/apple-intelligence. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Genmoji and Image Playground are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, and Japanese.
    2. Full external display support is available with iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), and iPad Pro (M4).
    3. Live Translation in Messages supports English (U.S., UK), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), and Chinese (simplified).
    4. Live Translation in Phone and FaceTime is available for one-on-one calls in English (U.S., UK), French (France), German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain).
    5. Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Green Dot Bank for Apple Cash accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Learn more about the terms and conditions. Only available in the U.S. on eligible devices.
    6. Hold Assist supports English (U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK), French (France), Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Spain), German (Germany), Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese (Japan), and Mandarin Chinese (mainland China).
    7. Call Screening supports Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), English (U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, UK), French (Canada, France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Korean (Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland, Taiwan, Macao), Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain).

    Press Contacts

    Tara Courtney

    Apple

    tcourtney@apple.com

    Skylar Eisenhart

    Apple

    s_eisenhart@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26

    June 9, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26

    The release delivers a stunning new design, powerful Apple Intelligence capabilities, new ways to stay connected in the Phone and Messages apps, and exciting updates to CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today previewed iOS 26, a major update that brings a beautiful new design, intelligent experiences, and improvements to the apps users rely on every day. The new design provides a more expressive and delightful experience across the system while maintaining the instant familiarity of iOS. Integrated throughout the system and built with privacy from the ground up, Apple Intelligence gets even more capable. Updates to the Phone and Messages apps help users stay connected while eliminating distractions like unwanted calls. iOS 26 also introduces new features in CarPlay, Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet, as well as Apple Games, a brand-new app that gives players a single destination for all their games.

    “iOS 26 shines with the gorgeous new design and meaningful improvements to the features users rely on every day, making iPhone even more helpful,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering. “Experiences are more expressive and personal, from the Lock Screen and Home Screen, to new capabilities across Phone and Messages that help users focus on the connections that matter most. And with powerful new Apple Intelligence capabilities integrated across the system, users can get things done easier than ever.”

    A Beautiful New Look

    The new design makes apps and system experiences more expressive and delightful, while keeping iOS instantly familiar. It’s crafted with Liquid Glass — a new translucent material that reflects and refracts its surroundings, bringing greater focus to content, and delivering a new level of vitality across controls, navigation, app icons, widgets, and more. The new design extends to the Home Screen and Lock Screen, making them more personal and expressive than ever. Liquid Glass also brings new customization options to app icons and widgets, including a stunning clear look.

    On the Lock Screen, the time fluidly adapts to the available space in an image, and spatial scenes bring wallpapers to life with a 3D effect when users move iPhone. Updated design elements also deliver fresh experiences in apps. A simplified, streamlined Camera layout helps users keep their attention on the moment they’re capturing, and the Photos app is updated to feature separate tabs for Library and Collections views. In Safari, web pages flow from the top edge to the bottom of the screen, enabling users to see more of the page while maintaining access to frequently used actions like refresh and search. In Apple Music, News, and Podcasts, the tab bar is redesigned to float above users’ content, dynamically shrink when users are browsing to put content front and center, and then expand when they scroll back up.

    An updated set of APIs provides developers with access to Liquid Glass materials and components so they can make their apps appear just as dynamic and delightful.

    New Capabilities Powered by Apple Intelligence

    Apple Intelligence elevates the iPhone experience and helps users get things done easier than ever, while unlocking new ways to communicate and do more with what’s on their screen. Live Translation is integrated into Messages, FaceTime, and Phone to help users communicate across languages, translating text and audio on the fly.1 Live Translation is enabled by Apple-built models that run entirely on device, so users’ personal conversations stay personal.

    Building on Apple Intelligence, visual intelligence extends to a user’s iPhone screen so they can search and take action on anything they’re viewing across apps. Users can ask ChatGPT questions about what they’re looking at onscreen to learn more, as well as search Google, Etsy, or other supported apps to find similar images and products. Visual intelligence also recognizes when a user is looking at an event and suggests adding it to their calendar, repopulating key details like date, time, and location.2

    Genmoji and Image Playground provide users with even more ways to express themselves, including mixing their favorite emoji, Genmoji, and descriptions together to create something new.3

    Shortcuts are now more powerful and intelligent than ever. Users can tap into intelligent actions, a whole new set of shortcuts enabled by Apple Intelligence, and will see dedicated actions for features like Writing Tools and Image Playground.

