NewzIntel.com

Category: CTF

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC May 21, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 210553

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1253 AM CDT Wed May 21 2025

    Valid 211200Z – 221200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN THE OZARKS TO
    MID-SOUTH AND FAR EASTERN NC…

    …SUMMARY…
    The most likely corridors for severe storms are across parts of far
    eastern North Carolina this afternoon, and the Ozarks into the
    Mid-South this evening.

    …Eastern NC and southern VA…
    Ongoing convection over parts of western NC/VA into the Piedmont is
    largely expected to move offshore by 12Z this morning. The surface
    cold front that lags well behind this morning activity should
    progress towards the South Atlantic Coast into the afternoon.
    Secondary cyclogenesis is expected across central to eastern NC,
    downstream of a fast mid-level jetlet centered on KY to southern WV
    this afternoon. Despite weak mid-level lapse rates, low 70s surface
    dew points along the Carolina Coastal Plain will support moderate
    buoyancy with a plume of MLCAPE from 1500-2500 J/kg. A couple
    supercells may develop ahead of the cyclone, most likely across far
    eastern NC and the Outer Banks. A tornado or two, isolated large
    hail, and localized strong gusts are the expected hazards.

    …Ozarks/Mid-South…
    While rich boundary-layer moisture will remain confined across south
    TX/LA, a strengthening low-level baroclinic zone is expected during
    the afternoon to evening near the KS/OK border east-southeast into
    the Mid-South. Guidance is rather consistent in developing at least
    elevated convection to the cool side of this zone by evening. This
    will be coincident with an intensifying mid-level jetlet merging
    into the basal portion of the broad North-Central to Northeast CONUS
    trough. Forecast soundings depict potentially very strong mid to
    upper-level speed shear within the slightly north of west flow
    regime. Coupled with steep mid-level lapse rates, this setup could
    yield a few fast-moving elevated supercells. Primary uncertainty is
    with the degree of buoyancy given typically overdone MUCAPE in
    NAM-influenced guidance. But a focused corridor of large hail
    potential seems plausible.

    …Upper OH Valley…
    A confined corridor of modest boundary-layer heating may occur
    downstream of the primary surface cyclone drifting across northern
    OH to Lake Erie. Coupled with cooling mid-level temperatures, weak
    surface-based buoyancy is expected by midday into the afternoon.
    Deep-layer shear will not be strong given proximity to the mid-level
    trough, but should be adequate for weak/transient mid-level
    rotation. With numerous thunderstorms expected, small to marginally
    severe hail and isolated damaging winds are anticipated. A brief
    tornado is also possible with storms crossing the warm front before
    convection weakens abruptly eastward.

    …North FL and south GA…
    Along the southeastward-moving cold front, moderate buoyancy is
    expected ahead of the front. A veered low-level wind profile will
    limit effective bulk shear, but scattered thunderstorms could yield
    multicell clustering as updrafts congeal. Isolated damaging winds
    and marginally severe hail are anticipated this afternoon.

    …Deep South TX…
    Very large buoyancy will develop amid strong heating of rather rich
    western Gulf moisture. While large-scale signals for ascent are
    nebulous, convection will likely develop in northeast Mexico over
    the higher terrain this afternoon. Some of this activity may spread
    east across the Lower Rio Grande this evening. Weak winds through
    the lower half of the buoyancy profile will be a limiting factor to
    more organized storms, but any multicell clusters could pose an
    isolated severe hail/wind risk.

    ..Grams/Weinman.. 05/21/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No MDs are in effect as of Wed May 21 07:02:02 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Mesoscale DiscussionsUpdated:  Wed May 21 07:19:03 UTC 2025 No Mesoscale Discussions are currently in effect.

    Notice:  The responsibility for Heavy Rain Mesoscale Discussions has been transferred to the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) on April 9, 2013. Click here for the Service Change Notice.
    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Wed May 21 07:02:02 UTC 2025

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated:  Wed May 21 07:19:05 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

    Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Pedestrian in critical condition after Devonport crash

    Source: New South Wales Community and Justice

    Pedestrian in critical condition after Devonport crash

    Wednesday, 21 May 2025 – 4:56 pm.

    A 75-year-old woman seriously injured when hit by a car in Devonport on Wednesday morning remains in a critical condition in Royal Hobart Hospital.
    The crash happened about 8.55am at the intersection of William and Best streets, Devonport, with initial investigations indicating the female pedestrian was attempting to cross the intersection at the lights when she was struck by a black Lexus.
    The crash was witnessed by a several people, who provided assistance at the scene.
    The woman was initially transported to Launceston General Hospital for treatment however, her condition deteriorated and she was then transported by helicopter to RHH.
    Any witnesses who saw the incident or drove past the area and may have dash-cam footage are asked to call police on 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information to Crime Stoppers can be provided anonymously.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU citizens give recommendations for a stronger EU budget

    Source: European Union 2

    The recommendations are out from the final European Citizens’ Panel on the new EU long-term budget. After debate, 150 EU citizens concluded that the new European budget should focus on the environment, economic success, equal access to healthcare, renewable energy and AI, among other issues.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: ZeroBiometrics Unveils Breakthrough in AI Agent Security with Human-Bound Cryptographic Authentication

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In a major leap forward for digital trust and AI governance, ZeroBiometrics has announced a groundbreaking innovation that securely links AI agents to real human identities using its proprietary, template-less biometric cryptographic technology. This advancement addresses one of the most urgent challenges in the AI age: ensuring that autonomous agents act with verifiable, human-authorized intent.

    The new system allows AI agents—ranging from trading bots to autonomous customer support systems—to carry out transactions within strict, pre-defined limits, as enumerated in certificates issued by a biometrically-backed Certificate Authority. Humans are issued root or intermediate certificates via ZeroBiometrics’ privacy-preserving biometric authentication platform, which cryptographically verifies individuals in real time without storing or transmitting biometric templates. That person can issue end-entity certificates to AI Agents to allow them to act within a scoped set of capabilities and participate in a cryptographically verifiable digital identity framework. Certificates can extend an individual’s own identity, or can extend an organization’s identity.

    “AI agents are becoming more powerful, but without trust anchors, they can be hijacked or abused,” said Alfred Chan, CEO of ZeroBiometrics. “Our technology ensures that every AI action can be traced to a real, authenticated person—who approved it, scoped it, and can revoke it.”

    The solution leverages open standards and technology that underpins the internet today. It supports transactional controls such as time limits, financial caps, functional scopes, and revocable keys, and integrates easily into decentralized ledgers or enterprise PKI infrastructures. This positions ZeroBiometrics as a key enabler of safe AI deployment in finance, healthcare, logistics, and government applications.

    By binding digital autonomy to real-world accountability, ZeroBiometrics isn’t just securing AI—it’s redefining digital authority for the post-password and Agentic AI driven world.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: President Ramaphosa speaks to the media before his strategic meeting with the SA delegation.

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MmCT45iiBQ

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pupils on song for musical spectacular

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Singing In The Halls, organised by Wolverhampton Music Service, saw children from primary and special schools perform at the iconic venue, led by Paul Wilcox and accompanied by a 14 piece Music Service band.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Being able to sing at the city’s biggest performance venue, University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, was a fantastic opportunity for the pupils, and it was great to see so many schools and performers being a part of this very special occasion.

    “Children and teachers spent a lot of time practising their songs in school ready to give their best performances on the big stage, and it is sure to be a day that will live long in the memory of everyone involved.”

    She added: “Music has the power to inspire, uplift and unite, and through these concerts our Music Service is aiming to foster a sense of community and creativity among young performers, and to inspire them to begin their own musical journeys.”

