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Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI: Viper Energy, Inc., a Subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., to Acquire Sitio Royalties Corp. in All-Equity Transaction; Increases Base Dividend

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIDLAND, Texas, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viper Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:VNOM) (“Viper” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FANG) (“Diamondback”), and Sitio Royalties Corp. (NYSE:STR) (“Sitio”) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Viper will acquire Sitio in an all-equity transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion, including Sitio’s net debt of approximately $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. The consideration will consist of 0.4855 shares of Class A common stock of a new holding company (“pro forma Viper”) for each share of Sitio Class A common stock, and 0.4855 units of Viper’s operating subsidiary, Viper Energy Partners LLC, for each unit of Sitio’s operating subsidiary (along with a corresponding amount of Class B common stock of pro forma Viper for each share of Sitio Class C common stock), representing an implied value to each Sitio stockholder of $19.41 per share based on the closing price of Viper common stock on June 2, 2025. The transaction was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of each company and has been approved by the written consent of Diamondback as Viper’s majority stockholder. Stockholders holding an aggregate of approximately 48% of Sitio’s outstanding voting power, including Kimmeridge, its largest stockholder, have agreed to vote in favor of the transaction. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025.

    The Company today also announced that the Board of Directors of Viper approved a 10% increase to its base dividend to $1.32 per share annually ($0.33 per share quarterly).

    STRATEGIC RATIONALE

    • Size and Scale: Adds substantial scale and inventory depth that will support pro forma Viper’s durable production profile and free cash flow growth over the next decade
    • Meaningful Financial Accretion and Higher Cash Returns: Expected to be approximately 8 – 10% accretive to cash available for distribution per Class A share immediately upon closing
    • Lower Breakeven: Lowers pro forma Viper’s base dividend breakeven by approximately $2 per barrel to <$20 WTI; increased base dividend of $1.32/share represents approximately 45% of cash available for distribution at $50 WTI
    • Significant Synergies: Estimated to be in excess of $50 million annually, primarily attributable to general and administrative and cost of capital savings
    • Access to Capital: Pro forma Viper is expected to maintain its Investment Grade status; pro forma leverage expected to be approximately 1.2x at closing at strip pricing and decreasing thereafter; near-term net debt target of $1.5 billion which equates to less than 1.0x leverage at $60 WTI
    • Diamondback Relationship: Diamondback is expected to own approximately 41% of pro forma Viper’s outstanding common stock after closing and will continue to drive meaningful long-term oil production growth from the Company’s acreage

    SITIO HIGHLIGHTS

    • Approximately 25,300 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin, plus an additional ~9,000 net royalty acres in other major basins (DJ, Eagle Ford, Williston); total acreage of approximately 34,300 net royalty acres
    • Roughly 50% overlap with existing Viper gross producing horizontal wells in the Permian Basin
    • Q1 2025 average production of 18.9 mbo/d (42.1 mboe/d); Q1 2025 average Permian production of 14.5 mbo/d (31.9 mboe/d)
    • Approximately 16.1 existing net DUCs and permits with an average lateral length of ~9,500 feet

    PRO FORMA HIGHLIGHTS

    • Approximately 85,700 net royalty acres in the Permian Basin; ~43% operated by Diamondback
    • Pro forma Viper owns an average 1.8% NRI in approximately 33,300 gross producing horizontal wells (~608 net wells)
    • Approximately 75.4 existing net DUCs and permits with an average lateral length of ~10,800 feet; Diamondback is the largest operator of these net locations with 41.1 DUCs and permits with an average lateral length of ~12,400 feet
    • Estimated Q4 2025 average production of 64 – 68 mbo/d (122 – 130 mboe/d); expect full year 2026 average production to increase by a mid-single digit percentage from these levels assuming current commodity prices, line of sight trajectory, and industry activity levels

    “The combination of Viper and Sitio signifies an important moment for mineral and royalty interests,” stated Kaes Van’t Hof, Chief Executive Officer of Viper. “This combination creates a leader in size, scale, float, liquidity and access to investment grade capital in the highly fragmented minerals industry. Pro forma Viper is now clearly a must-own public mineral and royalty company in North America, with attractive size and scale in the Permian Basin. This transaction positions Viper to compete for capital with mid and large cap North American E&Ps; except with higher margins, minimal operating costs, and the lowest dividend breakeven in the space.”

    Mr. Van’t Hof continued, “While this transaction will reduce Diamondback’s ownership in pro forma Viper to 41%, it does not reduce the significance of the relationship between Diamondback and Viper. The Diamondback drillbit remains Viper’s biggest competitive advantage and the most visible source of long-term production growth at Viper. Mineral interests offer the highest form of security and upside in the oil field, and any and all benefits an operator manages to unlock accrues directly to the mineral holder without any capital risk, forever.”

    “We are excited to announce the combination of two leading minerals companies with a shared strategic vision of integrating the highest quality assets to create a truly differentiated investment opportunity for shareholders,” said Sitio CEO Chris Conoscenti. “This transaction provides Sitio’s shareholders with exposure to an entity with significantly greater size, future development visibility, and all of the benefits of the economies of scale unique to the minerals business – higher margins, lower cost of capital, strong positioning for future M&A opportunities, and the ability to return more capital to shareholders. I want to thank all of the Sitio team members, whose innovation and relentless pursuit of continuous improvement made building Sitio such an amazing and rewarding experience.”

    “This transaction is the next logical step in Sitio’s evolution,” stated Noam Lockshin, Chairman of the Sitio Board of Directors. “By adding Sitio’s coverage of the Delaware Basin to Viper’s position in the Midland Basin, the combined company will be well positioned in the Permian for years to come.”

    Advisors

    Moelis & Company LLC is serving as financial advisor to Viper and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as its legal advisor.

    J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Sitio and Vinson & Elkins LLP is serving as its legal advisor.

    Conference Call

    Viper will host a conference call and webcast for investors and analysts to discuss this transaction on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. CT. Access to the webcast, and replay which will be available following the call, may be found here. The live webcast of the conference call will also be available via Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com under the “Investor Relations” section of the site.

    About Viper Energy, Inc.

    Viper is a corporation formed by Diamondback to own, acquire and exploit oil and natural gas properties in North America, with a focus on owning and acquiring mineral and royalty interests in oil-weighted basins, primarily the Permian Basin. For more information, please visit www.viperenergy.com.

    About Diamondback Energy, Inc.

    Diamondback is an independent oil and natural gas company headquartered in Midland, Texas focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and exploitation of unconventional, onshore oil and natural gas reserves primarily in the Permian Basin in West Texas. For more information, please visit www.diamondbackenergy.com.

    About Sitio Royalties Corp.

    Sitio is a shareholder returns-driven company focused on large-scale consolidation of high-quality oil & gas mineral and royalty interests across premium basins, with a diversified set of top-tier operators. With a clear objective of generating cash flow from operations that can be returned to stockholders and reinvested, Sitio has accumulated approximately 34,300 net royalty acres through the consummation of over 200 acquisitions, as of March 31, 2025. More information about Sitio is available at www.sitio.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This communication relates to a proposed business combination transaction (the “Mergers”) between Viper and Sitio and the information included herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the results to differ materially from such statements. All statements, other than historical facts, that address activities that Viper or Sitio assumes, plans, expects, believes, intends or anticipates (and other similar expressions) will, should or may occur in the future, or statements regarding the proposed Mergers, the likelihood that the conditions to the consummation of the Mergers will be satisfied on a timely basis or at all, Viper’s and Sitio’s ability to consummate the Mergers at any time or at all, the benefits of the Mergers and the post-combination company’s future financial performance following the Mergers, the post-combination company’s strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. When used herein, the words “may,” “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project” and similar expressions and the negative of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. The forward-looking statements are based on Viper’s and Sitio’s management’s current beliefs, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events.

    Factors that could cause the outcomes to differ materially include (but are not limited to) the following: the risk associated with Sitio’s ability to obtain the approvals of its stockholders required to consummate the Mergers; risks related to the timing of the closing of the Mergers, including the risk that the conditions to the Mergers are not satisfied on a timely basis or at all or the failure of the Mergers to close for any other reason or to close on the anticipated terms, including the anticipated tax treatment; the risk that any regulatory approval, consent or authorization that may be required for the Mergers is not obtained or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; the post-combination company’s ability to successfully integrate Sitio’s and Viper’s businesses and technologies; the risk that the expected benefits and synergies of the Mergers may not be fully achieved in a timely manner, or at all; the risk that Sitio or Viper will not, or that following the Mergers, the post-combination company will not, be able to retain and hire key personnel; unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Mergers, the response of business partners and retention as a result of the announcement and pendency of the Mergers; Viper’s ability to finance the combined company on acceptable terms or at all; uncertainty as to the long-term value of the post-combination company’s common stock; the diversion of Sitio’s and Viper’s management’s time on transaction-related matters; and those risks described in Viper’s periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including in Item 1A of Viper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2025, subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings Viper makes with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and Viper’s website at www.viperenergy.com/investors/overview, and in Sitio’s periodic filings with the SEC, including in Item 1A of Sitio’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 26, 2025, subsequent Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings Sitio makes with the SEC, which can be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and Sitio’s website at investors.sitio.com.

    In light of these factors, the events anticipated by Viper’s and Sitio’s forward-looking statements may not occur at the time anticipated or at all. Moreover, Viper and Sitio conduct their businesses in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. Viper and Sitio cannot predict all risks, nor can they assess the impact of all factors on their businesses or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by any forward-looking statements they may make. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication or, if earlier, as of the date they were made. Viper and Sitio do not intend to, and disclaim any obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements unless required by applicable law.

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the Merger, New Cobra Pubco, Inc. (“New Parent”) will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4, which will include a proxy statement of Sitio, an information statement of Viper and a prospectus of New Parent. The Mergers will be submitted to Sitio’s stockholders for their consideration. Viper, Sitio and New Parent may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Mergers. After the registration statement has been declared effective by the SEC, a definitive joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to the stockholders of Viper and Sitio. This communication is not a substitute for the registration statement and joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus that will be filed with the SEC or any other documents that Viper, Sitio or New Parent may file with the SEC or send to stockholders of Viper or Sitio in connection with the Mergers. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF SITIO AND VIPER ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT INFORMATION STATEMENT/PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS AND RELATED MATTERS.

    Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain free copies of the registration statement and the joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Viper, Sitio or New Parent, through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

    Participants in the Solicitation

    Viper, Sitio, New Parent and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Sitio stockholders in connection with the Mergers.

    Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Viper, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in Viper’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including under the headings “Proposal 1: Election of Directors”, “Executive Officers”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Compensation Tables”, “Stock Ownership” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” which was filed with the SEC on April 10, 2025 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1602065/000119312525077960/d884560ddef14a.htm, To the extent holdings of Viper’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Viper’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4, or Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5 filed with the SEC, which are available at EDGAR Search Results https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=0001602065&type=&dateb=&owner=only&count=40&search_text=.

    Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Sitio, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth (i) in Sitio’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, including under the headings “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors”, “Executive Officers”, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management”, “Certain Relationships and Interested Transactions”, “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, “Summary Compensation Table” and “2024 Director Compensation”, which was filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025 and is available at https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1949543/000162828025015343/str-20250328.htm. To the extent holdings of Sitio’s securities by its directors or executive officers have changed since the amounts set forth in Sitio’s definitive proxy statement for its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such changes have been or will be reflected on Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4, or Annual Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5 filed with the SEC, which are available at EDGAR Search Results https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?action=getcompany&CIK=1949543&type=&dateb=&owner=only&count=40&search_text=.

    Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint information statement/proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. You may obtain free copies of these documents through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

    No Offer or Solicitation

    This communication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, pursuant to the Mergers or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures

    Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that is used by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. Viper defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to Viper Energy, Inc. plus net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest (“net income (loss)”) before interest expense, net, non-cash stock-based compensation expense, depletion expense, non-cash (gain) loss on derivative instruments, and instruments, (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, if any, other non-cash operating expenses, other non-recurring expenses and provision for (benefit from) income taxes, if any. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows it to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income, royalty income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented as determined in accordance with GAAP. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company’s financial performance, such as a company’s cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA. Viper defines cash available for distribution generally as an amount equal to its Adjusted EBITDA for the applicable quarter less cash needed for income taxes payable, debt service, contractual obligations and fixed charges and reserves for future operating or capital needs that the Board may deem appropriate, lease bonus income, net of tax, dividend equivalent rights payments and preferred dividends, if any. Management believes cash available for distribution is useful because it allows them to more effectively evaluate Viper’s operating performance excluding the impact of non-cash financial items and short-term changes in working capital. Viper defines free cash flow margin as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures divided by total barrels of oil equivalents. Viper defines cash margins as unhedged realized price per Boe less production and ad valorem taxes, cash G&A, and interest expense divided by unhedged realized price. Viper defines pre-tax income attributable to Viper as income (loss) before income taxes less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest. Viper believes this measure is useful to investors given it provides the basis for income taxes payable by Viper, which is an adjustment to reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to cash available for distribution to Viper’s shareholders. Viper defines net debt as debt (excluding debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums) less cash and cash equivalents. Net debt should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, total debt, the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Management uses net debt to determine Viper’s outstanding debt obligations that would not be readily satisfied by its cash and cash equivalents on hand. Viper believes this metric is useful to analysts and investors in determining Viper’s leverage position because Viper has the ability to, and may decide to, use a portion of its cash and cash equivalents to reduce debt. Viper’s computations of Adjusted EBITDA, cash available for distribution, pre-tax income attributable to Viper, free cash flow margins, cash margins, and net debt may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies or to such measure in its credit facility or any of its other contracts. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, cash available for distribution and net debt to the most comparable GAAP measures, please refer to the materials furnished by Viper to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Furthermore, this communication includes or references certain forward‐looking, non‐GAAP financial measures, such as estimated free cash flow for 2025, distributable cash flow per Class A shareholder for 2025 and certain related estimates regarding future performance, results and financial position. Because Viper provides these measures on a forward‐looking basis, it cannot reliably or reasonably predict certain of the necessary components of the most directly comparable forward‐looking GAAP measures, such as any future impairments and future changes in working capital. Accordingly, Viper is unable to present a quantitative reconciliation of such forward‐looking, non‐GAAP financial measures to the respective most directly comparable forward‐looking GAAP financial measures. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on our ultimate results. However, Viper believes these forward‐looking, non‐GAAP measures may be a useful tool for the investment community in comparing Viper’s forecasted financial performance to the forecasted financial performance of other companies in the industry.

