Category: Entertainment

MIL-OSI Russia: Fire breaks out in old commercial building in Seoul

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

SEOUL, May 28 (Xinhua) — A fire broke out at an old commercial building in Seoul on Wednesday, South Korean media reported.

The incident occurred at around 3:25 p.m. local time, and there are no confirmed casualties. Television footage showed a thick plume of black smoke in central Seoul.

Some media outlets noted that firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire because there were too many stores in the building. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 29, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Comedian Roy Wood Jr. vs. NASA Acronyms

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

What does EVA mean? How about HST? We asked comedian and TV host Roy Wood Jr. what some common NASA acronyms mean.

Credit: NASA

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

MIL OSI Video –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ17: Coping with extreme weather

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ17: Coping with extreme weather
Question:

There are views pointing out that in recent years, Hong Kong has been affected time and again by localised rainstorms, super typhoons and even very hot weather, thereby exposing the safety as well as lives and properties of members of the public to a greater risk. On coping with extreme weather, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective numbers of weather warnings and signals issued by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) in each of the past five years (set out by type of weather warnings and signals);

(2) in order to cope with extreme weather (including super typhoons and severe rainstorms) that may occur in Hong Kong, of the details of the interdepartmental drills conducted and contingency plans drawn up by various government departments so far this year (including the number of government departments and personnel involved); whether various government departments have put in place a comprehensive contingency mechanism for coping with extreme weather to assist members of the public and disseminate the relevant information in a timely manner;

(3) given that in the past, flooding and landslides frequently occurred in some districts (including Chai Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Wan Chai, Yuen Long and Tsim Sha Tsui) during rainstorm, whether the authorities have increased the supporting staff for flood and disaster prevention work specifically for those districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether the authorities will formulate a mechanism to require the relevant government departments to take corresponding measures in the districts concerned simultaneously when the Localised Heavy Rain Advisory was issued by the HKO, e.g. strengthening local flood monitoring and deploying manpower to clear the drains, with a view to preventing the occurrence of localised large-scale flooding;

(5) given that the 2023 Policy Address indicated that the Drainage Services Department would complete the “Strategic Planning Study on Flood Management against Sea Level Rise and Extreme Rainfall” and develop a forward-looking strategy, of the progress of the relevant work and the findings of the Study; whether the Government has set aside resources for the implementation of the recommendations of the Study and the construction of the relevant infrastructure facilities; and

(6) whether it has further stepped up public education on disaster preparedness, e.g. regularly arranging for members of the public and students to participate in disaster prevention exercise, and teaching members of the public the corresponding measures to take when extreme weather and even natural disasters occur; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will strengthen such efforts in the future?

Reply:

President,

The responses to the various parts of the question are as follows:

(1) Based on the information provided by the Environment and Ecology Bureau and the Hong Kong Observatory, the number of various warnings and signals issued by the Observatory in the past five years is set out below:

(i) Number of Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals issued

Year (ii) Number of Thunderstorm Warning, Special Announcement on Flooding in the northern New Territories, Rainstorm Warning Signal and Landslip Warning issued

Year(iii) Number of other warning and signal issued

Year(2) After consultation with the Security Bureau and the Home Affairs Department, our reply is as follows:

The Government has implemented the following measures in relation to emergency response mechanisms, interdepartmental drills, and the provision of timely assistance and dissemination of relevant information:

To address extreme weather events, the Security Bureau has formulated the Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters, which sets out the Government’s strategies, organisational framework, and alerting system for dealing with natural disasters, as well as the functions and responsibilities of Government bureaux/departments, public utility companies, and non-governmental organisations in the events of natural disasters. When major natural disasters happen, the Security Bureau will immediately activate the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre to co-ordinate a comprehensive response and collaborate the actions of relevant departments and organisations (including their emergency control centres) to ensure the incidents are handled swiftly and effectively.

In the event of super typhoons or other large-scale natural disasters, the Chief Secretary for Administration will convene an interdepartmental Steering Committee meeting for provisioning high-level co-ordination and supervision in the various stages of preparedness, contingency and recovery as well as setting priorities for various tasks, thereby enabling the normal daily living of the community to resume as quickly as practicable. If a natural disaster has caused extreme and widespread impacts, such as widespread flooding, severe landslides, or severe disruption to public transportation services, the Steering Committee will consider making an “extreme conditions” announcement to advise members of the public to remain in their original safe locations.

The Security Bureau has been organising interdepartmental drills to enhance communication and collaboration among various government departments under different extreme weather conditions. Through the drills with various testing scenarios, the departments’ emergency plans will be refined. As at May 18 this year, the Security Bureau and relevant departments had conducted a total of 10 drills related to extreme weather, involving 33 policy bureaux and departments, with a total of 960 participants. For areas vulnerable to flooding or seawater inundation, the respective District Offices will also conduct interdepartmental drills before the typhoon season to strengthen co-ordination among departments, enhance response capabilities and raise residents’ understanding of response arrangements.

The Government will also, as appropriate, disseminate to the public the latest weather forecasts, natural disaster alerts, and related information including flooding, landslides, and traffic arrangements for affected roads through the Information Services Department, the media and social media platforms.

(3) The Drainage Services Department (DSD) is currently taking forward 15 major drainage improvement works and it is anticipated that these projects will be completed progressively by 2030. These projects include works in the abovementioned areas of concern, namely Chai Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long, and Tsim Sha Tsui (Note). In recent years, the DSD has also completed a number of minor works in these districts, including improvement works to the drainage systems near Chai Wan Road roundabout and in Wong Tai Sin.

The DSD has identified around 240 locations prone to blockage in Hong Kong. Whenever the Hong Kong Observatory forecasts severe rainstorm, the DSD will arrange and deploy resources to step up their inspections and, where necessary, carry out immediate clearance of blocked drains to ensure proper functioning of the drainage system.

In relation to landslides, apart from conducting regular inspections of slopes under their maintenance responsibilities, relevant government departments need to additionally carry out special inspections for government man-made slopes adjacent to sole accesses to community or important livelihood facilities before each wet season. This helps minimise the potential impact on people’s lives due to incidents on these slopes. The relevant inspections were completed before the wet season this year. On the other hand, the Geotechnical Engineering Office will remind private owners to complete all regular slope inspections and the necessary slope maintenance before the onset of wet season through letters, social media posts, television promotional videos, radio broadcasts and media briefings, etc.

(4) The DSD has been working closely with the Hong Kong Observatory and has implemented the “Just-in-time Clearance” arrangement since 2020. Under this arrangement, when the Observatory forecasts severe rainstorms, the DSD will immediately deploy manpower to inspect locations prone to blockage and clear any blocked drains, thereby reducing the risk of flooding during heavy rainstorms. Since 2022, the DSD has taken proactive measures to further enhance its preparatory measures following the Hong Kong Observatory’s issuance of the Localised Heavy Rain Advisory. During periods of heavy rainstorms, the DSD, depending on the rainfall severity, will increase the number of emergency response teams to 180 teams. These teams are deployed to various districts to promptly handle flooding incidents so as to minimise the impact of flooding on the public.

The DSD also adopts innovative technologies, including the deployment of powerful pumping robots, piloting artificial intelligence-based flood monitoring systems, and the use of new flood monitoring devices, such as Flood Monitoring Devices, and dissemination of real-time water level information.

(5) The DSD completed the “Strategic Planning Study on Flood Management Against Sea Level Rise and Extreme Rainfall”, and the findings and recommendations were presented at the meeting of the Panel on Development held on May 27, 2025. Please refer to the relevant document for details www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/english/panels/dev/papers/dev20250527cb1-904-4-e.pdf
(6) To enhance public awareness of disaster preparedness, departments under the Security Bureau carry out publicity and education through websites, social media platforms, and carnival events. In addition, the DSD promotes awareness of the risks associated with extreme weather and the corresponding measures to the public and stakeholders through a variety of channels, including TV promotional videos, publications, and outreach education programmes. The DSD also assists the property management sector to understand appropriate actions to take during flooding incidents. The Civil Engineering and Development Department also formulates action plans to address floods in low-lying coastal areas, maintains communication with residents and raises awareness of climate change through various activities. Furthermore, the Geotechnical Engineering Office promotes public awareness of slope safety through public education and publicity activities, including exhibitions and talks in shopping malls and schools, and providing maintenance advice to private slope owners.

Note: Major drainage improvement works in Chai Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Yuen Long and Tsim Sha Tsui include: (i) Drainage improvement works in Eastern District – phase 1, (ii) Drainage improvement works in Wong Tai Sin, (iii) Yuen Long Barrage Scheme, (iv) Improvement of Yuen Long Town Nullah (town centre section), (v) Drainage improvement works at Yuen Long – stage 2 and (vi) Drainage Improvement Works in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Issued at HKT 17:12

NNNN

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025

MIL-OSI China: Full Text: Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit

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

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — The following is the full text of the Joint Statement of the Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) and China released on Tuesday:

Joint Statement of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit

WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and the People’s Republic of China, gathered on the occasion of the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit on 27 May 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;

ACKNOWLEDGING the long-lasting and deeply-rooted historical and civilizational linkage and economic ties among ASEAN, China and GCC;

RECOGNIZING the close and mutually-beneficial economic collaboration and cooperation among ASEAN, China and GCC;

REAFFIRMING our desire to further promote ASEAN-China-GCC relations, guided by fundamental principles and shared values, norms and commitments, including those enunciated in the United Nations Charter;

UNDERSCORING the importance of regionalism and multilateralism, regional unity and international law in addressing shared challenges, while upholding ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture to foster peace, stability, development and prosperity;

UNDERSCORING the importance of GCC’s critical role to foster peace, security, stability, development, prosperity and dialogue;

APPRECIATING China’s crucial role in promoting peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development in regional and international affairs;

ENDEAVORING to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity, through mutual respect and cooperation between countries and regions to achieve development and progress based on adherence to international law, including the UN Charter, the principles of good neighbourliness, and respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity, non-interference in their internal affairs, and refraining from the threat or use of force, and settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means;

ACKNOWLEDGING the importance of strengthening relations among ASEAN, China and GCC in promoting regional cooperation and economic development in the broader Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern contexts;

RECOGNIZING that ASEAN, China and GCC encompass diverse and complementary economies which create enormous potential, broad prospects and new opportunities for greater cross-sectoral trade, investment and economic collaboration;

RECOGNIZING the increasing importance of fostering closer economic collaboration among our regions, and reiterating our shared commitment to strengthening our partnerships to promote economic and sustainable development;

RECOGNIZING the need to strengthen confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core to protect businesses, consumers worldwide and livelihoods of people in our regions;

REAFFIRMING our resolve to enhance economic resilience and environmental sustainability, and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial to our peoples and future generations;

ACKNOWLEDGING our joint efforts to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN, China and GCC and China’s vision to build a closer China-ASEAN Community with a shared future and a China-Arab Community with a shared future in the new era;

EXPLORING cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crime, cybercrime, counter-terrorism and extremism;

The Leaders expressed grave concerns over the developments in the Middle East and agreed on the following:

— Condemn all attacks against civilians and call for a durable ceasefire and for all concerned parties to ensure the most effective and efficient access for humanitarian aid, and relief supplies and other basic necessities and essential services, as well as the restoration of electricity and water, and allow the unhindered delivery of fuel, food and medicine throughout Gaza;

— Call on all parties to the conflict to protect civilians, refrain from targeting them and to abide by international humanitarian law, particularly the principles and provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949;

— Acknowledge the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, which is of the opinion, among others, that the UN, and especially the General Assembly, which requested this opinion, and the Security Council, should consider the precise modalities and further action required to bring to an end as rapidly as possible the unlawful presence of the State of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory;

— Support the ongoing efforts to release all hostages and those under arbitrary detention;

— Urge all parties concerned to work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict with a view to realizing the two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders; in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN General Assembly resolutions, including UNGA resolution A/RES/ES-10/23 on the Admission on New Members to the UN dated 10 May 2024;

— Support the efforts of the global alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, and note the initiatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in cooperation with the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union towards realizing an independent Palestinian state;

— Recognized Qatar’s mediation efforts to reach ceasefire and facilitate aid delivery and China’s efforts towards Palestinian internal reconciliation, particularly its role in facilitating the signing of the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity by Palestinian factions in July 2024 in Beijing;

— Welcome the Resolution of the UN General Assembly adopted on 11 December 2024, in which the General Assembly, inter alia, called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and called upon all parties to enable the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to carry out its mandate, as adopted by the General Assembly, in all areas of operation with full respect for the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

With firm resolve, we pledged to advance the spirit of inclusivity, sustainability, resilience and equal partnership, charting a united and collective path toward a peaceful, prosperous and equitable future.

We hereby:

Economic Integration

1. Decide to foster collaboration that promotes economic prosperity, resilience and sustainable development among ASEAN, China and GCC, based on mutual respect, mutual trust, and mutual benefit, and anchored on the principles of inclusivity and sustainability in engaging all interested partners.

2. Commit to enhancing economic cooperation by leveraging the complementarities among ASEAN, China and GCC. Priority will be given to:

(i) Reaffirming the central and indispensable role of the WTO at the core of the rules-based multilateral trading system, which provides a predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory and open global trading system;

(ii) Exploring cooperation, including through the priority areas of the Global Development Initiative and various frameworks or initiatives by ASEAN and GCC, to facilitate the attainment of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

(iii) Promoting free trade and welcoming the full conclusion of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations, and looking forward to its early signing and entering into force, as well as an early conclusion of the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement negotiations;

(iv) Enhancing industrial and supply chain resilience and fostering sustainable trade practices for new economic opportunities in potential areas in emerging and future-oriented industries such as the digital and green economy and technologies;

(v) Exploring the establishment of a regional business council to facilitate dialogue between businesses from ASEAN, China and GCC in supporting enhanced trade and investment flows and the development of regional value chains;

(vi) Exploring regional financial cooperation, including capital markets, and financial technology among others, while empowering micro, small and medium enterprises;

(vii) Exploring cooperation on local currency and cross-border payments;

(viii) Taking coordinated and comprehensive actions to prevent and fight corruption.

Connectivity

3. Enhance connectivity through:

(i) Promoting high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and seamless connectivity, including through the development of logistics corridors and digital platforms;

(ii) Promoting sustainable infrastructure development in supporting interconnected and seamless economic diversification, growth and sustainability;

(iii) Exploring further cooperation to enhance infrastructure development for seamless and efficient connectivity, including recognizing the importance of maintaining and promoting maritime safety and security, given the importance of oceans and seas as key factors in driving growth and prosperity in the respective regions.

Energy Security and Sustainability

4. Acknowledge the global imperative for sustainable resilience and energy transition with the aim to collaborate on:

(i) Working together towards a sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive and orderly energy transitions in line with the Paris Agreement;

(ii) Supporting global energy market stability and adopting a balanced approach that does not exclude energy sources but instead innovates technologies that enable emissions management and efficient use of all energy sources to facilitate sustainable economic growth for all;

(iii) Working to diversify and secure supply chains globally in line with international best practices, including for critical energy transition minerals, and encourage resource efficiency, while respecting applicable national laws and regulations;

(iv) Recognizing the strategic importance of our cooperation on stable, reliable, and sustainable energy markets to reduce volatility and to enhance the security of energy supply. We recall the urgent need to address climate change and stress the importance of the energy transition;

(v) Exploring new business opportunities, including the development of clean energy;

(vi) Enhancing knowledge exchange and collaboration on renewable energy, clean/green energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), biofuel, bio-LNG (liquefied natural gas), low carbon hydrogen, low carbon ammonia, and sustainable fuels, as well as energy efficiency policies, regulatory frameworks, technology and innovations consistent with the national priorities of each country;

(vii) Strengthening training and capacity-building initiatives in areas such as nuclear safety, security and safeguards, reactor technology, nuclear and radioactive waste management, regulatory infrastructure, and civilian nuclear energy development that is guided by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards, guidance and international best practices, and advancements in and energy storage technologies to support informed decision-making and policy development for civilian nuclear energy;

(viii) Driving the strategic development of initiatives on hydrogen and ammonia technologies, oil and LNG supply chains and infrastructure, upstream LNG projects, methane abatement and emissions reduction to support both energy security and the transition to cleaner fuels;

(ix) Encouraging private and public sector investments and partnerships in energy infrastructure development, including subsea power cables, and cross-border transmission projects under related initiatives of ASEAN, China and GCC, to advance multilateral power trade for greater regional energy connectivity, resilience, and market integration, including through renewable energy generation and LNG terminals;

(x) Promoting cooperation on environmental sustainability, including climate action, disaster management, biodiversity conservation, monitoring the state of the marine environment, air and soil quality, industrial inspection, and pollution control by leveraging on new technological advancements, the exchange of knowledge, scientific expertise, technology, and training and strengthening multilateralism and climate solidarity;

(xi) Developing joint research and innovation initiatives on emerging technologies such as direct air capture, enhanced geothermal systems, and next-generation solar and wind technologies to support long-term energy sustainability and low-carbon solutions;

(xii) Sharing of knowledge and best practices on green skills development of workforce to support just transition to renewable energy.

Digital Transformation and Innovation

5. Pursue opportunities in digital innovation and technology by:

(i) Exploring a cross-regional framework to promote the digital economy, in areas such as digital trade, e-commerce, digital payment, fintech, artificial intelligence, start-ups and data security cooperation;

(ii) Exploring partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, and smart cities development and advanced technological infrastructure;

(iii) Supporting cooperation in the development of digital skills and digital literacy programmes to ensure inclusive participation in the digital age, and promoting platform work with inclusive social protection.

Food and Agriculture

6. Recognize the potential for cooperation in the food and agriculture sector and commit to:

(i) Promoting sustainable agriculture, including through reducing harmful agrochemicals, promoting digitalization, advancing nature-based solutions and fostering public-private partnerships;

(ii) Exploring cooperation in the field of halal food through the exchange of information and sharing of experiences on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s national systems, laws and policies;

(iii) Supporting efforts to strengthen food security, nutrition and distribution, including through enhancing productivity and sustainability efforts, promoting the diversification of food sources, strengthening the quality and variety of food production, and supporting the generation and diffusion of new and sustainable technologies;

(iv) Promoting the trade of food and agricultural products and technologies cooperation.

People-to-People Exchange

7. Foster greater understanding and connectivity among our peoples by:

(i) Promoting high-quality tourism and cross-regional marketing campaigns, including culture and heritage tourism, ecotourism, and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions tourism, among other segments, and fostering an exchange of best practices in tourism digitalization and tourism destination management;

(ii) Promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations and cultures to advance mutual understanding and friendship as well as respect for diversity and welcoming the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution of International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations;

(iii) Exploring opportunities to enhance mutual understanding and friendship while fostering cultural exchanges through art, music and literature programmes, especially among youth and ethnic groups;

(iv) Strengthening cooperation in education through the exchanges of students and educational personnel, scholarships programmes and joint research initiatives, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

8. Implement the Joint Statement through mutually agreed activities among ASEAN, China and GCC, including through existing mechanisms such as the ASEAN-GCC, China-ASEAN and China-GCC mechanisms.

9. Reaffirm our collective resolve to work hand-in-hand to unlock the full potential of our partnership, and to ensure that our cooperation translates into tangible benefits for our peoples and communities.

10. Welcome the third Asia Cooperation Dialogue Summit in Doha on 3 October 2024;

11. Note ASEAN’s initiatives on its priority areas, such as:

— ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future;

— ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP);

— The ASEAN Power Grid;

— Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP);

— The Action Plan on Sustainable Agriculture in ASEAN.

12. Note GCC’s initiatives on its priority areas, such as:

— The Global Logistics Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 12-14 October 2024;

— The First Global Food Security Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 25-26 November 2024;

— United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 2024;

— Sustainable Development Week in Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 2025;

— International Conference in Support of Syria 2025;

— The International Conference on Food Security in Yemen, 27-28 October 2025;

— United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, UAE, December 2026;

— The Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani International Award for Excellence in Combating Corruption;

— The establishment of the Global Water Organization in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

— High-level international conference for peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue, to be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, in June 2025;

— Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Green Initiative.

MIL OSI China News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Police to crush vehicles used antisocially in 48 hours
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Police to crush vehicles used antisocially in 48 hours

Consultation launched on fast-tracking disposal of vehicles seized for antisocial behaviour.
Photo: Getty Images

Communities blighted by off-road biking in public parks and intimidating street racing are set to benefit from new police powers to crack down on antisocial behaviour and deliver safer streets through the Plan for Change.

Perpetrators of antisocial driving face having their cars, e-scooters or off-road bikes seized and destroyed after 48 hours under stronger powers proposed by the government.

Currently, police must wait 14 days before being able to dispose of a vehicle, making it easier for offenders to reclaim their vehicles and with a limited deterrent to repeat offending.

The measure to fast-track the disposal of vehicles comes alongside additional proposals to give police stronger powers to seize any vehicles involved in antisocial behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing them.

Combined, these new powers will help tackle the scourge of vehicle-driven antisocial behaviour by sending a clear message to would-be offenders and local communities that swift justice will be delivered and this behaviour not tolerated.

The changes are also expected to have a wider impact on tackling more serious crime with e-scooters and e-bikes often used to facilitate drug dealing, organised acquisitive crime and serious violence.

Minister for Crime and Policing Dame Diana Johnson said:

Antisocial and reckless driving brings misery to communities across the country, from dangerous street racing to off-road bikes tearing through local parks.

By enabling police to seize and dispose of these vehicles within just 48 hours, we’re giving our officers the tools they need to deliver immediate results and providing communities the swift justice they deserve.

As part of our Plan for Change, these new powers send a clear message that antisocial behaviour, whatever form it takes, will not be tolerated in our local communities.

In a public consultation published today, the government is reviewing the statutory fees for removing, storing, and disposing of vehicles in England and Wales. This will help make sure police can afford to keep removing antisocial and illegal off-road bikes and other vehicles from our streets.

The crackdown on antisocial behaviour continues implementation of the government’s Plan for Change and Safer Streets Mission which will see new Respect Orders targeting persistent perpetrators of antisocial behaviour.

In April this year, the Prime Minister set out new measures as part of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee to restore neighbourhood policing to local communities, including every force having a dedicated antisocial behaviour lead to tackle the specific challenges each area faces.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Roads Policing, Chief Constable Jo Shiner, said:

We welcome the consultation announced by the government. Antisocial use of a vehicle, such as street racing, street cruising or off-road use is more than a matter of noise pollution. It can have long-term effects on a neighbourhood, with the criminal damage of roads, other vehicles and surrounding property.

Drivers and riders also risk injuring themselves, other road users, cyclists and pedestrians as they do not have full control of their vehicle and their full attention on their surroundings.

As with all forms of transport, we know they can potentially be exploited for criminal use, antisocial behaviour or cause danger when used inappropriately.

We know that driving or riding in this way can also be used as a form of intimidation, either to other road users or the community. Loud noise from engines or music, and deliberately creating large amounts of exhaust or tyre smoke can also be seen as an aggressive act.

Officers are committed to preventing harm and keeping our communities safe and will continue to take necessary action against those who use transport illegally. Officers having the ability to quickly seize, remove, store and dispose of vehicles used in an antisocial behaviour setting will help keep road users safe and protect our communities.

Policing will take appropriate action against those who commit offences using existing legislation whilst also raising awareness through engagement.

Edmund King, AA president, said:

Illegal car meets and street racing are not just antisocial, but also present road safety problems which have resulted in needless injuries and fatalities.

This is a positive step that should make people think again before joining illegal car cruises.

Sandra Bauer, Neighbourhood Watch Head of Policy, Partnerships and Projects and Deputy Chief Executive said:

We’re so used to seeing powerful vehicles on our roads that it’s easy to forget just how dangerous and noisy they can be, especially when they are being used antisocially.

Our members tell us that the impact on a community or neighbourhood can be huge, creating safety risks, noise disturbance and intimidating people.

This initiative sends a strong message that activities like off-road biking in public parks and street racing are not harmless, but very dangerous and damaging.

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Published 28 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “Teatralny Bulvar” will present a program for International Children’s Day

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The Theatre Boulevard festival opens in Moscow on June 1 and will last 92 days. Throughout the summer, theatres and circuses from all over Russia and abroad will perform at 14 venues. One of its highlights will be a special programme for the youngest viewers for International Children’s Day.

The city boulevards will be transformed into theatrical stages – this tradition was established last year. This format has become quite popular: without strict formalities, you can watch the hits of the season, and experimental projects, and even immerse yourself in theatrical life at master classes and in laboratories.

“The first day of the festival will be dedicated to young viewers – on International Children’s Day, the participants of “Teatralny Boulevard” will present a special program. It will begin simultaneously at the main venues – Chistoprudny, Pokrovsky, Tsvetnoy Boulevards and in the Polytech Museum Park. Young guests and their parents will enjoy multi-format theater workshops, immersive productions and musical performances until late in the evening,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Culture

Alexey Fursin.

At the opening of the festival, guests will be joined by famous actors and performers who will come to the venues with their children.

Chistoprudny Boulevard

Chistye Prudy will become a platform for experiments — multi-format theater workshops will open here. At Efros, Kvartheatre will perform a performance-action from the Prozhito cycle. New fairy tales using neural networks will be created in Fyodor Levin’s workshop. Sofia Gurzhieva’s body image laboratory will open at Meyerhold, and amazing puppets from the Kanikuly theater will come to life in Tairov.

At noon, the Kartoniya workshops will open, where Muscovites will go on a journey through the history of the theater and create a single project together with artists, musicians, and street performers, which they will then present at the monument to Alexander Griboyedov. To the rhythm of drums, they will open a large-scale festival on the city’s boulevards.

At 16:30 in the amphitheater of the Polytech Museum Park, street theaters will hold an interactive children’s program. Following them, actress Daria Moroz, accompanied by the orchestra of the Moscow City Children’s Music School named after I.O. Dunaevsky, will perform the fairy tale “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”

Tsvetnoy Boulevard

The program on Tsvetnoy Boulevard will last until late in the evening. Artists from the Antique Circus, the Sosferas Theater, and the Masquerade Theater Company will perform here. In addition, actor and poet Anton Shagin will read poems from his collection for children, Nebylandiya, and actress Alisa Grebenshchikova will tell fairy tales just in case.

Pokrovsky Boulevard

The evening at the amphitheater on Pokrovsky Boulevard will be decorated with the musical performance “Alice in Wonderland”. The fantastic tale by Lewis Carroll will be told by theater and film actress Kristina Babushkina accompanied by the symphony orchestra Union of Children’s Art School No. 11. Here you can also see the touching one-act performances “Teremok” and “Cat’s House”.

Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which will unite the most vibrant events of the capital from June 1. Every day in all districts of the city there will be charity, cultural and sports events, most of them free. The Summer in Moscow project will be held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

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

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

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https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154447073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor extends thanks to everyone who supported her ‘One Big Weekend, One Big Cause’ event

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

Mayor extends thanks to everyone who supported her ‘One Big Weekend, One Big Cause’ event

28 May 2025

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council has expressed her overwhelming gratitude to everyone who supported her ‘One Big Weekend, One Big Cause – Revved Up and Ready to Rock for Bud Club’ fundraising extravaganza.

The spectacular Bank Holiday weekend celebration on 24th and 25th May raised funds for the Bud Club, a vital organisation supporting young people with additional needs across the district.

“I am absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible response from our community,” said Mayor Barr. “The generosity and spirit shown by everyone who attended has been truly humbling. What we witnessed was our city and district at its absolute best – a community coming together to support those who need it most.”

Supercar Saturday in Guildhall Square drew crowds throughout the afternoon to see Gary and Stephen McCaul’s stunning collection of 35 luxury vehicles, including Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and McLarens. Popular entertainer Micky Doherty kept spirits high despite the inclement weather.

