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Category: Entertainment

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Journalism’s Smith Receives Carnegie Fellowship

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Steven G. Smith, an award-winning multimedia storyteller and professor in the Department of Journalism, has been named an Andrew Carnegie Fellow for 2025, joining just 25 other scholars nationally in receiving the prestigious honor for researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

    Each fellow will receive $200,000 for research focusing on subjects related to political polarization, with the aim of eventually producing a book or other major study, the Carnegie Corporation of New York announced Wednesday.

    “Receiving the Carnegie Fellowship is an honor, and I’m excited to continue working on ‘These United States,’ my long-term documentary photo essay exploring American identity in the 21st century,” says Smith, who won a Pulitzer Prize for photography as part of the Rocky Mountain News photo essay team that was honored in 2003. “The fellowship will provide invaluable time and resources to develop the project further and share stories from across the country. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for the support provided by the Carnegie Foundation and the University of Connecticut.”

    (Courtesy of Steven G. Smith)

    Smith, whose previous work includes the award-winning documentary films “The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Journey” and “One World, One People,” has already been working on his current project for a year and a half, traveling the U.S. and documenting its people in photography.

    “My perspective as a visual journalist is to see what our country looks like right now,” Smith says. “It’s a portrait of America at the time of its 250th birthday.”

    Visual media like photography and film offer a chance to examine complicated and emotionally charged subjects with unique nuance, Smith says, which is partly what drew him to the project.

    “I’m a big believer in a wide variety of approaches,” he says. “Human beings are complex, and photography and visual communication can bring these subtleties and details to the surface that might otherwise be overlooked.”

    Smith is just the second UConn faculty member to receive a Carnegie fellowship; Yonatan Morse, associate professor of political science, became the first in 2020.

    Under the leadership of Carnegie president Dame Louise Richardson, the 2025 class marks the second year of the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program’s focus on building a body of research focused on political polarization. Carnegie will commit up to $18 million to this effort over the three-year period.

    The winning proposals approach polarization through a wide array of disciplines and methods. Projects include analyzing the causes of the increasing political divides between men and women; assessing where Americans find common ground when it comes to their health; and understanding how partisan media, consultants, and entertainment industries are driving polarization for short-term profits, among other areas of research.

    “Through these fellowships Carnegie is harnessing the unrivaled brainpower of our universities to help us to understand how our society has become so polarized,” says Richardson. “Our future grantmaking will be informed by what we learn from these scholars as we seek to mitigate the pernicious effects of political polarization.”

    The focus on political polarization attracted more than 300 applications for the fellowship. A panel of jurors, chaired by Richardson and comprised of current and former leaders from some of the nation’s preeminent institutions, made the final selections. They prioritized proposals based on the originality and promise of the research, its potential impact on the field, and the applicants’ plans for communicating the findings to a broad audience.

    Smith says the final shape of his project is still to be determined, but envisions possibilities like a book and exhibition of the work.

    “I’d like to see this project be less overtly political and more a celebration of who we are,” Smith says. “Sometimes, when you’re out taking the pulse of the country, it can be a little frightening. But as I get out and shake hands and meet people and learn about their lives, I see a lot of kindness. That’s been very healing, to meet all these wonderful people and try to get just a little bit of their story.”

    Founded in 2015, the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program provides the most generous stipend of its kind for research in the humanities and social sciences. To date, Carnegie has named almost 300 fellows, representing a philanthropic investment of more than $59 million. Congressional testimony by past fellows has addressed topics such as social media and privacy protections, transnational crime, governmental responses to pandemics, and college affordability. Fellows have received honors including the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and National Book Award.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Launches Recruitment Drive to Build Full-Scale KRONOS MMR Reactors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NANO Nuclear Aims to Expand Engineering and Project Development Team to Support U.S. and Canadian KRONOS MMR Energy System Reactor Construction and Licensing Efforts

    New York, N.Y., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or the “Company”) is launching a recruitment initiative focused on the Midwest region to support its ambitious plans to construct, demonstrate and gain regulatory approval for full-scale KRONOS MMR Energy Systems in both the United States and Canada.

    NANO Nuclear’s plans to extend its technical and project execution team are critical in the Company’s transition from design to ultimate commercial deployment of the proprietary, stationary KRONOS microreactor. In tandem with upcoming geological characterization work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) site, this workforce build-out will consolidate the expertise and provide the personnel necessary to complete the construction permit application and begin construction of the first KRONOS prototype on the UIUC campus shortly thereafter.

    Rendering of the KRONOS MMRTMEnergy System

    “As we prepare to break ground on the KRONOS reactor prototype at UIUC, it’s time to scale our team to match our vision,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “This is a call to the best and brightest in nuclear and energy innovation in the Midwest region—we’re building a reactor, and we need you on the team.”

    Now Hiring Across All Core Disciplines

    NANO Nuclear is actively recruiting top talent across a variety of critical disciplines for the KRONOS MMR project. Open positions include:

    • Nuclear Engineers – Fuel & materials, reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, safety, and licensing
    • Mechanical Engineers – design, structural, CAD, balance of plant
    • Electrical Engineers – Instrumentation & control (I&C), power electronics, transmission
    • Civil Engineers & Geotechnical Experts – Site layout, structural foundations, drilling operations
    • Project Managers & Construction Specialists – Full-cycle oversight from permitting through commissioning
    • QA/QC Professionals – Nuclear-grade standards, documentation, and supplier oversight
    • Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Experts – NRC and CNSC compliance and filings
    • Skilled Technicians – Fabrication, assembly, testing, and field support

    Applicants with previous experience in nuclear R&D, DOE national labs, SMR or MMR programs, or international reactor development are especially encouraged to apply.

    “Our collaboration with UIUC will be a critical operations hub for our KRONOS reactor development effort,” said Jay Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear. “It will house the growing team that’s building not only our U.S. research reactor, but also laying the foundation for our demonstration reactor deployment in Canada, which will open the path for eventual commercial rollout in both the U.S. and Canada.”

    Canadian Reactor Construction Also in Focus

    In parallel with the UIUC research reactor, Nano Nuclear is actively preparing to construct a KRONOS demonstration reactor in Canada, where it will enter the licensing process under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversight. The effort will establish a second fully licensed KRONOS unit, positioning NANO Nuclear to efficiently move its microreactor technology through construction, demonstration, regulatory licensing and eventual commercialization across North America.

    “Canada represents an incredible opportunity for clean, reliable microreactor deployment,” added Florent Heidet, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear. “By expanding our team and bringing additional talents onboard, we ensure we have the capacity to deliver simultaneous full-scale projects in two countries, each with independent regulatory pathways and future market potential.”

    Join the Team Shaping the Future of Nuclear Energy

    NANO Nuclear is a company that doesn’t just imagine the future—it’s engineering it, constructing it and moving towards regulatory licensing for it. With multiple microreactor project in progress, fuel qualification methodology already accepted by the NRC, and strategic partnerships underway, NANO Nuclear is one of the most active and ambitious advanced nuclear developers in the world.

    “This recruitment drive is about finding those who want to be part of history,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “If you want to help build the next generation of nuclear reactors from the ground up—this is your chance.”

    How to Apply

    Interested candidates can view open positions, including details regarding salary ranges and benefit offerings, and apply directly at:

    https://nanonuclearenergy.com/careers

    For inquiries, please contact:
    Email: careers@nanonuclearenergy.com
    Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

    About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

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

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

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

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

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

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

    For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

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

    PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

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

    Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

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

    Attachment

    • NANO Nuclear Energy Inc.

    The MIL Network –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: CUSIP Request Volumes for New Corporate Debt and Equity Instruments Increase in March

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NORWALK, Conn., April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CUSIP Global Services (CGS) today announced the release of its CUSIP Issuance Trends Report for March 2025. The report, which tracks the issuance of new security identifiers as an early indicator of debt and capital markets activity over the next quarter, found a monthly increase in request volume for new corporate debt and equity identifiers, while monthly request volume for new municipal identifiers was slightly lower.

    North American corporate CUSIP requests totaled 8,447 in March, which is up 4.2% on a monthly basis. On an annualized basis, North American corporate requests were down 16.9% over March 2024 totals. The monthly increase was driven by a 2.4% rise in request volume for U.S. corporate debt identifiers and a 5.5% increase in request volume for U.S. corporate equity identifiers.

    The aggregate total of identifier requests for new municipal securities – including municipal bonds, long-term and short-term notes, and commercial paper – fell 1.1% versus February totals. On a year-over-year basis, overall municipal volumes were up 11.4% through the end of March. Texas led state-level municipal request volume with a total of 106 new CUSIP requests in March, followed by California (104) and New York (81).

    “We are seeing a steady volume of new corporate debt and equity issuance throughout the first quarter,” said Gerard Faulkner, Director of Operations for CGS. “As interest rates fluctuate and uncertainty around the future of the U.S. economy continues to grow, it will be interesting to see if that pace continues.”

    Requests for international equity CUSIPs rose 2.6% in March and international debt CUSIP requests fell 5.9%. On an annualized basis, international equity CUSIP requests were up 9.0% and international debt CUSIP requests were up 20.5%.

    To view the full CUSIP Issuance Trends report for March, please click here.

    Following is a breakdown of new CUSIP Identifier requests by asset class year-to-date through March 2025:

    Asset Class 2025 YTD 2024 YTD YOY Change
    Long-Term Municipal Notes 100 63 58.7%
    Private Placement Securities 1,123 912 23.1%
    International Debt 1,793 1,488 20.5%
    U.S. Corporate Debt 8,518 7,285 16.9%
    Municipal Bonds 2,258 1,979 14.1%
    International Equity 434 398 9.0%
    U.S. Corporate Equity 3,115 2,939 6.0%
    Syndicated Loans 700 702 -0.3%
    Canada Corporate Debt & Equity 1,693 1,861 -9.0%
    Short-Term Municipal Notes 192 246 -22.0%
    CDs < 1-year Maturity 2,216 2,880 -23.1%
    CDs > 1-year Maturity 1,803 2,530 -28.7%


    About CUSIP Global Services

    CUSIP Global Services (CGS) is the global leader in securities identification. The financial services industry relies on CGS’ unrivaled experience in uniquely identifying instruments and entities to support efficient global capital markets. Its extensive focus on standardization over the past 50 plus years has helped CGS earn its reputation as the industry standard provider of reliable, timely reference data. CGS is also a founding member of the Association of National Numbering Agencies (ANNA) and co-operates ANNA’s hub of ISIN data, the ANNA Service Bureau. CGS is managed on behalf of the American Bankers Association (ABA) by FactSet Research Systems Inc., with a Board of Trustees that represents the voices of leading financial institutions. For more information, visit www.cusip.com.

    About The American Bankers Association

    The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation’s $24.2 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ approximately 2.1 million people, safeguard $19.1 trillion in deposits and extend $12.6 trillion in loans.

    For More Information:

    John Roderick
    john@jroderick.com
    +1 (631) 584.2200

    The MIL Network –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Western Union Media Network Taps Magnite to Expand Advertising Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the largest independent sell-side advertising company, today announced an agreement with Western Union to support growth of the financial services company’s new Media Network business. In doing so, Magnite will provide Western Union with technology to buy media as an advertiser and monetize its owned media.

    To further increase direct access to streaming inventory, Western Union Media Network is the first commerce media company to leverage Magnite’s ClearLine solution. ClearLine puts clients in control of the ad buying process by allowing them to purchase premium streaming inventory directly from publishers, maximizing Western Union’s working media budget. Magnite reaches 92 million CTV households in the US, accounting for 9 out of 10 ad-supported CTV households in the country.

    Magnite enables advertisers to tap into Western Union Media Network’s owned media properties and first-party insights. With Magnite’s technology, Western Union Media Network is monetizing its owned media properties spanning web, mobile, and in-app environments, including westernunion.com and its iOS and Android applications, which reach over 15 million US customers.

    Using Magnite’s Curator Marketplaces for self-serve audience extension, Western Union Media Network is providing its customers access to a multicultural audience leveraging anonymized transaction data against Magnite inventory. As a result, advertisers and agencies can access Western Union’s unique data and Magnite’s premium inventory, benefiting from precise targeting and streamlined programmatic workflows.

    Additionally, Western Union and Magnite have signed a supply-path optimization (SPO) agreement to streamline Western Union’s access to curated, premium omnichannel inventory.

    “Magnite’s expansive technology and service offerings make them a versatile partner that can help address our desire to grow our business,” said Chris Hammer, Senior Vice President, Western Union. “We are excited to see this collaboration continue to grow as we scale our Media Network business.”

    “We’re proud to support Western Union Media Network’s entry into advertising by helping them activate efficiently on all fronts,” said Stephanie Reustle, Head of Commerce Media at Magnite. “It’s great to see the advanced technology we’ve built for publishers and advertisers providing value to clients in new fields. We’ve seen the firsthand benefits of bringing sellers and buyers closer together and helping commerce media brands integrate into the landscape will bring additional advantages for all.”

    About Magnite
    We’re Magnite (NASDAQ: MGNI), the world’s largest independent sell-side advertising company. Publishers use our technology to monetize their content across all screens and formats including CTV, online video, display, and audio. The world’s leading agencies and brands trust our platform to access brand-safe, high-quality ad inventory and execute billions of advertising transactions each month. Anchored in bustling New York City, sunny Los Angeles, mile high Denver, historic London, colorful Singapore, and down under in Sydney, Magnite has offices across North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC.

