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Category: Entertainment

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Norway: Staff Concluding Statement for the 2025 Article IV Consultation Mission

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    June 26, 2025

    A Concluding Statement describes the preliminary findings of IMF staff at the end of an official staff visit (or ‘mission’), in most cases to a member country. Missions are undertaken as part of regular (usually annual) consultations under Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement, in the context of a request to use IMF resources (borrow from the IMF), as part of discussions of staff monitored programs, or as part of other staff monitoring of economic developments.

    The authorities have consented to the publication of this statement. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF Executive Board for discussion and decision.

    Norway’s economy has shown resilience amid global uncertainty, supported by strong fiscal buffers and credible policy frameworks. Mainland real GDP growth is forecast to increase to 1.5 percent in 2025 (from 0.6 percent in 2024) and is projected to remain steady at around that level over the medium term. The labor market has held firm. Despite contractionary monetary policy, inflation remains above target; bringing inflation back to target is the most pressing near-term policy priority. The financial system is sound, and buffers are robust, but systemic vulnerabilities remain elevated, reflecting high levels of household debt and concentrated exposures to real estate. At the same time, macroprudential policy settings have been eased with the increase in the loan-to-value limit for mortgages earlier this year. Risks to the growth outlook are to the downside, driven by rising global policy and trade uncertainty; risks to the inflation outlook are balanced. The IMF staff’s main policy recommendations are: i) maintain the restrictive monetary policy stance until there is additional evidence that the recent easing of inflation has fully solidified; ii) do not ease macroprudential policy settings further, as financial stability risks could increase if downside risks to growth or upside risks to inflation materialize; iii) move towards a broadly neutral fiscal stance to enhance the coherence of the macroeconomic policy mix and lower the burden on monetary policy; and iv) continue advancing structural reforms aimed at increasing labor supply and inclusion.

    Context

    Norway’s economy has remained resilient despite tight financial conditions and ongoing global uncertainty. GDP continued to expand moderately last year, supported by high employment and supportive fiscal policy. Inflation has declined, though it remains above target, and financial stability risks, while elevated due to high household debt levels and concentrated exposures to the real estate sector, remain contained.

    Recent developments, outlook, and risks

    Economic activity strengthened in 2024. Overall real GDP grew by 2.1 percent, driven by record-high natural gas extraction. Mainland GDP expanded by 0.6 percent, primarily due to increased public spending, as activity in the construction and fishing sectors contracted, reflecting high borrowing costs and sector-specific challenges. Employment and hours worked increased, although the unemployment rate edged up to 4 percent. National accounts data and high frequency survey indicators point to resilient activity in the first part of 2025. Mainland GDP growth is forecast to rise to 1.5 percent in 2025, supported by easing financial conditions, an expansionary fiscal stance, and recovering real incomes. Over the medium-term, mainland GDP growth is expected to remain around its potential (1.5 percent).

    Inflation, despite a steady decline, remains above target. Services inflation and wage pressures have contributed to keeping inflation above the 2 percent target. However, recent developments point to slower-than-expected momentum in both headline and core inflation, partly due to one-off and base effects. Fiscal measures—such as those to stabilize electricity prices and reduce childcare costs—could lower inflation in the second half of the year. Under staff’s baseline scenario, headline and core inflation will fall to 2.2 and 2.6 percent by end-2025 and return to target by 2027. After holding the policy rate steady at 4.5 percent from January 2024, Norges Bank began normalizing monetary policy by lowering the rate to 4.25 percent in June and signaled that the policy rate will be reduced further in the course of 2025.

    The fiscal stance has become increasingly expansionary. While additional support to Ukraine in the revised budget is not expected to provide stimulus to the economy, overall, the 2025 budget implies a significant fiscal impulse. The structural non-oil deficit is projected to reach about 13 percent of trend mainland GDP, even as withdrawals from the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) are expected to remain below the fiscal rule’s 3 percent guideline (at around 2.7 percent of the GPFG’s 2024 market value). The government has also signaled alignment with NATO discussions to progressively increase defense spending toward 5 percent of GDP over the medium term.

    Risks to the growth outlook are tilted to the downside, while inflation risks are balanced. On growth, global tensions, including higher trade tariffs, could weigh on exports and investment, and continued tight financial conditions could further pressure highly indebted households and firms at a time when financial risks are elevated. Over the longer term, demographic headwinds and the expected structural erosion of oil-related revenues will weigh on economic resilience. Inflation could take longer to converge to target if domestic demand recovers faster than expected or higher oil prices put pressure on headline inflation. By contrast, further currency appreciation and higher productivity gains (e.g., from a faster-than-anticipated uptake of AI or automation) could bring inflation back to target more rapidly.   

    Policy recommendations

    Norges Bank should proceed cautiously with monetary policy normalization, ensuring there is further evidence that underlying inflation is firmly on a path back to target. Under staff’s baseline scenario, the current restrictive monetary policy is broadly appropriate to bring core inflation to target by 2027, even as medium-term inflation expectations and underlying inflation remain above target. The output gap is broadly closed, and inflation risks are balanced. While recent inflation developments are encouraging, further evidence of a decline in the trend of underlying inflation is needed to continue with the normalization of monetary policy.

    Norway’s strong monetary policy framework has served the economy well. After the adoption of inflation targeting in 2001, Norges Bank has operated with a high level of credibility and ranks among the most transparent central banks in the world. However, the current highly uncertain global outlook can present challenges for monetary policy formulation and implementation. Navigating rapidly evolving global developments and volatile data may require enhancements to the policy process. This could include expanding the use of scenario analysis—an approach Norges Bank has employed in the past—and refining communication strategies to maintain well-anchored expectations.

    The recent relaxation of the loan-to-value (LTV) limit for mortgages could increase financial vulnerabilities. Although households’ debt burden has stabilized, it remains high. A higher LTV limit may fuel further increases in house prices and household indebtedness, contributing to higher financial stability risks, particularly if downside risks to growth or upside risks to inflation materialize. Lasting improvements in housing affordability will require structural measures to address factors that keep prices elevated, including a relatively small rental market, limited land availability in urban areas, high construction costs, and a tax system that encourages mortgage debt. Gradually phasing-out mortgage interest deductibility (starting with a cap on income-tax deductions) would help curb speculative housing demand and enhance tax efficiency. Tightening eligibility for subsidized mortgages would also help manage housing demand and public spending.

    The financial system is sound with strong buffers, but further macroprudential easing should wait until systemic risks recede or financial disintermediation risks emerge. Continued close financial system monitoring is essential. Participation in the initiative to undertake a Nordic-Baltic regional stress test exercise would enhance the assessment of cross-border financial interlinkages and risks. Measures to address increased bank reliance on covered bonds are also welcome and would help mitigate interconnectedness risks. The current countercyclical capital buffer setting remains appropriate, but Norges Bank should be prepared to raise it if cyclical vulnerabilities increase. Priority should be given to preserving capital buffers, including by ensuring that banks’ models properly reflect credit risks and to strengthening contingency planning amid continued pressure on the commercial real estate (CRE) sector. Over the medium term, broadening the toolkit for CRE vulnerabilities could help address these in a more targeted manner during future upswings, and borrower-based-measures on CRE lending, as well as sector-specific capital surcharges to address risks from the insurance sector’s CRE exposures could be considered. Work to address the findings of the 2024 Nordic-Baltic crisis management exercise and the 2020 FSAP recommendations should continue.

    Moving towards a broadly neutral fiscal policy stance would support the disinflation effort and improve the coherence of the overall macroeconomic policy mix. The 2025 budget further expands the fiscal stimulus, with an estimated fiscal impulse of about 2.5 percent of trend mainland GDP. While the impact on domestic activity may be dampened by the composition of spending (including through imports and transfers abroad), the stimulus is still expected to provide a significant boost to the domestic economy.

    Enhancements to Norway’s robust fiscal framework would help ensure continued delivery of strong economic and social outcomes. Reinforcing countercyclicality and spending discipline would enhance fiscal resilience. Complementing the fiscal rule with explicit medium-term expenditure limits could reduce exposure to volatility from market-driven changes in the large and growing value of the GPFG and improve fiscal planning. Strengthening multi-year budgeting, improving public investment management, conducting more systematic spending reviews and setting efficiency targets would support more strategic resource allocation and enhance public service delivery. Benchmarking the setup of the Advisory Panel on Fiscal Policy Analysis against best international practices for independent fiscal councils and expanding its mandate would help further enhance the fiscal framework.

    Advancing fiscal reforms is essential to bolster resilience and support long-term growth. Tax reforms aimed at improving efficiency and broadening the revenue base remain a priority. Consolidating multiple VAT rates and enhancing incentives for work and investment would improve resilience of the tax system. Further measures to reform disability and sickness benefits, along the lines of past IMF recommendations, are needed to reduce work disincentives, increase labor force participation, and contain long-term fiscal costs. Sustained reform efforts are crucial to ensure long-term sustainability of fiscal policy in the face of rising structural spending pressures.

    A broad and ambitious reform agenda is essential to accelerate productivity growth and mitigate the effects of geoeconomic fragmentation. Advancing the “reinforced work line” agenda would reduce reliance on disability benefits, raise labor force participation among underrepresented groups—including youth and immigrants—and increase total hours worked. Strengthening education-to-work transitions, promoting full-time employment, and accelerating digitalization would further support productivity. Finally, further measures are likely to be needed to achieve Norway’s 2035 emission reduction targets.

    The IMF team thanks the Norwegian authorities and other counterparts for their hospitality and the constructive and insightful discussions.

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Eva-Maria Graf

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    @IMFSpokesperson

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/25/norway-staff-concluding-statement-for-the-2025-article-iv-consultation-mission

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What program of events has Leto department store prepared for the coming month?

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The department store on Revolution Square continues to operate “Summer”— a cultural and educational site and part of an urban project “Summer in Moscow”. Here, guests can get acquainted with collections of Russian designers and attend lectures, master classes and performances free of charge. Meetings with experts in fashion, art, history and etiquette are planned until the end of the season.

    Russian romances and the creation of herbariums

    So, on June 28 at 16:00 in the department store “Leto” there will be a lecture “Brand – image”. Ekaterina Minkevich, founder of a communications agency, will tell you how to build a personal reputation, strengthen your presence in the media, and include your name in your self-presentation strategy.

    On June 29 at 16:00 everyone is invited toa lecture on the work of the writer Ivan Shmelev. Will end the day mini-performance with live performance of Russian romances and poetry reading. Starts at 20:00.

    On July 5 at 13:00, Ekaterina Maslova, a collector and founder of the cultural space, will give a lecture on the history of tableware and explain how 19th-century fashion influenced the shape of teacups and serving utensils. At 15:00, there will be a master class on summer table setting using antique tableware.

    On July 6 at 15:00, expert Yulia Ryabukhina will give a lecture on family traditions and home etiquette. At 17:00, a master class on creating herbariums will begin. At 19:00, guests will see the performance “Dandelion Wine” by “Creative Association 9”.

    Philosophy of conscious consumption and repair of vintage items

    On July 12, a series of events are planned at the Leto department store for Family, Love and Fidelity Day. At 15:00, art critic Diana Kunitsyna will tell the story of the love of Emperor Alexander III and Maria Feodorovna. At 17:00, city residents will join a master class on creating festive wreaths, where they will learn the basics of floristry and assemble their own composition. The day will end with a musical concert: arias and romances will be performed by the soloist of the State Academic Mariinsky Theater Diana Kazanlieva and soloist Yakub Suvorov, accompanied by piano. Starts at 19:00.

    On July 13 at 15:00, everyone is invited to a lecture by Anna Chobanu and Ksenia Korennaya, “Five Secrets of Education in the Tsarist Russia Era.” Guests will learn how children were taught in the pre-revolutionary period, what books they read, and what they were interested in. At 17:00, a master class on creating a summer collage from old postcards will begin.

    On July 19, there will be a lecture on the philosophy of conscious consumption. At 16:00, Tatyana Polyakova will talk about the principles of upcycling, and at 18:00, Ksenia Mezentseva will hold a master class on table setting using antique tableware.

    On July 20 at 2:00 PM Anna Kiva, ethnoculturalist and decorator, will give a lecture on “How to Read Things: Vintage as a Way to Explore the Past.” A master class on glass and ceramic mosaics is planned for 4:00 PM.

    On July 26, the Leto department store will host events dedicated to conscious consumption and careful handling of clothes. At 4:00 PM, Asya Aladzhalova and Korinna Polinskaya will touch on the topic of repairing vintage items. At 6:00 PM, a master class will be held where participants will learn basic seams and clothing restoration techniques.

    You can sign up for events taking place at the Leto department store on the project page “Summer in Moscow”.

    “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

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

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

    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/155850073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets Japan’s former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-16
    President Lai meets delegation led by Representative Bera, co-chair of US Congressional Taiwan Caucus
    On the morning of June 16, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Representative Ami Bera, co-chair of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus. In remarks, President Lai thanked the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives to strengthen Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The president said that we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation and create a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges to jointly enhance economic and developmental resilience. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with the delegation and welcome Congressman Bera back to the Presidential Office. Last January, he visited after the presidential election, demonstrating the steadfast backing of the US Congress for democratic Taiwan. This time, as head of a delegation of new members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, he is continuing to foster US congressional support for Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a sincere welcome to Congressman Bera and all our esteemed guests. Over the years, staunch bipartisan US congressional backing of Taiwan has been a key force for steadily advancing our bilateral relations. I thank the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives, thereby strengthening Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space, and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I want to emphasize that Taiwan has an unwavering determination to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and accelerate reform of national defense. The government is also prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP this year. I hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation will evolve beyond military procurement to a partnership that encompasses joint research and development and joint production, further strengthening cooperation and exchange in the defense industry. Regarding industrial exchanges, last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) each visited Texas to see firsthand Taiwan-US collaboration in AI and semiconductors. And the delegation led by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) sent by Taiwan to this year’s SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, was again the largest of those attending. All of this demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to working alongside the US to create mutual prosperity. In the future, we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation. And I hope that the legislation addressing the issue of Taiwan-US double taxation will become law this year. I want to thank Congressman Bera for co-leading a joint letter last November signed by over 100 members of Congress calling for such legislation. I believe that by creating a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges, Taiwan and the US can enhance economic and developmental resilience. In closing, I thank you all for making the long journey here to advance Taiwan-US relations. Let us continue working together to promote the prosperous development of this important partnership. Congressman Bera then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the delegation, it is an honor for him to be here once again, it being last January that he and Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart visited and congratulated President Lai on his election victory, noting that theirs was the first congressional delegation to do so. Congressman Bera said that this is an important time, not just for the US and Taiwan relationship, but for all relationships around the world. When we look at conflicts in Europe and in the Middle East, he said, it is incumbent upon democracies to hold the peace in Asia. He emphasized that is why it is important for them to bring a delegation of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee, adding that he believes for all of them it is their first trip to Taiwan.  Congressman Bera said that while this is a delegation of Democratic members of Congress, in a bipartisan way all of Congress continues to support the people of Taiwan. As such, in this visit he brings support from his co-chairs on the Taiwan caucus, Congressman Díaz-Balart and Congressman Andy Barr. He also took a moment to recognize the passing of Congressman Gerald Connolly, who was a longtime friend of Taiwan and one of their co-chairs on the caucus. Congressman Bera mentioned that there is always a special bond between himself and President Lai because they are both doctors, and as doctors, their profession is about healing, keeping the peace, and making sure everybody has a bright, prosperous future. In closing, he highlighted that it is in that spirit that their delegation visits with the president. The delegation also included members of the US Congress Gabe Amo, Wesley Bell, Julie Johnson, Sarah McBride, and Johnny Olszewski.

    Details
    2025-06-13
    President Lai meets delegation led by French National Assembly Taiwan Friendship Group Chair Marie-Noëlle Battistel
    On the morning of June 12, President Lai Ching-te met a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. In remarks, President Lai thanked the National Assembly for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait, helping make France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. The president also said that exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France are becoming more frequent, and that he hopes this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations and help build closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security.  A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to welcome Chair Battistel, who is once again leading a visiting delegation. Last year, Chair Battistel co-led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. This is her fourth visit, and first as chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group, which makes it especially meaningful. This delegation’s visit demonstrates strong support for Taiwan, and on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to express my sincerest welcome and thanks. France is a pioneer in promoting free and democratic values. These are values that Taiwan cherishes and is working hard to defend. I want to express gratitude to the French Parliament for their long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation, and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait. The French Parliament’s two chambers have continued to strongly support Taiwan, with the passage of a resolution supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations in 2021, as well as the passage of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023. This has made France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. Through it all, the Taiwan Friendship Group has played a key role, and I want to thank all of our distinguished guests for their efforts. Over the past few years, Taiwan and France have continued to deepen cooperation in areas including the economy, technology, culture, and sports. At the Choose France summit held in Paris last month, Taiwanese and French enterprises also announced they will launch cooperation in the semiconductor and satellite fields. The VivaTech startup exhibition, now being held in France, also has many Taiwanese vendors participating. Exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France, whether official or people-to-people, are becoming more and more frequent. I hope that this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations, building closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security.  To address current geopolitical and economic challenges, Taiwan will continue to join forces with France and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and contribute our concerted efforts to global prosperity and development. Once again, I want to welcome our visitors to Taiwan. I hope to continue our joint efforts to create a more prosperous future for both Taiwan and France.   Chair Battistel then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for extending this invitation. Last year on May 20, she said, she and her delegation attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, so she was delighted to visit Taiwan once again with the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group and bear witness to their friendship with Taiwan. Chair Battistel noted that this visit has given them an opportunity to strengthen Taiwan-France relations in areas including the economy, culture, the humanities, and diplomacy, and conduct exchanges with numerous heads of government agencies and research institutes. It has also been an opportunity, she said, to witness the importance of exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan in areas including energy, semiconductors, youth, and culture, and the impact created by important issues of mutual concern, including AI and disinformation, on the security of many countries. Chair Battistel praised Taiwan for its youth development efforts, and said that under the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, 30 Taiwanese young people have embarked on a visit to France, with itineraries including the United Nations Ocean Conference and the VivaTech exhibition, as well as the city of Toulouse, which is strategically important for the aerospace industry. Members of the group are also conducting exchanges at the French National Assembly, she said.  Chair Battistel stated that the Taiwan-France partnership is growing closer, and that she hopes to continue to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as supporting peace for Taiwan supports peace around the world.  The delegation also included Taiwan Friendship Group Vice Chair Éric Martineau, as well as National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Vice Chair Laetitia Saint-Paul and Deputies Marie-José Allemand and Claudia Rouaux. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by French Office in Taipei Deputy Director Cléa Le Cardeur.

