NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to UK naval vessel transiting Taiwan Strait

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to UK naval vessel transiting Taiwan Strait

    Date：2025-06-19
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 19, 2025  

    On June 18, the UK Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey transited the Taiwan Strait. Through this concrete action, the United Kingdom further defended freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and demonstrated its firm position that the strait constitutes international waters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes and affirms the transit.
     
    MOFA continues to encourage the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard cross-strait peace and stability, promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and maintain the rules-based international order. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between Central Asian nations and China

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between Central Asian nations and China

    Date：2025-06-19
    Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    June 19, 2025  

    Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan from June 16 to 18 at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. Following the summit, these nations and China jointly issued the Astana Declaration, which contains the spurious claim that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly refutes this statement and sternly protests against the Chinese communist regime for its repeated use of meetings with other nations’ leaders to publicly undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty as well as central Asian nations for uncritically accepting China’s statements that run contrary to the facts in downgrading Taiwan’s sovereignty.
     
    MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other, that the Chinese communist regime has never governed Taiwan, and that no nation has the right or power to deny Taiwan’s existence via so-called joint statements. MOFA calls on Kazakhstan and other central Asian nations not to support false statements and endorse China’s aggressive intentions to disrupt regional peace and stability. 
     
    Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to its people, and it is the people of Taiwan who will determine Taiwan’s future. Moreover, peace, stability, and prosperity must be jointly upheld by all nations of the world. Taiwan is a force for good in the international community and will continue to staunchly defend the values of freedom and democracy as it strengthens collaboration with democratic nations to halt authoritarian expansionism, defend cross-strait peace and security, and maintain a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 Sherpa meeting to focus on global solidarity and sustainable development

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    G20 Sherpa meeting to focus on global solidarity and sustainable development

    The third Sherpa meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) kicked off on Wednesday, focusing on global collaboration, sustainable development, and addressing new international challenges.

    The Sun City Convention Centre was filled with representatives from the world’s largest economies and organisations as Zane Dangor, the Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, delivered his opening remarks.

    The meeting, which will run for three days, brings together international representatives to discuss critical global challenges and explore potential collaborative solutions.

    The meeting will take place under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”.

    Dangor announced that the Foreign Ministers will lead detailed discussions on global geopolitical issues, focusing on international law and mutual accountability while emphasising the need to prioritise substantive matters.

    “The meeting also provides an opportunity for Sherpas to have a discussion, dare I say it, on the geopolitical issues as part of the agenda. 

    “And I think, we’ve always shied away from geopolitical issues, but given the events not only of the last two years but particularly of the last month, we’re going to have some discussion in a measured but robust way,” he told delegates. 

    He recognised that the G20 serves as a platform for international economic cooperation, making it a crucial focus.

    “But the ongoing conflict worldwide, as it has been pointed out before, is definitely now even more detrimental not just to peace and security but economic development and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. 

    “So, we will discuss it, but we will also make sure it doesn’t hold us back.”

    However, he said, only the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and ultimately the leaders will engage in the geopolitical issues, following the example set by Brazil, while the working groups will concentrate on the technical issues.

    Today’s meeting marked the beginning of a series of 10 sessions, during which Dangor announced leadership changes, including the appointment of several new Sherpas and representatives from Brazil, India, China, and the United Kingdom. 

    This shift indicates a new approach to international cooperation. 

    “The discussions will provide us with the opportunity to refine objectives. We will report back from some of the working groups and task teams, and we’ll look at how they align with the priorities we’ve set up to ensure that we do reach out to inclusivity and that also reflect our own collective aspirations.” 

    Dangor stressed the importance of creating actionable, measurable declarations that go beyond aspirational statements, with a commitment to reducing global inequalities.

    “It is our responsibility, collectively as Sherpas, to resolve the challenges that are being presented to us within the working groups or task teams, even the new emerging challenges, and there are many new emerging challenges. I do think that we should work to ensure that none of the working group fails to reach consensus.” 

    According to South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, the gathering also aims to shape a clear and actionable G20 Leaders’ Declaration, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development, reducing inequalities, and achieving measurable goals.

    Dangor said he hoped that the G20 Leaders’ Declaration has concrete, measurable, and time-bound actions, not just aspirational statements.

    He announced that, out of the 132 planned meetings, the Presidency has already hosted 70, and most of the working groups have completed their third sessions.

    The Sherpa also announced the upcoming social summit. 

    He concluded the opening remarks, expressing confidence in the fruitful deliberations over the next three days. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA welcomes Philippine announcement concerning visa-free treatment for Taiwanese nationals

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA welcomes Philippine announcement concerning visa-free treatment for Taiwanese nationals

    Date：2025-06-19
    Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

    June 19, 2025No. 214The Philippine government indicated on June 19 that Taiwanese passport holders would be granted visa-free entry to the Philippines for stays of up to 14 days beginning July 1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomes this announcement.Improving the convenience of Taiwanese nationals traveling overseas for business or tourism and promoting interactions and exchanges between Taiwan and friendly countries are among the key priorities for MOFA and Taiwan’s overseas missions. At a reception to mark Philippine Independence Day on June 13, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung announced on behalf of the Taiwan government that visa-free treatment for Philippine nationals would again be extended for an additional year. The Philippines will now grant visa-free entry to Taiwanese nationals on the principle of reciprocity, facilitating the deepening of exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines in such domains as the economy, trade, investment, and tourism.This fruitful outcome follows years of active coordination and negotiation between both governments and was made possible through the joint efforts of relevant government departments, the people of Taiwan, and MOFA’s concrete implementation of integrated diplomacy. Minister Lin recognizes the Philippine government’s pragmatic promotion of Taiwan-Philippines relations.MOFA reminds Taiwanese nationals to abide by local laws and regulations while in the Philippines and to be mindful of personal safety. In case of an emergency, Taiwanese nationals can call the emergency hotline of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines at +63-917-819-4597 or ask friends or relatives in Taiwan to call MOFA’s emergency hotline at 0800-085-095. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin accompanies European press delegation to experience Taiwan’s culture, promotes Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin accompanies European press delegation to experience Taiwan’s culture, promotes Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe

    Date：2025-06-20
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 20, 2025  
    No. 216  

    On the afternoon of June 19, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung took a delegation of journalists from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and the Netherlands to visit the cast of Zeelandia, a Taiwan original musical. Minister Lin spoke about Taiwan’s leading technology and rich culture and expressed hope that the cultural activities being held as part of the 2025 Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe would help the nations of Europe see a side of Taiwan other than technology.
     
    In his remarks, Minister Lin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had partnered with the Ministry of Culture and the National Palace Museum (NPM) to put together the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe. In September and November, pieces from the NPM collection would be exhibited in the Czech Republic and France, respectively, he stated, while other performing arts activities would be held across Europe. Minister Lin continued by expressing hope that this would help European nations better understand Taiwan’s rich culture. He stressed that while Taiwan was a technology island, it was also a culture island that married cultural assets with a creative spirit, which would be highlighted by the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe. 
     
    The minister then explained that the events were being held under the banner “From Tech to Culture, Taiwan Leads the Future,” while the logo for the event was inspired by Roman columns and bore the word Taiwan symbolizing an IC design. Minister Lin said that this was an expression of how Taiwan and Europe were inextricably linked via cultural exchanges. 
     
    Musical cast members then led Minister Lin and the visiting journalists in singing a traditional Siraya song to experience for themselves the beauty of Taiwan’s culture. The musical Zeelandia takes as its backdrop Fort Zeelandia in the 17th century. The performance tells the story of how the cultures of Han, Siraya, and Dutch people came together, underscoring the unbreakable cultural and historical bonds linking Taiwan and Europe. The musical is being performed from June 20 to 29 at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. 
     