Saturday evening’s star-studded concert at the Guildhall was a resounding success, with local favourite Ritchie Remo getting the crowd on their feet, comedian Black Paddy delivering laughs throughout his set, and the Mindbenders bringing the house down with their Ultimate Yacht Rock Show featuring timeless hits from the 70s and 80s.

The weekend concluded on Sunday with an electric Afrobeats night at St Columb’s Hall, where music lovers danced to infectious rhythms celebrating culture, unity, and community spirit. Adding to the night was Miss Africa-Ireland who brought an incredible exhibition of African fashion along for the audience to enjoy.

“Every single person who bought a ticket or came out to enjoy the festivities has made a real difference in the lives of young people with additional needs,” the Mayor continued. “The funds raised will directly support Bud Club’s incredible work, providing life-changing opportunities for some of our most vulnerable young citizens.”

Mayor Barr added: “As I near the end of my term in office, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to conclude this incredible year. This weekend embodied everything I’ve tried to champion – bringing our community together and ensuring we lift up those who need our support. To everyone who made this weekend special – from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: VDNKh invites you to the International Children’s Day as part of “Summer in Moscow”

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

As part of the project “Summer in Moscow” events dedicated to International Children’s Day will be held throughout the capital. VDNKh will be one of the largest festive venues. On May 31 and June 1, visitors to the exhibition will enjoy creative and engineering master classes, concerts, theatrical performances, quests, sports competitions and quizzes. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

“The program at VDNKh will be supplemented by several family festivals. Young visitors will meet Russian heroes, watch cartoons, make gifts for loved ones with their own hands and learn about modern professions,” said Natalia Sergunina.

On June 1 at 10:00 and 14:00, children and their parents will be given tours of the Tretyakov Gallery exposition at VDNKh. Then, those who wish will be offered to construct a model of Pavilion No. 1 “Central” from thick cardboard, where the exhibition is located. At master classes at 12:00 and 16:00, children will create a diorama based on one of the panels by artist Boris Shcherbakov, the original of his work is also presented here.

At 13:00 and 15:00, residents and guests of the capital will be treated to sightseeing tours at the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center. Listeners will learn how a rocket is built and what astronauts’ food consists of, as well as why they need to exercise in zero gravity.

Classes in the engineering creativity workshop “Kulibin Pro” are also planned there. At 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, participants will make figurines of their favorite cartoon characters using a 3D pen, at 13:00 and 15:00 they will construct simple electrical circuits. Then at 17:00, the children will play tennis in a VR helmet.

The Cinema Museum invites you to watch Soviet animated films. From 2:00 p.m., the films “The Pipe and the Jug,” “What is Good and What is Bad,” “Mirror,” and “Chunya” will be shown here.

The Soyuzmultpark multimedia center has also prepared a festive program. It will include musical quizzes “Guess the melody from three notes”, dance competitions, quizzes and much more.

Some events require pre-registration or a ticket. The schedule is published onofficial website of VDNKh.

Based on archive photos: VDNKh recreates historic weather booth Moscow Jazz Festival will be held in the capital from June 9 to 15

Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season, which will unite the most vibrant events of the capital from June 1. Every day in all districts of the city there will be charity, cultural and sports events, most of them free.

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

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May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: A kindergarten for 200 children will appear in the Preobrazhenskoye district

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Construction of a 200-seat kindergarten has begun in the Preobrazhenskoye district of the Eastern Administrative District. The building is being erected by an investor. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

“A three-story kindergarten building with an area of 3.6 thousand square meters will appear on 1st Bukhvostova Street. The institution for 200 pupils will have eight group cells, a music and sports hall, an office for developmental classes, a medical center and a full-cycle food unit. Upon completion of construction work, the kindergarten building will be handed over to the city,” said Vladimir Efimov.

The new kindergarten will be located on the territory of the residential complex “Preobrazhenskaya Ploshad” in the emerging residential quarter at the address: 1st Bukhvostova Street, land plot No. 2. It will complement the existing educational infrastructure of the district.

“The first floor will house group cells for younger pupils, as well as a lobby with a multi-level recreation area. An elevator will be installed in the building. The adjacent territory will be equipped with walking areas with shaded gazebos and small architectural forms, physical education areas measuring 200 and 120 square meters with rubber surfaces,” added the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy

Vladislav Ovchinsky.

The developer will carry out comprehensive landscaping on the area around the kindergarten: plant bushes, trees, and lay out lawns. The greenery will become a hedge between the walking areas and decorate the territory of the educational institution.

The permit for the construction of the social facility was issued by the capital’s State Construction Supervision Committee (Mosgosstroynadzor). As its chairman noted Anton Slobodchikov, a kindergarten for 200 children will be built on a land plot of over 7.7 hectares. The construction cycle of the building will be supervised by inspectors of Mosgosstroynadzor at all stages. Employees of the subordinate Center of Expertise will take part in on-site inspections. They will carry out instrumental quality control of the erected structures and the building materials used.

Earlier Sergei Sobyanin reported, that by 2032 the city plans to renovate about 700 school buildings.

An educational complex with a school and a kindergarten will be built in 1st Silikatny Proezd Izmailovo school receives new kindergarten building for operational management

The construction of social facilities in Moscow corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

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May 28, 2025
Chhath’s eternal melody: Dr. Sharda Sinha awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

In a solemn ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, posthumously on the celebrated folk exponent Dr. Sharda Sinha. The award recognises her unparalleled contributions to the preservation and popularisation of India’s rich folk music traditions.

Known affectionately as “Bihar Kokila” and “Swar Kokila,” Dr. Sinha’s voice transcended generations and boundaries, establishing her as one of the most revered figures in India’s folk music tradition. Her songs, steeped in cultural richness and social narratives, have become an inseparable part of Indian festivals, especially Chhath Puja, with her soulful melodies gracing homes across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Indian communities around the world.

Born on November 1, 1952, in Hulas village of Bihar’s Supaul district, Sharda Sinha began her musical journey under the guidance of Pandit Raghu Jha of the Panchgachiya Gharana. She later honed her skills with stalwarts like Pandit Sitaram Hari Dandekar and Panna Devi, a contemporary of Begum Akhtar, learning the classical intricacies of khayal, thumri, and dadra. Her academic accomplishments include a Master’s degree in Indian Classical Vocal Music, a Ph.D., and a Nritya Visharad in Manipuri dance.

Dr. Sinha’s breakthrough came with the release of her Maithili composition “Dularua Bhaiya” in 1971, which heralded a new era in regional music. Her fame grew internationally after her 1983 tribute to poet Vidyapati, resonating with audiences in Russia, China, the UK, and the US. Between 1985 and 1989, she released several albums—“Kekra Se Kahan Mile Jala,” “Piritiya,” “Mehndi,” “Bhajan Sagar,” “Chhathi Maiya”—many of which remain etched in public memory. Songs like “Paniya Ke Jahaj,” “Koyal Bin Bagiya,” and “Patna Se Baida” have become timeless, cherished across generations.

Her voice carried not only melody but also the stories, rituals, and ethos of Indian life. This unique ability earned her titles such as “Bhojpuri Ki Sita,” “Sanskritik Paharua,” and “Bihar Ki Lata Mangeshkar.” Her contribution extended beyond the folk tradition into mainstream Bollywood, with memorable songs in films like “Maine Pyar Kiya,” “Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” “Gangs of Wasseypur-2,” “Kaagaz” and a special appearance in the web series “Maharani-2.”

As a cultural ambassador for the Government of India, she represented India’s musical heritage in Mauritius and Suriname in 1988, and later in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, and again in Suriname in 2003. A “Top Grade” artist of All India Radio, she performed at countless concerts and cultural festivals across the nation, and inspired a generation of musicians during her four-decade-long teaching tenure at the Women’s College in Samastipur under L.N.M.U. Darbhanga, which awarded her an honorary Doctor of Literature in 2018.

Over the years, Dr. Sinha was honoured with numerous accolades including the Padma Shri (1991), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000), and the Padma Bhushan (2018). She also received state and national recognitions such as Folk Queen of Bharat, Bihar Kala Puraskar, Bhojpuri Ratna, and Mithila Vibhuti Samman, among others.

Dr. Sharda Sinha passed away on November 5, 2024. Her legacy, however, continues to echo in the hearts of millions through her voice and vision.

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Gandang Ahung of the Dayak people: More than a gong ensemble, a way of life at risk

Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Muhammad Rayhan Sudrajat, Ethnomusicologist & Lecturer, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan

It was first started one morning in 2015. I travelled 109 kilometres from Palangka Raya to a village in the Katingan River basin, Central Kalimantan. When I entered the village, I could feel the sound of the Gandang Ahung, the sacred gong ensemble used in the Tiwah death ceremony, vibrating in my chest. Its frequency filled the entire space, uniting humans, spirits, and nature in a single breath. Some people closed their eyes; even the forest outside seemed to hum along.

Amidst the chanting, the ritual began: participants danced around the field where the Tiwah ceremony was held. Their distinctive hand and foot movements followed the rhythm. Baram, a traditional liquor from Katingan, was then shared among the dancers.

The sound of Gandang Ahung lingered in the air, summoning spirits from the river’s rise and fall to partake in the sacred offering of blood. It opened the path to the upper realm —Lewu Rami je dia Kasene Beti Lewu Tatau Habaras Bulau Rundung Janah dia Bakalesu Uhat — the radiant village beyond time, where souls find rest in Hindu-Kaharingan cosmology.

Gandang Ahung is not only a form of cultural heritage, but an inseparable part of how the Katingan Awa Dayak community understands life, death, and their relationship with nature.

However, this sacred ritual is now threatened due to the rampant deforestation in Kalimantan. Cultural shifts brought by modernisation are also slowly eroding not only the physical environment, but also the soundscape, cosmology, and rituals like Tiwah. If these sounds disappear, so too might the worldview passed down through generations..

Tiwah ceremony: The echo of living tradition

In the Katingan Awa Dayak tradition, Tiwah is regarded as the second-level death ceremony, conducted long after the initial or first-level funeral. The first stage involves the immediate handling of the body, burial, and essential rites to initiate the soul’s journey—considered a temporary phase, as the soul remains in transition.

The second-level Tiwah, serves as the final ritual to guide the soul to the afterlife, reunite it with ancestors, and restore harmony between humans, spirits, and nature. It includes the exhumation and ceremonial cleansing of the bones, reburial in a family bone house (pambak), and is marked by extensive communal offerings, music, and dance.

There are no “spectators” in the ceremony: all villagers are participants. Children help, the pisur (religious leaders) lead, and the entire community listens not just with their ears but with their full presence. For months, families, neighbors, and religious leaders work together to prepare this procession.

In Tiwah, sound is not merely entertainment. It becomes a language to speak to spirits, to remember the departed, and to reconnect the fragile web of life.

Gandang Ahung, with its echoes and vibrations, plays a central role in the ceremony: It opens the way for the liau (spirits) to reach Lewu Tatau.

Gandang Ahung can be carried anywhere, depending on the needs of the ritual. Interestingly, the instrument never sounds the same from one location to another, corresponding to the space where it is played. This shows how its sound is inseparable from surrounding land, rivers, and trees.

Unlike how music comes through notation, tempo, and technique in the West, sound flows from relationships in the Katingan Awa community. The player, the community, and the spirits shape the sound. The player does not simply follow the beat – he adjusts his strokes to the dancer’s body movements.

The tone is not dictated by a written score but arises from feeling — what is “right” in the moment. Here, in the ritual space, sound becomes a mode of communication, not merely a performance.

Some pisur I spoke with explained that the rhythm of Gandang Ahung is not measured in beats, but guided by breath and intuition. The beats are slow for the Tiwah ceremony to accompany the Manganjan dance, a dance specifically for the Tiwah ceremony.

Fading with forest loss

Deforestation, river pollution, and the displacement of Indigenous communities threaten not only the physical environment and its biodiversity — they also erase the acoustic landscapes embedded in local rituals and cosmology.

When forests are lost, sounds like Gandang Ahung and their profound meanings also slowly fade. The Gandang Ahung is not merely played — it is brought to life in rituals deeply rooted in nature: from the wood used to craft the drums, to the ceremonial space in the village heart, to the spirits believed to inhabit trees, rivers, and lakes.

As forests are cleared for palm oil plantations, the space for these sacred sounds disappears — along with the communities’ ways of understanding life, death, and their bond with nature.

Nurturing sound, nurturing life

Hindu-Kaharingan itself, though recognised by the government, is often dismissed as mere ‘folklore’ or an ‘outdated tradition.’ Practices like Tiwah rarely appear in mainstream media – let alone gain recognition in national academic discourse.

If Indonesia is truly committed to education and cultural preservation, we must start viewing traditions like Gandang Ahung not simply as artefacts, but as living philosophies and practices.

Like classical music theory, these traditions are built on their own systems, ethics, and methodologies. They need to be taught, respected, and lived — not just documented and then forgotten.

Concrete steps include protecting customary forests as soundscapes, integrating local music traditions into school curricula, and involving communities in the documentation of rituals.

The Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) program in the Philippines, run by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), offer a powerful example. The program has successfully preserved traditional arts and music through non-formal education that involves local cultural experts as teachers. It is recognized by UNESCO as a best practice in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Such measures are vital to ensure that sounds like Gandang Ahung transcend nostalgia and continue to thrive — not just in ceremonies, but in the everyday lives of the Katingan Awa community and Indonesians more broadly.

Muhammad Rayhan Sudrajat tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

– ref. Gandang Ahung of the Dayak people: More than a gong ensemble, a way of life at risk – https://theconversation.com/gandang-ahung-of-the-dayak-people-more-than-a-gong-ensemble-a-way-of-life-at-risk-256809

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fencing test event set

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Challenge Cups Fencing Championships, which is also the 15th National Games (NG) Fencing test event, will be held at Kai Tak Arena, Kai Tak Sports Park this Saturday and Sunday.

With more than 500 athletes participating, the event features open and veteran divisions. The épée competition will be staged on the first day, while the foil and sabre competitions will be held on the next day.

The competition event will start at 9am on both days. Tickets are distributed to people through the Fencing Association of Hong Kong, China. Members of the public may register for tickets online from 9am tomorrow while stocks last.

Moreover, a small number of tickets have been reserved for on-site distribution at the entrance on level UG of Kai Tak Arena at 9am or 2.30pm on the event days for admission.

Radio Television Hong Kong will provide live broadcasts of parts of the events via RTHK TV 32 and webcast.

Click here for more details

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Four wedding ceremonies took place at Mayakovskaya metro station on May 25

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Employees of the capital’s registry offices held wedding ceremonies at the Mayakovskaya metro station on the night of May 25. On the most popular date of the year for marriage registration, four families were created there.

“The last spring wedding ceremonies at the Mayakovskaya metro station, the site of the New Addresses of Happiness project, took place on the most popular date of the year – May 25. The capital’s registry offices registered more than a thousand marriages on this day. Due to the high demand for this beautiful date, the celebrations took place at outdoor ceremony sites and in wedding palaces, despite the fact that Sunday is a day off for most registry offices,” said

Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

Wedding ceremonies at Mayakovskaya metro station are held at night, from 02:00 to 04:00, allowing future spouses to share this important moment with only their closest people in an unforgettable setting. The center of the hall is decorated with wedding decor, and the Moscow-2020 and Moscow-2024 trains accompany the participants of the ceremony on the tracks.

“A wedding in the Moscow metro is an unforgettable memory for newlyweds. We are glad that every year more and more couples choose the metro for their wedding ceremony. We wish the newlyweds happy and long years of life together! We continue to participate in the Moscow Mayor’s project “New Addresses of Happiness” and provide venues of the capital’s transport complex for weddings,” said Deputy Moscow Mayor for Transport and Industry

Maxim Liksutov.

After the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds can have a photo session on the Moscow-2024 train.

In order to get married at Mayakovskaya station, you must personally submit an application to Wedding Palace No. 1 and pay a state fee of 350 rubles. No additional costs are required.

There are more than 50 venues in Moscow for holding special events. These include wedding palaces, museums, metro stations, estates and restaurants. The “Our Wedding” service on the mos.ru portal will help you choose the ideal venue. In the capital Department of Information Technology said that this is the most detailed guide to wedding venues. Filters allow you to select a venue using various filters: interior style, availability of parking or live music. In addition, here you can specify the desired date of registration, the nearest metro station, the maximum number of guests and much more.

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

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May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Cinema Park “Moskino” invites children and parents to the animation festival

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

On May 31 and June 1, the Moscow Festival of Animation and Children’s Cinema will be held in the Moskino Cinema Park. A bright holiday for children and their parents will bring together heroes of favorite cartoons. In addition to a rich entertainment program, guests will be treated to a business part for professional filmmakers and those wishing to uncover the secrets of filmmaking.

“This year, the cinema park is planning to hold several large-scale festivals for the whole family. One of them will be the Moscow Animation Festival, which will feature many memorable entertainments. International Children’s Day is an important holiday for the country, and preserving family values is a priority for the cinema park. We have prepared a special fairy-tale program for this weekend – guests will be able to meet the creators of cartoons, participate in games, quests and see performances with their favorite characters,” said Kirill Kosenko, General Director of the Moskino Cinema Park.

Project pitching, business session and cartoon parades

On May 31, from 12:00 to 14:30, a pitching of animation projects will be held at the educational center. The jury will include one of the founders of Paranoid Animation Studio, Kirill Kiychenko, general producer of the 2D films studio, Vasily Solovyov, producer of the trilogy “The Last Knight” Vladimir Vereshchagin, chief artist of the Moskino cinema park Sergey Fevralev and other experts. The curator of the event will be Alena Sycheva, a film critic and producer. From 14:00 to 14:30, a ceremonial awarding of the winners and participants will take place.

Also on May 31 from 15:00 to 17:00 there will be a business session dedicated to children’s culture in Moscow, its modern trends and development prospects. The discussion will be attended by producers Sergey Netievsky and Vladimir Vereshchagin, editor-in-chief of the Karusel TV channel Tatyana Tsyvareva, deputy general director of the State Budgetary Cultural Institution of the City of Moscow Mosrazvitie Sergey Melnikov, deputy head of the capital’s Department of Information Technology Boris Frolov and Deputy Director for Development of the Children’s Musical Theatre of the Young Actor Maria Fedorova. The moderator will be Managing Director of the Russian Media Group Dmitry Mednikov.

For children and parents, a grand show with cartoon parades, competitions, interactive games and gifts from the festival’s information partner, Hit FM radio, will be held on the central square throughout the weekend. Guests will be treated to special master classes in themed tents with characters from their favorite cartoons. In addition, young visitors will be able to take part in competitions and fun games, ride carousels and mini-excavators, and go karting on pedal retro cars.

Quest and performances

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Korney Chukovsky’s fairy tale “Barmaley”, a fun quest awaits guests on May 31 and June 1. Participants will have to go through several tests on the sites of the cinema park and help Aibolit save the animals.

On May 31 at 12:00 at the Gonzaga Theatre, viewers will be able to see the play “Don’t go, children, to Africa for a walk!” based on the fairy tale “Barmaley”.

From 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM, a master class by director Anton Mikhalev will be held for aspiring filmmakers. He will tell you how to attract and hold the viewer’s attention, and will also reveal the secrets of creating popular video projects. The lecture will be interesting for listeners over 12 years old.

At 16:30, young guests will see a performance with an oriental plot “Aladdin”, which will be performed by artists of the Moscow Children’s Shadow Theater. At 18:00, the youngest ones will see the performance “Be-be-bears” – a story about the search for a magic crystal and strong friendship.

On May 1 at 13:00 and 16:00 professional artists of the S.V. Obraztsov Puppet Theater will show the play “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves” based on the famous Arabian fairy tale. Viewers will see oriental costumes and exquisite dolls.

Master classes, staged shooting and graduation party

In the central square, children will be able to show off their talents and take part in various master classes. Guests will be offered to voice a cartoon, win a competition for the best character drawing, create a 3D figure, make a kite and draw a movie poster.

The Cowboy Town site will host staged filming based on the fairy tale film Aibolit-66. Participants will be offered to dress up as Aibolit, Barmaley and a pirate, playing charismatic characters under the director’s guidance. Horseback riding will also be possible at this site. You can take part in the filming on May 31 and June 1 throughout the day.

At the Cathedral Square of Moscow location, participants will be transported into the atmosphere of the adventure film Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession, try on historical costumes and laugh at famous quotes. You can also take part in the filming throughout the weekend. In addition, on May 31 from 12:00 to 13:30, a graduation ball for cadets will be held at this location. 120 people from School No. 2073 (TiNAO) will take part in it. On June 1 at 14:00 and 18:00, guests will be able to attend funny clown performances and see a tent show in a special tent.

Three tent circuses will operate in the capital as part of the Summer in Moscow project Concerts, trainings and performances: how the large-scale project “Summer in Moscow” will take place

The Moskino cinema park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow – City of Cinema” project and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed capital’s Department of CultureThe first stage of development has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow in the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Yurovo Airport”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “Deaf Village”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and other sites.

The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino Film Park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino Film Factory, the Moskino Cinema Network, the Film Commission and the Moskino Film Platform.

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

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May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: New tunnel opens in China-Europe rail freight route’s ‘eastern corridor’

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) — A new tunnel was completed in Suifenhe City, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, a city on the Sino-Russian border, on Wednesday morning as part of a project to improve the quality and upgrade the Suifenhe-to-border section of the Harbin-Suifenhe Railway, CCTV reported.

The Harbin-Suifenhe Railway, with a history of 100 years, is Heilongjiang Province’s largest railway transport corridor to Russia, and an important part of the “eastern corridor” of China-Europe rail freight routes. Since the beginning of this year, Suifenhe border crossing officials have handled a total of 3.581 million tons of import and export cargo, up 9 percent from the previous year. It has handled 149 China-Europe freight trains, carrying 6,942 standard containers of cargo.

In order to increase the capacity of Suifenhe checkpoint, the Harbin branch of China Railways Corporation launched a project to reconstruct the section from Suifenhe to the state border, which includes the construction of a tunnel, three bridges and six roadbeds. In particular, the total length of the Suifenhe tunnel will be 602 m, the distance from its exit to the border in a straight line is less than 400 m. It will be able to meet the needs of trains with different track gauges.

The project is expected to be completed within a year. Once operational, the speed of trains on this section will increase from 55 km to 120 km, which will further expand the possibilities of cross-border transportation and improve the safety of railway traffic.

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: UK businesses race to embed AI into enterprise workflows, EXL study finds
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Businesses in the UK are making significant changes in the ways they work as they increasingly embed AI throughout their workflows and to scale and maximise ROI, according to new research by EXL [NASDAQ: EXLS], a global data and AI company. An 86% majority of organisations have significantly changed their operating model to accommodate AI, with 39% having completely redesigned how they work. Over the next year, companies expect half (50%) of their processes will include AI.

The second annual EXL Enterprise AI Study: Driving Execution at Scale (UK Report) is based on a survey of 190 UK-based C-suite and other senior decision makers across the banking and finance, insurance, retail, utilities, and healthcare payer industries. Its findings shine a spotlight on the massive growth of enterprise GenAI implementations to date but also warn of data quality issues, talent shortages, and other roadblocks that could curtail some of the early progress companies have made as they move deeper into company-wide enterprise AI initiatives.

The following are some of the report’s key findings:
- Finance Leading the Charge: Leaders have emerged in the AI space, and the survey defines these organisations as those that have developed AI capabilities in at least five of the seven common business functions analysed in the report. Leaders were most likely to come from the banking and finance sector (18%), followed by utilities (16%), insurance (12%), and retail (10%).
- Transforming to Enable AI in the Workflow: Organisations are developing new operating models to accommodate AI usage across their enterprise workflows. Overall, 86% of UK corporations have either made significant changes to their operating models (47%) or completely redesigned enterprise-wide operating models (39%) to integrate AI throughout their organisations.
- Barriers Still Persist: Despite an average of £23.2 million per company in AI investment, barriers to adoption persist. The largest of these are cost or budget constraints, followed by concerns about data privacy and security, and the lack of a clear AI strategy or vision. What’s more, nearly 70% of companies say they have yet to achieve the data accessibility, efficiency, quality, consistency, and transparency required for AI to thrive in their organisations.
- Companies Eye the Best Ways to Scale AI: Overall, 88% of respondents said it’s very or extremely important for their organization to scale their AI initiatives in the coming year. Executives ranked implementing AI governance (42%) and improving data quality and accessibility (42%) as their top priorities.
- Retailers Eager to Make Larger Investments: Retailers are the most likely (42%) to say they are ramping up GenAI significantly, followed by utilities (30%), banking and finance (24%), and insurers (9%).
“The only way large corporations can truly capitalise on the full power of AI is by integrating the technology into enterprise workflows,” said Anand “Andy” Logani, chief data and AI officer at EXL. “Executed well, the right AI strategy has the ability to deliver unmatched business value without disrupting core business functions.”

The full report, 2025 EXL Enterprise AI Study: Driving AI Execution at Scale (UK Report), can be accessed here.

About EXL

EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and AI company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and capital markets, retail, communications and media, and energy and infrastructure, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have approximately 60,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

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Keith Little
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media.relations@exlservice.com

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John Kristoff
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A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/516492ff-fe8c-4563-a2d3-10486840830b

The MIL Network –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI China: New ‘Doraemon’ film to hit Chinese theatres for Children’s Day

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

“Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales,” the latest installment in the 45-year “Doraemon” film franchise, will be released across China on May 31, coinciding with International Children’s Day celebrations.

Actors dressed as characters from “Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales” pose with audience members at the film’s China premiere in Beijing, May 25, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Today Pictures]

This 44th “Doraemon” film, directed by Yukiyo Teramoto, follows Nobita, Doraemon and friends as they enter a mysterious painting via Doraemon’s gadget. There they discover lost Princess Claire and winged demon Chai from the medieval European kingdom of Artoria. After returning with her from the painting to 13th-century Artoria, the group faces a time-traveling art thief who unleashes a monster from a painting, endangering the kingdom and its people. Together, they must fight to save Artoria.

In this new film, the beloved “Doraemon” franchise explores painting as its central theme for the first time, delivering stunning visuals and emotional depth in the much-anticipated summer family adventure. The film brings masterpieces by Van Gogh and Monet to life as a “living art gallery,” where Doraemon’s gadgets meet classical art in a fusion of imagination and beauty.

“Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales” is the fourth “Doraemon” film directed by Yukiyo Teramoto, who made history as the franchise’s first female director with 2007’s “Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s New Great Adventure into the Underworld.” The voice cast features series regulars Wasabi Mizuta, Megumi Ohara, Yumi Kakazu, Subaru Kimura and Tomokazu Seki, with music by Takayuki Hattori and theme song “Sketch” by Aimyon.

“Doraemon,” adapted from Fujiko F. Fujio’s iconic manga and globally successful anime series, features a futuristic robotic cat who uses a variety of gadgets to help schoolboy Nobita navigate life’s challenges while learning valuable life lessons.

A promotional display at the China premiere of “Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales” in Beijing, May 25, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Today Pictures]

The film series made its theatrical debut on the Chinese mainland with “Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur” in 2007. A new installment has screened annually since 2015, maintaining a decade-long theatrical streak. The 3D animated “Stand by Me Doraemon” (2015) remains China’s highest-grossing series entry with 529 million yuan, while 2024’s “Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Earth Symphony” earned 131 million yuan.

Since its release in Japan this March, “Doraemon: Nobita’s Art World Tales” had dominated the Japanese box office for six consecutive weeks and grossed $32 million. It was first shown in China at the 15th Beijing International Film Festival in April, with tickets selling out instantly. The film was quickly approved for Chinese theatrical release and premiered in Beijing on May 25, with many audience members calling it the best “Doraemon” film in years.

MIL OSI China News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation led by US House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

Details
2025-05-27
President Lai meets and hosts luncheon for delegation led by Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero of Guam
On the morning of May 27, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero of Guam and her husband, and hosted a luncheon for the delegation at noon. In remarks, President Lai noted that this is the governor’s first trip to Taiwan, fully demonstrating the Guam government’s support and high regard for Taiwan. The president said that Guam, being the closest United States territory to Taiwan, is an important bridge for collaboration between Taiwan and the US. He stated that aside from promoting tourism, we can also explore even more opportunities for collaboration in other areas to further advance industrial development for both sides. He said that, as we begin a new chapter, we look forward to working together to generate even more momentum in bilateral cooperation and exchanges. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome to Governor Leon Guerrero and her delegation. Last year, I transited through Guam en route for visits to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Pacific. The enthusiastic reception I received from the government, legislature, people, and members of our overseas community in Guam was very touching and left me with a deep impression. During the morning tea reception hosted by Governor Leon Guerrero, we joined in singing our respective national anthems, as well as the Fanohge CHamoru. I also received at the Guam Legislature a copy of a Taiwan-friendly resolution it passed on behalf of the people of Taiwan. And I still remember to this day the striking scenery of the governor’s house and the warm reception I received there. It is therefore a great pleasure to meet with all of you today here at the Presidential Office. This is Governor Leon Guerrero’s first trip to Taiwan. Your visit fully demonstrates the Guam government’s support and high regard for Taiwan. As we begin a new chapter, we look forward to working with you to generate even more momentum in bilateral cooperation and exchanges. Taiwan and Guam are like family. We share the Austronesian spirit and culture. Our wide-ranging and mutually-beneficial collaboration is very fruitful. And now, we are facing the challenges of climate change, public health and medicine, and regional security together. The world is rapidly changing and tensions in the Indo-Pacific continue to rise. But if we combine our strengths, come together as one, and enhance cooperation, we can maintain regional peace, stability, and prosperity. Last Tuesday, I delivered an address on my first anniversary of taking office. I mentioned that for many years, Taiwan, the US, and our democratic partners have actively engaged in exchange and cooperation. Taking a market-oriented approach, we will promote an economic path of staying firmly rooted in Taiwan and expanding the global presence of our enterprises while strengthening ties with the US. Guam is the closest US territory to Taiwan. It is an important bridge for collaboration between Taiwan and the US. Last month, we were pleased to see United Airlines officially launch direct flights between Taipei and Guam. I believe this will benefit tourism and economic and trade exchanges for both sides. In the area of health care, many hospitals in Taiwan already offer referral services to patients from Guam. Both Governor Leon Guerrero and I have backgrounds in medicine. It is my hope that Taiwan and Guam can continue to work hand in hand to create even more positive outcomes from cooperation in public health and medical services. During the governor’s visit, aside from promoting tourism, we can also explore even more opportunities for collaboration in other areas. There is potential for more exchanges in aquaculture, food processing, hydroculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and recycling. This will further advance industrial development in Taiwan and Guam. In closing, I thank Governor Leon Guerrero and all our distinguished guests for backing Taiwan. I wish you all a smooth and successful visit. Governor Leon Guerrero then delivered remarks, saying that she is very happy to come to Taiwan. She said that after learning during President Lai’s visit to Guam last year that he is a medical doctor, she felt more relaxed because healthcare colleagues are one in their endeavor to help enhance the health and well-being of people. She then expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the invitation to Taiwan. Governor Leon Guerrero said that as they learn more about opportunities for collaboration with Taiwan, they are humbled by the hospitality they have experienced. In both of our islands, she said, hospitality is more than just a custom – it forms a part of our identities. She noted that despite being nearly 2,000 miles apart, we are connected by the Pacific Ocean and common roots, and our ancestors both value family, community, and tradition. That is why being here today, she said, she feels a strong sense of familiarity, like reconnecting with old friends. The governor remarked that Taiwan has evolved so quickly in all areas of essential life, sustenance, economy, and prosperity, adding that Taiwan’s resources in such areas as health, education, data, AI, advanced technology, aquaculture, agriculture, and commerce enhance our economic stability. She stated her belief that in collaboration and support, and working with each other, we can gain prosperity, maintain freedom and democracy, and live in peace. Governor Leon Guerrero stated that their delegation is here to see how they can partner with Taiwan to help raise the quality of life for both our peoples, mentioning that one special concern of theirs is tourism. Tourism, she said, is the most influential engine and driver for the economy and quality of life in Guam, but they cannot have a vibrant economy and tourism without air connectivity. She added that they are prepared to help in any way to provide incentives and low-cost fees so that they can get more airlines from Taiwan to establish permanent flight schedules to Guam, so as to drive development in Guam’s tourism industry. Governor Leon Guerrero then proceeded to introduce each of the members of her delegation before remarking that while they have been very busy on this visit they are always reminded of the freedom and democracy that the people must protect. She said she looks forward to a great, strong relationship between Taiwan and Guam in cooperation on social and economic issues, in culture, marketing, tourism, and freedom and democracy. Among those in attendance were First Gentleman Jeffrey A. Cook, Chief of Staff Jon Junior Calvo, Director of the Department of Administration Edward Birn, General Manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau Regine Biscoe Lee, Deputy Executive Manager of the Guam International Airport Authority Artemio “Ricky” Hernandez, Board of Directors Chairman of the Guam International Airport Authority Brian J. Bamba, Deputy General Manager of the Guam Economic Development Authority Carlos Bordallo, Director of Landscape Management Systems Guam Bob Salas, Chairperson of the Guam Chamber of Commerce Tae Oh, President of the University of Guam Anita Borja Enriquez, and Director of the Guam Taiwan Office Felix Yen (嚴樹芬). After the meeting, President Lai, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, hosted a luncheon for Governor Leon Guerrero, her husband, and the delegation.

Details
2025-05-27
President Lai meets delegation from European Parliament
On the morning of May 27, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the European Parliament. In remarks, President Lai thanked the European Parliament for continuing to pay close attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and voice support for Taiwan. The president expressed hope for an even closer relationship and diversified cooperation between Taiwan and the European Union. The president said that Taiwan and the EU can work together in such areas as semiconductors, AI, and green energy to create more resilient supply chains for global democracies and contribute to global prosperity and development. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome our guests to the Presidential Office. After being elected last year, MEPs Reinis Pozņaks and Beatrice Timgren are making their first visits to Taiwan, demonstrating support for Taiwan through concrete action. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome and appreciation. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the European Parliament for continuing to pay close attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Just last month, the European Parliament adopted resolutions with regard to annual reports on the implementation of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy. These resolutions reaffirmed the EU’s steadfast commitment to maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. The European Parliament also condemned China for continuing to take provocative military actions against Taiwan and emphasized that Taiwan is a key democratic partner in the Indo-Pacific region. It called on the EU and its member states to continue working closely with Taiwan to strengthen economic, trade, and investment ties. Once again, I thank the European Parliament for voicing support for Taiwan. Just as MEPs Pozņaks and Timgren are visiting Taiwan to strengthen Taiwan-EU exchanges, our Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) also led a delegation to Europe last year, marking the first in-person dialogue between high-ranking economic and trade officials of Taiwan and the EU. Moving ahead, we look forward to bringing Taiwan-EU ties even closer and to diversifying our cooperation. The EU is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment. Both sides are highly complementary in such areas as semiconductors, AI, and green energy. Through our joint efforts, we can create more resilient supply chains for global democracies and further contribute to global prosperity and development. Looking ahead, I hope that MEPs Pozņaks and Timgren will continue to make the case in the European Parliament for the signing of a Taiwan-EU economic partnership agreement. This would not only yield mutually beneficial development, but also consolidate economic security and boost international competitiveness for both sides. In closing, I am sure that you will gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan through this visit. Please feel welcome to come back as often as possible as we continue to elevate Taiwan-EU ties. MEP Pozņaks then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor to be here and thanking everybody involved in arranging this trip that allows them the opportunity to better know Taiwan. He added that it is definitely not the last time they will be here, as Taiwan is a very beautiful country. MEP Pozņaks mentioned that he comes from Latvia, and despite their being on the other side of the world, they know how the Taiwanese people feel, because they also have a big neighbor who is claiming that Latvia belongs to them. Unfortunately, he said, there is already war in Europe, but he is confident that their situation is similar to Taiwan’s, adding that they have a neighbor who uses disinformation attacks. MEP Pozņaks said that we live in very challenging times, and that our choices will define the future of the world, asking whether it will be a world where the rule of law prevails or where physical power and aggression succeeds. Coming from a small country, he said he clearly understands that for them there is no other possibility; they must protect the world where the rule of law prevails. That is why now, he emphasized, it is very crucial for all democracies around the world to stick together to protect our freedoms, values, and democracy. MEP Timgren then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for meeting with them and saying it is a big honor. Noting that they arrived here two days ago and that while she really loves Taiwan, its food, and the good weather, she stated that the reason they are here is because of the values that we share, our good relationships, and solidarity with other democratic countries in the world, which is important for them in Europe and in Sweden. MEP Timgren, referring to MEP Pozņaks’s earlier remarks, said that they face a big threat from Russia that is discernible even in the European Parliament. Actually, she pointed out, there is a war inside Europe that shows us how important it is that we support one another. She said that the Russian people thought it would be easy to take over Ukraine, but it was not, because all European countries stepped up and provided weapons and support. And that is why, MEP Timgren said, it is important that democratic countries maintain good relationships and let China and Russia see that we have good relationships, because a part of defense is solidarity. In closing, she expressed her gratitude for having the honor to be here in this beautiful country.

Details
2025-05-20
President Lai hosts state banquet for President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Republic of Palau
On the evening of May 20, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office in honor of President Surangel Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife. In remarks, President Lai said that he looks forward to working closely with President Whipps to promote tourism exchanges and sports cooperation so that Taiwan and Palau shine brightly together on the international stage. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to host this banquet tonight at the Presidential Office for President Whipps, First Lady Valerie Whipps, and the esteemed members of their delegation. Welcome to Taiwan. During my trips to Palau in 2022 and last year, President and First Lady Whipps received me with great hospitality. Wearing my island shirt, I enjoyed a very friendly reception from the people of Palau. It felt warm and friendly, just like being welcomed back home. The first time I visited Palau, President Whipps and I piloted a boat to the Milky Way lagoon. We both tried volcanic mud facial masks. We also fished together and enjoyed the breeze as we walked on the beach. Last year, on my second visit to Palau, I was honored to be invited to address the National Congress. I also observed the results of the close bilateral cooperation between our two nations. Due to its world-famous ocean scenery, Palau is sometimes referred to as “God’s aquarium.” And it is even possible to snorkel with sharks. It leaves a deep impression. Nothing compares to seeing Palau firsthand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan and Palau launched a travel bubble that created a safe means of travel. Now, with the pandemic behind us, I hope that even more Taiwanese can tour Palau and gain a greater understanding of our diplomatic ally. In addition to tourism exchanges, I mentioned on my visit to Palau last year that I hoped Taiwan and Palau could promote sports cooperation by providing training away from home. Next month, Palau will be holding the Pacific Mini Games. And right now, Palau’s national baseball and table tennis teams are holding training sessions here in Taiwan. We will do our utmost to support Palau’s national players and we hope they stand out and achieve outstanding results in the events. I look forward to working closely with President Whipps so that Taiwan and Palau shine brightly together on the international stage. Thank you! Mesulang! President Whipps then delivered remarks, saying that it is truly an honor to be here once again one year after President Lai’s inauguration. Mentioning that this is his first state visit after being reelected to a second term, he said that it is important to be here among friends, and that we are more than friends, we are family. He thanked President Lai for the generous words and, most importantly, Taiwan’s enduring support. He remarked that our relationship continues to get stronger in each passing year. President Whipps said that President Lai’s diplomacy initiative, leadership, and vision deeply resonate with them. Diplomacy must be rooted in our shared values, he said, and an unwavering support for our allies and a commitment to a sustainable, inclusive development are all deeply appreciated by their people. President Whipps emphasized that, as we look into the future and the challenges that we face, from security to climate change, it is so important that we are united. He added that it is important for the world, and especially important for them in Palau, that they stand up for Taiwan, so that Taiwan can participate on international fora that address climate change, security, and health, because they know the world is better when Taiwan has a seat at the table. Mentioning that Palau will host the Pacific Islands Forum next year, President Whipps said that Palau remains committed to working closely with Taiwan to ensure a successful event, and that they will continue to speak up for Taiwan’s indispensable contributions as we stand together against any efforts to silence or isolate democratic partners. President Whipps said that our nations have navigated challenges and emerged stronger, bound by a partnership that is built on trust, respect, and hope for a better world. Whether it is in clean energy, education, smart medicine, or tourism, our shared journey is just beginning, he said, and we are stronger together. Also in attendance at the banquet were Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro, Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, House of Delegates Floor Leader Warren Umetaro, High Chief of Ngiwal State Elliot Udui, Governor of Peleliu State Emais Roberts, and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch.

Details
2025-05-20
President Lai and President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of Palau hold bilateral talks and witness signing of cooperation agreements
On the afternoon of May 20, following a welcome ceremony with military honors for President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Whipps at the Presidential Office. The two leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a technical cooperation agreement and an agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation. In remarks, President Lai thanked Palau for standing firm in its backing of Taiwan’s international participation as geopolitical tensions continue to increase in the Pacific region. He added that he looks forward to the cooperative ties between Taiwan and Palau continuing to expand into even broader areas, allowing our economies and societies to further progress as we jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I welcome our guests to Taiwan once again. Last year on May 20, President Whipps led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Hsiao. I am delighted, on the anniversary of my first year in office, to meet with old friends of Taiwan again, as President Whipps returns for this visit. Taiwan-Palau relations have grown even closer in recent years thanks to the strong support of President Whipps. In 2022, during my term as vice president, I led a delegation to Palau as a demonstration of how our nations were together boosting tourism development as we jointly faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every time I visit Palau, and every time I meet with President Whipps, I feel very deeply that Taiwan and Palau are like family. We are both maritime nations and share a common Austronesian heritage and culture. We are also staunch partners in upholding such values as freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. Last December, when I went on my first overseas trip since taking office, one of the nations I visited was Palau. We celebrated the 30th anniversary of Palau’s independence and 25 years of diplomatic relations, underscoring our friendly ties. Taiwan and Palau enjoy close exchanges and cooperation in a range of areas, including climate change, education, agriculture and fisheries, healthcare, humanitarian assistance, sports, and culture. After this meeting, President Whipps and I will witness the signing of a technical cooperation agreement and an agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation, demonstrating once again our diverse collaboration and strong friendship. I believe that by working together, Taiwan and Palau can contribute to each other’s development and overcome the regional and global challenges we currently face. In particular, as geopolitical tensions continue to increase in the Pacific region, Palau has wisely and courageously upheld democratic values and stood firm in its backing of Taiwan’s international participation. Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan, including at the United Nations General Assembly, the World Health Organization, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, and the UN Ocean Conference. We have been deeply moved by this support. I thank President Whipps again for his high regard and support for Taiwan. I look forward to the cooperative ties between our nations continuing to expand into even broader areas. This will allow our economies and societies to further progress as we jointly advance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. President Whipps then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor for him to be here, standing in this historic place – a symbol of strength, resilience, and the democratic spirit of the Taiwanese people. On behalf of the government of Palau, President Whipps extended heartfelt gratitude to President Lai and the people of Taiwan for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality toward him and his delegation. President Whipps then extended sincere thanks for President Lai’s visit to Palau in December – his second visit to Palau – and for having Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) attend his inauguration as a special envoy. He added that this also marks his third visit to Taiwan since President Lai took office, saying that this demonstrates the strength of our growing relationship. President Whipps indicated that the increased engagements and numerous entrepreneurs that President Lai has brought from Taiwan to Palau have resulted in fruitful visits, and that President Lai’s leadership represents hope, unity, and continued advancement of democracy and freedom, not only for Taiwan, but for the broader Indo-Pacific region. President Whipps went on to say that this visit to Taiwan reaffirms our deep friendship and shared values between our two nations. He emphasized that Palau and Taiwan are bound not by proximity, but by purpose, in that both are island nations and believe in human dignity, the rule of law, and the right of our people to determine their own futures. President Whipps stated that although we are celebrating 26 years of diplomatic relations, Taiwan has been a steadfast partner of Palau for decades, and that one of the MOUs they are signing further extends the relationship that began in December of 1984. From healthcare and medical missions, to education, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, the private sector, tourism development, and climate resilience, he said, our cooperation has improved lives and strengthened our communities. The president also indicated that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan stood with Palau, noting that both sides began the tourism bubble, and that President Lai came to Palau to reopen the two weekly direct flights that have now been increased to four. That solidarity will never be forgotten, he said. As the world faces growing uncertainty and complex challenges from climate change to global tensions, President Whipps said, this friendship becomes even more vital. The president concluded his remarks by expressing hope that both nations continue to stand together, work together, and advocate together for peace, prosperity, and for the right of small nations to be seen, heard, and respected. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Whipps witnessed the signing of the technical cooperation agreement and the agreement on diplomatic staff training cooperation by Minister Lin and Palauan Minister of State Gustav Aitaro. The delegation also included Palauan Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Senate Floor Leader Kerai Mariur, House of Delegates Floor Leader Warren Umetaro, High Chief of Ngiwal State Elliot Udui, Governor of Peleliu State Emais Roberts, and Governor of Koror State Eyos Rudimch.

Details
2025-05-20
President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era. The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

Details
2025-05-20
President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era. The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Raining one week, dusty the next – how did a dust storm make it all the way to rainy Sydney?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tegan Clark, PhD Candidate, College of Systems and Society, Australian National University

A false-colour satellite showing dust as a pink cloud Himawari-9 satellite, CC BY-SA

Much to the surprise of Sydney-siders, a dusty haze settled over the city on Tuesday morning after a week of heavy rain.

Satellite images reveal the dust storm formed in the Mid-North region of South Australia, east of Spencer Gulf, at around 11am on Monday. It then travelled through western Victoria into New South Wales, reaching Sydney approximately 18 hours later.

It’s an odd time of year for a dust storm, but South Australia is in drought. The soil is very dry, bare and loose. So when a cold front with strong winds moved through SA earlier this week, it picked up lots of dust.

This demonstrates how everything is interconnected in Australia, despite the nation’s huge size. Extreme weather events such as drought in one part of the country can cause trouble for people “downwind”, hundreds of kilometres away. Climate change is likely to further raise the risk of dust storms in the future.

Sydney’s air quality tumbled after the dust cloud settled on the city | 7NEWS.

The dust bowl era

In the 1930s, prolonged drought in the United States coupled with poor land management practices caused devastating dust storms. This eroded valuable agricultural soils and forced many families off the land. All this took place across the Central Plains, which became known as the American Dust Bowl – later immortalised in Steinbeck’s book The Grapes of Wrath.

Australia experienced its own smaller dust bowl about a century after British settlers arrived. Overgrazing in the late 1800s removed native vegetation from large parts of western New South Wales. Dust storm activity picked up dramatically from the late 1800s onwards and hit a maximum in 1944-45 during the World War II drought.

Fortunately, the dust storms and drought experienced during the 1940s soon prompted a change in both policy and attitude. The focus of land management shifted from “taming the land” to more sustainable use, such as moving livestock around from time to time – allowing paddocks to rest and recover. The government also provided more financial support to manage drought.

Growing awareness and the desire to protect environmental assets also led to development of the NSW Soil Conservation Service.

Australia has continued to experience heightened dust activity and major dust storms after 1945. In 2009, Sydney awoke to what looked like apocalyptic scenes straight out of the movie Mad Max when a dust storm engulfed the city.

The last big dusty period was the Black Summer of 2019-20. Parts of NSW such as Wagga Wagga and Sydney were shrouded in smoke and dust for days. But there were significantly fewer “dust storm days” compared to 1944-45. This is partly due to improved land management practices that value sustainability, including the revegetation of denuded land.

The movie Mad Max featured apocalyptic dust storm scenes.

More dust storms as the climate changes

Around the world, climate change is expected to make dust storms more common globally.

Recent research suggests southern Australia may experience longer and more frequent droughts in the future. Grazing and cropping will put extra pressure on the land.

In addition, the cold fronts that typically trigger large dust storms are expected to intensify with climate change. This means a growing chance of major dust storms such as the one this week.

Dust is a health hazard

Dust consists of tiny particles, some smaller than the width of a single strand of hair. These particles may include sand, topsoil, pollen, microbes, iron and other minerals, lifted into the air.

When these tiny particles enter the lungs, they can cause breathing difficulties and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Dust storms are also known to transport diseases such as Valley Fever.

The 2009 dust storm in Sydney led to an increase in emergency hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, especially asthma.

During the latest dust storm, health authorities warned people with respiratory issues to stay indoors and monitor symptoms.

Developing early warning systems

The 2019-20 dusty period and the current SA drought shows Australia can still fall victim to these major dust storms. But there are things we can do to be better prepared and more resilient.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification suggests better ways to reduce harm from dust. These include improving land management practices, implementing early warning systems and improving monitoring of dust events.

On the ground, NSW is well equipped to monitor dust through the DustWatch network. The air quality monitoring network acts as an early warning system, particularly for people in Sydney living downwind of sources interstate. But usually no more than 12-24 hours notice is provided. This means the authorities might might start to prepare to issue a warning when they detect poor air quality in Western NSW.

However, these systems pale in comparison to the predictive capacity available in South Korea and Japan. There, alerts of dust storms and poor air quality can be issued days in advance.

Using our eyes in the sky

My PhD research project involves using satellites to deepen our understanding of where dust storms are coming from and where they might travel to.

For instance the Himawari-8/9 satellite scans Australia every ten minutes, allowing us to track the evolution of dust events from start to finish.

We can pinpoint almost the exact moment a dust storm begins. These areas can then be targeted using satellites to understand the conditions of the land causing dust storms to form and monitor high-risk areas for erosion in the future.

Putting technology to good use will get us part of the way to a more resilient Australia. There is also a clear need to adapt to the changing climate in our nation’s grazing and cropping systems.

Tegan Clark receives support from the Australian Government Research Training Program to undertake her PhD. She also works for Connected Farms, an ag-tech company. She is a volunteer with IncludeHer, a non-for-profit focused on gender equity in STEM education.

– ref. Raining one week, dusty the next – how did a dust storm make it all the way to rainy Sydney? – https://theconversation.com/raining-one-week-dusty-the-next-how-did-a-dust-storm-make-it-all-the-way-to-rainy-sydney-251600

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Azerion publishes Interim Unaudited Financial Results Q1 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Quarterly Report Q1 2025

..

4th consecutive Q1 Year-on-Year growth

Highlights of Q1

Throughout Q1 2025 we have continued our multi-year focus on efficiency and profitability; favouring long-term economic decisions over short-term opportunities. We have continued to invest in the platform and this is reflected in the performance outlined below, resulting in several record achievements since our listing early 2022:
- Total Revenue of € 128.0 million in Q1 2025, up 7% from € 119.7 million in Q1 2024 and the 4th consecutive Q1 YoY revenue increase, mainly driven by higher spend across the Platform Segment particularly in AAA Game Distribution and the integration of past acquisitions, including The Moneytizer, Goldbach Austria and Produpress.
- Adjusted EBITDA in Q1 2025 of € 11.7 million, an increase of 19% as compared to € 9.8 million in Q1 2024, another 4th Q1 YoY increase in as many years, largely driven by increased profitability in both our Premium Games and Platform segments.
- EBITDA performance significantly improved to € 7.9 million as compared to € 4.7 million in Q1 2024, up 68% year over year as a result of synergies from acquisitions and continued focus on efficiency and profitability. For a detailed reconciliation of net income to adjusted EBITDA, please refer to Other information.
A key driver of this performance is the consistent execution of our consolidation and integration plan initiated in 2023. By strengthening our core technical systems and team structures, we’ve built a foundation that enables us to regularly launch new features and onboard partners more efficiently.
- Significant progress in advancing our product and technology roadmap, including the consolidation of Azerion’s ID Graph into one DMP, new features and automation for our DSP and SSP interfaces and setting the foundations for Agentic AI developments.
- Signed 80 new publishers and connected 6 additional SSPs, 3 new DSPs and 1 supplementary Data source to expand our digital audiences across Europe and the Americas.
- In parallel, we have designated investment and development resources to create Azerion Intelligence, a powerful Multi-Cloud and AI platform offering European businesses affordable access to open-source AI models, scalable cloud hosting, and a marketplace of AI-driven apps and agents tailored for digital marketing and publishing which was announced in Q2 2025. We see AI as significant opportunity to drive rapid and scalable revenue growth over the coming months and years.
Attachment
- Azerion Group N.V. –Interim Financial Results Q1 2025
The MIL Network –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arrest made following Papatoetoe assault

Source: New Zealand Police

Police have arrested a man sought in connection with a violent assault in Papatoetoe earlier this month.

This morning, Police released CCTV images as part of an investigation into the incident on May 9 on Sutton Crescent.

“This afternoon, a man presented at the Ōtāhuhu Police Station and has been arrested,” Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward, of Counties Manukau West CIB, says.

“He has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”

The 25-year-old man will appear in the Manukau District Court tomorrow.

“Police acknowledge for sharing our appeal today in this investigation.”

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police release images in Papatoetoe assault investigation

Source: New Zealand Police

Police believe information from the public will help identify an offender involved in a violent assault in Papatoetoe.

An investigation has been underway this month into the incident where a woman suffered a head injury in the early hours of 9 May on Sutton Crescent.

Counties Manukau West CIB is releasing footage of a man sought in connection with the assault.

“At around midnight, the victim and the offender had been walking along Sutton Crescent when an argument broke out between them,” Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Hayward says.

“We do not know why this argument began but it has continued as the pair moved towards Kolmar Road.”

The female victim attempted to walk away from the male offender but was assaulted.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hayward says: “The force of the assault has caused the victim to fall to the ground.

“The offender has continued the violent assault and used extreme force on the woman.”

Police have since obtained CCTV footage of the assault, which shows the male offender walking away from the scene a short time later.

The female victim was transported to Middlemore Hospital with serious injuries and is continuing to recover from her ordeal.

Detective Senior Sergeant Hayward says despite a thorough area canvass, no witnesses to the violent incident have been identified.

Police are now releasing images to the public.

“We have obtained good CCTV footage of the man we want to speak with in this investigation,” he says.

“There is no place for this extreme violence in the community, and I’m confident someone will know who this man is.

“We need to hear from you.”

If you have information, please update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 250509/4414.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS.

Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: TransAlta Renews Normal Course Issuer Bid

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TransAlta Corporation (“TransAlta” or the “Company”) (TSX: TA) (NYSE: TAC) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) has accepted the notice filed by the Company to implement a normal course issuer bid (“NCIB”) for a portion of its common shares (“Common Shares”).

Pursuant to the NCIB, TransAlta may repurchase up to a maximum of 14,000,000 Common Shares, representing approximately 4.7% of the 296,449,829 Common Shares issued and outstanding as at May 20, 2025. Purchases under the NCIB may be made through open market transactions on the TSX and any alternative Canadian trading systems on which the Common Shares are traded, based on the prevailing market price. Any Common Shares purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled.

Transactions under the NCIB will depend on future market conditions. TransAlta will initially retain discretion whether to make purchases under the NCIB, and to determine the timing, amount and acceptable price of any such purchases, subject at all times to applicable TSX and other regulatory requirements. The period during which TransAlta is authorized to make purchases under the NCIB commences on May 31, 2025, and ends on May 30, 2026, or such earlier date on which the maximum number of Common Shares are purchased under the NCIB or the NCIB is terminated at the Company’s election.