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai hosts state banquet for President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala  
    At noon on June 5, President Lai Ching-te hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office for President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife. In his remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan and Guatemala have both undergone an arduous democratization process, and therefore, in face of the continuous expansion of authoritarian influence, must join hands in brotherhood and come together in solidarity to safeguard our hard-earned freedom and democracy. President Lai also expressed hope that both countries will work together and continue to deepen various exchanges and cooperation, taking a friendship that has lasted over 90 years to new heights. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Once again, I would like to offer a warm welcome to President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado, who are leading this delegation to Taiwan. President Arévalo’s previous visit to Taiwan was 31 years ago. Back then, Taiwan did not have direct presidential elections, and the nation was continuing to make progress toward democratization. Today, 31 years later, Taiwan has conducted direct presidential elections eight times, with three transfers of power between political parties. On this visit, I am sure that President Arévalo will gain a deep appreciation for Taiwan’s free and democratic atmosphere.  Taiwan and Guatemala have both undergone an arduous democratization process. A little over 200 years ago, the people of Guatemala took a stand against colonial oppression, seeking national dignity and the freedom of its people. Eighty-one years ago, President Arévalo’s father, Juan José Arévalo, became Guatemala’s first democratically elected president, establishing an important foundation for subsequent democratic development.  Our two peoples have democracy in their blood. Both know the value of freedom and democracy and are willing to take a stand for those values. Therefore, in face of the continuous expansion of authoritarian influence, our two countries must join hands in brotherhood to respond to threats and challenges, and come together in solidarity to safeguard our hard-earned freedom and democracy. I hope that both countries will work together to continue to deepen various exchanges and cooperation, taking a friendship that has lasted over 90 years to new heights. I hope that on this visit, in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic, and social development, President Arévalo can also reacquaint himself with the democratic vitality and cultural diversity of Taiwan by sampling various gourmet delicacies and once again experiencing the beauty of our scenery and warmth of our people. Guatemala is a very beautiful country. In the future, I hope to have a chance to personally experience that beauty, explore Mayan civilization, and savor local Guatemalan coffee. In closing, I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip, and beautiful, unforgettable memories. May President Arévalo enjoy the best of health, and may the diplomatic friendship between our two countries endure. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, stating that at different times and by different means, the people of Taiwan and Guatemala have relentlessly sought to defend freedom and democracy. We share the same expectations, he said, and are walking the right path amid today’s complex international circumstances.  President Arévalo stated that Taiwan and Guatemala are true democratic nations, where the government’s goal is to serve all the people. He noted that this is far from easy under current circumstances, as many authoritarian regimes use their long-term hold on power to safeguard the interests of select groups and neglect the wellbeing of the population as a whole. President Arévalo said that last week Guatemala commemorated the 40th anniversary of its constitution, which was enacted in 1985 and is Guatemala’s ultimate guide, setting the foundation for democracy and clearly outlining the path ahead. He said that over the past 40 years, Guatemala has continued to follow the democratic blueprint established by the constitution and end the civil war so that the nation could make the transition to real democracy. Although more than a few ambitious people have attempted to destroy that process from within, he noted, the people of Guatemala have never given up the pursuit of democracy as an ideal. President Arévalo stated that our two sides’ coming together here is due to such shared values as freedom and democracy as well as the idea of serving all the people. He underlined that the governments of both countries will continue to work hard and provide mutual support to smooth out each other’s path of democracy, freedom, and justice. President Arévalo emphasized that the government of Guatemala will always be Taiwan’s ally, and that he firmly believes Taiwan is Guatemala’s most reliable partner on the path of democracy and economic prosperity and development. The president said he hopes this visit will be the first step towards setting a new course for the governments and peoples of both countries. Also in attendance at the banquet were Guatemala Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martínez, Minister of the Economy Gabriela García, and Guatemala Ambassador Luis Raúl Estévez López.  

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai welcomes President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala with military honors  
    On the morning of June 5, President Lai Ching-te welcomed with full military honors President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife, who are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. In remarks, President Lai noted that over the past few years, bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala has grown closer and more diverse, and said that moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, we will continue to promote programs in line with international trends, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. The military honors ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Entrance Hall of the Presidential Office. After a 21-gun salute and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, President Lai and President Arévalo each delivered remarks. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today, President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I want to extend my sincerest welcome. Last year, our two countries celebrated the 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties, providing mutual support all along the way. Especially over the past few years, bilateral cooperation has grown closer and more diverse. We have a long record of remarkable results, whether in terms of medicine and public health, education and culture, technological cooperation, or economic and trade exchanges. Moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to promote programs in line with international trends. We will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation for young people, as well as scholarship programs, and actively cultivate high-tech and information and communications technology industry talent, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. Although separated by a great distance, the peoples of both countries are closely connected by their ideals and values. I am confident that with President Arévalo’s support, bilateral exchanges and cooperation will become closer and more diverse, beginning a very promising new chapter. I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, he is honored to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan), this beautiful nation, and to receive full military honors, which reflects the mutual respect between our two nations as well as our solid friendship. Especially as this state visit comes as we celebrate 90 years of formal diplomatic ties, he said, he has brought the foreign minister, economics minister, private secretary to the president, and social communication secretary as members of his delegation, in the hope of our ties embarking on a new chapter. President Arévalo said that Guatemala-Taiwan ties have in recent years been growing steadily on a foundation of mutual understanding and cooperation, making significant progress, and that our peoples have also cultivated sincere friendships and cooperative relationships across many fields. Our nations are especially promoting public health, education, agricultural technology, and infrastructure, he said, key fields which are conducive to economic and social development. He expressed his hope that on such good foundations of the past, we can further strengthen our bilateral ties for the future. President Arévalo stated that through this state visit they not only want to reaffirm the good bilateral ties between our nations, but that they also hope to define a trajectory for the future of our cooperation in the direction of expanding economic cooperation, building economic and trade alliances, and facilitating investment to foster a Taiwan-Guatemala relationship that benefits both peoples. He then expressed gratitude to the people of Taiwan for helping Guatemala over the past 90 years and reaffirmed the unwavering support of Guatemala for the Republic of China (Taiwan). On the occasion of this visit, he said, he hopes to extend a friendly hand to the people of Taiwan, adding that he looks forward to our nations continuing to take major steps forward on the road of mutual assistance and prosperity. Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  
    At noon on June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, conferred a decoration upon President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and hosted a state banquet for President Heine and her husband at the Presidential Office. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations and speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. He also expressed hope for Taiwan and the Marshall Islands to work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges, and that together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. At the decoration ceremony, President Lai personally conferred the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon on President Heine before delivering remarks, a translation of which follows:  The Marshall Islands was the first Pacific ally that I visited after taking office as president. When I arrived there, I was immediately drawn to its beautiful scenery. And I received a very warm welcome from the local people. This gesture showed the profound friendship between our two nations. I was truly touched. I also remember trying your nation’s special Bob Whisky for the first time. The flavor was as unique and impressive as the landscape of the Marshall Islands.  In addition to welcoming our distinguished guests today, we also presented President Heine with the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to thank President Heine for her commitment to deepening the diplomatic partnership between our nations, and for staunchly speaking up for Taiwan in the international arena. Both I and the people of Taiwan are profoundly grateful to President Heine for her friendship and support. Over the past few years, cooperation between Taiwan and the Marshall Islands has grown ever closer. And this visit by our distinguished guests will allow our two countries to further expand areas of bilateral exchange. I have always believed that only through mutual assistance and trust can two countries build a longstanding and steadfast partnership. I once again convey my sincere aspiration that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands work together to address various challenges through an even greater diversity of exchanges. Together, we can contribute even more to peace, stability, and development throughout the Pacific region. In closing, I want to thank President Heine and First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr. for leading this delegation to Taiwan, which deepens the foundations of our bilateral relationship. May our two nations enjoy a long and enduring friendship. President Heine then delivered remarks, stating that she felt especially privileged to receive the Order of Brilliant Jade with Grand Cordon of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and humbly accepted the honor with the utmost gratitude, humility, and deep responsibility. This is a deep responsibility, she said, because she understands that since its inception in 1933, this order has been bestowed upon a select few. She then thanked President Lai for this great honor. President Heine stated that the banquet was not just a celebration of our bilateral friendship, but a true reflection of the generosity of the Taiwan spirit and a testament to the enduring ties between our nations, founded on shared values and aspirations, including a respect for the rule of law, the preservation of human dignity, and a deep commitment to democracy. President Heine stated that the Taiwan-Marshall Islands partnership continues to evolve through practical cooperation and mutual support. In recent years, she said, our countries have worked hand in hand across a range of vital sectors, including the recent opening of the Majuro Hospital AI and Telehealth Center and the ongoing and successful Taiwan Health Center, various technical training and scholarship programs, and various climate change adaptation projects in renewable energy, coastal resilience, and sustainable agriculture.   President Heine emphasized that the Marshall Islands continues to be a proud and vocal supporter of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system and other international organizations. Taiwan’s exclusion from these platforms, she said, is not only unjust, but is bad for the world, and the global community needs Taiwan’s voice and expertise.  President Heine also expressed sincere appreciation to all of the Taiwanese friends who have contributed their efforts to deepening bilateral relations, including government officials, healthcare workers, teachers, engineers, and volunteers. The people of the Marshall Islands, she said, deeply appreciate and value everyone’s efforts and service. President Heine said that as we celebrate our partnership, let us look to the future with hope and determination, continue to work together, learn from one another, and support one another to champion a world where all nations can chart their own course based on peace and international law. Also attending the state banquet were Marshall Islands Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko, Minister of Finance David Paul, Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chairperson Joe Bejang, and Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  

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

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Water performances and multimedia shows: what awaits guests of the Park of Light festival at the Northern River Terminal

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Northern River Terminal will host the “Park of Light” festival for the first time on July 4 and 5. The program includes light and multimedia evening shows, theatrical water performances, thematic installations, lectures, master classes and much more.

    “We are developing transport sites as cultural facilities according to the task of Sergei Sobyanin. After a large-scale reconstruction, the Northern River Terminal has become a center of attraction for residents and guests of the capital. On July 4 and 5, the Park of Light festival will be held here for the first time, where visitors will be treated to themed installations, interactive entertainment and video projection shows on the facade and embankment of the station,” said Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry

    Maxim Liksutov.

    Moscow is considered a port of five seas, because the capital is connected through a system of canals with the White, Baltic, Black, Azov and Caspian Seas. In this regard, the festival site will be divided into five thematic zones dedicated to history, art, technology, nature and emotions. At the same time, the entire park space, the embankment and the facade of the river station will become a single light installation. Light paths will pass between the thematic zones, which will symbolize rivers and canals.

    Master classes and thematic lectures on the history of water transport, sailing and navigation, as well as the waterways that surround the capital will be held for city residents. In the evening, light shows will be shown on the facade of the Northern River Terminal and on the embankment. Guests will also enjoy a large-scale theatrical show on the water.

    In addition, visitors will be able to take souvenir photos near the light installations, and the most active kids will receive gifts from the heroes of Moscow transport Rechkin, Metrosha and Electrobus.

    You can find out more about the festival program this page. Admission is free, no pre-registration required.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155805073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Renovation program: city residents have begun moving into a new residential complex on Zagoryevskaya Street

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Biryulevo Vostochnoye district in the south of the capital, a new building on Zagoryevskaya Street has been handed over for settlement. Residents of the Zagorje settlement (houses 8 and 9) will move there. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “The new building handed over for settlement is located at the address: Zagoryevskaya Street, Building 8. More than 200 residents of two old houses will move into it. To make their resettlement into apartments under the renovation program more comfortable, an information center has been opened on the first floor of the new residential complex. Its specialists will answer all questions of interest, and also help to order the services of the super service “Moving under the renovation program”. In total, 17 houses in the Biryulevo Vostochnoye district will have to be resettled, 1.9 thousand residents will receive new apartments,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    The residential complex is located next to the Herzen Park and the Yablonovy Sad. Educational institutions, medical institutions, shops and cafes are located nearby.

    “The single-section residential complex on Zagoryevskaya Street has 108 apartments with a total area of over six thousand square meters. Elevators have been installed in the entrance hall, a room for concierges and a room for storing strollers and bicycles. The first floor is non-residential – in the future, social and household infrastructure facilities will open there. Comprehensive landscaping has been carried out in the courtyard: trees and shrubs have been planted, lawns and flower beds have been laid out. For the safety and comfort of residents, CCTV cameras and outdoor lighting have been installed. To make the move under the renovation program truly comfortable for Muscovites, the city provides free movers and a car for transporting things from the old apartment to the new one. The service

    “Moving Assistance” You can order it yourself on the mos.ru portal or at the resettlement information center,” added the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    Building 8 on Zagoryevskaya Street is one of five new buildings in the Southern Administrative District, where participants in the renovation program have already begun inspecting new apartments this year. Residents were offered equivalent housing with a finished, improved finish.

    Ekaterina Solovieva, the Minister of the Moscow Government, the head of the capital’s Department of City Property, clarified that notifications about the start of the resettlement of about 110 residents of house 8 and almost 100 city residents from house 9 in the village of Zagorje were received in May. They began inspecting the apartments on June 20, when the information center opened. Since the premises have already been renovated, plumbing and lighting fixtures installed, program participants can move to the new building immediately after signing an agreement with the city. Thanks to the ability to upload copies of personal and title documents online on the mos.ru portal through the super service “Moving under the renovation program” the time it takes to decorate an apartment will be significantly reduced.

    As noted in the capital Department of Information Technology, will help you prepare for the planned relocation general instructions, available in the super service “Moving under the renovation program” on the mos.ru portal. With its help, you can find out how to organize a move, get information about the necessary documents for drawing up a contract, and also use links to useful services. If you configure the necessary parameters, the super service will provide the opportunity to read the instructions for a specific life situation.

    Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin said that the renovation program also included 131 sites for the construction of houses.

    Moscow has allocated more than 50 land plots to implement the renovation program23 residential buildings to be built in 13 districts of Moscow as part of renovation program

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

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

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155848073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kenyan President Urges Restraint as New Protests Rise

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    NAIROBI, June 26 (Xinhua) — Kenyan President William Ruto called for calm and restraint after protests erupted in major cities of the east African country on Wednesday.

    “I call on all citizens to renounce violence and the destruction of public property. We have only one Kenya to build and its progress depends on our collective restraint,” Ruto said.

    While the Kenyan government has not yet released any casualty figures, local media reported that the chaos left two people dead, dozens of others injured and millions of dollars’ worth of property destroyed.

    Protests broke out in various cities, with thousands of people taking to the streets holding placards and chanting songs.

    According to local Citizen TV channel, one person was killed after police opened fire on protesters in Matuu town in Machakos county, while a student was killed in Molo town in Nakuru county.

    The protests were reported to coincide with a year in which Kenyans expressed their opposition to the Finance Bill 2024 through mass demonstrations, which eventually forced Ruto to scrap the bill.

    “We are here to remember those who died in 2024. It’s been a year since the protests began. People are still being kidnapped. It seems like nothing has changed,” said Cyril Kadome, one of the protesters.

    Business has been suspended in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, as well as other major cities including Nyeri, Eldoret, Machakos, Mombasa, Kakamega, Narok, Kajiado and Kisii. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 26, 2025

  • E-Commerce to drive India’s $1 trillion digital opportunity by 2030: report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s online commerce sector, which stood at $30 billion in 2020, is projected to grow tenfold to $300 billion by 2030, playing a pivotal role in shaping the country’s $1 trillion digital economy, according to a new report released on Thursday.
     
    The report by Bessemer Venture Partners highlights that online commerce is no longer a niche sector catering to a select few but has evolved into a dominant force within India’s retail ecosystem, serving an expanding and diverse consumer base.
     
    “India presents a $1 trillion digital opportunity. The emergence of multiple consumer marketplaces, platforms, and new-age brands over the past decade reflects the growing aspirations of a rising India. This makes us exceptionally optimistic about the potential for many more consumer-focused ventures to emerge,” said Anant Vidur Puri, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners.
     
    According to the report, a “tailwind trifecta”—comprising rising internet penetration, evolving demographics, and supportive policy reforms—has laid the foundation for this growth. Going forward, the continued evolution of commerce marketplaces, content platforms, and consumer behavior will drive the next wave of innovation and opportunity.
     
    Quick Commerce: A New Retail Frontier
    India’s booming online commerce landscape has recently seen the rise of quick commerce (q-commerce), reshaping consumer expectations around delivery speed and convenience. Platforms like BigBasket, Blinkit, Swiggy, and Zepto are leading the charge, validating the demand for ultra-fast delivery models.
     
    The report also points to the emergence of verticalised q-commerce, with startups such as Snabbit, Swish, and Slikk targeting niche consumer needs, further diversifying the sector.
     
    D2C Brands and the Rise of Aspirational Consumers
    India’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands are increasingly serving a mass-premium audience—consumers seeking high-quality, affordably priced, and innovative products. These brands are capitalizing on rising demand for goods that align with modern lifestyles and preferences.
     
    Content, Microtransactions, and Monetisation Trends
    The report also underscores a “content revolution” in India, driven by growing demand for entertainment, education, and gaming content. With shorter attention spans and a wide range of accessible content across languages, genres, and price points, user engagement is surging.
     
    Short-form video platforms, in particular, have seen 3.6X growth in daily active users over the past five years, competing directly with mainstream digital platforms.
     
    Monetisation models are also shifting. The rise of UPI-based microtransactions, including virtual tipping and autopay subscriptions, is enabling new revenue streams for content platforms. This segment is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2029, marking a significant shift from ad-based models to more diversified income strategies.
     
    Wellness and Health-Driven Consumption on the Rise
    Spending on organic food, protein supplements, fitness gadgets, preventive healthcare, and wellness services is on the rise. Health-focused food and beverage (F&B) consumption has increased from 11% to 16% of total F&B spending, with brands quickly adapting to this evolving demand, the report noted.
     
    —IANS
    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: British Embassy Manila Celebrates the King’s Birthday 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    British Embassy Manila Celebrates the King’s Birthday 2025

    The British Embassy Manila hosted the King’s Birthday Party on 17 June to celebrate the 77th birthday of King Charles III.

    British Ambassador Laure Beaufils (right) and Incoming Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro (left) toast to the health of HM King Charles III and to the prosperity of the Filipino people.

    Nearly 600 guests including dignitaries from the Philippine Government, diplomatic missions, business leaders, and notable figures from the education, arts, sports, health, and civil society sectors attended the reception, which showcased the best of British   food, drink, culture, and tradition.

    The programme opened with the singing of the British and Philippine national anthems by renowned Filipino performing artist Carla Guevarra Laforteza. 

    Before the symbolic cutting of cake, British Ambassador Laure Beaufils led the celebratory toast to His Majesty, King Charles III. She stated:

    The UK and the Philippines are like-minded countries looking in the same way and pulling in the same direction, with shared values and shared outlook on the world. We believe in freedom, human dignity, the rule of law, democracy, and we believe that international law and the Rules-Based International System are the scaffolding that hold our world together.

    The celebration comes at a significant time in UK-Philippine bilateral relations, following the signing of the Joint Framework of Enhanced Partnership earlier this year. This agreement established a comprehensive roadmap for cooperation across political, economic, maritime, science and technology, and climate environment cooperation – reflecting the deepening strategic alignment between the two nations.

    Incoming Philippine Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Maria Theresa Lazaro remarked:

    Our Enhanced Partnership, launched in 2021 and its Joint Framework, signed in March this year, provides great promise to our sectoral cooperation. It allows to deliver respective gains that will further underscore practical cooperation between our agencies and promote our shared values in the region.

    The event also commemorated the culmination of Ambassador Beaufils’ posting in the Philippines. She noted:

    I know that UK-Philippines relationship will continue to thrive and grow in the years ahead – and while I may no longer be the UK ambassador to the Philippines, I will forever be an ambassador for the Philippines.

    The reception which was hosted by Filipino British actress Bela Padilla also featured a parade of waiters, serving signature dishes and drinks from Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill Philippines. Musical performances inspired by British West End Musicals by Carla Guevarra Laforteza together with performer Gian Magdangal, and acclaimed Filipino musical director Rony Fortich concluded the formal ceremonies.

    This year’s King’s Birthday Party has been organised with the support of the following: San Miguel Corporation; PRU Life UK; BAE Systems; Shell Philippines; VFS; Standard Chartered; Pandiman; HSBC; BPI; BDO; Unilever. And in kind, Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill Philippines, Diageo, Emperador Distilleries, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and Jollibee Foods Corporation with samplings by English Tea Shop, Hattingley Valley and British Chamber of Commerce.

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    Published 26 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public’s help sought to find Ella Davenport

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police is renewing public appeals for sightings of missing Māngere woman Ella Davenport.

    The 57-year-old has been missing from her Hain Avenue home in Māngere East since Friday 20 June.

    An initial appeal was released over the weekend, but she has still not returned home.

    “Police have been carrying out extensive enquiries over the weekend and into the week,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Rob Kerr, of Counties Manukau West CIB, says.

    “We have established a sighting of Ella near Woolworths Māngere East, on Massey Road, at 2.47pm on the same day.

    “She was wearing a dark blue long sleeve top, maroon pants and dark coloured shoes.”

    Police believe Ella could be in the Māngere East area or further afield in Auckland.

    “We are growing increasingly concerned for Ella’s wellbeing, and we are asking assistance from the public to help locate her,” acting Detective Senior Sergeant Kerr says.

    “Our focus is to locate Ella and return her home safely to her family.”

    Anyone who sees Ella should call 111 immediately.

    Information can also be reported to Police online now or by calling 105.

    Please use the reference number 250621/8662.

    Timeline:

    – 20 June: Unknown when Ella leaves her Hain Avenue address
    – 20 June, 2.47pm: Ella is seen on CCTV at Woolworths Māngere East
    – 20 June, 3.53pm: Ella is reported missing to Police
    – 21 June, 11am: An unconfirmed sighting of Ella by a member of the public near the BP on Massey Road, Māngere East.

    ENDS. 

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kustoff Honors Frederick W. Smith, Founder of FedEx, on House Floor

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN) honored the founder, chairman, and CEO of FedEx Corporation, Frederick W. Smith, on the Floor of the House of Representatives. 
     

    Click here for a downloadable link to his speech.

    Remarks as prepared:

    Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Frederick W. Smith. Who left us this past Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the age of 80. 
     
    Mr. Speaker, if I were to stand and speak at this podium all day, I would barely be able to scratch the surface of Fred Smith’s extraordinary life, his influence on the country and the world, and his profound impact on the City of Memphis. 
     
    To many people, Fred Smith will likely be remembered as a titan of industry and the founder of FedEx. To my constituents, he will be remembered as a champion for the City of Memphis. Personally, I will remember Fred Smith as a man who loved his country and devoted his life to the American dream. 
     
    Born in Marks, Mississippi and raised in Memphis, he was very proud of his country. Fred Smith was a true patriot – serving honorably as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. After that service, he returned home with a bold idea – a company that could deliver packages overnight around the world. Fred Smith turned that idea into a global enterprise: revolutionizing international supply chains, transforming how businesses operate, and changing how people connect. 
     
    Fred Smith not only directed and dominated the modern logistics industry, he created it. For more than 50 years after the conception of FedEx, he continued to lead it. 
     
    Today, FedEx operates in over 220 countries, but its heart and headquarters remain in Memphis, Tennessee. Through FedEx, Fred Smith turned Memphis into a global logistics hub – driving economic growth across the region, while employing tens of thousands of Tennesseans. Today, the FedEx world hub at Memphis International Airport is one of the busiest and largest cargo airports in the world. FedEx is the largest Fortune 500 company in the state of Tennessee. 
     
    Fred Smith’s commitment to Memphis went far beyond business. In fact, upon Fred’s passing on Saturday, former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said, “Fred Smith was the most significant Memphian in history. He gave them a fair shot at their American dream and his philanthropic work helped support countless organizations”. 
     
    Thanks to Fred Smith, Memphis acquired the NBA’s Grizzlies in 2001 when he committed to purchasing the naming rights for the future home of the basketball team: the FedExForum. Two years ago, when the University of Memphis was ambitiously pursuing stadium upgrades for the football team, Fred Smith and his family committed $50 million to help the school achieve its financial goals. 
     
    Fred and Dianne Smith, and the Smith family, have donated to so many worthwhile causes in the Memphis area, including the world-class Memphis Zoo. Memphians can also thank Fred Smith for saving the FedEx St. Jude Golf Championship when it lost its previous title sponsor. 
     
    Yesterday, when discussing the life of Fred Smith, I talked with my good friend, Chris Richards. She was the General Counsel at FedEx and a close advisor to Fred Smith. A little over 25 years ago, Fred came to Chris with an idea he told her she would not like. He wanted FedEx to be involved in a major motion picture in which the plot involved crashing a FedEx plane. Fred thought that the script for “Cast Away” was a great read and could be a good movie that benefited the company.
     
    As FedEx’s lead attorney, Chris told Fred there had never been an airline who willingly participated in a movie where they gave permission to crash their plane. Chris advised against all of it, but Fred wanted to think outside the box. He signed off on the idea. He was really impressed with the production staff and the movie star, Tom Hanks. That would be important years later. 
     
    At the request of former Senator Bob Dole, Fred became involved in the creation and fundraising of a World War II memorial to honor and remember our nation’s Greatest Generation. Fred would become a major factor in getting that memorial constructed. It would cost a lot of money to raise and build such a monument, but as a result of that movie, Fred turned to his friend, Tom Hanks, for his help and public support to help raise funds for the memorial. Indeed, that movie ended up being good for FedEx, and in turn, good for the World War II memorial and our nation. 
     
    With his passing, we honor and celebrate a lifetime of inspiring service and leadership. 
     
    We celebrate a Marine, a Memphian, and a really good man.
     
    To Dianne and the entire Smith family, Roberta and I mourn with you. 
     
    To our nation, we lost an innovator, a job creator, a trailblazer, and a leader. 
     
    We are all better off for the remarkable life that he led. 
     
    With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.
     

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What program was prepared at the Summer in Moscow venues on June 27–29

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital is hosting a large-scale project called “Summer in Moscow”. City residents and tourists are invited to join various master classes, see unusual performances and concerts, exciting circus shows, play chess, table tennis, bocce and many other games. This is only a small part of what you can do in the coming days. We tell you how to spend your leisure time interestingly on June 27, 28 and 29.

    Rock, Paper, Scissors Championship

    A large-scale championship in the game is taking place at the project sites “Rock, Paper, Scissors”Every day children and adults can compete on Tverskoy Boulevard.

    On June 27, the competition will be held on Admirala Rudneva Street (building 8), and on June 28, on Vvedenskogo Street (building 28). The venues will be open from 15:00 to 20:00. The final in the South-West Administrative District will be held on June 29 at 12:00 on Dmitry Donskogo Boulevard (building 11).

    Public talks, yoga, master classes and much more at the summer club “Moscow”

    There is a summer club on Tverskoy Boulevard “Moscow”, where residents and visitors of the capital of all ages can find something to do to their liking – from rock climbing and yoga to master classes and retro games.

    Beauty events will be dedicated to the theme of the graduation party. The space of two pop-up stores will be occupied by two Russian brands. Three beauty trucks will also be operating on the site. Gifts, discounts, raffles and product presentations have been prepared for guests.

    On June 27, from 19:00 to 20:00, a ceremony will be held in the rotunda. public talk, where beauty blogger Yulia Bay will talk about makeup trends and share tips on how to incorporate fashionable solutions into everyday looks. From 12:00 to 21:00, there will also be a presentation of products from brands occupying beauty trucks, as well as personal consultations with a technologist on hair condition.

    On June 28, a ceremony will be held in the rotunda public talk with perfumer Ivan Yakimov. He will share how to choose a natural scent according to your mood. In addition, a test bar of the capital brand’s products and a photo zone with a red carpet will be open all day.

    On June 29 from 19:00 to 20:00 there will be a public talk with a TV presenter and a make-up artist Rishey Krylova, which will tell about new shades of eyeshadow of one brand and show how to apply them. Guests will be able to test the products and ask questions. At 17:00 and 20:00 Moscow brands will hold final drawings. On the same day, consultants will hold presentations of brands.

    From floral still lifes to watercolor sketches: let’s go to an art studio

    On Passionate Boulevard Professionals will teach anyone over the age of six to paint sketches and floral still lifes using various artistic techniques.

    On June 27 from 3:00 pm to 7:45 pm and on June 28 from 1:00 pm to 7:45 pm, guests will paint a bouquet using dry pastel technique, a watercolor sketch, wild flowers with gouache using the alla prima technique, and an acrylic flower still life.

    “Literary Boulevard”, art pavilion “Raketa” and more

    Meeting, dedicated to children’s writer Nikolai Nosov, will be held on June 27 at the Literary Boulevard site. The organizers will talk about the author’s biography, his work in film and animation, and will also read the story “Cucumbers”, based on a true story. Parents will recall cartoons based on the writer’s works, and children will make bookmarks with characters from his books at a master class. The meetings take place on a specially equipped podium and last about an hour. The beginning is at 19:00, admission is free.

    In addition, on the same day, master classes will be held in the Raketa art pavilion of the Made in Moscow project on Rozhdestvenka Street. Guests will be able to collect puzzles and mosaics, and also with the help of the author’s coloring books provided by the Moscow brand, learn more aboutthe importance of family traditionsOn June 29, there will be a class on assembly here. Su-26 aircraft. Free admission.

    On June 27, the Green Market pavilion of the Made in Moscow project on Bolotnaya Square will host master class on design. From 18:00 to 19:00, guests will be able to learn the basics of modeling and create three-dimensional structures. Admission to both events is free.

    Circus divertissements

    City residents and tourists will enjoy exciting shows with the best circus artists of Russia. In the landscape park “Yuzhnoye Butovo” the artists of the Great Moscow Circus will show bright numbers, in Izmailovsky Park the show “Striped Flight” will take place, and in the cinema park “Moskino” the program “Algerian Lions” will take place.

    Performances at all three venues start at the same time: on June 27 at 19:00, and on June 28 and 29 at 14:00 and 18:00. Admission is paid and is not included in the ticket price to the Moskino Cinema Park. You can find out more about the events and buy tickets atofficial website.

    Update your wardrobe and see a mini-performance at the Leto department store

    The department store of Russian designers “Leto” will be open on Revolution Square. Everyone will be able not only to try on clothes they like and update their wardrobe, but also to listen to lectures, take part in master classes and even watch performances.

    So, on June 28 from 16:00 to 17:30 there will be a lecture where they will tell you how to invest in your reputation and name forincreasing media coverage. And on June 29 from 16:00 to 17:30 they will hold a lecture on the topic “The works of I. Shmelev. For the writer’s birthday”, and at 20:00 – a mini-performance.

    Festival of urban sports

    On the sites festival of urban sports In the open air you can play checkers, chess, table tennis, bocce and many other games.

    Everyone is welcome on June 28 and 29 from 11:00 to 21:00 in the parks of the Northern River Terminal, Sosenki, Pechatniki, 850th Anniversary of Moscow, Fili, near the Bolshoy Gorodskoy Pond, as well as in the Troparevo recreation area and the public space on Akademika Yangelya Street. Admission is free.

    Family Sports Games – From Arm Wrestling to Trampolines

    There will be events in different parts of the city family sports games. Free admission. On Saturday, June 28, from 11:00 to 15:00, visitors to the rotunda on General Karbyshev Boulevard (12) will enjoy fun starts, trampoline jumping, fitness exercises, a sports riddle contest, and attractions.

    In the Fili Children’s Park on Bolshaya Filevskaya Street (9), participants will be able to take part in tournaments and master classes in arm wrestling, strength testing, kettlebell lifting, and tug-of-war. The events will be held from 16:00 to 20:00.

    At the same time, an exciting sports relay race awaits guests at the Avangard stadium on Entuziastov Highway (33). Participants will have to go through an obstacle course of trampolines of varying difficulty, and cope with strength and endurance tasks.

    In the M.P. Sudakov Square on 40th Anniversary of October Avenue (40) from 16:00 to 20:00 there will be master classes and tournaments in board games. Here you can compete in table hockey, giant tavrels, and also join an open chess tournament.

    In addition, Muscovites and tourists will enjoy tournaments, competitions and fun relay races: throwing a projectile at a target, pillow fights and jumping in sacks. The events will take place at the site near the district center “Meeting Place “Baku”” on Usievich Street (house 12) from 16:00 to 20:00.

    On Sunday, June 29, you can play giant tic-tac-toe, Tetris, Rubik’s cube, and bowl in the rotunda on General Karbyshev Boulevard (12). Guests are welcome from 11:00 to 15:00.

    At the Avangard stadium, tournaments and master classes in arm wrestling, strength testing, kettlebell lifting and tug-of-war will be held from 16:00 to 20:00. And at the site near the regional center “Meeting Place “Baku”” at the same time, there will be fitness exercises, a sports quiz and fun starts, trampolines and attractions will be working.

    In the recreation area “Troparevo” from 16:00 to 20:00 everyone will be offered to play table hockey, giant tavrels and chess. On the site in the Academic Park on Dmitry Ulyanov Street (property 9a, building 1) you can go on a sports family route, play mini-golf, giant Jenga, jump on trampolines, and also take part in football and fitness relay races.

    Theatrical walking tour, noble games and karaoke with live music

    A theatrical walking tour will be held in the Trubetskoy estate park “Customs and Morals of Old Moscow”. Guests will take part in a discussion with Ivan Turgenev’s characters and see an interactive mini-performance based on Leo Tolstoy’s diaries. Admission is free. Participants are expected on June 28 from 11:00 to 22:30.

    In the museum-reserve “Kuzminki-Lyublino” a master class will take place “Noble accessories. Fans”. On June 28 from 12:00 to 14:00, everyone will be able to create an exquisite fan together with professionals. The class will be organized next to the stage.

    On this day, the Kuzminki-Lyublino Museum-Reserve will also host noble games: biryulki, croquet, badminton, serso, gorodki, and lapta. The events are planned from 12:00 to 19:00 with breaks. In addition, a retro studio will be open in the Kuzminki estate from 12:00 to 19:00, and a concert will be held at 18:30.

    In the summer cinema of the Mitino landscape park, everyone can join karaoke with live music. In a cozy atmosphere in the open air, everyone will perform their favorite songs together with professional musicians on June 28 from 19:00 to 20:30.

    Films, concerts, exhibitions and performances in Zaryadye Park

    As part of the project “Cinema Summer in Zaryadye” For Youth Day, viewers will see two films separated by 20 years. June 28 — Oksana Bychkova’s romantic melodrama “Piter FM” (2006). This is a story about how a random coincidence can change the fate of two people at a crossroads in life. June 29 — Karen Shakhnazarov’s social drama “Courier” (1986) about growing up and making choices. Free admission.

    In addition, the IV festival will be held in Zaryadye Park on June 28 and 29 “New Classics”. This year it is dedicated to the musician, avant-garde composer, innovator Alexander Mosolov. Guests will enjoy concerts on the large and experimental stages. An interactive exhibition “Music of Machines” will be organized, where curators have collected modern musical instruments. Everyone will be able to create an improvisational composition. The main premiere event of the festival will be the plastic performance “Yul”. Admission to all festival venues is free, registration is required for the performance.

    From decorating a movie plate to a musical quest: the program of the Moskino cinema park

    For young guests cinema park “Moskino” On June 28 and 29 from 12:00 to 19:00, the educational center will host master classes on decorating a movie plate, a movie clapperboard, and a felt hat. The class is fee-based. In addition, children will be able to paint a felt headdress, making an unusual decoration for it using colored markers, paints, and colored paper. Participation in the master class is fee-based.

    From 11:00 to 19:00, guests are invited to take part in the exciting quest “In the Rhythm of the Cinema Park”. Everyone will be able to immerse themselves in the musical culture of jazz, rock and roll, blues and swing, learn about these popular musical genres and their history, become part of one of the dance teams and perform on stage. The best teams will compete in a dance battle in front of the audience. Participation is included in the ticket price to the cinema park.

    Jazz musicians will perform in the Gonzaga Theatre setting. On June 28 at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM and on June 29 at 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM, the Kors band cover band will perform on stage, and from 6:00 PM to 6:40 PM, a concert by jazz vocalist Eteri Beriashvili will take place. On the central square from 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM, the Las Aventuras drum group will professionally play on iron tanks. These events can be attended with an entrance ticket to the cinema park.