    In the future, MOFA will continue to promote cultural diplomacy to highlight Taiwan’s core values of freedom, openness, and inclusion. It will use culture as a bridge linking Taiwan to the world’s democracies, so as to jointly encourage the greater cultural flowering of free and democratic societies. (E) 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA welcomes Brunei Darussalam announcement concerning visa-free treatment for Taiwanese nationals

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA welcomes Brunei Darussalam announcement concerning visa-free treatment for Taiwanese nationals

    Date：2025-06-24
    Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

    June 24, 2025No.218The government of Brunei Darussalam indicated on June 23 that, beginning that day, holders of a Taiwan passport valid for six months or longer would be granted visa-free entry into Brunei Darussalam for stays of up to 14 days. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) sincerely welcomes this announcement.Brunei Darussalam’s visa-free treatment for Taiwanese nationals will further deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanges in such fields as tourism, trade, culture, and education. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung expresses appreciation for the Brunei Darussalam government’s pragmatic measures to enhance Taiwan-Brunei Darussalam relations.Since August 2016, Taiwan has been endeavoring to offer visa-free entry to travelers from Thailand, the Philippines, and Brunei Darussalam and actively seeking to secure similar treatment from these three New Southbound Policy partner countries based on the principle of reciprocity. Following a sustained campaign by MOFA and its missions abroad, Thailand (from July 15 last year), the Philippines (from July 1 this year), and Brunei Darussalam (from June 23 this year) have now accorded visa-free entry to Taiwanese nationals. These achievements can be attributed to the combined efforts of relevant government departments and the people, as well as Taiwan’s active implementation of integrated diplomacy. Improving the convenience of overseas travel for Taiwanese businesspeople and tourists is a key goal of MOFA and its overseas missions. Looking ahead, MOFA will continue to strive to obtain visa-free treatment from even more countries. In the meantime, MOFA reminds Taiwanese nationals traveling in Brunei Darussalam to respect local customs and culture, abide by local laws and regulations, and be mindful of personal safety. In case of an emergency, Taiwanese nationals can call the emergency hotline of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei Darussalam at +673-895-6338 or ask friends or relatives in Taiwan to call MOFA’s emergency hotline at 0800-085-095. (E)
     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to EU-Canada summit joint statement stressing importance of cross-strait peace and stability

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to EU-Canada summit joint statement stressing importance of cross-strait peace and stability

    Date：2025-06-24
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 24, 2025  

    President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on June 23 in Brussels for the 20th European Union-Canada summit. In a joint statement released afterward, the two sides declared that security in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions was increasingly interconnected and reaffirmed a shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, including in the East and South China Seas and across the Taiwan Strait. The two sides added that they would continue working with regional partners to uphold a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung welcomes and affirms this expression of staunch support for cross-strait security and stability by the European Union and Canada. 
     
    This follows on the release of joint statements after the G7 foreign ministers meeting and G7 leaders’ summit in March and June, respectively. These statements also expressed support for cross-strait peace, thus demonstrating that maintaining a peaceful, stable Taiwan Strait is an international consensus. As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded partners around the world to defend the rules-based international order and ensure the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and Taiwan Strait.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to UK National Security Strategy 2025 conveying concern over peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to UK National Security Strategy 2025 conveying concern over peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

    Date：2025-06-25
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 25, 2025  

    The UK Cabinet Office issued National Security Strategy 2025 on June 24 following a comprehensive review of relevant issues, including the China audit, that was launched by the Labour government after it assumed office. The strategy noted the centrality of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait in global trade and supply chains and underscored the importance of regional stability to the United Kingdom. It also indicated that there was a risk of escalation around Taiwan and reiterated that issues regarding Taiwan should be resolved peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. It further stated that the United Kingdom did not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and that the United Kingdom would continue to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Taiwan in a wide range of areas based on shared democratic values.
     
    The day the national security strategy was issued, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy briefed the House of Commons on the China audit and the government’s China policy, emphasizing that the United Kingdom’s long-standing position on Taiwan remained unchanged and that it would continue to deepen its vibrant ties with Taiwan in such domains as trade, education, and innovation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes these statements.
     
    Following the release of the Strategic Defence Review on June 2, the national security strategy serves as another integrated policy document of the UK government. In addition to reaffirming the United Kingdom’s staunch position on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the strategy once again highlighted the fact that there is a high degree of international consensus on cross-strait peace and stability and that Taiwan plays an indispensable role in the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and the world.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress stressed the need for legislative guarantees for the development of productive forces of new quality

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), on Wednesday called on lawmakers to put forward more targeted and well-thought-out bills and initiatives to promote the development of new productive forces.

    Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an exchange of views with deputies attending the 16th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee as non-voting participants.

    Developing productive forces of new quality is of great significance for promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese-style modernization, the NPC Standing Committee chairman noted.

    According to him, deputies must always maintain close contact with the masses, carefully summarize, analyze and study the real situation on the ground, as well as the aspirations and expectations of the population, put forward practical and feasible proposals, reflect the opinion and wisdom of the people in their bills, initiatives and speeches during discussions.

    Zhao Leji called on legislators to broaden their horizons to properly fulfill their parliamentary duties, implement the Constitution and laws in an exemplary manner, and voluntarily submit to the supervision of voters and the masses. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two citizens planning a terrorist attack have been neutralized in Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    St. Petersburg, June 25 (Xinhua) — Russia’s Federal Security Service on Wednesday reported the neutralization of two Russian citizens who were preparing a terrorist attack in the Moscow region.

    Two Russian citizens were found near one of the gardening non-profit partnerships in the Moscow region. They were removing from a cache a homemade explosive device, which was planned to be used to commit a sabotage and terrorist act against one of the servicemen.

    When detained, they offered armed resistance and were neutralized by return fire. At the scene, law enforcement officers found Makarov pistols and ammunition for them, as well as a ready-to-use homemade explosive device and communications equipment containing correspondence discussing the planned terrorist act. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US President vows to strike Iran again if nuclear facilities are restored

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    THE HAGUE, June 25 (Xinhua) — The United States will strike again if Iran restores its nuclear facilities, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday.

    D. Trump issued a corresponding warning on the sidelines of the NATO summit held in the Netherlands’ The Hague. Answering the question whether the US would strike again if Iran resumed its uranium enrichment program, D. Trump replied: “Of course.”

    The American leader assured that Washington will not allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium, including allowing the possibility of preventing this by military means.

    “We will not allow this. First of all, by military means. I think that eventually we will have some kind of relationship with Iran,” he said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese defense minister meets with guests attending SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting 2025-06-25 23:08:14 Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday held individual meetings in east China’s Qingdao city with his counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      QINGDAO, June 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Wednesday held individual meetings in east China’s Qingdao city with his counterparts from Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

      They are attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Defense Ministers’ Meeting from Wednesday to Thursday.

      Unilateralism and protectionism are surging, while hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts severely undermine the international order, making these practices the biggest sources of chaos and harm, Dong said.

      He called for efforts to enhance coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the SCO, defend international fairness and justice, and uphold global strategic stability.

      The attendees commended China’s rotating SCO presidency for enhancing institutional mechanisms and cross-sector cooperation, while expressing strong readiness to consolidate and develop military cooperation. 

    loading…

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: POET Wins AI Hardware Innovation Award in 2025 AI Breakthrough Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), the designer and developer of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), light sources and optical modules for the AI and data center markets, today announced that it has been selected as the winner of the “AI Hardware Innovation Award” in the 8th annual AI Breakthrough Awards. The awards program recognized POET Teralight™, the Company’s ultra-high-performance line of optical engines that power AI and hyperscale data-center connectivity. It is the second consecutive year that the AI Breakthrough Awards has recognized POET for its groundbreaking, commercially available technology. This is the sixth notable award the Company has won in the past 12 months.

    POET Teralight™ features a highly integrated chip-scale design that is produced entirely at wafer level. The complete optical system-on-chip consists of a 1.6T transmit optical engine and a 1.6T receive optical engine, each approximately 12×12 mm in size. Without wire bonds, Teralight’s chip-scale architecture delivers unparalleled low signal-to-noise ratios and high energy efficiency. Unlike conventional design and development team efforts, with POET’s optical engines, a single design team can build both 1.6T DR8 and 2xFR4 pluggable modules using the identical board design and manufacturing process.

    The Teralight transmit optical engine incorporates 2x200G EML lasers from Mitsubishi Electric, enabling a 1.6T engine with only four laser chips instead of the conventional 8-laser alternative. The transmit engines also include a DC-coupled EML driver that is flip-chip attached to the POET Optical Interposer™. The integrated high-speed electrical traces and optical waveguides on the optical interposer platform enable enhanced performance by minimizing crosstalk and maximizing coupling efficiency. Those features and the overall elegance of the optical interposer-based design were key factors that convinced AI Breakthrough’s jury of industry leaders to select Teralight as this year’s top AI Hardware Innovation.

    “We introduced Teralight at the OFC Conference in April knowing it would create substantial customer interest because of the cost reduction and simplified module design. Our product demos have shown impressive results and have led to multiple new customer engagements. We are working with major companies to make Teralight an essential component in their transceiver module designs,” said Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, Chairman and CEO of POET. “This latest recognition by AI Breakthrough is an important validation of our technology and the innovations we continue to bring to the marketplace. Teralight’s elegant architecture makes it ready to accommodate future generations of compute devices, particularly those that drive AI connectivity.”