    Oil and Gas Reserves

    The SEC generally permits oil and gas companies, in filings made with the SEC, to disclose proved reserves, which are reserve estimates that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, and certain probable and possible reserves that meet the SEC’s definitions for such terms. Viper discloses only estimated proved reserves in its filings with the SEC. Viper’s estimated proved reserves as of December 31, 2024 contained in this communication were prepared by Viper’s internal reservoir engineers and audited by Ryder Scott Company, L.P., an independent petroleum engineering firm, and comply with definitions promulgated by the SEC. Additional information on Viper’s estimated proved reserves is contained in Viper’s filings with the SEC. In this communication, Viper may use the terms “resources,” “resource potential” or “potential resources,” which the SEC guidelines prohibit Viper from including in filings with the SEC. “Resources,” “resource potential” or “potential resources” refer to Viper’s internal estimates of hydrocarbon quantities that may be potentially discovered through exploratory drilling or recovered with additional drilling or recovery techniques. Such terms do not constitute reserves within the meaning of the Society of Petroleum Engineer’s Petroleum Resource Management System or SEC rules and do not include any proved reserves. Actual quantities that may be ultimately recovered by the operators of Viper’s properties will differ substantially. Factors affecting ultimate recovery include the scope of the operators’ ongoing drilling programs, which will be directly affected by the availability of capital, drilling and production costs, availability of drilling services and equipment, drilling results, lease expirations, transportation constraints, regulatory approvals and other factors; and actual drilling results, including geological and mechanical factors affecting recovery rates. Estimates of potential resources may change significantly as development of our properties by our operators provide additional data. In addition, our production forecasts and expectations for future periods are dependent upon many assumptions, including estimates of production, decline rates from existing wells and the undertaking and outcome of future drilling activity, which may be affected by significant commodity price declines or drilling cost increases.

    Investor Contact

    Viper Energy:
    Chip Seale
    +1 432.247.6218
    cseale@viperenergy.com

    Sitio Royalties:
    Alyssa Stephens
    +1 281.407.5204
    IR@sitio.com

    Source: Viper Energy, Inc.; Diamondback Energy, Inc.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Magic Forest, the “Sunny Circle” and Krylov’s Fables: How Creativity Helps People with Mental Disabilities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A young man in a tailcoat and shirt front sits at a table with a goose feather in his hand and watches the Dragonfly flutter across a forest clearing, and the Fox coaxes a piece of cheese from the Crow: this is what the production of Ivan Krylov’s fables looks like at the Special Theatre. All the actors are people with mental disabilities, wards of the daytime employment resource centre “House under the Sun” in Yasenevo. The project was created by the charitable foundation for the promotion of social and cultural initiatives and guardianship “Lifestyle”, helps them develop their thinking, memory and speech, adapt to society, feel busy with something important, write a story about their own life. In 2024, the project of the Special Theatre Foundation won the competition “Moscow is a kind city”, and its authors received financial assistance for its implementation.

    mos.ru correspondents visited the Special Theatre and found out how children learn to transform into fairy tale characters, what talents they display and what they dream about.

    All in leading roles

    The Special Theatre operates in the House Under the Sun resource centre located on Golubinskaya Street (31, building 1), next to the Bitsevsky Forest natural and historical park. The Lifestyle Charity Foundation received this two-storey building free of charge from the Moscow Government, having won a competition for premises in 2020.

    Inside the “House in the Sun” we see painted houses on a bright green forest background, wicker balls similar to nests are hung from the ceiling. There are flowers in pots everywhere, stands with drawings of the wards, shelves with toys. And in one of the rooms, a wall is occupied by a felt glade-carpet “Magic Forest”: you can attach multi-colored oaks, frogs, swallows, squirrels on Velcro to it, creating your own universe. At the same time, visitors to the center try to remember the names of animals and plants.

    In the hall there is a motivational sign “Rules of the House in the Sun”: “Make each other happy. Believe in yourself. Always move forward. Do what you love.” Here all this works out.

    When we came to the Special Theatre, the guys were preparing for a performance based on Ivan Krylov’s fables. 30-year-old Igor Kotelnikov plays a fabulist. According to the plot, he has to observe his characters and then read a moral, for example: “How many times have we told the world that flattery is vile, harmful, but it’s all to no avail…” Despite his mental peculiarities, the young man was able to learn the text by heart.

    “This is not my first production. I used to play the bear in “Teremok”, the king in “The Bremen Town Musicians”, and the cat Basilio in “Buratino”. I also write a column called “Igor’s Chronicles” in our wall newspaper. I tell you what I have achieved here, how I help my mother clean the house, and how I take care of my family. In general, I can do a lot. I graduated from college, learned how to make notebooks, and won prizes in various nominations of the Abilympics competition,” admits Igor Kotelnikov, an actor at the Special Theatre and a protégé of “House Under the Sun”.

    Another young man, 29-year-old Ivan Pronin, has also achieved success. It is difficult for him to speak, but in the role of the host he recites from memory a philosophical text written by the teachers of the House under the Sun: “Each of us chooses which road to walk or drive, what good deeds to do.” These words have meaning: they concern, first of all, the guys from the House under the Sun. Any of them can choose a role in the Special Theater depending on their abilities and interests.

    Thus, 18-year-old Sergey Rogov is interested in zoology and takes excellent photographs of nature, but he has difficulty speaking and avoids people. In the play, he is a silent and serious Ant: he collects plastic fruits in a basket, drags a beanbag along the floor, where, according to the script, provisions for the winter are stored. And his peer Alisa Popova is fluent in written Russian and writes fairy tales, but has difficulty communicating – she is close to the roles of the Crow, Dragonfly and Cuckoo. To play such characters, the girl does not need to pronounce many words. For example, in a dialogue with the Rooster, she says only: “I am ready to listen to you, my godfather, forever.” And Ilya Shragin cannot speak, but he also found a role: he portrays a tree in an excerpt from the fable “The Pig Under the Oak.”

    “The theatrical project allows the wards to feel confident, needed, overcome shyness, learn the text as much as possible. They are very nervous before each performance and are happy when they are applauded,” says Inga Zhgenti, deputy director of the charitable foundation “Lifestyle”.

    Children from the special family centers “Rose of the Winds” and “Sem-Ya” came to the show. They laugh and clap their hands, watching the heroes of Ivan Krylov’s fables replace each other on stage. After the show, which lasts only 20 minutes, so as not to tire the actors and spectators, the guests are invited to a disco, and the little ones, together with the adults, happy and satisfied, dance.

    “We recently went on an excursion to the educational center of the Moscow Art Theater School. On the way back, the guys asked: when will their plays be shown on the big stage? Of course, we cannot promise them this, but we plan to hold such meetings regularly. In addition, we will continue to invite guests to us. We want to show the world that people with mental disabilities are just a little different. They are cheerful and sincere. It is easy with them,” says Olga Stukalova, head of the Dom pod Solntsem center and deputy director for educational programs at the Obraz Zhizni charity foundation.

    Creativity and play as ways to understand the world

    Currently, 55 Muscovites from their teens to 40s are studying at the House Under the Sun. About 20 people come here every day. In addition to rehearsals and performances, the center’s guests learn to draw, make felt dolls, dance, sing, and cook simple dishes at the Special Theater. This is how they develop fine motor skills, learn new words, and learn to take care of themselves.

    “Creativity helps people with mental disabilities to open up and learn to communicate. Most of our wards have poor speech, some can only count to 10, not everyone is able to move around the city independently. But here they have a goal – creation, they feel like real artists, musicians, actors,” says Olga Stukalova.

    A lesson in the creative studio lasts 45 minutes. As Inga Zhgenti explains, to make it easier for participants to understand what lessons they have today, the staff makes a personal visual schedule for each person every day. These are cards with images of what they have to do today (for example, a treble clef and the word “Music”), which are placed under the students’ photos on the board. After the lesson, each participant puts the card in a basket.

    We enter the music classroom. There are green and yellow paper ribbons with red carnations hanging from the ceiling: they set a positive mood. The students at their desks try to answer the teacher’s questions: “What kind of instrument is this? That’s right: spoons! And this? A tambourine! Well done!” Then everyone sings the songs “Sunny Circle, Sky Around” and “Let’s Go to the Garden to Pick Raspberries” in chorus.

    In another class, young people are making pictures out of plasticine; one makes a boat, another a peacock. Each person chooses the theme of the picture themselves. One young man is blind and has almost no memory or speech; he recognizes people by putting their hands to his face. However, he managed to make a pink screwdriver and a capybara out of plasticine.

    One of the favorite activities of the wards of “House under the Sun” is cooking. It is both creativity and acquisition of basic household skills.

    “I’ve been coming here since the center opened. I sculpt, draw, play music, and attend a book club. I love cooking. I’ve already baked a pie, made scrambled eggs, shawarma, salad, pizza, and pancakes in an electric pancake maker,” Ivan Pronin shares.

    According to Inga Zhgenti, the most effective way to teach people with mental disabilities is through play. At the same time, teachers make it clear that they value and respect their students and are happy to communicate with them. “Our main rule is let’s be friends,” the mos.ru interlocutor clarifies.

    You can support “Lifestyle” and other Moscow non-profit organizations (NPOs) with the help of charity service on mos.ru. In category “For people with disabilities” 13 verified NPOs are presented that help children and adults with special needs, including mental disabilities. To make a donation, simply select a program of assistance and indicate the amount of the transfer. You can support one organization, several, or all programs in a category at once: in this case, the amount will be equally distributed between the NPOs of the selected section.

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital inofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Bright life: how a capital NGO helps people with Down syndromeSign language interpreters, Braille and special transport: how VDNKh takes care of guests with disabilitiesDiagnostics of special children in Moscow is now fully available online

    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/154701073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Over 28,000 people applied to participate in the 4th China-Africa Trade and Economic Expo

    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

    CHANGSHA, June 3 (Xinhua) — More than 28,000 people representing 48 African countries, nine international organizations, 27 Chinese provincial-level regions and more than 4,700 Chinese and African enterprises, chambers of commerce and financial institutions have applied to participate in the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, according to a press conference held by the Information Office of the People’s Government of Hunan Province, central China.

    Held every two years, the expo will be held from June 12 to 15 under the theme “China and Africa: Together for Modernization” in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. As an important platform for implementing the agreements reached at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in economic and trade, the expo will host 30 related events in areas including industrial chain cooperation, green mining, infrastructure, traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals, cultural industries and trade in cultural products, and innovation and youth entrepreneurship.

    According to the organizers, the number of specific exhibitions will increase significantly during the upcoming EXPO. For the first time, such events as the exhibition of famous Chinese and African brands, the exhibition of high-quality African goods, the China-Africa cultural and tourism exhibition, the exhibition dedicated to the cooperation of China and Africa in the field of traditional Chinese medicine will be held. 25 African countries and 23 Chinese regions will set up stands with their symbols.

    During the exhibition, agreements are expected to be signed on the implementation of 199 projects for a total amount of USD 16.032 billion. Presentations of 36 results in various profiles will also take place.

    According to the data, 336 cooperation projects worth a total of US$53.32 billion were signed during the first three EXPOs.

    China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In 2024, trade between China and African countries set a new record and reached US$295.6 billion, up 4.8 percent from 2023. In particular, China’s imports from Africa amounted to US$116.8 billion, up 6.9 percent, and China’s exports to Africa amounted to US$178.8 billion, up 3.5 percent. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 1 June 2025 Donors making a difference: tobacco control

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing over 8 million people a year globally.

    In February 2025, WHO marked the 20th anniversary of its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), providing a legal framework and comprehensive package of tobacco control measures. The WHO FCTC now has 182 Parties covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

    In 2007, WHO introduced a practical, cost-effective initiative to scale up implementation to reduce tobacco use called MPOWER. Today, 5.6 billion people are covered by an MPOWER measure which includes: monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from tobacco use; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn about the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and raise taxes on tobacco.

    MPOWER has helped to reduce global deaths from tobacco use and created a global partnership on tobacco control focused on supporting the highest burden countries in the world, with WHO recognized as a global leader.

    Thanks to commitment and powerful action in countries, and with support from key donors, tobacco use is declining across all WHO regions. Here are some stories from across the WHO regions demonstrating the impact of WHO’s work in this area.

    Tobacco free farms in Kenya and Zambia

    Tobacco free farmer from Migori County, Kenya. Photo by: WHO

    A record 349 million people are facing acute food insecurity globally. Food insecurity is further exasperated by tobacco production. Tobacco is grown in over 124 countries, taking up 3.2 million hectares of fertile land that could be used to grow food. Tobacco farmers often lack the confidence to shift away from tobacco due to market variability for alternative crops.

    WHO, in collaboration with partners, launched the Tobacco-Free Farms initiative in 2021 in Kenya and 2023 in Zambia.

    The initiative has supported over 8 600 farmers in Kenya and over 500 farmers in Zambia.

    The initiative seeks to move smallholder farmers away from tobacco growth and into nutritious food crops, by creating an ecosystem which could improve household food security and income generation. It may simultaneously add value to farmers’ land through rehabilitation of climate smart and other good agricultural practices.

    Read more about the initiative

    First ever WHO treaty marks 20 years of saving millions of lives worldwide

    Since the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and the MPOWER technical package that supports it, global tobacco use prevalence has dropped by one-third. The WHO FCTC has helped to save millions of lives through strengthened tobacco control measures around the world.

    Up to 5.6 billion people are now covered by at least one tobacco control policy and studies have shown a decline in global smoking rates. 138 countries require large pictorial health warnings on cigarettes packages because of the Convention and dozens more countries have implemented plain packaging rules on cigarette packages. Both measures serve as powerful tools to reduce tobacco consumption and warn users about the dangers of tobacco use.

    Over a quarter of the world’s population is now covered by smoke free policies which require bans in indoor and workspaces, saving millions of lives from the dangers of the second-hand smoke.

    More than 66 countries have implemented bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship which include bans on tobacco advertising in the media and sponsorship deals.

    Read the story

    Uganda’s anti-tobacco initiative yields results

    In 2022, WHO trained 157 law enforcement officers and 15 national trainers from five districts in Uganda to raise awareness and help enforce the smoking ban in public places. Photo by: WHO

    In 2007, Uganda signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a legally binding treaty that requires countries to implement evidence-based measures to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke. In 2015, the country passed its Tobacco Control Act, which regulates tobacco products and their use, including in public places.

    These dual interventions have delivered notable results. Between 2014 to 2022, Uganda saw a 51% drop in the prevalence of tobacco use.

    WHO played a key role in supporting the Ugandan government’s efforts, building the capacity of tobacco control focal people in government entities since 2015.

    Read the story

    Legal measures drive down rates of tobacco use in Mauritania

    “Quitting smoking is the best decision I’ve ever made for my health and I’m very proud of it,” says Ifrah. “Giving up smoking is difficult, but not impossible. With willpower and determination, it can be done.” Photo by: WHO

    In 2018, Mauritania introduced legislation in line with WHO recommendations stipulating that all tobacco products on sale in Mauritania must carry a health warning covering at least 70% of the surface area of both sides of the packaging.