    Apple Intelligence can now automatically identify and summarize order tracking details from emails sent from merchants and delivery carriers, giving users the ability to see their full order details and progress notifications all in one place — even for purchases not made with Apple Pay.

    Additionally, a new Foundation Models framework opens up access for any app to tap directly into the on-device foundation model at the core of Apple Intelligence, giving developers direct access to powerful intelligence that’s fast, built with privacy at its core, and available offline, using AI inference that is free of cost.

    Features for Staying Connected and Eliminating Interruptions

    Fundamental to the iPhone experience, the Phone app now offers a unified layout that combines Favorites, Recents, and Voicemails all in one place. Call Screening builds on Live Voicemail and helps eliminate interruptions by gathering information from the caller and giving users the details they need to decide if they want to pick up or ignore the call.4 And for the times when a user is stuck on hold, Hold Assist notifies the user when a live agent is available.5

    In Messages, users can now screen messages from unknown senders, giving them more control over who appears in their conversation list. Messages from unknown senders will appear in a dedicated folder where users can then mark the number as known, ask for more information, or delete. These messages will remain silenced until a user accepts them.

    iOS 26 also offers enhancements to conversations, including custom backgrounds and the ability to create polls. With Apple Intelligence, Messages can detect when a poll might come in handy and suggest one, and users can generate unique backgrounds that fit their conversation with Image Playground. Additionally, in group chats, users can now see typing indicators, and request, send, and receive Apple Cash.6

    Enhancements to CarPlay

    CarPlay — the smarter, safer way to use iPhone while driving — is used over 600 million times per day, and now with iOS 26, it receives updates that make it even more beautiful and easy to use. The stunning design includes a new compact view for incoming calls, allowing users to see who’s calling without missing key information like upcoming directions. iOS 26 also brings Tapbacks and pinned conversations to Messages in CarPlay, and with widgets and Live Activities, users can stay in the loop without losing focus on the road. These updates also come to CarPlay Ultra, which brings the best of iPhone and the best of the car together for a deeply integrated, unified experience across every screen.

    Updates to Apple Music, Maps, and Wallet

    In Apple Music, Lyrics Translation helps users understand the words to their favorite songs, while Lyrics Pronunciation allows everyone to sing along, regardless of language. AutoMix uses intelligence to transition from one song to the next like a DJ, using time stretching and beat matching to seamlessly move from one song to the next.

    In Apple Maps, Visited Places help users remember the places they’ve been. Users can choose to have iPhone detect when they’re at a place like a restaurant or shop, and view all of their Visited Places in Maps. Visited Places are protected with end-to-end encryption and cannot be accessed by Apple. Additionally, iPhone can now use on-device intelligence to better understand a user’s daily route, presenting them with their preferred route when they’re headed home or to the office, along with notifying them of delays and offering alternate routes.

    Updates in Apple Wallet help make everyday interactions with the physical world easier than ever. Users can choose to pay with installments or rewards when they make in-store purchases with Apple Pay using iPhone. Refreshed boarding passes in Wallet offer the ability to see and share Live Activities for real-time updates on a flight. They also provide convenient access to a traveler’s most relevant information, such as Maps to navigate airports, Find My to track important items and report missing bags, and more.