    To see more pictures from the performances, please visit Flickr.

    The Music Service will return to the big stage in July, when 16 groups of young musicians will perform at the Wulfrun Hall at University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, thanks to a £10,000 donation from the Friends of Wolverhampton Music Service.

    Wolverhampton Music Service provides high quality tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with its flagship groups, Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra. To find out more, please visit Wolverhampton Music Service.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: St. Petersburg International Legal Forum: Vladimir Stroev spoke about training personnel for the modern economy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On May 20, 2025, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev took part in the session “Strategic planning and management of science: normative dimension”, which was held as part of the XIII St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

    Also participating in the discussion were First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation Petr Serkov, State Secretary – Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Maxim Uvaidov, representatives of scientific and higher educational institutions. The meeting was moderated by Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration for Scientific and Educational Policy Elena Nechaeva.

    The first issue of the meeting was an assessment of the prospects for eliminating barriers to the implementation of research and development results. The rector of the State University of Management noted that for research to be effective, it is important to involve industrial partners in the formation of the scientific agenda and R&D plan in the interests of specific customers, as well as the digitalization of research processes and the introduction of digital platforms for automated reporting.

    Speaking about the practice of conducting research in universities, Vladimir Stroyev spoke about the innovations being implemented at the State University of Management in the scientific sphere and the educational process, which are aimed at solving the problem of achieving technological sovereignty of the country and training personnel for specific industrial partners.

    “Over the past few years, there have been significant changes within the country, including in science and education, as well as in the attitude of business towards interaction with educational organizations. If earlier entrepreneurs preferred to order scientific developments abroad or from private companies, and to select employees directly on the labor market, today they have a different approach. Every week we have one or two meetings with representatives of different levels of business regarding personnel training, scientific and applied developments, which are often associated with the need to repair foreign equipment, develop analogs of parts and other reverse engineering tasks, which our specialists are engaged in,” the rector of the State University of Management noted.

    Vladimir Vitalyevich also emphasized the importance of interaction between universities, which could be facilitated by digital platforms for collaboration. As an example, the rector cited the Design Bureau of the State University of Management, which, thanks to network interaction with design bureaus of other universities, fulfills orders for large corporations.

    Vladimir Stroev named project-based learning, which is successfully implemented at the State University of Management, as another opportunity to unite employers and universities to train the necessary specialists.

    “For three years now, 100% of our students have been participating in project activities, starting from their first year. That is, they are divided into groups and spend 1 day a week developing a project provided by a partner company, under the supervision of a representative of this organization. This is both professional practice and practicing soft skills. Moreover, these projects are posted on a special platform, where they are also purchased. As a result, students not only receive practical skills and a portfolio, but also have a completed project and their first income,” the rector shared.

    In conclusion of his speech, Vladimir Stroyev recalled that the State University of Management was an engineering and economics university until the 1990s and for most of its history trained engineering personnel, something it is returning to today.

    Elena Nechaeva noted that she is ready to come to the State University of Management in the near future “for a more detailed discussion of the practice of university science, because the personnel aspects of the development of science and technology are the foundation of foundations.”

    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 New Zealand: Police urge the public to report any unlawful dirt bike riding on our roads

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Hawke’s Bay Police are asking the public for information to stop dirt bike riders in their tracks, before they cause more serious harm.

    Senior Sergeant Ross Smith says a woman and a young boy have been injured recently in two separate incidents due to “dangerous, and frankly stupid” behaviour by people on dirt bikes.

    Last week on Wednesday an 8-year-old boy suffered a broken bone in his leg after being hit by a dirt bike rider in Flaxmere.

    And on 24 April a woman was hit by a dirt bike outside a café in Hastings, causing moderate injuries, while the two young riders received critical and serious injuries.

    “There continues to be ongoing issues with people of all ages riding dirt bikes illegally on roads, footpaths and parks, mainly in the Flaxmere and Camberley areas,” Senior Sergeant Smith says.

    “Riders are not wearing helmets or robust safety clothing. The motorbikes are often unregistered, not warranted and some are in poor condition and not road worthy.

    “These riders have little regard for other road users, pedestrians or families using the parks and the public are paying the price.

    “We are also urging parents of children who use dirt bikes to make sure they do so in a safe way, otherwise more people will get hurt,” says Senior Sergeant Smith.

    Police are prepared to take enforcement action when necessary.

    We are asking people if they witness any of this kind of behaviour to report it to Police on 111 if it is happening now, or 105.police.govt.nz if it is after the fact.

    If you see dirt bikes being ridden dangerously then please take photos or videos and send it into Hawke’s Bay Police through the 105 website.

    You may have also captured them on other devices such as dash cams or house security cameras. This can be done anonymously through our 105 services.

    Gain as much information as you are safely able to, including the type of activity, any descriptions of the bikes and riders, the areas where this activity occurs and where they may come from, and any photos or video footage.

    If Police are not able to attend these incidents immediately, follow-up action will be taken.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Prosafe SE: Operational update – April 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    21 May – Fleet utilisation for April 2025 was 58 per cent.   

    Safe Zephyrus and Safe Eurus operated at full capacity during April, achieving 100 per cent commercial uptime.  

    Safe Notos had 92 per cent commercial uptime due to required repairs. 

    Safe Caledonia has been re-activated for UK contract with start 01 June. Safe Boreas is in process of being transported to Singapore ahead of contract in Australia. 

    Safe Scandinavia has been sold for recycling and been delivered to the buyer.  

    Prosafe is a leading owner and operator of semi-submersible accommodation vessels. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker code PRS. For more information, please refer to https://www.prosafe.com  

    For further information, please contact:  

    Terje Askvig, CEO 

    Phone: +47 952 03 886 

    Reese McNeel, CFO 

    Phone: +47 415 08 186 

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia sole company recognized as a Champion, Market Momentum Leader in Omdia’s 2025 Private 5G Market Radar report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia sole company recognized as a Champion, Market Momentum Leader in Omdia’s 2025 Private 5G Market Radar report

    • Nokia private wireless portfolio, edge AI capabilities, segment blueprints, and global partner ecosystem recognized for accelerating Industry 4.0 transformation.

    21 May 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced that it is the sole company recognized as a Champion and a Market Momentum Leader in Omdia’s Market Radar: E2E Private 5G Networks Vendors – 2025. The report highlights Nokia’s 5G Private Wireless vision, strong product portfolio, and continued investment in mission-critical connectivity solutions tailored for industrial enterprises in multiple verticals, including manufacturing, mining, ports, airports, utilities, public safety, and railways.

    Omdia’s Private 5G Market Radar report provides comprehensive analyses of the private 5G vendor landscape, while discussing partnerships, market trends, and strategic insights. According to Omdia, the Market Leader category represents leading vendors that provide advanced capabilities across six areas explored and which Omdia believes is worthy of a place on most technology selection shortlists. Nokia was the only vendor cited as a Champion in the report for “jump starting the market to exploring opportunities in the mission-critical edge where the connectivity at OT world are merging.”

    At a time when private wireless networks have become essential for industries seeking secure, reliable, and high-performance connectivity to support their digital transformation, Nokia’s leadership in the sector is recognized for being the first company to identify the private networks opportunity and engage with the ecosystem to drive market adoption, having already deployed 890 private 4G and 5G networks worldwide as of Q1 2025.

    Omdia highlights Nokia’s evolving its private wireless solutions beyond connectivity to an edge compute and AI platform for industries, verticalized solutions built on years of research, testing, and validation through segment blueprints, as well as a rich ecosystem of applications and partners such as Kyndryl, Telefonica Tech and Verizon.