    About Western Union
    The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is committed to helping people around the world who aspire to build financial futures for themselves, their loved ones, and their communities. Our leading cross-border, cross-currency money movement, payments, and digital financial services empower consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments—across more than 200 countries and territories and over 130 currencies—to connect with billions of bank accounts, millions of digital wallets and cards, and a global footprint of hundreds of thousands of retail locations. Our goal is to offer accessible financial services that help people and communities prosper. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

    Media Contact:

    Kar Yi Lim
    klim@magnite.com

    Investor Relations Contact:

    Nick Kormeluk
    nkormeluk@magnite.com
    949-500-0003

    The MIL Network –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker – noteworthy retrospective of an artist as ambitious as he was audacious

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Hylton, Lecturer in Contemporary Art, SOAS, University of London

    Donald Rodney’s art (1961-98) has been familiar to me for many years. But only rarely has it been possible to experience, at close quarters, anything approximating the sheer range and depth of his practice. In his first retrospective exhibition in over a decade and a half, Rodney’s remarkable work is given the platform it deserves.

    Spanning painting, drawing, oil pastels, photography, sculptural assemblages, installation and computer-generated art, Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker at London’s Whitechapel Gallery reveals an artist who was ambitious and prolific, audacious and innovative. An anathema to today’s market-driven art world.

    Invention was central to Rodney’s inimitable practice, but it was also integral to his life and upbringing. Growing up in what was often a racially and socially fractured Britain became central to his artistic concerns.

    Born in West Bromwich in 1961, Rodney was the youngest child of Harold and Iris, Jamaican immigrants, who settled in Britain in the late 1950s. They, like many postwar Caribbean arrivals, had to invent a new way of living and of surviving.

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    Rodney was brought up in Smethwick, a district on the outskirts of Birmingham. During the 1964 general election it became notorious for an anti-immigrant campaign led and won by Conservative MP Peter Griffiths. He helped set the stage for later, more extreme acts of racism – including new immigration laws meant to limit Black immigration, Enoch Powell’s Rivers of Blood speech, and the rise of the far-right National Front.

    However, by the 1970s and early 1980s, as Black children were becoming adults, new forms of British political and cultural identity were being fomented. This included an outpouring of artistic expression in Britain.

    With the likes of fellow art student Keith Piper, Rodney became part of the first generation of British-born Black students to attend art school in the UK, heralding a new chapter in British art.

    The painting How the West Was Won (1982) is named after John Ford’s epic western from 1962. It’s the earliest example of Rodney’s fledgling ability to sample and incorporate a wide variety of sources in his work – from Hollywood film and childhood memories of “cowboys and Indians”, to reimagining the cover of post-punk band Gang of Four’s influential debut album Entertainment (1979).

    Rodney’s composition used child-like mark-markings, vivid colours and crude portraiture, typifying a certain irreverence towards “proper” painting.

    While at Slade School of Fine Art between 1985-87, Rodney began making works using discarded X-rays.

    Visually alluring, these anonymous X-rays became his canvas. The House That Jack Built (1987), included in this exhibition, involved meticulous scalpel incisions of words and elaborate prose. X-ray was used as a metaphor for looking beneath the surface of images and society to better understand the workings of inequality and racism.

    The sculptural work Doublethink (1992), remade for this retrospective, comprises over 100 cheap sporting trophies, each emblazoned with shocking racial insults. These are intended to explore the paradoxes and pathologies of race-based discrimination.

    Rodney took his title from George Orwell’s dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, in which the language of Newspeak produces “doublethink”, a process in which two opposing ideas are truths, such as “ignorance is strength”. This, once again, demonstrates his capacity for invention.

    Self-portrait as social critique

    Nothing typified that capacity for invention more than Rodney’s approach to self-portraiture, which was often a conduit for wider social and political commentary.

    Rodney suffered from the hereditary blood disorder sickle cell anaemia. The relationship between his illness and art has routinely misunderstood to the detriment of his artistic ingenuity. Being X-rayed, having regular blood transfusions and invasive surgery were Rodney’s personal experiences. Transfigured into art, such medical predicaments became conduits for reinterpreting history and contemporary society.

    Visceral Canker (1990) is a circulatory blood pumping system overlaid on fabricated heraldic shields of Elizabeth I and slave trader Sir John Hawkins. It explored the intertwined relationships between Rodney’s Black British identity, slavery and British history.

    The photographic light-box Self Portrait: Black Men, Public Enemy (1990) and the analogue slide projection Cataract (1991) sought to question the perpetual representation of Black men in British society as criminal and deviant. Psalms (1997) is a poignant and affecting self-portrait in which an unoccupied and computer-powered wheelchair moves eerily in response to the gallery visitor.

    Rodney’s art-making process was resourceful. For example, the production of his important large oil pastel drawings on X-rays, including Britannia Hospital 2 (1988), were made in sections. This enabled Rodney to work at scale at a desk at home or in hospital.

    The photographic work In the House of My Father (1997), depicting a minuscule house made of the artist’s skin, was shot in King’s College hospital, London. Rodney was also a master at enlisting the active support from family, friends and associates to realise the production of entire exhibitions, including 9 Night in Eldorado (1997).

    The Whitechapel Gallery show is the final leg of a three-gallery tour which began in 2024. It was first presented at Spike Island, Bristol, the city in which Rodney first exhibited in 1982, followed by Nottingham Contemporary where he studied fine art as an undergraduate at Trent Polytechnic between 1981-85.

    London was where Rodney lived for most of his 16-year career. This retrospective brings together nearly all of the artist’s surviving works. However, about two-thirds of Rodney’s artistic output work has either been lost or destroyed. This does not diminish the retrospective but imbues archival material held by his estate and public collections with particular significance.

    The prominent role assigned to sketchbooks, working drawings and the screening of Three Songs on Pain, Light and Time (1995), directed by the Black Audio Film Collective, play an important supplementary role in narrating Rodney’s singular practice.

    Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker is at the Whitechapel Gallery until May 4.

    Richard Hylton 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. Donald Rodney: Visceral Canker – noteworthy retrospective of an artist as ambitious as he was audacious – https://theconversation.com/donald-rodney-visceral-canker-noteworthy-retrospective-of-an-artist-as-ambitious-as-he-was-audacious-254535

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: One to One: John & Yoko – documentary shows how Lennon and Ono shaped protest music, pop culture and each other

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephanie Hernandez, PhD Candidate, Literature and Music, University of Liverpool

    The new documentary One to One: John & Yoko offers an illuminating look into John Lennon’s post-Beatles activism with his partner Yoko Ono. It captures an early 1970s climate that was charged with political unrest and media saturation.

    Rather than perpetuate the simplified myth of Lennon as a lone revolutionary figure, the film spotlights Ono’s equally influential role in their shared artistic and social endeavours. The film also highlights how Lennon and Ono aimed to galvanise a generation that had grown apathetic and disillusioned after the perceived failure of the 1960s “flower power” to deliver genuine social change.

    The film adopts a pop-art, “channel surfing” aesthetic that situates the viewer in a recreated version of Lennon and Ono’s Greenwich Village apartment. This form plays on Lennon’s own television addiction. The story unfolds amid rapid cuts between Richard Nixon reelection speeches, anti-war demonstrations and playful consumer ads for laundry soap or ground beef – as if the viewer is surfing television channels.

    These scenes coalesce into a surreal tapestry of commercialism and counterculture. The interplay echoes the way Lennon and Ono saw pop culture and radical activism as inescapably intertwined discourses. It underscores how even seemingly mundane aspects of consumer life impinged on their activism and vice versa.

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    Lennon’s politics had emerged during his time as a Beatle, as evidenced in the song Revolution (1968). But it was Ono’s avant-garde sensibility that nudged him into more radical territory – both musically and socially.

    I’ve researched Ono’s comedic artistry in her performance art. So I found the way One to One portrays Ono seamlessly blending her artistic principles with raw emotional outcries onstage especially compelling.

    Her presence surfaces most powerfully in her onstage performance of Don’t Worry Kyoko (Mummy’s Only Looking for Her Hand in the Snow). There, her raw, piercing screams function as a form of cathartic protest rather than mere provocation. Despite widespread media ridicule (such as the infamous Chuck Berry footage that resurfaces on the internet every now and then), One to One clarifies that Ono’s screams constitute a highly personal mode of expression and resistance.

    The trailer for One to One: John & Yoko.

    Later in the film, Lennon’s own raw performance of his song Mother (1970) reveals how much Ono’s techniques informed his own. The documentary explores the emotional origins behind Ono’s shrieks, situating them within the context of primal scream therapy. This provides an interesting background to Lennon’s own wailing on Mother, a song about the lingering feeling of abandonment he had experienced since childhood.

    The film highlights a mutual borrowing. Lennon was not only the rock artist providing Ono exposure on the world’s stage but also a beneficiary of her experimental practices. Throughout the film, the couple are shown workshopping protest songs, connecting with countercultural figureheads such as poet Allen Ginsberg and activist Jerry Rubin, and aiding in counter-cultural protest of the American prison system.

    This sense of reciprocity between the couple is at the core of One to One.

    Complementary forces

    The One to One Benefit Concerts in August of 1972 at Madison Square Garden are at the epicentre of this film. Far from a publicity stunt, the shows sought tangible outcomes. They ultimately raised over US$1.5 million (£1,149,000) for Willowbrook State School, a facility for children with disabilities. Coincidentally, Lennon and Ono learned about the school through watching TV.

    The film includes an emotional scene of the children from Willowbrook playing in a park while Lennon performs Imagine. It shows how the song was never intended to canonise Lennon as a saint, but was rather to encourage social change.

    Although their plans to bail out people in prison on a Free The People tour fell through, Lennon and Ono’s capacity for integrating live music with direct engagement resonates in the concert footage.

    The film devotes considerable screen time to the concerts and crowd reactions. This portrays the physical energy of Lennon’s brand of rock ‘n’ roll and Ono’s more avant-garde flair as complementary forces. What emerges is a dynamic synergy, both onstage and off, that positions them as co-leaders of their own brand of pop activism.

    Towards the end of the film is footage of Ono delivering a speech about the ridicule she has faced in society and performing the song Age 39 (Looking Over from My Hotel Window) at the First International Feminist Conference at Harvard University in 1973.

    This segment includes home video footage of Ono walking among the witch sites of Salem, Massachusetts, symbolising her shifting role in society. She explains that she was “upgraded” from a “bitch” to a “witch”. One to One’s portrayal of Ono as a collaborator of Lennon’s rather than a reduction of her to a romantic partner points to how the narrative tide is changing, and Ono is finally getting her due recognition.

    One to One captures a moment when their combined artistry, activism, and mutual exchange of vocal techniques converged – creating an indelible record of how two personalities shaped protest music, pop culture and each other.

    Stephanie Hernandez 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. One to One: John & Yoko – documentary shows how Lennon and Ono shaped protest music, pop culture and each other – https://theconversation.com/one-to-one-john-and-yoko-documentary-shows-how-lennon-and-ono-shaped-protest-music-pop-culture-and-each-other-254640

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Equity Fund applications open for 2025

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Fund helps make sure Canberra students have equal opportunities to participate fully in their schooling.

    In brief:

    • The Education Equity Fund helps low-income families with the cost of education essentials for their children.
    • Families can apply for a one-off payment from today.
    • The Fund supports students from preschool to year 12 in all ACT schools.

    From today, low-income families can access financial help to use on education essentials for their children.

    Eligible ACT families can apply for a one-off payment via the ACT Government’s Future of Education Equity Fund.

    This will help cover 2025 education expenses as cost-of-living pressures continue.

    The Fund helps make sure Canberra students have equal opportunities to participate fully in their schooling.

    It supports families to buy education essentials like:

    • book packs
    • uniforms
    • excursions
    • sports equipment and activities
    • tuition
    • music lessons.

    The Equity Fund supports students from preschool through to Year 12 in all ACT schools.

    Assistance so far

    In 2024, the Fund has provided more than $3.3 million to more than 5,700 students from financially disadvantaged families.

    Applications for the 2025 school year have opened earlier than for 2024.

    This aims to help families manage back-to-school costs. It also ensures children can start the year with everything they need.

    Applying is easy

    You can apply for the fund if you are a low-income family with a child enrolled in an ACT school from preschool to year 12.

    Applications also allow families to apply for all eligible students in their family in a single application.

    This is the case even if children attend different schools.

    Payments for the 2025 school year are:

    • $400 for preschool students
    • $500 for primary school students
    • $750 for high school and college students.

    Applications for the 2025 Equity Fund will remain open until the end of November 2025.

    Find more information about the Equity Fund

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Please take a seat and be nice

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Katrina is a member of the Transport Canberra occupational violence working group.

    Katrina will proudly tell you she has the best job in the world.

    For the past five years, she has worked as a bus driver for Transport Canberra. Some days she’s out on the road driving, and other times she’s a supervisor at the bus depot. But no matter what her day brings, she absolutely loves what she does.

    “I get my own office, I get to hang out by myself all day, but my office also changes every day depending on the weather and where I am in town. The seasons are so beautiful,” she says.