    Additional features in iOS 26:

    • Apple Games is a new app that gives players an all-in-one destination for their games. It helps players jump back into titles they love, find their next favorite, and have even more fun with friends. They’ll find out what’s happening across all their games, including major events and updates, so they never miss a moment. The Games app is also the best way to experience Apple Arcade, Apple’s game subscription service with more than 200 award-winning and highly rated games for the whole family.
    • AirPods are more versatile than ever with new features for AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and AirPods Pro 2. Building on the benefits of Voice Isolation, studio-quality audio recording allows iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to record their content with great sound quality and enjoy even clearer calls. With camera remote, users can press and hold the AirPods stem to take a photo or start and stop a video recording on iPhone or iPad.
    • Parents can now create or move kids into Child Accounts even more easily, taking advantage of a wide set of parental controls designed to keep children safe. Enhancements across Communication Limits, Communication Safety, and the App Store include parental approvals for contact requests from kids, blurring out sensitive content in FaceTime calls and photos in Shared Albums, and enabling parents to grant an exception for their child to download an app with an age rating that exceeds the app content restriction they set.
    • Browsing in Safari gets even more private with advanced fingerprinting protection extending to all browsing by default.
    • Powerful accessibility features include Accessibility Reader, which provides a customized systemwide reading experience, and Braille Access, an all-new interface for iPhone devices with connected braille displays. Updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, and more bring a new level of accessibility across the Apple ecosystem.

    Availability

    All of these features are available for testing starting today through the Apple Developer Program at developer.apple.com, and a public beta will be available through the Apple Beta Software Program next month at beta.apple.com. New software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone 11 and later. The Apple Intelligence features detailed require supported devices, which include all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad and Mac models with M1 and later that have Apple Intelligence enabled and Siri and device language set to the same supported language: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese (simplified). More languages will be coming by the end of this year: Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (traditional), and Vietnamese. For more information, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence. Features are subject to change. Some features may not be available in all languages or regions, and availability may vary due to local laws and regulations. For more information about availability, visit apple.com.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Live Translation in Messages supports English (U.S., UK), French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Spain), and Chinese (simplified). Live Translation in Phone and FaceTime is available for one-on-one calls in English (U.S., UK), French (France), German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain).
    2. The ability to add an event to a calendar with visual intelligence is available in English on all iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
    3. Genmoji and Image Playground are available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, and Japanese.
    4. Call Screening supports Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao), English (U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, UK), French (Canada, France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Korean (Korea), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland, Taiwan, Macao), Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain).
    5. Hold Assist supports English (U.S., Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, UK), French (France), Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Spain), German (Germany), Portuguese (Brazil), Japanese (Japan), and Mandarin Chinese (mainland China).
    6. Apple Cash services are provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Apple Payments Services LLC, a subsidiary of Apple Inc., is a service provider of Green Dot Bank for Apple Cash accounts. Neither Apple Inc. nor Apple Payments Services LLC is a bank. Learn more about the terms and conditions. Only available in the U.S. on eligible devices.

    Press Contacts

    Shane Bauer

    Apple

    shanebauer@apple.com

    Tania Olkhovaya

    Apple

    tolkhovaya@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Orenburgneft’s Environment-Oriented Investments Exceed 3 Billion Roubles in 2024

    Source: Rosneft

    Headline: Orenburgneft’s Environment-Oriented Investments Exceed 3 Billion Roubles in 2024

    Orenburgneft (part of Rosneft’s oil production complex) allocated more than 3 billion roubles to environmental protection activities in 2024, almost 13% more than in the previous year. Funds have been invested in implementing the gas programme, improving pipeline reliability, land remediation, improving the efficiency of industrial waste management, resource conservation, reforestation and water biodiversity conservation.

    As part of the targeted gas programme, in 2024 the main technological equipment was installed at the gas compressor station of the Donetsk-Syrtsky field and the construction of gas pipelines for the Eastern group of fields is being completed. These measures will enable additional volumes of associated gas to be routed to the Buzuluk gas processing plant, where the gas is processed to commercial quality and a large fraction of the hydrocarbons — a valuable raw material for the petrochemical industry — is removed.

    Investments in the implementation of the pipeline reliability improvement programme ensured the planned replacement of pipeline sections, repairs and pipe blocking. The stable operation of the industrial infrastructure is ensured, among other things, by diagnostics using modern equipment.

    The enterprise uses technologies that conserve resources. Last year, Orenburgneft reduced its energy consumption by 6.8 million tonnes of fuel equivalent, helping to improve the environmental performance of its production. Key initiatives included optimising the operation of pumping equipment in reservoir pressure maintenance systems, upgrading downhole oil production equipment and redesigning onshore infrastructure.