    This year’s AI Breakthrough Awards program attracted more than 5,000 nominations from over 20 countries, underscoring the explosive growth and global importance of AI as a defining technology of the 21st century. POET’s recognition in such a crowded field punctuates the enormity of its victory in such a competitive category.

    “I congratulate POET on being our pick for the ‘AI Hardware Innovation Award.’ Teralight puts POET at the forefront of optical-engine design and breaks through the crowded transceiver space because of its size, scalability, ease of adoption, functionality, value and performance,” said Steve Johansson, managing director, AI Breakthrough.

    The AI Breakthrough Awards are conducted by AI Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. The awards shine a spotlight on the boldest innovators and most impactful technologies leading the charge in AI across a comprehensive set of categories, including Generative AI, Computer Vision, AIOps, Agentic AI, Robotics, Natural Language Processing, industry-specific AI applications and many more.

    About POET Technologies Inc.

    POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers.  POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems.  POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained “Edge” computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in, Shenzhen, China, Penang, Malaysia and Singapore.  More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com.

    About AI Breakthrough

    Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including Generative AI, Machine Learning, AI Platforms, Robotics, Business Intelligence, AI Hardware, Computer Vision and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com.

    Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of the Company’s product development efforts, the performance of its products, including the Teralight product line, the expected results of its operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products and expectations regarding its successful penetration of the Artificial Intelligence hardware markets.

    Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the size, future growth and needs of Artificial Intelligence network suppliers, management’s expectations regarding the success and timing for completion of its development efforts, the introduction of new products, including the Teralight product line, financing activities, future growth, recruitment of personnel, plans for and completion of projects by the Company’s consultants, contractors and partners, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure of Artificial Intelligence networks to continue to grow as expected, the failure of the Company’s products to meet performance requirements for AI and datacom networks, the failure of the Teralight product line to perform as anticipated, a lack of sales in its products, lack of sales by its customers to end-users, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s projects, risks affecting the Company’s ability to complete its products, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, the ability of its customers to generate sales for products that incorporate the Company’s products, the ability to attract key personnel, and the ability to raise additional capital when needed. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
    120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 – Fax: 416-322-5075

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: POET Wins AI Hardware Innovation Award in 2025 AI Breakthrough Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company”) (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), the designer and developer of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), light sources and optical modules for the AI and data center markets, today announced that it has been selected as the winner of the “AI Hardware Innovation Award” in the 8th annual AI Breakthrough Awards. The awards program recognized POET Teralight™, the Company’s ultra-high-performance line of optical engines that power AI and hyperscale data-center connectivity. It is the second consecutive year that the AI Breakthrough Awards has recognized POET for its groundbreaking, commercially available technology. This is the sixth notable award the Company has won in the past 12 months.

    POET Teralight™ features a highly integrated chip-scale design that is produced entirely at wafer level. The complete optical system-on-chip consists of a 1.6T transmit optical engine and a 1.6T receive optical engine, each approximately 12×12 mm in size. Without wire bonds, Teralight’s chip-scale architecture delivers unparalleled low signal-to-noise ratios and high energy efficiency. Unlike conventional design and development team efforts, with POET’s optical engines, a single design team can build both 1.6T DR8 and 2xFR4 pluggable modules using the identical board design and manufacturing process.

    The Teralight transmit optical engine incorporates 2x200G EML lasers from Mitsubishi Electric, enabling a 1.6T engine with only four laser chips instead of the conventional 8-laser alternative. The transmit engines also include a DC-coupled EML driver that is flip-chip attached to the POET Optical Interposer™. The integrated high-speed electrical traces and optical waveguides on the optical interposer platform enable enhanced performance by minimizing crosstalk and maximizing coupling efficiency. Those features and the overall elegance of the optical interposer-based design were key factors that convinced AI Breakthrough’s jury of industry leaders to select Teralight as this year’s top AI Hardware Innovation.

    “We introduced Teralight at the OFC Conference in April knowing it would create substantial customer interest because of the cost reduction and simplified module design. Our product demos have shown impressive results and have led to multiple new customer engagements. We are working with major companies to make Teralight an essential component in their transceiver module designs,” said Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, Chairman and CEO of POET. “This latest recognition by AI Breakthrough is an important validation of our technology and the innovations we continue to bring to the marketplace. Teralight’s elegant architecture makes it ready to accommodate future generations of compute devices, particularly those that drive AI connectivity.”

    This year’s AI Breakthrough Awards program attracted more than 5,000 nominations from over 20 countries, underscoring the explosive growth and global importance of AI as a defining technology of the 21st century. POET’s recognition in such a crowded field punctuates the enormity of its victory in such a competitive category.

    “I congratulate POET on being our pick for the ‘AI Hardware Innovation Award.’ Teralight puts POET at the forefront of optical-engine design and breaks through the crowded transceiver space because of its size, scalability, ease of adoption, functionality, value and performance,” said Steve Johansson, managing director, AI Breakthrough.

    The AI Breakthrough Awards are conducted by AI Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. The awards shine a spotlight on the boldest innovators and most impactful technologies leading the charge in AI across a comprehensive set of categories, including Generative AI, Computer Vision, AIOps, Agentic AI, Robotics, Natural Language Processing, industry-specific AI applications and many more.

    About POET Technologies Inc.

    POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers.  POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems.  POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained “Edge” computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles. POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in, Shenzhen, China, Penang, Malaysia and Singapore.  More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com.

    About AI Breakthrough

    Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AI Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in Artificial Intelligence technologies, services, companies and products. The AI Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of AI companies and products in categories including Generative AI, Machine Learning, AI Platforms, Robotics, Business Intelligence, AI Hardware, Computer Vision and more. For more information visit AIBreakthroughAwards.com.

    Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of the Company’s product development efforts, the performance of its products, including the Teralight product line, the expected results of its operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products and expectations regarding its successful penetration of the Artificial Intelligence hardware markets.

    Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the size, future growth and needs of Artificial Intelligence network suppliers, management’s expectations regarding the success and timing for completion of its development efforts, the introduction of new products, including the Teralight product line, financing activities, future growth, recruitment of personnel, plans for and completion of projects by the Company’s consultants, contractors and partners, availability of capital, and the necessity to incur capital and other expenditures. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure of Artificial Intelligence networks to continue to grow as expected, the failure of the Company’s products to meet performance requirements for AI and datacom networks, the failure of the Teralight product line to perform as anticipated, a lack of sales in its products, lack of sales by its customers to end-users, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s projects, risks affecting the Company’s ability to complete its products, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, the ability of its customers to generate sales for products that incorporate the Company’s products, the ability to attract key personnel, and the ability to raise additional capital when needed. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
    120 Eglinton Avenue, East, Suite 1107, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E2- Tel: 416-368-9411 – Fax: 416-322-5075

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kennedy mocks Putin for abandoning Iran: “With friends like Russia, who needs enemies?”

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)

    Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
    WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:
    “Where is Russia? Where is President Putin? I ask that question in light of what’s been happening over the past week in Iran. Where’s Russia? Where’s President Putin? You couldn’t find either one of them with a search party. Dog the Bounty Hunter, all of a sudden, couldn’t find President Putin. All of a sudden even Google can’t find Russia. 
    “I thought Iran and Russia were peeps. I thought they were best friends. I mean, for decades, Iran and Russia have had a partnership where they have attacked everyone in the freedom-loving West. They’re best buds. 
    “Now, I know Iran has a relationship with China, but that’s more transactional. China just likes to buy Iran’s cheap oil. With Russia and Iran, it was supposed to be a deeper, more meaningful relationship. And this isn’t something new. This has been a partnership for decades.
    “I remember when Putin invaded Ukraine, one of the first allies he turned to was Iran, and Iran sent Russia ammunition. And Iran sent Russia artillery shells. And Iran sent Russia drones. And Iran has sent Russia drones, and ammunition, and artillery shells every single day of the war.
    “So, where’s Russia? It hasn’t been a good week for Iran. Where’s Russia?
    “On Monday of this week, Iran’s top diplomat met with President Putin and asked for help. Do you know what President Putin said he would provide? Nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Some kind of friend.
    “You know, it’s not the first time that we’ve seen President Putin’s true colors. It’s happened before. You would think that Iran would learn. The month after Iran through Hamas attacked Israel back in October of 2023, Iran immediately asked Moscow to supply Iran with—because Iran knew what was coming and so did Hamas— they knew retribution was coming from Israel.
    “Iran asked Moscow for jet fighters, for attack helicopters, air defense systems, and training jets. And Iran was sure that their buddy, Putin, would be there. Putin sent them a few jets and said go away, don’t bother me. And then not long ago, when Israel took out the better part of Iran’s air defense system, its golden dome—wasn’t exactly golden, it was more like tin—but the Israelis took it out. Iran asked Russia and said, look, we have to rearm. We’re naked and alone here. We need more air defense missiles to shoot down the Israeli planes. President Putin said go away. Don’t bother me. What a friend.
    “President Putin has done it to other countries. Russia has had alliances not just with Iran through the years. I’ll give you a couple of examples. Armenia. Armenia and Russia were best buds, two peas in a pod. But when Armenia got into a war with Azerbaijan, once again you couldn’t find Russia with a search party. 
    “Iran and Russia worked together to prop up Assad in Syria. Remember that? When the people of Syria were revolting against Assad, who had blood under his fingernails. Do you know who kept him afloat? Iran, yes, but especially Russia. And then Assad got in trouble, and that’s when he really needed Russia. He went to Mr. Putin and said help me, help me, and Mr. Putin said no. You’re on your own. You can come to my country where they can’t get to you, but that’s it. Too bad. I don’t need you anymore. 
    “A lot’s going on with respect to the Middle East right now, but I hope the world notices what kind of friend Russia is. I hope other countries that Russia has alliances with and that Russia is assiduously courting to be a ‘partnership’ notice how Russia reacts to their friends. 
    “Where’s Russia? Where’s Putin? All of a sudden you can’t find him. Now I’m delighted with that. I’m just delighted. But this was very, very predictable. With friends like Russia—I say this to every country in the world that might be thinking about partnering with Russia. With friends like Russia, who needs enemies?”
    Watch Kennedy’s speech here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Opening plenary of 2025 Summer Davos held in Tianjin