    Festival “Youth Day”

    Youth Day will be celebrated in Moscow on June 28 and 29. At the festival’s flagship venue — Bolotnaya Square — young musical groups and popular artists will perform. Experts will conduct career consultations and help to decide on a future profession. In addition, everyone will be offered to create magnets and join artistic plein airs.

    Also, as part of the Youth Day festival, two sites dedicated to patriotism, as well as volunteering and charity, will operate in the Muzeon Arts Park.

    Thus, on the rollerdrome on Bolotnaya Square on June 28 from 12:10 to 16:10 there will be a show called “Memory Diary”. The ice theater team led by Petr Chernyshev and Tatyana Navka will perform. And from 19:00 to 23:00 the groups “Gradusy” and “Komnata Kultury” will take to the stage, as well as DJs Groove and Nejtrino.

    On June 28 and 29, from 12:00 to 19:00, the Kreativ site will host master classes on creating magnets, and from 12:30 to 14:30, there will be a plein air, where participants will paint urban landscapes under the guidance of experienced artists. In addition, on June 28, guests will be treated to master classes on generative design, decorating sunglasses, DJing, customizing T-shirts, and many other activities.

    Visitors to the Career site will be able to take part in an interactive game where they need to guess encrypted professions. The sessions will be held on June 28 from 12:00 to 13:30 and from 15:45 to 19:00. On the same day, from 12:00 to 13:30 and from 15:45 to 19:00, everyone is offered career consultations from experts of the Moscow Government Career Development Center.

    On June 29 at 1:45 p.m. the lecture “How to leave your job and create an environmentally friendly startup” will begin, and at 2:45 p.m. the lecture “How to get an internship at a top company without leaving home” will begin.

    On both days, June 28 and 29, you can play mini-golf, take part in cyber hockey and football tournaments in the Sport hub, and also try to create music using voice commands or text requests to the neural network on the Neural Network platform.

    The full program of the Youth Day festival can be found on the portal “Youth of Moscow”.

    Tournament “Heroes of the Chessboard. Moscow”

    On June 29 from 12:00 to 16:00 the next competitions of the tournament “Heroes of the Chessboard. Moscow” will take place. To participate you need registration.

    An open series of blitz chess tournaments is taking place at40 sites all over the city.

    Noble promenade, retro studio and master class in Izmailovsky Park

    From 12:00 to 19:00 Muscovites and tourists are invited to take part noble promenade through the picturesque Izmailovsky Park in the company of the hospitable hosts of the estate. Participants will discuss literature and listen to romances with a guitar. The hosts of the estate will also tell about the rules of etiquette and teach fashionable secular dances of the 19th century. Guests are expected on the alley of the Big Circle (house 7).

    In addition, from 12:00 to 19:00, Izmailovsky Park will be open retro studio. Here you can feel like a 19th century nobleman in a luxurious historical costume. And from 12:00 to 14:00 you can take part in a master class “Noble accessories. Brooches”.

    Performance “Ershov. Beyond the mountains, beyond the forests”

    In the amphitheater in the Polytech Museum Park as part of the festival “Theatre Boulevard” On June 29 at 14:00 there will be a performance “Ershov. Beyond the Mountains, Beyond the Forests”. The musical and dramatic performance by director Yuri Pechenezhsky is inspired by the poetry of Pyotr Ershov and his fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse”. The story of a boy who believed in fairy tales since childhood and one day decided to make up his own will be told together with the artists by the musicians of the folklore ensemble “Komon”. Admission is free. Spectators aged 18 and over are invited.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports programs are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. “Summer in Moscow” is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

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

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

    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/155854073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: The ARIA charts are about to undergo a big change. It could be a boost for local artists

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University

    The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), the organisation responsible for collating and publishing Australia’s music charts, has just announced the biggest overhaul of its methods in more than a decade.

    From September, the ARIA charts will be divided according to the release date of entries. Anything older than two years will be moved into a new “ARIA on replay” chart, with the exception of some music re-entering the charts after more than a decade.

    The stated aim of the reforms is to better connect Australian audiences with new, and particularly Australian, music. They are part of a series of interventions from different groups aimed at solving the nation’s ongoing music “crisis”.

    Why is this happening?

    ARIA is responding to two related trends through implementing this new chart system.

    The first is that the charts are increasingly dominated by old “catalogue” music. Creative Australia reports the ARIA’s Top 100 charts went from having almost 100% new singles (less than two years old) in 2018, to 70% new singles in 2024.

    This is related to a fundamental change in what is being counted.

    In 2014, ARIA expanded its sources from point-of-sale data (such as CD sales and iTunes downloads) to include plays on streaming services (such as Spotify and YouTube), which are now the most popular means of music consumption.

    People will typically buy a physical/iTunes single or album once. But they might listen to a song on Spotify hundreds of times, and each of these listens count as far as the ARIA charts are concerned.

    This explains the resurgence of old releases that find new audiences through media (such as Stranger Things boosting Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill), as well as perennial favourites that never seem to be dislodged (Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album has been in the ARIA Top 50 albums chart for more than 400 weeks).

    The second trend is the decline of Australian music in the charts. Research shows the ARIA’s singles and albums charts have become more homogeneous in recent decades, rather than more diversified.

    Artists from North America and the United Kingdom are dominating Australian charts more than ever. Many of them sit in the charts for extended periods, at the expense of homegrown talent.

    How streaming platforms changed the game

    A major challenge for artists on streaming platforms is discoverability, or visibility.

    Decisions made by platform-employed playlist curators and AI algorithms aren’t well understood, and are hard to influence. Yet they make a huge difference to how many people will encounter a piece of music.

    The inclusion of streaming data in the ARIA charts back in 2014 was presented as a way to more accurately assess what people were listening to.

    This new plan to separate old and new releases has a more interventionist agenda, attempting to “remove barriers for new Australian music”.

    It can be seen as a response to the overarching narrative of a “crisis” plaguing the Australian music industry – one which extends to existential challenges for live music, and the careers of musicians and other industry workers.

    The ARIA’s decision to put their finger on the scales of chart success shows how pressing this crisis narrative has become.

    What difference will it make?

    Even if Australian artists are better represented in future ARIA charts, material challenges will remain.

    Actual sales and streams may remain relatively low. Even with millions of streams, the value returned to artists is often too small to maintain a living.

    For most artists, a sustainable music career requires that visibility be translated into other revenue sources, such as live performances, merchandise sales, and media licensing deals.

    That said, ARIA’s aim of increasing discoverability for local acts seems likely to have some pay-off. Acts with their names in the new charts will enjoy extra visibility and prestige. If even a small number of opportunities arise from this, it could make a big difference to them, the local industries surrounding them, and the local audiences that will discover them.

    ARIA’s intervention is part of a patchwork of responses from industry, government, and communities to Australia’s music woes. Another recent response came from a New South Wales government scheme which will reward overseas headliners (through reduced venue fees) for including an Australian opening act in their show.

    State and federal governments are also investing in local music development and export. The surprising exception to this is previous trailblazer Victoria, which recently cut almost all contemporary music funding.

    ARIA’s new approach is emphasising the message that Australian music should be valued. Tracking how this approach plays out – as well as which Australian artists benefit – will help ensure a healthy music ecosystem in the future.

    Catherine Strong has received funding from the Victorian Music Development Office.

    Ben Green receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australasian Performing Right Association.

    – ref. The ARIA charts are about to undergo a big change. It could be a boost for local artists – https://theconversation.com/the-aria-charts-are-about-to-undergo-a-big-change-it-could-be-a-boost-for-local-artists-259788

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Time-tested treasures fuel China’s cultural economy boom

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

    Visitors take photos of the Sun and Immortal Birds gold ornament at the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, July 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Kang Jinqian)

    Museum guide Han Xue paused on the elevated walkway and beckoned her tour group forward as a vast archaeological pit came into view below. Down there, rows of ancient ivory neatly aligned in the same direction as if arranged by a forgotten ritual.

    “Here we stand witness to a world preserved for three millennia,” Han said, as gasps rippled through the crowd. Beneath their feet lay the remnants of a mysterious kingdom that once anchored early civilization along China’s upper Yangtze River.

    At the Jinsha Site Museum in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Han’s storytelling brings to life vanished worlds of ritual ceremonies, terraced rice fields, and exquisitely crafted jade. This was once the heart of the ancient Shu Kingdom, which had its heyday around 3,000 years ago.

    “Summer holidays haven’t started, yet we welcome streams of visitors daily, all drawn by this civilization’s magnetic pull,” Han said, adding that the museum remains packed until well past 6 p.m..

    With eight years of experience as a tour guide, Han has witnessed a noticeable shift. “Young heritage enthusiasts are growing in number. Lots of elementary school kids visit the museum, and they listen with genuine fascination,” she explained.

    The museum has logged over 760,000 visits this year. Beyond the exhibition halls, the museum’s souvenir shops buzz with energy. “People buy souvenirs not just for the novelty,” Han said, “but out of a deep sense of connection and pride in the civilization these artifacts represent.”

    That day, the fridge magnet replica of the museum’s iconic Sun and Immortal Bird Gold Ornament sold out.

    “This piece gleams with such brilliance, and its symbolism struck me. It captures humanity’s eternal pursuit of light,” said Li Xinting, a first-time visitor from Shanxi Province. “We should keep the heritage alive.”

    Jinsha’s popularity is growing in tandem with the Sanxingdui Ruins, its “sister site” in the ancient Shu civilization lore, which has gained global recognition for its mysterious yet magnificent bronzes, such as the Sacred Tree and enigmatic masks. Sanxingdui’s new museum building attracted nearly 10 million visitors last year, with cultural merchandise sales reaching 196 million yuan (about 27 million U.S. dollars), nearly 60 percent of its ticket revenue.

    Industry observers attribute the museum craze to a deliberate effort to harness rich cultural heritage as a way to open up new avenues for consumer spending.

    “True cultural innovation must resonate with contemporary values,” said Ren Ge, director of the Chengdu Museum. “When creations reflect people’s aspirations, they embrace them passionately.”

    Enthusiasm for ancient culture is also boosting the garment and dining industries. At Chengdu’s revitalized industrial complex, “Eastern Suburb Memory,” a restaurant aims to redefine the dining experience.

    Ancient melodies fill the air as diners, many dressed in Hanfu robes, are transported back to the dynastic era. Staff, adorned in period costumes, serve dishes inspired by different historical contexts.

    “Here, food keeps history alive, the restaurant is an immersive theater, and dining becomes a journey through time,” said Yang Zi, founder of the restaurant. His fusion of culture and cuisine creates experiential social hubs that elevate dining through storytelling.

    Searches for such immersive dining experiences surged nearly 275 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from Chinese e-commerce platform Meituan.

    Yang added that reservations, released online two weeks in advance, sell out quickly. During the summer holiday season, demand has surged from locals, culture enthusiasts, and a growing number of international visitors.

    When explaining the reason why consumers are willing to spend over 500 yuan per person for a “cultural” meal, Yang told Xinhua that the concept of ritual, or “li,” courses through China’s culinary DNA.

    “There’s a deep-seated appreciation for ceremony, poetry, music and cultural heritage that resonates with people. We’re opening a door, sparking curiosity, and hoping every guest leaves appreciating the beauty of Chinese culture,” Yang said.

    This desire for cultural engagement is widespread. A survey by the China Tourism Academy found that nearly 80 percent of tourists actively seek out cultural experiences during their travels.

    The fusion of heritage and contemporary economic life also extends to craft revival. At the Qiong Kiln National Archaeological Site Park in Chengdu, visitors are captivated by ceramics inspired by classic Qiong Kiln shapes and glazes, yet reimagined with modern aesthetics.

    The appeal is strong. During a single livestream event in May, innovative pieces such as the begonia-flower-shaped lidded bowl and begonia-flower-shaped wine set generated online sales of 2 million yuan overnight, while also boosting offline sales by 500,000 sets.

    “We are committed to building bridges that deepen public cultural understanding and ignite creative sparks through the profound wisdom and beauty of ancient civilizations. This is our sacred duty to history and human heritage,” Ren said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: BAY Miner Launches AI-Powered Cloud Mining, Supporting Bitcoin, Ethereum, SOL, XRP, Litecoin, and Dogecoin

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Las Vegas, Nevada, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin surpassed $105,000, Ethereum rose to $2,420, and Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and Dogecoin also rebounded strongly, ushering in a new wave of enthusiasm in the cryptocurrency market. Riding this trend, AI-powered BAY Miner announced the launch of a multi-currency cloud mining solution that requires no equipment or maintenance, supports BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, LTC, and DOGE, and delivers daily mining earnings directly to users’ accounts, opening a new era of intelligent passive investment.

    Crypto Market Overview

    ·Bitcoin (BTC): Market value exceeds $2 trillion, mainstream ETF funds continue to flow in, and on-chain activity reaches a recent high.
    ·Ethereum (ETH): L2 network is active, EIP upgrade reduces transaction fees, and staked ether soars.
    ·Solana (SOL): TVL and NFT activities surge, and institutional layout signs are obvious.
    ·XRP: The legal ruling on ETF is approaching, and the community and funds continue to pay attention.
    ·Litecoin (LTC): Benefiting from payment integration needs, some e-commerce platforms have re-enabled LTC payment channels.
    ·Dogecoin (DOGE): Musk publicly expressed support for Memecoin infrastructure, and DOGE soared 12% in one day.

    BAY Miner Platform Highlights

    1. AI intelligent allocation algorithm: The platform automatically identifies the optimal mining currency and time, and optimizes the income structure.
    2. One-click mining of multiple currencies: Users only need to register once to open multiple currency income paths such as BTC, ETH, SOL, etc. at the same time.
    3. Cloud operation, device management-free: Adapt to mobile phones and web pages, no hardware required, zero maintenance.
    4. Income visualization: The platform income can be checked daily, and wallet binding and automatic settlement are supported.
    5. Newcomer contract gift package: Register and get a $15 contract reward, and experience a daily income of $0.60.

    Flexible Contract Mechanism: Freely Control Your Mining Rhythm
    BAY Miner provides a variety of flexible cloud mining contracts to meet the diverse needs of different users for cycles, risk control, and returns. Whether it is a short-term trial or long-term stable appreciation, users can freely choose the most suitable mining plan based on their own asset allocation.
    BAY Miner Cloud Mining Contract Example
    ·BTC [Power Contract Plan]: Invest $10,000, 47 days → Daily income $165 → Total income $17,755
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    ·BTC [Free Computing Power Experience Plan]: Invest $100, 2 days → Daily income $4 → Total income $108

    Click here for full contract details

    User Reviews
    “BAY Miner eliminates the need for complicated wallets or mining rigs, allowing even beginners to easily benefit from the current crypto bull market.” — Jason L., Senior User / Community Ambassador of BAY Miner

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    About Us
    BAY Miner is an innovative platform focusing on AI cloud mining, dedicated to helping global users easily participate in the passive mining income of mainstream currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, etc. through threshold-free computing power contracts. The platform supports mobile and web access, integrates data security, transparent income, and automated management, and is a representative of the new generation of intelligent mining solutions.
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    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks. There is a possibility of financial loss. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    Rescissions package that Senate Republicans are debating—and House Republicans passed—would rescind every dollar of federal support for 1500+ local public radio and TV stations nationwide 

    Sweeping cuts would hit rural stations hardest, force layoffs nationwide, and even jeopardize lifesaving emergency alerts people count on 

    Washington, D.C. – Ahead of a hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescissions request with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released a new fact sheet detailing how the request to zero out $1.1 billion in funding Congress has already appropriated on a bipartisan basis for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) would hurt communities nationwide who count on the programming offered by the over 1500+ public radio and TV stations the funding supports.

    1500+ STATIONS ACROSS AMERICA SET TO LOSE CRITICAL SUPPORT IF PACKAGE PASSES 

     [Full map and CPB data available here] 

    The rescissions package requested by President Trump that the House of Representatives passed in full earlier this month would rescind two years of advance funding Congress has provided for CPB to support public media in fiscal years 2026 and 2027—ripping away support that over 1500 public radio and TV stations all over the country rely on to keep broadcasts on air and deliver impartial news and critical updates that people count on every day.  

    For 50+ years, Congress has provided advance appropriations for CPB to help insulate stations’ programming decisions from politics—and to provide them with the certainty they need to keep the lights on. 

    ALL 50 STATES TO LOSE OUT SIGNIFICANTLY 

    Every state in the country is set to lose critical funding for local public radio and TV stations if the CPB funding is rescinded.  

    FUNDING ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK 

    State  Funding 
    Alabama  $5,408,997  
    Alaska  $12,023,34  
    Arizona  $7,424,661  
    Arkansas  $3,187,528  
    California  $57,105,735 
    Colorado  $7,655,017  
    Connecticut  $3,017,018  
    Delaware  $133,048  
    District of Columbia  $18,275,757 
    Florida  $24,944,99  
    Georgia  $6,558,857  
    Hawaii  $4,292,969  
    Idaho  $3,341,916  
    Illinois  $12,818,816 
    Indiana  $9,388,508  
    Iowa  $4,723,772  
    Kansas  $3,989,434  
    Kentucky  $6,627,021  
    Louisiana  $6,530,752  
    Maine  $2,895,498  
    Maryland  $6,357,641  
    Massachusetts  $22,549,33  
    Michigan  $11,818,761  
    Minnesota  $17,228,752 
    Mississippi  $2,824,520  
    Missouri  $8,677,805  
    Montana  $2,837,807  
    Nebraska  $6,297,290  
    Nevada  $3,881,471  
    New Hampshire  $1,795,240  
    New Jersey  $2,282,024  
    New Mexico  $5,841,697  
    New York  $42,556,210  
    North Carolina  $8,236,216  
    North Dakota  $2,564,579  
    Ohio  $13,341,101  
    Oklahoma  $3,485,600  
    Oregon  $7,468,534  
    Pennsylvania  $14,492,945  
    Rhode Island  $1,082,244  
    South Carolina  $3,488,714  
    South Dakota  $3,038,524  
    Tennessee  $7,365,199  
    Texas  $17,719,507  
    Utah  $7,103,835  
    Vermont  $2,043,510  
    Virginia  $99,465,449  
    Washington  $10,106,644  
    West Virginia  $1,790,242  
    Wisconsin  $8,498,812  
    Wyoming  $1,870,865 

    The totals above detail the funding each state received in fiscal year 2024—the latest full year of data available. [CPB DATA] 

    LIFESAVING EMERGENCY ALERTS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY 

    When disasters and other threats strike, public radio and TV stations nationwide not only provide critical updates to those affected who may be cut off from other communications channels, they also play an instrumental role in delivering emergency alerts. 