    The enterprise provides environmental monitoring of natural components. Air, water and soil are regularly sampled in areas where production activities take place. Methane emissions are monitored using advanced technology.

    Orenburgneft uses modern technologies to dispose of production waste. The by-products obtained are reused in industrial applications. The enterprise’s volunteers help protect the environment. For several years, employees have organised the collection of used plastic and paper. Local students take part in environmental campaigns organised by oil companies. In 2024, more than 12 tonnes of secondary raw materials were sent for recycling through joint efforts.

    Employees carry out voluntary clean-ups in the towns and cities where they work, along the banks of waterways, and organise community clean-up days. Over the past three years, oil workers have planted around 3,000 young pine, fir, lime and birch trees. Together with activists from the Movement of the Firsts, oil workers cleaned up the dendrological garden in the Buzuluk Forest National Park. Previously, with the help of the enterprise’s employees, a tourist trail was created in the reserve, which is integrated into the National Park’s network of ecological trails.

    The enterprise’s environmental efforts have been repeatedly recognised at various levels. In the regional competition Economy Leader, Orenburgneft has been recognised as the winner in the category Environmental Responsibility Leader for over 10 years.

    For reference:

    Orenburgneft, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, is engaged in production operations in Orenburg, Samara and Saratov regions. Cumulative oil production of the enterprise exceeds 470 million tonnes of oil.

    Department of Information and Advertising
    Rosneft
    April 9, 2025

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 9 myths about electric vehicles have taken hold. A new study shows how many people fall for them

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Bretter, Senior Research Fellow in Environmental Psychology, The University of Queensland

    More people believe misinformation about electric vehicles than disagree with it and even EV owners tend to believe the myths, our new research shows.

    We investigated the prevalence of misinformation about EVs in four countries – Australia, the United States, Germany and Austria. Unfortunately, we found substantial agreement with misinformation across all countries.

    People who endorsed false claims about EVs were, not surprisingly, significantly less likely to consider buying one.

    Electric vehicles are vital in the fight against climate change. But pervasive misinformation is a significant challenge to the technology’s uptake and has serious implications for the shift away from fossil fuels.

    Widespread agreement with false EV claims

    We conducted a survey of 4,200 people across the four countries who did not own an electric vehicle. We measured the extent to which they agreed with these nine misleading claims about electric vehicles:

    What we found

    The most widely believed myth was that electric vehicles are more likely to catch fire than petrol cars. Some 43–56% of people agreed with the statement, depending on the country.

    To tally the results, we looked at participants’ responses for all nine misinformation statements – more than 36,000 responses in all. We then calculated how many of these responses indicated agreement or disagreement.

    Of the 36,000 responses, 36% were in agreement with a statement and 23% were in disagreement. A further 24% were undecided and 17% did not know.

    Misinformation agreement was highest in Germany and lowest in the US, but the differences between nations were small.

    Agreement with misinformation was strongly correlated with a lack of support for electric vehicle policies and a lack of intention to buy an EV in future.

    A separate part of the research involved 2,100 people in the US, about half of whom owned an electric vehicle. Surprisingly, EV owners did not significantly differ in their agreement with misinformation compared to non-owners. This underscores how embedded the problem has become.

    Agreement with misinformation was strongly correlated with a lack of buying intention.
    Photo by Sebastian Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    It’s not about education

    We also examined the factors that make individuals more susceptible to EV misinformation.

    The strongest predictor was people who scored highly on a “conspiracy mentality” – in other words, they believed conspiracies were common in society, they saw the world through a lens of corruption and secret agendas, and distrusted institutions.

    People with progressive political and environmental views were less likely to endorse misinformation about EVs.

    A person’s scientific knowledge or level of education was not a predictor. This finding aligns with previous research, and suggests the pervasive endorsement of misinformation stems from distrust in institutions and expertise rather than from a lack of education.