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

    Opening plenary of 2025 Summer Davos held in Tianjin

    Updated: June 25, 2025 21:05 Xinhua
    Guests take photos during the opening plenary of the Summer Davos at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Tianjin) in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, June 25, 2025. The opening plenary of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, was held here on Wednesday. The Summer Davos, being held in Tianjin from June 24 to 26, brings together over 1,700 leading figures from more than 90 countries and regions to explore how entrepreneurship and emerging technologies can unlock more dynamic and resilient economies. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Guests watch live broadcast of the opening plenary of the Summer Davos at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Tianjin) in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, June 25, 2025. The opening plenary of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, was held here on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows a view outside the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Tianjin) in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, June 25, 2025. The opening plenary of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos, was held here on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s vice premier calls for expanding domestic demand, promoting high-quality economic development

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

    China’s vice premier calls for expanding domestic demand, promoting high-quality economic development

    SHIJIAZHUANG, June 25 — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has called for efforts to accelerate the establishment of a unified national market, expand domestic demand to boost consumption, accelerate the construction of a new model for real estate development, and develop new quality productive forces based on local conditions to promote high-quality economic development.

    He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in north China’s Hebei Province that began on Monday and ended on Tuesday.

    Since the beginning of this year, China’s economy has maintained a positive trend despite challenges, leading to rising social confidence, He said.

    He urged efforts to implement the country’s trade-in policy for bulk durable consumer goods and to stabilize market expectations, calling on relevant cities to integrate consumer goods trade-in initiatives with urban renewal actions based on local conditions, with the aim of unlocking consumption potential further.

    He emphasized the importance of advancing a new model for real estate development, of maintaining steady growth while enhancing quality in foreign trade production, of guarding against risks in small and medium-scale local financial institutions, and of driving the innovative development of enterprises focusing on high-end equipment manufacturing, intelligent photovoltaics, clean energy and new materials.

    He instructed relevant authorities and local governments to undertake in-depth investigations and research, actively explore innovation, study and resolve practical problems faced by enterprises promptly, respond effectively to the impact of external shocks, and achieve all economic work goals for the first half of the year and the whole year to advance high-quality economic development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier exchanges ideas with entrepreneurs at Summer Davos

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

    TIANJIN, June 25 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended a symposium at the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as Summer Davos, in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, exchanging ideas with business entrepreneurs.

    After hearing the remarks from representatives, Li noted that the current international landscape is in the midst of profound and complex changes, posing significant challenges to global economic development.

    Some 160 business representatives from more than 30 countries and regions attended the symposium.

    The Chinese economy maintained stable growth, relying not only on a solid foundation of stability and improvement, and proactive and effective macro policies, but also on the effective utilization of market forces and the resources of enterprises, including substantial contributions from foreign-funded enterprises, the premier said.

    At the same time, China offers a vast stage for the development of foreign-funded enterprises, Li noted.

    Li said that in the face of a world of change and disorder, it is essential to adapt to the changing times and to respond proactively and effectively to various challenges and risks, creating a conducive environment for business development.

    In the context of in-depth restructuring in the global industrial chain, the quality and efficiency of industrial supply structure are particularly important, Li noted, adding that China has strong industrial support capabilities, with its industrial and supply chains optimizing continuously.

    While highlighting the importance of the speed of application of new technologies and the capability for technological upgrades, Li noted that China has a vast user base for various products and services, facilitating efficient interaction between technological innovation and industrial innovation.

    There is substantial space and significant opportunities for companies from around the world to engage in scientific and technological cooperation and collaborative innovation in China, Li added.

    Noting that the stability of the business development environment is vital, Li said that Chinese economy demonstrates a stability that can withstand external shocks and maintain its own pace, and the stability is further reflected in China’s unwavering commitment to opening up to the outside world, enabling multinational enterprises to achieve greater success and better development in China.

    Li expressed his expectation that enterprises from various countries will provide more quality products and services to the Chinese market, and strengthen technological and industrial cooperation with Chinese companies, better aligning supply and demand for mutual benefits and shared progress in technological advancement and industrial competitiveness.

    China will continue to welcome foreign enterprises to invest in the country, the premier said.

    Representatives at the symposium said that they remained confident in China’s economic prospects, opening up and cooperation, and they would increase investment in technological innovation, and ensure smooth running of industrial and supply chains, thereby achieving greater development while integrating into China’s high-quality development process.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University

    Rittenhouse Square Park in Center City made it onto the Philly Happiness Map. Matthew Lovette/Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends?

    I am the director of the Happiness Lab at Drexel University, where I also teach a course on happiness. The Happiness Lab is a think tank that investigates the ingredients that contribute to people’s happiness.

    Often, my students ask me something along the lines of, “Dr. Z, tell us one thing that will make us happier.”

    As a first step, I advise them to spend more time outside.

    Achieving lasting and sustainable happiness is more complicated. Research on the happiest countries in the world and the places where people live the longest, known as Blue Zones, shows a common thread: Residents feel they are part of something larger than themselves, such as a community or a city.

    So if you’re living in a metropolis like Philadelphia, where, incidentally, the iconic pursuit of happiness charge was ratified in the Declaration of Independence, I believe urban citizenship – that is, forming an identity with your urban surroundings – should also be on your list.

    The Greek island of Ikaria in the Aegean Sea is a Blue Zone famous for its residents’ longevity.
    Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Safety, social connection, beauty

    Carl Jung, the renowned Swiss psychoanalyst, wrote extensively about the relationship between our internal world and our external environment.

    He believed that this relationship was crucial to our psychological well-being.

    More recent research in neuroscience and functional imaging has revealed a vast, intricate and complex neurological architecture underlying our psychological perception of a place. Numerous neurological pathways and functional loops transform a complex neuropsychological process into a simple realization: I am happy here!

    For example, a happy place should feel safe.

    The country of Croatia, a tourist haven for its beauty and culinary delights, is also one of the top 20 safest countries globally, according to the 2025 Global Peace Index.

    The U.S. ranks 128th.

    The availability of good food and drink can also be a significant factor in creating a happy place.

    However, according to American psychologist Abraham Maslow, a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, the opportunity for social connectivity, experiencing something meaningful and having a sense of belonging is more crucial.

    Furthermore, research on happy places suggests that they are beautiful. It should not come as a surprise that the happiest places in the world are also drop-dead gorgeous, such as the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mauritius, which is the happiest country in Africa, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report from the University of Oxford and others.

    Happy places often provide access to nature and promote active lifestyles, which can help relieve stress. The residents of the island of Ikaria in Greece, for example, one of the original Blue Zones, demonstrate high levels of physical activity and social interaction.

    A map of 28 happy places in Philadelphia, based on 243 survey responses from Drexel students.
    The Happiness Lab at Drexel University

    Philly Happiness Map

    I asked my undergraduate psychology students at Drexel, many of whom come from other cities, states and countries, to pick one place in Philadelphia where they feel happy.

    From the 243 student responses, the Happiness Lab curated 28 Philly happy places, based on how frequently the places were endorsed and their accessibility.