    These legal steps to introduce graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging are changing the status quo. The 2021 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) shows that between 2012 and 2021, tobacco use in Mauritania has declined by 8%, from 18% to 10%. Nearly 25% of smokers in Mauritania first noticed health warnings on cigarette packages, while 14% of smokers thought about quitting because of warning labels.

    With WHO support, Mauritania’s Health Ministry has provided tobacco control training to 15 regional governors. Mauritania is also implementing awareness campaigns around the dangers of tobacco consumption, a ban on smoking in public places, and the introduction of tobacco taxes.

    Read the story

    Pan American Health Organization hosts regional workshop to implement effective tobacco tax policies

    Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in Latin America, contributing to high rates of non-communicable diseases. Despite clear evidence that tobacco taxation is one of the most effective public health interventions to reduce consumption, its use is still limited in many Latin American countries.

    PAHO/WHO, with partners brought together policymakers from 15 countries to participate in the 3-day workshop, “Advancing Tobacco Taxes in Latin America”.

    The meeting focused on addressing the ongoing public health and economic challenges posed by tobacco consumption in Latin American countries, emphasizing the potential of tobacco taxes as a cost-effective tool to reduce the burden of tobacco use. Participants included delegates from ministries of health and finance from Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    Read the story

    Ministry of Health and WHO release Global Adult Tobacco Survey Indonesia Report

    The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Indonesia Report 2021 presents detailed information on tobacco use and key tobacco control indicators, using globally standardized protocols and methodologies. The report found that 34.5% of adults – 70.2 million people – used tobacco. Use of electronic cigarettes increased by 10 times in the last 10 years, from 0.3% in 2011 – when the last GATS was conducted – to 3% in 2021.

    Across Indonesia, WHO continues to advocate for implementation of strong tobacco control measures. This includes increased taxation of tobacco products, expansion of subnational bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and stronger, more effective implementation and enforcement of smoke-free policies.

    WHO encourages policy makers and public health researchers in Indonesia and globally to access and utilize the GATS Indonesia Report 2021, to better control tobacco and achieve a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

    Read the story

    World No Tobacco Day 2024 in Thailand: protecting children from tobacco industry interference

    Every year on 31 May, World No Tobacco Day highlights the dangers of tobacco use, exposes harmful business practices of tobacco companies, and empowers individuals to claim their right to health and protect future generations.

    In Thailand, a troubling trend is rising among the youth: the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping, driven by aggressive marketing and appealing designs. A sharp rise in e-cigarette use was observed amongst Thai school-aged children (13–15 years), with prevalence increasing from 3.35% in 2015 to 17.6% in 2022, despite the sale of e-cigarettes being banned in Thailand. Children and young people are aggressively targeted through marketing that relies heavily on social media and influencers.

    The campaign exposed the tobacco industry’s deceptive practices and the real dangers of e-cigarettes, aiming to empower Thai youth to resist the lure of smoking and vaping. WHO urged all stakeholders – readers, parents, educators, policymakers – to unite in this fight, support anti-smoking campaigns, advocate for strict regulations, and educate communities to protect youth and secure a smoke-free future.

    Read the story

    Towards a tobacco-free Jordan: launch of national strategy to combat tobacco and smoking

    Minister of Health in Jordan delivering speech at the National Strategy to combat tobacco and smoking in all its forms launch. Photo by: WHO

    Jordan’s Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, officially launched the National Strategy to Combat Tobacco and Smoking in All Its Forms 2024–2030 and an accompanying action plan for 2024–2026. The landmark launch event was held on 6 June 2024 under the patronage of His Excellency Prime Minister of Jordan Dr Bisher Khasawneh.

    A startling 66.1% of males in Jordan are smokers, according to the 2019 Jordan National Stepwise Survey. A further 15.9% of males use electronic cigarettes. According to the WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030, published in 2023, Jordan is one of just 6 countries globally where tobacco use is still growing.

    The Ministry of Health developed the strategy in collaboration with the WHO Country Office in Jordan and incorporated contributions from various ministries, nongovernmental organizations and international experts. This approach has ensured that the strategy is a comprehensive, evidence-based road map tailored to the Jordanian context.

    Read the story

    WHO Director-General congratulates the Philippines on its progress in tobacco control, 10 years since the signing of the Sin Tax Reform Law

    In January 2023 in Manila, legislators of the Philippine Government, members of the Action for Economic Reforms and the Sin Tax Coalition, and representatives from WHO, development partners and civil society organisations marked the 10th anniversary of the passage of Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Reform Law.

    WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated the Philippines on putting this tax reform and other measures in place for tobacco control. As a result of the many measures taken, tobacco use has dropped from 30% in 2009 to 20% in 2021.

    “The taxes are having a clear impact. More smokers are trying to quit because of the high price of cigarettes. The Philippines is a great example for other countries of how raising tobacco taxes can save lives, reduce health costs, and raise revenues”, said Dr Tedros.

    Read the story

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Cash Advance Apps No Credit Check Provide Relief as Online Loan Approval Rates Decline in 2025 – Viva Payday Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As traditional borrowing channels become more difficult to access for millions of Americans, mobile-based cash advance apps are emerging as one of the most sought-after alternatives for short-term financial support in 2025. Viva Payday Loans, a US based online loan connection platform, reports strong year-over-year growth in demand for mobile lending options that do not rely on credit scores or lengthy paperwork.

    About Viva Payday Loans

    Viva Payday Loans is a US based online cash advance service that helps consumers find access to regulated short-term lending options. The platform connects users to licensed lenders through a single, secure, and mobile-friendly application process. Viva Payday Loans does not charge users to apply and does not perform hard credit checks to display available loan offers.

    This trend reflects a larger shift in consumer behavior, where speed, accessibility, and flexibility are increasingly prioritized over conventional banking criteria.

    “Borrowers today are looking for solutions that align with how they live and work—digitally, independently, and without rigid credit requirements,” said a spokesperson for Viva Payday Loans. “We’re seeing consistent demand from individuals who may not qualify for traditional loans but still need fast access to emergency funds.”

    Cash Advance Apps Gain Momentum Across the U.S.

    Mobile cash advance apps which connect borrowers with short-term lending options are quickly becoming a mainstream solution for users with limited or no credit history. These platforms typically rely on soft credit checks and focus more on current income and financial activity, rather than past borrowing behavior.

    Among the key reasons users are turning to cash advance apps in 2025:

    • Speed: Most applications can be completed in minutes, with funds disbursed same-day in many cases.
    • Accessibility: Accepted income sources often include freelance work, gig economy earnings, or government benefits.
    • Convenience: The process is fully online, secure, and requires no in-person visits.

    Viva Payday Loans Role in the Mobile Lending Landscape

    Viva Payday Loans serves as a digital gateway, helping users navigate a growing ecosystem of licensed, short-term lenders across the U.S. Through a single online form, borrowers are matched with potential lenders based on their state, income, and requested loan amount. While Viva itself does not issue loans, its platform is designed to streamline access and promote informed borrowing decisions.

    The service is free to use and does not require a hard credit inquiry to view available offers. Loan amounts typically range from $100 to $5,000, depending on state regulations and individual qualifications.

    Growing Need for Flexible Financial Solutions

    The evolving nature of work in the U.S. from remote jobs to gig-based income has made traditional lending models increasingly incompatible for many consumers. At the same time, inflation and economic uncertainty have increased the demand for quick-turnaround financing to cover expenses such as rent, utilities, medical bills, or auto repairs.

    Cash advance apps, as enabled by platforms like Viva Payday Loans, are helping to meet this demand by offering access to time-sensitive funding options without the roadblocks of conventional credit systems.

    Looking Ahead

    As financial technology continues to evolve, digital platforms are expected to play an even larger role in shaping the future of personal lending. Viva Payday Loans will continue to invest in improving user experience, lender transparency, and access to regulated financial products that meet modern consumer needs.

    Media Contact
    Mukesh Bhardwaj
    Email: mukesh@paydayventures.com

    Disclaimer: This press release is intended for informational purposes only. Viva Payday Loans is not a direct lender. All lending decisions are made by independent third-party providers in accordance with local laws and eligibility requirements. Availability and approval are subject to verification and state regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Workwise training programme to support workplace entry to be led by Council

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    An innovative programme of activity designed to grow the North East workforce is to be led by Aberdeen City Council.

    Workwise will see the Council, alongside NESCol and Aberdeenshire Council combine efforts to support school leavers and adults to enter the job market through a combination of virtual work experience and illustrative online content.

    The unique project has been made possible by grant funding from Ufi VocTech Trust, an independent charity focused on unlocking the full potential of technology to help adults improve skills for work and open up access for those furthest from opportunity.

    The £250,000 grant  will see the partners work collaboratively to develop a range of resources for North East residents to help them into work.

    This includes virtual work experience modules which could lead to in-person placements, confidence building and skills development, and a series of videos of local people showcasing their jobs. The programme is being developed with wider partnerships and will grow skills, awareness, and confidence and understanding of the opportunities in the local labour market and strengthen the regional economy.

    This includes creating digital programmes with real people from the region speaking about their roles, filmed within their workplaces; online confidence building covering study and digital skills, funding, support networks and progression pathways, and a digital work experience platform, for those lacking in experience or confidence, to use to build key skills and experience matched to their needs.

    Aberdeen City Council’s Education and Children’s Services Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: “The generous funding offer from Ufi VocTech Trust will provide welcome support for young people and adults with limited work experience to help them develop their knowledge and skills in preparation for the job market.

    “This new programme involves partnership collaboration with the aim of increasing individuals’ understanding of the work environment and feeling prepared for it. The approach uses technology and digital innovation to enhance their employment choices and opportunities.”

    Caroline O’Donnell, Grants Programme Manager, Ufi VocTech Trust said: “We are proud to support this programme of work led by Aberdeen City Council, which reflects our ambition to support the adoption and deployment of technology to ensure every adult in the UK can gain the skills they need to participate in and benefit from our transitioning economy.

    “By combining digital learning with in-person experience, the programme addresses key barriers to employment, particularly in communities furthest from opportunity, helping people build the confidence and skills needed to thrive in today’s workforce.”

    The flexibility of the digital approach allows even those living in rural communities for whom travel is a barrier to employability activity to access these upskilling opportunities.

    Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Committee Cllr David Keating said: “This is an exciting programme which has the potential to transform people’s lives by getting them into work with the skills they need.

    “With the support of  Ufi VocTech Trust, this approach, utilising technology and innovation will open doors for young people and adults alike.  The scheme will not just help people understand the world of work, but grow their confidence and ambition. 

    “I’m especially pleased that we have been able to work together with our neighbouring council for the benefit of all our constituents.”

    Robert Laird, Head of Planning and Academic Partnerships at NESCol, said: “We look forward to working with our project partners to develop and deliver this initiative. The course will be a 40-hour interactive programme covering personal development, personal organisation and time management, study skills, digital skills, finance options for students and progression pathways.

    “In addition to both local authorities there will be input from SWAP East, Skills Development Scotland, Developing the Young Workforce North East, and both of the city’s universities. It is a very powerful example of the collaborative work being undertaken in the North East as partners come together to broaden the options available for all those who are keen to pursue opportunities in education and employment.”

    The Workwise project will support the partners to build the region’s skilled workforce for the future, aligning with the Regional Economic Strategy’s Draft Skills Action Plan and the area’s growth and volume sectors, while simultaneously tackling poverty by supporting local people into quality employment. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: MSF calls for urgent aid to support Sudanese refugees fleeing to Chad

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

    June 3, 2025, N’Djamena: In the Tine transit camp and the nearby refugee camps in eastern Chad, close to the border with Sudan, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is scaling up its assistance to the newly arrived Sudanese refugees. They are fleeing escalating attacks and violence in North Darfur. Since the end of April an estimated 40,000 refugees, the vast majority coming from El Fasher and its surrounding camps for displaced people, have arrived in Tine, in Wadi Fira province. These extremely vulnerable people now face harsh overcrowded conditions and limited access to basic services.

    On arrival in Tine, some are malnourished and experiencing profound psychological distress due to the horrific violence in North Darfur and on the roads leading to Chad. The overwhelming majority are women and children coming from El Fasher and Zamzam camp for internally displaced people. They have already endured starvation as the Rapid Support Forces laid siege to these areas and famine conditions have been prevalent for months in Zamzam camp according to the Famine Review Committee.

    “We’ve walked a long way to get here. We passed through several villages to get to Tine to take refuge from the violence and bombings. We’ve been here for several days but we’re struggling to find food and water. We’ve been wearing the same clothes for days”, said a 20-year-old refugee woman. The Tine transit camp is currently hosting over 18,000 people, many of whom are sleeping on the bare ground in 40°C heat, with no shelter and severely limited access to water and food despite support from the host communities.

    MSF has scaled up its medical and humanitarian activities in the transit camp and at the Tine border to increase availability of primary healthcare services. Apart from nutrition screenings and vaccination at the border point, over the past weeks, MSF has carried out over 900 consultations per week in the health post at the transit camp. At the health post, the global rate of malnutrition among children under five is as high as 29% with 9% being severely malnourished. Routine vaccination efforts remain a priority in the camp as cases of measles have been detected. A mass vaccination campaign is ongoing. Finally, care for pregnant women and for survivors of sexual violence is also being provided at the health post. MSF teams set up referrals of critical patients to hospitals and will build an additional 50 emergency latrines. MSF is also preparing further distribution of therapeutic food and essential items. The organisation is also distributing 60,000 liters of water per day but this is only half of what is currently needed.

    ‘Sudanese refugees arrive exhausted, many malnourished and require immediate assistance. We ask donors, the UN and other humanitarian organisations to increase the mobilisation to provide or scale up support in terms of food, shelter, sanitation and medical care including mental health services. The current humanitarian response is insufficient and the upcoming rainy season it is likely to worsen living conditions, spread disease and exacerbate food insecurity and lack of sanitation.” says Claire San Filippo, MSF’s emergency coordinator for Sudan.

    Despite the immense needs in Tine transit camp and other refugee camps in Wadi Fira, MSF is witnessing very limited aid distribution despite solidarity from the host community and grassroot organisations. The financial crisis affecting the entire humanitarian sector is clearly being felt in eastern Chad. The war continues unabated in Sudan and more people are hoping to reach Chad.

    MSF is also present in refugee camps in Wadi Fira, such as Iridimi camp, where refugees from the Tine transit camp are being relocated. To help improve the dire situation in Iridimi camp which has reached its maximum capacity, MSF recently started supporting the Iridimi health center. The activities focus on the continuity of primary healthcare, vaccination, strengthening epidemiological surveillance, improving patient flow, reinforcing the referral system, and improving hygiene conditions at the health center. We also run mobile clinics in Chad, along the Sudanese borders including in Kulbus and Birak.