    People with progressive political views were less likely to endorse EV misinformation.
    Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Grounds for optimism

    We tested whether misinformation could be reduced with two interventions among a different sample of US participants. One group was asked to converse with ChatGPT about their views on EV misinformation. The second was asked to read a traditional EV fact sheet from the US Department of Energy. On a third “control” group, no intervention was tested.

    Participants who engaged with either ChatGPT or the fact sheet before we surveyed them showed significantly lower endorsement of EV misinformation compared to the control group. This persisted at a follow-up session ten days after the survey.

    Notably, ChatGPT did not produce any misinformation about EVs. These results build upon existing research demonstrating ChatGPT’s potential to reduce endorsement of conspiracy theories.

    Misinformation about EVs poses significant challenges to uptake of the technology.
    Florian Wiegand/Getty Images

    How to tackle EV misinformation

    Our findings show misinformation about electric vehicles has a substantial foothold in Western nations. Susceptibility is not a matter of education or knowledge, but rather stems from distrust of established institutions and expertise.

    We also found people who engage with facts about electric vehicles are less likely to endorse misinformation.

    This suggests a dual strategy is needed to reduce misinformation about EVs. First, those who deliberately spread misinformation should be held accountable. And second, evidence-based information, including accessible AI tools, can be used to build public resilience against false claims.

    Matthew Hornsey receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Christian Bretter and Samuel Pearson do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 9 myths about electric vehicles have taken hold. A new study shows how many people fall for them – https://theconversation.com/9-myths-about-electric-vehicles-have-taken-hold-a-new-study-shows-how-many-people-fall-for-them-257557

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda H.A. Watson, Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University

    Solomon aligning the Starlink dish on the roof of his friend’s home in Vanuatu. Paul Basant

    In the past few years, Starlink’s satellite internet service has become available across much of the Pacific. This has created new challenges for regulators in Pacific Island countries: some have promoted Starlink while others have banned it.

    What is Starlink?

    Elon Musk founded the space technology company SpaceX in 2002, and owns about 44% of it.

    Among other projects, SpaceX has launched thousands of satellites into low-Earth orbit, where they circle the globe and enable internet connectivity at ground level. This service is offered through Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX.

    The first satellites were launched in 2019. Later the same year, Musk demonstrated the use of Starlink internet.

    It took a few years for access to be available in the Pacific region. The first known use was in Tonga in 2022, after a volcanic eruption and tsunami.

    Satellite internet in the Pacific

    Starlink is not the only company offering internet access via satellite technology. However, it is well known and has generated much interest in the Pacific.

    Other companies use satellites in low-Earth orbit, such as OneWeb. Another consumer offering comes from Kacific, which provides internet access via a geostationary satellite high above the Pacific. This type of satellite moves at the same speed as Earth spins, so it appears to stay in the same place from ground level.

    Starlink access is available in many of the 18 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum, such as Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. In several of those, there are both resellers and retailers.

    Authorised resellers can sell Starlink products and services, meaning customers can buy Starlink kits and pay their monthly Starlink charges through these companies. Authorised retailers can only sell Starlink equipment.

    Gateways and barriers

    Nauru and Kosrae (a state in the Federated States of Micronesia) have recently launched more powerful Starlink connections called community gateways to improve internet access for their communities.

    Nauru’s gateway, reportedly the first in the Pacific, went live in December 2024. Kosrae’s followed in February 2025.

    In Niue, the government has banned the use of Starlink, warning users of fines or imprisonment for unauthorised use. Satellite provider Kacific continues to operate legally on the island.

    In Papua New Guinea, Starlink licensing is before the courts.

    Education and disasters

    Remote schools across Fiji and Solomon Islands are using Starlink services to improve connectivity in the hope it will enable access to online learning and digital resources. In Fiji, six rural schools now have internet access.

    In Malaita, in the Solomon Islands, Starlink is being used in classrooms, funded and supported by an initiative to make education more accessible. Kacific’s satellite internet service has also been used to connect schools in the Pacific.

    Starlink has been used for disaster communications. It is proving to be a crucial backup for undersea cables, which are vulnerable to natural disasters and service disruptions.