    “Nokia’s continued leadership in the private 5G market is underpinned by its comprehensive and forward-looking approach to industrial connectivity. By offering an integrated platform that benefits an array of industries, Nokia is setting the pace for Industry 4.0 transformation,” said Pablo Tomasi, Principal Analyst, Private Networks and Enterprise 5G at Omdia.

    “Omdia’s recognition reflects our commitment to delivering robust, scalable, and intelligent networks that meet the demanding needs of industrial environments. From our MX Industrial Edge platform to our vertical blueprints, Nokia is helping enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys,” said Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.

    Nokia’s portfolio supports both campus and wide-area networks, including private wireless solutions such as Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), Modular Private Wireless (MPW), and Core Enterprise Solutions. It also features patented innovations like MX Industrial Edge (MXIE), Nokia MX Boost, and AI-powered solutions including Nokia MX Grid, MX Workmate, Visual Position and Object Detection (VPOD), and MX Context.

    Some of Nokia’s most notable private network customer references include Southern California Edison, British Sugar, Husky Terminals, Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahia, Butachimie, Lufthansa Technik, Dow Chemical, Chevron Phillips Chemical, Hola Oulu Hospital, and Carrix.

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. 

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    About Omdia
    Omdia, part of Informa TechTarget, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a global analyst and advisory leader that helps you connect the dots across the technology ecosystem. Now joined by Canalys, Enterprise Strategy Group and Wards Intelligence, our deep knowledge of tech markets combined with our actionable insights empower organizations to make smart growth decisions.

    Multimedia, technical information and related news
    Product Page: DAC private wireless
    Web Page: Industries
    Web Page: Omdia

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Follow Nokia on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New Caledonia, French Polynesia at UN decolonisation seminar in Dili

    By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk

    New Caledonia and French Polynesia have sent strong delegations this week to the United Nations Pacific regional seminar on the implementation of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism in Timor-Leste.

    The seminar opened in Dili today and ends on Friday.

    As French Pacific non-self-governing territories, the two Pacific possessions will brief the UN on recent developments at the event, which is themed “Pathways to a sustainable future — advancing socioeconomic and cultural development of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”.

    New Caledonia and French Polynesia are both in the UN’s list of non-self-governing territories to be decolonised, respectively since 1986 and 2013.

    Nouméa-based French Ambassador for the Pacific Véronique Roger-Lacan is also attending.

    After the Dili meeting this week, the UN’s Fourth Commission is holding its formal meeting in New York in July and again in October in the margins of the UN General Assembly.

    As New Caledonia marks the first anniversary this month of the civil unrest that killed 14 people and caused material damage to the tune of 2.2 billion euros last year (NZ$4.1 billion), the French Pacific territory’s political parties have been engaged for the past four months in political talks with France to define New Caledonia’s political future.

    However, the talks have not yet managed to produce a consensual way forward between pro-France and pro-independence groups.

    French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, at the end of the most recent session on May 8, put a project of “sovereignty with France” on the table which was met by strong opposition by the pro-France Loyalists (anti-independence) camp.

    This year again, parties and groups from around the political spectrum are planning to travel to Dili to plead their respective cases.

    New Caledonia territorial President Alcide Ponga . . . pro-France groups have become more aware of the need for them to be more vocal and present at regional and international fora. Image: Media pool/RNZ Pacific

    Topping the list is New Caledonia’s government President Alcide Ponga, who chairs the pro-France Rassemblement party and came to power in January 2025.

    Other represented institutions include New Caledonia’s customary (traditional) Senate, a kind of Great Council of Chiefs, which also sends participants to ensure the voice of indigenous Kanak people is heard.

    Over the past two years, pro-France groups have become more aware of the need for them to be more vocal and present at regional and international fora.

    French Polynesia back on the UN list since 2013
     In French Polynesia, the pro-independence ruling Tavini Huiraatira party commemorated the 12th anniversary of re-inscription to the UN list of territories to be decolonised on 17 May 2013.

    This week, Tavini also sent a strong delegation to Timor-Leste, which includes territorial Assembly President Antony Géros.

    However, the pro-France parties, locally known as “pro-autonomy”, also want to ensure their views are taken into account.

    One of them is Moerani Frébault, one of French Polynesia’s representatives at the French National Assembly.

    “Contrary to what the pro-independence people are saying, we’re not dominated by the French Republic,” he told local media at a news conference at the weekend.

    Frébault said the pro-autonomy parties now want to invite a UN delegation to French Polynesia “so they can see for themselves that we have all the tools we need for our development.

    “This is the message we want to get across”.

    Pro-autonomy Tapura Party leaders Tepuaraurii Teriitahi (from left), Edouard Fritch and Moerani Frébault, at a press conference in Papeete last week . . . . “We want to counter those who allege that the whole of [French] Polynesians are sharing this aspiration for independence.” Image: Radio 1/RNZ Pacific

    Territorial Assembly member Tepuaraurii Teriitahi, from the pro-autonomy Tapura Huiraatira party, is also travelling to Dili.

    “The majority of (French) Polynesians is not pro-independence. So when we travel to this kind of seminar, it is because we want to counter those who allege that the whole of (French) Polynesians is sharing this aspiration for independence,” she said.

    ‘Constitution of a Federated Republic of Ma’ohi Nui’
    On the pro-independence side in Pape’ete, the official line is that it wants Paris to at least engage in talks with French Polynesia to “open the subject of decolonisation”.

    For the same purpose, the Tavini Party, in April 2025, officially presented a draft for what could become a “Constitution of a Federated Republic of Ma’ohi Nui”.

    The document is sometimes described as drawing inspirations from France and the United States, but is not yet regarded as fully matured.

    Earlier this month, French Polynesia’s President Moetai Brotherson was in Paris for a series of meetings with several members of the French cabinet, including Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls and French Foreign Affairs Minister Yannick Neuder.

    Valls is currently contemplating visiting French Polynesia early in July.

    Brotherson came to power in May 2023. Since being elected to the top post, he has stressed that independence — although it remained a longterm goal — was not an immediate priority.

    He also said many times that he wished relations with France to evolve, especially on the decolonisation.

    “I think we should put those 10 years of misunderstanding, of denial of dialogue behind us,” he said.

    In October 2023, for the first time since French Polynesia was re-inscribed on the UN list, France made representations at the UN Special Political and Decolonisation Committee (Fourth Committee), ending a 10-year empty chair hiatus .

    But the message delivered by the French Ambassador to the UN, Nicolas De Rivière, was unambiguous.

    He said French Polynesia “has no place” on the UN list of non-autonomous territories because “French Polynesia’s history is not the history of New Caledonia”.

    He also voiced France’s wish to have French Polynesia withdrawn from the UN list.

    The UN list of non-self-governing territories currently includes 17 territories worldwide and six of those are located in the Pacific — American Samoa, Guam, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn Islands and Tokelau.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The main stage of the OGE has begun in Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The main period of the Main State Examination (OGE) has begun in the capital. It will last from May 21 to July 2.

    “This year, about 120 thousand Muscovites will take the OGE during the main period. 622 exam centers have been organized for them in the capital,” the press service reported.

    Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow.

    On May 21 and 22, schoolchildren will take exams in foreign languages: English, French, German and Spanish. About 24 thousand people have registered for these subjects. The results of the first exams will be known no later than May 26. You can find them out in your personal account on mos.ru or at school.

    On May 26, ninth-graders will take the OGE in social science, biology, chemistry and computer science, on May 29 – in geography, history, physics and chemistry. On June 3, there will be an exam in mathematics, and on June 6 – in social science, computer science and geography. The OGE in Russian is scheduled for June 9. On June 16, there will be exams in literature, physics, biology and computer science. From June 26 to July 2 – reserve days.

    This year, the federal law on expanding the availability of secondary vocational education is being implemented in the capital. As part of the innovations, ninth-graders entering colleges can only take two mandatory exams – in Russian and mathematics. Those moving to the 10th grade are still required to pass four OGEs: two mandatory and two optional. Participants with disabilities can only take mandatory subjects.

    The most popular elective subjects were social science (more than 34 thousand people), computer science (more than 33 thousand people) and English (more than 23 thousand people).

    Students can use the materials to prepare for exams. “Moscow Electronic School”, where almost 18 thousand lesson scenarios, over 12 thousand video lessons and more than 33 thousand tests are published.

    The additional period of the OGE will be held from September 2 to 23. The current schedule and detailed information are posted on the website Regional Information Processing Center (RCOI) of the city of Moscow. Questions regarding the final certification can be asked by calling the RCOI: 7 499 653-94-50.

    Conducting preparatory activities for the successful passing of the final essay and state exams by schoolchildren not only helps students achieve high results in tests, but also contributes to the development of children’s talents and the formation of skills that will be useful to them in their future profession, and corresponds to the objectives of the project “All the best for children” of the national project “Youth and Children”.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154104073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A residential complex was built on Yerevanskaya Street under the renovation program

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In Tsaritsyno, the construction of another residential complex under the renovation program has been completed. Its total area is more than 28 thousand square meters. This was reported by the Minister of the Moscow Government, the head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The residential complex of five sections is located at the address: Yerevanskaya Street, Building 4, Block 2.

    “The new building includes 253 apartments with finished, improved finishing. Their total area exceeds 14 thousand square meters. The residential complex was built with a barrier-free environment in mind. The entrances have wide passages, vestibules and elevator halls are located on the same level, without high steps. In the courtyard, pedestrian paths are designed so that both parents with strollers and citizens with disabilities can move comfortably. In addition, the new building has two apartments for people with disabilities: the width of the corridors and doorways has been increased, and special handrails are provided in the bathrooms,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    For the convenience of residents, elevators have been installed in the entrances, rooms for concierges and storage rooms for strollers and bicycles have been provided. Trees and bushes have been planted near the house, lawns and flower beds have been laid out, lanterns have been installed and video surveillance cameras have been installed. The courtyard has also been equipped with areas for active recreation and sports.

    “Mosgosstroynadzor supervised the construction of the building on Yerevanskaya Street at all stages – the Committee’s inspectors conducted 11 on-site inspections. Based on the results of the final event, a conclusion was issued on the building’s compliance with the approved project,” the Chairman of Mosgosstroynadzor noted.

    Anton Slobodchikov.

    The new building was erected in an area with developed urban and transport infrastructure. Nearby are the Tsaritsyno and Kantemirovskaya metro stations, the Tsaritsyno station of the second Moscow Central Diameter, as well as shops, educational institutions and healthcare facilities.

    Earlier Sergei Sobyanin examined new house under the renovation program in Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo.

    The renovation program was approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increasethe pace of implementation of the renovation program has doubled.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154125073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese border town Hunchun has become a popular shopping destination among Russians

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    CHANGCHUN, May 21 (Xinhua) — Early in the morning, Maria Zaitseva, a tourist from Vladivostok, arrived in China through the Hunchun border crossing, once again setting off on her familiar and favorite journey.

    Arriving in Hunchun City, Jilin Province, she headed straight to the mall, took out her shopping list from her bag, and started shopping. Electronics, seasonal clothing, daily necessities… the wide range of products to choose from and the friendly service of the salespeople delighted her.

    The city of Hunchun /Jilin Province, Northeast China/ is located at the junction of the state borders of China, Russia and the DPRK. In recent years, Hunchun has attracted more and more Russian tourists due to its convenient location, simplified entry rules and a variety of services.

    “As far as I know, the hashtag ChinaTravel /travel to China/ is very popular now and I noticed that such a trend as ChinaShopping /shopping in China/ has begun to attract the attention of our compatriots. Hunchun is our very first and convenient stop for a shopping tour in China,” said Maria.

    In Hunchun, many road signs and signboards are duplicated in Russian, and some stores accept payments in rubles, making shopping easier for Russian tourists.

    “Good quality and good price!” Maria commented on a pair of Chinese-made sunglasses she bought in Hunchun. “After the discount, the glasses cost less than 300 yuan,” she added.

    At the request of her friends, Maria is also ready to buy several Chinese-made power banks. “I heard that a new, smaller and more fashionable battery has appeared, and my friend asked me to buy one,” she said.

    Like Maria, many Russian tourists plan to buy Chinese-made goods, especially those essentials that combine fashionable design and affordable prices.

    Li Wenlong, the owner of an eyeglass shop in Hunchun, communicates fluently in Russian with Russian customers.

    “Myopia glasses, reading glasses, sunglasses – we can receive hundreds of Russian tourists a day,” Li Wenlong said, noting that “we often put frames on the shelves that are suitable for European-type appearance, particularly for Russians, as well as popular frame shapes that they like.”

    “My feeling about shopping in China is that there is a lot of choice and it is very convenient,” said Svetlana Kapitsyna, a Russian who has lived in Hunchun for a long time. She has become accustomed to paying for purchases using her mobile phone.

    “You can pay by scanning or touching, and it’s very safe and secure,” Svetlana said.

    In recent years, the cross-border e-commerce sector in Hunchun has developed rapidly, and many Russian tourists can buy Chinese goods through e-commerce platforms.

    Song Xueyan, manager of Yutong International Travel Agency in Hunchun, said many Russian tourists place orders on Chinese e-commerce platforms in advance and arrange for the purchased goods to be delivered by mail to the hotels in Hunchun where they will be staying, or ask Chinese friends to help them pick them up.

    According to customs data, by the end of 2024, 667 thousand people crossed the state border through the Hunchun checkpoint.

    “With China’s continuous optimization of visa-free entry, transportation, payment and VAT refund policies when leaving the country, the popularity of ChinaShopping is rapidly growing, especially in border cities such as Hunchun,” Li Wenlong said.

    “As tour operators, we will continue to improve the quality of our services, closely monitor market demand and constantly improve our business models to provide Russian tourists with a more convenient, diverse and safe shopping experience,” he added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US to skip G20 summit in South Africa

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    LOS ANGELES, May 21 (Xinhua) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump will not attend the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) leaders’ meeting in South Africa.

    “We decided not to participate in the G20 meetings this year hosted by South Africa, either at the Foreign Ministry level or at the presidential level, and that had a lot to do with some of these issues that they had on their agenda that we don’t think reflect the priorities of this administration,” he told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

    Relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated since the African country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed an expropriation law in January. In March, the United States expelled South Africa’s then-ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, further straining tensions.

    Ramaphosa is currently visiting the United States and is scheduled to meet with Trump on trade and bilateral issues. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: New York pilot steers Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtemoc – Mexican Navy

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    MEXICO CITY, May 21 (Xinhua) — A New York pilot was steering the Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtemoc when its masts crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, killing two cadets and injuring more than 20 crew members, the Mexican Navy confirmed on Tuesday.

    According to international rules, when foreign ships pass under the Brooklyn Bridge, the local government appoints a specialized pilot, Mexican Navy Minister Raimundo Pedro Morales explained at a daily morning press conference.

    “In New York, in particular, a vessel must be operated by a specialized port pilot from the state government. All maneuvers that the vessel performed, from leaving the berth to the collision, took place under the control of the pilot,” he said.

    “At this point, we cannot say whether the pilot used the means available correctly. We can only say that he had little time to do so, since the distance from the pier to the bridge was very short,” added R. Pedro Morales.

    The training ship, which had more than 180 people on board, was preparing to sail to Iceland as part of a training mission, the minister said.

    “The US Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard and insurance experts will determine the causes /of the incident/ and the extent of liability of the parties,” said R. Pedro Morales, adding that it will take about 30 days to prepare a preliminary report.

    Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum paid tribute to the victims, highlighting their achievements in science and military affairs.

    A Mexican Navy sailing vessel making a holiday visit to New York collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday night, killing two people and injuring more than 20 others. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China calls US bid to ban Chinese chips ‘unilateral bullying and protectionism’ /more/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday described the U.S. attempt to impose a global ban on advanced Chinese computer chips as a typical act of “unilateral bullying and protectionism” that seriously undermines global semiconductor production and supply chains.

    The Chinese side took into account that the US Department of Commerce recently issued a guideline that, under the pretext of so-called “violations of US export controls,” was intended to impose a ban on the use of advanced Chinese computer chips, including Huawei Ascend-specific chips, worldwide, an official representative of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

    The move by the United States deprives other countries of the right to develop advanced computer chips and high-tech industries such as artificial intelligence, a statement from a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce said.

    By abusing export controls to contain and oppress China, the United States violates international law and basic norms of international relations, seriously harms the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, and harms China’s development interests, the official said.

    The Chinese side draws special attention to the fact that such measures by the United States may constitute restrictions of a discriminatory nature against Chinese companies. And any organizations and individuals who implement or assist in the implementation of these measures will certainly be held legally liable on suspicion of violating Chinese laws and regulations, the Ministry of Commerce warned.

    As the official representative of the department noted, innovative development and mutually beneficial cooperation are the dominant global trends. The Chinese side urges the United States to immediately correct its erroneous actions, comply with international trade and economic rules, and respect the right of other countries to scientific and technological development, the official representative emphasized.

    The Chinese side will closely monitor the development of the situation regarding the US measures and take decisive measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests, the official representative added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Pizza Market to Exceed RMB 100 Billion in 5 Years: Report

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    SHANGHAI, May 21 (Xinhua) — China’s pizza market is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan (about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars) in the next five years, with growth driven mainly by smaller cities, according to an industry report released at the ongoing SIAL Shanghai international food expo.

    In 2024-2025, the market size is expected to grow from 48 billion to 60.8 billion yuan. By the end of March 2025, there were more than 60 thousand pizzerias in China.

    In terms of the growth rate of the pizzeria chain for the period from 2016 to 2022, cities of the third and lower levels surpassed cities of the first category – the growth was 10 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively. In the period from 2025 to 2027, another 15 thousand pizzerias are expected to open.

    Notably, in 2022, the online segment’s share in the Chinese pizza market surpassed the offline sales share for the first time, reaching 58.1 percent. The online segment will continue to expand in the coming years, the report notes.

    Pizza arrived in mainland China in 1990, when the country’s first foreign-invested pizzeria opened. Initially considered a Western dish reserved for upper-class cities, pizza has gained widespread popularity in the decades since.

    Analysts attribute the market expansion to the active introduction of takeaway services, increased consumer spending in smaller cities and growing demand for pizza options tailored to local tastes.

    However, the report notes that the density of pizzerias in China is still low compared to other countries. As of 2022, China had 11.7 such establishments per million people, compared to 232.4 in the United States, and compared to Japan and the Republic of Korea, it is only a third of those countries. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s courier sector shows strong growth in April 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — China’s courier sector handled 16.32 billion parcels in April 2025, up 19.1 percent year on year, the State Post Administration said Tuesday.

    The sector’s total operating revenue rose 10.8 percent year-on-year to 121.28 billion yuan (about $16.86 billion), the department said last month.

    In the first four months of this year, China’s courier sector handled a total of 61.45 billion parcels, up 20.9 percent year-on-year.

    According to the aforementioned department, the sector’s revenue from January to April was 466.91 billion yuan, up 10.9 percent year-on-year. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Accelerating the implementation of railway projects

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Following is a question by the Hon Michael Tien and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 21):

    Question: 

    There are views that as the Government is currently making vigorous efforts to develop the Northern Metropolis, it should expedite the implementation of various railway projects, such as the “Hung Kong Railway” linking Hung Shui Kiu to Hong Kong Island and the new cross-harbour railway between the coastal areas of Tuen Mun and Hong Kong Island. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) as the Government has indicated earlier on that the co-ordination of railway projects by one single entity is conducive to maintaining cost-efficiency, and that splitting part of the railway project works into a public works project may not be able to help enhance the efficiency of such a project, but there are views that adopting the public-private-partnership (PPP) approach in taking forward the railway projects (e.g. handing over to the Government the infrastructure portion, which accounts for about 70 per cent of the overall works, while the MTR Corporation Limited will take charge of the remaining portion of the electrical and mechanical works, which accounts for about 30 per cent) may expedite the progress of such works, and the Government may also raise funds through bond issuance, and even if the debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (debt-to-GDP) ratio rises to 16 per cent in the future, Hong Kong’s debt-to-GDP ratio will still rank around 160 among some 170 economies, whether the Government will proactively explore and implement the PPP option in this regard; and

    (2) whether it will consider formulating a labour importation scheme specifically for the railway projects, under which Mainland workers who travel on a same-day-return basis and are not entitled to any local benefits will be imported and exempted from the restriction that their wages should not be less than the median monthly wages of local workers in comparable positions, so as to reduce the cost of such projects; if so, of the timetable; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:

    President,

    Following the principles of “infrastructure-led” and “capacity-creating”, the Government is pressing ahead with a series of major transport infrastructure projects in the Northern Metropolis (NM) to strengthen the connectivity among the various new development areas and with other districts, as well as to facilitate Hong Kong’s better integration into the national development through the construction of cross-boundary infrastructure.

    The Government is carrying out preliminary planning and study for the development of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands (KYCAI) and related strategic railway. The proposed strategic railway is primarily intended to enhance the connectivity of the artificial islands with the NM and the western part of Shenzhen, and its alignment and programme will have to tie in with the planning of the artificial islands. After reviewing the priorities and overall strategy of the various land creation and infrastructure projects, the Government considers that the development pace of the KYCAI could be eased. Separately, relevant departments are conducting a planning and engineering study on the near-shore reclamation in Lung Kwu Tan and the re-planning of Tuen Mun West area, and the transport connectivity of the said area with other districts will be examined in the process.

    In consultation with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, the Development Bureau and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, our reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Michael Tien is as follows: 

    (1) To ensure that the NM and other strategic infrastructure projects can proceed on schedule and benefit the economy and people’s livelihood at an early juncture, the Government will leverage market resources in a more flexible manner and adopt more diverse development models. All along, the Government would formulate the most suitable implementation and financing arrangements of individual new railway project taking into account the distinct characteristics and specific circumstances of each project. Currently, railway projects are mainly implemented under the “Rail-plus-Property” model which has proven to be effective. The Government grants property development rights having regard to the funding gap of the project, while the railway company bears the commercial risks associated with the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the railway. Under this arrangement, the railway company would co-ordinate the works for the property development as well as those for the railway, which could enable synergy among the stations, depots and the property development, and also create incentive for the railway company to complete the railway project and thus enhance the value of the property development as early as possible. Where circumstances warrant, the Government does not preclude the possibility to provide financial support for new railway projects through or in combination with other means. In fact, there were railway projects being taken forward using other approaches.

    The current practice of having a single entity to implement a railway project ensures seamless co-ordination across all aspects of the project, from design to construction. This also helps ensure that the design of the works fully takes into consideration cost-effectiveness, meeting operational needs while keeping cost under control. Splitting part of the works of a railway project into public works of the Government might not be able to help enhance the efficiency of the works due to interfaces between the works, and would also increase the Government’s fiscal burden. With projects related to the NM being rolled out progressively, as well as other infrastructure projects with socio-economic benefits, the Government will expand the scale of bond issuance correspondingly. Over the five years covered by the current Medium Range Forecast, the ratio of government debt to Gross Domestic Product is expected to rise from the current 9.5 per cent to 16.5 per cent, which remains to be a prudent and manageable level. The actual amount of bonds to be issued by the Government will take into consideration the prevailing fiscal position, market response and works progress. We will continue to adhere strictly to fiscal discipline and ensure the fiscal prudence of our overall bond issuance programmes and sustainability of our public finances.

    The MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) has been playing a pivotal role in driving Hong Kong’s development. We are aware of public concerns about the possible pressure on the MTRCL’s manpower and resource when taking forward multiple new railway projects simultaneously. The Government has reminded the MTRCL’s management of the need to strategically plan its treasury management, and make financing arrangements through appropriate means such as bond issuance having regard to its liquidity needs, so as to support the corporation’s operation and continuous development. At the same time, the MTRCL must strictly control the costs and compress the programmes of its railway projects in order to enhance the financial viability of the projects.

    To enhance speed and efficiency in implementing railway projects, the Government will continue to optimise and streamline procedures through “dual innovation” in policy and technology, so as to save construction time and manpower. Subject to local circumstances and existing legal framework, the Government is also actively exploring ways to facilitate the use of Mainland’s construction methods and capabilities in constructing cross-boundary railway projects. In addition, when taking forward independent new railways or transport infrastructure projects, the Government will consider introducing new entities in their implementation. This would not only help relieve the pressure on the MTRCL, but also enable new entities to introduce innovative technologies and bring in more diverse financing sources.

    (2) The existing Labour Importation Scheme for Construction Sector (Construction Sector Scheme) allows principal contractors of eligible works contracts to apply for importation of labour. The requirements for importing labour under the Construction Sector Scheme are formulated by the Government in accordance with Hong Kong’s labour policy. Principal contractors of railway projects may also apply for importation of labour under this scheme as needed.

    In the case of cross-boundary railway projects, the adoption of Mainland construction teams would work better with the above-mentioned idea of leveraging the Mainland’s construction methods and capabilities and achieve maximum effectiveness. Taking the subsea railway tunnel of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link at the Deep Bay as an example, it would be more efficient and cost-effective for the Shenzhen side to construct the tunnel by unidirectional tunneling method. The Government will seriously study the implementation of specific arrangements for employment of Mainland labour in cross-boundary railway projects in light of the projects’ unique nature.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Supporting freight and logistics sector

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Frankie Yick and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 21): 

    Question:

    There are views pointing out that although the United States (“US”) has seen its ranking as Hong Kong’s major important trading partner decline in recent years, the imposition of high tariffs on Hong Kong goods and the elimination of the duty-free de minimis treatment for small parcels continue to have a significant impact on Hong Kong’s freight and logistics sector. Members of the sector have predicted that the US tariff trade war against China will lead to a sustained decline in Hong Kong’s freight volumes and could trigger an immediate supply chain disruption crisis, and the measures taken under the five major strategies as indicated earlier on by the Secretary of Transport and Logistics will be difficult to see results in the short term. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has assessed the specific impact of the tariff trade wars launched by US to date on Hong Kong’s freight and logistics sector (including sea, land, and air transport);

    (2) in order to make up for the shortfall resulting from the loss of the US market and to consolidate Hong Kong’s position as a regional logistics hub, of the short-term measures taken by the authorities to assist the logistics sector in accelerating the development of new markets; and

    (3) in response to cash flow problems faced by logistics companies due to shipment delays or cancellations caused by the tariff trade wars, of the support measures put in place by the Government, such as the consideration of providing low-interest loans to these companies to address their immediate needs?

    Reply:

    President,

    Hong Kong has long supported and upheld the multilateral trading system. The imposition of tariffs and other trade protectionist measures by certain countries not only disregards Hong Kong’s status as a free port with zero tariffs, but also damages the global multilateral trading system. Such measures disrupt global supply chains, harming all parties involved including the implementing countries themselves.

    As previously announced by the Chief Executive, in response to the relevant developments, the Government will strengthen its strategy in seven areas, including to fully seize the opportunities in our country, China’s development, and actively integrate into the national development; to strengthen international exchanges and deepen regional ties and co-operation; to accelerate industrial transformation; to intensify efforts to develop technological innovation; to vigorously advance international financial co-operation; to proactively attract foreign companies and capital to establish in Hong Kong; and to provide various support to help Hong Kong enterprises. 

    Having consulted the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), our reply to the Hon Frankie Yick’s question is as follows:

    (1) Hong Kong recorded a 3.2 per cent year-on-year increase in air cargo volume in thefirst quarter of 2024, reaching 1.16 million tonnes. Container throughput of our port also grew by 2.7 per cent year-on-year to approximately 3.4 million twenty-foot equivalent units. The observed growth in cargo volumes is believed to be attributable to shippers’ urgency to ship goods ahead of the anticipated implementation of reciprocal tariffs. Recently, our country and the United States (US) have reached a provisional agreement to reduce bilateral tariffs for 90 days. It is expected that shippers will maximise shipments during this window. However, it is expected such volume growth is unlikely to be sustained. In fact, the negative impact of the reckless imposition of tariffs by the US on global trade will be far-reaching. The overall global trade volume is expected to fall, and the logistics industry will inevitably be affected.

    (2) In light of the new international trade environment, we must make preparations to avoid and mitigate risks while seizing new opportunities arising from the changing landscape. To this end, the Transport and Logistics Bureau will closely monitor developments, maintain proactive engagement with the trade, and lead Hong Kong’s logistics sector to cope with challenges by adopting five major strategies.

    Firstly, we will explore emerging markets including the Middle East and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), while continuing our collaboration with the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council (LOGSCOUNCIL) to promote Hong Kong’s logistics advantages by conducting promotional visits to and exploring other markets along the “Belt and Road”. Secondly, we will strengthen collaboration with ports located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and establish a comprehensive “rail-sea-land-river” intermodal transport system, thereby developing new cargo sources. Thirdly, we are actively studying the exemption of the import and export licence requirements for certain products to attract more transhipment cargoes. Fourthly, we will deepen international port and shipping co-operation by pursuing digitalisation and green and smart transformation of our port to enhance Hong Kong’s port competitiveness. Fifthly, we will further expand Hong Kong’s maritime and aviation networks to diversify our markets and reduce reliance on the US market.

    (3) The HKSAR Government has been assisting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in addressing challenges and maintaining competiveness amid a complicated and ever-changing economic environment through various funding schemes and support measures. As regards alleviating cash flow pressure, the Government has kept on enhancing the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme (SFGS) so as to meet the financing needs of SMEs during the economic downturn. Borrowing enterprises under the SFGS (including enterprises in the logistics sector) are now allowed to apply for principal moratorium arrangement for up to 12 months (the application period will last until November 17, 2025), and the maximum loan guarantee periods of the 80% and 90% Guarantee Products be extended to ten years and eight years respectively. At the same time, the partial principal repayment options will be offered to new loans so as to provide more repayment flexibility.

    The HKMA, together with the banking sector, introduced in April 2025 additional support measures to further assist SMEs in obtaining bank financing and in their upgrade and transformation. In addition, all the 18 participating banks in the Taskforce on SME Lending have reaffirmed their commitment to actively implementing the “9+5” SME support measures launched by the HKMA and the banking sector in 2024. Referencing the principles under the Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme, the banking sector will continue offering flexible repayment arrangements and deferment of repayment period. The total amount of dedicated funds for SMEs set aside by these banks in their loan portfolio has increased from $370 billion in October 2024 to more than $390 billion at present.

    As regards export credit insurance, further to the 2024 Policy Address initiative on increasing the maximum indemnity percentage of the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (ECIC) to 95 per cent, ECIC already launched three more support measures on April 10, 2025, including extending the free pre-shipment cover for holders of the Small Business Policy (SBP); offering a 50 per cent discount on pre-shipment risks to cover premiums for non-SBP holders; and aligning the premium rates for new markets with those for traditional markets to assist exporters in tapping into the new markets. ECIC will also provide 20 additional free credit assessment service on the buyers in the Mainland, ASEAN and Middle East, collaborate with various financial institutions to provide financing support for e-commerce, and providing credit insurance for export services relating to multinational supply chain to support Hong Kong export trade.

    Thank you, President.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Celebrating Emerging Talent: 2025 Young Pin Design Award Winners Revealed

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    The 2025 Young Pin Design Award, jointly supervised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Education (MOE), and organized by the Industrial Development Administration ,MOEA , and executed by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) and Good Design Association has officially revealed the winners at the awards ceremony ,held on May 11 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 2.

    The award ceremony honors the emerging talents, who have presented outstanding creativity and execution across various design fields and providing a platform for Taiwan’s next-generation designers to electrify their design creativities.

    This year’s contest received an impressive 4,862 entries from 122 departments across 59 universities in Taiwan. Following the preliminary selection, a jury composed of experts from academia, industry, and design practices has selected entries that stood out for their innovation, design execution, and market potential. A total of 644 projects were shortlisted from 4,862 entries and awarded the “Young Pin Design Award Finalist”. Among selected 664 projects, 127 design works stood out in the final selection and were awarded across 9 categories, including 60 “Young Pin Design Awards”, 3 “Young Pin Special Awards for Circular Design”, 3 “Special Awards for Packaging Design”, 52 “Young PinSponsor Awards”, as well as 9 “Best of Young Pin Design Awards”, the highest prize from the jury.

    For the full list of 2025 Young Pin Design Award winners, please visit the official Golden Pin Design Award website: https://www.goldenpin.org.tw/zh-TW

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Third man charged as part of investigation into north London fires

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A third man has been charged as part of an investigation into a series of fires in north London.

    Petro Pochynok 34 (25.07.90) of north London, a Ukrainian national [C] has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, namely:

    • conspiring together with Roman Lavrynovych and Stanislav Carpiuc and others unknown to damage by fire property belonging to another,
    • intending to damage the property,
    • intending to endanger the life or another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered.

    Pochynok is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 21 May at 10:00hrs.

    The charge, which was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, relates to a period from Thursday, 17 April to Tuesday, 13 May this year, in which three incidents took place – a vehicle fire in NW5 on Thursday, 8 May, a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on Sunday, 11 May and a fire at a residential address in NW5 in the early hours of Monday, 12 May.

    All have connections with a high-profile public figure, and therefore officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation into the fires.

    Pochynok was arrested on Monday, 19 May, in the Chelsea area, SW3, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

    As part of the same investigation, Roman Lavrynovych 21 (06.02.04), of Sydenham, a Ukrainian national [A] was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

    He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 May and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

    Stanislav Carpiuc, 26 (15.07.98) of Romford, a Romanian national, [B] has also been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

    He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 May and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June.

    Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 101 quoting CAD 441/12 May.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: IDEX Biometrics ASA: Approved prospectus – 21 May 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Reference is made to the stock exchange announcements issued by IDEX Biometrics ASA (the “Company”) on 11 March and 11 April 2025 regarding the successful loan financing of NOK 30 million and the subsequent conversion of such debt to shares in the Company at a subscription price of NOK 0.01 per share, resulting in the issuance of 3,000,000,000 new shares (“Debt Conversion” and “Debt Conversion Shares”), the subsequent offering of up to 600,000,000 new shares at a subscription price equal to the subscription price in the Debt Conversion (“Subsequent Offering” and the “Offer Shares”), and the amendment of a certain senior convertible bond (the “Convertible Bond”) issued by an affiliate of Heights Capital Management (“Heights”) to the Company, whereby, among other things, the principal amount of the Convertible Bond was reduced to an aggregate principal amount of NOK 49,980,000.

    The listing of the Debt Conversion Shares, the Subsequent Offering and the listing of the Offer Shares remain subject to approval of a prospectus (“Prospectus”) by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway (“FSA”), and the subsequent publication of such Prospectus by the Company. Further, the future listing of shares that may be issued by the Company upon conversion of the Convertible Bond (the conversion price currently being NOK 0.065, but which conversion price is subject to customary adjustment provisions) also remains subject to approval and publication of a Prospectus.

    The FSA has today approved the Prospectus. As a result of the above, the subscription period for the Subsequent Offering starts on 22 May 2025 and expires on 5 June 2025 at 16:30 CET. For further information on the Subsequent Offering, please refer to the Prospectus.

    Further, by reason of the approval and publication of the Prospectus, the Debt Conversion Shares will be transferred to the Company’s ordinary ISIN and be admitted to trading on Oslo Børs.

    The Prospectus is enclosed with this announcement. It will also be available in electronic format at www.idexbiometrics.com/investors/share-information/prospectuses .

    Printed copies of the Prospectus may be obtained free of charge at the office of IDEX Biometrics ASA, Dronning Eufemias gate 16, NO-0191 Oslo, Norway, telephone +47 6783 9119 or by e-mail: companysecretary@idexbiometrics.com.

    Arctic Securities AS acts as financial advisor and bookrunner in connection with the Subsequent Offering (the “Manager”). Ræder Bing advokatfirma AS acts as the Company’s legal advisor.

    For further information, please contact:

    Kristian Flaten, CFO, Tel: +47 95092322

    E-mail: ir@idexbiometrics.com

    About IDEX Biometrics:

    IDEX Biometrics ASA (OSE: IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market. For more information, visit www.idexbiometrics.com

    About this notice:

    This notice was issued by Kristian Flaten, CFO, on 21 May 2025 at 08:45 CET on behalf of IDEX Biometrics ASA. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to the Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-12.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: IDEX Biometrics ASA: First quarter 2025 report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    IDEX Biometrics ASA’s first quarter 2025 report is attached to this notice.

    Recent highlights:

    On 11 March 2025 IDEX Biometrics announced a new strategy with a fundamental shift in how the company would take its unique technology and products to market

    New CEO appointed – Anders Storbråten

    Securing a new debt facility of NOK 30 million, converted to shares

    Heights convertible bond renegotiated and amended

    Range of operational improvement initiatives under way – target quarterly run rate OPEX from end Q3 2025 in the range of $1.5-1.7 million.

    Production order in Japan from the manufacturing partner Beautiful Card Corporation (BCC). The order has a value of approx. USD 50,000

    Order received from DigAware to deliver biometric sensor solution for access cards with sensor systems from IDEX

    IDEX Biometrics receives IDEX Pay order for VISA biometric cards in the Middle East & Africa region of 10,000 units

    KONA I granted Mastercard Letter of Approval for IDEX Pay biometric cards

    Completed debt conversion, launching subsequent offering allowing investors to participate at the same terms as shareholders participating in the debt conversion

    Financial results Q1 2025:

    Revenues of $0.1 million in the quarter.

    Ordinary operating expenses amounting to $2.4 million.

    Net loss was $4.1 million.

    Cash balance per 31 March 2025 at $1.1 million

    IDEX Biometrics CEO Anders Storbråten will host a presentation at Arctic Securities at 12:00 CET today. The presentation will be published to the stock exchange.

    IDEX Biometrics’ reports and presentations are available on our website: www.idexbiometrics.com/investors

    For further information, please contact:

    Kristian Flaten, CFO, Tel: +47 95092322

    E-mail: ir@idexbiometrics.com

    About IDEX Biometrics:

    IDEX Biometrics ASA (OSE: IDEX) is a global technology leader in fingerprint biometrics, offering authentication solutions across payments, access control, and digital identity. Our solutions bring convenience, security, peace of mind and seamless user experiences to the world. Built on patented and proprietary sensor technologies, integrated circuit designs, and software, our biometric solutions target card-based applications for payments and digital authentication. As an industry-enabler we partner with leading card manufacturers and technology companies to bring our solutions to market. For more information, visit www.idexbiometrics.com

    About this notice:

    This notice was issued by Kristian Flaten, CFO, on 21 May 2025 at 08:52 CET on behalf of IDEX Biometrics ASA. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to the Norwegian Securities Trading Act section 5-12.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NSW is copping rain and flooding while parts of Australia are in drought. What’s going on?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne

    Emergency crews were scrambling to rescue residents trapped by floodwaters on Wednesday as heavy rain pummelled the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.

    In some areas, more than 200 mm of rain has fallen in 24 hours. At the town of Taree, low-lying areas are flooded as the Manning River reached record levels, passing the 1929 record of six metres.

    At the same time, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia are in drought amid some of the lowest rainfall on record.

    So what is going on, and when will the wet weather end?

    Why is NSW so wet?

    The wet weather in NSW is due to a combination of factors.

    A trough is sitting over the Mid North Coast and stretching offshore. Troughs are areas of low pressure and can bring rain and unstable conditions. This trough is bringing extensive cloud and rain to the affected region.

    In addition, winds from the east are also bringing moisture to the coast.

    Since Sunday, all this has been compounded by a “cut-off low” in the upper atmosphere. These low-pressure systems are separated from the main westerly flow of winds, and often move slowly.

    The combination of the trough near the ground, and low pressure at higher levels in the atmosphere, can cause air to converge and rise. As air rises it cools, moisture condenses and rain occurs.

    In the next few days, the cut-off low will move away but is likely to be replaced in the same region by another upper-level low-pressure system moving in from the southwest. This will likely mean heavy rain over the east coast region in the coming days and into Friday.

    On top of all this, a persistent high pressure system in the Tasman Sea is also pushing cloud onto the NSW coastline.

    An upper-level low with a high in the Tasman is a typical set of conditions for flooding on the NSW Mid North Coast. Those conditions are also forecast to persist for the coming days.

    One-week rain totals over Australia ending May 21. Green represents heaviest rainfall.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    So why are parts of Australia in drought?

    The NSW north coast was quite wet in March and April – partly due to a hangover from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

    That meant the ground was already wet and full when rain began falling this week. So instead of soaking in, the water more easily turned to runoff and became floodwater.

    This is in contrast to much of Australia, which was unseasonably dry and warm in March and April.

    But the differences are not unusual. Australia is a big place, and rainfall dynamics are quite localised. It’s fairly common to see very wet conditions in one area and very dry conditions in another.

    Unfortunately the current heavy rain in NSW probably won’t make a huge difference to drought-stricken areas. The moist air flows are likely to dry out as they cross the Great Dividing Range. But a change in weather patterns means from Sunday, rain may fall in some areas of Victoria and South Australia suffering from drought.

    A weather update on May 21 from the Bureau of Meteorology.

    Is climate change causing this?

    As the planet warms, scientists are very confident that Earth’s average surface temperature will warm, and heatwaves will get worse. However, rainfall projections are much less certain.

    Projecting all types of precipitation is difficult. The water cycle is complex. Climate models – while powerful – can struggle to accurately simulate local rainfall patterns. And these patterns vary considerably over time – a natural phenomena that can make the climate trend hard to identify.

    So what does this mean for autumn rainfall projections for Australia in future? None of the rainfall projections show a strong signal, and so scientists do not have high confidence in the results.

    Having said this, there’s a hint of a drying trend across southwest Western Australia and parts of western Victoria and southeast South Australia, where conditions are dry now.

    And for the Mid North Coast of NSW, currently experiencing heavy rain and flooding, autumn rainfall projections hint at slightly at heavier extreme rainfall.

    Andrew King receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the National Environmental Science Program.

    Andrew Dowdy receives funding from University of Melbourne and is supported by the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. NSW is copping rain and flooding while parts of Australia are in drought. What’s going on? – https://theconversation.com/nsw-is-copping-rain-and-flooding-while-parts-of-australia-are-in-drought-whats-going-on-257235

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Mizoram becomes first fully literate state in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Mizoram has been officially declared a fully literate state. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a special ceremony held in Aizawl on Tuesday. With this achievement, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to attain full functional literacy.

    The event, held at the Auditorium of Mizoram University, witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries including Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Dr. Vanlalthlana, Mizoram’s Minister of School Education, Higher & Technical Education, Khilli Ram Meena, Chief Secretary to the Government of Mizoram, and other senior officials, educators, and students.

    Mizoram, which attained statehood in 1987, has consistently ranked among the top states in terms of literacy. According to the 2011 Census, it had a literacy rate of 91.33%, the third-highest in the country at the time. Building on this solid foundation, the state implemented the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to identify and educate the remaining non-literate individuals.

    A comprehensive door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) identified 3,026 non-literate persons in the state. Of these, 1,692 actively participated in learning activities. Based on this outreach and the Ministry of Education’s benchmark that defines full literacy as a literacy rate above 95%, Mizoram successfully crossed the threshold. The PFLS survey for 2023–24 confirmed this success, placing the state’s literacy rate at an impressive 98.20%.

    This achievement was made possible through the commitment of 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators, and local officials, who took up the mission of educating every last citizen with a spirit of Kartavya Bodh (sense of duty) and deep cultural pride. Their dedication, supported by the Mizoram government and the community, played a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of the state.

    ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram is a centrally sponsored initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at promoting adult education. The programme focuses on five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Launched in 2022 and running till 2027, it targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.

    Nationally, the ULLAS scheme has seen significant outreach, with over 2.37 crore learners and more than 40.84 lakh volunteer teachers registered on the ULLAS mobile app. More than 1.77 crore neo-literates have participated in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) so far.

    Earlier, in June 2024, Ladakh became the first administrative unit in India to achieve full literacy. Mizoram’s latest milestone now marks the first full state-level success, setting a new benchmark in the country’s pursuit of universal education.

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.95 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.95 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, May 21, 2025)

    The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB157 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on May 21, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Rate

    Bidding Volume

    Winning Bid Volume

    7 days

    1.40%

    RMB157 billion

    RMB157 billion

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年05月21日

    MIL OSI China News –