    The humanitarian situation at the border between Chad and Sudan has again reached a tipping point, with over 70,000 new refugees arriving in Chad since April 2025. Chad is already hosting over one million refugees, including more than 800,000 Sudanese who have arrived since the conflict began over two years ago.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Quavo Fraud & Disputes Named “Best Dispute Management & Resolution Solution” by Fintech Futures

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quavo Fraud & Disputes has been recognized as the winner of the “Best as-a-Service Solution – Dispute Management & Resolution” category at the 2025 Banking Tech Awards USA, hosted by Fintech Futures. The award honors Quavo’s QFD® platform, an end-to-end SaaS solution purpose-built to transform and streamline dispute management for financial institutions and deliver a seamless experience for accountholders.

    This prestigious accolade underscores Quavo’s continued commitment to innovation in fraud and dispute resolution, enabling financial institutions to reduce operational costs, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver trust-building experiences that foster loyalty among accountholders.

    “This award is a testament to our team’s relentless focus on customer experience, compliance, and AI advancements,” said Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder, David Chmielewski. “By building QFD® with intelligence from the ground up, we’ve created a platform that adapts to change, scales with demand, and earns trust with every interaction.”

    Quavo’s flagship solution, QFD®, is an AI-powered platform built exclusively for financial institutions to automate and streamline the entire dispute lifecycle. The platform delivers a compliant, scalable, and highly automated experience, enabling financial institutions to act quickly and accurately while empowering consumers with transparency and control.

    Now in its fourth year, the Banking Tech Awards USA celebrates the most innovative and impactful achievements across banking and fintech. This year’s competition featured more than 80 leading banks, credit unions, and technology providers across 40+ categories, including technology excellence, leadership, and project implementation.

    About Quavo, Inc.

    Quavo is a leading technology partner and strategic advisor, helping financial institutions (FIs) build trust-driven customer relationships through faster, more transparent dispute resolutions. Our mission is to restore financial trust by simplifying fraud and disputes. Quavo’s award-winning technology automates the entire dispute lifecycle, from intake to resolution. FIs can pair this end-to-end solution with our expert-led back-office investigation team in one turnkey managed service. Scalable for institutions of all sizes, Quavo’s solutions reduce losses, ensure compliance, and enhance customer loyalty. Learn more at www.quavo.com.

    Media Contact:
    Julia Lum
    PR & Events Specialist
    Julia.Lum@quavo.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC to Serve as Major Sponsor at Solana Summit APAC 2025, Reinforcing Commitment to SOL Ecosystem Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, will participate as one of the Major Sponsors at the upcoming Solana Summit APAC 2025, taking place June 5-7 in Da Nang, Vietnam. The summit will showcase MEXC’s deepening commitment to the Solana ecosystem and introduce innovative community engagement initiatives designed to strengthen partnerships with builders and developers across the region.

    Building Strategic Partnerships in the SOL Ecosystem

    MEXC’s participation at Solana Summit APAC will reinforce the exchange’s position as a trusted partner for Solana builders and innovators. The company’s presence at the summit embodies their core message: “Build on SOL, grow with MEXC.” This strategic positioning will set the stage for an upcoming SOL ecosystem promotion campaign scheduled to launch in late July 2025.

    The three-day summit will attract developers, founders, venture capitalists, and crypto enthusiasts from across the global Solana ecosystem, providing MEXC with a premier platform to engage with key stakeholders and expand its presence within the developer community.

    Interactive On-Site Activations and Community Engagement

    MEXC will launch an innovative Treasure Hunt Activation during the summit, featuring five unique sticker designs incorporating the MEXC logo and QR codes linking to the company’s official social media channels. Participants who locate all five stickers hidden throughout the event venue will be eligible to redeem exclusive co-branded merchandise at the MEXC booth. This gamified approach reflects MEXC’s commitment to fostering meaningful community interactions and creating memorable experiences for summit attendees while amplifying the company’s regional presence.

    Thought Leadership and Industry Expertise

    On June 5, Yuky Tran, COO of MEXC Vietnam, will participate in a panel discussion addressing critical industry challenges. The session, scheduled from 11:05-11:35 AM, will explore “What roles do DEX’s or launchpads play in protecting retail investors from scams?” Tran will join industry leaders including representatives from Outlaw, HawkFi, SecondSwap, and Meteora to discuss investor protection strategies and platform responsibilities.

    Additionally, YY, Head of Listing of MEXC Ventures, will be at the exclusive VC Demo Day on June 7, a curated four-hour event designed to explore Vietnam’s emerging role as a launchpad for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). The invite-only gathering will bring together 70-100 attendees, including DePIN builders, Solana ecosystem leaders, venture capitalists, and Web2 companies from AI, IoT, energy, logistics, and XR sectors seeking to integrate real-world DePIN applications.

    Strengthening the Global Solana Community

    MEXC’s major sponsorship of the Solana Summit APAC demonstrates the exchange’s strategic commitment to supporting the broader Solana ecosystem while establishing stronger connections with the developer community across Asia-Pacific markets. The summit participation will serve as a launching pad for expanded regional initiatives and partnerships throughout 2025.

    The Solana Summit APAC 2025 will bring together the region’s most innovative blockchain projects, developers, and industry leaders, making it an ideal venue for MEXC to showcase its dedication to fostering growth within the Solana ecosystem.

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

    Source

    Contact:
    Lucia Hu
    lucia.hu@mexc.com

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fac6fd02-02a3-4e73-be9a-e869d8162d32

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Jacobi Bitcoin ETF Opens to Retail Investors Following Regulatory Approval

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ST PETER’S PORT, Guernsey and LONDON, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jacobi Asset Management announces today at Money 20/20 Amsterdam a major milestone in the evolution of digital asset investment in Europe. The Jacobi Bitcoin ETF, Europe’s first and only Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), is now open to both retail and professional investors following a landmark decision by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC).

    Retail investors, subject to the rules of their respective national regulators, can now access the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF via regulated brokerage and investment platforms. This step not only enhances accessibility but reinforces Jacobi’s mission to democratise secure exposure to digital assets.

    Originally launched in 2023 on Euronext Amsterdam, the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF is regulated to institutional-grade standards, offering a secure, transparent, and compliant vehicle for investors. Amidst the volatility of Bitcoin’s price action over the past few years, the fund maintained its minimum investment requirement in line with regulatory prudence.

    With Bitcoin now firmly established as a mainstream asset – adopted by corporations, institutions, and governments alike – regulatory frameworks are evolving to reflect its maturing role in the financial ecosystem. In response, Jacobi has secured the removal of the professional-only restriction and minimum investment requirement on its ETF. Jacobi was supported in this endeavour by Collas Crill, Midshore Consulting and Sigma Asset Management, all of whom have been working with Jacobi since before the ETF was launched.

    “This is a significant moment for both Jacobi and Guernsey,” said Peter Lane, CEO of Jacobi Asset Management. “Our fund was designed from day one with a regulated, institutional-grade structure that investors could trust and were familiar with. Now, with greater regulatory alignment and growing public interest, we’re delighted to expand access to all investors across eligible jurisdictions. We applaud Guernsey as an innovative jurisdiction who have embraced the evolution of digital assets and look forward to bringing more innovative, digital asset products to market with robust regulatory oversight.”

    Trusted Custody and Industry Recognition

    As the appointed custodian for the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF, Zodia Custody plays a critical role in safeguarding client assets with the highest standards of institutional-grade security and compliance.

    “Zodia Custody is proud to continue providing our institutional-grade custody solutions to the Jacobi Bitcoin ETF as they expand their offerings to retail investors,” commented Julian Sawyer, CEO of Zodia Custody. “Our role remains clear: to protect client capital without compromising on security or compliance.”

    The move has also been welcomed by Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for the island’s financial services industry, as a landmark for the jurisdiction’s digital asset ambitions.

    “This development represents a major step forward for Guernsey,” said Rupert Pleasant, CEO of Guernsey Finance. “It signals our jurisdiction’s capability and readiness to support regulated digital asset products, bringing international innovation to our shores and expanding our profile in this fast-evolving sector.”

    About Jacobi Asset Management

    Jacobi Asset Management is a UK-based digital asset investment manager that bridges traditional finance with blockchain innovation. With the current fund offering regulated by the GFSC, Jacobi Asset Management brings institutional-quality investment products to professional and retail investors, grounded in transparency, regulation, and sustainability.

    Media Contact:
    PR & Communications
    Jacobi Asset Management
    press@jacobiam.com
    www.jacobiam.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Erik Thedéen: On risk, uncertainty and geoeconomic fragmentation

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    The last five years have been unusually turbulent. We have lived through the worst pandemic in a hundred years, Russia has invaded Ukraine, and the United States has started trade conflicts with several of its most important trading partners, including China and the EU. We have also had a period of very high inflation that has now fortunately fallen back to normal levels; see Figure 1.

    In recent months, uncertainty in the global economy has increased strongly, not least due to the United States’ new trade policy. In our latest Monetary Policy Update, published last week, we assessed that international developments – particularly the elevated uncertainty – are dampening the economic prospects in Sweden. In turn, this suggests that inflation, in the long term, may become lower than in our most recently published forecast from March. But we also pointed out that there are several risk factors, such as those linked to companies’ global value chains, and that inflation thus could well become unexpectedly high.

    This illustrates, almost too clearly, that the economic outlook and inflation prospects are always uncertain and there are several reasons for this. One of them is that our models cannot capture all the complex relationships that characterise real economies. There could also be uncertainty over political decisions or how developments abroad affect the Swedish economy. However, regardless of the reason, we cannot exactly know what inflation will be in two years or how changes in the policy rate will affect inflation. The pandemic also reminded us that sometimes unpredictable events happen that can have major economic consequences.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Astronomers fear impact of Musk’s Starlink on South Africa mega-telescope observations

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Astronomers working with South Africa‘s SKA telescope are pushing authorities to ensure that any licensing agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink will protect their groundbreaking observations, a senior scientist said.

    Discussions to bring Musk’s internet service Starlink in South Africa have already been contentious, with parent company SpaceX criticising local shareholding laws while backing equity equivalent programmes.

    Attaching astronomy-linked licensing conditions may further complicate attempts to introduce Starlink to the country of Musk’s birth, where he has already said he is deterred by government Black empowerment policies.

    South Africa said it will review its Information and Communication Technology sector rules but will not back down on government policies to transform the economy three decades after white-minority rule ended.

    Scientists fear South Africa‘s Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Mid), the world’s most powerful radio telescope together with another array co-hosted in Australia, will have their sensitive space observations distorted by Starlink‘s low-orbiting satellites.

    “It will be like shining a spotlight into someone’s eyes, blinding us to the faint radio signals from celestial bodies,” Federico Di Vruno, co-chair of International Astronomical Union Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky, told Reuters in a telephone interview.

    Di Vruno said the SKA Observatory, where he is spectrum manager, and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) were lobbying for license requirements to reduce the impact on observations in certain frequency ranges, including some that SKA-Mid uses.

    That could direct Starlink to steer satellite beams away from SKA receivers or stop transmission for a few seconds to minimise interference, he said.

    South Africa‘s current SKA antennae, in the remote Northern Cape town of Carnarvon, use the 350 megahertz to 15.4 gigahertz bandwidth, a range also used by most satellite operators for downlinks.

    MAJOR OBSERVATIONS

    South Africa‘s MeerKAT radio telescope, a precursor to SKA-Mid which will be incorporated into the larger instrument, has already discovered a rare giant radio galaxy that is 32 times the size of the Milky Way.

    Last year, it found 49 new galaxies in under three hours, according to SARAO.

    SKA Observatory, an international body, also campaigns for conditions on licensing agreements with other major satellite operators such as Amazon and Eutelsat’s OneWeb to ensure quiet skies amid a boom in new satellite launches.

    “We are trying to follow different technical and regulatory avenues to mitigate this issue on the global stage,” Di Vruno said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Britain’s hospitality sector to save £3 million under new scheme

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Britain’s hospitality sector to save £3 million under new scheme

    Britain’s pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels to save £3 million under emissions cutting scheme.

    • Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels to receive free energy and carbon cutting advice to slash their energy bills as part of the government’s Plan for Change 
    • Trial to save hospitality sector £3 million on bills and reduce 2,700 tonnes of carbon emissions 
    • Zero Carbon Services will advise 600 British small businesses under scheme 

    Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels across the UK will have lower energy bills thanks to a new emissions cutting trial as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

    Over 600 small and medium sized hospitality businesses will receive free energy and carbon reduction assessments to cut energy costs, support productivity and boost growth.

    Funded by the government and delivered by Zero Carbon Services, one of the UK’s leading net-zero advisers for the hospitality sector, the trial is expected to save businesses over £3 million. This will help pubs and restaurants to keep more money in their pockets – while allowing them to invest in jobs and continue to be the hubs of communities. 

    Minister for Industry Sarah Jones said: 

    Pubs, restaurants and cafes are a cornerstone for communities across the country, with the hospitality sector employing millions of people and contributing billions to the economy. 

    By providing business owners with expert advice to cut bills and reduce emissions, this will help them keep more money in their pockets to grow their business, employ local people and continue to serve your pint of lager or fish and chips.

    Zero Carbon Services CEO Mark Chapman said: 

    Climate change is already impacting hospitality with extreme weather events reducing sales and increasing food supply costs. Combined with other cost increases, there has never been a more important time to both recover lost profits and take credible action on reducing carbon emissions, the key cause of climate change. 

    We’ve already helped thousands of UK pubs, restaurants and hotels, to cut carbon and costs and thanks to this scheme, we can now offer that support for free to even more independent businesses. 

    Most venues have opportunities to save energy, food and money without realising it. By combining smart data with one-to-one coaching, we help operators take simple, practical steps to reduce waste, lower emissions, and improve day-to-day efficiency. It’s about making small changes that add up — cutting waste, protecting profits and building a stronger, more resilient sector.

    Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: 

    Hospitality businesses have already made great strides to reduce their emissions but are keen to go further and faster in order to save costs and become more sustainable.  

    We’re pleased to support this new trial that can help businesses further cut their emissions, and we’re looking forward to working with the government and Zero Carbon Services on its rollout.

    Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said:  

    This initiative is welcome and will give valuable insights into the ways the sector can become more energy efficient which could help to cut down on energy bills.  

    This is no small sum and we’re pleased that government has acted on our calls to support the sector through boosting funding to undertake this kind of work.

    Steve Alton, CEO of British Institute of Innkeeping, said: 

    Running a lean, sustainable pub business is vital for operators across the UK. We have supported our members with their carbon measurement and reduction over the past 2 years as part of our Sustainability Champions programme, so we are delighted that Zero Carbon Services can now offer more support via free assessments and coaching to over 600 operators.