    Immediately after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Vanuatu on December 17 2024, causing an outage of the country’s sole submarine cable, Starlink was used to maintain communication. As traditional internet services failed, more than 300 Starlink units were quickly deployed, restoring connectivity for residents, businesses and emergency services.

    Fast-moving change

    Governance responses to Starlink have differed across the Pacific, impacting access for consumers.

    Where Starlink has been approved, people can buy equipment and pay monthly usage fees in local currency.

    In some countries, Starlink has been approved but no local resellers or retailers have been established yet. In these cases, people can access the service by ordering a kit directly from the official Starlink website, which offers international shipping to approved locations.

    Internet access options across the Pacific are changing rapidly. In several countries, Starlink has not yet officially launched.

    Further change is likely. For now, governance of Starlink among Pacific countries remains a mixed bag.

    Amanda H.A. Watson receives research funding from the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Pacific Research Program.

    Atishnal Elvin Chand 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. Starlink is transforming Pacific internet access – but in some countries it’s still illegal – https://theconversation.com/starlink-is-transforming-pacific-internet-access-but-in-some-countries-its-still-illegal-257905

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New handhelds combine the power of Xbox with the freedom of Windows 11

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: New handhelds combine the power of Xbox with the freedom of Windows 11

    Together, we’ve combined our strengths and technical expertise to introduce something entirely new: the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. These handhelds are built to make it easier than ever to access your favorite games—from Xbox, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts—all from a single device.

    This holiday, with ASUS, players can discover another way to play as we combine the power of Xbox with the freedom you expect from Windows. And this is only the beginning.

    Meet the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X

    • ROG Xbox Ally: The essential handheld at a great value for everyone from the casual player to the avid enthusiast.
    • ROG Xbox Ally X: The ultimate high-performance handheld, built for the most demanding players.

    Both handhelds allow players to play natively, via the cloud, or remotely with their Xbox console in another room.

    Next-Level Features Designed for Play Anywhere

    With the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, players can look forward to an approachable gaming experience that travels with you wherever you go, featuring several new and first-of-their kind features on both devices—from an immersive Xbox full screen experience, an aggregated gaming library with access to installed games from leading PC storefronts, and more.

    We’ve optimized Windows 11 to be easy to use on the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X from the moment you power on. Game Bar makes it easy to return home, browse your library, launch or quit games, chat with friends, open apps, adjust settings, and more. Now, with the integration of ASUS’s innovative Armoury Crate, Game Bar also gives you streamlined access to advanced device and input controls. Details like the lock screen and task switcher have also been adjusted for easy navigation with a controller.

    Because these handhelds run Windows, you have access to games you can’t get elsewhere, so you can enjoy the full freedom and versatility of PC gaming—download games from your favorite storefront, run apps like Discord, watch your favorite streamers on Twitch, and play with your favorite mods—all straight from the Xbox experience. The choice is yours.

    Introducing the Xbox Experience for Handheld

    When you power on your Xbox Ally, you’ll boot directly into the Xbox full screen experience, a new feature optimized specifically for handheld gaming. With new modifications that minimize background activity and defer non-essential tasks, more system resources are dedicated specifically to gameplay. That means more memory, higher framerates, and a fully immersive experience for players—all made possible by the versatility and freedom of Windows.

    The Xbox Ally has more familiar Xbox touches, including:

    • Xbox button: With a dedicated Xbox button, players have access to chat, apps, and settings through an enhanced Game Bar overlay, allowing you to quickly switch between running apps and games.
    • Contoured grips: Created with player comfort in mind, and using the same design principles as Xbox Wireless Controllers, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X feature contoured handgrips to accommodate a wider range of hand sizes.
    • Accessibility features: Game Bar and the Xbox app have also been optimized for handheld use, bringing along familiar accessibility features from Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, with much more to come in future.

    Easy Access to Games from Xbox, Leading PC Storefronts, and More

    Locating and accessing games across multiple channels can be a challenge —navigating through various browsers, storefronts, and login credentials can sometimes make gaming feel anything but fun. But with the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, getting into the fun is easier and faster than ever.

    Within the Xbox full screen experience, players will see their aggregated gaming library, giving them quick access to games from Xbox, Game Pass, Battle.net, and other leading PC storefronts. With this new feature, your Xbox library, hundreds of Game Pass titles (membership required), and all your installed games from other PC game stores are always at your fingertips.

    We’re also making handheld gaming more seamless through our investment in Xbox Play Anywhere. With support for over 1,000 games, a single purchase means you can play with Xbox, including your progress and achievements, across Xbox console, PC and Xbox Ally—at no additional cost. And when you power on your Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X, your favorite games are already there, ready to play. Whether you’ve been gaming on Xbox console, Xbox on PC, or in the cloud, everything syncs effortlessly. With Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) or Remote Play, you can access your full Xbox console library and keep playing—wherever you are.

    And yes…there’s still even more to come:

    • We’re excited to partner with Roblox for the launch of Xbox Ally. For the first time ever, Roblox will be playable natively and optimized for gaming handhelds, enabling players to play with millions of people and discover a variety of immersive games on day one.
    • We are working closely with our game developer partners on a brand-new program designed to help players easily identify which games have been optimized for handhelds, including the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. We will share more details soon. 
    • Players who purchase an Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X and are new to Game Pass will also be able to get started at no additional cost, accessing hundreds of games like Balatro, Gears Tactics, Vampire Survivors and more, straight from your device.
    • Players on either device will be able to tap into Gaming Copilot via Game Bar, a personalized gaming companion that helps you get to your favorite games faster, improve your skills, and connect you with your friends and communities.

    Two Great Choices & A First Look at Specs

    The Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are perfect for players looking to take an approachable gaming experience with you during travels— whether it’s between airports, or between the comfiest chairs in the living room.

    Both handhelds run on AMD processors that deliver premium gaming performance, immersive visuals, and more.

    The Xbox Ally offers great value for anyone looking to take their favorite games wherever they want to play, whether it’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Gears of War: Reloaded, Lies of P, South of Midnight, or many more. It’s powered by the AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor—balancing performance and power consumption to maximize battery life without sacrificing gameplay quality—16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.

    The Xbox Ally X offers more for players looking to get the best level of performance and visual settings from their favorite games on a handheld. It features the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor—allowing us to power the latest AI features as they are introduced— double the storage to have more native games at your fingertips, and 24GB of high-speed RAM that more demanding games crave. The Xbox Ally X also features impulse triggers for more immersive play.

    Here’s how the specs compare between the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X:

        ROG Xbox Ally   ROG Xbox Ally X  
    Operating System   Windows 11 Home   Windows 11 Home  
     Comfort & input    Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort. ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R Hall Effect analog triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU   Contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers deliver all-day comfort, complete with impulse triggers for enhanced control.  ABXY buttons / D-pad / L & R impulse triggers / L & R bumpers / Xbox button / View button / Menu button / Command Center button / Library button / 2x assignable back buttons / 2x full-size analog sticks / HD haptics / 6-Axis IMU  
    Processor   AMD Ryzen Z2 A Processor   AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme Processor  
    Memory   16GB LPDDR5X-6400   24GB LPDDR5X-8000  
    Storage   512GB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade   1TB M.2 2280 SSD for easier upgrade  
    Display   7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9  
    120Hz refresh rate  
    FreeSync Premium  
    Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection     		 7” FHD (1080p) IPS, 500 nits, 16:9  
    120Hz refresh rate  
    FreeSync Premium  
    Corning Gorilla Glass Victus + DXC Anti-Reflection 
    I/O Ports   2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4 / Power Delivery 3.0   1x USB4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, Thunderbolt 4 compatible  
    1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC)   1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0  
    1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack   1x UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC; UHS-I with DDR200 mode)  
        1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack  
    Network and Communication   Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4   Wi-Fi 6E (2 x 2) + Bluetooth 5.4  
    Dimensions   290.8*121.5*50.7mm   290.8*121.5*50.7mm  
    670g   715g  
    Battery   60Wh   80Wh  
    Included   ROG Xbox Ally  65W charger  Stand   ROG Xbox Ally X  65W charger  Stand  

    Pre-orders, Pricing, Accessories and More – Coming Soon

    At launch this holiday, the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X will be available in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with availability to follow for other markets where ROG Ally series products are sold today.

    But that’s not the only thing to look forward to. In the coming months, we’ll share even more details about the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, including pricing, compatible accessories, and pre-orders. Interested in pre-ordering? Please sign up here to be notified when pre-orders go live.

    We can’t wait to share more about the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we continue to fulfil our vision of delivering a consistent, approachable gaming experience anywhere—and meeting more players where you want to be.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: The future of data: Microsoft Fabric Community Conference coming to Atlanta March 16-20

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: The future of data: Microsoft Fabric Community Conference coming to Atlanta March 16-20

    The Microsoft Fabric Community Conference is back for its third year—and we’re bringing everything and everybody you’ve loved at past events with us to Atlanta, Georgia. After unforgettable experiences at FabCon in Las Vegas and Stockholm, the Fabric community proved just how powerful it can be when we come together. With more than 13,000 attendees across our last three conferences, it’s clear: the Microsoft Fabric community is here to drive the future of data!   

    And yes, we’re pleased to announce; it’s happening again! Mark your calendars for #FabCon Atlanta from March 16-20, 2026, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Join us for the ultimate Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, SQL, Real-Time Intelligence, AI, and Databases community-led event. The third annual FabCon Americas will feature two full days of workshops ahead of sessions from your favorite Microsoft and community speakers, keynotes in the State Farm Arena, more opportunities to Ask the Experts for 1:1 support, an engaging community lounge with opportunities to network and connect with your peers, a dedicated partner pre-day, a packed expo hall, Power Hour, the second annual Data Viz World Championship, and a can’t-miss attendee party at the Georgia Aquarium.   

    FabCon features expert-led content by Microsoft MVPs, the Microsoft product team, partners, and the community itself. Whether you’re here to dive into the latest in Fabric, sharpen your skills, or build connections with data pros from around the world, FabCon 2026 has something for everyone.  

    • Don’t miss out—Register here and use code MSCATL for a $200 discount on top of current Super Early Bird pricing!   

    We can’t wait to take Atlanta by storm to celebrate all things Microsoft Fabric—where learning, innovation, and community collide!  

    What are some of the best things about FabCon coming to Atlanta? 

    • The GWCC will easily hold the 7,500 anticipated attendees. 
    • Flights into Atlanta are frequent, affordable, accessible, and often nonstop from almost anywhere in the world. 
    • Easy access to the GWCC and downtown from the airport via Ride Share or mass transit.   
    • Hotel availability to meet our needs within a five-block radius.   
    • Restaurants are plentiful and meals are more affordable than in many other cities. 
    • For the keynote, the conference center is adjacent to the State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks.  
    • The Georgia Aquarium will be an amazing location for the attendee party. They’ve got whale sharks!  

    Save your spot! 

    P.S. Want to experience the FabCon magic before next spring? Join us in September at FabCon Vienna. 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Barclays is scaling Microsoft 365 Copilot to 100,000 employees, putting AI in every employee’s hands. This will simplify how they access information, get things done, and make Copilot the UI for Barclays AI.

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Barclays is scaling Microsoft 365 Copilot to 100,000 employees, putting AI in every employee’s hands. This will simplify how they access information, get things done, and make Copilot the UI for Barclays AI.

    This is a bit unclear. The white paper says, “The agreement follows a successful initial deployment of Microsoft 365 Copilot across 15,000 Barclays colleagues,” while the title states, “Barclays to roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot to 100,000 colleagues.” But Barclays reportedly has around 93,000 employees globally—so where is the 100,000 figure coming from? Does it include contractors or partners? Also, to date, Barclays’ adoption seems focused on Microsoft Teams as its preferred collaboration platform, and Microsoft Viva Engage as its employee community solution. Given that, are we talking about a broader rollout of Microsoft 365 as a whole—or is Barclays actually expanding its licensing footprint to include the additional cost associated specifically with Copilot? Some clarification would help separate what’s being positioned as new versus what’s a scaled-up use of existing platforms.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –