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Category: Commerce

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Williams Introduces Resolution in Support of Glioblastoma Awareness Day

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25) introduced a resolution alongside Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Brian Mast (R-FL), and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), expressing support for the designation of July 16, 2025 as “Glioblastoma Awareness Day.” This resolution increases glioblastoma awareness, which is critical to research and treatment advancements, and expresses support for those battling this disease.

    “Awareness is crucial in the ongoing fight against glioblastoma,” said Congressman Williams. “This resolution brings hope to patients and their families as they fight this devastating disease. Together, we will continue to build on the progress we have made as we search for a cure to end brain cancer. May we honor the strength and resilience of those fighting today and those we have lost.”

    “The human brain is incredibly complex and not well understood yet. The United States must invest in research and development to better understand the brain, including the causes and treatments of brain cancer. This resolution affirms bipartisan commitment to driving innovation and supporting breakthroughs that can provide new treatment options for patients with brain cancer and their families.”  – Congressman Auchincloss

    “National Brain Tumor Society is proud and grateful to once again work with champions in Congress to mark the introduction of a Glioblastoma Awareness Day Resolution for July 16, 2025,”  said David Arons, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Brain Tumor Society. We thank all of the sponsors of this year’s resolution for their continued support and recognition that much more needs to be done to defeat this deadly disease that has impacted so many lives on Capitol Hill and throughout the entire country.”

    Read the bill text here.

    Background:

    • Glioblastoma is the most commonly occurring primary malignant brain tumor, accounting for 14.2% of all tumors and 50.1% of all malignant tumors.

    ###

    Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China urges US to stop suppression of Chinese tech enterprises, AI industry

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

    China urges the United States to immediately correct its protectionist and unilateral bullying actions, and cease its unscrupulous suppression of Chinese technology firms and AI industry, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

    According to reports, the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce recently issued an announcement regarding the use of Huawei’s Ascend chips as a violation of U.S. export controls, and warned the public of the potential consequences of allowing the use of U.S. AI chips to train Chinese AI models.

    In response, spokesperson Lin Jian told a daily news briefing that the U.S. side overstretched the concept of national security and abused export control and long-arm jurisdiction to maliciously block and suppress China’s chip products and artificial intelligence industries for no reason. Such actions seriously violate market rules, disrupt the stability of the global production and supply chain, and infringe upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.

    “China firmly opposes this and will never accept it,” he noted.

    China will take resolute measures to safeguard its own right to development and the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, Lin added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: reAlpha Tech Corp. Announces 4,432% Year-over-Year Revenue Growth for Quarter Ended March 31, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, Ohio, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — reAlpha Tech Corp. (Nasdaq: AIRE) (the “Company” or “reAlpha”), a real estate technology company developing and commercializing artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Financial Highlights:

    • Revenue increased 4,432% to $925,635 in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $20,426 in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Cash was approximately $1.2 million as of the first quarter of 2025, compared to $3.1 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net loss was approximately $2.85 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net loss of approximately $1.41 million in the first quarter of 2024, which increase in net loss was mainly due to increased operating expenses resulting from the integration of the Company’s recent acquisitions. While the Company reported a higher net loss year-over-year, the net profit margin increased from approximately (6,947)% to (309)% year-over-year, due to increased operating efficiency across the business and integration of recent acquisitions.
    • Adjusted EBITDA was approximately $(1.96) million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to approximately $(1.34) million in the first quarter of 2024.

    Piyush Phadke, Chief Financial Officer of reAlpha, commented, “Our progress in the first quarter of 2025 is a definite step in the right direction and further corroborates the positive trend in revenue growth and EBITDA margins reflected in our 2024 annual report.” He further added, “We believe that by combining AI-driven technology with strategic acquisitions in real estate services, we have driven strong revenue growth and are building a scalable platform aimed at making homeownership more affordable. We intend to carry this momentum forward throughout the year.”

    Business Highlights

    • Launched several tools to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience, including the rollout of a comprehensive internal lead tracking system and the launch of a new public-facing website for Be My Neighbor, one of the Company’s subsidiaries.
    • Appointed Piyush Phadke as Chief Financial Officer and Vijay Rathna as Chief Crypto Officer.
    • Announced the acquisition of GTG Financial, Inc. (“GTG”), a mortgage brokerage founded by a U.S. marine in 2017 and licensed in seven U.S. states. GTG’s acquisition complements the Company’s acquisition of Be My Neighbor in 2024 and highlights the Company’s focus on the mortgage brokerage market. From the date of acquisition to the end of the first quarter of 2025, GTG contributed to originating 36 mortgages for a total loan volume of approximately $22.4 million since its acquisition by the Company in the first quarter of 2025.
    • Secured a $5 million media-for-equity investment from Mercurius Media Capital LP on March 10, 2025, which is providing the Company with access to significant marketing exposure while preserving cash. One of the active campaigns is promoting the reAlpha platform on Willow TV across all 50 U.S. states.

    About reAlpha Tech Corp.

    reAlpha Tech Corp. (Nasdaq: AIRE) is an AI-powered real estate technology company transforming the multi-trillion dollar U.S. real estate services market. reAlpha is developing an end-to-end platform that streamlines the homebuying journey, including real estate brokerage, mortgage and title services. With a strategic, acquisition-driven growth model and a proprietary AI infrastructure, reAlpha is building a vertically integrated ecosystem designed to deliver a streamlined and more affordable path to homeownership. For more information, visit www.realpha.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements.” Any statements other than statements of historical fact contained herein, including statements relating to acquisitions, business strategy and plans, objectives of management for future operations of reAlpha, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may”, “should”, “could”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “project”, “strive”, “budget”, “forecast”, “expect”, “intend”, “will”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “predict”, “potential” or “continue”, or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: reAlpha’s ability to pay contractual obligations; reAlpha’s liquidity, operating performance, cash flow and ability to secure adequate financing; reAlpha’s limited operating history and that reAlpha has not yet fully developed its AI-based technologies; whether reAlpha’s technology and products will be accepted and adopted by its customers and intended users; reAlpha’s ability to commercialize its developing AI-based technologies; reAlpha’s ability to successfully enter new geographic markets; reAlpha’s ability to integrate the business of its acquired companies into its existing business and the anticipated demand for such acquired companies’ services; reAlpha’s ability to scale its operational capabilities to expand into additional geographic markets and nationally; the potential loss of key employees of reAlpha and of its subsidiaries; the outcome of certain outstanding legal proceedings against reAlpha; reAlpha’s ability to obtain, and maintain, the required licenses to operate in the U.S. states in which it, or its subsidiaries, operate in, or intend to operate in; reAlpha’s ability to successfully identify and acquire companies that are complementary to its business model; reAlpha’s ability to commercialize its developing AI-based technologies; the inability to maintain and strengthen reAlpha’s brand and reputation; any accidents or incidents involving cybersecurity breaches and incidents; the inability to accurately forecast demand for short-term rentals and AI-based real estate-focused products; the inability to execute business objectives and growth strategies successfully or sustain reAlpha’s growth; the inability of reAlpha’s customers to pay for reAlpha’s services; the inability of reAlpha to obtain additional financing or access the capital markets to fund its ongoing operations on acceptable terms and conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that might be instituted against reAlpha; changes in applicable laws or regulations, and the impact of the regulatory environment and complexities with compliance related to such environment; and other risks and uncertainties indicated in reAlpha’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Although reAlpha believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. reAlpha’s future results, level of activity, performance or achievements may differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, and there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking statements. For more information about the factors that could cause such differences, please refer to reAlpha’s filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and reAlpha does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Adele Carey, VP of Investor Relations
    investorrelations@realpha.com

    Media Contact:

    Cristol Rippe, Chief Marketing Officer
    media@realpha.com

     
    reAlpha Tech Corp. and Subsidiaries
    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
    March 31, 2025 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2024
                 
        March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		  
    ASSETS   (unaudited)        
                 
    Current Assets            
    Cash   $ 1,204,400     $ 3,123,530  
    Accounts receivable, net     164,693       182,425  
    Receivable from related parties     7,408       12,873  
    Prepaid expenses     5,183,968       180,158  
    Current assets of discontinued operations     56,931       56,931  
    Other current assets     278,422       487,181  
    Total current assets     6,895,822       4,043,098  
                     
    Property and equipment, net     101,407       102,638  
                     
    Other Assets                
    Investments     214,128       215,000  
    Other long term assets     954,000       31,250  
    Intangible assets, net     3,256,713       3,285,406  
    Goodwill     7,010,689       4,211,166  
    Capitalized software development – work in progress     105,900       105,900  
    TOTAL ASSETS   $ 18,538,659     $ 11,994,458  
                     
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)                
                     
    Current Liabilities                
    Accounts payable   $ 940,896     $ 655,765  
    Related party payables     9,380       9,287  
    Short term loans – related parties -current portion     245,292       261,986  
    Short term loans – unrelated parties -current portion     449,622       519,153  
    Note payable, current-net of discount     5,010,627       –  
    Accrued expenses     994,728       1,164,813  
    Deferred liabilities, current portion     4,191,060       1,534,433  
    Total current liabilities     11,841,605       4,145,437  
                     
    Long-Term Liabilities                
    Embedded Derivate Liability     4,327,930       –  
    Preferred stock liability     957,177          
    Other long term loans – related parties – net of current portion     27,131       45,052  
    Other long term loans – unrelated parties – net of current portion     217,036       241,121  
    Note payable, net of discount     –       4,909,376  
    Other long term liabilities     2,133,000       1,086,000  
    Total liabilities     19,503,879       10,426,986  
                     
    Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)                
    Series A Convertible Preferred Stock  ($0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized) 1,000,000 shares designated; 264,063 and 0 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively     –       –  
    Common stock ($0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 46,230,934 shares outstanding as of March 31, 2025; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 45,864,503 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2024)     46,230       45,865  
    Additional paid-in capital     40,099,285       39,770,060  
    Accumulated deficit     (41,110,855 )     (38,260,913 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income     (6,920 )     5,011  
    Total stockholders’  (deficit) equity of reAlpha Tech Corp.     (972,260 )     1,560,023  
                     
    Non-controlling interests in consolidated entities     7,040       7,449  
    Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity     (965,220 )     1,567,472  
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY   $ 18,538,659     $ 11,994,458  
                     
     
    reAlpha Tech Corp. and Subsidiaries
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
    For the Three Ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (unaudited)
               
      For the Three
    Months Ended    		     For the Three
    Months Ended    		  
      March 31,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
               
    Revenues $ 925,635     $ 20,426  
    Cost of revenues   406,968       18,249  
    Gross Profit   518,667       2,177  
                   
    Operating Expenses              
    Wages, benefits and payroll taxes   1,060,104       418,902  
    Repairs and maintenance   854       749  
    Utilities   5,213       1,663  
    Travel   60,991       46,964  
    Dues and subscriptions   52,232       12,113  
    Marketing and advertising   518,939       76,784  
    Professional and legal fees   742,159       468,725  
    Depreciation and amortization   179,149       71,453  
    Other operating expenses   321,284       211,482  
    Total operating expenses   2,940,925       1,308,835  
                   
    Operating Loss   (2,422,258 )     (1,306,658 )
                   
    Other Expense (income)              
    Changes in fair value of contingent consideration   93,000       –  
    Interest expense, net   205,247       10,445  
    Other expense, net   129,846       101,103  
    Total other expense   428,093       111,548  
                   
    Net Loss from continuing operations before income taxes   (2,850,531 )     (1,418,206 )
                   
    Net Loss from continuing operations   (2,850,351 )     (1,418,206 )
                   
    Discontinued operations (Roost and Rhove)              
    Loss from operations of discontinued Operations   –       (839 )
    Loss on discontinued operations   –       (839 )
                   
    Net Loss $ (2,850,351 )   $ (1,419,045 )
                   
    Less: Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests   (409 )     (65 )
                   
    Net Loss Attributable to Controlling Interests $ (2,849,942 )   $ (1,418,980 )
                   
    Other comprehensive income              
    Foreign currency translation adjustments   (11,931 )     –  
     Total other comprehensive loss   (11,931 )     –  
                   
    Comprehensive Loss Attributable to Controlling Interests $ (2,861,873 )   $ (1,418,980 )
                   
    Basic loss per share              
    Continuing operations $ (0.06 )   $ (0.03 )
    Discontinued operations $ –     $ (0.00 )
    Net Loss per share — basic $ (0.06 )   $ (0.03 )
                   