Under TSX rules, not more than 481,658 Common Shares (being 25% of the average daily trading volume on the TSX of 1,926,633 Common Shares for the six months ended April 30, 2025) can be purchased on the TSX on any single trading day under the NCIB, with the exception that one block purchase in excess of the daily maximum is permitted per calendar week.

TransAlta has repurchased and cancelled 7,963,000 Common Shares on the open market through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems at an average price of $12.00 per share under its prior NCIB approved by the TSX on May 27, 2024, for the twelve-month period commencing May 31, 2024.

The NCIB provides the Company with a capital allocation alternative with a view to providing long-term shareholder value. TransAlta’s Board of Directors and Management believe that, from time to time, the market price of the Common Shares does not reflect their underlying value and purchases of Common Shares for cancellation under the NCIB may provide an opportunity to enhance shareholder value.

About TransAlta Corporation:
TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers with clean, affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canada’s largest producers of wind power and Alberta’s largest producer of hydro-electric power. For over 114 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the communities where we operate and where our employees work and live. TransAlta aligns its corporate goals with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Future-Fit Business Benchmark, which also defines sustainable goals for businesses. Our reporting on climate change management has been guided by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) S2 Climate-related Disclosures Standard and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations. TransAlta has achieved a 70 per cent reduction in GHG emissions or 22.7 million tonnes CO2e since 2015 and received an upgraded MSCI ESG rating of AA.

For more information about TransAlta, visit its website at transalta.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Information:
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words “may”, “will”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information or statements. More particularly, and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to TransAlta’s intentions with respect to the NCIB, the effects of repurchases of Common Shares and purchases thereunder, including any enhancement to shareholder value. These statements are based on TransAlta’s belief and assumptions based on information available at the time the assumptions were made. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that could cause such differences include: the entering into of an automatic securities purchase plan; legislative or regulatory developments; any significant changes to Common Share price or trading volume; continued availability of capital and financing; changes to general economic, market or business conditions; business opportunities that become available to, or are pursued by TransAlta; and other risk factors contained in the Company’s annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, which reflect TransAlta’s expectations only as of the date of this news release. TransAlta disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Note: All financial figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

For more information:

The MIL Network –

May 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Australia could tax Google, Facebook and other tech giants with a digital services tax – but don’t hold your breath

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fei Gao, Lecturer in Taxation, Discipline of Accounting, Governance & Regulation, The University of Sydney, University of Sydney

Tada Images/Shutterstock

Tech giants like Google, Facebook and Netflix make billions of dollars from Australian users every year. But most of those profits are not taxed here.

To address this tax gap, some countries have introduced a new kind of tax called the digital services tax, or DST. It applies to revenue earned from users in a country, even if the company has no physical operations there. Some European Union member countries, the UK and Canada have all introduced such a tax.

In Australia, it is estimated the five largest tech giants recorded A$15 billion in revenue in Australia last year, but combined they paid only $254 million in tax.

Australia has never contemplated imposing a similar tax. New Zealand tried but backed down last week after the United States threatened to impose higher tariffs on New Zealand goods.

So what’s holding Australia back?

How 20th-century tax treaties create 21st-century problems

To understand why Australia thinks its hands are tied on the taxation of the multinational tech giants, we need to step back in time.

About 100 years ago, Australia and other developed nations decided to tax residents on all their income earned worldwide, while non-residents were taxed only on income earned locally.

After the second world war, Australia entered into tax treaties so foreign companies selling to Australian customers would no longer be taxed here. Instead, those companies’ home countries would tax all their profits.

As the world moved to digital products this century, it became easy for giant multinational enterprises offering advertising on social media (such as Facebook and Instagram), advertising on search platforms (Google), and streaming services (Netflix) to provide those services from abroad. Little or no activity is conducted through local branches.

But countries where the sales are made have increasingly questioned the wisdom of having forfeited their taxing rights over income by foreign providers.

The rise of the digital services tax

The obvious solution would have been to renegotiate the treaties. This would restore the right of countries like Australia to tax foreign companies’ profits made from local customers or users.

However, treaty renegotiation is slow and complex. So several European countries, beginning with France in 2019, came up with a short-cut solution.

They introduced a discrete new tax on sales of digital services, called digital services taxes (DSTs). While the specific design varies by country, most DSTs apply a low tax rate, typically between 3% and 5%, on revenue rather than profits. They target large digital platforms that earn money from users within the taxing country, regardless of the company’s location.

Because DSTs are levied on revenue and are structured as separate from income tax, governments argued they could be introduced without breaching income tax treaties.

The new taxes quickly became popular and spread widely.
In Australia, the Greens have called for a DST, but both major parties have remained steadfast in their objection to a new tax. This is due to the concern that the US may impose retaliatory tariffs on Australian goods.

US tech bosses at the inauguration of President Trump: (from left to right) CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, CEO of Google Sundar Pichai and X CEO Elon Musk.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AFP

How big is the tax loss?

Australians are enthusiastic consumers of digital products. Depending on which companies are included in the calculation, the annual revenues vary between $15 billion and $26 billion a year, but only a fraction of that is taxed here.

At a time when the federal budget is forecasting deficits for the foreseeable future, Australia is foregoing potentially millions in lost revenue from these digital giants.

While Australia has avoided a DST as a solution to the income tax loss, it has been willing to regulate and tax foreign digital companies in other ways.
Australia collects 10% goods and services tax, or GST, on digital services provided to Australian companies, including streaming platforms and app subscriptions.

This helps ensure foreign providers are taxed similarly to domestic ones when it comes to the GST.

Australia has also imposed non-tax obligations on digital giants such as the requirement that digital platforms pay Australian media outlets for using their news content.

Read more:
Australia’s ‘coercive’ news media rules are the latest targets of US trade ire

Serious hurdles for reform

In February, the Trump administration described DSTs as tools used by foreign governments to “plunder American companies” and warned retaliatory tariffs would be imposed in response.

The accompanying White House fact sheet singled out Australia and Canada, arguing the US digital economy dwarfs those countries’ entire economies. It suggested any attempt to tax US tech companies would not go unanswered.

Six weeks later, the US imposed a 10% tariff on most Australian exports to the US and a 25% tariff on steel and aluminium exports.

The US sees its penal tariff plans as a useful negotiating tool to pressure trading partners into retreat on a broad range of peripheral complaints, including the digital services tax.

To date, only two countries have retreated: New Zealand and India. Other countries are standing firm.

In Australia, the Greens have called for the adoption of a DST, but the current and previous governments remain firm in their opposition. There is concern about antagonising the US at a delicate time when our broader trade relations are under scrutiny.

For the foreseeable future, the digital giants will continue to earn billions from Australian users. Most of those profits will remain beyond the reach of Australian tax law.

Richard Krever receives funding from the ARC

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

– ref. Australia could tax Google, Facebook and other tech giants with a digital services tax – but don’t hold your breath – https://theconversation.com/australia-could-tax-google-facebook-and-other-tech-giants-with-a-digital-services-tax-but-dont-hold-your-breath-257251

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Peacekeepers in Abyei Win Top United Nations Military, Police Awards

Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

NEW YORK, 27 May — The United Nations has announced the 2024 recipients of the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award and the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award.

Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme of Ghana will receive the Military Gender Advocate Award and Chief Superintendent Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone will receive the Woman Police Officer of the Year Award during a ceremony marking the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May.

The awards will be presented at United Nations Headquarters in New York by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Sharon Syme of Ghana has been named the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year in recognition of her exceptional commitment in promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls during her tour of duty with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Since her deployment in 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser, Ms. Syme’s work has directly impacted local communities, ensuring the voices and needs of women and girls are integrated into security and peacebuilding initiatives.

As part of her efforts, she conducted an intensive health campaign for the women and men of the local communities on the dangers and health implications of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices like child marriage.

Ms. Syme also helped strengthen the gender awareness and capacity of UNISFA’s military components, spearheading patrols composed of men and women able to address diverse community needs, and engaging with local women’s groups to promote trust and collaboration. Her approach emphasized inclusivity, respect and cultural awareness, setting a benchmark for gender-responsive peacekeeping operations.

“Squadron Leader Syme exemplifies the principles of gender advocacy in peacekeeping,” said Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix. “Her dedication has not only improved the effectiveness of UNISFA’s operations, but also ensured that the mission is more reflective of and responsive to the communities it serves.”

“Applying gender perspectives into daily tasks is the responsibility of every peacekeeper,” Ms. Syme said. “Success comes through diversifying military representation at checkpoints, operating bases and on patrols it also comes from having gender-responsive leaders, who listen and respond to the voices of their male and female peacekeepers”.

Zainab Gbla of Sierra Leone has been named the Woman Police Officer of the Year for her innovative community engagement initiatives that helped strengthen relations between host communities and the mission while establishing new crime-reporting channels in Abyei, where there is no functional police service.

In an area that had no schools when she arrived, she initiated an educational programme, providing materials and visual aids for teaching disadvantaged children. She also established a mentorship programme for girls. Projects she also initiated to support crop cultivation and livestock sale at the local markets gave the women sustainable sources of income, allowing them to provide for their families and send their children to school in nearby Abyei town.

Currently serving as UNISFA’s Chief Police Training Officer, Ms. Gbla spent her teenage years displaced within her home country of Sierra Leone and later as a refugee in Guinea — experiences that motivated her to enter the police service and to empower women affected, like her, by conflict.

“Having been inspired by seeing the positive impact of the police first hand, including the rebuilding and restructuring of the Sierra Leone Police following years of conflict, Chief Superintendent Gbla embodies the work of the United Nations to improve lives and shape futures,” said Under-Secretary-General Lacroix.

“This award symbolizes the tireless work of the women in uniform who serve under the UN flag,” said Ms. Gbla upon hearing of her award. “Each of us faces unique challenges in our respective missions, yet our collective goal remains the same: to foster peace and protect the vulnerable.”

About the Awardees

Chief Superintendent Zainab Mbalu Gbla joined the Sierra Leone Police in 2002, where she has since held various roles in operations, training and leadership. She has been serving with UNISFA since April 2023 as Officer-in-Charge of the Community-Based Disarmament Unit and UNPOL Chief Training Officer. This is her third peacekeeping deployment, after serving with the United Nations – African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2010–2013 and 2020–2021.

Squadron Leader Sharon Mwinsote Syme graduated from the Ghana Military Academy after obtaining her first master’s degree in international health at Japan’s Tokyo University. A year later, she joined the Ghana Armed Forces Medical Corps and is the Deputy Chief Dietician at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Her first peacekeeping deployment, she joined UNISFA in March 2024 as the Mission’s Military Gender Adviser.

About the Awards

The United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year award was established in 2011 to recognize the exceptional contributions of women police officers to UN peace operations and to promote women’s empowerment, in line with UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security. The UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award is presented annually since 2016 to a military peacekeeper — male or female — who has shown outstanding commitment and leadership in promoting the principles of resolution 1325 (2000). The resolution calls on actors to mainstream a gender perspective in all aspects of peacekeeping and peacebuilding and to ensure women’s participation in peace and political processes. The resolution also calls for the protection from, and prevention of, conflict-related sexual violence and for an expansion of the role and contribution of women in UN operations, including of uniformed women peacekeepers.

The awards ceremony will be held at UN Headquarters on 29 May from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and broadcast live on UN Web TV.

More information, photos and digital assets on the awardees are available on a dedicated Trello Board.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact: Douglas Coffman, Department of Global Communications, at email: coffmand@un.org; or Sophie Boudre, Department of Peace Operations, at email: boudre@un.org and Hector Calderon, Department of Peace Operations, at email: hector.calderon@un.org.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Modern multi-format spaces: how capital libraries are developing

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

There are 440 city-subordinate libraries in Moscow. Since the beginning of the year, readers have borrowed almost 3.2 million publications from them. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

“Modern Moscow libraries are comfortable multi-format spaces that attract about 10 million people annually. Visitors take books and periodicals, participate in clubs and sections, work in co-working spaces, participate in master classes and meetings with writers,” said Natalia Sergunina.

From creative circles to festivals

Over the past few years, the capital’s library network has changed noticeably: institutions have become popular city centers for self-development and creativity. Last year, renovations were completed 13 Moscow librariesAs part of the comprehensive renovation, the premises are being put in order, modern equipment is being purchased, access to wireless Internet is being provided, and the book collections are being replenished.

More than 30 thousand events are held annually in the capital’s libraries, which attract both city residents and tourists. Everyone is invited to cultural events, festivals, concerts and performances.

Visitors of all ages are invited to join clubs and sections — vocal, literary and poetic, dance, theater, music, environmental and local history. In addition, reading rooms become part of large-scale projects. Among them are the “Biblionight” campaign and the “Red Square” book festival.

Step-by-step digitalization

The library modernization program began in 2018. First, they were connected to a common information system. This allowed the introduction of a single library card (SLC) for all sites. In total, about 1.3 million SLCs have already been issued, 62 thousand of which have been issued since January of this year.

Another important stage in the digitalization of the library network is the launch of the “Moscow Libraries” service, where you can search for and reserve the books you need. It currently features 15 million publications. Thanks to the online platform, city residents have ordered more than 800 thousand books. Here, users can extend the shelf life of literature, get acquainted with thematic selections, and receive personal recommendations from artificial intelligence.

History and Innovation

While becoming even more modern and attractive, libraries retain their identity and individuality.

For example, the Central City Children’s Library named after A.P. Gaidar is one of the oldest reading rooms for the younger generation in the capital. Its collection contains about 200 thousand books. The library runs the Moscow Summer Reading Program for Children and Teenagers, the Thoughtful Reader contest of reviews and comments, and publishes catalogs of recommended literature.

The Central Universal Scientific Library named after N.A. Nekrasov is the largest public city reading room in Moscow. Its collection includes more than a million publications in different languages. Play readings, thematic festivals, exhibitions and excursions are held here.

Moscow Main Archives Opens Electronic Reading Room Summer Stories: The Moscow Libraries service offers selections of books to read during the holidays

The Anna Akhmatova Smart Library has a coworking space with free internet, a self-service book checkout station, a multifunctional transformable hall, a recording studio, a cinema hall, and a printing house.

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

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

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

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154448073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: TeraWulf Acquires Beowulf Electricity & Data, Streamlining Corporate Structure
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

EASTON, Md., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TeraWulf Inc. (Nasdaq: WULF) (“TeraWulf” or the “Company”), which owns and operates vertically integrated, next-generation digital infrastructure primarily powered by zero-carbon energy, announced today the acquisition of 100% of the membership interests of Beowulf Electricity & Data LLC and its affiliates (collectively, “Beowulf E&D”). The strategic transaction simplifies TeraWulf’s corporate structure and eliminates a related-party relationship consolidating resources under a unified operating framework.

Transaction Overview

The total consideration for the transaction is approximately $52.4 million, consisting of $3 million in cash and 5 million shares of TeraWulf common stock issued at closing. The agreement also includes up to $19 million in contingent cash payments and up to $13 million in additional common stock, subject to the achievement of key milestones related to the expansion of TeraWulf’s data center business and project financing initiative. As part of the acquisition, 94 employees from Beowulf E&D – including Lake Mariner site staff and corporate support personnel – have transitioned to TeraWulf employment. In addition, the existing services agreement with Beowulf E&D, which had included substantial ongoing payments, has been terminated in conjunction with the closing. The Company’s previously announced 2025 cost guidance, including SG&A expenses of $40-$45 million and operating expenses of $20-$25 million, remains unchanged following the acquisition.

Strategic Rationale

The acquisition provides several key strategic benefits:
- Strengthened Vertical Integration and Energy Expertise. Beowulf E&D brings deep experience in the development and operation of power generation assets and related electrical infrastructure. Integrating this capability directly into TeraWulf supports the Company’s long-term growth strategy, especially as power generation becomes increasingly integral to high-power compute operations.
- Enhanced Access to Capital Markets. A simplified corporate structure improves transparency for debt investors and facilitates the creation of a repeatable, efficient process for accessing project financing in support of upcoming HPC infrastructure initiatives.
- Expanded Investor Appeal. The elimination of a related-party structure enables broader engagement with institutional and long-only investors who may have been constrained by related-party disclosures in prior filings.
“This acquisition consolidates our operations under a single, unified structure,” said Kerri Langlais, Chief Strategy Officer of TeraWulf. “It enhances transparency, strengthens governance, and provides greater strategic flexibility as we pursue long-term growth and value creation. With all employees operating under one roof, we are well-positioned to scale our next-generation infrastructure and support the evolving demands of AI and high-power compute workloads.”

The transaction was negotiated and approved by a special independent committee of the Company’s Board of Directors comprised entirely of independent directors (the “Independent Committee”). The Independent Committee consulted independent legal counsel Reed Smith LLP and received a fairness opinion from Piper Sandler & Co. in connection with the transaction.

About TeraWulf

TeraWulf develops, owns, and operates environmentally sustainable, next-generation data center infrastructure in the United States, specifically designed for bitcoin mining and hosting HPC workloads. Led by a team of seasoned energy entrepreneurs, the Company owns and operates the Lake Mariner facility situated on the expansive site of a now retired coal plant in Western New York. Currently, TeraWulf generates revenue primarily through bitcoin mining, leveraging predominantly zero-carbon energy sources, including hydroelectric and nuclear power. Committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles that align with its business objectives, TeraWulf aims to deliver industry-leading economics in mining and data center operations at an industrial scale.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “plan,” “believe,” “goal,” “target,” “aim,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “seek,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “strategy,” “opportunity,” “predict,” “should,” “would” and other similar words and expressions, although the absence of these words or expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations and beliefs of TeraWulf’s management and are inherently subject to a number of factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among others: (1) the ability to mine bitcoin profitably; (2) our ability to attract additional customers to lease our HPC data centers; (3) our ability to perform under our existing data center lease agreements (4) changes in applicable laws, regulations and/or permits affecting TeraWulf’s operations or the industries in which it operates; (5) the ability to implement certain business objectives, including its bitcoin mining and HPC data center development, and to timely and cost-effectively execute related projects; (6) failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and/or on acceptable terms with regard to expansion or existing operations; (7) adverse geopolitical or economic conditions, including a high inflationary environment, the implementation of new tariffs and more restrictive trade regulations; (8) the potential of cybercrime, money-laundering, malware infections and phishing and/or loss and interference as a result of equipment malfunction or break-down, physical disaster, data security breach, computer malfunction or sabotage (and the costs associated with any of the foregoing); (9) the availability and cost of power as well as electrical infrastructure equipment necessary to maintain and grow the business and operations of TeraWulf; and (10) other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Potential investors, stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they were made. TeraWulf does not assume any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement after it was made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or regulation. Investors are referred to the full discussion of risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements and the discussion of risk factors contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available at www.sec.gov.

Investors:
Investors@terawulf.com

Media:
media@terawulf.com

The MIL Network –
May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: Nasdaq Announces Mid-Month Open Short Interest Positions in Nasdaq Stocks as of Settlement Date May 15, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At the end of the settlement date of May 15, 2025, short interest in 3,168 Nasdaq Global Market^SM securities totaled 13,735,568,588 shares compared with 13,300,707,903 shares in 3,156 Global Market issues reported for the prior settlement date of April 30, 2025. The mid-May short interest represents 2.41 days compared with 2.40 days for the prior reporting period.

Short interest in 1,639 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market^SM totaled 2,731,907,808 shares at the end of the settlement date of May 15, 2025, compared with 2,645,060,429 shares in 1,636 securities for the previous reporting period. This represents a 1.00 day average daily volume; the previous reporting period’s figure was 1.00.

In summary, short interest in all 4,807 Nasdaq^® securities totaled 16,467,476,396 shares at the May 15, 2025 settlement date, compared with 4,792 issues and 15,945,768,332 shares at the end of the previous reporting period. This is 1.79 days average daily volume, compared with an average of 1.92 days for the prior reporting period.

The open short interest positions reported for each Nasdaq security reflect the total number of shares sold short by all broker/dealers regardless of their exchange affiliations. A short sale is generally understood to mean the sale of a security that the seller does not own or any sale that is consummated by the delivery of a security borrowed by or for the account of the seller.

For more information on Nasdaq Short interest positions, including publication dates, visit
http://www.nasdaq.com/quotes/short-interest.aspx
or http://www.nasdaqtrader.com/asp/short_interest.asp.

About Nasdaq:
Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a leading global technology company serving corporate clients, investment managers, banks, brokers, and exchange operators as they navigate and interact with the global capital markets and the broader financial system. We aspire to deliver world-leading platforms that improve the liquidity, transparency, and integrity of the global economy. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software, exchange capabilities, and client-centric services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence. To learn more about the company, technology solutions, and career opportunities, visit us on LinkedIn, on X @Nasdaq, or at www.nasdaq.com.

Media Contact:
Maximilian Leitenberger
Maximilian.leitenberger@nasdaq.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/07645b24-4544-4adc-9f01-d13106b38966

NDAQO

The MIL Network –

May 28, 2025
MIL-OSI: CarGurus to Present at William Blair’s 45th Annual Growth Stock Conference

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BOSTON, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CarGurus, Inc. (Nasdaq: CARG), the No. 1 most visited digital auto platform for shopping, buying, and selling new and used vehicles¹, today announced that Jason Trevisan, Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to participate in a fireside chat at William Blair’s 45^th Annual Growth Stock Conference on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 10:20 AM ET.

A webcast of the fireside chat will be accessible from the Investor Relations page of the company’s website at https://investors.cargurus.com beginning at the time indicated above, and an archive of the presentation will be available there for 30 days following the event.

About CarGurus, Inc.

CarGurus (Nasdaq: CARG) is a multinational, online automotive platform for buying and selling vehicles that is building upon its industry-leading listings marketplace with both digital retail solutions and the CarOffer online wholesale platform. The CarGurus platform gives consumers the confidence to purchase and/or sell a vehicle either online or in-person, and it gives dealerships the power to accurately price, effectively market, instantly acquire, and quickly sell vehicles, all with a nationwide reach. The company uses proprietary technology, search algorithms, and data analytics to bring trust, transparency, and competitive pricing to the automotive shopping experience. CarGurus is the most visited automotive shopping site in the U.S. ¹

In addition to the U.S. marketplace, the company operates online marketplaces under the CarGurus brand in Canada and the U.K., as well as independent online marketplace brands Autolist in the U.S. and PistonHeads in the U.K.

To learn more about CarGurus, visit www.cargurus.com, and for more information about CarOffer, visit www.caroffer.com.

CarGurus® is a registered trademark of CarGurus, Inc., and CarOffer® is a registered trademark of CarOffer, LLC. All other product names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

¹Similarweb: Traffic Report [Cars.com, Autotrader, TrueCar, CARFAX Listings (defined as CARFAX Total visits minus Vehicle History Reports traffic)], Q1 2025, U.S.

Investor Contact:
Kirndeep Singh
Vice President, Head of Investor Relations
investors@cargurus.com

Media Contact:
Maggie Meluzio
Director, Public Relations & External Communications
pr@cargurus.com

The MIL Network –

May 28, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Discovering new NZ music in the streaming age is getting harder – what’s the future for local artists?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Oli Wilson, Professor & Associate Dean Research, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

Getty Images

New Zealand Music Month turned 25 this year, and there’s been plenty to celebrate – whether it be Mokotron’s Taite Prize-winning Waerea, Lorde’s recent return (though not to New Zealand – yet), or the fact that live performance revenues post-COVID have been strong.

But for new and emerging local artists, Music Month also highlights a lack of visibility on streaming services and commercial radio, which increasingly favour already famous artists, including ones whose heydays were decades ago.

During a month when music fans have been encouraged to stream local, see local and buy local, so far the only homegrown artists to appear in this week’s New Zealand Top 40 Singles chart are Lorde and K-pop star Rosé.

Recently published data shows that as little as 9% of New Zealand streaming, downloads and physical sales revenue is going to local artists. Despite this, according to NZ on Air, 49% of New Zealanders stream music every day. In fact streaming has recently surpassed radio as the main way audiences discover new music, with growing influence from TikTok and Instagram.

On Spotify, which approximately one in three New Zealanders use every day, only one local track – Corella’s Blue Eyed Māori – featured in the 2024 top-50 year-end local playlist. Streaming increasingly privileges and skews towards established releases from well-known artists, and other artists have little control over social media algorithms.

While radio remains relevant, with 46% of New Zealanders listening daily, only two nationwide commercial radio stations played more than 20% local music in 2024.

Structural music industry changes

The Official Aotearoa Music Charts’ End of Year Top 50 Singles provide another useful indication of local music market share. These charts draw on a wide range of sales and streaming data, and aim to provide an authoritative snapshot of what New Zealanders were buying and listening to in that year.

Since COVID, we have seen a sharp decline in local artists featuring in these charts. In 2024, the only New Zealander to feature was Corella’s Blue Eyed Māori, and only four New Zealand albums featured in the End of Year Top 50 Albums, three of which were compilations primarily made up of earlier releases.

Data sourced from aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz, operated by Recorded Music NZ.
CC BY

While COVID lockdowns and border closures hugely disrupted the live music sector, we also saw audiences engaging with a lot more local music. Summer festival Rhythm and Vines sold out an all Kiwi lineup, and the amount of local music on radio reached its highest peak since records began.

This suggests visibility, discoverability and chart success have little to do with the amount or quality of local music being produced. Instead, they are the result of structural changes in the music industries.

Internationally, this has been linked to the market consolidation and dominance of a small number of big players at the expense of local artists, industry and infrastructure.

What can be done?

As global platforms such as Spotify and TikTok have increased their influence on audiences’ ability to discover New Zealand’s music, it’s hard to see a future where business-as-usual will improve the situation for local artists and audiences.

There are potential solutions, however. Australia has committed to imposing local content quotas on international streamers, and Canada has instituted a revenue sharing system between global streamers and broadcasters.

Unlike similar markets, such as Australia and Norway, New Zealand lacks a strong public youth broadcaster. Dedicated investment in this area could help support targeted strategies to promote local music.

Changes in the way local music is funded and nurtured could also help. The government currently funds NZ on Air and the Music Commission, but they have different objectives and obligations. Merging them might streamline decision making and recognise the interconnectedness of the live and recorded music sectors.

If steps aren’t taken soon, New Zealand will struggle to support a thriving local music economy, and New Zealanders will continue to miss out on hearing themselves in the music they listen to.

With Music Month drawing to a close, there needs to be a commitment to structural changes that, over time, will see the development of a year-round celebration of New Zealand music.

Oli Wilson has previously completed research in partnership with or commissioned by APRA AMCOS, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage and the NZ Music Commission. He has also received funding, or contributed to projects that have benefited from funding from NZ on Air, the NZ Music Commission and Recorded Music New Zealand. He has provided services to The Chills, owns shares in TripTunz Limited, and is a writer member of APRA AMCOS.

Catherine Hoad has completed research in partnership with or commissioned by APRA AMCOS, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Heritage, NZ On Air, Screen Industry Guild of Aotearoa New Zealand, and the NZ Music Commission.

Dave Carter is a writer member of APRA AMCOS. He has received research funding from Manatū Taongao Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council, APRA AMCOS, Music NT, Music Tasmania, The Australian Live Music Office, Arts South Australia, City of Melbourne, Film Festivals Australia, City of Sydney. He has also received funding, or contributed to projects that have benefited from funding, for creative work as a producer and engineer from NZ on Air and APRA AMCOS.

Jesse Austin-Stewart has completed commissioned research for NZ On Air and participated in focus groups for Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage. He has received competitive funding from Creative New Zealand, NZ On Air, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture & Hertiage, and the NZ Music Commission. He is a writer member of APRA AMCOS and a member of the Composer’s Association of New Zealand and Recorded Music NZ

– ref. Discovering new NZ music in the streaming age is getting harder – what’s the future for local artists? – https://theconversation.com/discovering-new-nz-music-in-the-streaming-age-is-getting-harder-whats-the-future-for-local-artists-257449

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 28, 2025

Category: Entertainment

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