    Since 2013, public TV stations have helped the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system deliver emergency alerts to people’s cell phones via the stations’ own transmitters when cell companies’ connections fail. In 2024, over 11,000 alerts were issued by federal, state, and local authorities via the PBS WARN system. 

    Similarly, the Public Radio Satellite System (PRSS), which is managed by NPR, helps send presidential emergency alerts to local public radio stations nationwide—allowing critical communications to reach people, even when the internet or cellular connections fail.  

    Here are just a few recent examples of how CPB-funded stations and systems have helped disaster survivors: 

    • When wildfires ravaged southern California earlier this year, public media stations provided real-time updates and information to over 18 million people—and issued 100+ geo-targeted Wireless Emergency Alerts, like fire weather warnings, evacuation warnings and orders, and curfew notices. 
    • When Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, one local public radio station provided essential real-time updates and news as internet and cell services were down. 
    • When severe floods swept across central and eastern Kentucky this year—causing people to lose power and internet connections—local public radio let people know the latest weather reports, evacuation orders, where to take shelter, and how to apply for aid. 

    Zeroing out all CPB funding will seriously jeopardize stations’ ability to continue serving critical, lifesaving alerts and cut resources specifically provided to maintain and strengthen these emergency alert systems. 

    RURAL COMMUNITIES HIT HARDEST 

    Nearly half of all CPB grantees serve rural communities—and these rural stations are disproportionately reliant on CPB funding to keep their broadcast on air. Federal funding supports an average of 17% of rural stations’ revenue versus 9% for non-rural stations.  

    In total, 120 rural stations rely on federal funding for at least 25% of their revenue—and over 30 stations count on it for at least half. Some stations in the most remote parts of the country depend on federal support for even more of their revenue and could be forced to immediately shut down operations if CPB is defunded. 

    If this support is ripped away, stations will be forced to cut back on programming, lay off staff, and even take their broadcasts off the air.  

    “Should the Senate go along with the House and claw back this funding,

    we’re going to see probably a third of our public radio stations go dark.” 

    — Ed Ulman, CEO of Alaska Public Media 

    “We are in a rural area, so a lot of areas don’t have cellphone service.  

    A lot of people do rely on the radio to get much of their information.”  

    — Station Manager at KGVA 88.1 in Montana 

    EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR KIDS DEFUNDED 

    Rescinding all CPB funding would rip away federal investments in all manner of educational programming for kids. CPB grants support local programming across the country to educate young Americans about civics, provide educational tools and programming, and much more. Rescinding the funding would also cut off all federal support for PBS LearningMedia, a free digital learning website accessed by more than 1.4 million users each month, which supports teachers and helps students learn and understand new and complex concepts. 

    AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT THIS FUNDING 

    A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found that by a two-to-one margin, the American people overwhelmingly favor continuing federal funding for NPR and PBS, which receive support via CPB grants.  

    CUTTING THIS SUPPORT WILL DO NOTHING TO TACKLE OUR NATIONAL DEBT 

    Eliminating support for these stations will do next to nothing to address our annual deficit or growing national debt. The $1.1 billion Congress has already provided for two years of funding for public media represents less than 0.16% of all federal spending in fiscal year 2025 alone.  

    If President Trump and congressional Republicans want to tackle the deficit and our national debt, they can start by not passing their so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which will add $4 trillion to the debt over the next 10 years. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought***

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony***

    ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America***

    ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in how Republicans passing the package would devastate local public radio and TV stations nationwide, gut investments Congress has made to support longstanding bipartisan foreign policy objectives, and undermine the bipartisan annual appropriations process.

    Senator Murray and her colleagues pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on all manner of details on the request and this administration’s actions, and Senator Murray specifically pressed Vought on his plans for future rescissions requests, lack of details about the current rescission package, and his plans to illegally withhold even more funding.

    Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also provided testimony on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request.

    [KEY TAKEAWAYS]

    Throughout the hearing, Director Vought faced bipartisan pushback over the sweeping cuts in the package, his refusal to provide detail about what exactly the administration will cut if the package passes, and his insistence on justifying the proposed cuts with a highly-selective list of previously funded projects despite the fact that this administration now has discretion over how funding is allocated—and President Trump himself signed a majority of the funding into law himself.

    Among much else, Director Vought:

    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through his illegal notion of a “pocket rescission.”
    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through an illegal scheme to request sweeping deferrals under the Impoundment Control Act, run out the clock, and then unilaterally impound funding.
    • Refused to commit to getting out the funding that the Government Accountability Office has determined he is illegally impounding.
    • Repeatedly lied about this administration’s and his own office’s actions—even going so far as to absurdly claim: “We have not impounded any funding.” This despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has now twice ruled he has illegally impounded funds in its first investigation findings (not to mention courts across America)—and despite the fact that at the very same hearing, Vought insisted impoundment is an option on the table.
    • Refused to spell out exactly how the Trump administration will cut specific programs if the rescissions package passes.

    [MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS]

    “After Congress failed to pass full-year bills in the FY25, it is so important we pass full-year spending bills that deliver the investments that our communities need. And this hearing today asks a very important question: will Congress stand up and protect its constitutional power of the purse—and will this Committee band together to finally say, ‘enough is enough,’ and show bipartisanship still matters? Or will we, for the first time ever, pass an entirely partisan rescissions package and jeopardize the bipartisan work? I hate to be blunt—but that question is at the heart of this first rescissions request, which would gut bipartisan investments in foreign assistance, reliable local news, and high-quality educational programming,” said Senator Murray in her opening remarks. “I have offered to the Chair and others in this room to do what this Committee has always done: consider bipartisan rescissions in our bills through the annual process, which is the right way to do it. …. If President Trump and Director Vought get their way—and Republicans pass this package—they will not only gut the heart of compromise that this Committee is built around, but zero out longstanding bipartisan investments.”

    [TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MORE RESCISSION PACKAGES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by emphasizing that Congress passes funding bills after bipartisan negotiations, and partisan rescissions packages that cut up bipartisan spending deals undermine that bipartisan negotiation process: “When I cut a deal with Chair Collins, or Senator Graham, or any of my Republican colleagues, there may be parts of it I do not like or they do not like—but we know what we agreed to and passed into law is something we can count on. And that is absolutely essential to getting the 60 votes to make this Appropriations process work. But what we are here today talking about is one party rescinding funding provided with 60 votes with just a simple majority. And if that becomes the new normal for how this body operates, that is going to make Appropriations bills extremely hard to negotiate. So, as we consider this package, this committee deserves to understand the whole picture of this administration’s plans before making a decision on this request.”

    Senator Murray asked, “So, if this package passes, do you intend to send more rescission requests to Congress?”

    Director Vought declined to rule the possibility out, stating, “Senator, that’s up to the President. It’s certainly an option that I’ve stated publicly that we will strongly consider but that’s up to the President. And you know, we will take that on a week-by-week basis. But there is more honestly than $9.4 billion that we have identified. There’s $163 billion in fiscal year 26 that we have identified for less spending than prior budgets.”

    “So, these were bills that this Committee approved on a bipartisan basis, how many packages are you talking about? And what they are?” pressed Senator Murray.

    “Again, we have—no decisions on those have been made. But we do want to see how successful this effort is,” said Director Vought, in part.

    Senator Murray said: “Correct, and I will just remind all of us that the Appropriations Committee worked on those in a bipartisan way. They were not partisan packages that were sent up. So, what I’m hearing you answer me is that there will be more. You don’t know how many more but there will be more so this Committee and this Congress could spend a lot of time going forward on requests for cuts if this package passes.”

    [VOUGHT REFUSES TO RULE OUT “POCKET RESCISSIONS,” MASS DEFERRALS]

    Senator Murray continued by pressing Director Vought on his plans to continue illegally impounding funds already appropriated by Congress, “Director Vought, when asked about this request, you have said that no matter how Congress acts on this request, impoundment is still ‘on the table.’ And, in an acknowledgement of how unpopular your cuts to bipartisan priorities are, you even publicly said you may well try to do an end-run around Congress by requesting rescissions in the last 45 days of the fiscal year, and then pretending that even if Congress fails to approve them, you can rescind those funds anyway. So, let me tell you: that is not how the law works. The President does not have a line-item-veto—much less a retroactive line-item veto. Your notion of this ‘pocket rescission’ defies common sense—and by the way the plain text of the law.”

    Senator Murray asked, “Director Vought, will you commit to this Committee that you will not attempt to do an end-run around Congress with this so-called ‘pocket rescission’—something members on both sides of this dais have made clear is outright illegal?”

    Director Vought refused to commit to not attempt the tactic, instead defending its potential use: “Senator, there’s a lot of mischaracterizations into my previous comments. I would just say that we believe that we have, under the law, numerous options with regards to how to achieve savings including rescissions that are timed at the end of the fiscal year. General Accounting Office has articulated that earlier in the life of the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “This should be a yes or no, and what I hear from you is all kinds of word salad to make sure you are letting us know that you intend to do things that are outside the intent of the law,” pushed back Senator Murray.

    “And it has also been reported that you are considering sending Congress a massive ‘deferral’ package under the ICA in an attempt to run out the clock and avoid legal scrutiny of this administration’s illegal freeze before ultimately impounding the funds at the end of the fiscal year,” Senator Murray said. “Can you commit to this Committee that there be no deferral package?”

    “We certainly are aware of the deferral provisions in the Impoundment Control Act. There are specific statutory requirements there. That if we are in a situation where funds may meet those definitions. They are certainly on the table but again we have made no decisions. The President has not made any decisions with regard to those different tools that exist. And so I’m here to talk about one package and there’s been one decision on one package, $9.4 billion,” responded Director Vought.

    “Director Vought, I just want to be clear to all of us about what’s going on here: you are actually telling Congress, in total disregard for Congress’s Article 1 powers, you and the president will just impound or rescind funds that you don’t agree with on your own,” said Senator Murray. “And Congress, I will say to all of my committee, should not stand that from this President or any President in the future. And I think that’s really important as we consider this. ”

    [REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW ADMIN WILL MAKE CUTS]

    Senator Murray ended her questioning by addressing the complete lack of information that the Trump administration has provided about how it will seek to make the sweeping cuts it proposes: “Director Vought, to justify the $8.3 billion you propose in foreign assistance, you’ve argued that these funds were used by the Biden Administration for ‘woke’ programs or things not aligned to Trump priorities. That’s not how this works. Whatever the Biden Administration may or may not have done, most of what you are proposing, as has been talked about here, to rescind is Congress provided this Administration in the FY25 CR—the same CR that President Trump signed into law in March. And while Congress has provided instructions for target countries, and sectors, and purposes, this administration has flexibility to determine how best to meet those bipartisan objectives. So, you are waving around a tiny, cherry-picked list of past initiatives funded by those accounts. It’s irrelevant when the simple fact is you and this administration now determine how those funds are being provided by Congress and are specifically put to use. And yet, conveniently, you have not spelled out for this Committee and the public what you plan to cut if this package passes, even if you ask us to vote on it.”

    “So, will you tell us specifically, and I’m going to ask you two questions, tell us specifically which global health programs—malaria, TB, polio, funding for GAVI—are you going to cut?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Director Vought replied, “We have two main reductions in global health.”

    Senator Murray pressed, “Can you tell us specifically on any of those today?”

    “We have $500 million for family planning and $400 million to PEPFAR,” said Director Vought, again not noting specific programs or initiatives he plans to cut.

    Senator Murray continued, “But you’re not going to tell us what programs—ok. Will you tell us specifically where—the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Jordan—you’re planning to undermine American interests?”

    Director Vought replied: “Of course not. We have been very clear in all the administration’s priorities that all of our commitments in regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” Director Vought said in part.

    “I assume you are unwilling to share which humanitarian crises this administration plans to walk away with, which is what we would be voting on—and that is critical information,” said Senator Murray.

    [MURRAY’S CLOSING STATEMENT]

    In closing, Senator Murray said:

    “Thank you very much Chair Collins for holding this hearing. This really is an important discussion with really enormous stakes for our communities, with local news that they rely on, whether they’ll go dark. For the world, will America keep its commitments and continue leading on the global stage? And for this Committee, will we keep focused on bipartisan funding bills or will we give that up to spend our time on a wave of partisan rescissions?

    “I’ve made really clear where I stand. I want us to keep working together to write bipartisan bills that allow us to be a strong voice for our constituents. That’s going to prove very difficult, and maybe even impossible, if this body goes down the path Trump is now calling for, a path that would let partisan rescissions rip up our bipartisan agreements.

    “I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting this destructive request outright, and ensuring decisions about what we fund, and even potential rescissions, are made by us through the annual appropriations process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Vought Refuses to Rule Out More Illegal End-Runs Around Congress & Refuses to Detail How Trump Will Execute Cuts If Rescissions Bill Passes—Murray Urges Congress to Reject Package in its Entirety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Murray’s opening remarks***

    ***WATCH: Senator Murray questioning Director Vought***

    ***WATCH and READ: Senator Schatz’s testimony***

    ***FACT SHEET: Rescission Package Would Devastate Local Public Radio, TV Stations Across America***

    ***FACT-FICTION: Trump’s Rescission Package Would Gut Bipartisan Foreign Policy Investments***

    Washington, D.C. — Today, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request—U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, underscored in how Republicans passing the package would devastate local public radio and TV stations nationwide, gut investments Congress has made to support longstanding bipartisan foreign policy objectives, and undermine the bipartisan annual appropriations process.

    Senator Murray and her colleagues pressed Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought on all manner of details on the request and this administration’s actions, and Senator Murray specifically pressed Vought on his plans for future rescissions requests, lack of details about the current rescission package, and his plans to illegally withhold even more funding.

    Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also provided testimony on President Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission request.

    [KEY TAKEAWAYS]

    Throughout the hearing, Director Vought faced bipartisan pushback over the sweeping cuts in the package, his refusal to provide detail about what exactly the administration will cut if the package passes, and his insistence on justifying the proposed cuts with a highly-selective list of previously funded projects despite the fact that this administration now has discretion over how funding is allocated—and President Trump himself signed a majority of the funding into law himself.

    Among much else, Director Vought:

    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through his illegal notion of a “pocket rescission.”
    • Refused to rule out doing an end-run around Congress through an illegal scheme to request sweeping deferrals under the Impoundment Control Act, run out the clock, and then unilaterally impound funding.
    • Refused to commit to getting out the funding that the Government Accountability Office has determined he is illegally impounding.
    • Repeatedly lied about this administration’s and his own office’s actions—even going so far as to absurdly claim: “We have not impounded any funding.” This despite the fact that the Government Accountability Office has now twice ruled he has illegally impounded funds in its first investigation findings (not to mention courts across America)—and despite the fact that at the very same hearing, Vought insisted impoundment is an option on the table.
    • Refused to spell out exactly how the Trump administration will cut specific programs if the rescissions package passes.

    [MURRAY’S OPENING REMARKS]

    “After Congress failed to pass full-year bills in the FY25, it is so important we pass full-year spending bills that deliver the investments that our communities need. And this hearing today asks a very important question: will Congress stand up and protect its constitutional power of the purse—and will this Committee band together to finally say, ‘enough is enough,’ and show bipartisanship still matters? Or will we, for the first time ever, pass an entirely partisan rescissions package and jeopardize the bipartisan work? I hate to be blunt—but that question is at the heart of this first rescissions request, which would gut bipartisan investments in foreign assistance, reliable local news, and high-quality educational programming,” said Senator Murray in her opening remarks. “I have offered to the Chair and others in this room to do what this Committee has always done: consider bipartisan rescissions in our bills through the annual process, which is the right way to do it. …. If President Trump and Director Vought get their way—and Republicans pass this package—they will not only gut the heart of compromise that this Committee is built around, but zero out longstanding bipartisan investments.”

    [TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MORE RESCISSION PACKAGES]

    Senator Murray began her questioning by emphasizing that Congress passes funding bills after bipartisan negotiations, and partisan rescissions packages that cut up bipartisan spending deals undermine that bipartisan negotiation process: “When I cut a deal with Chair Collins, or Senator Graham, or any of my Republican colleagues, there may be parts of it I do not like or they do not like—but we know what we agreed to and passed into law is something we can count on. And that is absolutely essential to getting the 60 votes to make this Appropriations process work. But what we are here today talking about is one party rescinding funding provided with 60 votes with just a simple majority. And if that becomes the new normal for how this body operates, that is going to make Appropriations bills extremely hard to negotiate. So, as we consider this package, this committee deserves to understand the whole picture of this administration’s plans before making a decision on this request.”

    Senator Murray asked, “So, if this package passes, do you intend to send more rescission requests to Congress?”

    Director Vought declined to rule the possibility out, stating, “Senator, that’s up to the President. It’s certainly an option that I’ve stated publicly that we will strongly consider but that’s up to the President. And you know, we will take that on a week-by-week basis. But there is more honestly than $9.4 billion that we have identified. There’s $163 billion in fiscal year 26 that we have identified for less spending than prior budgets.”

    “So, these were bills that this Committee approved on a bipartisan basis, how many packages are you talking about? And what they are?” pressed Senator Murray.

    “Again, we have—no decisions on those have been made. But we do want to see how successful this effort is,” said Director Vought, in part.

    Senator Murray said: “Correct, and I will just remind all of us that the Appropriations Committee worked on those in a bipartisan way. They were not partisan packages that were sent up. So, what I’m hearing you answer me is that there will be more. You don’t know how many more but there will be more so this Committee and this Congress could spend a lot of time going forward on requests for cuts if this package passes.”

    [VOUGHT REFUSES TO RULE OUT “POCKET RESCISSIONS,” MASS DEFERRALS]

    Senator Murray continued by pressing Director Vought on his plans to continue illegally impounding funds already appropriated by Congress, “Director Vought, when asked about this request, you have said that no matter how Congress acts on this request, impoundment is still ‘on the table.’ And, in an acknowledgement of how unpopular your cuts to bipartisan priorities are, you even publicly said you may well try to do an end-run around Congress by requesting rescissions in the last 45 days of the fiscal year, and then pretending that even if Congress fails to approve them, you can rescind those funds anyway. So, let me tell you: that is not how the law works. The President does not have a line-item-veto—much less a retroactive line-item veto. Your notion of this ‘pocket rescission’ defies common sense—and by the way the plain text of the law.”

    Senator Murray asked, “Director Vought, will you commit to this Committee that you will not attempt to do an end-run around Congress with this so-called ‘pocket rescission’—something members on both sides of this dais have made clear is outright illegal?”

    Director Vought refused to commit to not attempt the tactic, instead defending its potential use: “Senator, there’s a lot of mischaracterizations into my previous comments. I would just say that we believe that we have, under the law, numerous options with regards to how to achieve savings including rescissions that are timed at the end of the fiscal year. General Accounting Office has articulated that earlier in the life of the Impoundment Control Act.”

    “This should be a yes or no, and what I hear from you is all kinds of word salad to make sure you are letting us know that you intend to do things that are outside the intent of the law,” pushed back Senator Murray.

    “And it has also been reported that you are considering sending Congress a massive ‘deferral’ package under the ICA in an attempt to run out the clock and avoid legal scrutiny of this administration’s illegal freeze before ultimately impounding the funds at the end of the fiscal year,” Senator Murray said. “Can you commit to this Committee that there be no deferral package?”

    “We certainly are aware of the deferral provisions in the Impoundment Control Act. There are specific statutory requirements there. That if we are in a situation where funds may meet those definitions. They are certainly on the table but again we have made no decisions. The President has not made any decisions with regard to those different tools that exist. And so I’m here to talk about one package and there’s been one decision on one package, $9.4 billion,” responded Director Vought.

    “Director Vought, I just want to be clear to all of us about what’s going on here: you are actually telling Congress, in total disregard for Congress’s Article 1 powers, you and the president will just impound or rescind funds that you don’t agree with on your own,” said Senator Murray. “And Congress, I will say to all of my committee, should not stand that from this President or any President in the future. And I think that’s really important as we consider this. ”

    [REFUSAL TO PROVIDE DETAILS ON HOW ADMIN WILL MAKE CUTS]

    Senator Murray ended her questioning by addressing the complete lack of information that the Trump administration has provided about how it will seek to make the sweeping cuts it proposes: “Director Vought, to justify the $8.3 billion you propose in foreign assistance, you’ve argued that these funds were used by the Biden Administration for ‘woke’ programs or things not aligned to Trump priorities. That’s not how this works. Whatever the Biden Administration may or may not have done, most of what you are proposing, as has been talked about here, to rescind is Congress provided this Administration in the FY25 CR—the same CR that President Trump signed into law in March. And while Congress has provided instructions for target countries, and sectors, and purposes, this administration has flexibility to determine how best to meet those bipartisan objectives. So, you are waving around a tiny, cherry-picked list of past initiatives funded by those accounts. It’s irrelevant when the simple fact is you and this administration now determine how those funds are being provided by Congress and are specifically put to use. And yet, conveniently, you have not spelled out for this Committee and the public what you plan to cut if this package passes, even if you ask us to vote on it.”

    “So, will you tell us specifically, and I’m going to ask you two questions, tell us specifically which global health programs—malaria, TB, polio, funding for GAVI—are you going to cut?” inquired Senator Murray.

    Director Vought replied, “We have two main reductions in global health.”

    Senator Murray pressed, “Can you tell us specifically on any of those today?”

    “We have $500 million for family planning and $400 million to PEPFAR,” said Director Vought, again not noting specific programs or initiatives he plans to cut.

    Senator Murray continued, “But you’re not going to tell us what programs—ok. Will you tell us specifically where—the Philippines, Pacific Islands, Jordan—you’re planning to undermine American interests?”

    Director Vought replied: “Of course not. We have been very clear in all the administration’s priorities that all of our commitments in regard to Jordan and Egypt are maintained,” Director Vought said in part.

    “I assume you are unwilling to share which humanitarian crises this administration plans to walk away with, which is what we would be voting on—and that is critical information,” said Senator Murray.

    [MURRAY’S CLOSING STATEMENT]

    In closing, Senator Murray said:

    “Thank you very much Chair Collins for holding this hearing. This really is an important discussion with really enormous stakes for our communities, with local news that they rely on, whether they’ll go dark. For the world, will America keep its commitments and continue leading on the global stage? And for this Committee, will we keep focused on bipartisan funding bills or will we give that up to spend our time on a wave of partisan rescissions?

    “I’ve made really clear where I stand. I want us to keep working together to write bipartisan bills that allow us to be a strong voice for our constituents. That’s going to prove very difficult, and maybe even impossible, if this body goes down the path Trump is now calling for, a path that would let partisan rescissions rip up our bipartisan agreements.

    “I hope my colleagues will join me in rejecting this destructive request outright, and ensuring decisions about what we fund, and even potential rescissions, are made by us through the annual appropriations process.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Americans more cautious on spending amid tariffs

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

    Mark Reynolds, 48, a marketing professional outside of Washington, D.C., said he and his family used to take a lot of trips once the lockdowns were lifted after the COVID-19 pandemic — to Asia, Europe and in the United States.

    Over the last four years he and his family took about five trips a year. “We’ve cut that to two trips per year,” he told Xinhua.

    He has also canceled an expensive gym membership and cut his time with a personal trainer in half, and is now focusing on retirement savings.

    Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs in April, Americans have become increasingly cautious about opening their wallets.

    Consumer spending rose by a sluggish 0.2 percent in April, down from a 0.7 percent rise in the month prior, amid Americans’ concerns over how tariffs would impact the economy, according to data released last month by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

    Many Americans seek to increase their savings, after splurging for several years after the pandemic. The personal savings rate rose to 4.9 percent in April from 4.3 percent in March, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

    Since taking office, Trump has announced a slew of sweeping tariffs, including a general 10 percent duty on all goods coming into the United States. That has caused some products to go up in price.

    Gary Clyde Hufbauer, a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, told Xinhua that he expects Americans to continue making cutbacks.

    “Late payment rates on credit cards are high, and many households are buying food on short-term credit, housing sales are weak. All these indicate the financial problems average Americans are facing,” Hufbauer said.

    Sharon Erdhart, 68, a retiree in the U.S. state of New Jersey, said she shops at cheaper supermarkets even though she has to drive outside of her area a little further.

    “I don’t dine out anymore because of price increases. I have curtailed my credit card use,” she told Xinhua.

    U.S. retail sales declined 0.9 percent in May, exceeding the 0.6 percent drop that economists had forecast, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Accounting firm KPMG’s recent consumer pulse report showed that in response to tariffs, “50 percent are cutting back on purchases, and 49 percent are actively seeking deals and discounts.”

    “We’re seeing a more selective and cost-conscious summer travel season,” said Duleep Rodrigo, KPMG’s consumer and retail leader.

    Joe Chance, a retired security professional in Philadelphia, told Xinhua he continues to take his family on vacation, but is taking bargain airlines now.

    “They don’t get movies or anything on board even like meals, but it’s cheap,” he said.

    Meanwhile, discount stores, such as Dollar Tree, Walmart, and TJX Companies — the firm that owns T.J. Maxx and Marshalls — have been gaining steam in the retail sector.

    Shoppers are opting toward lower prices, and consumers are more likely to seek bargains on goods ranging from beauty products to clothing.

    Hufbauer said he expects discount stores to do well in this environment.

    Dean Baker, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, told Xinhua: “Wage growth seems to have slowed, so that will slow spending and cause people to look to discount stores.”

    MIL OSI China News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: GL Enhances 100G Ethernet Testing for High-Speed Networks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GAITHERSBURG, Md., June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GL Communications Inc., a global leader in telecom testing solutions, addressed the press regarding their multi-port testing for high-speed network environments. As networks continue to grow in speed and complexity, the ability to test multiple ports simultaneously becomes essential. GL’s PacketExpert™ 100G enables testing across several high-speed Ethernet ports in parallel. This allows network engineers to verify performance and reliability more efficiently, while also saving space and reducing equipment needs in labs and production setups.

    [Refer to packetexpert100g-multiport.jpg]

    Vijay Kulkarni, CEO of GL Communications, states, “GL’s PacketExpert™ 100G is a scalable, multi-functional network testing appliance for comprehensive Ethernet and IP testing at speeds up to 100 Gbps. It integrates a high-performance PC with specialized NICs, GL’s PacketExpert™ software, and optimized hardware for processing, storage, and cooling. The system supports 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps, 25 Gbps, 40 Gbps, 50 Gbps, and 100 Gbps Ethernet ports, with up to eight ports capable of simultaneous wirespeed traffic generation and reception.”

    A web-based interface allows multiple users to remotely access and control devices, enabling centralized management of large multi-port test setups. Python scripting further enhances efficiency by enabling repeatable, scalable, and fully remote execution of complex test scenarios.

    Multi-port testing is essential to validate that devices with multiple high-speed ports can simultaneously handle diverse traffic streams at full line rate without errors or degradation—ensuring reliable, high-density performance in real-world environments.

    PacketExpert™ 100G supports flexible multi-port configurations using dual 100G ports with breakout cables and adapters. A single 100G port can be split into four 25G ports via a QSFP28 to 4 × SFP28 cable (4 x 25G), while a 40G port can be split into four 10G ports using a QSFP to 4 × SFP+ cable (4 x 10G), enabling simultaneous multi-rate testing without additional hardware.

    [Refer to Port Settings for 4 x 25G Mode and Port Settings for 4 x 10G Mode]

    In 4 × 25G or 4 × 10G modes, PacketExpert™ 100G activates four independent ports (Port 1 to Port 4) for concurrent Ethernet interface testing. This setup reduces device and cable requirements, saves rack space, and boosts efficiency in lab and production environments.

    PacketExpert™ 100G supports up to eight 100G ports in a 4U rack-mount chassis using multiple network interface cards, enabling extensive multi-port scalability. It performs Bit Error Rate Testing (BERT) and RFC 2544 throughput and latency measurements on up to 8 ports for 100G, 50G, 40G, and 1G, and up to 16 ports for 10G and 25G. The platform handles up to 128 unique streams (16 per port), scalable to 256 streams for 10G and 25G, allowing comprehensive ExpertSAM™ (ITU-T Y.1564) service activation testing.

    With flexible multi-rate port breakout, high-density scalability, and wide stream support, PacketExpert™ 100G is a critical tool for validating multi-port Ethernet performance in demanding network environments.

    The solution offers a full suite of test applications from physical to transport layers. These include Bit Error Rate Testing for verifying physical link integrity, Smart Loopback Testing for quick link verification, RFC 2544 for standardized benchmarking of throughput, packet loss, latency, and burst performance, ExpertSAM™ (ITU-T Y.1564) for validating SLAs across multiple streams, and Multi-Stream Traffic Generator and Analyzer (MTGA) for simulating and monitoring real-world traffic. These applications support testing across Layer 2 (Ethernet), Layer 2.5 (VLAN or MPLS), Layer 3 (IPv4 or IPv6), and Layer 4 (UDP), ensuring networks are fully prepared for high-speed, multi-service deployments.

    PacketExpert™ 100G provides advanced support for SyncE, enabling precise clock synchronization validation in high-speed Ethernet networks. It continuously monitors the incoming clock’s Quality Level using background heartbeat messages and instantly flags any degradation—crucial for time-sensitive applications like mobile backhaul, data centers, and industrial networks.

    Using Precision Time Protocol (PTP), PacketExpert™ 100G synchronizes accurately with the network’s master clock, ensuring proper time alignment across devices. This is essential for timing-critical tests such as RFC 2544 latency and ExpertSAM™ SLA validation, delivering reliable and repeatable delay and jitter measurements in complex Ethernet and IP environments.

    PacketExpert™ 100G includes robust Python APIs for automation and regression testing, ideal for continuous integration workflows. Users can remotely configure ports, run tests like BERT, RFC 2544, and Y.1564, and collect results programmatically. The platform supports parallel test execution across multiple ports and devices (1G to 100G), with real-time result monitoring and alerting—ensuring fast, repeatable, and fully automated validation of high-speed Ethernet networks.

    [Refer to Multi-port Python Script]

    About GL Communications Inc.,

    GL Communications is a global provider of telecom test and measurement solutions. GL’s solutions verify the quality and reliability of Wireless, Fiber Optic, TDM and Analog networks.

    Warm Regards,

    Vikram Kulkarni, PhD

    Phone: 301-670-4784 x114

    Email: info@gl.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Australian Gas Networks in Court over alleged greenwashing in renewable gas campaign

    Source: Australian Ministers for Regional Development

    The ACCC has launched Federal Court action against gas distributor Australian Gas Networks Limited alleging it made false and misleading representations in its ‘Love Gas’ TV and digital advertising campaign.

    The ACCC alleges Australian Gas Networks misled millions of consumers when it represented, in ads that ran during 2022 and 2023, that the gas it distributes to households on its network will be renewable within a generation.

    Australian Gas Networks did not have reasonable grounds for making the unqualified claim about the future of gas, which featured in advertisements run on free-to-air television, streaming services and on YouTube, the ACCC alleges.

    “We allege that Australian Gas Networks engaged in greenwashing in its ‘Love Gas’ ad campaign,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “We allege that the ads overstated the likelihood of Australian Gas Networks overcoming significant technical and economic barriers to distribute renewable gas to households within a generation.”

    “It is not currently possible to distribute renewable gas at scale and at an economically viable price, and throughout 2022 and 2023 it was highly uncertain whether, and if so when, this would be possible,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “We allege that even though Australian Gas Networks knew the future of renewable gas was uncertain, it made an unqualified representation to consumers that it would distribute renewable gas to households within a generation.”

    “We say these ads were intended to encourage consumers to connect to, or remain connected to, Australian Gas Networks’ distribution network and to purchase gas appliances for their homes, based on the misleading impression they would receive ‘renewable gas’ within a generation,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “We consider that consumers were deprived of the opportunity to make fully informed choices, in accordance with their values, about the most appropriate energy sources for use in their homes, the household appliances they should invest in, and the steps they could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

    The claims by Australian Gas Networks were contained in four advertisements which all featured a young girl and her father using gas appliances in the home for cooking, bathing or heating. The advertisements then fast-forward in time to show the girl, now portrayed as a young adult, engaging in the same household activities.

    The ads featured a voiceover stating the following, or similar:

    • Some things never change, but the flame we use will.
    • It’s becoming renewable.
    • Controllable, reliable gas.
    • For this generation and the next.

    The final frame of each ad featured the company’s logo next to a green flame, and the words; “Love gas. Love a renewable gas future”; or just “Love Gas”.

    The ads did not contain any qualifications, fine print or disclaimers.

    “Businesses that make false or misleading environmental claims make it harder for consumers to support businesses that are genuinely working to reduce their environmental impact,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

    “Businesses that make environmental claims about the future must have reasonable grounds for those claims, or they will be taken to be misleading under the Australian Consumer Law. Businesses must take care when they promote emissions-reduction measures that their claims can be backed up with evidence, and that they are realistic about emerging energy technologies and when changes are likely to be achieved. Misleading claims not only break the trust of consumers, they also breach the Australian Consumer Law.”

    The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, costs and other orders.

    Background

    The “Love Gas” advertising campaign ran between 20 March 2022 to 2 October 2022 and again from 1 August 2023 to 15 October 2023.

    Australian Gas Networks is one of Australia’s largest gas infrastructure businesses. It owns and operates gas transmission and distribution pipelines.

    Australian Gas Networks distributes natural gas to around 1.3 million homes and businesses, principally in Victoria and South Australia, as well as in Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

    The ACCC commenced this investigation after receiving complaints about Australian Gas Networks from consumers and the Australian Conservation Foundation.

    In December 2023, the ACCC published its guidance for businesses on making environmental and sustainability claims. It sets out what the ACCC considers to be misleading conduct and good practice when making such claims, to help businesses provide clear, accurate and trustworthy information to consumers about the current and future environmental performance of their business.

    Images from the Love Gas Advertisements

    MIL OSI News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: One-size-fits-all approach does not work for autistic adults

    Source:

    26 June 2025

    In a world that is often overwhelming for people with autism, a new study by Australian and US researchers is calling for a rethink in how calming spaces and sensory rooms are designed.

    Feedback from an online survey of 96 autistic adults around the world reveals some common themes, including the importance of music, nature, solitude, and the ability to customise their environment.

    However, what also emerged from the study – recently published in Autism in Adulthood – is that autistic adults often experience the world in profoundly different ways and what might be soothing for one person could be overstimulating or distressing for another.

    Lead author, UniSA PhD candidate Connor McCabe, says that spaces must offer choice and not be based on child-focused designs that don’t reflect the needs of autistic adults.

    “Our research highlights the incredible diversity of sensory needs within the autistic community and the importance of offering flexibility and personal control within these spaces,” McCabe says.

    Key sensory factors such as lighting, sound and touch were shown to have a major influence on participants’ ability to relax.

    For example, dim or adjustable lighting, TV, books, video games, natural environments and sounds were frequently cited as beneficial, but while certain trends emerged, the authors caution against a one-size-fits-all approach.

    “That’s why it’s so important that these spaces offer choice – adjustable lighting, varied seating, different soundscapes and – above all – privacy.”

    The study, which also involved Dr Nigel Newbutt from the University of Florida, found that traditional sensory room elements such as vibration or motion-based stimulation, projected visuals on walls, and standard sensory toys were not rated as particularly helpful.

    Instead, participants called for more natural elements, including views of greenery, calming water features, and even animal interactions.

    Co-author, UniSA Cognitive Psychology Professor Tobias Loetscher, says the survey respondents consistently emphasised the need to control aspects of their environment, such as noise levels, temperature, and even who is allowed in the space.

    McCabe is currently winding up a second study that involves co-designing a VR sensory room with autistic adults.

    This research project aligns with the next steps – exploring the use of customisable virtual reality to provide flexible, cost-effective sensory environments tailored to individual preferences.

    “This VR sensory experience differs quite largely from what is typically found in a sensory room, as the virtual aspect allows much more freedom in terms of the environments we can create, and the stimulation that can be provided.”

    “With virtual reality, people can engage in calming activities like virtual forest walks or immersive soundscapes without needing large physical spaces,” McCabe says.

    A video explaining the findings is available here.

    Notes for editors

    “Insights into sensory and relaxation preferences to inform the design of calming spaces and sensory rooms for autistic adults” is published in Autism in Adulthood. DOI: 10.1089/aut.2024.0088. For a copy of the full paper, email candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police accept IPCA findings following accidental fall

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority following the death of a man in Auckland last year.

    On 4 November 2024, Police were called to a commercial property on Boston Road after a report of a man becoming agitated towards staff at the address and paramedics.

    Police officers arrived and instructed the man to leave.

    The man refused to leave despite the officer’s requests, so the officer placed a hand on his shoulder to guide him along.

    The man has then fallen and hit his head on the ground. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured and later died in hospital.

    The IPCA conducted an independent investigation, which included reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, and found the officer did not use force when placing his hand on the man’s shoulder and instead he lost his balance on the sloping driveway and fell to the ground.

    “This was an incredibly unfortunate incident for everyone concerned, including our attending staff,” Auckland City District Commander, Superintendent Sunny Patel, says.

    “Our sympathies remain with the man’s family and friends during what was no doubt a very challenging time.”

    ENDS.

    Holly McKay/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: From HAL 9000 to M3GAN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University

    © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to humans.

    But it is the evil robot – the machine that malfunctions, rebels or was built to harm – that has most powerfully gripped the collective imagination of audiences.

    From the silent menace of Maschinenmensch in 1927’s Metropolis, to the relentless pursuit of the Terminator, to the campy violence of M3GAN, evil robots continue to resonate.

    These films not only thrill, scare and entertain audiences. They also reflect deep-seated cultural anxieties about the unpredictable consequences of the current and future human-robot relationship.

    The killer robot is far from a simple villain. It is a mirror held up to some of the most pressing cultural questions we have about human autonomy and responsibility in the digital age.

    The precarity of human control

    The enduring appeal of the evil robot narrative lies in the way horror often channels our deepest cultural anxieties about the speed of technological advancement and the precarity of human control in an increasingly digital (and robotic) world.

    In The Spark of Fear, scholar Brian Duchaney posits that improvements in technology necessitate new types of horror stories, and that horror as a genre acts out our distrust of the social advances that new technology brings.

    In the late 1960s, there was unease about the growing sophistication of computers and the impacts of the Space Race. HAL 9000 of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) represented this threat through a disembodied AI that icily turned against its human creators.

    The android Ash in Alien (1979) added another layer of menace, disguised as a human embedded in the spacecraft crew and programmed to prioritise corporate interests over human life. In this case, Ash became a proxy for concerns over corporate adoption of automation, and the increasing role of technology in military and industrial contexts.

    During the Cold War era, fears of nuclear annihilation and concerns over reaching a point where we could no longer switch off the machines led to the unforgettable T-800 and shape-shifting T-1000 in the first two Terminator films (1984 and 1991).

    In the 21st century, as artificial intelligence and robotics became more prevalent in everyday life, the cinematic robot has entered our homes, culminating in M3GAN’s companion-gone-rogue.

    In M3GAN (2022), Gemma (Allison Williams) is a robotics designer who creates an AI-powered companion doll to help her orphaned niece Cady (Violet McGraw) cope with her grief. But the doll becomes dangerously overprotective.

    In M3GAN 2.0 (2025), the consciousness of the titular robot appears to have survived the 2022 film and, in a move that borrows from The Terminator 2, M3GAN shifts from villain to protector.

    The new film explores the consequences of the underlying tech for M3GAN being stolen and misused by a powerful defence contractor to create a military-grade robot, known as Amelia. The only option to counteract Amelia is for Gemma to resurrect M3GAN – complete with upgrades to make her faster, stronger and more deadly.

    Our technological anxieties

    Why is M3GAN such an effective avatar for our contemporary anxieties?

    Horror theorist Noël Carroll argues that monsters are often frightening because they don’t fit neatly into normal categories. They may be “in-between” things (such as part human, part machine) or contradictory (for example a zombie: both alive and dead at the same time).

    M3GAN is a great example of both. She looks and acts like a young girl, with expressive facial features and a snarky sense of humour. But she’s really just artificial intelligence inside a robot body.

    She’s also contradictory: she is designed to care for and protect her owner, yet she does so in exceedingly violent and deadly ways. These paradoxes make her both frightening and fascinating for audiences.

    M3GAN and M3GAN 2.0 bring to the surface our technological anxieties, and defuse them through their camp qualities.

    One sequence in the earlier film sees M3GAN break into a fluid yet unsettling dance, mimicking the performance of many a TikTok teen, only for the dance to end abruptly when she snatches a paper cutter blade and returns to stalking her victim.

    This meme-ified moment – combined with some deadpan one-liners and often comically ironic facial expressions – have led to M3GAN becoming a gay icon in the wake of the original film.

    M3GAN’s campiness doesn’t completely neutralise the horror. It reformulates it, offering a cathartic release that makes the subject matter more digestible. While we feel fear, we do so without real-world consequences. The fear is disarmed through humour.

    This multifaceted horror experience more fully reflects the complexities of our evolving relationship with new technology. These relationships often move through a spectrum of concern, anxiety and fear before we find ways to manage and normalise those feelings.

    Humour and catharsis are two of these coping mechanisms. Movies provide us with a way of neatly and temporarily resolving what often remain unresolved questions.

    Films like M3GAN 2.0 illustrate how horror narratives can also transform alongside the technologies they critique, offering not only tension and jump scares, but also philosophical consideration, comedy and cathartic release.

    Adam Daniel 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. From HAL 9000 to M3GAN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears – https://theconversation.com/from-hal-9000-to-m3gan-what-films-evil-robots-tell-us-about-contemporary-tech-fears-258397

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NPR and PBS Are More Than Just “Tiny Desk” and “Daniel Tiger” — They Are Critical to Public Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
    06.25.25
    NPR and PBS Are More Than Just “Tiny Desk” and “Daniel Tiger” — They Are Critical to Public Safety
    14 stations in WA at risk of losing funding if Senate passes administration’s rescissions package
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, released a Snapshot Report that highlights data on public broadcasters across the United States and broadcasters’ role in responding to emergencies and public safety events. In rural areas, public broadcasters may be the sole source of information during emergencies, leaving them disproportionately impacted by federal funding cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).
    “Public television and radio aren’t just for quality children’s television and unique radio content,” said Sen. Cantwell. “For millions of Americans, these stations are often their only source of emergency information during weather disasters. Earlier this month, House Republicans approved President Trump’s rescission request clawing back $1.1 billion in Congressionally-approved funding for public broadcasting. This report shows that if Senate Republicans allow this devastating cut to pass the Senate, nearly 13 million Americans could be left without access to their public media stations and the life-saving emergency alerts or information they need. As people prepare for potential hurricanes, wildfires, and other extreme weather events, we should not be gutting our support for public media.”
    The report included several key findings:
    The operations of 79 public radio and 33 TV stations across 34 states and territories are considered vulnerable to federal funding cuts.
    Nearly 13 million Americans live in communities under threat of losing their local public broadcast stations. What’s worse, these stations serve large swaths of the Western, Midwestern, and Southeastern United States at risk of wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other public safety emergencies. This double threat casts uncertainty on the ability of these stations to disseminate emergency alerts and information to residents when they need it most.
    More than 70 percent of federal funding goes directly to local public broadcasters for content, interconnection, and support services. It would cost local public broadcasters more than double the CPB’s current contribution to replace these critical services through alternative public or private means.
    Support through the CPB is critical for many local stations, with the most vulnerable in rural and remote communities. Public radio and television stations serve as the primary—often sole—source of local news, educational content, and emergency alerts. These stations rely heavily on federal funding, with some depending on it for over 70 percent of their budgets. Some rural areas depend on their local public media station as their only source of information in emergencies. 
    KDNA-AM, which has a studio in Granger, WA, and serves the surrounding area, is reliant on federal CPB grants for a significant portion of its operating budget. KDNA serves an area that is at a high risk of wildfires, including the city of Yakima, with a population of over 90,000. KDNA plays a critical role in responding to emergencies by providing local news and information. Without continued federal funding, KDNA and other public broadcasters will have to find alternative funding sources or risk being unable to provide their essential public safety services.
    In severe storm and wildfire situations that knock out a community’s power supply, TVs broadcasting news on the path of an incoming tornado may go dark due to power outages, and cell phones may lose service, leaving families with only local public radio broadcasts delivered to battery-powered, hand-crank, or car radios. Without local broadcasting, families in rural areas may not receive critical alerts in time to get to safety.
    On June 3, President Trump submitted a rescission request to Congress for the CPB’s FY 2026 and 2027 funding, seeking to claw back nearly $1.1 billion in Congressionally-approved funding. On June 12, the House approved the President’s rescission request, and it is now before the Senate. If passed by the Senate, these cuts may leave millions of Americans without access to lifesaving alerts and emergency information.
    In Washington state, funding for 14 public broadcasting stations is at risk under the House-passed rescissions package now being considered by the Senate. 
    In May, Sen. Cantwell joined Rick Steves to blast the Trump Administration for its assault on the CPB. 
    See the impacted areas below and to access the full report, please click HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Names Celia Yan as Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Celia Yan has joined the firm as a Partner and Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, Yan will lead the expansion of Apollo’s hybrid platform across the region, building on the firm’s momentum in delivering flexible, tailored capital solutions across private markets.

    Apollo’s hybrid business focuses on delivering creative, partnership-driven solutions that sit between traditional debt and equity. We provide solutions that help companies fund growth initiatives, generate liquidity and deleverage balance sheets, among other bespoke applications. In this newly created role, Yan will drive origination, execution and growth for Apollo’s hybrid strategies in Asia Pacific.

    Yan brings over 20 years of industry experience and extensive private investment expertise across Asia Pacific, most recently serving as Head of APAC Private Credit at BlackRock. Previously, she held senior investment roles at ADM Capital, National Australia Bank and Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

    “Celia’s experience across private markets investing, managing cross-border teams and growing business verticals makes her a key addition as we grow our hybrid business in Asia Pacific,” said Matthew Michelini, Partner and Head of Asia Pacific at Apollo. “As companies and investors increasingly seek structured and creative solutions, Celia will help us deliver for clients across the region.”

    Chris Lahoud, Partner at Apollo, said: “As capital markets evolve, we see an attractive opportunity for hybrid growth in the region, providing partnership-oriented, flexible capital to companies and projects.”

    “Apollo’s integrated platform and global reach, paired with a strong local presence, position the firm to deliver hybrid capital at scale,” said Celia Yan. “Across Asia Pacific, businesses and sponsors are looking for non-dilutive, customized solutions that can address real market inefficiencies—and hybrid is increasingly the answer. I’m excited to join the team and help accelerate this strategy across the region.”

    Yan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s in Applied Econometrics from Monash University.

    About Apollo

    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

    Apollo Contacts

    Noah Gunn
    Global Head of Investor Relations
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0540
    IR@apollo.com

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0491
    Communications@apollo.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Apollo Names Celia Yan as Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Celia Yan has joined the firm as a Partner and Head of Hybrid for Asia Pacific. Based in Hong Kong, Yan will lead the expansion of Apollo’s hybrid platform across the region, building on the firm’s momentum in delivering flexible, tailored capital solutions across private markets.

    Apollo’s hybrid business focuses on delivering creative, partnership-driven solutions that sit between traditional debt and equity. We provide solutions that help companies fund growth initiatives, generate liquidity and deleverage balance sheets, among other bespoke applications. In this newly created role, Yan will drive origination, execution and growth for Apollo’s hybrid strategies in Asia Pacific.

    Yan brings over 20 years of industry experience and extensive private investment expertise across Asia Pacific, most recently serving as Head of APAC Private Credit at BlackRock. Previously, she held senior investment roles at ADM Capital, National Australia Bank and Equity Trustees Limited (EQT).

    “Celia’s experience across private markets investing, managing cross-border teams and growing business verticals makes her a key addition as we grow our hybrid business in Asia Pacific,” said Matthew Michelini, Partner and Head of Asia Pacific at Apollo. “As companies and investors increasingly seek structured and creative solutions, Celia will help us deliver for clients across the region.”

    Chris Lahoud, Partner at Apollo, said: “As capital markets evolve, we see an attractive opportunity for hybrid growth in the region, providing partnership-oriented, flexible capital to companies and projects.”

    “Apollo’s integrated platform and global reach, paired with a strong local presence, position the firm to deliver hybrid capital at scale,” said Celia Yan. “Across Asia Pacific, businesses and sponsors are looking for non-dilutive, customized solutions that can address real market inefficiencies—and hybrid is increasingly the answer. I’m excited to join the team and help accelerate this strategy across the region.”

    Yan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s in Applied Econometrics from Monash University.

    About Apollo

    Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of March 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $785 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

    Apollo Contacts

    Noah Gunn
    Global Head of Investor Relations
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0540
    IR@apollo.com

    Joanna Rose
    Global Head of Corporate Communications
    Apollo Global Management, Inc.
    (212) 822-0491
    Communications@apollo.com

    The MIL Network –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: From HAL 9000 to ME3AN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Daniel, Associate Lecturer in Communication, Western Sydney University

    © 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Filmgoers have long been captivated by stories about robots. We are fascinated by their utopian promise, their superhuman intelligence and, in the case of the cyborg, their often uncanny resemblance to humans.

    But it is the evil robot – the machine that malfunctions, rebels or was built to harm – that has most powerfully gripped the collective imagination of audiences.

    From the silent menace of Maschinenmensch in 1927’s Metropolis, to the relentless pursuit of the Terminator, to the campy violence of M3GAN, evil robots continue to resonate.

    These films not only thrill, scare and entertain audiences. They also reflect deep-seated cultural anxieties about the unpredictable consequences of the current and future human-robot relationship.

    The killer robot is far from a simple villain. It is a mirror held up to some of the most pressing cultural questions we have about human autonomy and responsibility in the digital age.

    The precarity of human control

    The enduring appeal of the evil robot narrative lies in the way horror often channels our deepest cultural anxieties about the speed of technological advancement and the precarity of human control in an increasingly digital (and robotic) world.

    In The Spark of Fear, scholar Brian Duchaney posits that improvements in technology necessitate new types of horror stories, and that horror as a genre acts out our distrust of the social advances that new technology brings.

    In the late 1960s, there was unease about the growing sophistication of computers and the impacts of the Space Race. HAL 9000 of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) represented this threat through a disembodied AI that icily turned against its human creators.

    The android Ash in Alien (1979) added another layer of menace, disguised as a human embedded in the spacecraft crew and programmed to prioritise corporate interests over human life. In this case, Ash became a proxy for concerns over corporate adoption of automation, and the increasing role of technology in military and industrial contexts.

    During the Cold War era, fears of nuclear annihilation and concerns over reaching a point where we could no longer switch off the machines led to the unforgettable T-800 and shape-shifting T-1000 in the first two Terminator films (1984 and 1991).

    In the 21st century, as artificial intelligence and robotics became more prevalent in everyday life, the cinematic robot has entered our homes, culminating in M3GAN’s companion-gone-rogue.

    In M3GAN (2022), Gemma (Allison Williams) is a robotics designer who creates an AI-powered companion doll to help her orphaned niece Cady (Violet McGraw) cope with her grief. But the doll becomes dangerously overprotective.

    In M3GAN 2.0 (2025), the consciousness of the titular robot appears to have survived the 2022 film and, in a move that borrows from The Terminator 2, M3GAN shifts from villain to protector.

    The new film explores the consequences of the underlying tech for M3GAN being stolen and misused by a powerful defence contractor to create a military-grade robot, known as Amelia. The only option to counteract Amelia is for Gemma to resurrect M3GAN – complete with upgrades to make her faster, stronger and more deadly.

    Our technological anxieties

    Why is M3GAN such an effective avatar for our contemporary anxieties?

    Horror theorist Noël Carroll argues that monsters are often frightening because they don’t fit neatly into normal categories. They may be “in-between” things (such as part human, part machine) or contradictory (for example a zombie: both alive and dead at the same time).

    M3GAN is a great example of both. She looks and acts like a young girl, with expressive facial features and a snarky sense of humour. But she’s really just artificial intelligence inside a robot body.

    She’s also contradictory: she is designed to care for and protect her owner, yet she does so in exceedingly violent and deadly ways. These paradoxes make her both frightening and fascinating for audiences.

    M3GAN and M3GAN 2.0 bring to the surface our technological anxieties, and defuse them through their camp qualities.

    One sequence in the earlier film sees M3GAN break into a fluid yet unsettling dance, mimicking the performance of many a TikTok teen, only for the dance to end abruptly when she snatches a paper cutter blade and returns to stalking her victim.

    This meme-ified moment – combined with some deadpan one-liners and often comically ironic facial expressions – have led to M3GAN becoming a gay icon in the wake of the original film.

    M3GAN’s campiness doesn’t completely neutralise the horror. It reformulates it, offering a cathartic release that makes the subject matter more digestible. While we feel fear, we do so without real-world consequences. The fear is disarmed through humour.

    This multifaceted horror experience more fully reflects the complexities of our evolving relationship with new technology. These relationships often move through a spectrum of concern, anxiety and fear before we find ways to manage and normalise those feelings.

    Humour and catharsis are two of these coping mechanisms. Movies provide us with a way of neatly and temporarily resolving what often remain unresolved questions.

    Films like M3GAN 2.0 illustrate how horror narratives can also transform alongside the technologies they critique, offering not only tension and jump scares, but also philosophical consideration, comedy and cathartic release.

    Adam Daniel 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. From HAL 9000 to ME3AN: what film’s evil robots tell us about contemporary tech fears – https://theconversation.com/from-hal-9000-to-me3an-what-films-evil-robots-tell-us-about-contemporary-tech-fears-258397

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Clyde Applauds TVA’s Rational Approach to Address Chatuge Dam Spillway Vulnerabilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA)

    Rep. Clyde Applauds TVA’s Rational Approach to Address Chatuge Dam Spillway Vulnerabilities

    Gainesville, June 25, 2025

     

    GAINESVILLE, GA — Today, Representative Andrew Clyde (GA-09) released the following statement after the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced revised proposed alternatives to address Chatuge Dam spillway safety concerns. Specifically, the TVA outlined plans to conduct drawdowns of Lake Chatuge within off-season months for no more than two years, which could begin as soon as fall of 2027.

     

    “I’m incredibly pleased with the TVA’s decision to reduce drawdown durations from the agency’s previously proposed alternatives, reflecting a solution that prioritizes the economic well-being of Towns County, the structural integrity of Chatuge Dam, and worker safety,” said Clyde. “Over the past two months, I’ve worked closely with constituents, stakeholders, and TVA officials to reach the best outcome possible. I believe today’s announcement demonstrates how successful these efforts have been for all parties involved, marking an exciting win for the Ninth District.”

     

    “Throughout this process, the TVA has been very responsive to and understanding of our local community’s needs and concerns. I’m thankful for their partnership, which has resulted in a sensible path forward that effectively balances the safety of spillway operations and the continued economic prosperity of our North Georgia community. I’m also grateful for our local leaders, stakeholders, and constituents throughout Towns County for remaining highly engaged in this matter. Their effective outreach positively shaped the outcome of the TVA’s Chatuge Dam project, ensuring drawdowns and construction do not adversely impact residents’ small businesses and financial futures,” Clyde added.

     

    Last week, Rep. Clyde had a productive meeting with TVA officials, which included a briefing of the agency’s revised proposals.

     

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Micron Technology, Inc. Reports Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Record revenue in fiscal Q3 with growth across end markets
    Fiscal Q4 revenue projected to grow another 15% sequentially

    BOISE, Idaho, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced results for its third quarter of fiscal 2025, which ended May 29, 2025.

    Fiscal Q3 2025 highlights

    • Revenue of $9.30 billion versus $8.05 billion for the prior quarter and $6.81 billion for the same period last year
    • GAAP net income of $1.89 billion, or $1.68 per diluted share
    • Non-GAAP net income of $2.18 billion, or $1.91 per diluted share
    • Operating cash flow of $4.61 billion versus $3.94 billion for the prior quarter and $2.48 billion for the same period last year

    “Micron delivered record revenue in fiscal Q3, driven by all-time-high DRAM revenue including nearly 50% sequential growth in HBM revenue. Data center revenue more than doubled year-over-year and reached a quarterly record, and consumer-oriented end markets had strong sequential growth,” said Sanjay Mehrotra, Chairman, President and CEO of Micron Technology. “We are on track to deliver record revenue with solid profitability and free cash flow in fiscal 2025, while we make disciplined investments to build on our technology leadership and manufacturing excellence to satisfy growing AI-driven memory demand.”

    Quarterly Financial Results
    (in millions, except per share amounts) GAAP(1)   Non-GAAP(2)
    FQ3-25 FQ2-25 FQ3-24   FQ3-25 FQ2-25 FQ3-24
                   
    Revenue $ 9,301   $ 8,053   $ 6,811     $ 9,301   $ 8,053   $ 6,811  
    Gross margin   3,508     2,963     1,832       3,623     3,053     1,917  
    percent of revenue   37.7 %   36.8 %   26.9 %     39.0 %   37.9 %   28.1 %
    Operating expenses   1,339     1,190     1,113       1,133     1,046     976  
    Operating income   2,169     1,773     719       2,490     2,007     941  
    percent of revenue   23.3 %   22.0 %   10.6 %     26.8 %   24.9 %   13.8 %
    Net income   1,885     1,583     332       2,181     1,783     702  
    Diluted earnings per share   1.68     1.41     0.30       1.91     1.56     0.62  
                                           

    For the third quarter of 2025, investments in capital expenditures, net(2) were $2.66 billion and adjusted free cash flow(2) was $1.95 billion. Micron ended the quarter with cash, marketable investments, and restricted cash of $12.22 billion. On June 25, 2025, Micron’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.115 per share, payable in cash on July 22, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 7, 2025.

    Business Outlook

    The following table presents Micron’s guidance for the fourth quarter of 2025:

    FQ4-25 GAAP(1)Outlook Non-GAAP(2)Outlook
    Revenue $10.7 billion ± $300 million $10.7 billion ± $300 million
    Gross margin 41.0% ± 1.0% 42.0% ± 1.0%
    Operating expenses $1.35 billion ± $20 million $1.20 billion ± $20 million
    Diluted earnings per share $2.29 ± $0.15 $2.50 ± $0.15
         

    Further information regarding Micron’s business outlook is included in the prepared remarks and slides, which have been posted at investors.micron.com.

    Investor Webcast

    Micron will host a conference call on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time to discuss its third quarter financial results and provide forward-looking guidance for its fourth quarter. A live webcast of the call will be available online at investors.micron.com. A webcast replay will be available for one year after the call. For Investor Relations and other company updates, follow us on X @MicronTech.

    About Micron Technology, Inc.

    We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, manufacturing, and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND, and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and compute-intensive applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.

    © 2025 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Micron, the Micron logo, and all other Micron trademarks are the property of Micron Technology, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding our technologies, demand for our products, our investments, our industry and our financial and operating results, including our expectations and guidance for the fourth quarter of 2025 and full fiscal year. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Please refer to the documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Form 10-K and our upcoming Form 10-Q. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements. These certain factors can be found at investors.micron.com/risk-factor. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results.

    (1) GAAP represents U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
    (2) Non-GAAP represents GAAP excluding the impact of certain activities, which management excludes in analyzing our operating results and understanding trends in our earnings, adjusted free cash flow, and business outlook. Further information regarding Micron’s use of non-GAAP measures and reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP measures are included within this press release.
       
    MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (In millions, except per share amounts)
    (Unaudited)
     
      3rd Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr. Nine Months Ended
      May 29,
    2025    		 February 27,
    2025    		 May 30,
    2024    		 May 29,
    2025    		 May 30,
    2024
               
    Revenue $ 9,301   $ 8,053   $ 6,811   $ 26,063   $ 17,361  
    Cost of goods sold   5,793     5,090     4,979     16,244     14,485  
    Gross margin   3,508     2,963     1,832     9,819     2,876  
               
    Research and development   965     898     850     2,751     2,527  
    Selling, general, and administrative   318     285     291     891     834  
    Other operating (income) expense, net   56     7     (28 )   61     (267 )
    Operating income (loss)   2,169     1,773     719     6,116     (218 )
               
    Interest income   135     108     136     350     398  
    Interest expense   (123 )   (112 )   (150 )   (353 )   (426 )
    Other non-operating income (expense), net   (68 )   (11 )   10     (90 )   (24 )
        2,113     1,758     715     6,023     (270 )
               
    Income tax (provision) benefit   (235 )   (177 )   (377 )   (695 )   172  
    Equity in net income (loss) of equity method investees   7     2     (6 )   10     (11 )
    Net income (loss) $ 1,885   $ 1,583   $ 332   $ 5,338   $ (109 )
               
    Earnings (loss) per share          
    Basic $ 1.69   $ 1.42   $ 0.30   $ 4.79   $ (0.10 )
    Diluted   1.68     1.41     0.30     4.75     (0.10 )
               
    Number of shares used in per share calculations          
    Basic   1,118     1,115     1,107     1,114     1,104  
    Diluted   1,125     1,123     1,123     1,123     1,104  
    MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (In millions)
    (Unaudited)
     
    As of May 29,
    2025    		 February 27,
    2025    		 August 29,
    2024
           
    Assets      
    Cash and cash equivalents $ 10,163   $ 7,552   $ 7,041  
    Short-term investments   648     663     1,065  
    Receivables   7,436     6,504     6,615  
    Inventories   8,727     9,007     8,875  
    Other current assets   945     963     776  
    Total current assets   27,919     24,689     24,372  
    Long-term marketable investments   1,402     1,375     1,046  
    Property, plant, and equipment   44,773     42,528     39,749  
    Operating lease right-of-use assets   628     637     645  
    Intangible assets   426     423     416  
    Deferred tax assets   483     552     520  
    Goodwill   1,150     1,150     1,150  
    Other noncurrent assets   1,616     1,699     1,518  
    Total assets $ 78,397   $ 73,053   $ 69,416  
           
    Liabilities and equity      
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 8,761   $ 6,176   $ 7,299  
    Current debt   538     504     431  
    Other current liabilities   836     1,197     1,518  
    Total current liabilities   10,135     7,877     9,248  
    Long-term debt   15,003     13,851     12,966  
    Noncurrent operating lease liabilities   600     599     610  
    Noncurrent unearned government incentives   603     836     550  
    Other noncurrent liabilities   1,308     1,257     911  
    Total liabilities   27,649     24,420     24,285  
           
    Commitments and contingencies      
           
    Shareholders’ equity      
    Common stock   126     126     125  
    Additional capital   12,960     12,711     12,115  
    Retained earnings   45,559     43,839     40,877  
    Treasury stock   (7,852 )   (7,852 )   (7,852 )
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   (45 )   (191 )   (134 )
    Total equity   50,748     48,633     45,131  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 78,397   $ 73,053   $ 69,416  
    MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    (In millions)
    (Unaudited)
     
    Nine Months Ended May 29,
    2025    		 May 30,
    2024
         
    Cash flows from operating activities    
    Net income (loss) $ 5,338   $ (109 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:    
    Depreciation expense and amortization of intangible assets   6,203     5,794  
    Stock-based compensation   722     620  
    Change in operating assets and liabilities:    
    Receivables   (123 )   (2,562 )
    Inventories   148     (125 )
    Other current assets   (206 )   (435 )
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses   38     846  
    Other current liabilities   (681 )   769  
    Other   356     304  
    Net cash provided by operating activities   11,795     5,102  
         
    Cash flows from investing activities    
    Expenditures for property, plant, and equipment   (10,199 )   (5,266 )
    Purchases of available-for-sale securities   (1,203 )   (1,110 )
    Proceeds from government incentives   1,294     267  
    Proceeds from maturities and sales of available-for-sale securities   1,249     1,433  
    Other   (30 )   (35 )
    Net cash used for investing activities   (8,889 )   (4,711 )
         
    Cash flows from financing activities    
    Proceeds from issuance of debt   4,430     999  
    Repayments of debt   (3,604 )   (1,816 )
    Payments of dividends to shareholders   (392 )   (384 )
    Payments on equipment purchase contracts   —     (127 )
    Other   (220 )   (40 )
    Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities   214     (1,368 )
         
    Effect of changes in currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   (3 )   (15 )
         
    Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash   3,117     (992 )
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period   7,052     8,656  
    Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 10,169   $ 7,664  
    MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
    (In millions, except per share amounts)
     
      3rd Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr.
      May 29,
    2025    		 February 27,
    2025    		 May 30,
    2024
           
    GAAP gross margin $ 3,508   $ 2,963   $ 1,832  
    Stock-based compensation   115     89     80  
    Other   —     1     5  
    Non-GAAP gross margin $ 3,623   $ 3,053   $ 1,917  
           
    GAAP operating expenses $ 1,339   $ 1,190   $ 1,113  
    Stock-based compensation   (148 )   (144 )   (137 )
    Patent license charges   (57 )   —     —  
    Other   (1 )   —     —  
    Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 1,133   $ 1,046   $ 976  
           
    GAAP operating income $ 2,169   $ 1,773   $ 719  
    Stock-based compensation   263     233     217  
    Patent license charges   57     —     —  
    Other   1     1     5  
    Non-GAAP operating income $ 2,490   $ 2,007   $ 941  
           
    GAAP net income $ 1,885   $ 1,583   $ 332  
    Stock-based compensation   263     233     217  
    Patent license charges   57     —     —  
    Loss on debt prepayments   46     4     —  
    Other   1     —     3  
    Estimated tax effects of above and other tax adjustments   (71 )   (37 )   150  
    Non-GAAP net income $ 2,181   $ 1,783   $ 702  
           
    GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding – Diluted   1,125     1,123     1,123  
    Adjustment for stock-based compensation   19     20     13  
    Non-GAAP weighted-average common shares outstanding – Diluted   1,144     1,143     1,136  
           
    GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 1.68   $ 1.41   $ 0.30  
    Effects of the above adjustments   0.23     0.15     0.32  
    Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 1.91   $ 1.56   $ 0.62  
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP MEASURES, Continued
     
      3rd Qtr. 2nd Qtr. 3rd Qtr.
      May 29,
    2025    		 February 27,
    2025    		 May 30,
    2024
           
    GAAP net cash provided by operating activities $ 4,609   $ 3,942   $ 2,482  
           
    Expenditures for property, plant, and equipment   (2,938 )   (4,055 )   (2,086 )
    Payments on equipment purchase contracts   —     —     (45 )
    Proceeds from sales of property, plant, and equipment   12     7     41  
    Proceeds from government incentives   266     963     33  
    Investments in capital expenditures, net   (2,660 )   (3,085 )   (2,057 )
    Adjusted free cash flow $ 1,949   $ 857   $ 425  
     

    The tables above reconcile GAAP to non-GAAP measures of gross margin, operating expenses, operating income, net income, diluted shares, diluted earnings per share, and adjusted free cash flow. The non-GAAP adjustments above may or may not be infrequent or nonrecurring in nature but are a result of periodic or non-core operating activities. We believe this non-GAAP information is helpful in understanding trends and in analyzing our operating results and earnings. We are providing this information to investors to assist in performing analysis of our operating results. When evaluating performance and making decisions on how to allocate our resources, management uses this non-GAAP information and believes investors should have access to similar data when making their investment decisions. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures increase transparency by providing investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of our business, enabling enhanced comparison of our operating results between periods and with peer companies. The presentation of these adjusted amounts varies from amounts presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and therefore may not be comparable to amounts reported by other companies. Our management excludes the following items as applicable in analyzing our operating results and understanding trends in our earnings:

    • Stock-based compensation;
    • Gains and losses from settlements;
    • Gains and losses from debt prepayments;
    • Restructure and asset impairments; and
    • The estimated tax effects of above, non-cash changes in net deferred income taxes, assessments of tax exposures, certain tax matters related to prior fiscal periods, and significant changes in tax law. The divergence between our GAAP and non-GAAP income tax provision relates to the difference in our GAAP and non-GAAP estimated annual effective tax rates, which are computed separately.

    Non-GAAP diluted shares are adjusted for the impact of additional shares resulting from the exclusion of stock-based compensation from non-GAAP income.

    MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP OUTLOOK
     
    FQ4-25   GAAP Outlook   Adjustments   Non-GAAP Outlook
                   
    Revenue $10.7 billion ± $300 million   —       $10.7 billion ± $300 million
    Gross margin 41.0% ± 1.0%   1.0%   A   42.0% ± 1.0%
    Operating expenses $1.35 billion ± $20 million   $147 million   B   $1.20 billion ± $20 million
    Diluted earnings per share(1) $2.29 ± $0.15   $0.21   A, B, C   $2.50 ± $0.15
    Non-GAAP Adjustments
    (in millions)    		            
                   
    A Stock-based compensation – cost of goods sold   $ 119  
    B Stock-based compensation – research and development     93  
    B Stock-based compensation – sales, general, and administrative     54  
    C Tax effects of the above items and other tax adjustments     (27 )
                  $ 239  
    (1) GAAP earnings per share based on approximately 1.13 billion diluted shares and non-GAAP earnings per share based on approximately 1.15 billion diluted shares.
       

    The tables above reconcile our GAAP to non-GAAP guidance based on the current outlook. The guidance does not incorporate the impact of any potential business combinations, divestitures, additional restructuring activities, balance sheet valuation adjustments, strategic investments, financing transactions, and other significant transactions. The timing and impact of such items are dependent on future events that may be uncertain or outside of our control.

    The MIL Network –

    June 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: New climate reporting rules start on July 1. Many companies are not ready for the change

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Baird, Senior Lecturer , University of Tasmania

    PaeGAG/Shutterstock

    A new financial year starts on July 1. For Australia’s large companies, that means new rules on climate-related disclosures come into force.

    These requirements are the culmination of years of planning to ensure companies disclose climate-related risks and opportunities for their business. The Albanese government passed the legislation in September 2024.

    To be clear, the time to prepare is gone. From July 1, large public companies and financial institutions must gather significant amounts of information and data to include in a new year-end sustainability report. Collecting all this information is one challenge; another is finding the specialists across many fields to compile the reports.

    This is a huge change for corporate Australia. It is a whole new reporting regime, supported by volumes of technical detail. Directors will need to sign off on the report. Investors must also upskill to make sense of the disclosures. Neither of these outcomes is assured.

    And it is not clear the increased disclosures will do anything to reduce actual emissions.

    Climate impacts in focus

    Though it’s called a sustainability report, in reality it is very much focused on climate-related disclosures. If you go looking for wider sustainability matters such as social impact, environmental performance and ethical choices, you will be disappointed.

    Markets and ultimately the millions of Australians who hold shares will be watching to find out if:

    1. Corporate Australia is prepared for the transition to this new regulatory regime

    2. End users of the new reports are equipped to decipher and understand the huge amount of additional data.

    My research suggests the answer to both questions is a resounding no.

    Starting with the big end of town

    The government has wisely adopted a three-year transition for the new reporting regime, with only the big end of town facing the music this year. Think the big four banks, big supermarkets and large miners.

    Some large corporations have been publishing sustainability reports for years. National Australia Bank, for example, published its first one in 2017.

    Over the next two years, medium and then smaller companies will join the fold. By 2027–28, companies will be required to report if they meet two of three thresholds: consolidated revenue of A$50 million, or consolidated gross assets of $25 million, or more than 100 employees.

    The reasoning behind the transition is they have the benefit of watching how the larger companies adapt to the new laws.

    What has to be disclosed?

    Reporting entities must include:

    – climate statements for the year plus any notes, and

    – the directors’ declaration about these statements and notes

    This sounds rather simple and straightforward, but it is not.

    Arriving at a completed sustainability report involves an understanding of two detailed documents: the international standards and a new Australian Accounting Sustainability Standard.

    The Australian standards are mandatory and based on the international rules. In broad terms, companies will be required to gather and disclose information on many micro-level issues, which are grouped into four categories. These are: governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets.

    Some issues will straddle all four categories.

    For example, the physical risk of climate change (floods, uninsurable properties, supply chain disruption) can be considered at the board level and in dedicated climate committees (goverance); in planning for alternative supply chains in a climate transition plan (strategy); in risk assessment (risk management) and in data prediction of the costs involved (metrics and targets).

    The big challenge for corporate Australia is that the people, expertise and time required to deliver a sustainability report are in short supply.

    More than a quarter of ASX 200 companies do not use the international standards. This means they are not positioned to adapt to the new reporting regime. Even for those that have been early adopters, there has been selective use of the four categories.

    For the smaller companies that will follow the first reporting year, the stakes are high.

    More information is not always better

    The amount of new information (much of it technical) to be disclosed will be overwhelming for the producers of the sustainability reports – and for the readers, whether they are institutional or mum-and-dad investors.

    The cost of collecting and making sense of the data required to meet detailed reporting requirements will lead to many companies being swamped in data. More data collected does not equal better data.

    Deciding what data to collect and then making sense of it so it supports disclosures will be a major headache for most companies.

    The new climate disclosure rules will have a profound impact on corporate Australia. There is a significant gap in capacity and capability to meet the requirements of the new reporting regime. And there is a corresponding need to educate the readers of these new reports to make effective use of the disclosed information.

    Rachel Baird 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. New climate reporting rules start on July 1. Many companies are not ready for the change – https://theconversation.com/new-climate-reporting-rules-start-on-july-1-many-companies-are-not-ready-for-the-change-258706

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    June 26, 2025
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