    The hospitality sector is largely made up of SMEs and supports 3.5 million jobs, while contributing £93 billion to the UK economy. 

    The scheme will support businesses to make cost effective changes such as fixing insulation gaps, upgrading to low energy lighting or tweaking heating settings that will add up to significant savings over the year. 

    A recent report from the Federation of Small Businesses found that 64% of small businesses believe sustainability should be a high priority for the government, but only 26% of small businesses believe they have the appropriate knowledge to transition their business to net zero. 

    The Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial will help hospitality businesses by putting business owners in direct contact with the expertise of trusted energy and sustainability advisers. 

    The launch of the trial comes ahead of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, which will turbocharge growth in the UK’s key sectors including clean energy. Meanwhile, a renewed Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy will set the strategic direction for the government’s approach to working with industry towards a competitive and low carbon industrial base in the UK, ensuring growth opportunities are captured in tandem with emissions reductions.   

    Notes to editor  

    The government has provided £350,000 to fund the Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial, which will run from May 2025 to March 2026.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Media release: New bike hub makes getting a bargain as easy as riding a bike

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    A new “Bike Hub” has opened at the Reuse Shop at Hazlehead Recycling Centre to sell refurbished bikes, diverted from our recycling centres.

    A second hub is set to follow as part of the new Recycling Centre on Claymore Drive, Bridge of Don, opening this autumn.

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Ian Yuill said: “The Reuse Shop at Hazlehead Recycling Centre has gone from strength to strength, breathing new life into unwanted household items.

    “Reuse helps divert materials away from recycling and incineration. This helps to reduce carbon emissions and contributes to a circular economy, helping us meet our net zero goals, and supporting “green” jobs in the repair and retail sectors.”

    Net Zero, Environment, and Transport Vice-convenor Miranda Radley added: “We would like to thank our partners for their work to bring the Bike Hub to life.

    “As well as supporting reuse, the project increases opportunities for active travel for our residents, by offering access to pre-loved bikes that are fully safety checked.”

    Nine-year-old Phoebe, who was visiting the Reuse Shop, said: “I got my bike two years ago from someone who outgrew it. I’m always riding it and it’s so much fun. I’m happy now that more kids in Aberdeen can get good, reused bikes.”

    Colin Forshaw, Production Operations Manager at SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK, said: “SUEZ has always been a champion of reuse and we’re very proud of The Reuse Shop which not only offers everyday items at a low cost for residents of Aberdeen, saving items from going to waste, but also supports local community projects through a fund generated from the proceeds.

    “This new partnership means that we can now add another spindle to our wheel, and we look forward to seeing people out on their bikes this summer.”

    The new scheme is a collaboration with Stella’s Voice, CycleHub.Org, and SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK. The scheme sees unwanted bikes delivered to a local workshop where qualified mechanics repair and safety test bikes to ensure they are roadworthy. A selection of refurbished adult and kids bikes are now available to Aberdeen residents at the Reuse Shop, just in time for the summer holidays.

    Aberdeen’s residents are encouraged to clear out unwanted bikes from garages and garden sheds and drop these off at Hazlehead recycling centre where they will be given a new lease of life. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: To the team of JSC GLONASS

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Mikhail Mishustin congratulated the staff of JSC GLONASS on the 10th anniversary of its founding.

    Dear friends!

    I congratulate you on the 10th anniversary of the founding of the GLONASS joint-stock company.

    Over the years, the company has become one of the largest system integrators, has made a significant contribution to the development and implementation of domestic information and navigation technologies. Advanced competencies, accumulated experience and innovative approaches allow you to effectively perform state tasks, including the development of the world’s first emergency warning system for transport “ERA-GLONASS”, created to save victims of accidents and other emergencies, improve the safety of drivers and passengers. Our own software products and telecommunication solutions, recognized in our country and on the international market, are successfully used in the activities of emergency response services, logistics management, vehicle monitoring, various sectors of the economy and areas that directly affect the quality of life and well-being of millions of Russians. This is especially important in conditions where the sustainability of digital infrastructure is among national priorities.

    All these achievements have become possible thanks to the work of a highly qualified team of professionals who love their work. I am confident that you will continue to strengthen Russia’s technological sovereignty, expand the scope of satellite navigation and the range of services provided.

    I wish you further success, health and all the best.

    M. Mishustin

    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 Russia: Mikhail Mishustin takes part in the 10th conference “Digital Industry of Industrial Russia”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    “Digital Industry of Industrial Russia” (CIPR) is the main business event on the digital economy and technologies in Russia. For many years, it has been a key platform for dialogue between business and government representatives on issues of digital transformation of society and various sectors of the economy.

    This year, the main track of the business program will be “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”. “CIPR-2025” will be visited by delegations from more than 30 countries: China, Serbia, Cuba, India, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Philippines and others.

    Drive

    The conference business program will include more than 100 sessions covering the digitalization of key economic sectors and interaction with partner countries in the global market. International sessions will be held in partnership with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. The event will also feature bilateral panel discussions with representatives of the Republic of Belarus and the PRC.

    The exhibition of technological solutions will occupy three pavilions, including solutions from international participants from the BRICS and EAEU countries. International solutions from Chinese, Indian, Cuban and Belarusian companies will be presented here. In addition, for the second time, the CIPR site will feature a specialized stand of “digital attachés” – employees of Russian trade missions abroad who are engaged in the promotion of Russian IT products (the stand will reflect the experience of international cooperation in this area).

    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 –

  • Dutch far-right leader Wilders quits coalition, toppling government

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders’ PVV party left the governing coalition on Tuesday, in a move that is set to topple the right wing government and will likely lead to new elections.

    Wilders said his coalition partners were not willing to support his ideas on halting asylum migration.

    “No signature under our asylum plans. The PVV leaves the coalition,” Wilders said in a post on X.

    Wilders said he had informed Prime Minister Dick Schoof that all ministers from his PVV party would quit the government. Schoof has not yet reacted to the resignation.

    Wilders’ surprise move ends an already fragile coalition which has struggled to reach any consensus since its installation last July.

    It will likely bring new elections in a few months, adding to political uncertainty in the euro zone’s fifth-largest economy.

    It will likely also delay a decision on a possibly historic increase in defense spending to meet new NATO targets.

    And it will leave the Netherlands with only a caretaker government when it receives NATO country leaders for a summit to decide on these targets in The Hague later this month.

    DISBELIEF, ANGER

    Wilders’ coalition partners responded with disbelief and anger.

    “This is making us look like a fool,” the leader of the conservative VVD party Dilan Yesilgoz said. “There is a war on our continent. Instead of meeting the challenge, Wilders is showing he is not willing to take responsibility.”

    “This is incredible,” leader of the centrist NSC party Nicolien van Vroonhoven said. “It is irresponsible to take down the government at this point.”

    With PVV out, the others parties have the theoretical option to try and proceed as a minority government. They are not expected to, and have yet to confirm it.

    Wilders won the most recent election in the Netherlands, but recent polls show he has lost support since joining government.

    Polls now put his party at around 20% of the votes, roughly at par with the Labour/Green combination that is currently the second-largest in parliament.

    Wilders had last week demanded immediate support for his proposals to completely halt asylum migration, send Syrian refugees back to their home country and to close asylum shelters.

    Coalition partners did not embrace his idea, and had said it was up to the migration minister from Wilders’ own party to work on specific proposals. Wilders was not part of the government himself as its leader or a minister.

    He was convicted for discrimination after he insulted Moroccans at a campaign rally in 2014 and only managed to strike a coalition deal with three other conservative parties last year after he gave up his bid to become prime minister.

    Instead, the cabinet was led by the independent and unelected Schoof, a career bureaucrat who had led the Dutch intelligence agency AIVD and was the senior official at the ministry of justice.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster Council supports residents with £1million cost of living boost  | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster City Council is investing an additional £1 million in its cost of living programme, bringing total support to £26 million as part of the ongoing commitment to residents facing financial hardship. 

    This latest funding will support essential services delivered by trusted local partners, including Cardinal Hume Centre, Age UK, and a network of community charities. These organisations provide vital advice and practical support, helping residents who continue to struggle due to rising costs, such as fuel, energy bills and food. 

    The new funding will also support key initiatives such as: 

    • Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) – supporting families during school holidays 

    • Winter in the City – providing activities and resources throughout the colder months 

    • Food banks and community pantries – making sure people have access to nutritious meals and essentials 

    • Community Wardrobes – supplying free clothing, including school uniforms, to those who need it 

    In addition, the council is investing £1.2 million over three years through its Advice Grants Programme, supporting eight local charities that help low-income households increase their income and reduce debt. This funding will strengthen the capacity of organisations delivering crucial advice and guidance services to residents. 

    Cllr Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council, said: 

    “We know that many people in Westminster are still feeling the strain of rising costs. This additional £1 million investment means we can make sure residents have access to vital services and support.  

    “Whether it’s a warm meal, school holiday activities, or free clothing for children, we’re working with our community partners to help people through difficult times.” 

    For more information on the support available, please visit the Cost of Living Support Hub.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ambitious five-year plan unveiled to transform Adult Social Care

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council has revealed an ambitious new five-year plan for Adult Social Care that will guide the transformation and improvement of essential support services.

    The comprehensive strategy comes as Adult Social Care continues to be a significant pillar of the city’s economy, with an annual investment of approximately £115 million and supporting employment for around 9,500 people across the sector in Coventry.

    The Council currently provides vital support to around 4,000 adults per week with a range of care and support needs, including physical disabilities, learning disabilities/autism, sensory impairments and mental health conditions.

    Additionally, the service supports around 2,000 unpaid carers annually, helping them continue their crucial caring roles while maintaining their own wellbeing.

    Councillor Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “Adult Social Care is facing significant changes, including potential national reforms and local challenges from increasing demand.

    “This Five-Year Plan ensures we’re prepared to enhance our support for Coventry residents to meet these challenges head-on.

    “Our aim is to improve services that help people achieve maximum independence, while ensuring support for specific groups such as unpaid carers and neurodivergent individuals.

    “This plan reflects the priorities of everyone we work with – those we support, their families, their carers, our dedicated staff, NHS colleagues, and voluntary sector partners.

    “Coventry’s Adult Social Care service is built around helping people maintain their independence through our skilled Social Work and Occupational Therapy teams, our Provider Services, and strong partnerships with independent care providers.

    “This plan will be regularly reviewed so that we continue adapting to the evolving needs of our community.”

    The five-year plan focuses on six key priority areas:

    1. Personalising the experience of care and support – Working with providers to offer more individualised, strength-based approaches
    2. Always improving – Ensuring consistent application of policies and best practices across all services
    3. New models of support – Developing innovative care services beyond traditional delivery methods
    4. Prevention – Expanding successful initiatives like the Improving Lives programme with UHCW hospital
    5. Use of technology – Maximising opportunities from AI and digital solutions to enhance care delivery
    6. Integrated care with health partners – Strengthening collaboration with NHS services for seamless support

    The plan builds on existing successes, including pioneering initiatives such as the Coventry Dementia Partnership Hub and the POD mental health recovery and inclusion service, which serve as models of innovation in care provision.

    The service currently handles over 10,000 requests for support annually and manages over 6,000 safeguarding concerns each year, while supporting 4,000 adults with care needs weekly and assisting 2,000 unpaid carers per year.

    The plan emphasises the Council’s commitment to promoting independence and enabling people to live meaningful lives within their communities, while adapting to evolving challenges and opportunities in the care sector.

    The Adult Social Care five-year plan will be considered by Cabinet on 10 June 2025 and Full Council on 24 June 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In January-May, the Takeshken checkpoint on the Chinese-Mongolia border recorded an increase in passenger traffic

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    URUMQI, June 3 (Xinhua) — The in- and out-of-town passenger flow through the Takeshken road border crossing on China’s border with Mongolia exceeded 21,000 people from January to May 2025, up 26 percent year-on-year, according to the checkpoint administration.

    In particular, during the reporting period, inbound passenger traffic amounted to 11 thousand person-times, and outbound passenger traffic amounted to 10 thousand person-times.

    Takeshken is located in Qinghe County, Altay Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is mainly used to supply coking coal from Mongolia to China.

    As the tourist season approaches, a record number of passengers passed through the checkpoint last month.

    The continuous growth of passenger traffic not only gave a great impetus to the development of the local economy, but also demonstrated the role of the checkpoint as a bridge for activating Chinese-Mongolian cooperation in the economy, culture and tourism, the checkpoint administration noted. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Aurora Mobile’s Subsidiaries EngageLab and GPTBots.ai Achieve SOC 2 Type II Certification, Setting a New Benchmark for Global Data Security

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aurora Mobile Limited (NASDAQ: JG) (“Aurora Mobile” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China, today announced that its flagship platforms, EngageLab and GPTBots.ai, have both successfully achieved SOC 2 Type II certification. This milestone underscores Aurora Mobile’s unwavering commitment to the highest international standards of data security, privacy, and operational excellence.

    SOC 2 Type II, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), is a globally recognized auditing standard that rigorously evaluates the design and operational effectiveness of a company’s controls over a defined period. This certification covers five key trust service criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

    What This Means for Our Clients and Partners:

    • Enterprise-Grade Security: Aurora Mobile, through its platforms EngageLab and GPTBots.ai, safeguards client data with industry-leading security controls and continuous monitoring, ensuring protection across critical areas such as security, availability, and confidentiality.
    • Global Compliance: SOC 2 Type II certification supports our clients’ regulatory and business requirements worldwide, facilitating secure business expansion.
    • Operational Excellence: The certification validates our ability to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable solutions for mission-critical applications across industries.

    “Data security and privacy are at the heart of Aurora Mobile’s mission,” said Chris Lo, CEO at Aurora Mobile. “Achieving SOC 2 Type II certification for both EngageLab and GPTBots.ai is a testament to our ongoing investment in security and compliance, empowering our clients to innovate and grow with absolute confidence.”

    With this achievement, Aurora Mobile further strengthens its position as a trusted technology partner for enterprises seeking secure, compliant, and intelligent customer engagement and AI solutions on a global scale.

    About EngageLab
    EngageLab is a world-leading AI-powered omnichannel customer engagement solution provider, unites technology and versatility to offer seamless customer interactions across every channel, including Email, AppPush, WebPush, 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.

    About GPTBots.ai
    GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots.ai enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots.ai is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

    For more information, please visit www.engagelab.com and www.gptbots.ai.

    About Aurora Mobile Limited

    Founded in 2011, Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) is a leading provider of customer engagement and marketing technology services in China. Since its inception, Aurora Mobile has focused on providing stable and efficient messaging services to enterprises and has grown to be a leading mobile messaging service provider with its first-mover advantage. With the increasing demand for customer reach and marketing growth, Aurora Mobile has developed forward-looking solutions such as Cloud Messaging and Cloud Marketing to help enterprises achieve omnichannel customer reach and interaction, as well as artificial intelligence and big data-driven marketing technology solutions to help enterprises’ digital transformation.

    For more information, please visit https://ir.jiguang.cn/.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident” and similar statements. Among other things, the Business Outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Aurora Mobile’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Aurora Mobile may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Aurora Mobile’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Aurora Mobile’s strategies; Aurora Mobile’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Aurora Mobile’s ability to attract and retain customers; its ability to develop and effectively market data solutions, and penetrate the existing market for developer services; its ability to transition to the new advertising-driven SAAS business model; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand; the competition with current or future competitors; its ability to continue to gain access to mobile data in the future; the laws and regulations relating to data privacy and protection; general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Aurora Mobile undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

    For more information, please contact:

    Aurora Mobile Limited
    E-mail: ir@jiguang.cn

    Christensen

    In China
    Ms. Xiaoyan Su
    Phone: +86-10-5900-1548
    E-mail: Xiaoyan.Su@christensencomms.com

    In US
    Ms. Linda Bergkamp
    Phone: +1-480-614-3004
    Email: linda.bergkamp@christensencomms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MoonFox Data Releases New Report: Instant Retail Becomes the Next Battleground as JD.com and Meituan Intensify Food Delivery Competition in China

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Shenzhen, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — [Shenzhen, China] – [June 3, 2025] – MoonFox Data, a leading provider of market intelligence and data analytics, today released its latest report, “Instant Retail Remains a Long-Term Battle, and the Food Delivery Battle Is Just the Beginning.” The report reveals how China’s instant retail sector is entering a new phase of fierce competition, with JD.com and Meituan at the forefront, leveraging food delivery as a critical driver of user growth and market expansion in 2025.

    In 2025, JD.com and Meituan engaged in several rounds of online “cross-platform jabs” over their food delivery services. Topics such as “Food Delivery Battle” and “Meituan Issues Another Statement” trended on social media. Amid the ensuing “war of words” and mounting public debate, both platforms’ ambitions in the “instant retail” space were laid bare.

    Tracing back their development, it is evident that JD.com and Meituan have been investing in instant retail for over a decade. As early as 2018, Meituan internally launched the “Flash Sale” brand focused on instant delivery of retail items. However, after 7 years and multiple rounds of fierce competition in community group purchase, “Meituan Flash Sale” was only officially launched as an independent brand in 2025. Meanwhile, from 2015 to 2023, JD.com steadily bolstered its capabilities in supply chain, digitalization, and logistics. By integrating diverse service segments, including JD Health, JD Car Care, and convenience supermarkets, the company established a robust localized service chain. In 2024, building on this integrated capacity, JD.com officially unveiled “JD Instant Delivery” as its flagship instant delivery service.

    Table 1: Development History of Instant Retail Business on Various Platforms

    JD.com Meituan
    2015: Launched “JD Home Delivery” service 2018: Internally launched “Meituan Flash Sale”
    2019: Launched “Meituan Vegetable Shopping”, rapidly expanding into first-tier cities and entering the community group purchase market
    2021: JD.com and DADA jointly launched “JD Hourly Purchase” 2020:

    In July, launched “Meituan Selected” to capture community e-commerce in lower-tier markets

    In September, began deploying “Meituan Flash Warehouse” in first-tier cities
    2022: JD became the controlling shareholder of DADA Group Upgraded “Meituan Vegetable Shopping” to “Xiaoxiang Supermarket” in December 2023, expanding supply from fresh produce to daily retail goods
    2024:

    Integrated “JD Hourly Delivery”, “JD Home Delivery”, etc., and launched “JD Instant Delivery” with a primary entrance on the JD homepage in May

    JD’s fresh food business “7FRESH” opened its first pre-warehouse in Beijing and commenced operations in September

    		 2024:

    Xiaoxiang Supermarket increased its proportion of self-operated products, benchmarking against Freshippo and Sam’s Club, featuring single-portion/small-quantity offerings for differentiation

    Meituan initiated a “Ten Thousand Warehouses for Thousand Cities” network layout; by October, the number of Flash Warehouses exceeded 30,000
    2025:

    Launched food delivery on the JD platform in February

    Rebranded “JD Vegetable Shopping” to “JD 7FRESH” in March, transitioning to a platform model to offer fresh food access from Sam’s Club, Pagoda, Dingdong Vegetable Shopping, and others

    JD launched “Self-operated Instant Delivery” e-commerce service in April; over 100,000 JD-branded offline stores have connected to Instant Delivery; Starbucks Delivery and HLA Group officially came on board

    		 Official launch of Meituan Flash Sale as an independent brand in April 2025

    Data Source: Public information, compiled by MoonFox Research Institute

    I. Instant Retail Shows Strong Potential, but Sustained Survival Remains Challenging

    To begin with, it’s essential to clarify the concepts of local life services and instant retail: Local life services refer to the use of online channels to display information about local brick-and-mortar businesses, with transactions completed offline services (through in-store visits or home). This model emphasizes “geographic relevance”. Instant retail, as a key component of local life services, involves delivering products from local retail models (such as supermarkets, warehouses, and storefronts) directly to consumers through same-city delivery. It covers a wide range of categories, including food & beverages, fresh produce, electronics, and pharmaceuticals. Services like hourly delivery, half-day delivery, community group purchase, and food delivery all fall within the scope of instant retail. Its high time sensitivity is the key factor distinguishing it from traditional e-commerce and parcel delivery.

    The local life services sector is constantly seeing the emergence of new entrants. However, most of these newcomers tend to focus on “in-store” business models rather than delivery-heavy services, as the latter demand robust and fast-changing delivery ecosystems that many find difficult to sustain.

    For example, Douyin launched “Beckoning Food Delivery” in 2021 and formed strategic partnerships with service providers like Ele.me, DADA, and SF Express. However, after lukewarm results, Douyin Life Services pivoted its local service strategy to focus on the business from group purchase to in-store visits. Kwai trialed food delivery through selected local life service merchants in 2023 but did not scale up, maintaining its focus on in-store deals of group purchase. DiDi attempted to launch food delivery twice in China but failed both times and has since shifted its food delivery ambitions to overseas markets in 2025. Community group purchase brands like Nice Tuan, Chengxin Selected and MissFresh shut down around 2023 due to operational difficulties…

    Despite these setbacks, instant retail still holds vast potential within China, especially in lower-tier markets.

    Industry statistics show that in 2024, China’s instant retail market reached approximately RMB 780 billion, accounting for only 6% of total online retail of physical goods. The market distribution between major cities and county-level areas is roughly 7:3. By 2030, the market is expected to surpass RMB 2 trillion.

    Table 2: Instant Retail Market Growth in China (2018 – 2030)

    Year Instant Retail Market Transaction Volume (RMB 100 million) Transaction Volume YoY Growth Share of Online Retail Transaction Volume of Physical Goods
    2018 690 88 % 1.0 %
    2019 1,180 71 % 1.4 %
    2020 2,150 82 % 2.3 %
    2021 2,350 9 % 2.2 %
    2022 5,040 114 % 4.5 %
    2023 6,500 29 % 5.3 %
    2024 7,800 20 % 6.0 %
    2025E 10,030 29 % 7.1 %
    2026E 11,750 17 % 7.7 %
    2023E 20,000 10.1 %

    Data Source: Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, National Bureau of Statistics, Reports from SDIC Securities, compiled by MoonFox Research Institute.

    II. Platforms Face Growth Anxiety and Urgently Need New Growth Curves

    For JD.com, local life services remain fertile ground with significant untapped potential. Among them, instant retail, characterized by high purchase frequency and rapid conversion, is undoubtedly a critical lever for driving business growth and attracting UV.

    Table 3: Comparison of Different Retail Models (In Terms of Profitability Efficiency: Instant Retail > Traditional E-commerce > Offline Retail)

    Type Instant Retail Traditional E-commerce In-store Visits of Group Purchase Offline Retail
    Consumer Behavior Place order online, with hourly delivery or flash delivery Place order online → shipped via express → received Order online, redeem in-store Browse and purchase in-store, offline payment
    B2B Requirements High-frequency demand; rich product supply is essential

    Low return rate

    Instant fulfillment

    		 High-frequency demand

    High return rate

    Long fulfillment cycle

    		 Pre-purchase vouchers

    Redemption rates fluctuate

    Unstable fulfillment window

    		 Low-frequency demand

    Low return rate

    Instant fulfillment

    Traditional e-commerce has passed its high-growth phase. In recent years, large-scale promotional events such as “618” and “D11” have lost their earlier traction, signaling consumer fatigue towards excessive discounting and promotional gimmicks. In response, e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, JD.com, and Vipshop have extended promotional periods and introduced “Billion-RMB Subsidy” to maintain total sales growth. However, Pinduoduo’s rapid rise and the increasing competitiveness of emerging e-commerce platforms like Douyin and Kwai have created new challenges. JD.com’s dominance, particularly in the electronics product category, is now under threat from multiple fronts.

    During Meituan’s Q3 2024 financial report audio conference, founder Wang Xing commented on industry trends, stating that instant retail will eventually account for over 10% of the total e-commerce market, and that Meituan Flash Sale’s growth has exceeded expectations. The 2024 financial report noted: “In 2024, ‘Meituan Flash Warehouses’ experienced significant growth, particularly in lower-tier markets, where they have become a key growth channel for many retailers. A number of major traditional retail companies have adopted ‘Meituan Flash Warehouse’ model… As our instant delivery business expands, we remain committed to building a sustainable ecosystem.”

    According to Meituan’s financial reports from 2022 to 2024, the platform’s gross profit margin has grown by over 30% YoY for three consecutive years, with its gross margin increasing from 28% to 38%. Core local services revenue maintained a YoY growth rate exceeding 20%, and new business income continued to accelerate. Although Meituan Flash Sale had not yet officially launched, it was repeatedly highlighted in annual financial reports over the past 5 years as a key growth engine for the platform.

    III. JD.com’s Surprise PR Offensive: Rapid Expansion into Meituan’s Core Territory

    In early April, JD.com CEO Xu Ran stated in an interview with 36Kr that the food delivery business could help JD.com increase both user base and purchase frequency, extending its service scenarios.

    On April 15, a leaked 7-minute internal meeting audio recording of Liu Qiangdong revealed his views on the domestic food delivery industry: Food delivery platform commissions can reach as high as 25% (sometimes over 30%), which he attributed to monopolistic practices that force small and medium-sized merchants to cut food quality, negatively impacting the consumer experience. He also proposed differentiated insurance policies for full-time and part-time couriers to better safeguard their rights.

    As early as 2022, Meituan’s financial report showed that its food delivery business had reached a peak of over 60 million orders per day. Although there is still a significant gap in order volume between the two platforms, JD Food Delivery achieved over 10 million in a single day on April 22, reflecting rapid growth.

    Comparing the daily new user growth for merchant and courier platforms since the start of 2025, JD Instant Delivery Merchant Edition and DADA Instant Delivery Courier Edition apps saw a UV surge. According to MoonFox Data, JD Instant Delivery Merchant Edition app peaked in daily new user numbers on April 24. Both platform initiatives and market responses clearly indicate that JD is making a bold incursion into Meituan’s food delivery “stronghold”.

    Table 4: New Daily User Growth on Merchant & Courier Platforms (2025)

    Average Daily New Users Meituan Food Delivery Merchant Edition App Meituan Courier Edition App Meituan Crowdsourcing DADA Instant Delivery Courier Edition App JD Instant Delivery Merchant Edition App
    January 13,236 18,069 18,624 12,345 2,671
    February 14,186 26,081 33,413 69,820 45,454
    March 16,606 23,781 34,178 47,042 50,499
    April 17,256 21,021 31,207 181,658 64,538

    Data Source: MoonFox iApp, Data Cycle: January 1, 2025 – April 27, 2025

    For users, switching between food delivery apps has low friction. With a clear intent to order, pricing and delivery time are often the only decisive factors. Last summer, Ele.me attracted UV via its “Answer to Win Free Meal” campaign, which relied on extremely low discounts and simple, engaging interactions. While Meituan launched “Meal Group Buying”, significantly lowering average order value to retain users through volume sales, though at the cost of some dining experience. In addition, Ele.me also tied its premium membership to Taobao’s 88VIP, leveraging high member stickiness from Taobao to boost Ele.me order frequency.

    For platforms, the fast migration of users and high usage frequency makes food delivery the best UV lever for JD.com to grow its instant retail business. But before that, onboarding a large number of restaurant merchants and recruiting a sufficient courier fleet are essential. Since launching JD Food Delivery on February 11, the platform has used a range of PR tactics to become a major industry topic, quickly moving beyond its cold start into a phase of explosive growth.

    • Late February: JD took the lead in advocating reform in the food delivery sector, focusing on courier welfare. This proactive stance gave JD the upper hand in the initial “war of words”. With value-driven messaging and concrete policy support, JD.com gained public recognition and courier endorsement.
    • In April, JD.com and Meituan entered a second round of confrontation. JD.com issued an open letter condemning Meituan’s various “misdeeds” and simultaneously rolled out new support policies and promotional benefits, once again pushing “JD Food Delivery” into the spotlight across the internet. The following day, “Liu Qiangdong Takes on Food Delivery” showcased JD’s strong commitment to developing its food delivery business. With a light-hearted and humorous public image, Liu won over netizens, who jokingly dubbed his delivery persona “GG Bond”. This, coupled with the platform’s swift marketing response, sparked a new wave of viral attention.

    During this second “war of words” wave, although Meituan responded swiftly with rebuttals, and some couriers questioned the accuracy of JD’s claims on social media, the incentives offered by JD helped counterbalance earlier criticism. However, overall, the various incentives released by the platform are helping to offset the negative public opinion caused by early-stage issues. JD has still managed to earn the trust of most merchants and couriers.

    Table 5: Platform-level New User Scale Growth

    Average Daily New Users Meituan App JD App
    January 2,031,496 862,633
    February 1,168,203 807,748
    March 1,265,657 889,403
    April 1,331,168 1,484,954

    Data Source: MoonFox iApp, Data Cycle: January 1, 2025 – April 27, 2025

    Table 6: Key Events in the 2025 “Food Delivery Battle”

    Key Date JD.com Actions Meituan Responses
    February 24 JD Food Delivery announced “Three Key Policies”: no commission all year, full social insurance for full-time couriers, and mandatory dine-in capability for merchants Meituan launched the “City Defense Plan”, lowering core merchant commissions from 23% to 6% – 8%.
    April 14 JD launched “Self-operated Instant Delivery” Meituan Flash Sale launched.
    April 21 JD issued an open letter: accusing Meituan of forcing couriers to choose one platform and announced plans to recruit 100,000 full-time couriers and offer a “late delivery, free meal” policy. Meituan denied the accusations and ramped up subsidies.
    April 22 JD Food Delivery surpassed 10 million daily orders; “Liu Qiangdong Takes on Food Delivery” trended online.

    IV. The “Food Delivery Battle” Ushers in a New Era of Instant Retail Competition

    In April, amid the intense “Food Delivery Battle” between JD.com and Meituan, both Meituan “Flash Sale” and JD’s “Self-operated Instant Delivery” services were launched simultaneously.

    Just ahead of the Labor Day holiday, “Taobao Flash Sale” went live in 50 cities, followed by a nationwide rollout on May 2. To drive up order frequency during the holiday, Taobao partnered with Ele.me to issue substantial consumer subsidies such as free-order card and treat-voucher card.

    According to MoonFox Data, since April 2025, JD.com’s daily new user volume has continuously increased, and has surpassed Meituan’s since April 16. Since the launch of its food delivery service, JD.com has also seen a steady rise in average user online time. As of April 23, average daily online time reached 14.27 minutes per user, increased by 54% compared with the same period last year.

    Table 7: Changes in JD.com’s Active User Online Time

    Month Average Usage Time (mins/month)

    MoM Changes
    2024-4 276.31 -4.3 %
    2024-5 300.10 8.6 %
    2024-6 310.27 3.4 %
    2024-7 292.11 -5.9 %
    2024-8 291.60 -0.2 %
    2024-9 309.98 6.3 %
    2024-10 337.85 9.0 %
    2024-11 332.55 -1.6 %
    2024-12 319.87 -3.8 %
    2025-1 329.24 2.9 %
    2025-2 310.20 -5.8 %
    2025-3 343.47 10.7 %
    2025-4 384.93 12.1 %

    Data Source: MoonFox iApp, Data Cycle: April 28, 2024 – April 23, 2025

    Despite reports of issues such as “inefficient processes” and “system bugs” with JD Food Delivery, there are still many shortcomings in the courier operation procedures that need to be addressed. However, driven by benefits related to commission rates and employee protection, a large number of couriers are switching platforms, while food delivery merchants and offline stores are also accelerating their entry into “JD Instant Delivery”. With intensified investment in business development models, infrastructure construction, and supporting policies, both JD and Meituan are stepping up efforts to seize market share.

    Table 8: Platform Characteristics Comparison

    Infrastructure JD Instant Delivery Meituan Flash Sale
    Warehouse Mode Centralized Warehouses (self-operated) + Branded Stores (as front warehouses) Flash Warehouse + Offline Retail Stores
    Delivery Service DADA Instant Delivery(contracted couriers) + JD Logistics Third-party Service Provider Contracted Couriers
    Introduction Stage

    Policy Advantages

    		 0% commission for select premium merchants

    “Billion-RMB Subsidy” campaign for JD Food Delivery users

    Job & insurance support for couriers

    		 0% commission for Flash Warehouse franchising (initial investment > RMB 300K)

    Exclusive UV privilege, “Climbing Plan” course and customized support for new merchants
    Digital Platform JD Instant Delivery Open Platform Meituan Morning Glory System
    Coverage Area As of May 2024, JD Instant Delivery has covered 2,300 counties/cities, with 500K+ partner stores As of October 2024, Meituan has had over 30K flash warehouses
    UV Entrance JD App (homepage + search bar) Meituan Homepage + Meituan Food Delivery

    Data Source: Public information, compiled by MoonFox Research Institute

    Meituan’s instant retail business is an extension of its food delivery capabilities, relying on third-party franchises and offline retail store partnerships for warehousing, and service-provider-based courier models. This asset-light strategy plays to Meituan’s platform operation strengths, enabling rapid territorial expansion across cities.

    JD’s instant retail business places greater emphasis on its “self-operated” model, leveraging its early investments in e-commerce warehousing as a key foundation. It expands operations based on regional fulfillment centers while strengthening partnerships with offline stores, particularly branded chain stores, to enhance delivery efficiency and ensure product quality, a strategy that aligns with users’ existing perception of JD’s authenticity and logistics capabilities in e-commerce. The supply of local couriers primarily relies on contracted riders from DADA Instant Delivery. In recent years, JD Group’s increasing equity stake in DADA has further strengthened its influence over last-mile delivery in the instant retail sector.

    The attention generated by the “Food Delivery Battle” and the boom of instant retail has created invisible pressure for traditional e-commerce giants like Taobao. Taobao, backed by Alibaba’s vast ecosystem, including Tmall Supermarket, Amap, Ele.me, Freshippo, and Alipay, has promising opportunities in the local life service sector. However, the coordination between different business units and the logistics efficiency within the last 3 to 5 kilometers remain key challenges that the platform must overcome to scale its instant retail business.

    At present, Taobao Flash Sale appears to be a combination of Ele.me’s original food delivery services and Taobao’s previous “hourly delivery” feature, swiftly entering the competition to drive UV and user engagement. During the Labor Day holiday, topics such as #Taobao Flash Sale Crashed# even trended on social media platforms.

    For Meituan, instant retail represents a new growth engine; For JD.com, it is a strategic lever to drive growth across its entire e-commerce ecosystem. Compared with the overt and covert competition between the two giants, the rapid launch of Taobao Flash Sale is more of a defensive move. Its long-term prospects remain to be seen. For now, all major platforms are still focused on strengthening infrastructure and optimizing operational efficiency, with instant retail shaping up to be a long-term battle.

    About MoonFox Data

    As a sub-brand of Aurora Mobile, MoonFox Data is a leading expert in data insights and analysis services across all scenarios. With a comprehensive, stable, secure and compliant mobile big data foundation, as well as professional and precise data analysis technology and AI algorithms, MoonFox Data has launched iAPP, iBrand, iMarketing, Alternative Data and professional research and consulting services of MoonFox Research, aiming to help companies gain insights into market growth and make accurate business decisions.

    About Aurora Mobile

    Aurora Mobile (NASDAQ: JG) established in 2011, is a leading customer engagement and marketing technology service provider in China. Its business includes notification services, marketing growth, development tools, and data products.

    For Media Inquiries:

    Contact: zhouxt@jiguang.cn | Website: http://www.moonfox.cn/en

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Edward S Robinson: Welcome remarks – 12th Asian Monetary Policy Forum

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning.
    Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, 
    Managing Director Chia Der Jiun,
    Distinguished speakers, central bank colleagues,
    Honoured Guests.

    Introduction

    Thank you for taking the time to be here for the 12th Asian Monetary Policy Forum. We are greatly honoured that DPM Heng Swee Keat has been able to join us. He provided the impetus to the inception of ABFER/AMPF a decade ago and has continued with strong counsel and encouragement.  DPM as a policymaker internalises the economic way of thinking. He applies careful and thoughtful analytical reasoning based on the evidence to a range of policy issues, including enhancing the economy’s macro-competitiveness. He has made significant contributions to the strengthening of Singapore’s international trade relationships and holds a deep conviction in the benefits of comparative advantage and broader economic complementarities across countries. DPM has played a pivotal role in ingraining the principles and practices that define Singapore’s robust, forward-looking approach to economic policy making. 

    The Global Economic Context

    In 2024, the global economy was showing clear signs of recovery. Inflation was easing, growth was holding steady at potential, and central banks were beginning to cut policy rates. Yet today, prospects have darkened against conditions of underlying unpredictability.

    The Economics of Protectionism

    Economists readily acknowledge the firm case against protectionism. Import taxes destroy trade benefits by disrupting efficient resource allocation and reducing consumer surplus, as domestic households face higher prices and fewer choices. Both the targeted and tariff-imposing economies suffer. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Birmingham joins global cities Kyoto and Jaipur as World Craft City status awarded

    Source: City of Birmingham

    Birmingham has officially been recognised as a World Craft City – making it one of just eight in Europe to receive the prestigious designation from the World Crafts Council.

    This signifies a landmark moment for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, placing the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter – home to an internationally renowned community of jewellers, makers and creative businesses – firmly on the global stage.

    Led by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) and co-applicants Birmingham City University, a bid for World Craft City status was supported by Birmingham City Council and the Goldsmiths Company and submitted in October 2024.

    A rigorous application and judging process took place, with an international panel of judges visiting Birmingham in April 2025.

    During the judging visit, the international panel experienced the Quarter’s vibrant ecosystem of heritage and innovation first-hand. Their tour included a visit to the iconic School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University – established in 1890 and housed in a stunning Grade II-listed building on Vittoria Street – where they took part in a silversmithing workshop, viewed the artistry and craftsmanship of current students, and attended a special presentation delivered by BCU staff, the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands Derrick Anderson CBE, and representatives from world-renowned local jewellery firms.

    Elsewhere in the Jewellery Quarter, judges stopped at the Birmingham Assay Office, Cooksongold, and the historic Coffin Works. Across the three-day visit, dozens of businesses, institutions and individuals came together to demonstrate the area’s exceptional craft culture and its commitment to both preserving and evolving traditional skills.

    Cllr Saima Suleman, Birmingham City Council cabinet member for Digital, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said:

    “Being named a World Craft City is brilliant recognition for Birmingham and especially for the Jewellery Quarter. The Jewellery Quarter has long been celebrated for its craftsmanship and innovation, and this designation recognises the area’s heritage and enduring excellence.

    “This recognition will help bring new opportunities for investment, tourism and international partnerships. We are proud to support the creative communities driving this forward and look forward to seeing how this recognition will positively shape the city’s future”

    Matthew Bott, Chair, Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT), said:

    “This is a moment of real pride – not just for the Jewellery Quarter, but for Birmingham and the West Midlands. We’ve always known the value of what happens here, and now the world does too. Our thanks go to everyone who helped us reach this point, and we look forward to working with partners old and new to build on this incredible foundation.”

    David Mba, Vice Chancellor, Birmingham City University, said:

    “This is such exciting news. Being recognised as a World Craft City puts a global spotlight on the skills, creativity and community we have here in Birmingham. At the School of Jewellery, we already attract talented students and practitioners from across the world – but this recognition will help us go even further. It will strengthen our international reputation, open up new collaborations, and inspire even more promising students to come here to study, work and create – a perfect example of our strategic ambition to develop the talent for tomorrow”

    With the designation now confirmed, the JQDT, supported by City Curator Alex Nicholson-Evans, will use this recognition as a springboard for further ambition. Starting with launching the Birmingham Jewellery Biennial, the UK’s jewellery festival. Envisaged as a citywide celebration, plans for the Biennial include open studios, jewellery fairs, heritage tours, a trade conference and a flagship exhibition – shining a spotlight on both internationally acclaimed artists and emerging talent, selected through a UK-wide open call.

    The new status also opens the door to international partnerships, funding opportunities and collaborative projects – not just for the Jewellery Quarter, but for the city and wider region. With both the Jewellery Quarter and Stoke-on-Trent now recognised as World Craft Cities, the West Midlands is fast becoming a national leader in championing craft as culture. From Birmingham’s world-renowned jewellery sector and Stourbridge’s glass industry, to Walsall’s historic leather trade and Sandwell’s specialist textile industries, the region boasts extraordinary depth and density in making and manufacturing.

    The World Craft City designation is awarded by the World Crafts Council – a UNESCO-affiliated organisation – to places that demonstrate exceptional craft heritage, a strong maker community, and a clear commitment to developing craft into the future. The title is independently verified and peer-reviewed, making it a meaningful and credible marker of quality.

    WCC AISBL President, Mr Saad Al-Qaddumi, said:

    “The World Crafts Council AISBL International (WCC AISBL) is very happy to recognise Birmingham as a WCC-World Craft City for Jewellery and allied-trades. This title celebrates the city’s rich heritage, skilled artisans, creative designers, proud makers, and innovative contributions to the jewellery industry. It is a reflection of Birmingham’s continued leadership in heritage craftsmanship and its role in shaping the future of the jewellery trade and creative economy across the UK and globally.”

    To stay in the loop on the Birmingham Jewellery Biennial, you can register your interest by visiting: www.birminghamjewellerybiennial.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Vitaly Savelyev visited the exhibition of Russian unmanned technologies

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Vitaly Savelyev visited the exhibition of Russian unmanned technologies.

    Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Savelyev familiarized himself with promising technologies and solutions in the Russian unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry.

    The samples were presented at the public platform “Boiling Point” of the National Technological Initiative. The Deputy Prime Minister was shown more than 50 models of drones and examples of their implementation in various sectors of the economy and life.

    Vitaly Savelyev highly appreciated the presented samples. “The development of the high-tech UAS sector and the creation of a promising independent branch of the economy related to the creation and use of civilian unmanned aerial vehicles are the key tasks of the national project “Unmanned Aircraft Systems”. The solutions presented at the exhibition reflect a wide range of possibilities for their application. The growth of production dynamics and the commercial implementation of new technologies will contribute to strengthening national technological sovereignty and increasing the competitiveness of the domestic economy,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    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 –

  • Indian companies post satisfactory Q4 results despite global challenges: Bank of Baroda Report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Corporate performance of Indian companies in the fourth quarter of financial year 2025 remained satisfactory despite a tough global economic environment, according to a recent report by Bank of Baroda.

    The report highlighted that most companies are optimistic about their future growth prospects, and there is potential for further improvement once consumption demand picks up in FY26.

    The report said, “Corporate performance in Q4 FY25 was on the whole satisfactory and there is scope for an upward movement once consumption pick up in FY26. Importantly, despite a challenging global environment, companies remain positive on future growth prospects”.

    The report pointed out that certain sectors are already showing signs of recovery. Sectors linked to infrastructure are experiencing steady growth even though they are being compared to a high base from last year.

    In the case of consumer-related sectors like FMCG and consumer durables, strong rural demand and seasonal factors have played a key role in supporting recovery.

    The services sector has also continued to grow at a steady pace, driven by strong demand.

    The report noted that stable commodity prices, low inflation in India, a favourable monsoon outlook, trade agreements, government spending on infrastructure, and tax benefits are expected to be important drivers of growth and demand in the coming months.

    According to the report, aggregate net sales of a sample of 1,893 companies increased by 5.4 per cent in Q4 FY25, while net profits rose by 7.6 per cent. Expenses and interest costs remained under control, which helped improve the debt repayment ability of companies.

    However, some slowdown in sales was seen in large sectors such as oil and gas, textiles, and iron and steel. This had a negative impact on the overall performance of the sample. But the report suggested that this is likely a one-time occurrence and not a long-term concern.

    Similarly, the BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) sector, which performed strongly last year, saw some moderation in growth. This has been linked to a slowdown in credit growth.

    Overall, the report painted a positive picture of India Inc’s performance in Q4 FY25 and suggests that companies are well-positioned to benefit from improving demand and supportive policy measures in the next financial year.

    (ANI)

  • India urges deeper BRICS cooperation for building future-ready digital ecosystem

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready digital development at the 11th BRICS Communications Ministers’ Meeting held in Brasília, Brazil.
     
    Delivering India’s national statement, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, highlighted the country’s progress in digital governance under the theme set by Brazil’s BRICS presidency—Universal and Meaningful Connectivity, Space Sustainability, Environmental Sustainability, and the Digital Ecosystem.
     
    Dr. Chandra Sekhar showcased India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a global model for inclusive and transformative digital governance. He underlined the impact of flagship platforms such as Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI), stating that Aadhaar has empowered over 950 million Indians with secure digital identity and seamless access to services, while UPI has revolutionised real-time digital payments, contributing to 46 percent of the world’s digital transactions.
     
    He called upon BRICS nations to deepen collaboration and leverage digital public infrastructure for inclusive growth. “India’s DPI model, based on open and interoperable platforms, is a catalyst for good governance, financial inclusion and digital innovation while acting as a safeguard against monopolistic practices,” he added.
     
    Dr. Sekhar also spoke about India’s vibrant startup ecosystem, the growing digital skills network, and progressive legislations such as the Telecommunications Act and the Data Protection Act. Stressing the need for digital trust and user safety, he highlighted India’s Sanchar Saathi initiative to combat telecom-related fraud.
     
    The Minister emphasised the importance of international cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity, data protection and digital integrity, noting that the safety and trustworthiness of interconnected digital societies are crucial for the future.
     
    Reflecting on India’s digital progress, Dr. Sekhar said the country has transitioned from digital divide to digital leadership. He presented the Digital Bharat Nidhi programme as a flagship initiative that has supported projects like BharatNet, which now connects over 2.18 lakh gram panchayats through optical fibre. 
     
    He said that India’s indigenous development and mass deployment of 4G and 5G technologies have brought high-speed connectivity to over 95 percent of the population with 4G and more than 80 percent with 5G. India, he noted, also leads the world in affordable data access, with internet data prices as low as 12 cents per gigabyte.
     
    Speaking on the issue of space sustainability, the Minister said, “Space is no longer a distant frontier—it is now a vital part of our digital infrastructure.” He outlined India’s reforms in satellite communication, including streamlined SATCOM regulations and expanded licensing for mobile and IoT satellite services. He urged BRICS nations to work jointly on global issues such as orbital equity, spectrum management and space traffic regulation through cooperation rather than competition.
     
    Addressing environmental sustainability, Dr. Sekhar acknowledged the dual challenges of climate change and rising e-waste. Citing projections from the Global E-Waste Monitor, he warned that global e-waste could reach 82 billion kilograms by 2030. He informed the forum about India’s initiatives like the Green Development Pact from the G20 Summit in Delhi and the Panchamrit goals announced at COP-26. He urged BRICS members to adopt circular economy practices, integrate green energy into ICT infrastructure and support global frameworks like the ITU’s Green Digital Action.
     

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: RSH publishes its quarterly survey for Q4 2024-25

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    RSH publishes its quarterly survey for Q4 2024-25

    The report covers the period 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025. 

    The Regulator of Social Housing has today (Tuesday 3 June 2025) published the results of its latest quarterly survey of private registered providers’ financial health.

    Providers continued to build and acquire much-needed new social homes, spending £13.6bn in the 12 months to March 2025. This compares to £14.4 billion in the year to March 2024. 

    Over the next year, providers plan to spend a further £14.8bn on development, of which £10.7bn is committed. 

    This comes as housing associations continue to invest record amounts in existing stock. 12-month spend on repairs and maintenance totalled £9.0 billion, a 13% increase on the previous year, and the forecast  spend for the next 12 months also increased to a record £9.9 billion.  

    Lending to the sector remains strong, with £4.3 billion of new finance arranged in the quarter, the second highest level in almost five years. 

    Available liquidity increased to the highest level in two years, as both undrawn facilities and cash balances increased in the quarter. The level of cash and undrawn facilities would be sufficient to cover the sector’s forecast expenditure on net interest costs (£4.6 billion), loan repayments (£3.5 billion) and net development for the next year (£12.6 billion), even if no new debt facilities were arranged and no sales income were to be received. 

    The investment in existing and new homes alongside increased debt levels means that the level of aggregate cash interest cover (excluding sales) stood at 82% for the 12 months to March 2025, consistent with the previous quarter, and is forecast to remain restricted at an estimated 65% for the next year.

    75 providers (38%) anticipate reporting an impairment charge in their 2024/25 accounts. This compares to 66 (33%) in 2023/24 and 54 (27%) in 2022/23.  

    The total anticipated impairment charge is £407 million, of which £276 million relates to social housing assets. 

    Will Perry, Director of Strategy at RSH, said:  

    Landlords are continuing to build new homes for the future, although spend was lower this quarter as landlords invest record amounts on existing homes. These major investments to improve fire safety, damp and mould as well as other issues are vital for keeping tenants safe in their homes. 

    Landlords continue to make trade-offs in response to financial pressures but investor confidence remains strong and we will continue to support this through our regulation, including these surveys, as well as our inspections and stability check programme.” 

    Notes to editors

    1. The report is based on the financial regulatory returns from 200 private registered providers (housing associations and other private registered providers, including for-profits), who own or manage more than 1,000 homes.  

    2. Through its annual stability checks, RSH considers whether each provider’s current viability grade is consistent with the information contained in their regulatory returns. RSH focuses on indicators of financial robustness and evidence of any significant changes in risk profile.  

    3. RSH promotes a viable, efficient and well-governed social housing sector able to deliver more and better social homes. It does this by setting standards and carrying out robust regulation focusing on driving improvement in social landlords, including local authorities, and ensuring that housing associations are well-governed, financially viable and offer value for money. It takes appropriate action if the outcomes of the standards are not being delivered.

    4. For general enquiries email enquiries@rsh.gov.uk. For media enquiries please see our Media Enquiries page.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s lowest paid workers just got a 3.5% wage increase. Their next boost could be even better

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Buchanan, Professor, Discipline of Business Information Systems, University of Sydney Business School, University of Sydney

    Carlos Castilla/Shutterstock

    A week ago, the Australian Financial Review released this year’s “Rich List”. It reported the number of billionaires in Australia increased from 150 to 166 between 2024 and 2025.

    A very different story is happening at the other end of the market. On Tuesday the Fair Work Commission awarded the lowest paid 20% of wage earners a 3.5% increase as a result of its annual review.

    The commission acknowledged even with this increase, our lowest paid employees will not be earning as much in real terms as they did before the post-COVID inflationary surge of 2021-2022.

    Why such a meagre increase?

    In Australia it has long been accepted that – all things being equal – wages should move with both prices and productivity.

    Adjusting them for inflation ensures their real value is maintained. Adjusting them for productivity means employees share in rising prosperity associated with society becoming more productive over time.

    This “prices plus productivity” model of wage rises is, however, subject to economic circumstances. In recent times the key circumstance of concern has been inflation.

    Depending how it is measured it peaked at between 6.5% and 9.6% in 2022-2023.

    Since 2022, economic agencies such as the Reserve Bank and state treasuries, along with finance sector economists, have been preaching about the threat of inflation persisting.

    Cutting real wages to control inflation

    Interest rates were increased to tame the inflation dragon. And these
    agencies all issued dire warnings about the threat of long-term inflationary pressure if wages were adjusted to maintain lower and middle income earners living standards.

    In its last three decisions the Fair Work Commission accommodated this narrative. Since July 2021 it ensured wages for the lowest paid 20% of employees did not keep up with inflation.

    Unsurprisingly, real wages for award-dependent employees fell.

    The commission has done its best to look after those on the absolute lowest rates: that is the 1% or so on the national minimum wage.

    Their wages have fallen by 0.8% over the period since July 2021. For those in the middle of the bottom 20% of employees dependent on awards the fall has been in the order of 4.5%.

    For example, this is the fall experienced by an entry level tradesperson in manufacturing dependent on an award.

    Because inflation is currently running at about 2.4%, the 3.5% increase marks a modest 1% real wage gain for a worker on or close to the entry level manufacturing tradesperson rates.

    In making this increase, the commission argued if real wage cuts continued, the entrenchment of lower minimum award rates was likely. It noted the economy is in pretty good shape – not just in terms of inflation and employment – but also many firms are turning a profit.

    What about productivity?

    The other striking feature of the post-COVID economic recovery has been poor productivity performance. It initially went backwards and more recently has flatlined.

    The commission rejected arguments recent poor performance in national productivity numbers should prevent raising the minimum award higher than inflation.

    It did this because it distinguished between productivity in the market and non-market sectors. In the former, productivity growth has been modest, but positive.

    Poor numbers in the non-market sector like health and social services were an artefact of both measurement problems and the need for more workers per unit output to boost the quality of these services.

    Silver linings?

    It is always a judgement call as to what is the appropriate scale of any wage increase. Given low paid workers were not the source of recent inflationary pressure, it is reasonable to claim now is the time to reverse the recent trends of cutting their real wages.

    Whether the increase had to be so modest is something the commission has
    indicated it is open to considering in future hearings. It has sent this signal by floating two novel arguments.

    The first argument concerns how cuts in real pay are calculated. In its decision it makes the very important point that conventional measures of real wage movements use monthly measures of inflation but wages only increase annually.

    It’s on this basis the 4.5% cut for the benchmark entry level trade worker in manufacturing was calculated.

    The commission notes, however, that if you take into account wages only rise once a year and inflation rises continuously, the overall loss of earnings power for such workers has been 14.4% since July 2021.

    This is a much higher account of real wage cuts than has previously informed debates on wages policy.


    FairWork Commission Annual Wage Review 2025, CC BY-NC-ND

    Secondly, the commission has noted consideration should be given to phasing out some of the lowest classifications in the award system. This is something it has done in the past.

    In this way it does not have to “increase rates” for low paid
    classifications as such. Rather, it just eliminates the possibility of having rates for exceptionally low paid jobs – and so raises the base rates dramatically for the lowest paid workers.

    Next year, things could be better. Australia has a long history of having a wages system that takes seriously the needs of all workers, and especially the low paid. This decision marks a break with the recent habit of using the lowest paid workers as a shock absorber for macroeconomic policy.

    The 3.5% rise is a modest increase but an important one. More important is the framework the commission has set up for decisions in future years. Devising a more accurate measure of real wage cuts and noting the importance of abolishing whole classifications of low paid work lays the foundations for potentially very exciting developments in Australian wages policy in coming years.

    John Buchanan has undertaken research on wages policy for over forty years. His most recent work has been supported by funding provided by the Electrical Trades Union, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, the Queensland Nurses and Midwives Union and the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (NSW Branch). He is member of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and Branch Council Member of that union at the University of Sydney.

    – ref. Australia’s lowest paid workers just got a 3.5% wage increase. Their next boost could be even better – https://theconversation.com/australias-lowest-paid-workers-just-got-a-3-5-wage-increase-their-next-boost-could-be-even-better-258072

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: 26 Degrees selects QuantHouse for enhanced US equities coverage

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sydney, London, New York, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Iress today announced that 26 Degrees Global Markets, the multi-asset prime broker, has added the QuantHouse Cboe One Feed to its US equity data coverage, further expanding its US trading capabilities and enhancing its offering for retail brokers seeking ‘out of hours’ access to US markets.

    The Cboe One Feed is the latest QuantHouse market data feed for Sydney-headquartered 26 Degrees and complements existing feeds for multi-asset data from North America, Europe and APAC trading venues.

    The addition of QuantHouse Cboe One Feed data will support 26 Degrees in the delivery of innovative and client-centric solutions to their global client base, and also reflects growing industry demand for extended market access, particularly in Asia. The Cboe One Feed offers consolidated, real-time market data from Cboe’s four US equities exchanges – which collectively account for 21.2%* of US equities on-exchange trading. This includes data from the early hours trading session (4am – 7am ET), during which Cboe has a 40.5% market share*.

    QuantHouse’s Head of EMEA & APAC Sales and Business Development, Rob Kirby, said: “The integration of the new Cboe One Feed by 26 Degrees enhances its US market data coverage considerably, supporting CFD retail flow and meeting growing investor appetite, particularly in Asia, to trade around the clock. We are delighted to continue to support 26 Degrees’ growth strategy with efficient, low latency access to market data from around the world, through a single connection.”

    26 Degrees’ Group Chief Commercial Officer, James Alexander, added: “26 Degrees’ long-standing partnership with QuantHouse ensures our clients benefit from reliable, low-latency market data. By integrating new Cboe One Feed market data within our QuantHouse API interface, we can offer traders, particularly in Asia, unparalleled access to US markets, unlocking new growth opportunities.”

    Adam Inzirillo, Cboe’s Global Head of Data Vantage, said: “We are pleased that 26 Degrees and its clients now have access to the Cboe One Feed, which represents a comprehensive, reliable and high-quality source of US equities market data. Cboe is committed to meet the growing international demand for access to US markets, by delivering high-quality market data as efficiently as possible.”

    QuantHouse continues to expand its global market data reach and connectivity. The Cboe One Feed complements existing US equity venues and other exchange feeds across Canada, Europe and Asia Pacific regions, including Blue Ocean Technologies ATS, created specifically to enable global investors to trade US equities outside of New York Eastern Time market hours.

    For more information on accessing US Equities market data via QuantHouse, a division of Iress, clients are encouraged to contact their account manager.

    * Data 2025 YTD (January – May), excludes off-exchange trading reported through the Trade Reporting Facility (TRF)

    Ends

    For further details, please contact:
    Melanie Budden
    Mobile: +44 (0) 7974 937970
    Email: melanie.budden@therealizationgroup.com

    About QuantHouse
    QuantHouse (part of Iress) is a leading provider of international market data. It delivers high-performance API data feeds, historical and analytics data products it has crafted over the past 20+years to hedge funds, investment banks, brokers, market makers, financial technology providers and trading venues supporting integrated trading strategies, applications, and analytic databases.

    For more information please visit the website.

    About Iress
    Iress (IRE.ASX) is a technology company providing software to the financial services industry. We provide software and services for trading & market data, financial advice, investment management, superannuation, life & pensions and data intelligence in Asia-Pacific, North America, Africa, the UK and Europe. 

    www.iress.com

    About 26 Degrees
    26 Degrees Global Markets is an award-winning multi-asset Prime Broker specialising in providing prime services to broker-dealers, hedge funds, proprietary trading firms and family offices globally. With over a decade of proven history under former brand Invast Global, 26 Degrees is continuing to revolutionise the prime brokerage space by providing bespoke and innovative solutions to their clients internationally and responding quickly to the constantly evolving institutional client needs. 

    The MIL Network –