    Diluted loss per share              
    Continuing operations $ (0.06 )   $ (0.03 )
    Discontinued operations $ –     $ (0.00 )
    Net Loss per share — diluted $ (0.06 )   $ (0.03 )
                   
    Weighted-average outstanding shares — basic   45,913,591       44,122,091  
                   
    Weighted-average outstanding shares — diluted   47,662,152       44,122,091  
                   
     
    reAlpha Tech Corp. and Subsidiaries
    Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, and 2024 (unaudited)
               
      For the Three
    Months Ended    		     For the Three
    Months Ended    		  
      March 31,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Cash Flows from Operating Activities:          
    Net Loss $ (2,850,351 )   $ (1,419,045 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:              
    Depreciation and amortization   130,399       71,453  
    Amortization of loan discounts   121,251       –  
    Stock based compensation   78,355       –  
    Change in fair value of contingent consideration   93,000       –  
    Non cash Commitment fee expenses   125,000       125,000  
    Non cash Dividend payable on preferred stock   184       –  
    Gain on sale of properties   –       (31,378 )
    Loss from equity method investment   872       –  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities              
    Accounts receivable   17,732       18,463  
    Receivable from related parties   5,465       –  
    Payable to related parties   93       9,800  
    Prepaid expenses   (3,810 )     25,492  
    Other current assets   (7,160 )     (1,788 )
    Accounts payable   184,803       (28,263 )
    Accrued expenses   (187,813 )     (296,972 )
    Deferred liabilities   24,877       –  
    Total adjustments   583,248       (108,193 )
    Net cash used in operating activities   (2,267,103 )     (1,527,238 )
                   
    Cash Flows from Investing Activities:              
    Additions to property and equipment   (13,665 )     –  
    Proceeds from sale of properties   –       78,000  
    Net Cash paid to acquire business   349,529       –  
    Cash used for additions to capitalized software   (91,310 )     (97,700 )
    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   244,554       (19,700 )
                   
    Cash Flows from Financing Activities:              
    Proceeds from issuance of debt – related parties   155,481       –  
    Payments of debt   (283,711 )     (71,286 )
    Proceeds from issuance of common stock   231,235       –  
     Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   103,005       (71,286 )
                   
    Net decrease in cash   (1,919,544 )     (1,618,224 )
                   
                   
    Cash – Beginning of Period   3,123,944       6,456,370  
                   
    Cash – End of Period $ 1,204,400     $ 4,838,146  
                   
                   
                   

    Explanatory Notes on Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    To supplement reAlpha’s financial information presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), reAlpha believes “Adjusted EBITDA,” a “non- U.S. GAAP financial measure”, as such term is defined under the rules of the SEC, is useful in evaluating reAlpha’s operating performance. reAlpha uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate reAlpha’s ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. reAlpha believes that Adjusted EBITDA may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In addition, other companies, including companies in reAlpha’s industry, may calculate similarly titled non-U.S. GAAP measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of reAlpha’s non-U.S. GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. A reconciliation is provided below for each non-U.S. GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the related U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non- U.S. GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate reAlpha’s business.

    We use Adjusted EBITDA, a non- U.S. GAAP financial measure, to evaluate our operating performance and facilitate comparisons across periods and with peer companies. We reconcile our Adjusted EBITDA to our net income (loss) adjusted to exclude interest expense, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, and other non-cash, non-operating, or non-recurring items that we believe are not indicative of our core business operations. We believe this measure provides useful insight into our ongoing performance; however, it should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, net income or other financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

    The following table provides a reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented below:

      For the Three Months
    Ended March 31,    		  
      2025     2024  
    Net (Loss) Income $ (2,850,351 )   $ (1,419,045 )
    Adjusted to exclude the following              
    Depreciation and amortization   179,149       71,453  
    Changes in fair value of contingent consideration   93,000       –  
    Interest expense   205,247       10,445  
    Amortization of Loan Discounts and Origination Fee(1)   121,251       –  
    GEM commitment fee (2)   125,000       –  
    Share based compensation (3)   78,355       –  
    Acquisition-related expenses (4)   87,352       –  
    Adjusted EBITDA   (1,960,997 )     (1,337,147 )
    (1) Reflects the amortized original issue discount related to that certain secured promissory note issued to Streeterville Capital, LLC on August 14, 2024.
    (2) This pertains to the commitment fee of $1 million in connection with the equity facility we have in place with GEM Global Yield LLC and GEM Yield Bahamas Limited, which has been amortized over a period of 24 months.
    (3) Compensation provided to employees for services through share-based awards, which is recognized as a non-cash expense.
    (4) Expenses related to acquisitions, including professional and legal fees, which are excluded from U.S. GAAP financial measures to provide a clearer view of ongoing operational performance.
       

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Remote Access Awarded the Spring 2025 Top Rated Award in Remote Desktop Category by TopBusinessSoftware.com

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IRVINE, Calif., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus, global provider of remote access solutions, proudly announces that it has been awarded the Spring 2025 Top Rated Award from TopBusinessSoftware.com. Top Business Software is the authority resource for verified B2B software reviews. This prestigious award recognizes companies and products that have received outstanding user feedback, placing them above 95% of other products in terms of customer satisfaction.

    “We are proud to announce the winners of the Spring 2025 Top Rated Awards,” said TopBusinessSoftware.com Editor-in-Chief, Sydney Sheppard. “TSplus has demonstrated their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, reflected in their exceptional user reviews.”

    To achieve the Spring 2025 Top Rated Award, each winning product had to garner enough positive user reviews to place it above 95% of all products out of over 106,000 software products listed on TopBusinessSoftware.com. This accolade is a testament to the high-quality solutions TSplus offers to its customers.

    Dominique Benoit, TSplus founder and visionary President, commented: “At TSplus, we are honored to receive the TopBusinessSoftware.com Spring 2025 Top Rated Award for the very first time. Our team is dedicated to providing a top-tier product, and it is gratifying to see our users recognizing our efforts with such positive reviews. We are proud to be valued by our customers and to have earned this recognition from TopBusinessSoftware.com.”

    Here’s what customers have to say about TSplus:

    “Excellent Support and Great TSPLUS Remote Access Product”

    “Pricing is fair and much lower than competing products.
    Highly recommend. “

    Date: Feb 03 2025

    “Best remote solution available”

    “I really like this product and use it across multiple organizations. It’s always reliable and the support is great.”

    Date: Jan 27 2025

    “I have been using TSplus in my business for more than 10 years, and I have always seen constant improvements, such as the mobile edition. Fantastic support”

    Date: Mar 04 2025

    See more on https://topbusinesssoftware.com/products/TSplus/reviews/ and leave a review as well: https://topbusinesssoftware.com/products/TSplus/reviews/new/.

    About TSplus

    TSplus provides secure remote access, application delivery, and IT infrastructure management solutions to businesses and organizations worldwide. With a strong presence in over 140 countries and more than 500,000 deployments, TSplus helps companies of all sizes reduce IT complexity, enhance productivity, and enable secure digital workspaces. TSplus products are designed for flexibility, scalability, and ease of use — empowering partners and customers with cost-effective alternatives to traditional remote desktop technologies.

    About Top Business Software

    TopBusinessSoftware.com is the authority resource for B2B software reviews. The site offers user reviews, product comparisons, software guides, and much more. With over 106,000 B2B software products listed across nearly 5000 B2B software categories, TopBusinessSoftware.com’s mission is to help business professionals discover the best software solutions to meet their unique needs. The platform provides a dedicated B2B software review and comparison platform with robust but intuitive tools that enable users to find the right software, no matter what they need.

    Press contact:

    Caleb Zaharris
    TSplus Marketing Director
    Caleb.zaharris@tsplus.net

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea154fce-ad0e-4bc2-a30f-9fc77fd60952

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2276a5af-ab59-41ff-b1cb-93331a083750

    The MIL Network –

  • APEC highlights ‘fundamental challenges’ in global trade as tariffs overshadow meeting

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group adopted a statement on Friday that cited “fundamental challenges” facing the global trading system, but stopped short of discussing a joint response to U.S. tariffs looming large over its meeting.

    The annual gathering is the first major multilateral trade gathering since U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping tariffs that hit more than half of the 21 members of the bloc with U.S. import duties in excess of the 10% minimum.

    “We are concerned with the fundamental challenges faced by the global trading system,” APEC members said in the joint statement.

    They also said they remained committed to APEC as the main forum for regional economic cooperation and addressing the economic challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region.

    The statement expressed support for the continued role of the World Trade Organization, while noting its shortcomings.

    “We recognise the importance of the WTO to advance trade issues, and acknowledge the agreed-upon rules in the WTO as an integral part of the global trading system.”

    The statement also said that “the WTO has challenges and needs meaningful, necessary, and comprehensive reform to improve all its functions, through innovative approaches, to be more relevant and responsive in light of today’s realities”.

    The Trump administration views the WTO as a body that has enabled China to gain an unfair export advantage and has recently moved to suspend U.S. funding to the institution.

    Kim Yong Jin, a management professor at Sogang University in Seoul, said the joint statement reflected U.S. claims “they are at a disadvantage under WTO, and that needs to be fixed.”

    APEC warned at the start of the meeting that exports from a region that accounts for around half of world trade would slow sharply this year as a result of the U.S. tariffs.

    Earlier on Friday, some diplomats from member countries had expressed doubts the group would even be able to adopt a joint statement, although they said South Korea Minister for Trade, Cheong In-kyo, had pushed hard for some consensus.

    “There was new momentum created through these meetings to overcome a difficult situation … as APEC urged a trans-regional effort to break through uncertainties engulfing the global economy,” Cheong told a briefing.

    In February, a Group of 20 meeting of finance ministers and central bankers in Cape Town failed to agree a joint communique after top officials from several countries, including the United States, skipped it.

    Cheong said there was no “official” discussion about a joint response to U.S. tariffs, despite pressure from some members for such talks.

    “From our standpoint, it is difficult to jointly respond because each country is in a completely different situation,” he said.

    APEC is a non-binding regional economic forum established in 1989 to facilitate deepening ties in the Asia-Pacific region, with the United States, China, countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan among its member economies.

    BILATERAL MEETINGS

    For many of the member economies, the attendance of U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer raised the stakes of the conference held on South Korea’s Jeju Island, ahead of a leaders’ summit scheduled later in the year.

    On the first day, many, if not all, of the representatives had or sought a meeting with Greer, according to host country officials.

    Greer met China’s Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang on Thursday, less than a week after their first face-to-face talks in Geneva on May 10-11, where they agreed to significantly lower tariffs for 90 days.

    Beijing’s commerce ministry spokesperson, He Yongqian, told a press conference that China was always open to discussing economic and trade relations with the United States through offline communication, but gave no details on the substance of the latest talks.

    According to a statement from the ministry, China’s Li said at the APEC meeting that in recent years individual economies had implemented so-called reciprocal tariffs, which provoked global trade frictions and strong dissatisfaction and opposition from many trading partners.

    Greer also spoke with South Korea’s Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun, three weeks after Seoul and Washington held their opening round of trade talks, and ministers from Malaysia and Taiwan, yielding optimism that further talks would lead to reduced tariffs.

    (Reuters)

  • IIFT sets up first overseas campus in Dubai, marking historic step in global expansion

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major stride towards internationalising Indian higher education, the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has announced the establishment of its first overseas campus in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The move marks a significant milestone in IIFT’s 62-year history and underscores India’s growing presence in the global education landscape.

    The announcement was made by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Friday. The new campus has received the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Education, along with No Objection Certificates from the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

    Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal hailed the development as a reflection of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s vision of making India a global hub for education. “This truly reflects the spirit of NEP 2020, marking a new chapter in the internationalisation of Indian education and its growing role in shaping global thought leadership. It is also a testament to the strengthening India-UAE partnership,” he said.

    Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal described the Dubai campus as a turning point in IIFT’s journey. “This represents India’s emergence as a provider of world-class education, especially in the field of international trade,” he noted, while applauding the institute’s continued focus on aligning academic and research efforts with national priorities.

    Prof. Rakesh Mohan Joshi, Vice Chancellor of IIFT, expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who supported the initiative. Reaffirming the institute’s commitment to excellence, he said, “We aim to transform IIFT into a world-class institution through our Dubai campus by excelling in education, training, and research in international trade.”

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK seeking sustainable trade: SCED

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau gave a speech today at a session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) Meeting in Jeju, South Korea.

    At a session themed “Prosperity through Sustainable Trade”, Mr Yau said that supply chains are the driving force of today’s global economy but are also highly sensitive and vulnerable to external shocks.

    He outlined that Hong Kong, as an international shipping and logistics hub, has been implementing various measures to support sustainable supply chains, including “Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050” and a roadmap for sustainability disclosure.

    “In parallel, enabling initiatives have been rolled out to equip micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with the means to manage their environmental footprint and encourage market participants to improve sustainable business practices,” he said. “Funding schemes and capacity-building programmes have also been put in place to encourage the adoption of digital technologies by MSMEs to facilitate the digital transformation of supply chains.”

    The commerce chief stressed that the issue of supply chains has always been an integral part of APEC discussions, adding that APEC’s role is even more important now than ever as cross-boundary trade and investments and supply chains face uncertainty and unprecedented challenges.

    Mr Yau said he believes the collective goal of strengthening sustainable supply chains should never be a trade-off between sustainability and trade, but rather a synergy between the two. He emphasised that Hong Kong is committed to working with all member economies to drive progress towards shared prosperity through sustainable trade.

    On the sidelines of the MRT Meeting, Mr Yau held a bilateral meeting with Japanese State Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry Ogushi Masaki to discuss various trade and economic issues.

    Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong tomorrow morning.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grant Scheme launched to support events and markets

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Businesses in the city centre are being encouraged to apply for a grant scheme to help support hosting events and markets. 

    The City Centre Events and Markets Scheme encourages and supports businesses to host events that will contribute towards Aberdeen’s vibrancy as well as enhancing community spirit and supporting the local economy. 

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “Having a wide selection of events will help our city centre to continue to be a fun place for locals and visitors to come together and celebrate local talent. 

    “Any interested businesses should look to see if they are eligible to apply and start their creative journey today.”

    Finance and Resources convener Councillor Alex McLellan said: said: “We are delighted to offer businesses in Aberdeen city centre the opportunity to bring their ideas to life and make a lasting impact on our community through this exciting scheme.”

    Discretionary grants of £1,000 are available to businesses looking to host free-to-attend, community events or markets within Aberdeen city centre. 

    Businesses can apply for funding towards exciting and creative events such as food markets for local producers, craft workshops and fashion shows. 

    This Grant Scheme is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

    To find out more and to apply, visit our website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Advances Robust, Transparent Post-Market Chemical Review Program to Keep Food Supply Safe and Healthy

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    For Immediate Release:
    May 15, 2025

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is taking a major step to increase transparency and ensure the safety of chemicals in our food. The agency is launching a stronger, more systematic review process for food chemicals already on the market—especially those that concern consumers most.
    “No parent should ever worry about what’s in their child’s food,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We’re taking decisive action and using every authority we have to clean up the food supply and protect American families.”
    Under the leadership of Secretary Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H., the FDA will roll out several key actions over the coming months:

    A modernized, evidence-based prioritization scheme for reviewing existing chemicals. A draft will be released for public comment soon.
    A final, systematic post-market review process shaped by stakeholder input.
    An updated list of chemicals under review, including BHT, BHA, and ADA. The FDA will also take steps to expedite its review of chemicals currently under review like phthalates, propylparaben, and titanium dioxide. FDA will continue to share information about the status of this work on its public website as part the agency’s push for greater transparency.

    Until now, the FDA has conducted post-market reviews on a case-by-case basis, often in response to citizen petitions or new scientific evidence. This new framework will be proactive, science-based, and built for long-term impact. Americans are demanding more transparency and accountability around food safety and the FDA is doing just that.
    “We are prioritizing our resources and leveraging gold standard science to create, for the first time, a systematic post-market review program that consumers can trust and rely on,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Only by improving the safety and transparency of the food supply and ensuring consumers can make healthful food choices will we overcome the long-standing trajectory of chronic diseases.”
    This post-market review effort is part of a larger initiative to improve food chemical oversight. Last month, the FDA announced plans to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the U.S. food supply. Earlier this year, the agency also began exploring rulemaking to eliminate the process that allows companies to self-affirm substances as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) without FDA oversight.

    Consumer:888-INFO-FDA

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    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    Content current as of:
    05/15/2025

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom proclaims Small Business Month 2025

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 15, 2025

    Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring May 2025 as “Small Business Month.”

    The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:

    PROCLAMATION

    California’s more than 4.2 million small businesses – the most of any state – embody the entrepreneurial spirit that drives the economy of the Golden State. Small businesses and entrepreneurs accelerate economic growth and mobility in California, building wealth, innovating to solve global problems, launching future growth industries, and supporting local communities.

    California’s small businesses account for more than 99.9% of total businesses in the state and employ nearly half of the state’s private sector workforce. Our state leads the nation in business startups, and our businesses received more than 55% of the nation’s venture capital in 2024.

    California businesses produce more patents per capita and conduct more research and development than any other state in the nation. Our state leads the nation in high-tech industries, agriculture, and manufacturing output in the U.S. We exceed the national rate of manufacturing output by 83% since the late 1990s. Our manufacturing firms have created new industries and supply the world with manufactured goods spanning aerospace, computers, electronics, and zero-emission vehicles.

    The state is committed to nurturing small businesses. AB 2019 codified the state’s procurement spending goal of 25% to small businesses, while the Small Business Technical Assistance Program helps businesses and entrepreneurs start, grow, and become more resilient. Through the state’s Accelerate California Inclusive Innovation Hubs, we’re working to expand and diversify the innovation economy by improving access to resources in underserved communities, supporting emerging tech sectors, and catalyzing the creation of high-quality jobs in every corner of the state.

    California’s economy – the fourth largest in the world – is not confined to our borders. More than 60,000 small businesses in California export to countries around the world. For our economy to maintain its strength, we must ensure that all Californians – no matter who they are or where they come from – can pursue their dreams to start, manage, and grow resilient businesses in the Golden State. To protect our small businesses, California is acting to stop unlawful tariffs that are hurting American businesses and families.

    Our small businesses are global leaders in innovation and economic competitiveness and have helped make our economy the envy of the world. This month, we recognize the tremendous contributions of our small businesses, as well as the importance of our ongoing work to support their success and make the California Dream accessible to all.

    NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 2025 as “Small Business Month.”

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 15th day of May 2025.

    GAVIN NEWSOM
    Governor of California

    ATTEST:
    SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.
    Secretary of State

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    May 14, 2025

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: ICE Tampa led worksite enforcement operations at construction sites near Wildwood, Fla.

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    ICE Tampa led worksite enforcement operations at construction sites in a swiftly growing area near Wildwood, Fla.

    So far this week, we’ve made 33 worksite arrests during this specialized op — including four previously deported aliens.

    Worksite enforcement actions aren’t just about illegal workers — they’re also about criminal business owners hiring them. These businesses undercut their competition by exploiting illegal alien labor, making it harder for legitimate businesses to stay afloat.

    Businesses that are part of the IMAGE program are not being visited currently – we trust they’re compliant.

    Join the program at http://ICE.gov/IMAGE

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTYRBiV-ycM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Alexia Maddox, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Education Futures, La Trobe University

    De Visu/Shutterstock

    Australia’s move to ban under-16s from social media is receiving widespread praise. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore and Japan, are also now reportedly considering similar moves.

    The ban was legislated in November 2024 and is due to take effect in December 2025. The law says social media platforms can’t use official IDs such as passports to check Australian users’ ages, and shouldn’t track Australians. But it doesn’t specify the alternative.

    To test alternative methods, the federal government commissioned a trial of currently available technologies designed to “assure” people’s age online. Run by the Age Check Certification Scheme, a UK-based company specialising in testing and certifying identity verification systems, the trial is in its final stages. Results are expected at the end of June.

    So what are the technologies being trialled? Are they likely to work? And how might they – and the social media ban itself – alter the relationship all of us have with our dominant forms of digital communication?

    Dead ends for age verification

    Age verification confirms a person’s exact age using verified sources such as government-issued IDs. Age assurance is a broader term. It can include estimation techniques such as analysing faces or metadata to determine if users meet age requirements.

    In 2023 the federal government rejected mandating verification technologies for age-gating pornography sites. It found them “immature” with significant limitations. For example, database checks were costly and credit card verification could be easily worked around by minors.

    Nonprofit organisation Digital Rights Watch also pointed out that such systems were easily bypassed using virtual private networks – or VPNs. These are simple tools that hide a user’s location to make it seem like they are from a different country.

    Age assurance technologies bring different problems.

    For example, the latest US National Academies of Sciences report shows that facial recognition systems frequently misidentify children because their facial features are still developing.

    Improving these systems would require massive collections of children’s facial images. But international human rights law protects children’s privacy, making such data collection both legally and ethically problematic.

    Flawed testing of innovative tech?

    The age assurance technology trial currently includes 53 vendors hoping to win a contract for new innovative solutions.

    A range of technology is being trialled. It includes facial recognition offering “selfie-based age checks” and hand movement recognition technologies that claim to calculate age ranges. It also includes bespoke block chains to store sensitive data on.

    There are internal tensions about the trial’s design choices. These tensions centre on a lack of focus on ways to circumvent the technology, privacy implications, and verification of vendors’ efficacy claims.

    While testing innovation is good, the majority of companies and startups such as IDVerse, AgeCheck, and Yoti in the trial, will likely not hold clout over the major tech platforms in focus (Meta, Google and Snap).

    This divide reveals a fundamental problem: the companies building the checking tools aren’t the ones who must use them in the platforms targeted by the law. When tech giants don’t actively participate in developing solutions, they’re more likely to resist implementing them later.

    Google recently proposed storing ID documents in Google Wallet for age verification.
    nitpicker/Shutterstock

    Unresponsive tech companies

    Some major tech companies have shown little interest in engaging with the trial. For example, minutes from the trial’s March advisory board meeting reveal Apple “has been unresponsive, despite multiple outreach attempts”.

    Apple has recently outlined a tool to transmit a declared age range to developers on request. Apple suggests iOS will default the age assurance on Apple devices to under 13 for kids’ accounts. This makes it the responsibility of parents to modify age, the responsibility of developers to recognise age, and the responsibility of governments to legislate when and what to do with an assured age per market.

    Google’s recent Google Wallet proposal for age assurance also misses the mark on privacy concerns and usefulness.

    The proposal would require people over 16 to upload government-issued IDs and link them to a Google account. It would also require people trust Google not track where they go across the internet, via a privacy-preserving technology that remains a promise.

    Crucially, Meta’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram also do not let you login with Google credentials. After all, they are competitors. This raises questions about the usefulness of Google’s proposal to assure age across social media platforms as part of the government’s under-16s ban.

    Meanwhile, Google is also suggesting AI chatbots should be directly targeted and available to children under 13, creating something akin to a “social network of one”, which are out of scope of the ban.

    Rather than engage with Australian age verification systems, companies such as Apple and Google are promoting their own solutions which seem to prioritise keeping or adding users to their services, or passing responsibility elsewhere.

    For the targeted platforms that enable online social interactions, delay in engagement fits a broader pattern. For example, in January 2025, Mark Zuckerberg indicated Meta would push back more aggressively against international regulations that threaten its business model.

    A shift in internet regulation

    Australia’s approach to banning under-16s from using social media marks a significant shift in internet regulation. Rather than age-gating specific content such as porn or gambling, Australia is now targeting basic communication infrastructure – which is what social media have become.

    It centres the problem on children being children, rather than on social media business models.

    The result is limiting childrens’ digital rights with experimental technologies while doing little to address the source of perceived harm for all of us. It prioritises protection without considering children’s rights to access information and express themselves. This risks leaving the most vulnerable children being cut off from digital spaces essential to their success.

    Australia’s approach puts paternal politics ahead of technical and social reality. As we get closer to the ban taking effect, we’ll see how this approach to regulate social communication platforms offers young people respite from the platforms their parents fear – yet continue to use everyday for their own basic communication needs.

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

    – ref. A trial is testing ways to enforce Australia’s under-16s social media ban. But the tech is flawed – https://theconversation.com/a-trial-is-testing-ways-to-enforce-australias-under-16s-social-media-ban-but-the-tech-is-flawed-256332

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seven-year ban for Suffolk car wash owner who employed illegal workers

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Seven-year ban for Suffolk car wash owner who employed illegal workers

    Four illegal workers were discovered by Immigration Enforcement officers

    • Vittorio Dragoti employed four illegal workers from Romania at his Fiveways Car Wash in Suffolk  

    • The workers were found with no right to work in the UK by Immigration Enforcement last year 

    • Dragoti has been banned as a company director until May 2032

    The owner of a Suffolk hand car wash has been banned as a company director for seven years after employing four illegal workers. 

    Vittorio Dragoti, 28, hired the workers from Romania at the Fiveways Car Wash on the Fiveways Roundabout near Barton Mills. 

    The workers were discovered when Immigration Enforcement officials visited the car wash in 2024.  

    Dave Magrath, Director of Investigation and Enforcement Services at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    Company directors have clear statutory obligations to recruit people who have the right to work in the UK. 

    Consumers deserve to have confidence that workers providing services to them are not working illegally. And the workers themselves deserve to not be put in such a vulnerable position by people who may exploit their immigration status. 

    Vittorio Dragoti’s disqualification as a company director is a result of ongoing close collaboration between the Insolvency Service and our partners at the Home Office to clamp down on rogue directors.

    Dragoti, of Queensway, Mildenhall, was the sole director of Vito’s Car Care Limited since March 2019. 

    Immigration Enforcement officials found the four Romanian men aged between 18 and 49 with no right to work in the UK when they visited the car wash in April last year. 

    Vito’s Car Care was fined £180,000 for the immigration breach. The fine currently remains unpaid. 

    Cheryl Daldry, the Home Office’s East of England Immigration Compliance and Enforcement lead, said: 

    This is a great example of the serious consequences that are in store for business owners who fail to carry out checks on individuals they hire to ensure they have the right to work in the UK. 

    Dragoti flouted our employment and immigration rules by employing multiple people with no right to work in the UK, resulting in long term enforcement action against himself and his business. 

    “I would like to thank our partners at the Insolvency Service for their help to secure these sanctions against this non-compliant employer. 

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Dragoti, and his seven-year ban began on Thursday 15 May. 

    The disqualification prevents him from becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court. It does not impact any businesses with similar names or locations.

    Further information

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Singapore ETO promotes Hong Kong in Vietnam through government and business engagements (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Singapore ETO promotes Hong Kong in Vietnam through government and business engagements  
         The luncheon in Da Nang, co-organised for the first time with the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV), attracted around 60 Vietnamese business leaders and investors. The Singapore ETO’s investment promotion team delivered a presentation on Hong Kong’s latest investment climate and opportunities, as well as the city’s unique position as a gateway to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and outlined the range of support services available to Vietnamese enterprises looking to expand into the region.
     
         In his opening remarks, the Director of the Singapore ETO, Mr Owin Fung, highlighted Vietnam’s growing importance as a key economic and strategic partner of Hong Kong. The Singapore ETO’s relentless engagement across various regions of Vietnam underlines its strong commitment to fostering bilateral collaboration through continued government-to-government dialogue, business exchanges, and people-to-people interactions.
     
         On the same day, Mr Fung paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Da Nang, Ms Dong Biyou. Mr Fung briefed Ms Dong on the Singapore ETO’s latest outreach initiatives in Vietnam, and both sides exchanged views on how Hong Kong can serve as a gateway between Mainland China and Vietnam, particularly in the context of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
     
         In April and early May, the Singapore ETO conducted two other official visits to further promote Hong Kong and strengthen ties in northern and southern Vietnam. On May 10, Mr Fung attended and delivered remarks at the HKBAV Gala Dinner in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which was attended by nearly 200 guests. He reiterated Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages under the “one country, two systems” framework, particularly in light of the evolving global trade environment. Other guests included the Deputy Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in HCMC, Mr Xu Zhou, and the Chairman of the HKBAV, Mr Michael Chiu.
     
         On April 16, the Singapore ETO and Invest Hong Kong cohosted a business seminar and networking event titled “Hong Kong – The Launchpad for Your AI-Driven Success” in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Supported by the Vietnam Software & IT Services Association (VINASA), the event was attended by founders, owners, and senior executives from over 30 companies from sectors including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and information and communications technology. Participants were briefed on Hong Kong’s market opportunities, AI funding opportunities, tax incentives, and research and development support measures by Mr Fung and the investment promotion team through presentations and a sharing session.
     
         During the same Hanoi visit, Mr Fung also had separate meetings with the Deputy Director General of the International Market Development Department, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mr To Ngoc Son, and the Acting Director General of the Northeast Asia Department, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Do Nam Trung, on April 16 and 17 respectively. Both sides exchanged views on the regional economic and geopolitical outlook and explored opportunities to enhance collaboration on government and business levels. Mr Fung also sought Vietnam’s continued support for Hong Kong’s accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
    Issued at HKT 17:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing to host world’s largest service trade fair in Sept.

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

    The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will be held Sept. 10-14 at Shougang Park in Beijing’s western Shijingshan district, officials announced Thursday.

    More than 30 countries, regions and international organizations have expressed interest in participating in the event.

    Starting this year, CIFTIS will adopt a fixed schedule and permanent venue, opening annually on the second Wednesday of September at Shougang Park. The venue, known for its industrial heritage, will be transformed into a garden-style exhibition town to enhance the visitor experience.

    Founded in 2012, CIFTIS has grown into the world’s largest comprehensive fair for trade in services, having attracted nearly 1.19 million participants from 198 countries and regions since its inception.

    The 2025 edition will feature the Global Trade in Services Summit, exhibitions, forums, business matchmaking and achievement showcases. Australia, the guest country of honor, will bring its largest-ever trade delegation to CIFTIS, while Anhui province, as the guest province of honor, will highlight its technological innovation and services sector development.

    Nine themed exhibition areas will showcase key sectors including telecommunications, finance, culture and tourism, education and sports, emphasizing emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and digital services. Approximately 200 new product launches and service trade achievements are expected to be announced.

    The Global Trade in Services Summit, co-hosted by the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, China’s Ministry of Commerce and the Beijing Municipal People’s Government, will open the morning of Sept. 10 at Hall 1 in Shougang Park.

    This year’s event will prioritize professional forums and policy reports, with 13 thematic forums and more than 100 sessions already planned. About 10-15% of exhibition space will be dedicated to business matchmaking to promote cooperation and transactions.

    Supporting events will span 14 venues within Shougang Park, featuring cultural performances, art markets, fashion shows, sports events and networking receptions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Announces Second Fiscal Quarter and Recent Operational Highlights and Provides Corporate Outlook 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, N.Y., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced its second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025 and more recent operational highlights and provided an outlook on its expectations and goals for 2025 and beyond.

    “We started 2025 with a view to build on a successful 2024, and have done just that, pursuing and executing on our objectives efficiently,” said Jay Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear. “The acquisition of the rebranded, high technology readiness level stationary KRONOS MMR™ and portable LOKI MMR™ microreactors, which were finalized at the start of the year, has put us in a leading position in the microreactor race in U.S. We have solidified our relationship and working agreements with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for the KRONOS MMR and are now working to construct the first research microreactor on campus grounds in the U.S. We are confident our efforts at UIUC will lead to eventual commercialization of many KRONOS MMRs being constructed throughout many industries across the world. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report for the KRONOS MMR, which is a major milestone for the commercial microreactor sector in general and crucial for the eventual construction of the microreactor system on campus grounds. In the coming months, we expect to begin the process of geological characterization, including subsurface investigations, which will lead to our construction permit applications and other future project milestones.”

    “In addition, NANO Nuclear has amassed dozens of domestic and international patents through our KRONOS and LOKI acquisition. We are also further expanding our current intellectual property protections with over a dozen new patent applications surrounding our microreactor portfolio, and supplementary technologies like our ALIP pump system,” continued Mr. Yu. “This year has also seen us commit to a new, multimillion dollar demonstration facility in Westchester County, New York, where the development of non-nuclear components, including commercializing the ALIP technology, will take place. Furthermore, our team has grown, and we have attracted many full-time engineers, regulatory and licensing experts, led by a world class Chief Technical Officer and Head of Reactor Development, Dr. Florent Heidet. This positive start to the year positions us well to achieve further milestones during the rest of 2025 and lays a solid foundation for achieving our longer term demonstration, regulatory licensing and commercialization goals.”

    2025 Operational Highlights

    Financial Achievements

    Operating Activities

    • $5.6 million used in operating activities during the six months ended March 31, 2025, reflecting NANO Nuclear’s ongoing scale-up in operations and research and development.

    Investing Activities

    • $12.7 million used in investing activities during the six months ended March 31, 2025, which includes $9.1 million for the acquisition of the KRONOS and LOKI assets and $3.6 million for investment in property and equipment primarily related to the build out of NANO Nuclear’s new demonstration facility in Westchester, New York, which is now operational.

    Financing Activities

    • $108.4 million raised during the six months ended March 31, 2025. NANO Nuclear had cash and cash equivalents of $118.6 million as of March 31, 2025, up from $28.5 million on September 30, 2024. These cash resources demonstrate not only strong investor support, but also an efficient use of investor capital to advance the Company’s business goals since its May 2024 initial public offering. The Company also has the liquidity to drive further value going forward.

    Selected for Inclusion into MSCI USA Index

    • Selected to be included in the MSCI USA Index, effective as of February 28, 2025, following the February index review by MSCI Inc. The MSCI USA Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the U.S. market. With 576 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in the US.

    “We have been focused while executing on our capital and technology development roadmap while putting in place cost controls and maintaining a solid financial foundation. With a strong balance sheet and strong investor support, we are well-positioned to advance our initiatives for the remainder of this year and beyond” concluded Mr. Yu.

    Technological Advancements

    Acquisition of Tech Ready Patented Energy Systems

    • NANO Nuclear closed the acquisition of select nuclear energy technology assets on January 10, 2025, including the patented KRONOS MMR Energy System and LOKI MMR reactor from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).
      • Acquisition immediately added one of the highest technology readiness level advanced nuclear reactors in development and significantly expanded NANO Nuclear’s patent portfolio.
      • KRONOS has well-developed projects at UIUC and Chalk River, Ontario, where NANO Nuclear is seeking to be the first company in the U.S. and in Canada to build and license a microreactor intended for research and commercial use.
      • The KRONOS MMR™ is a stationary reactor system and designed to produce power up to 45 megawatts thermal (MWth) power.
      • The LOKI MMR™ is a compact portable nuclear reactor designed to provide between 1 MWth and 5 MWth of power.

    Acquisition and Further Expansion of Intellectual Property Protections

    • Series of patents that were acquired from USNC alongside its reactor technologies serve to strengthen NANO Nuclear’s intellectual‑property protections for its portfolio of modular nuclear technologies currently in development.
      • Filed four new separate utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to NANO Nuclear’s Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology.
      • Filed six additional patents surrounding the components and designs of the ZEUS™ portable microreactor on March 27, 2025.

    Fabrication and Assembly of Key Non-Nuclear Components

    • Engaged Thermal Engineering International (TEi), a Babcock Power Inc.® company, to carry forward the design and fabrication of several heat exchangers for its portable ODIN™ nuclear microreactor project.
      • TEi is a leading supplier of heat transfer technology to the electric power generation industry for over 100 years.
    • Assembled the first reactor core hardware of its ZEUS microreactor for initial non-nuclear testing.
      • The hardware consists of a half‑scale (1:2) block, and the initial testing phase will evaluate its thermo‑mechanical performance under expected prototypical ZEUS operating conditions.

    Operational Growth

    Addition of Key Personnel and Leaders

    • Darlene T. DeRemer transitioned into a new corporate role with NANO Nuclear as its Executive Director of Corporate Finance, having previously served as the Chairwoman of NANO Nuclear’s Executive Advisory Board for Institutional Finance. Ms. DeRemer is the Chair of the ARK Invest ETF Trust Board, co-founder of Grail Partners LLC. and has over 25 years of experience as a leading adviser in the financial services industry.
    • Florent Heidet, Ph.D. joined NANO Nuclear as Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development. Dr. Heidet is a world-renowned expert on advanced nuclear reactor technologies, leveraging two decades of nuclear engineering and project management expertise. Dr. Heidet was previously the Head of Engineering at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).
    • Andrew Steer, Ph.D. joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks as NANO Nuclear’s Head of Regulatory Engagement. Dr. Andrew Steer is a nuclear safety case and regulatory engagement expert with over 18 years of experience in the nuclear industry.
    • Brent Hamilton was appointed as the Company’s Director of Quality Assurance. Mr. Hamilton has over 26 years of quality control, quality engineering, and quality assurance experience, primarily in nuclear construction for commercial nuclear, Department of Energy projects, and nuclear fuel manufacturing.
    • James Leybourn joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. Mr. Leybourn is a Chartered Physicist with over 12 years’ experience of Physics and Engineering within the U.K. nuclear industry.
    • Simon Boddington joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. Mr. Boddington is a reactor physicist with over 10 years of industry experience covering pressurized water reactors as well as thermal and fast spectrum molten salt reactor designs.
    • Radwan Nassim Kheroua joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Nuclear Systems Engineer, Mr. Kheroua previously served as a Research Engineer in Reactor Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling at Framatome.
    • Luke Godfrey joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Senior Nuclear Engineer, Mr. Godfrey previously served as Lead Thermohydraulic Engineer at Moltex, focusing on molten salt heat transfer, coupled reactor system modeling, and safety case development.
    • Jake Miles joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Nuclear Engineer, Mr. Miles earned a BSc in Physics from the University of Leeds and later completed a Master’s degree in Nuclear Energy at the University of Cambridge.

    Recruitment Drive

    • Recruitment drive initiated with a focus on Midwestern United States to expand engineering and project development teams in proximity to UIUC and the KRONOS reactor project.
      • Effort seeks to support construction permit application activities as well as eventual demonstration and construction activities.
      • NANO Nuclear is actively recruiting top talent across a variety of critical disciplines.

    New York State Demonstration Facility

    • Established a dedicated, multimillion dollar, purpose-built demonstration facility in Westchester County, New York.
      • Will house demonstrations of the operation and viability of several non-nuclear parts and components of NANO Nuclear’s microreactors in development.
    • Engaged aRobotics Company to oversee the retrofit and build-out of Westchester County demonstration facility.
      • aRobotics has been recognized with multiple honors, including the NATO DIANA Challenge, the NYC Department of Building Challenge, and active contracts with all major branches of the U.S. Military.
    • Build-out and retrofitting of the Westchester Facility completed in early May.
      • Facility is now operational, with testing to commence shortly and continue throughout 2025, focusing on ZEUS components and the Company’s patented ALIP technology.

    Canadian Demonstration Reactor

    • Reestablishing KRONOS MMR demonstration reactor in Canada.
      • Positions NANO Nuclear to advance its technology efficiently from construction and demonstration to regulatory licensing and, ultimately, commercialization throughout North America.

    Partnerships, Collaborations and Government Awards

    SBIR Phase 1 Application

    • Announced backing for a U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I proposal, submitted in partnership with the City University of New York–City College (CCNY) and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC.
      • The SBIR Phase 1 proposal is “Investigation of Microreactor Cooling and Development of a Smart Alarming System for Reactor Pressure Vessel Surface Temperature Monitoring” – and aims to develop advanced cooling techniques and monitoring systems for microreactor transport safety.

    KRONOS MMR™ Construction Pathway

    • Signed a strategic collaboration with the UIUC to construct the first research KRONOS MMR on a major research university campus.
      • Site has been selected and preparatory work towards a Construction Permit application has been initiated. NANO Nuclear will begin the process of geological characterization, including subsurface investigations, to support preparation of a Construction Permit Application for submission to the NRC.
        • This preparatory work is essential to understanding the environmental parameters of the site, including critical inputs to safety analysis, to ensure the utmost reliability and safety of the facility, and support NANO Nuclear’s Preliminary Safety Analysis Report and Environmental Report.
      • Establishes UIUC as key collaborator in the licensing, siting, public engagement, and research operation of the KRONOS MMR™.

    Nuclear Regulatory Commission Communication on KRONOS

    • Pre‑application work on the KRONOS MMR™ Energy System is progressing in cooperation with the UIUC following the NRC’s update to the project’s landing page (NRC Project No. 99902094), formally naming NANO Nuclear as the reactor’s designer.
    • The NRC issued its final Safety Evaluation (SE) approving the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report (FQM TR) to be used for the KRONOS MMR™.

    LIS Technologies and the Department of Energy Low Enriched Uranium IDIQ Award.

    • Entered a collaboration to support LIS Technologies, the only U.S. origin and patented laser enrichment company, to address the fuel supply chain issues which could potentially affect the mass deployment of all advanced reactor systems for all nuclear reactor companies.
      • LIS Technologies was one of six companies selected to address the LEU supply chain, with NANO Nuclear as its principal subcontractor, responsible for addressing the conversion, mining, and milling requirements of the IDIQ award.

    Shareholder Suit Dismissal

    • A Clark County, Nevada judge has completely dismissed the shareholder lawsuit titled Latza v. Walker, et al., (Case No. A-24-900423-B). The judge granted both dismissal requests filed by the Company and by its officers and directors, ending the case in their favor.

    Corporate Outlook

    SBIR Projects

    • The SBIR Phase III project surrounding NANO Nuclear’s ALIP technology will advance towards its conclusion, with the Company’s new Westchester demonstration facility expected to play a key role in its advancement.
    • Company anticipates early indicators surrounding a separate SBIR Phase I project application filed in partnership with CCNY and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC.

    Advances in Demonstration Reactor Preparations

    • NANO Nuclear anticipates further clarity on the advancement of its KRONOS MMR demonstration reactor plans in both the United States and Canada.
      • Next steps in the development of pre-construction permit application with UIUC anticipated this year.
        • NANO Nuclear is currently planning drilling work at the UIUC site intended for the construction of the KRONOS reactor system, to provide the Company with the geological characterization necessary to submit a ‘Permit to Construct’ application to the NRC. NANO Nuclear is aiming to be the first microreactor company in the U.S. to file for this permit.
      • NANO Nuclear intends to enter the licensing process under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversight and has been in discussions with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratory (CNL) about the selected site for the project at Chalk River. NANO Nuclear is aiming to be the first company to build a licensed microreactor in Canada intended for commercial deployment.

    Advances in Non-Nuclear Component Development

    • NANO Nuclear anticipates the receipt of, and revision & eventual finalization of TEi designs for ODIN™ heat exchangers.
    • Company intends to begin the testing phase of its 1:2 scale ZEUS™ reactor core hardware, which will evaluate its thermo‑mechanical performance under expected prototypical operating conditions.
      • Testing is expected to continue through 2025.

    Hiring Drive Expectations

    • NANO Nuclear anticipates making substantial progress in its hiring initiative throughout 2025, in support of additional permit and licensing advances and eventual demonstration & construction activities in Midwestern USA.

    “We’ve made meaningful progress across several key initiatives in the first half of the fiscal year and we’re now focused on accelerating our efforts in the second half of fiscal 2025,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “We have grown our technical and regulatory teams as we begin testing non-nuclear components and pursue construction permits. We have acquired and are developing a robust portfolio of patents and other IP and are planning to expand it further as the year progresses. Our ambitions don’t stop with just our reactors, we see enormous potential across the nuclear industry in areas such as nuclear transportation, fuel enrichment, and nuclear consulting services that we are actively developing to grow our business and resources. We have also made inroads in our discussions and coordination with regulatory and licensing bodies, which will play a crucial role in the near and long term. All in all, the last six months have put us on solid footing as we look to capitalize on upcoming opportunities throughout the remainder of the year.”

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

    NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

    Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR™Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

    Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

    HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

    NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

    For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

    Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

    NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
    NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
    NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

    This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those related to the Company’s development, demonstration, licensing and commercial plans, goals and strategies. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EngageLab Supercharges Global E-commerce with Smart Push and Push Plan Features for AppPush & WebPush, Boosting Click-Through Rates by Over 30%

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As global e-commerce gears up for a series of major shopping seasons, EngageLab, a leading customer engagement solutions provider recently launched two powerful new features for its AppPush and WebPush products: Smart Push and Push Plan. These enhancements are designed to help global e-commerce businesses significantly improve user engagement, marketing efficiency, and conversion rates, with early adopters already reporting click-through rate increases of over 30%.

    With major sales events like TikTok’s multi-country Summer Sale (June-July), Amazon Prime Day (July), the North American Back-to-School season (July-September), and Southeast Asia’s mega-sales (September) on platforms like Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop rapidly approaching, e-commerce businesses are seeking more intelligent ways to cut through the noise and maximize their marketing ROI. EngageLab’s new features directly address the challenges of optimizing message delivery and managing complex promotional campaigns.

    Feature 1: Smart Push – Deliver Messages at the “Golden Moment”
    EngageLab’s new Smart Push capability eliminates the guesswork in scheduling push notifications. By analyzing users’ recent activity patterns and usage habits, the smart feature predicts the optimal time each user is most likely to be active and engaged. Messages are then delivered precisely according to the user’s local time zone, ensuring notifications arrive at their personal “golden moment.”

    Key Advantages:

    • Higher Click-Through Rates: Delivering messages when users are most active significantly increases visibility and interaction. Clients testing this feature have seen click-through rates improve by over 30%.
    • Increased Conversion Efficiency: Capturing user attention at peak engagement times leads to more effective down-funnel conversions.
    • Enhanced User Experience: Avoids inopportune interruptions, fostering positive brand perception.
    • New User Friendly: For users without historical data, businesses can still opt for immediate delivery, a specific scheduled time, or a time based on the end-user’s local time zone.

    This feature is now available for a limited-time free trial via the EngageLab dashboard.

    Feature 2: Push Plan – Masterful Management for Large-Scale Promotion Campaigns
    Managing the multi-wave, multi-segment, and multi-content push notification strategies required for major global e-commerce campaigns can be complex. The new Push Plan feature provides a centralized command center for these intricate operations.

    Key Advantages:

    • Centralized Campaign Management: Group multiple push tasks targeting the same campaign (e.g., pre-heat, launch, and retargeting phases for a summer sale) into a single “Push Plan” for clear, stage-by-stage communication strategy management.
    • Holistic Performance Insights: Move beyond fragmented data from individual pushes. Push Plan offers consolidated analytics, precisely tracking key metrics like delivery rate, click rate, and conversions across the entire campaign lifecycle.
    • Flexible Operation: Full support via API and Web Portal allows both developers and marketing operators to easily create, manage tasks, track data, and optimize strategies within their Push Plans.
    • Data-Driven Optimization: A clear dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of overall marketing campaign effectiveness, offering robust data support for future strategy refinements.
      • Push Statistics: Detailed tracking of delivery, clicks, and more.
      • Summary Statistics: Comprehensive analysis of conversion rates and overall campaign impact.

    These two new features for AppPush and WebPush are designed to empower businesses with smarter technology and more efficient tools for managing customer engagement. By optimizing message delivery and streamlining campaign management, EngageLab helps businesses enhance user communication, boost marketing efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth in the competitive global marketplace.

    About EngageLab
    EngageLab is a world-leading AI-powered omnichannel customer engagement solution provider, unites technology and versatility to offer seamless customer interactions and marketing automation across every channel, including AppPush, WebPush, Email, OTP, SMS and WhatsApp Business. It empowers businesses to build lasting relationships and achieve higher conversions and retention. With a strong focus on innovation and performance, EngageLab supports businesses in over 220 countries and regions, delivering more than 1 million messages every second across various channels.

    For more information about EngageLab and its suite of solutions, visit www.engagelab.com.

    For Media Inquiries:
    Contact: marketing@engagelab.com 
    Website: www.engagelab.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4d1c343b-3c76-486c-859f-5f6be53f41fd

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d2721f75-5dd9-4180-8af7-a221cf79e385

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than 356,000 journeys made over Pennyburn Bridge

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    More than 356,000 journeys made over Pennyburn Bridge

    16 May 2025

    Pennyburn Bridge, a cornerstone of the Northwest Greenways Project, has recorded more than 356,000 journeys since May 2024, confirming its status as a vital piece of active travel infrastructure for the city.

    The £2.5 million bridge and greenway project, primarily funded through external partnerships with the Department for Communities (£727,500) and the Special EU Programmes Body (£1,733,648), required a Council contribution of £83,990.

    From 1st May 2024 until 1st May 2025 356,426 journeys were made across the bridge, with Sunday being the busiest day for pedestrians.

    “The Pennyburn Bridge has transformed how people move around our city,” said Karen Phillips, Environment and Regeneration Director with Derry City and Strabane District Council. “With over 356,000 crossings in just one year, it’s clear this investment is making a significant difference to daily life in our community. The bridge is not just connecting physical spaces – it’s connecting people to workplaces, schools, leisure facilities, and each other in a sustainable way.”

    The bridge has already become an integral part of city events, including the Waterside Half Marathon, and serves as a key link in the expanding greenway network.

    In recognition of its design excellence and contribution to sustainable transport, the Pennyburn Bridge project has received four prestigious awards: Construction Employers Federation Transport Infrastructure Project of the Year Award (below £10M), Institute of Civil Engineers Sustainability Award, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Award for Active Travel Project of the Year, and Northwest Group of Businesses (NWGN) Infrastructure Project of the Year (less than £5M).

    Karen Phillips added: “The success of the Pennyburn Bridge demonstrates the Council’s commitment to developing high-quality active travel infrastructure that enhances connectivity while supporting environmental and health objectives across the city.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCED at APEC MRT Meeting discussion session on Prosperity through Sustainable Trade (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, at the discussion session entitled “Prosperity through Sustainable Trade” at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting in Jeju, Korea, today (May 16):

         Thank you, Chair, and good morning, colleagues.

         Supply chains are the driving engines for today’s global economy, yet they are also highly sensitive and vulnerable to external shocks, as we have witnessed during COVID-19 and in recent days.

         Hong Kong, China (HKC), as an international shipping and logistics hub, has been implementing various measures to support sustainable supply chains. Our Climate Action Plan 2050 steers four major decarbonisation strategies, namely, net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction. Increasing the zero-carbon energy supply through renewable energy development, popularising the use of electric commercial vehicles, enhancing the current cross-border electricity transmission infrastructure and developing a green maritime fuel bunkering centre are just a few examples of our efforts on this front. Furthermore, to assist the trade in seizing the business opportunities in green logistics, we have also commenced a study on the development of green and sustainable logistics.

         In December 2024, we launched the roadmap on sustainability disclosure in HKC, as a pathway for large publicly accountable entities to fully adopt, by 2028, the International Financial Reporting Standards – Sustainability Disclosure Standards (ISSB Standards), making HKC to be amongst the first jurisdictions to align its local requirements with the ISSB Standards.

         In parallel, enabling initiatives have been rolled out to equip micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with the means to manage their environmental footprint and encourage market participants to improve sustainable business practices. Funding schemes and capacity building programmes have also been put in place to encourage the adoption of digital technologies by MSMEs to facilitate the digital transformation of supply chains.

         The issue of supply chains has always been an integral part of APEC discussions since 2009 when our predecessors endorsed the APEC Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan at the APEC Ministerial Meeting. HKC believes that APEC has a continued key role in facilitating our businesses in strengthening sustainable supply chains. APEC’s role becomes even more important now than ever, when cross-border trade and investments and supply chains face uncertainty and unprecedented challenges.

         To this end, HKC appreciates Korea’s efforts in organising an informative public-private forum on this important topic last week.

         Our collective goal of strengthening sustainable supply chains should never be a trade-off between sustainability and trade, but rather a synergy between the two. HKC is committed to working with all member economies to drive progress towards shared prosperity through sustainable trade.

         Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: xSuite Nordic Invites Customers to the 2025 User Conference in Copenhagen

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Under the Theme “One Team. One Journey,” the Software Provider Showcases Innovations and Solutions for the Finance Sector

    Copenhagen/Denmark, May 16, 2025 – xSuite Nordic cordially invites users and partners to its 2025 User Conference on June 12 in Copenhagen, offering an immersive experience into future-ready technologies. This one-day event will bring together IT and finance professionals to explore key developments in invoice processing, artificial intelligence, SAP S/4HANA, cloud computing, and SAP Clean Core strategies.

    Attendees will gain valuable insights into how technologies such as AI and cloud platforms are accelerating digital transformation and opening new opportunities in finance. xSuite will present its latest product innovations, share its strategic roadmap, and provide a glimpse into emerging tech trends that are reshaping the financial landscape.

    Program Highlights

    1. Deep Dive: Artificial Intelligence – Discover how xSuite’s Prediction Server delivers AI-powered support for invoice processing within SAP environments. This session will demonstrate how AI is extending its reach across financial workflows and how Large Language Models (LLMs) are revolutionizing document recognition and data extraction.

    2. Deep Dive: SAP S/4HANA and Cloud – With many organizations advancing their SAP S/4HANA migration, aligning with SAP’s Clean Core strategy is becoming critical—even within Private Cloud infrastructures—to avoid future technical debt. This session will provide insights into xSuite’s modern solution architecture, including SAP-integrated Business Solutions 6.0 and applications built on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).

    The conference will conclude with networking opportunities and open discussions about customer requirements, highlighting xSuite’s role as a trusted partner in digital transformation.

    Event Details:
    xSuite User Conference
    Date: June 12, 2025
    Location: Danish Architecture Center  | Bryghuspladsen 10 | 1473 Copenhagen

    Time: 09:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    More information and registration: xSuite User Conference 2025 in Copenhagen

    About xSuite Group

    xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including
    e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients. This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving – all delivered from a single source, including both software components and services. xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios. We take pride in the high-quality solutions we offer, as evidenced by the regular certifications we receive for our SAP solutions and deployment environments.” With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.

    Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite has around 300 staff across nine locations worldwide – in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.

    Contact:
    Barbara Wirtz
    xSuite Group GmbH
    Marketing & PR
    Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36
    barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com
    www.xsuite.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Economic performance in first quarter of 2025 and latest GDP and price forecasts for 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government released today (May 16) the First Quarter Economic Report 2025, together with the revised figures on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2025.
     
         The Acting Government Economist, Dr Cecilia Lam, gave an account of the economic performance in the first quarter of 2025 and the latest GDP and price forecasts for 2025.
     
    Main points
     
    ＊ The Hong Kong economy expanded solidly in the first quarter of 2025, mainly supported by visible increases in exports of goods and services, as well as the resumption of moderate growth in overall investment expenditure. Yet, private consumption expenditure continued to register a modest decline. Real GDP expanded by 3.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, picking up from the 2.5% growth in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, real GDP grew visibly by 1.9%.

    ＊ The global economy maintained steady growth in the first quarter. With broadly sustained external demand, as well as some front-loading of shipments in anticipation of tariff hikes by the United States in early April, Hong Kong’s total exports of goods saw visibly accelerated growth, up 8.4% year-on-year in real terms. Meanwhile, thanks to the further increase in visitor arrivals, growth in cross boundary traffic, and notable increase in cross-boundary financial and fund raising activities, total exports of services continued to expand visibly in the first quarter, by 6.6% year-on-year in real terms.

    ＊ Domestically, overall investment expenditure resumed moderate growth, rising by 2.8% year-on-year in real terms, underpinned by a visible increase in expenditure on acquisitions of machinery, equipment, and intellectual property products, as well as a sharp rise in costs of ownership transfer due to a markedly higher number of property transactions compared to the same period last year. Yet, private consumption expenditure continued to register a small decline of 1.1%, reflecting the lingering impact of changes in residents’ consumption patterns. 

    ＊ The labour market remained tight in the first quarter. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.2%, slightly higher than the 3.1% in the preceding quarter. The underemployment rate remained at a low level of 1.1%. Employment earnings continued to record solid growth.

    ＊ The local stock market once rallied in the first quarter, driven by the Mainland’s breakthrough development in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Central Government’s measures to stimulate the domestic economy as unveiled at the “two sessions”. However, the market cooled down towards the end of the quarter amid concerns over the United States’ trade policy outlook. The residential property prices remained soft. 

    ＊ Consumer price inflation stayed modest in the first quarter. The underlying Composite Consumer Price Index (Composite CPI) increased by 1.2% over a year earlier, same as the increase in the preceding quarter. Price pressures on various major components stayed largely contained. Including the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the headline Composite CPI increased by 1.6% over a year earlier, higher than the 1.4% increase in the preceding quarter. 

    ＊ As international trade tensions have eased somewhat of late, the headwinds and uncertainties in the external environment have lessened to some extent. This may relieve part of the downward pressure on the global economic outlook. Moreover, the sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy amid more proactive fiscal policies and the moderately accommodative monetary policies should bode well for the performance of merchandise exports in Asia including Hong Kong. Sustained international trade flows, coupled with improving inbound tourism, are also expected to benefit Hong Kong’s exports of services. However, uncertainties in the trade policies of the United States persist, and its monetary policy trajectory going forward is still complicated. These may affect global financial conditions and investment sentiment. Apart from this, the change in consumption patterns of residents and visitors would still pose constraints on driving consumption in the domestic market, though sustained increase in employment earnings and the SAR Government’s various policies to promote mega events and tourism would help boost consumption sentiment.

    ＊ Taking into account the actual outturn in the first quarter and the latest developments of the global and local situation, the real GDP growth forecast for 2025 as a whole is maintained at 2%-3%, the same as that announced in the Budget. The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation.

    ＊ On the inflation outlook, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term as pressures from domestic costs and external prices should stay broadly in check. Considering that the inflation situation in the first quarter was broadly in line with earlier expectations, the forecasts for the underlying and headline consumer price inflation rates for 2025 are maintained at 1.5% and 1.8% respectively, the same as those announced in the Budget.
     
    Details
     
    GDP
     
         According to the revised figures released today by the Census and Statistics Department, real GDP grew by 3.1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 (same as the advance estimate), having increased by 2.5% in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, real GDP rose by 1.9% in the first quarter (revised from the advance estimate of 2.0%), after a 0.9% increase in the preceding quarter (Chart).
     
         The latest figures on GDP and its major expenditure components up to the first quarter of 2025 are presented in Table 1. Developments in different segments of the economy in the first quarter are described below.
     
    External trade
     
         Supported by broadly sustained external demand as well as some front loading of shipments in anticipation of tariff hikes by the United States in early April, total exports of goods posted accelerated year-on-year growth of 8.4% in real terms in the first quarter, following a 1.3% increase in the preceding quarter. Analysed by major market and by reference to external merchandise trade statistics, exports to the Mainland grew strongly in the first quarter over a year earlier. Exports to the United States rose back, while those to the European Union fell further. Exports to ASEAN markets soared, while those to high-income Asian economies showed mixed performance. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, total exports of goods increased notably by 10.2% in real terms in the first quarter.
     
         Exports of services continued to expand visibly by 6.6% in real terms in the first quarter over a year earlier, after growing by 6.5% in the preceding quarter. Exports of all major service groups rose further. Specifically, exports of travel and transport services continued to expand, supported by the further increase in visitor arrivals and growth in cross-boundary traffic. Exports of financial services rose sharply, thanks to the notable increase in cross-boundary financial and fund raising activities. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, exports of services were virtually unchanged in real terms in the first quarter.
     
    Domestic sector
     
         Private consumption continued to be subject to the lingering impact of changes in residents’ consumption patterns in the first quarter. Private consumption expenditure declined modestly by 1.1% in real terms from a year ago, after a marginal decline of 0.2% in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter to quarter basis, private consumption expenditure decreased by 1.6% in real terms. Meanwhile, government consumption expenditure increased by 1.2% in real terms in the first quarter over a year earlier, after rising by 2.1% in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter to quarter basis, government consumption expenditure increased by 0.5% in real terms.
     
         Overall investment expenditure in terms of gross domestic fixed capital formation resumed moderate growth in the first quarter, rising by 2.8% year-on-year in real terms, after a modest decline of 0.7% in the preceding quarter. Within the total, expenditure on machinery, equipment, and intellectual property products increased visibly. The costs of ownership transfer rose sharply due to a markedly higher number of property transactions compared to the same period last year. Yet, expenditure on building and construction declined moderately.
     
    The labour sector
     
         The labour market remained tight in the first quarter of 2025. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.2%, slightly higher than the 3.1% in the preceding quarter. The underemployment rate remained at a low level of 1.1%. The median monthly employment earnings of full-time employees in nominal terms increased by 6.4% year-on-year in the first quarter.
     
    The asset markets
     
         After staying largely range-bound in January 2025, the local stock market rallied after the Chinese New Year holidays through mid-March, as market sentiment was fuelled by the Mainland’s breakthrough development in AI and the Central Government’s measures to stimulate the domestic economy as unveiled at the “two sessions”. However, the market cooled down towards the end of the quarter amid concerns over the United States’ trade policy outlook. The Hang Seng Index (HSI) hit a three-year high of 24 771 on March 19, before retreating somewhat to close the first quarter at 23 120, up 15.3% from end-2024. In early April, trade tensions escalated abruptly due to the significant increase in import tariffs by the United States, and the global financial markets were volatile at that time. The HSI also fell in tandem, but it has recently resumed its uptrend.
     