    Philadelphia’s founder, William Penn, would likely approve that Rittenhouse Square Park and three other public squares – Logan, Franklin and Washington – were included. These squares were vital to Penn’s vision of landscaped public parks to promote the health of the mind and body by providing “salubrious spaces similar to the private garden.” They are beautiful and approachable, serving as “places to rest, take a pause, work, or read a book,” one student told us.

    Places such as the Philadelphia Zoo, Penn’s Landing and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are “joyful spots that are fun to explore, and one can also take your parents along if need be,” as another student described.

    The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a historic library with eclectic programming, feels to one student like “coming home, a perfect third place.”

    Some students mentioned happy places that are less known. These include tucked-away gardens such as the John F. Collings Park at 1707 Chestnut St., the rooftop Cira Green at 129 S. 30th St. and the James G. Kaskey Memorial Park and BioPond at 433 S. University Ave.

    The James G. Kaskey Memorial Park and BioPond in West Philadelphia is an urban oasis.
    M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia

    My students said these are small, unexpected spots that provide an excellent opportunity for a quiet, peaceful break, to be present, whether enjoyed alone or with a friend. I checked them out and I agree.

    The students also mentioned places I had never heard of even though I’ve lived in the city for over 30 years.

    The “cat park” at 526 N. Natrona St. in Mantua is a quiet little park with an eclectic personality and lots of friendly cats.

    Mango Mango Dessert at 1013 Cherry St. in Chinatown, which is a frequently endorsed happiness spot among the students because of its “bustling streets, lively atmosphere and delicious food,” is a perfect pit stop for mango lovers. And Maison Sweet, at 2930 Chestnut St. in University City, is a casual bakery and cafe “where you may end up staying longer than planned,” one student shared.

    I find that Philly’s happy places, as seen through the eyes of college students, tend to offer a space for residents to take time out from their day to pause, reset, relax and feel more connected and in touch with the city.

    Happiness principals are universal, yet our own journeys are very personal. Philadelphians across the city may have their own list of happy places. There are really no right or wrong answers. If you don’t have a personal happy space, just start exploring and you may be surprised what you will find, including a new sense of happiness.

    See the full Philly Happiness Map list here, and visit the exhibit at the W.W. Hagerty Library at Drexel University to learn more.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

    Eric Zillmer 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. Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest – https://theconversation.com/philly-psychology-students-map-out-local-landmarks-and-hidden-destinations-where-they-feel-happiest-258790

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: China foreign relations session held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Civil Service College, with the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Commissioner (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, held a thematic briefing session today on the “International Landscape and China’s Foreign Relations in 2025”.

    The briefing was delivered by Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR Cui Jianchun, and attended by Chief Executive John Lee along with over 400 senior officials.

    Delivering his opening remarks, Mr Lee thanked Mr Cui for attending the session to share insights on the current international environment and national foreign strategies, and providing an analysis on the evolving global dynamics and the country’s response strategies.

    The session could provide support for the Hong Kong SAR Government in promoting Hong Kong’s deepening of international exchanges and co-operation, better integration into the overall national development, and co-ordination of high-level security and high-quality development, the Chief Executive remarked.

    Mr Lee pointed out that the complex and fast-changing international environment as well as the groundbreaking developments of artificial intelligence and biotechnology, profoundly affect the trajectory of world order and highlight the close connection between security and development. He also said China’s diplomatic work plays a vital role in the effective co-ordination of security and development, and provides opportunities for Hong Kong to better fulfil its role as a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”.

    He also thanked the central government for its strong support for Hong Kong to become the headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation, adding that the establishment of its headquarters in the city reflects the trust and recognition of the international community in Hong Kong, which not only demonstrates the success of the National Security Law in creating a stable environment, but also serves as a vivid manifestation of the country’s diplomatic soft power.

    Mr Lee further stated that Hong Kong SAR Government officials should have a deep understanding of the country’s foreign policies, accurately grasp changes in the international landscape, and better co-ordinate the relationship between and the opportunities from security and development.

    Separately, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said today’s session is of great significance because it not only heralds this year’s series of talks on China’s foreign affairs but is also a highlight event of the seminar series for civil servants on the fifth anniversary of the promulgation and implementation of the National Security Law.

    She stressed that the Civil Service College will continue to enhance training to strengthen civil servants’ patriotism and awareness of national security, and encourage everyone to consciously safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

    Training programmes organised by the college could also deepen civil servants’ understanding of the country’s history, culture and contemporary development, equipping them to better fulfil Hong Kong’s role as a bridge connecting the country with the world in their respective fields, effectively utilising the city’s international platform to tell good stories of China and Hong Kong, Mrs Yeung added.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Blocking exports and raising tariffs is a bad defense against industrial cyber espionage, study shows

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William Akoto, Assistant Professor of Global Security, American University

    Cutting off China’s access to advanced U.S. chips is likely to motivate Chinese cyber espionage. kritsapong jieantaratip/iStock via Getty Images

    The United States is trying to decouple its economy from rivals like China. Efforts toward this include policymakers raising tariffs on Chinese goods, blocking exports of advanced technology and offering subsidies to boost American manufacturing. The goal is to reduce reliance on China for critical products in hopes that this will also protect U.S. intellectual property from theft.

    The idea that decoupling will help stem state-sponsored cyber-economic espionage has become a key justification for these measures. For instance, then-U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai framed the continuation of China-specific tariffs as serving the “statutory goal to stop [China’s] harmful … cyber intrusions and cyber theft.” Early tariff rounds during the first Trump administration were likewise framed as forcing Beijing to confront “deeply entrenched” theft of U.S. intellectual property.

    This push to “onshore” key industries is driven by very real concerns. By some estimates, theft of U.S. trade secrets, often through hacking – costs the American economy hundreds of billions of dollars per year. In that light, decoupling is a defensive economic shield – a way to keep vital technology out of an adversary’s reach.

    But will decoupling and cutting trade ties truly make America’s innovations safer from prying eyes? I’m a political scientist who studies state-sponsored cyber espionage, and my research suggests that the answer is a definitive no. Indeed, it might actually have the opposite effect.

    To understand why, it helps to look at what really drives state-sponsored hacking.

    Rivalry, not reliance

    Intuitively, you might think a country is most tempted to steal secrets from a nation it depends on. For example, if Country A must import jet engines or microchips from Country B, Country A might try to hack Country B’s companies to copy that technology and become self-sufficient. This is the industrial dependence theory of cyber theft.

    There is some truth to this motive. If your economy needs what another country produces, stealing that know-how can boost your own industries and reduce reliance. However, in a recent study, I show that a more powerful predictor of cyber espionage is industrial similarity. Countries with overlapping advanced industries such as aerospace, electronics or pharmaceuticals are the ones most likely to target each other with cyberattacks.

    Why would having similar industries spur more spying? The reason is competition. If two nations both specialize in cutting-edge sectors, each has a lot to gain by stealing the other’s innovations.

    If you’re a tech powerhouse, you have valuable secrets worth stealing, and you have the capability and motivation to steal others’ secrets. In essence, simply trading with a rival isn’t the core issue. Rather, it’s the underlying technological rivalry that fuels espionage.

    For example, a cyberattack in 2012 targeted SolarWorld, a U.S. solar panel manufacturer, and the perpetrators stole the company’s trade secrets. Chinese solar companies then developed competing products based on the stolen designs, costing SolarWorld millions in lost revenue. This is a classic example of industrial similarity at work. China was building its own solar industry, so it hacked a U.S. rival to leapfrog in technology.

    China has made major investments in its cyber-espionage capabilities.

    Boosting trade barriers can fan the flames

    Crucially, cutting trade ties doesn’t remove this rivalry. If anything, decoupling might intensify it. When the U.S. and China exchange tariff blows or cut off tech transfers, it doesn’t make China give up – it likely pushes Chinese intelligence agencies to work even harder to steal what they can’t buy.

    This dynamic isn’t unique to China. Any country that suddenly loses access to an important technology may turn to espionage as Plan B.

    History provides examples. When South Africa was isolated by sanctions in the 1980s, it covertly obtained nuclear weapons technology. Similarly, when Israel faced arms embargoes in the 1960s, it engaged in clandestine efforts to get military technology. Isolation can breed desperation, and hacking is a low-cost, high-reward tool for the desperate.

    If decoupling won’t end cyber espionage, what will?

    There’s no easy fix for state-sponsored hacking as long as countries remain locked in high-tech competition. However, there are steps that can mitigate the damage and perhaps dial down the frequency of these attacks.