    Both Katrina and her husband applied for bus driver roles with Transport Canberra many years ago, but with their youngest son still in nappies at the time, Katrina opted for a 9-5 role instead. Once the kids were a bit older, Katrina applied again, and says the shift work now suits her family perfectly.

    “I’m on a rotating roster. Most weeks I get up before the birds do and come into work. If I’m driving for the day, I hop on a bus and go for a little drive around town for at least eight hours, if not 10, and interact with the public all day. Otherwise, I do duties around the depot. I may have to go and do a bus swap if a bus breaks down or take buses that are out in the shed and move them into the workshop. It’s a bit of everything, it’s pretty good,” says Katrina.

    “And then I go home and parent. There’s football training, taking kids to and from work, cooking dinner – all the fun things!”

    Just like with any job, there are of course some downsides. On any given day, bus drivers interact with Canberrans from all different walks of life, all dealing with different highs and lows – and sometimes our front-line workers are an unwitting target for frustration. Whether it’s traffic hold-ups causing the bus to be late – or people just having a bad day – in some cases, that frustration can result in passengers becoming aggressive or even violent with drivers.

    As a member of the Transport Canberra occupational violence working group, Katrina hears firsthand about the experiences of others as well as contributing towards solutions to help the workforce.

    “A lot of the occupational violence, from what I’ve heard around the workplace, has got to do with fare evasion and people not paying for their fares. But the same people don’t call an Uber and not pay for it, or they don’t go down to the supermarket and get the groceries and not pay for it, but then expect to hop on the bus for free.”

    Drivers are responsible for getting their passengers where they need to go, safely. That means they need to have a dual focus – not only do they need to be alert to the traffic conditions, but they also need to monitor what’s happening inside their bus. So if passengers get aggressive, it can be a scary predicament. But Transport Canberra has plenty of measures in place, so drivers have the support they need.

    ‘Drivers sit behind protection screens, plus we’ve got CCTV on all the buses. If you feel you are in danger, you can request immediate assistance and support via a range of methods. This request will be responded to by our Field Transport Officers and when required, ACT Policing.

    “I want to go home to my kids without being assaulted. So, if you’re going to get on the bus, just take a seat and be nice.”

    Despite it all, Katrina is adamant there’s no other job she’d rather do.

    “Especially in customer service roles, there’s always going to be people who give you a hard time. If you are in a customer-facing role, you’ve just got to learn some techniques on how to deal with it. But we’ve got things in place. There’s always someone not far away who can help,” she says.

    “Everybody around the depot says it’s the best job in the world. Once you actually hop in the driver’s seat, and you get to drive around in a big vehicle, and the majority of your clients are beautiful people. They say hello, they say thank you when they hop off. It just makes my day and I get to drive around Canberra, it’s so pretty.”

    * For personal privacy, surnames of interviewees have been removed.

    Find out more about how you can help make ACT Government workplaces safe for everyone.

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    MIL OSI News –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Purpose Investments Debuts World’s First Spot Solana ETF That Will Be Staked – Continuing Its Leadership in Global Crypto Innovation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Purpose Investments Inc. (“Purpose”), the firm behind the world’s first spot Bitcoin ETF and spot Ether ETF, is expanding its digital asset suite with the launch of the Purpose Solana ETF (ticker: SOLL). SOLL is the first ETF worldwide to provide direct physical exposure to Solana, a high-performance blockchain platform. The Purpose Solana ETF is uniquely coupled with native staking yield powered by Purpose’s proprietary in-house staking infrastructure – a feature designed to deliver the highest staking rewards currently available to investors.

    Trading today on the TSX, the Purpose Solana ETF reinforces Purpose’s position as a global leader in digital asset ETF innovation and Canada’s largest digital asset ETF manager. Backed by deep expertise and a proven track record, Purpose continues to make digital assets safer and easier for investors to access.

    Canada’s Crypto Leader Setting the Standard for Global Innovation

    “Solana is pushing the boundaries of blockchain innovation from speed and scalability to real-world decentralized applications,” said Vlad Tasevski, Chief Innovation Officer. “With the Purpose Solana ETF, we’re giving investors efficient, regulated access to this rapidly growing digital ecosystem, with the added benefit of native staking. As the only fund manager operating key aspects of the fund in-house through our technology infrastructure, we’re able to deliver a secure and seamless investment experience, along with more efficient returns and higher yields. This launch builds on the broadest suite of crypto ETFs in the country – and our mission to lead digital asset investing both here in Canada and globally with thoughtful, purpose-built solutions that meet investors where they are and help them move forward with confidence.”

    Purpose Solana ETF Key Benefits

    • Direct Exposure to Solana: Gain direct exposure to SOL, the native asset of a high-performance platform known for its speed, scalability, and growing developer ecosystem.
    • Native Staking Yield: Capture Solana’s staking yield through a regulated ETF structure – without the complexity of setting up wallets or managing on-chain assets.
    • Crypto-Native Advantage: Purpose’s in-house validator infrastructure and deep involvement in the Solana ecosystem will help to reduce cost and improve investor staking yield – offering one of the most efficient Solana staking programs on the market.
    • Secure, Portfolio-Ready Structure: Held in cold storage with institutional-grade custodians, the ETF trades on the TSX and can be held in registered accounts like RRSPs and TFSAs – no wallets, keys, or crypto exchanges required.
    • Uniquely Available With Three Currency Exposures: The ETF is available in CAD hedged units (ticker: SOLL), CAD non-hedged units (ticker: SOLL.B), and USD non-hedged units (ticker: SOLL.U).

    “The Purpose Solana ETF provides direct access to Solana’s high-throughput network, with staking integrated through our proprietary validator infrastructure,” said Paul Pincente, VP of Digital Assets. “By internalizing key operational components – including staking and reward management – we reduce counterparty risk, improve net yield capture, and create a more efficient, institutional-grade investment structure. This level of control helps us support a more consistent and streamlined investment experience as the digital asset space continues to evolve.”

    Leading Crypto-Native Capability and Unmatched In-House Staking Expertise

    At the core of its platform is true crypto-native capability, supported by Purpose Unlimited’s in-house staking infrastructure. Having deep control over the technology will enable greater operational efficiency and the ability to deliver higher yields to investors. This integrated approach is designed to enhance performance and security and positions Purpose as a leader in bringing institutional-grade crypto ETF solutions.

    The Broadest Suite of Crypto ETFs in Canada

    Purpose offers the most comprehensive suite of digital asset ETFs in Canada, designed to meet the needs of every investor profile, from active traders to long-term allocators and income-focused investors.

    Purpose Digital Assets lineup includes:

    • Purpose Bitcoin ETF (BTCC) and Purpose Ether ETF (ETHH): The world’s first spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, offering regulated access, high liquidity, and a strong track record – backed by advanced features for active traders and tactical allocators.
    • Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETF (BTCY) and Purpose Ether Yield ETF (ETHY): Yield-generating ETFs that use covered call strategies to help investors earn income from their Bitcoin and Ether holdings.
    • Purpose Ether Staking Corp. ETF (ETHC.B): A staking-focused Ether ETF, giving investors access to Ethereum’s proof-of-stake rewards in a regulated structure.
    • Purpose Solana ETF (SOLL): The world’s first spot Solana ETF, unlocking direct exposure to a high-speed, low-fee blockchain known for its lightning-fast transactions, developer momentum, and real-world potential.

    With the launch of the Purpose Solana ETF, Purpose Investments continues to expand its industry-leading digital asset lineup, providing investors with secure and simple access to blockchain innovation. This new ETF complements Purpose’s existing crypto suite, which includes the world’s first spot Bitcoin ETF and first Ether ETF, offering investors a comprehensive range of digital asset solutions. As blockchain technology transforms financial markets, Purpose remains committed to bridging traditional finance with the future of decentralized and emerging financial technology, helping investors navigate the evolving digital economy with confidence.

    To explore the full suite of crypto ETFs, visit the Purpose Digital Assets Suite.

    About Purpose Investments

    Purpose Investments Inc. is an asset management company with over $22 billion in assets under management, focused on client-centric innovation across ETFs and investment funds. Purpose Investments is a division of Purpose Unlimited, an independent financial technology company led by entrepreneur Som Seif.

    For further information, please email us at info@purposeinvest.com.

    Media inquiries:
    Keera Hart
    keera.hart@kaiserpartners.com
    905-580-1257

    The content of this document is for informational purposes only and is not being provided in the context of an offering of any securities described herein, nor is it a recommendation or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any security. Information contained in this document is not, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as, an offering memorandum, prospectus, advertisement or public offering of securities. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority has reviewed this information, and any representation to the contrary is an offence. The information contained in this document is believed to be accurate and reliable; however, we cannot guarantee that it is complete or current at all times. The information provided is subject to change without notice.

    Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses may all be associated with investment fund investments. Please read the prospectus and other disclosure documents before investing. Crypto assets can be extremely volatile, and there can be no assurance that the full amount of your investment in a fund will be returned to you. If the securities are purchased or sold on a stock exchange, you may pay more or receive less than the current net asset value. Investment funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Fund distribution levels and frequencies are not guaranteed and may vary at Purpose Investments’ sole discretion.

    Certain statements in this document may be forward-looking. Forward-looking statements (“FLS”) are statements that are predictive in nature, depend on or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” or other similar expressions. Statements that look forward in time or include anything other than historical information are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the FLS. FLS are not guarantees of future performance and are, by their nature, based on numerous assumptions. Although the FLS contained in this document are based upon what Purpose Investments believes to be reasonable assumptions, Purpose Investments cannot assure that actual results will be consistent with these FLS. The reader is cautioned to consider the FLS carefully and not to place undue reliance on the FLS. Unless required by applicable law, it is not undertaken, and specifically disclaimed, that there is any intention or obligation to update or revise FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    The MIL Network –

    April 17, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: OTC Markets Group Welcomes Sprott Physical Copper Trust to OTCQX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced Sprott Physical Copper Trust (TSX: COP.UN; OTCQX: SPHCF), has qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market. Sprott Physical Copper Trust upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB® Venture Market.

    Sprott Physical Copper Trust begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol “SPHCF.” U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

    The OTCQX Market is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Graduating to the OTCQX Market from the OTCQB Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors.

    “We are very pleased that the Sprott Physical Copper Trust has begun trading on OTCQX,” said John Ciampaglia, CEO of Sprott Asset Management. “We look forward to providing US investors with greater access to the world’s only physical copper fund.”

    About Sprott Physical Copper Trust
    Sprott Physical Copper Trust seeks to provide a secure, convenient and exchange-traded alternative for investors interested in holding physical copper without the inconvenience typical of a direct investment in copper metal.

    About OTC Markets Group Inc.

    OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market, and Pink® Open Market.

    Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

    OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATSTM are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

    To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

    Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

    Media Contact:
    OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: My Solar Claim Launches Initiative to Protect Homeowners from Predatory Solar Companies and Costly Loans

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, Texas, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — My Solar Claim, a consumer advocacy organization, has announced a new initiative aimed at protecting homeowners from predatory solar sales practices and burdensome loans. Utilizing specialized tax strategies, expert legal support, and targeted consumer education, My Solar Claim is helping homeowners regain financial control and recover losses from misleading solar agreements.https://www.mysolarclaim.com/ 

    My Solar Claim Logo

    In recent years, the surge in residential solar adoption has brought with it an alarming increase in aggressive sales tactics, resulting in homeowners being saddled with expensive, long-term solar loans. Many homeowners report being misled by sales representatives who exaggerated potential savings, concealed critical details about financing, or pressured them into signing agreements without fully understanding the implications.

    “My Solar Claim was founded because homeowners deserve better,” said Sara Meyer – a representative from My Solar Claim. “Too many hardworking people have been left financially vulnerable because of aggressive sales tactics and predatory loans. Our mission is to level the playing field, ensuring homeowners have the knowledge and support needed to challenge unfair agreements, reduce their loan burdens, and regain financial security.”

    My Solar Claim’s innovative solutions include:

    • Legal Support and Loan Relief: Partnering with some very powerful law firms, My Solar Claim helps homeowners explore options to restructure or, in some cases, entirely exit oppressive solar loans in addition to winning large settlements.
    • Solar Tax Credit Recovery: Through their network of expert tax professionals, My Solar Claim helps homeowners maximize available solar tax incentives, potentially recovering thousands of dollars that were previously overlooked or underutilized. They say 90%+ of homeowners with solar installations are unaware of thousands of additional solar tax credits.
    • Comprehensive Education & DIY Resources: My Solar Claim provides free resources, guidance, and DIY toolkits, empowering homeowners to advocate effectively for themselves.

    With a proven track record of delivering tangible results, My Solar Claim has quickly established itself as a trusted resource in consumer advocacy, providing hope and actionable solutions for homeowners nationwide.

    “Homeowners who feel trapped by their solar loans aren’t alone, and they aren’t powerless,” added Sara. “We stand by our clients every step of the way, dedicated to restoring their financial stability and peace of mind.”

    Homeowners affected by solar sales misrepresentation or predatory loans are encouraged to reach out to My Solar Claim at www.mysolarclaim.com for a free evaluation of their situation.

    About My Solar Claim

    My Solar Claim is dedicated to advocating for homeowners affected by unfair and predatory solar sales practices. Combining financial recovery services, legal support, and educational resources, My Solar Claim helps homeowners nationwide reclaim control over their financial futures.

    The MIL Network –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government announces preferred candidate for S4C Chair

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Government announces preferred candidate for S4C Chair

    Delyth Evans is the Government’s preferred candidate for the S4C Chair, the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced today.

    Delyth Evans

    Delyth started her career as a journalist at HTV Wales, working on the flagship current affairs programme ‘Y Byd ar Bedwar’ for S4C. She subsequently worked as a reporter on BBC Radio Four’s ‘World at One’ and ‘PM’ programmes.  Delyth became a Labour Member of the Welsh Assembly (now the Senedd) in 2000, representing the Mid and West Wales constituency, and was a deputy minister for Culture, Environment and Rural Affairs. After stepping down from politics Delyth worked in the charity sector as Chief Executive of Smart Works, a women’s employment charity. Delyth is currently a Board member at Sport Wales, a Governor at Coleg Gwent, and a trustee of the Alacrity Foundation and the Urdd.

    Delyth will now appear on 23 April before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny.

    This process for appointing the Chair of S4C is set out in the  Broadcasting Act 1990.    

    Ministers were assisted in their decision-making by an Advisory Assessment Panel which included a departmental official and a senior independent panel member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Welsh Government and UK Government Wales office were also represented on the Panel. 

    UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

    “Delyth began her career as a broadcast journalist, and her vision for S4C’s future reflects a deep understanding of the Welsh cultural and media landscape, as well as an enduring commitment to public service. 

    “I’m pleased to recommend her for the role of Chair, in which she will no doubt be a proud champion of Welsh-language broadcasting. This marks an exciting chapter for S4C as we develop plans to boost the job opportunities and growth potential of the creative industries in Wales and the rest of the UK.”

    Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:  

    “Delyth has a great track record in broadcasting and wealth of experience in public service to bring to the role of S4C Chair. 
     
    “S4C plays a pivotal role in Wales, sustaining and promoting the Welsh language and strengthening our unique identity and culture. The channel is a cornerstone of the strong creative sector in Wales which is vital for economic growth.”

    Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

    “Delyth has a great track record in broadcasting and wealth of experience in public service to bring to the role of S4C Chair. 

    “S4C plays a pivotal role in Wales, sustaining and promoting the Welsh language and strengthening our unique identity and culture. The channel is a cornerstone of the strong creative sector in Wales which is vital for economic growth.”

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    • S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru, meaning “Channel 4 Wales”) is a British Welsh-language free-to-air television channel. 
    • The Chair of S4C is remunerated at £40,000 per annum and the time commitment will be equivalent to an average of two days a week.  
    • This appointment process was run in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. 
    • The Broadcasting Act sets out how the Chair will be appointed.

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    Published 16 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chasing Amy: A Soulful Tribute to Amy Winehouse by Victoria Geelan

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Chasing Amy: A Soulful Tribute to Amy Winehouse by Victoria Geelan

    16 April 2025

    Following the overwhelming success of her last festival show ‘Feeling Good’, which paid tribute to the legendary Nina Simone, acclaimed vocalist Victoria Geelan returns to the Alley Theatre, Strabane on Friday 25th April with her powerful and personal new show: “Back to Black” – A Celebration of Amy Winehouse.

    Presented in the relaxed and intimate setting of the cabaret-style auditorium, this one-night-only performance promises a powerful and personal tribute to one of the most iconic voices of the 21st century.

    Titled ‘Chasing Amy’, the show is a reflection on Amy Winehouse’s artistry, influence, and inner world – brought to life through Victoria’s stunning vocals and the backing of a talented band of top-class musicians.

    Born in the same year as Winehouse -1983 – Victoria shares a unique connection with the late star. “Amy’s voice, honesty, and fearless lyrics struck me from the very beginning,” she says. “This show is my way of honouring her life, her genius, and the struggles she faced with grace and empathy.”

    Audiences can expect an immersive musical journey that moves from Amy’s jazz roots to her chart-topping soul, reggae, and hip-hop hits – including songs from the seminal ‘Back to Black’ album. The show goes deeper than the music, exploring the artists who inspired Amy, whose songs she often included in her own live performances, the media’s treatment of her private life, her battles with bulimia, depression, and addiction, and her impact as a trailblazing female artist who reshaped the landscape of modern music.

    “Amy broke the mould of what a female pop star could be – unapologetically real, raw, and relatable,” adds Victoria. “This show is not just about remembering her music but understanding the woman behind the voice.”

    This is one unforgettable evening of music and storytelling that will stay with you long after the final note.

    Due to some explicit lyrical content and adult themes, this show is recommended for audiences aged 14+. Tickets are £12 available online at www.alley-theatre.com or call 028 71 384444

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for information – Disturbance – Katherine

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force is calling for information in relation to a large disturbance that occurred in Katherine overnight.

    Around 12:55am this morning, police CCTV operators reported a large disturbance involving multiple people occurring at the rear of a service station on Railway Terrace.

    A Hilux was sighted driving erratically, ramming into unoccupied vehicles numerous times, and driving at persons in the area. An 18-year-old male was allegedly struck by the vehicle during the incident.

    Police, St John Ambulance and Northern Territory Fire and Rescue attended the scene, and the male was transported to Katherine Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

    The group, including the driver of the vehicle, fled the area upon police arrival. Numerous weapons were located inside the vehicles and seized.

    A crime scene was declared, and investigations are ongoing.

    Acting Commander Terry Zhang said, “This type of reckless and dangerous behaviour has absolutely no place in our community.

    “We understand this incident may be linked to an ongoing feud between community groups. Police will be working closely with community leaders and cultural authorities to help de-escalate tensions and prevent any further violence. Additional resources will be deployed to enhance our presence and ensure community safety.

    “Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444.”

    Anonymous reports can also be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.

    MIL OSI News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4509-4510: A weekend of long drives

    Source: NASA

    Written by Abigail Fraeman, Planetary Geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Earth planning date: Friday, April 11, 2025
    Curiosity is continuing to book it to the potential boxwork structures.  The rover drove over 50 meters on Wednesday, and we plan to drive more than 50 meters again in today’s plan thanks to an unusually good viewshed that allows us to see far ahead.  We’ve been able to see glimpses of the boxwork structures in the distance for a few weeks now, and I am really excited about being able to plan long drives that get us closer and closer. What will we find when we reach them?
    Power was on everyone’s mind as we put the plan together today. The science team had lots of amazing ideas about observations to collect from our current location, but we had to carefully plan and prioritize them to make sure we didn’t use too much power and leave the rover battery lower than we’d like for Monday’s plan.  Winter on Mars certainly keeps us on our toes!  We ended up putting together what I think is a pretty good set of activities for the weekend.  MAHLI, APXS, and ChemCam will all work together to observe a flat rock in front of us named “Iron Mountain.” MAHLI will also do an experiment with this rock, testing different combinations of camera positions to see which produces the best data to help us generate 3D models of the rock’s surface.  I know rocks don’t have feelings, but if they did, I hope Iron Mountain can use this time to feel a bit like a movie star on the red carpet, getting photographed from all angles. Mastcam will also be photographing the surroundings, working with ChemCam’s RMI imager to take images the ridge containing boxwork structures named “Ghost Mountain,” and taking some solo shots of targets in the foreground named “Redondo Flat,” “Silverwood Sanctuary,” and the oft photographed Gould Mesa.  Navcam, REMS, and DAN round out the science plan with some environmental observations. We’ll be getting one more science and engineering hybrid observation when we collect ChemCam passive spectral data of the instrument’s calibration target in parallel with one of our communication passes.  This observation is part of a series of tests we’re doing to run rover activities in parallel with these passes, and if successful, will allow us to be more even more power efficient in the future.
    We’re also celebrating a soliday this weekend, which means we only have a two-sol plan instead of our usual three as the Mars and Earth time zones re-align for the next few weeks.  I’m looking forward to seeing where Curiosity drives next week.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A Book as a Personal Reflection: HSE Publishing House at the non/fictioN Fair

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    At the beginning of April, the International Fair of Intellectual Literature non/fictioN took place in the Central Exhibition Hall “Manezh” in Moscow. Publishing house Vyshki traditionally took part in the event, presenting its new books, including an updated edition of Vadim Radaev’s book “Watching Movies, Understanding Life: 23 Sociological Essays“.

    For several years in a row, the fair has gathered under one roof more than 200 large and small publishing houses, many authors, and readers eager to learn something new. The main goal is to popularize scientific knowledge and introduce new products in the field of scientific and intellectual literature. An important part is made up of meetings with authors, lectures, and master classes offering an in-depth look at current topics in science, culture, and education.

    “Traditionally, at non/fictioN we prepare various new releases, and one of them today is the updated, third edition of Vadim Radaev’s book.”Watching Movies, Understanding Life: 23 Sociological Essays”, which included an analysis of new films,” said Alexander Pavlov, head of publishing projects at the HSE Publishing House. Among the Publishing House’s other new releases are “Conflict, war, revolution» Paula Kelly and «Parliamentary Procedures in Russia: Constitutional Standards» Alexey Koshel.

    Vadim Radaev, First Vice-Rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, personally presented his book to readers. The first thing he drew attention to was that the book is not about cinema, but about those life questions and problems that worry each of us: about human fears and elusive love, male mythology and women’s games, intergenerational conflicts and professional dilemmas, features of the national character and the painful parting with the Soviet past.

    “Cinema is a visual way to talk about what you consider important. It all started in 2003, when I decided to organize a Christmas Film Seminar (a meeting of HSE researchers and students to watch and discuss a film, which is traditionally held at the university in December. — Ed.). People were surprised then, I had my doubts myself, and now we hold them every year, and two months before the event, people start asking what film we will analyze. 20 years later, I thought about what to give myself for the anniversary of the film seminar, and decided to secretly write a book,” shared Vadim Radaev. In the new edition, the author included an analysis of such films as “Boomer”, “Brother 2”, “Limit”, “Walk”, “What Men Talk About”, “The Train Stopped”, “Acid”, “Elena”, “12”, “Loveless”, “Chaos”, “Terminator” and many others.

    “What is it that draws us to the theme of the gangster subculture?” asks Vadim Radaev, analyzing the films “Boomer”, “Brother 2”, “Brigada”. “This theme does not let us go, through it we try to overcome and play out our fears of violence. These are the situations in which we are afraid to find ourselves. The film “The Word of a Boy” does not leave us either, because it is the same theme.”

    The author also reflects on who can be called the hero of our time, or rather, of several eras – the 80s, 90s and 2000s. “In the 80s, of course, it was “Courier”. And you remember, this guy is very nice, not stupid, but without any life plan, incapable of anything. In the 90s, the film “Limit” comes out, where there is a completely different hero. Instead of an apathetic Muscovite, there appears a motivated provincial guy, inclined to risk, who does not stop at any obstacles. And in the 2000s, Zvyagintsev’s debut – “The Return”. A new hero appears, with an incomprehensible secret past, which is better not to remember, which disappears with him, in the dark waters, “- says Vadim Radaev.

    If viewers want to see what games women play, the author of the book suggests paying attention to the film “Walk” by Alexey Uchitel. “This is a master class in women’s manipulation techniques of the highest level,” he believes.

    Vadim Radaev also examines relationships and conflicts between generations. “There was a film called ‘Acid’, where this topic is particularly acutely traced, children do not conflict with their parents, but there is no understanding between them,” the researcher explained.

    The film “The Truman Show” makes you think about why people put their lives on public display. And the mini-series “The Department” raises questions about how a university should develop: should it keep up with the times and move towards something new, or should it rely on the classics.

    “My book is not entirely scientific. I use the results of my own research and that of others, it contains references to scientific works and quotes from songs. To a large extent, this is a personal reflection,” Vadim Radaev summed up.

    Sergei Filonovich, professor Department of Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management HSE, a regular co-presenter of the Christmas Seminar, gave a short guide on how to use Vadim Radaev’s book. “I would not recommend reading it straight through, it is pointless to read chapters about films you have not seen, because there is no exact retelling of the plot, there is an analysis of impressions, the thoughts that the author generates. It should be read chapter by chapter after watching a specific film,” the professor is sure. Sergei Filonovich believes that Vadim Radaev’s readers will be able to evaluate the films they have watched from a different angle: “That is why I would say that this book is not only for young viewers, but also for fairly experienced ones.” In his opinion, this publication is a kind of dialogue between readers and the author: “Sometimes you want to discuss a film with an intelligent person, but where can you find one? He is not always at hand, and here is a book by an intelligent person, where his impressions are told.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WAVES Cosplay Championship Finalists Announced — A Celebration of Creativity and Fandom Culture

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 16 APR 2025 2:01PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai, 16 April 2025

     

    Last Saturday, the city of Hyderabad witnessed an explosion of creativity & fandom as the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) Cosplay Championship Meetup unfolded at Mindspace Social. Organized by MEAI, Indian Comics Association, and Creators Street, powered by Epiko-con, and in collaboration with Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, TVAGA and Forbidden Verse, the event was a massive success, becoming a trending topic across cosplay communities and anime forums throughout the weekend.

    Now, after an intensive nationwide hunt and a series of high-energy meetups across Hyderabad and Mumbai, the organizers have unveiled 29 of the most talented cosplayers who have earned their place on the final stage of the WAVES Cosplay Championship. These finalists will showcase their skills and creativity at Creatosphere during WAVES 2025.

    Ajay Krishna, Founder of Forbidden Verse and one of the organizers for the Cosplay event, said that what makes this championship different from other such contests is that it is specially designed to shift the focus to Indian mythology and pop culture apart from the other popular characters that are portrayed regularly in other such events.

    The next in line before the main championship at WAVES is the Mumbai Wildcard Meetup on 19th April. At this event, a select number of Wildcard Entries will be added to the finalists, bringing unexpected talent and raising the competition to an entirely new level. Prepare for a championship filled with surprises, intensity, and world-class cosplay!

    Official Finalists:

    1. KaizadSheshbaradaran – Mumbai
    2. Puneeth V – Bengaluru
    3. Shaikh Sameer Kalim – Latur
    4. Tejal Sanjay Mulik – Mumbai
    5. Anup Bhatia – Pune
    6. Navdeep Singh Pannu – Mumbai
    7. Akashi Gautam – Lucknow
    8. Aditya Kalebere – Pune
    9. Swaraj Kalebere – Pune
    10. Shreeharsh Narwade – Pune
    11. Vivek Dilip Mane – Pune
    12. Esha Joshi – Mumbai
    13. Kedar Pandit – Mumbai
    14. ArshyDeori – Guwahati
    15. Marshy Deori – Guwahati
    16. Md Piyal Shaikh – Mumbai
    17. Pranay Panpatil – Mumbai
    18. Gaurav Vishwakarma – Pune
    19. Akhil – Hyderabad
    20. Staya – Hyderabad
    21. Nupur Munda – Hyderabad
    22. Nakshatra – Hyderabad
    23. Ruchira Corolin – Hyderabad
    24. Sonali – Hyderabad
    25. Neeraj Kumar – Hyderabad
    26. Sravani – Hyderabad
    27. Akhil C.H. – Hyderabad
    28. Nayana Sai Sree – Hyderabad
    29. Leeladhar – Hyderabad

    The finalists were selected based on their craftsmanship, originality, performance, and dedication to character authenticity.

     

    About WAVES

    The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, a milestone event for the media & entertainment sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.

    Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.

    WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).

    Have questions? Find answers here

    Stay updated with the latest announcements from PIB Team WAVES

    Come, Sail with us! Register for WAVES now

     

    * * *

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Promoting pet inclusivity and enhancing animal protection

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ9: Promoting pet inclusivity and enhancing animal protection 
    Question:
     
         As regards promoting pet inclusivity and enhancing animal protection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of households keeping pets, as well as the respective numbers of dogs and cats which have been microchipped and licensed, in Hong Kong;
     
    (2) whether it has assessed the effectiveness of the Government’s promotion of public education on pet inclusivity (such as responsible pet ownership and prevention of cruelty to animals) in the past two years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (3) given that the Food Business Regulation (Cap. 132X) currently prohibits dogs (except guide dogs) from entering food premises, and it is learnt that some shopping malls have successively allowed pets to enter their areas in recent years, whether the Government will consider implementing a pilot scheme to allow dogs to enter the food premises of such shopping malls, so as to provide actual experience and data for the purposes of reviewing the existing legislation and considering the relaxation of the restriction on the entry of dogs into food premises; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (4) as it is learnt that operators of some public transport services may decide at their discretion whether to allow passengers to board with pets, whether the Government will consider further relaxing the restriction to allow passengers to bring along their pets to use all public transport services, and formulating standard guidelines;
     
    (5) of the number of cases received by the Government in each of the past three years involving the fatal poisoning of dogs; among such cases, (i) the number of cases in which the suspects were successfully arrested, (ii) the penalties imposed on the convicted persons, and (iii) ‍the number of cases involving public facilities under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; how the authorities will follow up cases of fatal poisoning of dogs, including whether they will consider installing cameras at the relevant locations to step up monitoring; and
     
    (6) as it has been reported that many cases of fatal poisoning of dogs are suspected of involving the use of pesticides such as rodenticides, whether the Government will consider amending the legislation to require members of the public to register their real names with the Government when purchasing pesticides, so as to prevent pesticides from being abused to poison and kill animals?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Having consulted the Security Bureau, the Transport and Logistics Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the reply to the question from the Hon Stanley Li is as follows:
     
    (1) According to the most recent Thematic Household Survey on the household keeping of dogs and cats conducted by the Census and Statistics Department in 2018, some 241 900 households in Hong Kong were keeping cats or dogs, representing 9.4 per cent of all households. A total of some 184 100 cats and 221 100 dogs were being kept.
     
         Under the Rabies Regulation (Cap. 421A), the keeper of a dog shall arrange his dog over the age of five months to be implanted with microchip and licensed. As at 2024, the number of dogs implanted with microchip and licensed was 158 663.
     
         Since the transmission of rabies through cats is relatively lower than that through dogs, the legislation does not require that cats shall be implanted with a microchip and licensed. To facilitate identification of owners and assist owners to find their cats that have gone astray, since April 2024, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has stipulated the Licence Conditions that cats put up for sale by animal traders should be obtained from approved sources and microchipped. The AFCD does not maintain the number of cats implanted with microchip.
     
    (2) The AFCD continues to promote the messages on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership through public education and publicity programmes, which include producing television promotional videos, establishing a thematic website on animal welfare and “Be a Responsible Pet Owner”, organising seminars in schools and residential estates, roving exhibitions, dog training courses, and pet adoption days, etc. The Department has also launched a series of “Duty of Care” publicity programmes, which include the production of a series of posts on social media platforms to share information on how to take proper care of animals and enhance the public’s understanding of the content and importance of “Duty of Care”. The AFCD includes questionnaires in some of its activities to evaluate their effectiveness, and the majority of participants have provided positive feedback. The Pet Adoption Day held in 2024 attracted over 10 000 attendees, demonstrating that the event was well received by the public.
     
         To enlist wider public support and participation in fighting against cruelty to animals, the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) has implemented the Animal Watchers Programme (the Programme) since 2021 with a view to agglomerating the strengths of animal lovers at the community level in four directions of education, publicity, intelligence-gathering and investigation, raising public awareness on prevention of cruelty to animals, encouraging the public to report in a timely manner as well as providing information and clues useful for investigations. The Programme covers large-scale activities across Hong Kong for different communities and age groups, through the “Animal CARE Corners”, encouraging schools to keep animals and enhance students’ pet care skills. The Police adopts a multifaceted approach in evaluating its effectiveness by a variety of indicators, including the numbers of cases reported and persons arrested as well as the level of overall public engagement. At present, most of the cases of cruelty to animals are reported by members of the public who voluntarily offer information for investigation. This shows that the Programme has a significant impact on enhancing police-community co-operation and raising public awareness of combatting cruelty to animals.
     
    (3) Society is divided on whether to allow pet dogs to enter food premises. The Government needs to take into account different factors when examining the relevant legislation, including public health, operating environment of food premises, and social acceptance. In particular, food premises in Hong Kong are generally cramped. It is necessary to consider the reaction of pet dogs in a crowded and cramped environment (possibly with different types of dogs), as well as the potential impact on other diners. The Environment and Ecology Bureau, together with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, is conducting research on practices and experiences in other places, and will carefully consider whether there is room for relaxing the relevant restrictions.
     
    (4) Generally speaking, public transport has high daily patronage and limited compartment spaces. When considering whether to allow passengers to travel with pets for public transport services, the operators shall consider and balance different factors, including the actual operating situation, space and carrying capacity of the compartments, reaction of the pets in the travelling environment, as well as the potential impact on other passengers. The actual circumstances of different public transport modes vary. The Government will maintain close communication with the public transport operators and remind them to listen to different views to ensure that their services can properly cater for and balance the needs of different passengers. Currently, some public transport operators, such as ferries and taxis, may decide at their discretion whether to allow passengers to board with pets. The MTR Corporation Limited will also implement a pilot scheme that allows passengers to bring along their pet cats and dogs to take the light rail in accordance with specific requirements and at specific periods.
     
    (5) Poisoning an animal causing unnecessary suffering is an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance (Cap. 169). From 2022 to 2024, the number of reports on suspected cruelty to animals received by the HKPF and the AFCD, the number of persons arrested, and the relevant penalties imposed are tabulated at Annex. The Government does not maintain relevant breakdown of information on animal poisoning cases.
     
         The Police will continue to review locations across 18 districts with higher crime rate and greater pedestrian flow, and proportionally install CCTV in these areas with a view to combating crime. Moreover, the LCSD will review and adjust the number of CCTV cameras having regard to established guidelines and the actual security and operational needs of individual venue. In the event of suspected criminal activities, the LCSD will contact the Police and take appropriate follow-up actions in light of the actual circumstances.
     
    (6) Currently, the Pesticides Regulations (Cap. 133A) requires that all pesticide products must carry clear labels in both Chinese and English before being supplied or sold by licensed dealers. Any person using registered pesticides should thoroughly read and follow the instructions at the labels, and take all safety measures to protect the safety of the user and the public.
     
         To enhance public understanding of the safe use of pesticides, the AFCD has distributed and uploaded relevant leaflets and guidelines for the reference of the trades and the public, and has actively disseminated messages of proper use of pesticides through various ongoing education and publicity programmes, including reminding members of the public that they should exercise caution in the purchase and use of pesticides and follow the relevant safety guidelines, so as to minimise the potential risks to human health, animal welfare and the environment. Considering that real-name registration for the purchase of pesticides would cause inconvenience to members of the public in their daily purchases of these products, and that it is difficult for law enforcement officers to identify persons with the intention to poison animals through registration records of the purchasers, the introduction of a real-name registration scheme would not be particularly effective for the prevention of animal poisoning.
    Issued at HKT 14:35

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    CategoriesMIL-OSI

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ambassadors’ Meet Organized by MDoNER Garners Huge Support from Foreign Diplomats to Explore Endless Possibilities in NER

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 16 APR 2025 11:01AM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant step toward enhancing international cooperation and fostering global investment in India’s vibrant North East, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER)  organized Ambassadors’ Meet  in New Delhi on April 15, 2025.  Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and senior diplomatic representatives from over 80 countries participated . The event was aimed at showcasing the immense potential of the North Eastern Region (NER) and strengthening bilateral ties for sustainable development.

    The Ambassadors’ Meet was graced by Hon’ble Minister of Development of North Eastern Region, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, who emphasized the strategic importance of the region, both economically and geopolitically. In his keynote address, the Hon’ble Minister highlighted Indian Government’s commitment to transforming the North East into a hub of connectivity, trade, and innovation. He also underlined that each of the eight states of the North East embodies unique strengths, resources and opportunities, making the region an invaluable asset in India’s growth story. From its rich cultural diversity to its natural beauty and strategic location, the North Eastern Region holds immense potential to emerge as one of the country’s leading economic powerhouses. Its proximity to Southeast Asia also positions the North Eastern Region as a gateway to South East Asian countries, aligning with India’s Act East Policy. Hon’ble Minister extended an invitation to the participating countries to explore opportunities in NER, capitalizing on the region’s rich resources and craftsmanship.

    Hon’ble Minister of State, MDoNER, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, in his address highlighted the immense potential of North Eastern region. Sharing the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister, he explained how North Eastern States offers great aspects for investment opportunities and building a “Viksit Bharat” together. He highlighted the major development initiatives in the infrastructure sector that have taken place in the North Eastern Region under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister during the last 10 years, inter-alia, including expanding air, road and rail connectivity, waterways etc. He also underlined that Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasized North East as India’s Asthalakshmi, a key economic asset poised for rapid industrialization. He stated that with ample opportunities across multiple sectors, North East India welcomes investors to explore its vast potential and be part of its growth journey.

    Shri Pema Khandu, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, spoke about the unique strengths of Northeast Region including Arunachal Pradesh.

    Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. Jaishankar, through a video message highlighted that NER has been at the forefront of India’s development policies. He mentioned about the importance of Kaladan multi-modal transit project and NER’s potential to be the gateway for south east Asian markets.

    Secretary, MDoNER, Shri Chanchal Kumar delivered a detailed presentation on the investment opportunities in NER and highlighted untapped potential  of the region. He also highlighted the opportunities available in the region in across various sectors like IT & ITES, Healthcare, Agri and allied, Education & Skill Development, Sports & Entertainment, Tourism & Hospitality, Infrastructure and logistics; Textiles, Handlooms and Handicrafts and Energy. He stated that with ample opportunities across multiple sectors, North East India welcomes investors to explore its vast potential and be part of its growth journey. He stated that MDoNER is committed to work closely with diplomatic missions, international development agencies, and global investors to channel resources and expertise toward projects that will boost employment, infrastructure, and human capital in the North Eastern Region.

    Secretary(East), Ministry of External Affairs Shri Periasamy Kumaran in his address stated that the North Eastern Region shares international borders of with neighboring countries Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Nepal and Myanmar making it a strategic location and the Gateway to Southeast Asia for India. Therefore, the region can be developed as a base for India’s growing economic links not only with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but also with neighbouring countries, viz. Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. He underlined that North Eastern Region is a treasure trove of diverse cultures, traditions, and breathtaking natural beauty. He stated that Ambassadors Meet is a crucial platform for engaging in constructive dialogues, building partnerships, and attracting investments that will drive inclusive growth and prosperity. This platform is an opportunity to come forward and explore the diverse opportunities offered by the Northeast.

    The Ambassadors’ Meet was the one of the pre-summit activities of the North East Investors Summit to be organized by MDoNER on 23rd and 24th  May, 2025. The event received an overwhelming response, with Ambassadors and diplomatic envoys expressing keen interest in partnering with Indian stakeholders to explore the possibilities offered by the North Eastern states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.  The event not only fostered meaningful dialogue but also laid the groundwork for future partnerships, driving economic growth and sustainable development in the region.

    The event was  seniors officials Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region  and State Government  of NER.

    *****

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    (Release ID: 2122025) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Public welcome to watch 15th National Games Beach Volleyball test event

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Public welcome to watch 15th National Games Beach Volleyball test event 
         Nine men’s teams and eight women’s teams will participate in the three-day test event. In both the men’s and women’s tournaments, participating teams will be divided into two groups with each playing a single round robin before they reach the knockout stage. There will be two sessions on the first day, which are from 9.30am to 2.30pm, and from 4pm to 8.30pm. For the other two days, matches will be held from noon to 8.30pm on the second day and from noon to 8pm on the last day.
     
         The test event is organised by the National Games Coordination Office (Hong Kong) and co-organised by the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China, with the China Volleyball Association as advisor. Tickets have been distributed to the public through the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China. Those who possess a ticket will undergo a security check at the public entrance located at a soccer pitch of Victoria Park and watch the event in the public viewing area. The public entrance is accessible from MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit E via Great George Street (please refer to the annex for the location). A small number of tickets have been reserved for distribution on-site. Members of the public who are interested may obtain a ticket at the public entrance for admission while stocks last.
     
    Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will provide a live webcast of the event (RTHK weblink: www.rthk.hk/nationalgames 
    The Police will set up a temporary restricted flying zone (RFZ), extending two kilometres outwards, from the competition venue from 8.30am to 9.30pm on April 18; from 11am to 9.30pm on April 19; and from 11am to 9pm on April 20. No small unmanned aircraft, except those authorised, will be permitted to enter the zone. Details of the temporary RFZ will be shown on the electronic portal for small unmanned aircraft “eSUA”.
     
    In addition, the 2025 Hong Kong International Track Cup organised by the Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China, which is also the 15th NG Track Cycling test event, will be staged at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O between April 19 and 21.
     
         For information on the 15th NG, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games in Hong Kong, please visit the thematic website (    www.2025nationalgames.gov.hk/en/index.htmlIssued at HKT 11:55

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia appreciates BSNL’s efforts and stresses importance of measurable outcomes in customer experience and revenue generation

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 15 APR 2025 9:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, met with the Chief General Managers (CGMs) of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) circles today at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi, along with CMD BSNL and the board of directors of BSNL, as part of a comprehensive review and strategic alignment of BSNL’s ongoing transformation journey. Secretary Telecom and other senior officers of DoT also graced the occasion.

    The meeting involved wide-ranging discussions focused on growth strategy, improvement in network performance, customer service delivery, and organizational modernization. It also reinforced BSNL’s positioning as a consumer-centric telecom service provider with a clear mandate of “Revenue First” targets across all business units.

    As a government-owned CPSE, BSNL is undergoing a major service transformation and has declared April 2025 as “Customer Service Month” across all circles, business areas, and units. This initiative reflects BSNL’s renewed focus on “Customer First” culture, emphasizing proactive customer engagement, service responsiveness, and grievance redressal.

    During the two-day CGM meet, Circle Heads are being briefed and aligned on re-engaging customers across rural, urban, enterprise, and retail segments. Special focus areas included:

    • Reconnecting with customers across rural, urban, enterprise, and retail segments
    • Enhancing Quality of Service (QoS) in mobile networks and FTTH
    • Addressing customer grievances in billing, provisioning, and uptime
    • Driving accountability and revenue-first targets at every operational level
    • Enterprise connectivity, VPN solutions, leased line services, other new business areas.

    The Hon’ble Minister appreciated BSNL’s efforts and stressed the importance of measurable outcomes in customer experience and revenue generation.

    BSNL has recently launched several new initiatives to enhance service offerings and customer value:

    • 4G expansion and rollout in multiple circles
    • Introduction of IFTV and BiTV platforms for next-gen infotainment
    • BSNL National Wi-Fi Roaming
    • Tailored BSNL VPN and bundled packages for enterprise and government users
    • CNPN Projects for High-reliability connectivity for mission-critical national infrastructure.
    • Spam! Free Network for the First of its kind–BSNL’s solution for eliminating scam and spam communications in real-time
    • Direct-to-Device Service.

    With a focus on execution, BSNL is driving a renewed push towards becoming a digitally empowered, service-oriented, and financially sustainable telecom operator, committed to connecting and empowering Bharat.

    ****

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    (Release ID: 2122005) Visitor Counter : 17

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Promoting development of tourism industry

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Dr the Hon Lam So-wai and a written reply by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
     
    Question:
     
    Regarding promoting the development of the tourism industry, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has assessed the actual effectiveness of various tourism promotional campaigns (including the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” and the “Hello Hong Kong” campaigns) in the past three years, including but not limited to (i) the growth in the number of visitor arrivals, (ii) the consumption pattern and spending of visitors, (iii) ‍the actual economic benefits to the local retail and catering industries, and (iv) the gap between the actual effectiveness and the expected targets;
     
    (2) whether the Government has formulated a specific timetable and effectiveness indicators for the implementation of the 133 measures in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) as given that it is learnt that the tourism industry and related service industries (e.g. retail and catering industries) are currently facing the challenges of manpower shortage and digital transformation, and that Blueprint ‍2.0 proposes to strengthen the cultivation of talents for the tourism industry and promote the development of smart tourism, of the Government’s specific support measures (including the relevant funding arrangements) in place to assist the industry (especially small and medium-sized enterprises) in overcoming the relevant difficulties?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    In respect of the question raised by the Hon Lam So-wai, in consultation with the Labour Department, the reply is as follows:
     
    (1) With the re-opening of Hong Kong’s cross-boundary tourism activities in early 2023, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) immediately launched a large-scale global promotional campaign, “Hello Hong Kong”, in February of the same year. Through the launch of a series of promotional activities, the HKTB has made every effort to promote the recovery of tourism, spread the welcome message around the globe, reconnect with global visitors and entice them to experience the excitement and charms of Hong Kong in person.
     
    Highlights of the large-scale global promotional campaign “Hello Hong Kong” included:
     

    Sending the greatest welcome to the world The HKTB invited trade representatives, celebrities and key opinion leaders (KOLs), etc, to take part in the production of more than 330 video clips featuring travel experiences in Hong Kong to send a welcome message to the world. These videos were broadcast on more than 3 000 different platforms worldwide. During the period, the “Hello Hong Kong” dance challenge launched on social media platform TikTok attracted over 1.2 million video clips from netizens with 1.5 billion global viewership. The challenge became TikTok’s promotional campaign with the highest traffic in the Southeast Asian market in the first quarter of 2023 and brought 300 000 new followers to the HKTB’s official account, increasing the total number of followers to around 2 million.
     
    To welcome inbound visitors from all over the world, provide an additional promotional channel for local merchants and create business opportunities, the HKTB distributed about 2 million Hong Kong Goodies visitor consumption vouchers (each valued at HK$100 or more) for visitors to redeem offers or free welcome drinks at one of the 4 000 designated catering outlets, retailers or attractions across the city.
     
    At the same time, the HKTB supported the promotion of the Airport Authority Hong Kong’s giveaway of 500 000 air tickets in various visitor source markets. 
    Seeing is believing – inviting guests to Hong Kong for first-hand experience In 2023, the HKTB invited over 2 000 trade and media representatives, celebrities, KOLs and HKTB’s Hong Kong Super Fans from the Mainland, Southeast Asia and Europe, etc, to visit the city in person for tailor-made thematic itineraries to showcase Hong Kong’s diverse tourism appeal and tell good stories of Hong Kong.
    Reaching out to the world – showcasing Hong Kong’s appeal The HKTB took the initiative in leading the trade to reach out to the world by participating in more than 20 large-scale travel fairs and trade events related to meetings, incentive travels, conventions and exhibitions held in the Mainland and overseas markets in 2023, so as to demonstrate Hong Kong’s tourism appeal and help the trade explore business opportunities.

    In 2024, the HKTB also actively developed diversified tourism experiences to enhance the city’s appeal as a travel destination by making use of Hong Kong movies to promote tourism, promoting panda tourism and riding on various Chinese and Western festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Halloween, as well as different themes like arts and culture, neighbourhoods, great outdoors, to bring in brand-new experiences and hype up the blissful ambience. 
     
    Meanwhile, over the past two years after the pandemic, the HKTB resumed hosting of different mega events covering sports, gastronomy and entertainment elements, including the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, Hong Kong Cyclothon, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, Hong Kong WinterFest, Hong Kong New Year Countdown Celebrations and International Chinese New Year Night Parade, while injecting new perspectives, elements and experiences to enrich the events. HKTB organised in 2023 the first “Harbour Chill Carnival” at the Wan Chai harbourfront, featuring music shows on water stage, street performances and X-Games performances; “Summer Chill Food Lane” was set up during the 2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races; “Cyclothon Carnival” was held in 2024 Hong Kong Cyclothon; and the previously four-day Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival was extended to five-day in 2024, attracting more locals and visitors. 
     
    In addition, the HKTB presented a series of drone shows and pyrotechnic displays with different themes to tie in with festivals and events in 2024 such as the Galloping Horse in the Sky drone show and Winter Harbourfront Pyrotechnics Show, which successfully created a vibrant city-wide ambience. The events attracted both local and international media exposure and active participation of both locals and visitors, reinforcing the city’s status as the Events Capital of Asia and bringing global publicity value, thereby creating a vibrant atmosphere in the city and stimulating consumption and economy.
     
    To support the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign launched by the Government in mid-September 2023, HKTB also rolled out a number of mega events and promotions to enhance ambience at night. These included the promotion support for the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance, promotion of the “Hallo” Hong Kong Halloween campaign, “Hong Kong Night Treats” dining vouchers, Hong Kong Night Bus Tour visitor exclusive offers and brand-new Temple Street promotion.
     
    The effectiveness of the HKTB’s tourism promotion work cannot be assessed entirely in quantifiable terms. Notwithstanding, the HKTB will set different indicators based on the nature of its promotions and events, such as website views, social media reach, global media exposure, participants’ satisfaction, likelihood to recommend to family and friends and intention to revisit, to measure the effectiveness. The various tourism promotions launched by the HKTB in the past three years received positive feedback. Not only have they successfully showcased Hong Kong’s return to normalcy after the pandemic, but also boosted the city vibe, creating more reasons for visitors to visit Hong Kong and attracting them to visit. The promotions have met their objectives.
     
    (2) The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) announced on December 30, 2024, the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0) outlining the overall working direction for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry from 2025 to 2030. Blueprint 2.0 proposes four-pronged positioning for tourism development and four major development strategies, covering product development, visitor source expansion, smart tourism and service enhancement, with a view to promoting the prosperous and healthy development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. At the same time, Blueprint 2.0 proposes 133 specific actions and measures that are conducive to the development of tourism, with a view to stimulating the vitality of the tourism market through diversified strategies, enriching the quality and content of tourism products and services, and further mobilising different industries to jointly promote the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. The implementation schedule of the various measures which are categorised into short- (within three years), medium- (three to six years) and long- (more than six years) term and the related performance indicators are set out in Blueprint 2.0.
     
    (3) The CSTB has been maintaining liaison with tourism-related parties, including the HKTB, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC), the Travel Industry Authority (TIA), the Hong Kong Hotels Association and the Federation of Hong Kong Hotel Owners, to understand the existing situation of manpower resources among different job categories in the industry and explore feasible remedial measures in a bid to cope with the short, medium and long-term needs of manpower resources.
     
    Blueprint 2.0 sets out the overall working direction and strategy in the next five years and one of the development strategies is to enhance the service quality and support of the tourism industry on all fronts, and to cultivate talents, which covers 31 measures.
     
    Following the related strategy, the CSTB will continue to maintain close communication with the tertiary institutions that provide hotel and tourism-related curriculum, encourage collaboration among tertiary institutions and the trade in organising career expos and seminars to enhance young people’s understanding of the development prospects of the tourism industry, make good use of various tourism volunteer and youth ambassador programmes to nurture more aspiring youth to join the tourist guide profession, as well as continue to explore with the relevant bureau further expansion of the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme to cover hotel management, tourism and hospitality related programmes.
     
    On the other hand, the Government allocated $100 million in 2022-23 to subsidise the training and development of travel trade practitioners. The TIA will continue to utilise the funding to support training for travel trade and implement measures to attract more talents to pursue a career in the tourism industry and enhance the professional standards of the trade including assessing the manpower requirement for tourist guides, tour escorts and different job categories in travel agents through data collection, so that a more detailed and comprehensive manpower resources strategy can be formulated; supporting students of tertiary educational institutions to obtain a tourist guide licence; reviewing and streamlining the curriculum and requirements of the licensing examination and pre-examination training courses; launching a docent-to-tourist guide bridging programme and a specialised tourist guide licensing programme to increase the supply of professional tourist guides in the market; and engaging the TIC as a partner for placement opportunity and talents matching to improve talent supply and demand in the industry.
     
    Besides, the Labour Department has implemented the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) since September 4, 2023, to alleviate the manpower shortage across different industries (including the accommodation services industry). Employers of the hotel sector may apply under ESLS to import workers at technician level or below to fill vacancies which they have genuine difficulties in recruiting suitable staff locally. As at March 31, 2025, employers of the accommodation services industry were approved to import 1 633 workers under ESLS, mainly for posts such as room attendant, waiter/waitress and receptionist.
     
    On assisting the industry in digital transformation, the Government allocated a total of $70 million to the TIC under 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2023-24 Budgets to launch the Information Technology Development Matching Fund Scheme for Travel Agents, under which funding support is provided on a matching basis to each eligible travel agent. Funded projects include efficiency and productivity enhancement through big data, promotion of digital marketing, security of information technology system, development of mobile apps and website enhancement, to encourage the industry to make use of technology for upgrading and transformation, and to enhance the ability of travel agents to expand their business through information technology.
     
         The CSTB will work closely with the relevant bureaux/departments and executing organisations to actively alleviate the manpower shortage in the travel trade and the challenge of digital transformation, thereby improving service quality. This ensures that visitors get to experience Hong Kong’s zealous hospitality, thereby shaping a more attractive tourism brand.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Authoritarian restructuring of the Turkish state without consequences for EU candidate status – E-001451/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001451/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Petra Steger (PfE)

    On 19 March 2025, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul and opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and some 100 other opposition figures were arrested on flimsy charges of corruption and terrorism. Just a few days later, on 23 March 2025, İmamoğlu was placed in pre-trial detention and ‘temporarily’ removed from office as Mayor. In response to these undemocratic actions, hundreds of thousands of people across Türkiye took to the streets, with more than 2000 people critical of the government being arrested since the beginning of the protests. Similarly, on 27 March 2025, a 10-day broadcasting ban was imposed on the opposition television channel ‘Sözcü TV’. In doing so, Erdoğan is ushering in a new level of authoritarianism in Turkey and proving that Turkey is a very poor partner for the EU. It is therefore all the more surprising that since the end of 2023, the Commission has been seeking a renewed deepening of relations with Türkiye, rather than withdrawing its EU candidate status, as it should have done long ago.

    • 1.Why is the Commission seeking a renewed deepening of relations with Türkiye since the end of 2023, even though Turkey had already drawn attention to itself in the preceding years through its numerous anti-democratic measures?
    • 2.What is the Commission’s assessment of developments in Türkiye since 19 March 2025?
    • 3.Why is Turkey not finally being stripped of its EU candidate status, which entails substantial financial support?

    Submitted: 9.4.2025

    Last updated: 16 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Q1 retail sales record faster expansion via spending stimulus boost

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country’s consumption strength, expanded 4.6 percent year on year in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, as government pro-consumption policies paid off, official data showed on Wednesday.

    This growth pace is 1.1 percentage points faster than the 2024 level, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Total retail sales of consumer goods reached 12.47 trillion yuan (about 1.73 trillion U.S. dollars) in the January-March period.

    In March alone, retail sales of consumer goods rose 5.9 percent year on year, accelerating from the 4 percent growth recorded in the first two months, according to the NBS.

    China’s online retail sales went up 7.9 percent year on year during the first quarter, sustaining relatively fast growth. Backed by the government’s consumer goods trade-in program, sales of communication devices surged 26.9 percent, while that of home appliances and audio equipment went up 19.3 percent.

    China has positioned the boosting of spending and expansion of domestic demand as a priority in this year’s economic work agenda. The country unveiled a comprehensive pro-spending policy package last month, which aimed to strengthen consumer confidence via measures including the promotion of income growth and a reduction of financial burdens.

    In a broader push to bolster domestic demand, China also renewed its consumer goods trade-in program in 2025, increasing funding from last year’s 150 billion yuan to 300 billion yuan through ultra-long special treasury bonds and extending subsidies to more electric gadgets and home appliances, such as smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

    “Given the current situation, these policies are taking effect and their impact is becoming increasingly evident,” Sheng Laiyun, deputy head of the NBS, told a press conference on Wednesday.

    He cited data from the commerce ministry which shows that as of April 7, Chinese consumers had purchased 35.71 million units of home appliances through the trade-in program and submitted 2.085 million applications for automobile trade-in subsidies.

    Notably, services consumption expanded even faster than that of goods, with retail sales of services growing by 5 percent in the first quarter of 2025 compared with a year earlier.

    Sheng, in particular, noted the double-digit growth in consumption related to upgrading of consumption structure. In the first three months of this year, China’s per capita expenditure on transportation and communications grew by 10.4 percent year on year, while that on education, culture and entertainment increased by 13.9 percent.

    “Services spending is a key sector to support future consumption growth, which boasts substantial growth potential,” Sheng told the press.

    Wednesday’s data also revealed that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. The country’s economy grew 5 percent year on year in 2024, and the Chinese government has targeted full-year economic growth at around 5 percent for 2025.

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Brings Tokenized Gold Trading Onchain Amid Market Uncertainty

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has added support for both spot and futures trading of Pax Gold (PAXG), a tokenized version of physical gold. This move comes amid renewed global interest in gold as a hedge against market volatility.

    PAXG is issued by Paxos and backed 1:1 by physical gold, with each token representing one ounce stored in a secure vault. As gold prices surge beyond $3,200 in response to rising geopolitical tensions, digital gold has emerged as a practical safe-haven for on-chain users. By integrating PAXG, Bitget Wallet provides a seamless way for Web3 participants to preserve value without leaving the blockchain — combining the stability of gold with the accessibility of crypto.

    To further drive engagement, Bitget Wallet has launched a limited-time trading campaign featuring a $9,000 prize pool, with additional rewards available for new users. From April 12 to April 20, users can earn the rewards by trading PAXG via Bitget Wallet’s Swap feature or its futures trading interface powered by tatadex, the wallet’s built-in decentralized engine for onchain derivatives.

    As a multi-chain wallet supporting over 130 blockchains and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet delivers a secure, simple, and seamless trading experience. Its infrastructure includes one-click cross-chain swaps, gas optimization, MEV protection, and smart contract risk detection — features designed to streamline trading while maintaining high standards of user safety and accessibility.

    “As traditional finance and Web3 converge, we believe digital access to real-world assets like gold should be effortless,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “With this campaign, we’re giving users an easy way to tap into the gold narrative while enjoying the full benefits of onchain trading.“

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser and crypto payment solutions. Supporting over 130 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets.

    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aa7639b6-4519-479e-91a1-a519ffa50463

    The MIL Network –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung News Launches in A UK First to Deliver Personalised News Straight to Your Fingertips

    Source: Samsung

     
    LONDON, UK – 16th April 2025 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd today announced the UK-first launch of Samsung News, a brand-new news app designed to deliver the daily news you need.
     
    Samsung News provides a fresh approach to digital news consumption by offering a full spectrum of news from a range of diverse publications—completely free and without paywalls. The service brings together top publishers, including Sky News, Sky Sports Daily Mail, The Standard, The Independent, Mirror, Business Insider, Reuters, Metro, Indy 100, and OK!, alongside other local news outlets, to create a seamless, high-quality news experience.
     
    A Personalised Way to Read the News
    Built for customisation and convenience, Samsung News allows users to tailor their feeds with preferred topics. A team of Editors will curate news based on reading habits, with options to select categories like politics, business, sports, and entertainment, plus up to three regions from a choice of 12*.
     
    Key features include Morning & Evening Briefings for curated news updates at the start and end of the day, Top Stories highlighting a handpicked selection of trending articles, and Subject Spotlights offering in-depth insights on specific news stories with diverse perspectives.
     
    Seamless Integration with the Samsung Ecosystem
    Samsung News is designed to work in harmony with the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, adapting to users’ preferences and offering an intuitive reading experience. Whether catching up on the headlines over morning coffee or winding down with evening briefings, the app ensures effortless access to reliable journalism.
     
    Stringent Editorial Standards with Human Oversight
    Samsung News has established strict editorial guidelines to provide additional clarity and parity across US and UK standards. These are overseen by our experienced Editors, who have formed an editorial committee that ensures standards are upheld.
     
    This team is also responsible for maintaining a diverse and balanced portfolio of publishers, tracking political leanings to ensure Samsung News remains neutral and using their judgement to curate credible and trustworthy content. Andrew Bailey, Editor-in-Chief, Samsung News, says: “There’s never been a greater need for accurate, verified, and balanced news that doesn’t live behind a paywall. Our goal with Samsung News is to offer Galaxy users a broad selection of free content from premium partners, including breaking news, deep-dives, and briefings hand-picked by our experienced news editors.
     
    “Users will also be able to customise their feeds by following publishers and topics that interest them, such as Sport, Business and Entertainment. With diverse content from hundreds of sources, we aim to provide all sides of a story.”
     
    David Rhodes, Executive Chairman, Sky News Group, says: “Sky News is trusted by millions for fast and accurate breaking news, deep analysis and insight and eyewitness journalism from around the world. We’re delighted, alongside our Sky Sports colleagues, to be partnering with Samsung News allowing us to bring millions more Galaxy users the full story, first.”
     
    Samsung News will be rolled out to users as an update to Samsung Free, previously offering a variety of free multimedia content including TV, news, podcasts, and instant games. Users who already have the Samsung Free app on their device will see the icon change to Samsung News starting on 31st March 2025, when their apps are updated. All other users will be able to access the app by downloading directly from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
     
    To experience a smarter way to stay updated, simply open Samsung News and start personalising your feed today. Or visit the Galaxy Store for further information.
     
    *Regions include: London, South East, South West, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, North West, North East, Yorkshire & Humbar, East Midlands, West Midlands, and East of England.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Longevity Centers Create New Programs and a Unified Class Calendar

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    This spring, new programs appeared in Moscow longevity centers, as well as a single calendar with a schedule of all classes. This was reported by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “In our Moscow Longevity Centers, we create all the conditions for senior residents so that they can not only have an interesting time, but also actively take care of their health – physical, cognitive and emotional. These are spaces that are organized according to a single principle and equipped with everything necessary – from gyms and culinary studios to libraries and media rooms with computers. Less than a month ago, together with the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, we launched a unique program to preserve cognitive functions and psycho-emotional health for residents of the “silver” age. More than 20 thousand people have already signed up for classes. To make it easier for participants to plan intellectual and sports leisure, we decided to introduce new areas of classes and a single schedule in the Moscow Longevity Centers to make leisure planning even more convenient,” said Anastasia Rakova.

    “Longevity Charging” and Smart Training

    The schedule was designed to take into account the life rhythms and needs of older Muscovites: physical activity in the morning, intellectual and educational activities in the afternoon, and a cultural program in the evening. New features in the unified calendar of activities include daily exercises and rhythmic exercises, as well as smart workouts called “Let’s Go and Listen!”. Participants can exercise while listening to fascinating lectures, audiobooks, podcasts, or music.

    The schedule covers all areas important for maintaining activity and interest in life in old age: from physical education and health to culture and communication. Every morning at the centers begins with the “Longevity Charging” training. At 10:00, classes are held with elements of breathing exercises, stretching, joint yoga and techniques for developing balance. At 11:15, participants are treated to rhythmics – dance movements to music that help not only maintain physical fitness, but also charge themselves with a good mood.

    From 09:00 to 20:00, the centers conduct smart training sessions called “Let’s go and listen!”: you can exercise on cardio equipment while listening to lecture recordings, audiobooks, and podcasts. The authors of the audio recordings include neurophysiologist Tatyana Chernigovskaya, actor Yuri Stoyanov, and writer and psychologist Tatyana Muzhitskaya. The schedule alternates 30-minute blocks, as well as music and meditative audio tracks.

    Computer Literacy and Health Schools

    Every day from 12:00 to 14:00, the centers are visited by MFC employees who help participants in the Moscow Longevity project receive the necessary government services without waiting and queues. Every Thursday at 09:30, specialists from government service centers also conduct classes on digital literacy. They explain how to use the mos.ru portal and other online services.

    From Monday to Thursday, doctors from city clinics conduct classes in health, osteoporosis and diabetes schools. The topics are disease prevention, healthy lifestyle and nutrition.

    Neurotraining and neurocorrection

    In addition, the schedule has already included courses of the new program for maintaining cognitive skills and psycho-emotional health: “Neurotraining of cognitive skills” and “Neurocorrection of the psycho-emotional state”. Classes are held daily: neurotraining – from 14:00 to 20:00, neurocorrection – from 10:00 to 18:00. Participants work on a computer or with neuroheadsets under the supervision of specialists. This helps to develop memory, reduce anxiety, improve sleep and concentration. Both courses were developed by the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency (FMBA) of Russia. Senior citizens are accompanied by employees of Moscow Longevity Centers who have undergone special training at the Center for Cognitive and Psychoemotional Health of the FMBA of Russia. To take the courses, you must first register.

    Performances and lectures

    Cultural leisure is also popular. From Monday to Friday, video performances are shown and lectures on culture and art are held, and every Wednesday at 6:00 pm, a film club is open. You can visit it in person at the Presnensky Center or online, connecting to the broadcast from other centers. Here, films and TV series are discussed with experts in the field of cinema.

    The formats for communication and intellectual leisure are preserved. On Thursdays from 19:00 to 20:30 there is a quiz game club, where participants compete in logic and erudition. Board games are available during the day.

    You can check the schedule of classes at your center and sign up in person at the Moscow Longevity Centers oron the websiteAll Muscovites over 55 years of age can visit the centers.

    In total, there are more than 140 Moscow Longevity Centers in the capital. They are located in almost all areas of the city and have convenient transport access. Each center is a stylish and modern club space with free access for Muscovites aged 55 and older. Here you can always play sports, play chess and billiards, join culinary master classes, learn to sew and draw, master the computer, listen to useful lectures and chat with like-minded people in one of 6.5 thousand thematic clubs. And also – celebrate your birthday or another holiday with friends and family.

    The Moscow Longevity project is being implemented within the framework of the regional project Older Generation national project “Family” to increase the period of active longevity and healthy life expectancy in the capital. It is aimed at expanding opportunities for older people to participate in cultural, educational, sports and other city events.

    The timeframe for assigning social benefits in Moscow will be halved

    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/152664073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: ‘The Sound of Chunhyang Opens the World’ – The 95th Namwon Chunhyang Festival to Kick Off on April 30

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NAMWON, KOREA, April 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Motivated by the Joseon Dynasty’s Chunhyang love story, the festival sees a growing number of foreign visitors engaging in K-culture experiences.

    Korea’s oldest traditional regional festival, soon to mark its 100th anniversary, aims to attract 2 million visitors. A classic Korean love story comparable to “Romeo and Juliet” is now gaining global attention as a cultural festival celebrating K-culture experiences. The spotlight is on the Chunhyang Festival, held in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do Special Self-Governing Province, the hometown of love and tradition.

    The name ‘Chunhyang’ in the festival comes from the heroine of “The Tale of Chunhyang,” a traditional Korean love story handed down from the Joseon Dynasty, symbolizing love and fidelity. The story has been reinterpreted with a modern sensibility and transformed into a regional cultural festival enjoyed by people of all ages.

    The Namwon Chunhyang Festival, which began in 1931 and celebrates its 95th edition this year, is the oldest regional festival in Korea and one of the most beloved traditional cultural events. Selected as an outstanding festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and ranked first in the traditional arts category, it has grown into a nationally recognized regional event. Last year, it welcomed 1.2 million visitors, positioning itself as a global festival that draws international attention.

    The 95th Chunhyang Festival will take place from April 30 to May 6 across Namwon’s Gwanghallu Garden and the Yocheon Stream area. Under the theme “The Sound of Chunhyang Opens the World,” the festival will feature 100 diverse programs in anticipation of its centennial anniversary.

    Chunhyang Festival Connecting Past, Present, and the World Through Sound

    This year’s main concept of Chunhyang Festival is ‘sound’. A variety of musical performances will be presented to allow people from around the world to relate and enjoy together. Aspiring to become a high-quality global music festival, the event will be organized around three themes: the Sound of Korea, the Sound of the World, and the Sound of Fusion.

    Highlights include a 300-member civic choir, traditional Korean music performances, international ensemble exchanges, a K-pop dance competition, and the Chunhyang Ball. These diverse performances will be staged throughout Namwon, with nightly shows at Gwanghalluwon Garden offering unforgettable moments.

    As the festival is centered on the theme of sound, there will also be performances by band music teams that can communicate with various generations beyond Korean national music. On May 5 and 6, the outdoor stage at Love Square will host the national band contest “Let PungROCK Resound!” Featuring a mix of intense genres like rock, metal, and punk with smoother ones like blues and jazz, the contest will provide citizens and visitors with a rich musical experience.

    Throughout the week, the “One Day Spring Dream Concert” will showcase modern Korean traditional music alongside pop artists. Each day will feature performances by pop singers, international artists, music bands, and orchestras, captivating audiences with both sight and sound.

    Immersive Korean Traditional Culture Experiences in Hanbok

    Hanbok, the traditional Korean attire that gained global fame through BTS and BLACKPINK’s music video and performances, is now a must-do experience for international visitors. With its graceful colors, patterns, and textures, Hanbok rental is available throughout the Chunhyang Festival for guests to fully immerse themselves in Korean culture.

    During the week of the Chunhyang Festival, event staff members wear traditional hanbok to greet visitors. Visitors, too, can freely walk around the festival grounds dressed in hanbok of their choice, which they can personally select and rent, fully immersing themselves in the atmosphere of traditional Korean culture.

    Not only foreign visitors but also numerous citizens of all ages enjoy the festival programs wearing hanbok. Throughout the festival grounds, photo zones are set up where visitors dressed in hanbok can take commemorative photos, capturing the memorable moments of the Chunhyang Festival.

    Hanbok wearers can also take part in various cultural programs for a deeper experience. At Gwanghalluwon Garden, visitors can participate in tea ceremonies using prepared tea leaves, spinning a bowl games, traditional cup and ball games, and enjoy master performances at the historic Gwanghallu Pavilion, a National Treasure No. 281. The comedic “Pumba” performances in the canola flower fields will allow participants to special experience Chunhyang’s world firsthand.

    Popular programs such as the “Daedong Street Performance” street parade and “Hanbok Ball” will also be held. The Daedong Street Performance parade, themed after the Tale of Chunhyang, features citizen participation along with special international performers, taekwondo demonstrations, and police motorcycle parades, offering a vibrant spectacle. With people of all ages and nationalities joining the parade, the entire city of Namwon will be filled with music and excitement.

    Namwon’s multilingual tourism information system will help all visitors enjoy the festival with ease.

    A Feast for the Five Senses: Family Zone, Camping Zone, and Food Zone

    Evolving from a traditional cultural festival to a global event nearing its 100th year, the Chunhyang Festival will feature a dedicated “Family Zone” at Love Square, ensuring convenience for families with young children.

    The Family Zone includes amusement rides, various performance programs, food trucks, and amenities. Popular attractions like air bouncers, Viking rides, and disco pang-pang, along with circus acts, bubble shows, and magic shows, will keep families entertained. Finger food-friendly food trucks and comfortable rest areas, including nursing rooms, are also provided.

    Four free shuttle bus routes will be in operation for easier access to the venue, running every 20 minutes from 10 AM to 11 PM. To accommodate the expected surge in visitors, car camping and camping zones will be established in six areas, including Yocheon Eco Park and Geumam Park, accommodating up to 340 vehicles including caravans and passenger cars.

    A wide variety of foods made using local specialties will also be available. A barbecue zone, a traditional food court, and a food truck zone within the Family Zone will be in operation, and visitors will also be able to enjoy cocktails made with Namwon’s traditional liquor at various spots throughout the venue. In particular, the traditional food court operated directly by local residents offers a chance to experience and savor the diverse flavors of K-Food that has recently captured the taste buds of people around the world.

    Nights Brighter Than Days: Night Views, Music, and Fireworks

    The nights of the Chunhyang Festival shine even brighter than the days. A 3-hectare field of canola flowers along the Yocheon Stream sets the backdrop for breathtaking sunsets and golden blooms. With scenic lighting and photo zones, visitors can also enjoy the canola flower field at night.

    Traditional Korean lanterns, Cheongsachorong, placed throughout Namwon, will cast a warm glow, symbolizing love and hope. The fireworks at the festival’s opening and closing ceremonies will add a spectacular finale, leaving lasting memories of this spring’s most special moments.

    Media contact

    Organization: Chunhyang

    Contact: Park Jungna

    Email: jra0381@chunhyang.org

    Phone: 010-7674-0381

    Website: https://www.chunhyang.org/eng

    The MIL Network –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Investor built a new kindergarten in Kommunarka

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Kommunarka district, an investor built a new kindergarten for 185 children. It accepted its first pupils on April 14. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “In the Kommunarka district, construction of a kindergarten for 185 children has been completed. The two-story building with an area of over 2.7 thousand square meters is located on the territory of a residential complex. On the site around the kindergarten, the developer planted trees, bushes, laid out a lawn, and also arranged areas for active recreation and general physical training. The investor transferred the kindergarten to the capital’s education system,” the deputy mayor noted.

    The kindergarten is located at the intersection of Alexandra Monakhova and Edvarda Griga streets at the address: Alexandra Monakhova Street, Building 43, Building 3. It will be convenient for residents of two large residential complexes to visit.

    “The central part of the kindergarten building is occupied by a three-level multifunctional multi-light space that combines a lobby, an amphitheater, a music and sports area. Thanks to the possibility of zoning, it can be adapted for classes for children of different ages. The same is true for groups: due to partitions and transformable furniture, the play area can be increased or decreased as needed,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy of the capital

    Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    The kindergarten has all the conditions for children with disabilities. It is designed for the simultaneous stay of eight groups of children. About the opening of the educational institution told Sergei Sobyanin.

    Construction began in April 2022, and a 0.7-hectare site was allocated for this purpose. As the Chairman of the Moscow State Construction Supervision Authority noted Anton Slobodchikov, specialists from the committee and the subordinate Center for Expertise, Research and Testing in Construction conducted 10 on-site inspections. They assessed the quality of the work and materials used. Based on the results of the final inspection, the experts issued a conclusion on the building’s compliance with the requirements of the design documentation.

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

    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/152649073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    April 16, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Chaplin family’s journey to discover their origins

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    When comedy icon Charlie Chaplin’s wife, Oona O’Neill Chaplin, passed away in 1991, the entire family gathered to handle the estate. While sorting through the inheritance, Victoria Chaplin discovered a locked bedside table in her father Charlie Chaplin’s room. Unable to open it herself, she summoned a locksmith. When the drawer was finally opened, she found a mysterious letter inside.

    Dolores Chaplin, actor and granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, speaks at a Q&A session during the second Macao International Comedy Festival, Macao, April 10, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]

    The letter was from a man named Jack Hill, who wrote, not asking for money, but simply to call out Chaplin as “a little liar.” Hill claimed that Chaplin was not really born in London as stated in his autobiography, but rather in a caravan in the Black Patch area of Smethwick near Birmingham. Furthermore, Hill revealed that the caravan belonged to his aunt, who was known as the “Gypsy Queen.”

    “This letter was very intriguing, especially considering he received thousands of letters from fans all over the world. Yet, he chose to keep this particular letter locked away in the bedside table,” Dolores Chaplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, told China.org.cn on April 11 in Macao. Dolores was attending the second Macao International Comedy Festival to present the documentary film “Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp,” directed by her sister Carmen Chaplin, and which she served on as one of the producers.

    According to Dolores, her aunt Victoria showed the letter to her father, Michael, who still recalled how Charlie would often tell them as children, “You are part Gypsy.”

    “My father was a romantic who always identified with this culture,” Dolores said. “He was passionate about Gypsies and Gypsy music, so he became deeply passionate about the letter and wanted to learn more. Seeing his passion, I just thought this would make a great documentary.”

    This was how the project “Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp” began, though it would take many years to complete, facing numerous challenges in securing financing, licenses and conducting research. The film evolved into a true family endeavor, with deep involvement from multiple generations. Family members participated both on camera — sharing personal insights and memories — and behind the scenes as producers.

    A screening and Q&A session for “Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp” at the second Macao International Comedy Festival, Macao, April 10, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]

    The project’s significance lies in its potential to finally acknowledge the possible Romani heritage that may have inspired Charlie Chaplin’s iconic Tramp character. Featuring intimate interviews and unprecedented access to the Chaplin estate, the documentary presents a profound exploration of Chaplin’s roots. It weaves together film excerpts, home movies and archival footage, as well as contributions from movie star Johnny Depp and renowned contemporary Romani artists to tell this compelling story.

    “It’s very healing to do a documentary on your ancestors,” Dolores said, noting it was also a journey to help fix the tumultuous relationship between Charlie and Michael. “It was healing for my father. It was healing for us, too. I found my father had a lot in common with his father — really more than he knows.”

    “Chaplin: Spirit of the Tramp” will also be screened at the upcoming 15th Beijing International Film Festival, set to open on April 18.

    Dolores believes that her grandfather is now more relevant than ever, “because he’s always been somebody who defends the underdog,” she said. “And in our society, there’s always the underdog …. My grandfather was a humanist and he really spoke for the people and defended anybody who was pushed to the ground.”

    As a comedic giant, Charlie Chaplin and his films — including classics like “City Lights” (1931) and “Modern Times” (1936) — have long been revered in China. Between 1979 and 1981, China imported 19 American films, 12 of which were Chaplin comedies. While in turn, Dolores shared, “He was a big fan of China. He had a lot of beautiful artworks from China, and I could see that it was a culture he really liked.”

    Then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Charlie Chaplin pose for a photo in Geneva in 1954. [File photo/Xinhua]

    Charlie Chaplin’s cultural significance was further cemented through historic meetings with notable Chinese figures, such as Peking opera master Mei Lanfang in the 1930s, and then Premier Zhou Enlai in 1954 when a Chinese delegation attended the Geneva Conference.

    Back in the United States, however, Chaplin was accused of communist sympathies and faced political persecution, ultimately being forced to leave the U.S. in 1952 and settle in Switzerland. Decades later, history seems to be repeating itself, as the world has again become chaotic and divided. This is perhaps most evident in the United States’ recent launch of a bullying tariff war against the world, particularly targeting China.

    Dolores emphasized that China and the U.S. should move in the right direction and find a way forward. “The Chinese community has been so integrated into America… they should find a way.”

    MIL OSI China News –

    April 16, 2025
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