         The residential property prices remained soft in the first quarter. Market sentiment turned more cautious towards the end of March amid growing external uncertainties from the United States’ trading and monetary policies. Overall flat prices fell by 2% in the first quarter. The index of home purchase affordability improved slightly further to around 59% in the first quarter alongside easing flat prices during the quarter, but remained above the long-term average of 56% over 2005 2024. The number of transactions, in terms of the total number of sale and purchase agreements for residential property received by the Land Registry, retreated by 19% from the preceding quarter to 12 193 in the first quarter, but was 24% higher than the level a year ago. On the other hand, overall flat rentals continued to show resilience, edging up by 0.4% during the first quarter. As to the non-residential property market, it remained generally weak in the first quarter, with trading activities across major market segments showing mixed performance, as well as prices and rentals declining further.
     
    Prices
     
         Consumer price inflation stayed modest in the first quarter of 2025. The underlying Composite CPI increased by 1.2% over a year earlier in the first quarter, same as the increase in the preceding quarter. Within this, food prices as a whole increased mildly. Private housing rentals saw a slightly accelerated increase. Price pressures on other major components stayed largely contained. Including the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the headline Composite CPI increased by 1.6% over a year earlier, higher than the 1.4% increase in the preceding quarter. The headline inflation rate was higher than its underlying counterpart in the first quarter, as the electricity charges subsidy provided by the Government was smaller compared with the same period last year.
     
    Latest GDP and price forecasts for 2025
     
         As international trade tensions have eased somewhat of late, the headwinds and uncertainties in the external environment have lessened to some extent. This may relieve part of the downward pressure on the global economic outlook. Moreover, the sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy amid more proactive fiscal policies and the moderately accommodative monetary policies should bode well for the performance of merchandise exports in Asia including Hong Kong. Sustained international trade flows, coupled with improving inbound tourism, are also expected to benefit Hong Kong’s exports of services. However, uncertainties in the trade policies of the United States persist, and its monetary policy trajectory going forward is still complicated. These may affect global financial conditions and investment sentiment. Apart from this, the change in consumption patterns of residents and visitors would still pose constraints on driving consumption in the domestic market, though sustained increase in employment earnings and the SAR Government’s various policies to promote mega events and tourism would help boost consumption sentiment.
     
         Taking into account the actual outturn in the first quarter and the latest developments of the global and local situation, the real GDP growth forecast for 2025 as a whole is maintained at 2%-3%, the same as that announced in the Budget (Table 2). The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation. For reference, the latest growth forecasts by private sector analysts range between 1.0% to 2.5%.
     
         On the inflation outlook, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term as pressures from domestic costs and external prices should stay broadly in check. Considering that the inflation situation in the first quarter was broadly in line with earlier expectations, the forecasts for the underlying and headline consumer price inflation rates for 2025 are maintained at 1.5% and 1.8% respectively, the same as those announced in the Budget (Table 2).
     
         The First Quarter Economic Report 2025 is now available for online download, free of charge at www.hkeconomy.gov.hk/en/situation/index.htm. The Report of the Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component, which contains the GDP figures up to the first quarter of 2025, is also available for browse and download, free of charge on the homepage of the Census and Statistics Department, www.censtatd.gov.hk.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic and HR policy: how to attract specialists from the regions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The third seminar in a series of events devoted to current issues of attracting labor resources from other regions of the Russian Federation was held in St. Petersburg. The organizer was the Labor Resources Center, which provides city employers with personnel through the implementation of the Labor Migration subprogram of the state program Assistance to Employment of the Population in St. Petersburg.

    The key issues of the seminar were the specifics of attracting and retaining specialists from other regions, the capabilities and support measures of the Labor Resources Center, as well as the experience of employers in organizing the relocation of employees. Business representatives, HR specialists and experts in the field of labor migration discussed the best practices of employee relocation, legal aspects of employment and tools for the adaptation of new personnel at the seminar.

    Specialists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University also spoke at the event. Acting Director of the Center for Professional Retraining of the Directorate of Continuing Education and Industry Partnership Tatyana Uskova spoke about the university’s advanced experience in the field of network partnership with employers in the implementation of additional professional programs, as well as about participation in the federal project “Active Measures to Promote Employment” of the national project “Personnel”.

    The Personnel project provides employers with unique opportunities to improve the qualifications and professional competencies of their personnel, which allows them not only to adapt to the modern requirements of the labor market and form a personnel reserve capable of solving problems of any level of complexity, but also to build sustainable partnerships with educational organizations and other interested parties. According to Tatyana Aleksandrovna, such connections make it possible to pool resources, exchange experience and knowledge, and jointly develop and implement educational programs that meet the requirements of the time.

    The seminar became an important platform for discussing issues of attracting and adapting personnel from other regions of Russia. It was noted that the implementation of this project provides citizens with the opportunity for free professional retraining and employment, and employers can improve the qualifications of employees and form a modern personnel reserve, strengthening their competitive advantage. The joint efforts of educational institutions and employers open up great prospects for the sustainable development of human capital and economic growth of the country.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: World’s First Fleet of 100 5G-A Autonomous Electric Mining Trucks Launched at Yimin Mine

    Source: Huawei

    Headline: World’s First Fleet of 100 5G-A Autonomous Electric Mining Trucks Launched at Yimin Mine

    [Hulunbuir, China, May 15, 2025] A fleet of 100 Huaneng Ruichi autonomous electric mining trucks, the first of its kind in the world, has officially entered operation at the Yimin open-pit mine in Inner Mongolia, China.
    Powered by a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, the mine became the world’s first open-pit mine to achieve large-scale vehicle-cloud-network synergy, which has greatly improved production safety and set a new benchmark for intelligent mining.
    As coal is China’s primary energy source and key to its energy strategy, the country has been driving the transition towards a high-end, intelligent, and green coal industry. To this end, China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. (China Huaneng) has partnered with Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei), and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles Co., Ltd. on a joint innovation project to develop the world’s first zero-carbon, autonomous, and intelligent open-pit mine transportation system, which pioneers high-quality industry development.
    Dignitaries at the launch event of the fleet of 100 Huaneng Ruichi autonomous electric mining trucks

    Li Shuxue, Chairman of Huaneng Inner Mongolia Eastern Energy Co., Ltd., stated at a launch event in Hulunbuir (Inner Mongolia) on May 15th that the company is actively working to drive an energy transition in mining transportation. As a key part of these efforts, it is replacing fuel vehicles with electric ones to build safe, intelligent, and green mines.
    Li Shuxue, Chairman of Huaneng Inner Mongolia Eastern Energy Co., Ltd., speaking at the launch event

    Supported by technological innovations, the Huaneng Ruichi autonomous electric mining trucks are industry-leading in several areas: Each truck can carry a load of 90 metric tons and operate continually in extreme cold of –40°C, while delivering 120% of the comprehensive operational efficiency of a manually-driven truck. In addition, Huawei Cloud provides the Commercial Vehicle Autonomous Driving Cloud Service (CVADCS) that uses a crowdsourced map for real-time operational location updates. This enables fast route optimization, reduces waiting times, and improves operational efficiency, maximizing the strengths of collaborative truck fleet operations.
    Furthermore, as the first autonomous mining truck in China without a driver’s cabin, Huaneng Ruichi places personnel safety above all else, keeping them away from equipment hazards and harsh environments to greatly reduce related risks. It is a paramount challenge to safeguard personnel and equipment safety while improving productivity in extreme working conditions such as freezing temperatures at high altitudes, and heavy rain, snow, and dust. Addressing such challenges places high requirements on data processing and system collaboration capabilities.
    Zhang Ping’an, Executive Director of Huawei and CEO of Huawei’s Cloud Computing Business Unit, noted that Huawei has provided AI algorithms for open-pit mining. These algorithms enable precise sensing for autonomous vehicles and efficient collaboration on the cloud, which is uniquely suited to accelerating the coal mining industry’s transition from manual to intelligent operations. This success case is an example of how digital and intelligent technologies can drive the high-quality development of the coal mining industry. It is not only a lighthouse project that demonstrates China’s innovative integration of 5G, cloud, AI, and new energy technologies, but an exploration into how AI can be used to tackle pressing challenges in specific industry scenarios.
    Zhang Ping’an, Executive Director of Huawei and CEO of Huawei’s Cloud Computing Business Unit, speaking at the launch event

    The 5G-A network is deployed in the Yimin mining area to provide precise network coverage for autonomous driving routes, achieving smooth vehicle-cloud synergy. It is the world’s first open-pit mine powered by 5G-A, featuring 500 Mbps uplink and 20 ms latency, and providing solid network support for HD video backhaul and cloud-based dispatching of autonomous mining trucks. In the future, 5G-A coverage will support 24/7 operations of more than 300 autonomous mining trucks in the mining area, further improving safety and efficiency.
    Onsite operations of the autonomous electric mining trucks at the Yimin open-pit mine

    Moving forward, Huawei will work alongside partners like China Huaneng, XCMG, and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles Co., Ltd. to transform and upgrade mine-transportation equipment, and build safe, efficient, green, and zero-carbon intelligent mines. Together, they will continue to draw on the successful experience of the Yimin mine to facilitate digital and intelligent transformation of the global energy industry.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taisugar Gas Stations Break Records with Over 100 Million Points Donated for Charity, NT$1.2 Million in Supplies Donated to Support Disadvantaged Groups.

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    To continue its commitment to social welfare and support for vulnerable communities, Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Taisugar) held its “Fuel Up with Love: Donate Points for Charity” campaign again this year, following the overwhelming response to last year’s initiative. Launched on March 1, the campaign received enthusiastic support from kind-hearted citizens, accumulating over 119.62 million loyalty points in just 1.5 months, setting a new record. Taisugar has converted the donated points into approximately NT$1.2 million worth of supplies, all of which have been donated to charitable causes. A presentation ceremony was held today (May 8) at Taisugar Chongde Gas Station in Tainan City, where Taisugar Vice President Chien-Chan Tseng presided over the donation ceremony. The event transformed the goodwill of every fuel-up and every point donated into tangible assistance, benefiting 11 charitable organizations and spreading warmth and hope to those in need.

    Vice President Tseng noted that since the debut of the donation campaign in November 2024, the initiative has received widespread acclaim. To keep the spirit of giving alive and inspire more public participation, Taisugar brought the campaign back this year with even greater success. This time, the campaign attracted over 250,000 participants, achieving a historic milestone of over 100 million points donated, demonstrating the compassion and generosity of Taiwanese society. In addition, Taisugar gas stations boosted the campaign by matching an extra 10 points for every liter of fuel purchased, amplifying the collective goodwill and encouraging more people to engage in small acts of kindness that make a significant impact for disadvantaged communities.

    The accumulated points have been redeemed for supplies, which have been donated to 11 organizations, including Huashan Social Welfare Foundation, Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, NT Angel Foundation, Little Lamb Foundation, Erlin Happy Christian Home, Tobias Social Welfare Foundation, Garden of Hope Foundation, Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation, and the Taipei Sports Association for the Physically Disabled. During the campaign, customers who fueled 25 liters or more and donated their points also received a Taisugar Glucosamine Plus as a token of appreciation.

    This initiative allowed the public to effortlessly contribute to charitable causes through their everyday fuel purchases, seamlessly integrating giving into daily life and empowering citizens to make a difference. Taisugar affirmed its commitment to further strengthening its charity platform, launching more meaningful, community-driven initiatives, and joining hands with the public to foster a cycle of kindness that brings continuous hope and positive change to society.

    TSC News Contact Person:
    Lin Hsin-Chih
    Petroleum Business Devision, TSC
    Contact Number: 886-6-632-8703 #802 / 886-939-919-530
    Email:a62462@taisugar.com.tw

    Tai Chih-Mou
    Petroleum Business Devision, TSC
    Contact Number: 886-6-632-8703 #101 / 886-988-721-867
    Email:a63425@taisugar.com.tw

    Petroleum Business Devision Customer Services Phone: 886-6-632-8703 #786 or 788

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Updated information about global and domestic minimum tax

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    We’ve published updates on our website about key aspects of the global and domestic minimum tax.

    The updates follow on from the royal assent of the primary legislation, and the subordinate legislation being registered as a legislative instrument.

    Our website information is designed to help taxpayers who may be in-scope of Pillar Two to meet their obligations, as first lodgments are due by 30 June 2026.

    The global and domestic minimum taxes are a key part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s coordinated global approach to prevent a ‘race to the bottom’ on corporate tax rates.

    What the website updates cover

    Our website information now includes:

    • guidance about how we’ll administer potential amendments to Australian law to address inconsistencies
    • an overview of the mechanics for calculating top-up tax
    • additional information on how the rules apply, including in respect of specific entities
    • additional information and examples about lodgment, payment and record-keeping obligations
    • how Pillar Two interacts with other provisions and how it applies.

    Moving forward

    Through our consultation with the Pillar Two Global and Domestic Minimum Tax Working Group, we’ve been considering the need for, and prioritising the development of, formal and informal guidance for the market. We’re also updating existing guidance that may be affected by the introduction of this measure.

    We’ll continue to update our website with more information over the coming months.

    To provide feedback on priority issues your organisation is facing, or if you have any questions about the Australian Pillar Two rules, you can contact us via the Pillar 2 mailbox.

    Keep up to date

    We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

    Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.

    Subscribe to our free:

    • fortnightly Business bulletins email newsletterExternal Link
    • email notifications about new and updated information on our website – you can choose to receive updates relevant to your situation. Choose the ‘Business and organisations’ category to ensure your subscription includes notifications for more Business bulletins newsroom articles like this one.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: California Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Nearly $2 Million in Two Separate Fraud Schemes

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—A California woman was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing nearly $1.3 million in Covid-relief program funds and failing to pay the IRS more than $700,000 in payroll taxes she collected from the employees of a small business in Salem, Oregon.

    Jamie McGowen, 43, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $2,072,860 in restitution to the IRS and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

    According to court documents, McGowen was the owner or partial owner of nine separate companies including Salem Outsourcing, Inc., a payroll processing company based in Salem. Between August 2016 and December 2019, McGowen provided payroll processing services to a small business also located in Salem. During this time, she failed to pay the IRS $705,613 in payroll taxes she withheld from the paychecks of the company’s employees. Instead, McGowen kept the money for herself and used a portion of the funds to, among other things, purchase a 100% ownership stake in the same company whose payroll taxes she had stolen.

    In a separate scheme, between April 2020 and December 2021, McGowen stole more than $1.2 million from federal relief programs intended to help small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and Restaurant Revitalization Fund. McGowen made numerous false statements in 15 separate loan applications, including by stating she did not own any other company, inflating the number of employees and revenues, and providing false tax documents. McGowen also falsely claimed on loan forgiveness applications that her companies had used the funds received for payroll. In reality, McGowen transferred the money around her businesses, to her father, and to her personal checking account, and paid off personal credit cards.

    On October 12, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging McGowen with wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. On December 11, 2024, she pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering.

    This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). It was prosecuted by Meredith Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Richemont publishes FY25 Annual Report and Accounts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AD HOC ANNOUNCEMENT PURSUANT TO ART. 53 LR
    16 MAY 2025

    RICHEMONT PUBLISHES FY25 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

    Richemont has today published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.

    The Annual Report includes the Chairman’s review to shareholders, the annual consolidated and statutory financial statements, and the corresponding audit reports. It reflects the information provided in Richemont’s full-year 2025 results announcement issued today.

    Richemont expects to publish the combined Annual Report with the Compensation Report, the Corporate Governance Report and the Business review for the year ended 31 March 2025, on 5 June 2025. At that time, it will also publish the Group’s Non-Financial Report 2025.

    The Annual Report is available for download on the Company’s website at
    https://www.richemont.com/media/ue1bjrjv/richemont-fy25-annual-report-en.pdf.  

    About Richemont

    At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity. Richemont’s ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term.

    Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaïa, Chloé, Delvaux, dunhill, G/FORE, Gianvito Rossi, Montblanc, Peter Millar, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. Find out more at https://www.richemont.com/.

    Richemont A shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (‘SMI’) of leading stocks. Richemont A shares are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Richemont’s secondary listing. 

    Investor/analyst and media enquiries
    +41 22 721 3003 (investor relations)
    Investor.relations@cfrinfo.net
    +41 22 721 3507 (media)
    pressoffice@cfrinfo.net
    richemont@teneo.com

      
    Click here for a printer-friendly version in English (PDF)

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: EXPO’70 Matsushita Pavilion and Time Capsule

    Source: Panasonic

    Headline: EXPO’70 Matsushita Pavilion and Time Capsule

    At the Panasonic Group, the Basic Business Philosophy serves as the foundation for our practice of contribution to the development of society.
    The Matsushita Pavilion at Expo 1970 Osaka, which adopted the theme “Tradition and Development,” was a major success. In this feature, we look back at three stories involving the founder Konosuke Matsushita, who personally visited the site and consistently put customers first. Through the operation of the Matsushita Pavilion and the creation of the Time Capsule, we explore how his hands-on approach brought the Panasonic philosophy to life.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Transparent, Standardized, and Simplified Review Process for Solar PV Applications, while Keeping Ecological Considerations in Mind

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    On March 31, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced revisions to several key regulations and associated forms to uphold the public’s right to information, clarify approval standards for local governments, and protect residential living environments. These revised regulations include the Regulations on Registration of the Electricity Industry, Regulations on Registration of Power Generation Equipment for Self-Use, Regulations for the Installation and Management of Renewable Energy Generation Equipment, and the Guidelines for Landscape and Ecological Impact Review of Ground-Mounted Solar PV Installations. These updates aim to enhance communication and coordination with local communities by requiring developers to hold public briefings during the application process, standardizing consent forms and criteria for local governments, and mandating appropriate buffer distance between solar facilities and nearby residences to maintain quality of life.

    The MOEA further explained that, to ensure local communities are well-informed, it convened relevant central agencies, local governments, and industry associations to revise the Regulations on Registration of Electricity Industry. Under the amended rules, solar developers are required to conduct public briefings in the villages or neighborhoods where the highest concentration of solar panels, step-up substations, or energy storage facilities will be located, prior to submission of an establishment permit application. Developers must submit records and sign-in sheets to strengthen local participation and clarify project details.

    In addition, the MOEA has revised the Regulations on Registration of the Electricity Industry to provide consistent standards for local governments when approving solar power businesses. As part of these amendments, a standardized Checklist for Local Government Approval of Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation Businesses has been introduced, providing consistent criteria to enhance administrative efficiency across different jurisdictions.

    To protect the quality of residential environments, the MOEA has also updated the Guidelines for Landscape and Ecological Impact Review of Ground-Mounted Solar PV Installations, explicitly requiring an appropriate buffer distance between solar facilities and residential areas. In line with these changes, corresponding amendments have also been made to the Regulations on Registration of the Electricity Industry, Regulations on Registration of Power Generation Equipment for Self-Use, and Regulations for the Installation and Management of Renewable Energy Generation Equipment. These updates ensure that all types of installations must fully consider potential impacts on landscape and ecology, as a way of supporting inclusive and harmonious development.

    Lastly, the MOEA reaffirmed that these regulatory improvements are designed to foster harmony in local communities, as well as their co-existence, co-prosperity, and synergy with solar energy development, building a friendly environment and realizing a sustainable, win-win future for all stakeholders.

    Spokesperson
    Wu, Chih-Wei, Deputy Director General
    Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
    Tel: (02) 2775-7750 / 0922-339-410
    Email: cwwu@moeaea.gov.tw

    Contact for Further Information
    Liao, Shih-Wei, Deputy Division Chief
    Energy Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs
    Tel: 0920-091-081
    Email: swliau@moeaea.gov.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: World-first reusable space debris collector set to revolutionise sector

    Source:

    16 May 2025

    Paladin founder and CEO, Harrison Box, with Triton

    University of South Australia based startup Paladin Space has demonstrated the world’s first space payload capable of capturing debris from multiple targets and storing it on satellites for recycling, reducing the cost of space debris removal and making the process more sustainable.

    The company showcased their technology, called Triton, at a private demonstration event yesterday at UniSA’s Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC).

    The next steps will be to demonstrate the technology in orbit, secure pilot customers and perform qualification testing for a space mission. The company is also expecting to share news of an overseas expansion in coming months.

    South Australian Treasurer and Minister for Defence and Space Industries Stephen Mullighan says the potential of this innovative product demonstrates the impact South Australian based space startups are having in leading advances in space technology.

    “Space start-ups play a critical role in accelerating the growth of the South Australian space industry and strengthening our economic resilience and relevance,” Minister Mullighan said.

    “Paladin Space’s innovative technology, which has been developed right here in South Australia, is a perfect example of what’s possible when you foster an environment that nurtures bold ideas. It’s an example of homegrown ingenuity where South Australia is developing innovative ideas aimed at solving global challenges.”

    Space debris is a growing issue that poses significant threats to satellites and space missions. The large volume of debris, combined with its high velocity, creates a collision risk with potential to damage satellites and space infrastructure.

    A report by Northern Sky Research found that the ‘In-Orbit Servicing Market’ is expected to reach $4.7b by 2031, and roughly half of that market is debris removal and salvaging.

    Founder of Paladin Space, Harrison Box says their product will be able to capture multiple pieces of debris in a single mission.

    “Triton will make the process of debris removal more sustainable and cost effective while also being able to eject its contents on space targets, preserving the spacecraft in orbit to be reused for other missions,” he says.

    Their solution means Triton will eject its contents from the parent satellite at a very specific time so that it’s trajectory will not interfere with anyone else’s satellites. Shortly after ejection, Triton will descend into the Earth’s atmosphere, causing it to burn up completely within a matter of hours.

    The team are designing Triton to be compatible with future in-orbit recycling solutions so its contents can be delivered in-orbit as materials for manufacturing.

    “We are designing Triton to be able to dock easily with these in-orbit manufacturing stations so that the contents it collects can be recycled into metal rods or sheets for manufacturing satellites,” Mr Box says.

    “Not only is this practice sustainable, but incredibly cost effective for satellite manufacturers to ‘skip’ the launch phase of a mission and simply build their assets in space.”

    The Triton container is designed to capture many small pieces of debris such as fragments from collisions, however, the product is scalable depending on the mission. If a customer wants a larger volume, they could achieve 600mm (0.6m) cubed, or smaller missions may only require 300mm (0.3m) cubed.

    Paladin Space participated in UniSA’s space accelerator program Venture Catalyst Space in 2023, supported by the South Australian Space Industry Centre.

    Deputy Director: Business Incubation at the University of South Australia Craig Jones says the novel technology has the potential to make a huge impact on the space debris market.

    “Triton is on course to revolutionise the space debris industry and contribute to manufacturing in space, a mind-blowing proposition. We look forward to seeing it in action one day soon,” Jones says.

    “From placing second at an ICC global space hackathon, to participating in the Venture Catalyst Space program in 2023, we are incredibly proud to have played a small part in supporting this team to build their enterprise,” he says.

    Box says UniSA’s support and infrastructure continue to be instrumental to the success of his business.

    L-R, Harrison Box, Stephen Mulligan MP, Peter Stevens and Craig Jones

    “The advice I received in the early days helped to shape everything from our pitch deck to the financial accounting for our business, including areas like employability, beach-head markets, problem validation and general customer acquisition practices.

    “Having an office space to prototype and run our business from was also a game-changer that allowed Paladin Space to be put on the map, and I am still honoured to be a resident at the Innovation & Collaboration Centre – despite the team growing larger.”

    Box says he plans to keep his company headquarters in South Australia as they grow for as long as the government continues to support the space industry.

    Venture Catalyst Space, has supported 40 startups that have collectively raised almost $43 million in additional investment and grants, while creating almost 240 space jobs.

    About Harrison Box:

    • Box has a Masters in Aerospace Engineering with first-class honours from the University of Glasgow.
    • He spent a year of his study at the University of California where he led a team to design and build a liquid rocket engine test stand in the Mojave desert.
    • During his time at university he worked as a Powertrain Engineer at Nissan and a Avionics Engineer for a flight hardware company before becoming a Systems Engineer for BAE Systems. He spent two years working for multiple fast-jets in various countries, then was a Concept Engineer doing a variety of R&D work on military fast-jets for the remaining year before moving to Australia and becoming a Senior Systems Engineer for a novel radar project.

    Media contact: Megan Andrews, Megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au, 0434 819 275

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