    One is investing in cyber defense. Just as a homeowner adds locks and alarms after a burglary, companies and governments should continually strengthen their cyber defenses. Assuming that espionage attempts are likely to happen is key. Advanced network monitoring, employee training against phishing, and robust encryption can make it much harder for hackers to succeed, even if they keep trying.

    Another is building resilience and redundancy. If you know that some secrets might get stolen, plan for it. Businesses can shorten product development cycles and innovate faster so that even if a rival copies today’s tech, you’re already moving on to the next generation. Staying ahead of thieves is a form of defense, too.

    Ultimately, rather than viewing tariffs and export bans as silver bullets against espionage, U.S. leaders and industry might be safer focusing on resilience and stress-testing cybersecurity firms. Make it harder for adversaries to steal secrets, and less rewarding even if they do.

    William Akoto 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. Blocking exports and raising tariffs is a bad defense against industrial cyber espionage, study shows – https://theconversation.com/blocking-exports-and-raising-tariffs-is-a-bad-defense-against-industrial-cyber-espionage-study-shows-258243

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University

    Rittenhouse Square Park in Center City made it onto the Philly Happiness Map. Matthew Lovette/Jumping Rocks/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    What makes you happy? Perhaps a good night’s sleep, or a wonderful meal with friends?

    I am the director of the Happiness Lab at Drexel University, where I also teach a course on happiness. The Happiness Lab is a think tank that investigates the ingredients that contribute to people’s happiness.

    Often, my students ask me something along the lines of, “Dr. Z, tell us one thing that will make us happier.”

    As a first step, I advise them to spend more time outside.

    Achieving lasting and sustainable happiness is more complicated. Research on the happiest countries in the world and the places where people live the longest, known as Blue Zones, shows a common thread: Residents feel they are part of something larger than themselves, such as a community or a city.

    So if you’re living in a metropolis like Philadelphia, where, incidentally, the iconic pursuit of happiness charge was ratified in the Declaration of Independence, I believe urban citizenship – that is, forming an identity with your urban surroundings – should also be on your list.

    The Greek island of Ikaria in the Aegean Sea is a Blue Zone famous for its residents’ longevity.
    Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Safety, social connection, beauty

    Carl Jung, the renowned Swiss psychoanalyst, wrote extensively about the relationship between our internal world and our external environment.

    He believed that this relationship was crucial to our psychological well-being.

    More recent research in neuroscience and functional imaging has revealed a vast, intricate and complex neurological architecture underlying our psychological perception of a place. Numerous neurological pathways and functional loops transform a complex neuropsychological process into a simple realization: I am happy here!

    For example, a happy place should feel safe.

    The country of Croatia, a tourist haven for its beauty and culinary delights, is also one of the top 20 safest countries globally, according to the 2025 Global Peace Index.

    The U.S. ranks 128th.

    The availability of good food and drink can also be a significant factor in creating a happy place.

    However, according to American psychologist Abraham Maslow, a pioneer in the field of positive psychology, the opportunity for social connectivity, experiencing something meaningful and having a sense of belonging is more crucial.

    Furthermore, research on happy places suggests that they are beautiful. It should not come as a surprise that the happiest places in the world are also drop-dead gorgeous, such as the Indian Ocean archipelago of Mauritius, which is the happiest country in Africa, according to the 2025 World Happiness Report from the University of Oxford and others.

    Happy places often provide access to nature and promote active lifestyles, which can help relieve stress. The residents of the island of Ikaria in Greece, for example, one of the original Blue Zones, demonstrate high levels of physical activity and social interaction.

    A map of 28 happy places in Philadelphia, based on 243 survey responses from Drexel students.
    The Happiness Lab at Drexel University

    Philly Happiness Map

    I asked my undergraduate psychology students at Drexel, many of whom come from other cities, states and countries, to pick one place in Philadelphia where they feel happy.

    From the 243 student responses, the Happiness Lab curated 28 Philly happy places, based on how frequently the places were endorsed and their accessibility.

    Philadelphia’s founder, William Penn, would likely approve that Rittenhouse Square Park and three other public squares – Logan, Franklin and Washington – were included. These squares were vital to Penn’s vision of landscaped public parks to promote the health of the mind and body by providing “salubrious spaces similar to the private garden.” They are beautiful and approachable, serving as “places to rest, take a pause, work, or read a book,” one student told us.

    Places such as the Philadelphia Zoo, Penn’s Landing and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are “joyful spots that are fun to explore, and one can also take your parents along if need be,” as another student described.

    The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, a historic library with eclectic programming, feels to one student like “coming home, a perfect third place.”

    Some students mentioned happy places that are less known. These include tucked-away gardens such as the John F. Collings Park at 1707 Chestnut St., the rooftop Cira Green at 129 S. 30th St. and the James G. Kaskey Memorial Park and BioPond at 433 S. University Ave.

    The James G. Kaskey Memorial Park and BioPond in West Philadelphia is an urban oasis.
    M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia

    My students said these are small, unexpected spots that provide an excellent opportunity for a quiet, peaceful break, to be present, whether enjoyed alone or with a friend. I checked them out and I agree.

    The students also mentioned places I had never heard of even though I’ve lived in the city for over 30 years.

    The “cat park” at 526 N. Natrona St. in Mantua is a quiet little park with an eclectic personality and lots of friendly cats.

    Mango Mango Dessert at 1013 Cherry St. in Chinatown, which is a frequently endorsed happiness spot among the students because of its “bustling streets, lively atmosphere and delicious food,” is a perfect pit stop for mango lovers. And Maison Sweet, at 2930 Chestnut St. in University City, is a casual bakery and cafe “where you may end up staying longer than planned,” one student shared.

    I find that Philly’s happy places, as seen through the eyes of college students, tend to offer a space for residents to take time out from their day to pause, reset, relax and feel more connected and in touch with the city.

    Happiness principals are universal, yet our own journeys are very personal. Philadelphians across the city may have their own list of happy places. There are really no right or wrong answers. If you don’t have a personal happy space, just start exploring and you may be surprised what you will find, including a new sense of happiness.

    See the full Philly Happiness Map list here, and visit the exhibit at the W.W. Hagerty Library at Drexel University to learn more.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

    Eric Zillmer 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. Philly psychology students map out local landmarks and hidden destinations where they feel happiest – https://theconversation.com/philly-psychology-students-map-out-local-landmarks-and-hidden-destinations-where-they-feel-happiest-258790

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory F. Treverton, Professor of Practice in International Relations, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

    Iranians protest the U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Tehran on June 22, 2025. Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    The Trump administration’s decision to bomb Iran dramatically marks the now nearly half-century of hostility between the United States and Iran, which began in 1979 with Iran’s takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the taking of 52 diplomatic hostages.

    It remains uncertain whether the Iran-Israel ceasefire will hold, given President Donald Trump’s seemingly impulsive policy decisions and an Israeli leader who critics say pursues war to stay in power.

    Additional unpredictability can be seen in a weakened Iran government that is unpopular with its own people but must also bet that standing up to the U.S. and Israel will induce its people to rally around the flag, even if they don’t like who holds that flag.

    As a U.S. international relations scholar, I think whatever comes next will be well informed by what has already happened in U.S.-Iran history. That includes an offer from Trump – who considers himself the consummate negotiator – to Iran to return to the negotiating table.

    The shah’s last visit to Washington

    The opening bracket in modern U.S.-Iran relations was the 1979 Islamic Revolution that overthrew Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,“ whom a CIA covert action had restored to leadership a quarter-century earlier.

    As a young National Security Council staffer, I stood on the South Lawn of the White House as the shah’s helicopter landed in 1977 for a state visit to his close ally, the United States.

    The episode was perhaps a metaphor for the two countries’ relationship. I stood next to a colleague who had written for President Jimmy Carter remarks that included fulsome praise of the shah, but his crack to me was: “You’ll recognize the shah. He’s the one with blood under his fingernails.” Beneath a formal alliance, there was a good deal of cynicism on the U.S. part about the shah’s repressive regime and use of secret police to suppress opposition.

    Pro- and anti-shah protesters were demonstrating at the bottom of the Ellipse, the park south of the White House grounds. The U.S. Park Police, understandably but unwisely, sought to separate them with tear gas, which then wafted over the proceedings on the South Lawn.

    The Shah of Iran wipes tear gas from his eyes as President Jimmy Carter speaks on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 15, 1977.
    AP Photo

    The impact of the hostage crisis

    It’s impossible to overstate the effect of the 1979 hostage crisis, when Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, holding 62 American hostages for 444 days.

    The Carter administration negotiated the Algiers Accords, which led to the release of the hostages in January 1981. There have been persistent accounts, none ever fully validated, that the incoming Reagan administration dealt with Iran to delay the release until after the new president’s inauguration.

    The crisis not only cost Carter his job, but it also cast an enduring shadow over the U.S.-Iran relationship, compounding Americans’ difficulty in understanding a regime that was not only theocratic but Muslim.

    The 1980s witnessed a whipsaw of relations.

    From 1980 to 1988, as Iran and Iraq fought a bloody war to a stalemate, the U.S. saw the power of both countries contained, but it did provide intelligence and logistical support to Iraq.

    Then came the Iran-Contra Affair of 1985 to 1987. It was the Reagan administration’s most serious scandal, in which White House officials illegally sold sanctioned arms to Iran and secretly diverted the proceeds to the Nicaraguan Contras. In a moment straight out of comic opera, National Security Council aides brought a goodwill chocolate cake to Tehran during a secret diplomatic mission in May 1986.

    Unidentified U.S. hostages arrive on Jan. 21, 1981, at Rhein-Main U.S. Air Force base in Frankfurt, West Germany, one day after their release from Iran.
    AP Photo

    In 1988, a U.S. ship struck an Iranian mine in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. retaliated by destroying oil platforms and damaging Iranian ships in “Operation Praying Mantis,” and tragically – and mistakenly – shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians.

    The 1990s and 2000s again displayed the limits of the relationship.

    In 1995, President Bill Clinton imposed an oil and trade embargo against Iran, and Congress passed the Iran–Libya Sanctions Act in 1996, which imposed economic sanctions on companies doing business with Iran and Libya.

    In 1998, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called for a “dialogue of civilizations,” prompting cautious U.S. signals of engagement.

    Then, in 2002, President George W. Bush labeled Iran part of the “axis of evil,” a sharp rhetorical escalation. For its part, Iran alleged U.S. drone incursions and covert operations. Limited diplomatic back channels emerged, but to no outcome.

    In 2009, President Barack Obama reached out to Tehran amid post-election unrest in Iran, but two years later Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil shipments to the West.

    In 2015, the two countries were party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with Iran agreeing to limit its nuclear program under international oversight.

    Two years later, though, President Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal and reimposed sweeping sanctions in a “maximum pressure” campaign.

    In 2019 and 2020, a series of tit-for-tat escalations culminated in the Jan. 3, 2020, U.S. drone strike that assassinated senior Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on U.S. bases in the region.

    U.S. sanctions continued in the Biden administration as Iran pursued deeper ties with Russia, China and nonstate proxies, especially Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen.

    What lessons?

    What can be learned from this tangled history?

    First, that negotiations are possible between the two countries, but they are neither easy nor likely to produce more than limited outcomes. Indeed, high-level indirect talks mediated by Oman began in April 2025, though they were in suspension when the U.S. bombers struck.

    Second, despite the Iran regime’s unpopularity, regime change in Iran is unlikely. Assassinating Ayatollah Ali Khameini would likely abet the “rally ‘round the flag” effect, as did the assassination of Soleimani.

    Third, Iran has been careful in its responses even to Israeli aggression but especially in engaging the U.S. in military conflict, a caution the American B-2 bombings on June 21 can only underscore.

    Iran had to retaliate, so the attack on the U.S. base in Qatar came as no surprise. But Iran was careful in retaliating, even notifying the U.S. in advance.

    The dropping of U.S. bombs, followed by Iran’s careful retaliation, was the opportunity for Trump to make an offer Iran couldn’t refuse.

    Gregory F. Treverton 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. What happens next in US-Iran relations will be informed by the two countries’ shared history – https://theconversation.com/what-happens-next-in-us-iran-relations-will-be-informed-by-the-two-countries-shared-history-259607

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Meets Representatives of Chinese Business Community and Investors on Sidelines World Economic Forum (WEF) Meetings in Tianjin


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    H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, held an expanded meeting with a number of leaders and representatives of the Chinese business community, with the participation of Eng. Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade.

    The meeting took place during her participation in the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Tianjin, China, and included several CEOs from Chinese companies in the automotive, pharmaceutical, financial, and digital transformation sectors, among others.

    During the meeting, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat emphasized the deep and distinguished Egyptian-Chinese relations, which span decades of close cooperation based on mutual respect and common interests. She noted that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, launched in 2014, represents a successful model for South-South cooperation and contributes to achieving mutual development.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat pointed out that in recent years, the Egyptian state has adopted an ambitious program of economic and structural reform aimed at enhancing the investment environment, stimulating private sector participation, and developing infrastructure. This creates promising opportunities for joint investment in priority sectors such as industry, renewable energy, telecommunications, technological infrastructure, and logistics.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that China is a key partner in this vision, as economic relations between the two countries are witnessing remarkable development, both in terms of trade volume and direct investments. She highlighted the unique investment opportunities Egypt offers, based on its distinguished geographical location, a network of free trade agreements, and legislative frameworks that support business growth.

    H.E. Minister Al-Mashat added that the Egyptian government seeks to strengthen cooperation with Chinese companies and institutions wishing to expand into the Egyptian market, especially within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030, which includes targets related to sustainable growth, green transformation, and the localization of strategic industries.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat reaffirmed that the government is working to consolidate macroeconomic stability and preserve development gains to deal with successive regional and international challenges. She noted that the state continues to implement a comprehensive program of economic and structural reforms aimed at enhancing the economy’s resilience, improving the business climate, and expanding the growth base led by the private sector. She mentioned that these reforms, along with continuous investments in infrastructure and legislative modernization, make Egypt an attractive and growing destination for foreign direct investment.

    At the conclusion of the meeting, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat invited the Chinese business community to take advantage of cooperation opportunities with Egypt as a gateway to African, Middle Eastern, and European markets. She stressed the state’s commitment to providing all means of support to serious investors and building long-term partnerships that contribute to achieving common interests and balanced development.

    It is worth noting that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, in its role of developing and strengthening economic relations with development partners, is working to advance relations on various levels with the Chinese side, particularly in the field of exchanging expertise and technology and enhancing scientific research. The Chinese side contributes to supporting and developing Egyptian expertise in the field of satellite assembly and testing, and training Egyptian cadres.

    In 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding for the Global Development Initiative (GDI) was signed during Dr. Rania Al-Mashat’s visit to China. This MoU lays the foundation for a new phase of joint work with the Chinese side. Through this, an integrated strategy for development cooperation between Egypt and China for 3-5 years will be formulated for the first time in light of the joint relations between the two countries. The two countries also signed their first MoU for debt-for-development swap, which the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation is working to activate.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Moody’s fully acquires ICR Chile, solidifying its leading position in key Latin American markets

    Source: Moody’s

    Headline: Moody’s fully acquires ICR Chile, solidifying its leading position in key Latin American markets

    Moody’s fully acquires ICR Chile, solidifying its leading position in key Latin American markets

    NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Moody’s Corporation (NYSE:MCO) announced today that it has fully acquired ICR Chile (ICR), a leading provider of domestic credit ratings in Chile. The transaction follows Moody’s 2019 acquisition of a minority stake in ICR and will further strengthen its presence in Latin America’s domestic credit markets.

    Following the transaction, ICR will continue issuing domestic ratings in Chile under its own rating process and methodologies. In the following months, ICR will be fully integrated into Moody’s Local, a group of leading credit rating agencies in Latin America.

    “Today’s acquisition builds on our successful partnership with ICR and underscores our commitment to Chile’s growing debt capital market,” said Martin Fernandez-Romero, Managing Director of Moody’s Local. “Bringing ICR into Moody’s Local will enhance our ability to provide high quality credit ratings, research, and analytical services to market participants, while contributing to greater transparency in Latin America.”

    Founded in 2005, ICR is renowned for its high-quality analyses and the expertise of its analytical teams. It provides ratings across a diverse range of sectors, including corporates, financial institutions, insurers, structured finance vehicles, funds, and project finance. Since Moody’s initial investment, ICR has gained market growth, driven by its in-depth credit analyses and the expansion of its coverage within Chile’s domestic ratings market.

    The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and it will not have a material impact on Moody’s 2025 financial results.

    About Moody’s Local
     Moody’s Local is a group of domestic rating agencies covering 13 Latin America’s domestic financial markets. Moody’s Local provides domestic credit ratings, research and risk analyses to market professionals with methodologies and seasoned analysts that capture the unique risks and dynamics of each market. Learn more at moodyslocal.com.

    About Moody’s Corporation
     In a world shaped by increasingly interconnected risks, Moody’s (NYSE: MCO) data, insights, and innovative technologies help customers develop a holistic view of their world and unlock opportunities. With a rich history of experience in global markets and a diverse workforce of approximately 16,000 across more than 40 countries, Moody’s gives customers the comprehensive perspective needed to act with confidence and thrive. Learn more at moodys.com.

    “Safe Harbor” statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

    Certain statements included in this release are forward-looking statements and are based on future expectations, plans and prospects for Moody’s business and operations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements involve estimates, projections, goals, forecasts, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and other information in this document are made as of the date hereof, and Moody’s undertakes no obligation (nor does it intend) to publicly supplement, update or revise such statements on a going-forward basis, whether as a result of subsequent developments, changed expectations or otherwise, except as required by applicable law or regulation. In connection with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Moody’s is identifying certain factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. Those factors, risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the uncertain effects of U.S. and foreign government actions affecting international trade and economic policy, including changes and volatility in tariffs and trade policies and retaliatory actions, on credit markets, customers and customer retention, and demand for our products and services; the impact of general economic conditions (including significant government debt and deficit levels, and inflation or recessions and related monetary policy actions by governments in response thereto) on worldwide credit markets and on economic activity, including on the level of merger and acquisition activity, and their effects on the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets; the uncertain effects of U.S. and foreign government initiatives and monetary policy to respond to the current economic climate, including instability of financial institutions, credit quality concerns, and other potential impacts of volatility in financial and credit markets; the impact of geopolitical events and actions, such as the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and military conflict in the Middle East, and of tensions and disputes in political and global relations, on volatility in world financial markets, on general economic conditions and GDP in the U.S. and worldwide and on Moody’s own operations and personnel; other matters that could affect the volume of debt and other securities issued in domestic and/or global capital markets, including regulation, increased utilization of technologies that have the potential to intensify competition and accelerate disruption and disintermediation in the financial services industry, as well as the number of issuances of securities without ratings or securities which are rated or evaluated by non-traditional parties; the level of merger and acquisition activity in the U.S. and abroad; the impact of MIS’s withdrawal of its credit ratings on countries or entities within countries and of Moody’s no longer conducting commercial operations in countries where political instability warrants such actions; concerns in the marketplace affecting our credibility or otherwise affecting market perceptions of the integrity or utility of independent credit agency ratings; the introduction or development of competing and/or emerging technologies and products; pricing pressure from competitors and/or customers; the level of success of new product development and global expansion; the impact of regulation as an NRSRO, the potential for new U.S., state and local legislation and regulations; the potential for increased competition and regulation in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including the EU; exposure to litigation related to our rating opinions, as well as any other litigation, government and regulatory proceedings, investigations and inquiries to which Moody’s may be subject from time to time; provisions in U.S. legislation modifying the pleading standards and EU regulations modifying the liability standards applicable to CRAs in a manner adverse to CRAs; provisions of EU regulations imposing additional procedural and substantive requirements on the pricing of services and the expansion of supervisory remit to include non-EU ratings used for regulatory purposes; uncertainty regarding the future relationship between the U.S. and China; the possible loss of key employees and the impact of the global labor environment; failures or malfunctions of our operations and infrastructure; any vulnerabilities to cyber threats or other cybersecurity concerns; the timing and effectiveness of our restructuring programs; currency and foreign exchange volatility; the outcome of any review by tax authorities of Moody’s global tax planning initiatives; exposure to potential criminal sanctions or civil remedies if Moody’s fails to comply with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that are applicable in the jurisdictions in which Moody’s operates, including data protection and privacy laws, sanctions laws, anti-corruption laws, and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials; the impact of mergers, acquisitions, or other business combinations and the ability of Moody’s to successfully integrate acquired businesses; the level of future cash flows; the levels of capital investments; and a decline in the demand for credit risk management tools by financial institutions, corporate or government entities. These factors, risks and uncertainties as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause Moody’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements are described in greater detail under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of Moody’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in other filings made by the Company from time to time with the SEC or in materials incorporated herein or therein. Stockholders and investors are cautioned that the occurrence of any of these factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, projected, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. New factors may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict new factors, nor can the Company assess the potential effect of any new factors on it. Forward-looking and other statements in this document may also address our corporate responsibility progress, plans, and goals (including sustainability and environmental matters), and the inclusion of such statements is not an indication that these contents are necessarily material to investors or required to be disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, historical, current, and forward-looking sustainability-related statements may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future.

    Source: Moody’s Corporation Investor Relations

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first students of the Kazakhstan branch of the North-West Polytechnic University have completed their master’s degree

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The first students of the Kazakhstan branch of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) have successfully completed their master’s degree program, according to a statement on the official website of the university.

    The graduation ceremony took place recently at SZPU. The event was conducted by the head of the Kazakh department of the university, Kun Jie.

    Vice-Rector of SZPU Yue Xiaokui warmly congratulated the eight Kazakhstanis on the successful completion of their studies and called on them to show courage in overcoming various difficulties in a promising scientific career.

    The Kazakh branch of SZPU plans to intensify cooperation in order to set an example of cooperation between the two countries in the field of higher education, he said.

    In October 2023, eight Kazakhstani students received admission letters and became the first master’s students of the Kazakhstan branch of SZPU. Eight months later, they moved from Almaty to Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, northwest China, and continued their studies at the Institutes of Electronic Information, Computer Science, and Materials Science of SZPU.

    With the help of their academic supervisors, at the end of June last year they successfully substantiated their choice of the topic for their diploma thesis and in June of this year they defended their final theses and received their academic degrees.

    Let us recall that in May 2023, within the framework of the China-Central Asia summit, an agreement was signed between SZPU and the Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi /KazNU/ to open a Kazakhstan branch of SZUIU. Already in October of the same year, the branch accepted the first batch of students.

    Earlier this year, an agreement was signed between SZIU and KazNU to establish the China-Kazakhstan Elite Engineering Institute in Almaty. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China reports drop in drug arrests

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — China has seen a steady decline in arrests for drug crimes in recent years, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) said Wednesday.

    China’s procuratorates have arrested more than 53,000 people suspected of drug-related crimes from January 2024 to May 2025, down 14 percent from the same period last year, a press conference said.

    Miao Shengming, deputy prosecutor general of the NPC, noted that China has stepped up efforts to combat drug crimes, especially those related to money laundering.

    During the reporting period, Chinese prosecutors ordered the arrest of more than 700 people on suspicion of drug-related money laundering, and initiated criminal proceedings against more than 1,300 people, the NPC added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center has welcomed its first baby in 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    CHENGDU, June 25 (Xinhua) — The first giant panda cub in 2025 was born at the Shenshuping base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

    The cub was born on June 21 at 11:50 p.m. by a female panda named “Linlan” as a result of a successful natural mating with a male named “Yasin” that took place in early March.

    “Despite the fact that 7-year-old Linglan is a first-time mother, she copes with her role perfectly: skillfully carrying the bear cub in her teeth, protecting it and licking it,” said deputy head of the base Wu Honglin.

    Base staff continue to closely monitor the health of “Linlan” and the baby.

    Since the 1980s, the China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center has made the most active efforts to solve the problems that most hinder the captive breeding of this rare animal. As a result, the number of giant pandas kept at the center has increased from 6 in 1983 to more than 380 today. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow and Kyiv will choose dates for continuing contacts after the implementation of previously reached agreements in Istanbul is completed – D. Peskov

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    Moscow, June 25 /Xinhua/ — The dates for the continuation of talks between Russia and Ukraine will be determined after the completion of the implementation of the agreements previously reached in Istanbul. Moscow and Kyiv are not exchanging opinions on the draft memorandums while the process of implementing existing humanitarian agreements is underway, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

    “No. At the moment, the implementation of those humanitarian agreements that were reached during the second round is being completed,” he said.

    The spokesman added that after that it would be time to “decide on dates for the continuation.”

    Earlier, D. Peskov said that a new round of negotiations with Kiev would take place after June 22, and specific dates are being worked out. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China launches 300 billion yuan medium-term lending facility

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — The People’s Bank of China (PBOC, the central bank) on Wednesday launched a 300 billion yuan (about 41.86 billion U.S. dollars) medium-term lending facility (MLF) to maintain sufficient liquidity in the banking system.

    According to the regulator, the one-year transaction was carried out on a fixed-quantity basis and interest-rate trading.

    With 182 billion yuan of MLF maturing this month, net inflows through the facility in June were only 118 billion yuan.

    Earlier this month, the PBOC also conducted two direct reverse repos, which brought in a total of 200 billion yuan of net liquidity, bringing the total medium-term net liquidity injections for June to 318 billion yuan.

    Analysts note that as government bond issuance accelerates, sustained liquidity support plays a key role in reducing funding volatility and strengthening market expectations. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –