NewzIntel.com

Category: Finance

  • MIL-OSI Security: Career Criminal Sentenced to Thirteen Years in Federal Prison for Manufacturing and Selling THC and Psilocybin Products Nationwide

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.—Jered Hayward, 45, of Salem, Oregon, was sentenced today to 156 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and conspiracy to launder the proceeds. He also agreed to forfeit assets worth more than $2 million dollars.

    According to court documents, Hayward operated a large-scale THC and psilocybin production and distribution facility headquartered in Salem. As part of his operation, Hayward and his employees obtained cereal and candy products and infused or sprayed potent THC oils on them.  They then inserted the edibles into packages which mimicked the legitimate consumer food products, and sold them throughout the United States and internationally. While there was no evidence Hayward deliberately targeted minors, the manner in which his organization packaged the edibles posed a risk to children, who are often unable to comprehend the fine print warnings that the packages contained THC products.

    Hayward’s organization utilized encrypted communications such as Telegram to market, sell and process orders, and straw businesses to mask money laundering transactions. Hayward had no permits or licenses to produce or sell these products; the entire operation was illegal.

    Hayward has an extensive criminal record, including three prior state and federal convictions for marijuana and fentanyl trafficking. Because of these convictions, he is a career criminal under federal law.

    Hayward agreed to forfeit substantial assets which he admitted were related to his drug and money laundering enterprise. As part of his guilty plea Hayward agreed to forfeit:

    • The Salem production facility;
    • More than $1 million in cash;
    • $640,000 worth of cryptocurrency and bank account funds;
    • More than $400,000 worth of gold and silver;
    • Jewelry and a Rolex watch; and
    • Twelve vehicles, two UTV’s, and boats.

    This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Portland Police Bureau, United States Postal Inspection, Oregon State Police, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Salem Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Kemp Strickland and Christopher Cardani, Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Oregon.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Drug Trafficker Unlawfully Residing in Oregon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Fatal Fentanyl Overdose

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    PORTLAND, Ore.— A Portland area drug trafficker was sentenced to federal prison today for his role in distributing illicit fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose of a young man in Washington County, Oregon.

    Efrain Roberto Diaz-Rangel, 35, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Portland, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release. 

    According to court documents, in April 2023, the Westside Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN) began investigating a suspected fentanyl overdose of the adult male victim in Washington County. In May 2023, WIN requested investigative assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT), and Portland Police Bureau (PPB).

    Investigators determined that several people were involved in a distribution chain responsible for selling counterfeit Oxycodone pills manufactured with illicit fentanyl. Investigators identified Diaz-Rangel as an originating source of fentanyl in Oregon and learned that he trafficked fentanyl and heroin for a Mexico-based drug dispatcher.

    On June 27, 2023, as part of a controlled buy, HSI special agents arrested Diaz-Rangel. At the time of his arrest, Diaz-Rangel possessed approximately 1,000 counterfeit pills and a small quantity of heroin. Later that day, investigators executed a search warrant on Diaz-Rangel’s residence and located an additional 30,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, four pounds of heroin, and more than $10,000 in cash.

    On June 27, 2023, Diaz-Rangel was charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin.

    On March 4, 2025, Diaz-Rangel pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

    This case was jointly investigated by WIN and HSI with assistance from the HIDTA HIT and PPB. It was prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

    Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 3-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

    If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

    If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Harris Releases Statement Following the Appropriations Committee Release of the FY26 Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA Bill

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, June 5th at 10:30 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

    Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris said, “The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill reflects a clear, conservative commitment to fiscal responsibility while ensuring that America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities remain a top priority. This legislation also prioritizes agricultural research, rural broadband expansion, and protects our food and drug supply, all while reducing the wasteful spending of the Biden Administration era. Just as importantly, by supporting fresh, affordable, American-grown food, this bill helps Make America Healthy Again. America’s farmers feed the world, and this bill ensures they have the investment, support, and resources they deserve — while reducing the burgeoning federal deficit.”

    Chairman Tom Cole said, “The prosperity of our future golden age depends on the strength and perseverance of our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. This FY26 bill delivers targeted investments to protect U.S. agriculture and family farms, bolster agricultural research, and safeguard access to nutrition and health programs. From livestock and crops to pharmaceuticals and broadband, the legislation strengthens the agriculture economy and infrastructure across the nation. Just as our producers responsibly tend to the land, Chairman Harris has stewarded this legislation to protect core duties while upholding fiscal responsibility.”

    The Fiscal Year 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill

    The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $25.523 billion, which is $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level.

    The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs. The bill is fiscally responsible and refocuses programs on their core mission while putting the health, safety, and prosperity of American producers and consumers first.
     
    Key Takeaways

    Champions U.S. farmers, agriculture, and rural communities by: 

    • Continuing critical investments in agriculture research, rural broadband, and animal and plant health programs.
    • Providing funds to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and medical devices.
    • Ensuring low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.
    • Reining in harmful regulations proposed during the Biden Administration that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals.
    • Increasing resources for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to fund frontline meat and poultry inspectors and bolster support for state inspection programs.
    • Providing a rider to block any revised energy standards for newly constructed homes financed by USDA that would increase costs for rural, lower-income households that was proposed during the Biden Administration.

    Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by: 

    • Allocating the President’s requested total funding of $6.8 billion for the FDA to keep food, drugs, and devices safe and for initiatives to Make America Healthy Again.
    • Delivering $1.15 billion for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which is a priority in the President’s budget to protect American agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.
    • Codifying President Trump’s executive orders by prohibiting funding for DEI activities and ending federal censorship of free speech.
    • Retaining the gene editing provision, which prohibits the “editing” of heritable genes or altering of genes that can be passed on to offspring.
    • Maintaining “Buy American” provisions that maximize the federal government’s use of services, goods, products, and materials produced and offered in the United States.
    • Closing the hemp loophole that has resulted in the proliferation of unregulated intoxicating hemp products, including Delta-8 and hemp flower, being sold online and in gas stations across the country.

    Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by: 

    • Addressing foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land by improving the tracking system of foreign-owned land and adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review agricultural transactions, including purchases made by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    • Directing USDA to provide transparency into research funding spent collaborating with foreign governments including China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
    • Continuing a program to increase inspection of foreign drug manufacturing facilities in China and India.
    • Providing adequate funding for land-grant universities to conduct agricultural research to ensure American producers can compete with China.

    Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by: 

    • Capturing DOGE savings by reducing salaries and expenses where appropriate to account for staffing reductions and reducing grant programs that housed canceled grants.
    • Eliminating funding for the Biden-era Rural Partners Network initiative.
    • Including no funds for climate hubs or climate corps.
    • Eliminating funds for the Office of Urban Agriculture.

    A summary of the bill is available here.
    Bill text is available here.

    For media inquiries, please contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Groundbreaking discovery of ‘new’ pain target brings hope for those with chronic pain In a groundbreaking discovery, chronic pain has been shown to be physiologically different from acute pain and now scientists have the roadmap for how to target it.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    In a groundbreaking discovery, chronic pain has been shown to be physiologically different from acute pain and now scientists have the roadmap for how to target it.
    Researchers from the University of Aberdeen, Academia Sinica in Taiwan and a group of international experts say the discovery brings hope for sufferers of chronic pain and fibromyalgia.
    The team identified that in the nervous system chronic pain is processed differently from the pain that comes from an injury or over exertion.
    Crucially, they found a new and distinct separate physiological pathway for this chronic type of pain, which means it can now be a target for future therapies.
    Dr Guy Bewick, Senior Lecturer in Neurosciences at the University of Aberdeen, explains: “We all know there are different types of pain. There is the sharp stinging pain of pricking your finger with a needle, and there is also the chronic pain of muscle soreness after unaccustomed exercise. Nevertheless, most of us in the West, including scientists, regard both simply as ‘pain’. Currently, Western medicine is very often ineffective for chronic pain.
    “However, Eastern cultures have differentiated for many centuries, calling the latter ‘sng’ in Taiwanese, or ‘suan tong’ (sour pain) in Mandarin. The stinging pain from sharp objects and surgery can usually be treated effectively with common painkillers, but chronic pain often cannot. 
    “New treatments require an identifiably different drug target. This study has found that target. Specifically, we discovered the mechanism of this pain we call ‘sng’.”
    The discovery of the new pain pathway is described by the team as ‘a paradigm-shifting discovery that has fundamentally changed our understanding of human sensory systems and challenged the central dogma of pain biology that has been established in the past 50 years.’
    Dr Guy Bewick, and his team identified crucial evidence which laid the foundations for the discovery in Taiwan.
    Dr Bewick’s team discovered that a molecule called glutamate is released in muscles to activate a highly unusual receptor. This sparked a collaboration with Professor Chen’s team in Taiwan who found that too much glutamate release activated pain nerves nearby making them permanently active and not switch off as they normally would. Crucially, they then discovered that blocking the newly discovered, highly unusual, glutamate receptor entirely stopped the chronic pain being triggered.
    Dr Bewick said that: “This discovery means scientists can now start to develop new treatments specifically targeting this new pain pathway which does not respond to standard painkillers.
    “This has the potential to help the many people whose pain is currently inadequately treated.”
    The wider research was led by Professor Chih-Cheng Chen from Academia Sinica, supported by National Science and Technology Council’s Brain Technology Project and an Investigator Award of Academia Sinica.
    They were able to differentiate between the two types of pain by genetically silencing neuronal pathways in a mouse model and then testing the theory in practice in a patient with a spinal cord injury that blocked ‘standard’ pain but spared the newly discovered pathway, in the Taipei Medical University Hospital in Taiwan.
    Professor Chen explains: “Fundamentally, we found that sng persists even in people who have lost other pain sensation, for example, a patient with spinal cord damage did not notice when he had broken a toe but could still perceive ‘sng’ and position in the same leg.
    “Clearly, therefore, sng is a separate pathway.
    “The identification of a different mechanism for this type of chronic pain is an essential first step to start to develop new treatments specifically targeting this pathway, which does not respond to standard painkillers, to help the many people whose pain is currently inadequately treated.
    “This finding could lead to new pain relief treatments for such conditions as fibromyalgia, exercise-induced muscle pain (DOMS), rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic pain after spinal surgery.
    “It is a truly ground-breaking discovery in pain research.”
    Dr Robert Banks, a Visiting Researcher in Biosciences and the Biophysical Sciences Institute of Durham University, who contributed to this work and who collaborated with Dr Bewick on the fundamental discoveries that led to it, added: “It is very pleasing that a potentially important contribution to human health has developed from our original basic scientific observations.”

    Scientists can now start to develop new treatments specifically targeting this pathway, which does not respond to standard painkillers, to help the many people whose pain is currently inadequately treated.” Dr Guy Bewick

    Professor Chen added: “With this finding we now have a neurobiological basis of the difference between sng and pain, which annotates a new era of pain medicine.
    “Further research into the development of sng-killers and sng management is ushering in a new wave of revolution in the biomedical industry and medical field, as well as bringing hope for millions of patients suffering from intractable sng-type pain.”
    Professor Sonia Aitken CEO of Pain Association Scotland added: “Pain Association Scotland welcome this continued research within the field of chronic pain. Such advancing knowledge is essential to fostering innovation, informing thoughtful decision-making, but more importantly, helping to improve the quality of life for those living with chronic pain.”
    Marlene Lowe
    Marlene Lowe, 35, lives in Aberdeen with her partner, Mark, and their two-year-old springer spaniels, Spock and Cheese.
    Marlene describes her experience of living with the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia: “I was first diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in my early twenties, after pushing myself through two degrees and several years of debilitating illness. I was sick every couple of weeks with no clear explanation, and for a long time it felt like maybe it was all in my head. When I finally received a diagnosis, I cried—not because there was a solution, but because I finally had validation. It wasn’t just in my imagination.
    “That’s the hardest part of living with an invisible illness—or one that makes you invisible by shutting you away from the world. You begin to question everything. It’s hard to think clearly, to trust your instincts, and you constantly feel like your life no longer belongs to you. I once read someone describe CFS as “the illness that takes your life away, but doesn’t have the decency to kill you.” In the early years, that’s exactly how it felt.
    “About a decade later, I started experiencing a new kind of pain—something I couldn’t explain away with my CFS, which I’d mostly managed to get under control. Just as I felt I was reclaiming parts of my life, the cycle of doctor’s appointments, symptom tracking, and self-doubt began again. Over and over, I was told it was my weight or my CFS, and no one seemed willing to acknowledge the severity of the pain I was in.
    “It was actually my family and friends who first suggested I look into fibromyalgia, and that was the first time I felt a glimmer of hope. At 34, I saw a new GP and arrived with a full list of symptoms and everything I’d been doing to try and help myself. He listened. He believed me. He confirmed it wasn’t just in my head and told me I was already doing everything right. He was so confident in his diagnosis that rheumatology signed it off without even needing an additional assessment. That’s when I learned how far a detailed symptom log and a little self-assurance can go when speaking to doctors.
    “This journey can be incredibly lonely. Chronic pain is hard to explain to someone who hasn’t lived it — how you can keep going despite everything hurting, or how the choice to stop feels like giving up entirely. There are days when functioning is an act of defiance, a refusal to surrender to the exhaustion or pain.
    “Some medical professionals have been brilliant—really taking the time to listen and treat me like a person, not a puzzle. Others, unfortunately, have been quick to make assumptions. Too often, there’s a rush to explain symptoms away rather than look at the full picture. But when someone takes just a few extra minutes to genuinely engage, it makes all the difference.
    “I’ve been lucky. My mother, who also lives with autoimmune conditions, has been my anchor. She helped me find the words when I couldn’t express how I was feeling. Friends who’ve gone through similar experiences have shared what worked for them, and I’ve tried just about everything, from nutritional changes to alternative therapies, in an effort to manage symptoms and reclaim some sense of control. My partner has been unwavering in his support, gently encouraging me to pace myself and always looking for ways to make daily life more manageable. He’s held me up, quite literally, since the fibromyalgia diagnosis.”
    Marlene has experience of trying various medications to ease her symptoms: “Pain medication is a complicated area. Most of the time, it doesn’t feel like it makes a significant difference, and ideally, I’d love to live a life free from meds altogether. But that’s not always possible. This path has been one of constant trial and error—trying everything from conventional treatments to alternative approaches, focusing on nutrition, sleep, and gradually improving my fitness where I can.
    “A lot of the progress I’ve made has come through self-discovery and community—not through the medical system. And that feels like a missed opportunity, because not everyone has access to the kind of support I’ve been fortunate to have. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without the people in my life who believed me, helped me advocate for myself, and reminded me that I’m not alone.
    “I am delighted to see that there is more work being done to try to understand and treat chronic pain conditions and it gives me hope for a pain-free future.”
    Dr Rachael Dobson, a GP from Bentley Medical Practice at Redcar Primary Care Hospital who increasingly sees patients living with chronic pain supports the research saying: “Managing chronic pain as a GP is both professionally and emotionally challenging. Every patient’s experience is unique, and finding the right balance of treatment is difficult and time consuming.
    “Many patients come to appointments exhausted, frustrated, and often disheartened by the lack of immediate relief, and frequently despite my best efforts, it is often impossible to completely eliminate their pain. 
    “One of the hardest aspects is managing expectations. Chronic pain is rarely something that can be ‘fixed,’ and helping patients navigate that reality while offering hope takes patience and empathy. It’s a journey of trial and adjustment, and sometimes, just acknowledging the weight of their experience makes all the difference.  
    “This step towards a new type of painkiller has the potential to transform the lives of the many, many patients living with chronic pain every day.” 
    The full paper is published in Science Advances.

    Related Content

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Olli Rehn: Europe at the crossroads – common defence, re-emerging economy?

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Presentation accompanying the speech

    Dear Friends of Bruegel and the Bank of Finland,

    It is a great pleasure to celebrate with you all today both the 20th anniversary of Bruegel and the 30th anniversary of Finland’s membership of the EU. It is indeed an honour to organise and hold this conference together with Bruegel and to celebrate Europe Day.

    The founders of Bruegel were truly visionary 20 years ago. They recognized a gap – a growing need for stronger economics-based analysis and research on the shaping of the European Union. Anchoring the think tank firmly with EU Member States was also a wise decision.

    I had the privilege and pleasure of being present – if not at Bruegel’s creation, then certainly at its institutional foundation – as economic policy advisor to Finland’s Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. The Finnish Government, specifically the Ministry of Finance, decided to become a founding member institution. More recently, the Bank of Finland also joined the club, and we have made good use of Bruegel’s valuable work.

    Today, we all appreciate Bruegel for its diverse and independent research, which significantly enhances evidence-based and research-informed policymaking in Europe. Let me extend my warmest congratulations and wish you many more dynamic and productive years as Europe’s leading policy think tank.

    Dear Friends,

    Europe Day today marks the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which laid out the foundation for European integration. In 1950 Europe was still recovering from the human and economic devastation of the Second World War.

    From the Finnish standpoint, the immediate post-war years were not a brilliant time to be a small nation. As Private Rahikainen put it in Väinö Linna’s The Unknown Soldier, in response to a minister’s idealistic speech after the armistice in September 1944:

     “To hell with their damned speeches. When your powder’s all gone, it’s better to keep your mouth shut than go spouting about the rights of small nations. A dog raises his hind leg on them.”

    The Schuman Declaration nevertheless turned the tide and became the starting point for Pax Europaea, the long period of relative peace with notably few conflicts between European countries.

    Indeed, an essential manifestation of Europe as a peace project is the EU’s 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The European Union had, by then, “for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe”.

    Slide 2: Outline of today’s talk

    I’d like to structure my remarks today under three themes. First, the seismic geopolitical shift which the world is currently witnessing. Second, the need for immediate investments in common defence to secure Europe’s peace. And third, revitalising the EU economy through advancements in innovation, trade and productivity.

    Slide 3: Power politics is overshadowing the world economy

    Let me start with the shifting geopolitical landscape, which presents the EU with significant new security challenges.

    The rules-based international order, on which Europe built its post-war recovery, is under strain. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have each, in their own way, challenged this order − pushing for a world where great powers claim their spheres of influence and where might is only right. Such a tri-polar world would not be a world of peace and prosperity.

    Since the Second World War, for good reason we have trusted that it is in the enlightened self-interest of the United States to stand as the security backstop for the Euro-Atlantic community. To my mind, as a long-time student of US foreign and security policy, this self-interest has clearly been rational from the standpoint of the United States’ own national security and its global strategic interests and influence. However, the US is now making decisions based on a very different type of rationality that involves strained relations with the European Union.

    I am aware that some are holding out hope that this is just temporary – that we’ll be back to ‘the old normal’ in a few years. Two points on that. First, I would not bet on it – there is no guarantee of a policy U-turn, as we may be witnessing a deeper political current in the US. And second, even more fundamentally, we must ask: can European security over the longer term be left at the mercy of the political winds in Pennsylvania’s rust belt and seven swing states? Or should Europe finally take substantially greater responsibility for its own security?

    In my view, the answer is clear, given the current and probable future defence environment: Europe must build its own credible common defence. Supporting Ukraine and reinforcing European defence is imperative for the security of the whole of Europe. Common defence is a crucial European public good. We need a strong, independent Europe, capable of defending itself as the European pillar of Nato.

    The COVID-era recovery fund and earlier crisis responses have shown that the EU is capable of solidarity. A similar level of unity and quick decision-making is now needed for defence.

    Many EU countries have already increased defence spending. Germany has committed to major investments. Not all EU states currently have the fiscal capacity to follow suit. That’s why Europe must build joint capabilities, interoperable forces − and, if necessary, common financing.

    Europe would also benefit from a broad and liquid market for safe assets, such as the US enjoys. Bonds issued by EU institutions have consistently drawn strong investor demand. The currently unpredictable nature of US economic policy only increases the demand for stable investment options. Europe should capitalise on that by developing genuine safe assets – another field calling for Bruegel’s continued active input.

    Moreover, I have been reading with great interest about the proposal for a European Defence Mechanism (EDM), which was launched by Bruegel last month. Such an intergovernmental organisation would apparently be modelled on the existing and well-tested template of the European Stability Mechanism. I see many merits in this proposal and would love to dive deeper into this – but I shall refrain from doing so, as I suppose that the panel will shortly be discussing the EDM more closely.

    Let me nevertheless comment that Bruegel’s proposal includes cooperation with the United Kingdom, which shares our values and has a strong military. Despite no longer being part of the EU, the UK remains a key partner in Europe’s security architecture. I should also add that we cannot afford to be held back by foot-dragging or by hostile Member States, such as Hungary, which might wish to hinder progress.

    This is why we must, as Bruegel has done, search for creative solutions, typically driven by coalitions of the capable and willing, to ensure that we move forward with our shared goals.

    At the same time, we must work for more effective European institutional arrangements that better serve the common good. These should include a significantly larger EU budget and more streamlined decision-making structures.

    This is also an opportunity to make Europe economically and financially stronger, as we need a liquid and large market of safe assets, as I alluded to earlier. Could European defence bonds provide such safe assets? A precondition for this would be that these bonds would be used to finance genuine European public goods and be backed by larger common revenues in the future.

    Solidarity and unity within the EU are reinforced by standing together, demonstrating our commitment to collective security and prosperity. Let us recall that the Treaty on European Union offers the legal basis for common defence in its Article 42. Involvement from us all is vital in maintaining a united front and ensuring a peaceful and prosperous Europe for future generations.

    Slide 4: Growth in the euro area has been picking up

    My third and final theme is the re-emerging European economy. Yes, re-emerging, even though it provides a mixed picture today.

    Recent data has shown signs of recovery in the euro area, but the outlook remains clouded by exceptional uncertainty due to President Trump’s trade war. Employment is solid in the euro area, and unemployment is low at 6.2%. Private consumption has benefited from stronger real incomes. Investments in Europe’s common defence and infrastructure will bolster manufacturing further and strengthen long-term growth. Europe will continue to build up resilience against global shocks.

    With disinflation on track and the growth outlook weakening, we decided at the European Central Bank’s Governing Council meeting on 17 April to lower interest rates. This was the seventh reduction since last summer.

    Given the pervasive uncertainty, the Governing Council is maintaining full freedom of action in monetary policy. We will adjust our rates to bring inflation to 2% in the medium term – just as our strategy tells us to do.

    Slide 5: Bank of Finland’s scenario calculation: A trade war would weaken growth worldwide

    The elevated uncertainty brings me to the significant risks in our economic outlook, especially trade protectionism.

    An extensive trade war would weaken economic output worldwide, and we have already seen major turbulence in the global stock markets.

    Calculations by the Bank of Finland show that if the US were to impose tariffs targeting all imports from EU countries and China – raising them by 25 percentage points – and the EU were to take equivalent counter measures, world GDP could decline by over 0.5% in both 2025 and 2026. The impact on the euro area economy could be slightly greater, with the estimated GDP effect ranging from 0.7% to 1.5% in the first year, depending on the increased uncertainty and the extent of counter measures taken. With all the usual caveats, these figures illustrate the seriousness of the threat posed by a full-scale trade war.

    Bank of Finland’s earlier calculations concerning the effects of the trade war on the Finnish economy are in line with these estimated effects on the euro area economy. While the model estimations come with uncertainty, they consistently speak to significantly negative outcomes for open economies such as Finland, as a result of trade war.

    In my view, in the face of US protectionism, the European Commission’s response has been justified and rational. The Commission has rightly suggested a zero-for-zero tariff agreement between the EU and the US. While Europe remains committed to constructive negotiations with the US, the Commission has been preparing proportionate countermeasures to reinforce our negotiating position, with the aim of reaching a solution that benefits everybody and avoids further damage to growth.

    Slide 6: Investment needed now in security and productivity

    “This is Europe’s moment” has become a slogan of the era. But to what extent is there substance to it?

    No doubt, President Trump’s policies are compromising the United States’ economic and institutional dominance, while Europe’s position is benefiting from its stability and certain political developments.

    Yet, the fact remains that the size of the US bypasses the European economy significantly in many dimensions, especially in factor productivity and therefore in growth. Will Europe adopt Mario Draghi’s recommendations to boost productivity? European industry must strengthen its technological capabilities. Cutting-edge research and innovation, and investment in areas like AI, will be crucial.

    Furthermore, Europe’s Savings and Investment Union needs to be advanced. The US has a larger and more unified internal capital market which benefits from scaling, a strong venture capital ecosystem, and fewer regulatory hurdles. The US dollar may remain the world’s leading reserve currency at the centre of the global financial system. But many investors are keen to diversify their portfolios to euro-denominated assets, which will also strengthen the international role of the euro.

    The price of energy is a considerable burden to European competitiveness. Unlike the US, the EU has no abundant fossil fuel supplies, so there is no other viable strategy for increasing our energy security than decarbonisation and the green transition. The green transition in energy is not just climate action – it’s a geopolitical investment. So is the digital euro and the broader effort to bolster the international role of the euro.

    Human capital and academic freedom are among Europe’s greatest assets. As these freedoms are eroded in the United States, Europe has a unique opportunity. In my view, the EU should rapidly create a special visa programme for top researchers seeking intellectual freedom without political pressure. We must highlight Europe’s universities where critical thinking is encouraged and academic liberty protected. This is an investment in Europe’s future prosperity and influence.

    Slide 7: Conclusions

    To conclude, today’s world is experiencing yet another major transition, as it was 30 years ago when the Cold War came to an end. But now, unfortunately, it is moving in reverse gear.

    Europe’s external security and its soft power depend now on strengthening its hard power, particularly in terms of coordinated defence solutions. Moreover, despite the current uncertain geopolitical environment, international cooperation remains essential in a highly interconnected world. We stand for it.

    At the same time, Europe must strengthen its economic foundation by finding ways to increase productivity and hence fulfil its true potential. At the ECB, we will contribute to this by ensuring price stability and financial stability, thus laying the foundation for Europe’s economic and social re-emergence and long-term resilience.

    In sum, this truly is Europe’s moment. We must defend our way of life – solving conflict and making progress through reason, dialogue and democracy.

    As Reinhold Niebuhr, the theologian and international relations theorist from our western neighbour, once said:

    “The sad duty of politics is to establish justice in a sinful world.”

    That is precisely Europe’s task now – more so than for decades.

    Thank you!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Former world darts champion Rob Cross banned as director over unpaid taxes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Former world darts champion Rob Cross banned as director over unpaid taxes

    Darts professional banned after company failed to pay hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax

    • Former world darts champion Rob Cross has been disqualified as a director after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax 

    • The Insolvency Service also found Cross withdrew more than £300,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited between March 2020 and November 2023 that should have gone to creditors 

    • Cross has now been banned as a company director until June 2030 and entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) last year in a bid to pay off some of the money he owes 

    Former world darts champion Rob Cross has been banned as a director for five years after his company failed to pay more than £450,000 in tax. 

    Cross, known for winning the PDC World Darts Championship in 2018 and five World Series of Darts titles, was the director of Rob Cross Darts Limited, which was set up for the 34-year-old to receive his earnings and prize money. 

    However, between March 2020 and November 2023, Cross removed more than £300,000 in company money which should have been paid to creditors, including to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). 

    He had also taken out more than £400,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited in the form of a director’s loan account by the time the company went into liquidation. 

    In an attempt to repay part of his debts, Cross has entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), a legally binding agreement where he has committed to making regular payments to an insolvency practitioner. The monthly contributions Cross makes to the IVA will vary depending on the income he receives through his performances at darts tournaments during this year and future years. 

    Kevin Read, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: 

    When directors fail to pay the correct amount of tax, it directly impacts the government’s ability to fund vital public services such as the NHS, schools, transport infrastructure, and our national defence.  

    Rob Cross’s company owed more than £400,000 in corporation tax alone when it went into liquidation. For more than three years, he withdrew funds from the company which should have gone to HMRC and other creditors. 

    This case demonstrates that we will pursue action against directors who deprive the public purse of much-needed funds. The rules apply equally to everyone in business, and we expect all company directors to comply with their legal responsibilities. 

    Enforcing these rules consistently is crucial in maintaining a level playing field and preventing companies from gaining an unfair competitive advantage over compliant businesses that properly fulfil their tax obligations.

    Rob Cross Darts Limited was formed in May 2017, with Cross appointed as director on the same day. 

    Insolvency Service investigations found that the company received just more than £1 million from Cross’s earnings between the start of March 2020 and the date of liquidation in November 2023. 

    A total of £169,500 in sponsorships and £261,901 from his management company was also paid in to the company. 

    However, in the same period, Cross withdrew funds of at least £306,403 from the company which he acknowledged was “to the risk and ultimate detriment of HMRC”. 

    A further £665,419 was paid into the personal account of a connected party. 

    By the time the company went into liquidation, it owed £403,896 in corporation tax, £49,071 in VAT, and £12,436 in PAYE and National Insurance contributions. 

    The company had only paid £41,936 to HMRC between March 2020 and November 2023. 

    Cross’s director’s loan account was also overdrawn by £423,608 when the company went into liquidation with liabilities of £579,805. 

    The Secretary of State for Business and Trade accepted a disqualification undertaking from Cross, and his ban started on Thursday 5 June. 

    It prevents him from being involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company, without the permission of the court. 

    Further information 

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK promotes using Hong Kong as gateway for global expansion in Liaoning Province to enhance cross-regional collaboration (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         ​Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) Mr Arnold Lau today (June 5) visited Shenyang, Liaoning Province, to promote Hong Kong’s latest business opportunities to local government authorities, enterprises and media, supporting Liaoning companies in going global via Hong Kong and fostering mutually beneficial co-operation.

         In the morning, Mr Lau toured a well-known multinational information technology enterprise in Liaoning Province to gain deeper insights into its industrial presence and global business scale. He encouraged the company to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages to further drive its global expansion.
     
         In the afternoon, Mr Lau attended the seminar entitled “Unparalleled Opportunities to Expand Your Global Business – Liaoning to Hong Kong Investment Promotion Seminar”, which was organised by InvestHK, the Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Beijing, and the Department of Commerce of Liaoning Province. He delivered opening remarks first, followed by speeches from the Associate Director of the Beijing Office, Ms Eunice Chan, and Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce of Liaoning Province Mr Li Jun. The event was supported by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Liaoning Sub-Council, the Liaoning Federation of Industry and Commerce, the General Association of Liaoning Entrepreneurs, and the Shenyang Municipal Commerce Bureau.
     
         During Mr Lau’s first official visit to Shenyang, under his current tenure, he showcased Hong Kong’s strengths under the “one country, two systems” framework. He said, “Liaoning and Hong Kong enjoy close economic and trade ties, with Hong Kong being Liaoning’s largest source of foreign investment. As Asia’s leading international financial centre, Hong Kong attracts many Mainland and foreign enterprises to come to Hong Kong for financing activities and to set up corporate treasury centres in the city. Mainland enterprises have shown strong performance among companies listed in Hong Kong. Among them, 20 listed companies are from Liaoning, spanning sectors such as industrial manufacturing, energy, finance, healthcare, food, and education. I encourage more Liaoning enterprises to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths in financial services and actively consider listing in Hong Kong to raise capital. Amid the evolving global economic dynamics, Hong Kong serves as a ‘super connector’ and ‘super value-adder’, sailing together with the Mainland and to explore new overseas markets and opportunities.” He added that InvestHK will continue to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to attract overseas enterprises, capital and talent to Liaoning, promoting two-way investment.
     
         Ms Chan noted in her remarks, “The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China explicitly outlined Hong Kong’s strategic positioning, supporting its development as a hub for international high-end talent and its enhanced role in the nation’s opening up. The National “Government Work Report” of this year, for the first time, called for Hong Kong to deepen international exchanges and co-operation, reflecting the nation’s high expectations for the city. Hong Kong is building itself into a multinational supply chain management centre, offering one-stop support for Mainland enterprises expanding overseas production and supply chain networks, enabling them to participate more deeply in global industrial division and collaboration amid complex geopolitical landscapes.” She expressed hope that today’s seminar could serve as a platform for Liaoning-Hong Kong collaboration, with the Beijing Office and the Liaoning Liaison Unit of the HKSAR Government committed to fostering all-round co-operation.
     
         Mr Li, representing Liaoning provincial government authorities, pledged to further deepen economic, trade, and investment exchanges between Liaoning and Hong Kong, enabling enterprises in both regions to capitalise on their respective strengths for mutual development.
     
         Deputy Head of Business and Talent Attraction/Investment Promotion of InvestHK in Beijing Ms Angie Kwok delivered a thematic presentation, encouraging Liaoning enterprises to establish multinational supply chain management centres in Hong Kong. The Principal Immigration Officer of the Beijing Office, Mr Jacky Wong, also provided a briefing on Hong Kong’s latest talent schemes.
     
         The event featured a professional services session with the Managing Director of Equities Department at CMB International Securities Limited, Mr Alan Chan, and Offering Services Partner, Audit and Assurance, Capital Market Services Group, Deloitte China, Mr Raymond Ng, who spoke on Hong Kong’s diversified financial services and how Mainland enterprises can leverage the city’s business advantages for global expansion. Three Liaoning-based enterprises were also invited to share their Hong Kong success stories, including the Secretary of the CPC Committee and Vice President of Neusoft Corporation, Mr Hu Wangyang; Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Hi-Think Technology International Limited, Mr Yue Xuefeng; and the General Manager of Solargiga Energy Holdings Limited, Mr Zhang Hai. They encouraged Liaoning enterprises to explore Hong Kong’s business environment and new opportunities and implement their “going global” strategy. The event attracted around 160 representatives from Liaoning enterprises, institutions, and media.
     
         For photos of the seminar, please visit www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326654239.  

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: LyondellBasell enters into an agreement and exclusive negotiations with AEQUITA for the sale of four European Strategic Assessment assets

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LyondellBasell (LYB) today announced that it has entered into an agreement and exclusive negotiations with AEQUITA for the sale of select olefins & polyolefins assets and the associated business in Europe. The sites to be sold have been part of the previously announced European strategic assessment and are located in Berre (France), Münchsmünster (Germany), Carrington (UK), and Tarragona (Spain).

    “This contemplated transaction is a significant step in LYB’s transformation to Grow and Upgrade our Core. We are committed to operate our assets safely and reliably throughout this process and will continue to support our customers, employees and other key stakeholders,” said Peter Vanacker, LyondellBasell chief executive officer. “Europe remains a core market for LYB and one we will continue to participate in following this transaction with more of a focus on value creation through establishing profitable leadership in circular and renewable solutions.”

    The assets and business to be acquired by AEQUITA include integrated and non-integrated sites within LYB’s European olefins and polyolefins business, as well as supporting central functions based at the Company’s Rotterdam headquarters and various locations. The sites together represent a scaled olefins and polyolefins platform strategically located in proximity to a longstanding customer base and with access and connectivity to key infrastructure.

    “The acquisition of these assets from LYB marks another important step in expanding our industrial footprint,” said Christoph Himmel, Managing Partner at AEQUITA. “Each site brings a strong operational foundation and a highly experienced, committed employee base. We are confident in our ability to accelerate their development under AEQUITA’s ownership approach. We look forward to welcoming the teams into our Group and to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition and establish a strong platform for long-term success.”

    The agreement entered into between LyondellBasell and AEQUITA is a put option deed under which AEQUITA has committed to enter into an agreed form purchase agreement if LyondellBasell exercises its put option, after conclusion of certain works council consultation processes.

    Closing of the proposed transaction is currently expected in the first half of 2026, subject to the completion of the information and consultation processes with the relevant employee representative bodies in accordance with applicable laws, as well as regulatory and other customary closing conditions. Citi and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisors and Linklaters LLP acted as legal counsel to LyondellBasell.

    Investor conference call

    LYB will host a conference call June 5 at 8 a.m. EDT. Participants on the call will include Chief Executive Officer Peter Vanacker, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Agustin Izquierdo, Executive Vice President of Global Olefins and Polyolefins Kim Foley and Head of Investor Relations Dave Kinney. For event access, the toll-free dial-in number is 1-877-407-8029, international dial-in number is 201-689-8029 or click the CallMe link. The slides and webcast that accompany the call will be available at investors.lyondellbasell.com/events-and-presentations/. A replay of the call will be available from 1 p.m. EDT June 5 until July 5, 2025. The replay toll-free dial-in numbers are 1-877-660-6853 and 201-612-7415. The access ID for each is 13754240.

    About LyondellBasell
    We are LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) ― a leader in the global chemical industry creating solutions for everyday sustainable living. Through advanced technology and focused investments, we are enabling a circular and low carbon economy. Across all we do, we aim to unlock value for our customers, investors, and society. As one of the world’s largest producers of polymers and a leader in polyolefin technologies, we develop, manufacture and market high-quality and innovative products for applications ranging from sustainable transportation and food safety to clean water and quality healthcare. For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.

    About AEQUITA
    AEQUITA is a Munich-based industrial group investing in special situations, including corporate carve-outs, successions, and transformational situations across Europe. Its current portfolio generates more than EUR 3.5 billion in revenues. With a strong capital base, entrepreneurial expertise, and a partnership approach, AEQUITA focuses on the acquisition and long-term value enhancement of companies that can benefit from its operational engagement. For more information, please visit www.aequita.com.

    Media Inquiries LYB Global
    LyondellBasell Media Relations
    Phone: +1-713-309-7575
    Email: mediarelations@lyondellbasell.com

    Or:

    Media Inquiries LYB Europe
    Robert Kleissen, External Affairs Europe
    Phone: +31-6-273-573-98
    Email: robert.kleissen@lyondellbasell.com

    Media Inquiries AEQUITA
    Simon Schulz, Partner
    Phone: +49-89-2620-4840-0
    Email: contact@aequita.com

    Forward-Looking Statements LYB
    The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially based on factors including, but not limited to, our ability to align our asset base with our strategic goals; our ability to successfully complete the transactions contemplated by the put option and related agreements; completion of information and consultation processes of the relevant employee representative bodies; and the satisfaction of regulatory and other customary closing conditions. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which can be found at www.LyondellBasell.com on the Investor Relations page and on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. There is no assurance that any of the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made and are based on the estimates and opinions of management of LyondellBasell at the time the statements are made. LyondellBasell does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions change, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Toobit Launches Zero-Fee Trading for All USDC Spot Pairs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Toobit, an award-winning global digital asset trading exchange, is launching a limited-time Zero-Fee Trading for all USDC spot trading pairs, beginning June 5, 2025, at 8:00 (UTC). During this event, all users can enjoy 0% maker and taker fees, helping them maximize profitability by eliminating transaction costs.

    This exclusive promotion applies to all currently available USDC spot pairs on the Toobit platform, including BTC/USDC, ETH/USDC, SOL/USDC, DOGE/USDC, TRX/USDC, and TON/USDC. The initiative is part of Toobit’s ongoing efforts to make digital asset trading more accessible, cost-efficient, and user-friendly.

    “We’re continuously looking for ways to improve our users’ trading experience and provide them with a rewarding trading environment,” said Mike Williams, Chief Communication Officer at Toobit. “This zero-fee event is designed to give traders greater flexibility while optimizing their returns.”

    In spot trading, maker and taker fees are the standard costs users pay to execute trades on an exchange. A maker adds liquidity to the market by placing a limit order that isn’t immediately filled, while a taker removes liquidity by matching with an existing order. Most exchanges charge separate fees for each, but during this event on Toobit, both types of trades will incur zero fees.

    Removing these fees means a greater portion of each trade goes directly to the user, supporting more efficient strategies, especially for high-frequency traders and those trading at volume.

    Toobit invites traders of all experience levels to take advantage of this opportunity to maximize their returns with zero transaction costs on one of the most stable cryptoasset exchanges in the market.

    For more information, visit www.toobit.com.

    About Toobit

    Toobit is where the future of crypto trading unfolds—an award-winning cryptocurrency derivatives exchange built for those who thrive exploring new frontiers. With deep liquidity and cutting-edge technology, Toobit empowers traders worldwide to navigate the digital asset markets with confidence. We offer a fair, secure, seamless, and transparent trading experience, ensuring every trade is an opportunity to discover what’s next.

    For more information about Toobit, visit: Website | X | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Instagram

    Contact: Davin C.

    Email: market@toobit.com

    Website: www.toobit.com

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bb0a47e-db2b-4e63-8177-2ad7330dbb35

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of British High Commissioner to Lesotho: Martine Sobey

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Change of British High Commissioner to Lesotho: Martine Sobey

    Mrs Martine Sobey has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Lesotho in succession to Mr Harry MacDonald.

    Martine Sobey

    Mrs Martine Sobey has been appointed British High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Lesotho in succession to Mr Harry MacDonald who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mrs Sobey will take up her appointment during September 2025.

    Curriculum vitae         

    Full name: Martine Sunshine Sobey       

    Year Role
    2023 to present Abuja, Climate Change and Nature Team Lead
    2022 to 2023 BEIS-FCDO, Team Leader, Joint International Forests Unit
    2021 to 2022 BEIS, Team Leader Forests, Land Use and Carbon Markets
    2019 to 2020 BEIS, Bilateral Partnerships Lead, International Climate Finance
    2019 Joined Civil Service
    2017 to 2019 Rockefeller Foundation, Senior Manager – Africa Region
    2009 to 2017 Environment, climate and international development consulting roles
    2008 to 2009 King’s College London, Masters in Climate Change, Environment and Globalisation

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 5 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Enko Capital welcomes commitment from IFC to new Impact Credit Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Enko Capital (“Enko”), an African-focused asset management firm managing debt, private debt, equity and private equity investments across Africa, has welcomed commitment from International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) to its new Impact Credit Fund (“EICF”).

    The commitment has been confirmed by IFC with the planned equity investment in the fund being up to the lower of US$25 million or 20% of total Limited Partner (LP) commitment to EICF. The project is being processed under IFC’s Debt Funds Project (DFP) Investment Framework. 

    EICF is Enko’s first private credit vehicle. It has a target LP commitment size of US$150 million, targeting US$80 million at first close, expected to take place in Q3 2025. EICF’s objective is to invest in a diversified portfolio of USD denominated senior secured and unsecured debt to mid-sized corporates in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa. 

    EICF will seek to invest in SDG-aligned, ESG focused and gender-oriented businesses, while generating commercial returns and utilising guarantees, insurance wraps and collateral to hedge downside credit risks.  

    Alain Nkontchou, Managing Partner of Enko, said, “We are delighted to have received this invaluable support from IFC for our debut private credit fund. The fund will provide critical growth capital for mid-market SMEs on the continent and will deliver both positive social impact and compelling risk-adjusted returns. This growth capital can help address the massive funding gap which businesses on the continent face while driving sustainable development.”

    About Enko:

    Enko Capital (“Enko”), is an African-focused asset management firm managing debt, private debt, equity and private equity investments across Africa. Enko offers deep knowledge of the continent combined with best-in-class investment expertise. Enko was founded in 2008 by Alain and Cyrille Nkontchou, and has over $1bn in assets under management.

    Contact:

    nick.white@enkocapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Porirua City Council makes budget decisions

    Source: Porirua City Council

    After listening to feedback from residents Porirua City Council has made changes to next year’s budget, including not increasing paid parking charges in the city or Cannons Creek pool entry fees.
    The Council’s Te Puna Kōrero committee met this morning to deliberate on the Annual Plan, which sets the city’s budget for the coming financial year.
    When preparing the draft Annual Plan, the starting point for this year’s rates increases had increased from the planned 10 per cent to 15 per cent, due to cost pressures.
    Council acknowledged this wasn’t sustainable for households and businesses, so took a hard look at internal operations to find cost savings. This process brought the new starting point for the average rates increase down to 6.75 per cent.
    Council consulted on five options, which if adopted would decrease the rates increase even further. A total of 343 submissions were received, with a mix of opinions on the items on the table.
    Committee Chair Councillor Ross Leggett thanked everyone who made submissions and shared their thoughts.
    “Your feedback is shown in this paper and we do read and appreciate all of it,” he said.
    Of the options consulted on, the committee voted to discontinue the Chamber of Commerce grant and increase Council’s building consent hourly rate.
    They voted against increasing the paid parking hourly rate, putting up Cannons Creek Pool entry fees, and discontinuing the Event Investment Programme.
    With these changes, the average rates increase for residential properties for the 2025/26 year will be 6.39 per cent, subject to confirmation by the full Council on 26 June.
    Mayor Anita Baker said everything possible was done to keep rates increases as low as possible.
    “Nobody wants the big increases we saw last year and we know the community is struggling. The organisation has done a deep dive internally and made significant cuts that got us to a lower starting point than planned.
    “In terms of the further cuts we could have made, we asked for feedback and we’ve listened to our people. That’s why we are not supporting some of the ideas that were on the table.”
    Councillors spoke about the community benefits of swimming pools, the life that events bring to the city, and the need to support local businesses through keeping parking charges as they are. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: MEXC Drives Stablecoin Expansion After $20M USDe Purchase and $100M TVL Milestone

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, is shaping its long-term strategy, based on its mission – making crypto more accessible to everyone and building trust within the community. Being a significant player in the market, MEXC drives the whole industry. The effect of its recent investments on the crypto space globally is hard to overestimate.

    As part of this strategy, the exchange has previously made a significant investment of $16 million in Ethena, a leading innovator in the stablecoin space. The investment follows MEXC’s recent acquisition of $20 million worth of USDe, Ethena’s synthetic dollar, which caused a surge in ENA’s trading volume and boosted USDe’s total value locked (TVL).

    In May 2025, the TVL of USDe in MEXC recorded a value above $100 million, making it the second-largest holder of USDe TVL among centralized exchanges. This growth aligns with the broader rise of USDe, whose circulating supply has reached nearly $5.2 billion — making it the fourth-largest stablecoin by market capitalization. The trust in this coin is backed up by several factors. In contrast to some highly volatile crypto assets, USDe exhibits greater price stability. Also, Ethena employs a unique strategy for maintaining the dollar peg, combining derivatives and on-chain liquidity.

    To encourage users to experience and trade USDe, MEXC launched several events and promotional campaigns, including one with an impressive prize pool of $1 million. Other incentives include zero trading fees, presented as a limited-time Trader’s Fest, aimed at attracting crypto professionals and those who are making their first steps. Within this offering, traders can take advantage of zero-fee trading pairs.

    To appeal to risk-averse crypto investors, MEXC comes out with exclusive staking rewards with generous APR (annual percentage rate). These incentives, targeted to various crypto user groups, offer simplicity, innovation and customization. They drive industry as a whole and build confidence among market participants by promoting stablecoins as a more trustworthy instrument and emphasizing transparency and security of operations.

    These efforts, benefiting not only MEXC itself, but the crypto market on a larger scale, are followed by astonishing numbers. For instance, in March, the quantity of ENA holders increased by 30%, ENA TVL increased by 14%, and the daily trading volume of ENA increased by 885%. The average spot daily trading volume in March increased by 557% compared to February’s numbers.

    By May 2025, ENA’s market capitalization reached 1.96 billion USD, marking a substantial growth from February 2025, when its market cap was approximately half that amount at 1.07 billion USD.

    To sum up, MEXC, a cryptocurrency exchange with a years-long history (it was founded in 2018) is making investments in innovative, but at the same time secure instruments. This move emphasizes MEXC’s values and sets positive trends for the crypto industry in the long-term perspective.

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

    For media inquiries, please contact MEXC PR Manager Lucia Hu: lucia.hu@mexc.com

    Source

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee886fd6-a86d-483a-bc84-6114b3f85355

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Introduces Samsung Finance+ for Bespoke AI Appliances, Offering Quick and Digital Financing for Indian Consumers

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand has expanded its popular digital lending program, Samsung Finance+, enabling consumer ease of purchase for its wide range of Bespoke AI Appliances. Developed by Samsung R&D Institute in Bangalore & Delhi, Samsung Finance+ ensures a fully digital and hassle-free financing experience with loan approvals in as little as 15 minutes. The initiative aims to provide seamless, quick, and paperless financing solution, making Samsung’s latest AI-enabled appliances including refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners, more accessible to consumers across India.
     
    Samsung Finance+ is designed to drive financial inclusion so that consumers can avail easy credit with minimal documentation and quick loan approvals. Loans under Samsung Finance+ are facilitated in partnership with leading financial institution, DMI Finance, which specializes in digital lending solutions, ensuring a fast and seamless experience.
     
     “At Samsung, we are committed to making premium technology accessible to consumers across India, and Samsung Finance+ is a testament to our vision. By combining digital innovation with seamless and hassle-free accessibility, we are simplifying the financing process and expanding financial inclusion, ensuring consumers can conveniently upgrade their lifestyles with our Bespoke AI Appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners,” said Ghufran Alam, Vice President, Digital Appliances, Samsung India.
     
    How Samsung Finance+ Works
    Consumers can avail a loan through Samsung Finance+ via samsung.com and across retail stores in just a few simple steps. At the retail outlets, consumers have to submit their e-documents for KYC verification at the Samsung Finance+ desk. On the completion of verification and credit scoring processes, the loan is sanctioned in as little as 15 minutes. Flexible EMI options are also available, tailored to suit varied consumer needs. This seamless process ensures that customers can purchase their preferred Samsung appliances quickly and without financial strain.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Nintendo Switch 2 launches globally with shortages expected amid pent-up demand

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Nintendo’s 7974.T Switch 2 launched on Thursday and is widely expected to be in short supply globally amid pent-up demand for the more powerful next-generation gaming device.

    “The level of demand seems to be sky-high,” said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy.

    The Switch launched in 2017 and followed the underperforming Wii U. The home-portable device became a juggernaut with games including two “The Legend of Zelda” titles and COVID-19 pandemic breakout hit “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”.

    The Switch 2 bears many similarities with its predecessor but offers a larger screen and improved graphics and debuts with titles including “Mario Kart World”.

    “The much larger audience of Switch users should translate to stronger adoption in the opening part of its lifecycle,” said Piers Harding-Rolls, an analyst at Ampere Analysis.

    “Nintendo is better prepared this time around” to deal with the high demand, he said.

    The launch of the $499.99 Switch 2 is a test of Nintendo’s supply chain management during U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.

    Nintendo last month forecast sales of 15 million Switch 2 units during the current financial year.

    President Shuntaro Furukawa said Nintendo will strengthen production capacity to respond to strong demand and focus on sales promotion in an effort to exceed the forecast.

    The company, which is known for conservative forecasts, also expects to sell 4.5 million Switch units.

    Nintendo said it received 2.2 million applications for its Switch 2 sales lottery on its My Nintendo Store in Japan. Pre-orders at Target TGT.N sold out in less than two hours.

    “You are looking at weeks or months until you can walk into a store and buy a Switch 2,” said Toto of Kantan Games.

    Investor expectations for the new device are similarly lofty.

    Nintendo’s shares are trading near highs and have gained almost 30% this year.

    Concerns include whether momentum for the Switch 2 will be sustained after hardcore gamers have upgraded.

    “The volume of first-party games on offer at launch isn’t as strong as it could be, so some more casual users may wait and see how the games available build over the next one to two years before making the leap,” said Ampere’s Harding-Rolls.

    Ampere forecasts Switch 2 sales to exceed 100 million units in 2030. Nintendo has sold 152 million Switch units in total.

    (Reuters)

  • DBT, Jan Dhan schemes revolutionised welfare delivery in India: FM Sitharaman

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Several groundbreaking financial inclusion schemes by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government have revolutionised welfare delivery in India in the last 11 years, by plugging leakages and ensuring transparency, said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.

    Over the past decade, the NDA government has taken pathbreaking steps to uplift several people from the clutches of poverty, focussing on empowerment, infrastructure and inclusion.

    “Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) has revolutionised welfare delivery in India, by plugging leakages and ensuring transparency. Over 1,200 government schemes now leverage DBT, enabling direct transfer of Rs 44 lakh crore to beneficiaries’ bank accounts,” said FM Sitharaman in a post on X.

    This system has already saved the nation Rs 3.48 lakh crore in leakages and inefficiencies, she informed.

    Also, PM MUDRA Yojana has given wings to grassroots dreams and made entrepreneurship inclusive.

    “Under this scheme, over 52 crore loans worth Rs 33 lakh crore have been sanctioned, out of which 68 per cent belong to women,” said the Finance Minister.

    PM Jan Dhan Yojana has made banking universal. Under the world’s largest financial inclusion programme, 55.44 crore accounts have been opened, out of which 55.7 per cent are held by women, said the Finance Minister.

    According to PM Modi, the push for DBT, digital inclusion and rural infrastructure has ensured transparency and faster delivery of benefits till the last mile.

    Since the money goes directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, the leakage has been curbed, which has resulted in a halving of subsidy allocations from 16 per cent to 9 per cent of total expenditure, government data showed in April.

    “It is due to this that over 25 crore people have defeated poverty. The NDA remains committed to building an inclusive and self-reliant India, where every citizen has the opportunity to live with dignity,” said PM Modi in a post on X.

    (IANS)

     

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Capital’s manufacturing enterprises increased production output

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    According to the results of the first four months of 2025, Moscow companies in the manufacturing industry increased the production of key products that are in demand among residents. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    “On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, we are actively developing the industrial sector, which allows us to regularly note the growth of the industrial production index. According to the results of the first four months of 2025, manufacturing enterprises increased output by 6.7 percent. Companies began to produce more textile and paper products, chemicals, medical equipment, pharmaceutical substances and other important products,” said Maxim Liksutov.

    According to analysts’ forecasts Department of Investment and Industrial Policy of Moscow, the growth of industrial production in the capital will continue: this will be facilitated by a set of effective support instruments.

    “Moscow industry is a dynamically developing sector of the capital’s economy and one of the key elements in strengthening the country’s technological sovereignty. Today, we offer over 20 comprehensive tools for sustainable industrial development, which allows the city to reach new heights. In January-April, industrial production grew by 5.4 percent compared to the same period last year,” noted the Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of Investment and Industrial Policy

    Anatoly Garbuzov.

    Moscow is the largest industrial and scientific-engineering center of Russia. There are more than 4.5 thousand industrial enterprises in the capital, employing over 750 thousand people. Every year, 150 high-tech companies open in the city and implement dozens of investment projects.

    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/154837073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to invest funds and present business ideas: what young visitors to financial literacy days will learn

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On June 7 and 8, the Northern and Southern river terminals will host financial literacy days. A two-day educational marathon for the whole family was prepared Department of Finance of the City of Moscowand the Financial Literacy Center of the capital together with partners. While adults will participate in lectures and master classes, children will learn how to manage money wisely. The program of events for young visitors is divided into age groups: for children aged six to 10, 11 to 14, and 14 to 17.

    “Young guests will master key skills in an accessible, playful way: be mindful of spending and saving, avoid financial traps, and turn dreams into achievable goals. No complicated terms — just practice, exciting games, educational cartoons, and interactive activities. Today, when the world of finance is becoming increasingly complex, it is especially important to give children a reliable compass that will help them confidently chart their course into adulthood,” she emphasized.

    Elena Zyabbarova, Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Finance.

    This time, financial literacy days will be held as part of a large-scale city project “Summer in Moscow”. To participate, you need to register in the Russpass service. In order to attend the events on June 7, Northern river station, registration will be required. To participate in the events on June 8, Southern river station You also need to register.

    “On June 7 and 8, the Northern and Southern River Terminals will become the venue for financial literacy days. On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, we continue to develop both river terminals. Today, these are not only transport platforms, but also modern urban spaces: entertainment, cultural and educational events are held here all year round,” said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry

    Maxim Liksutov.

    How to preserve capital

    The organizers came up with a way to explain to children what a personal budget, savings, and reasonable spending are. They turned complex topics into an exciting game.

    For the first time, during the days of financial literacy at the Northern River Terminal on June 7, a separate children’s zone “Cabin Boys-Entrepreneurs” will open. The children will master important navigation skills. They will learn to keep track of treasures – income, control damage in the hold – expenses, and also determine the course – plan a budget. How to manage wisely with personal fundsNatalia Pivkina, an expert at the Moscow Center for Financial Literacy, will tell the children how to always stay afloat.

    At the master class “Color your treasure map”The kids will learn to set financial goals, such as saving up for a new toy or book. Together with experts, they will learn the rules of saving.

    Children learn information more easily through visual examples. At the event “The Island of Financial Fairy Tales”Experts will analyze the behavior of famous cartoon characters and show how to make a shopping list, plan expenses, and even help parents save money.

    During interactive classes, schoolchildren will be asked to come up with a new type of means of payment and layout bank cardwith its own original design.

    For guys who are interested in cryptocurrency and digital ruble, the master class will be held by Irina Maslova, Doctor of Economics. The expert will talk about the features of digital money and give advice on how not to become a victim of crypto scammers.

    Young sailors will be able to take a break from the busy program during short physical exercises – deck and storm exercises. The festive atmosphere will be complemented by a soap bubble show and Aitish’s financial assistant – a favorite character of all children from the program “Good night, little ones!”

    How to invest savings

    Young guests of the second day of financial literacy at the Southern River Terminal on June 8 will get acquainted with various banking instruments that will be useful to them in the future. Children who learn to save money from an early age have a better chance of saving for a dream or a long-awaited trip.

    For those who want to properly form savings and invest them in the future, experts will suggest drawing up step by step planand visualize it colorfully.

    Older kids will be interested team play, during which you can develop business ideas and learn how to present them correctly. Irina Suslova, a teacher at the Department of Innovation Economics of the Faculty of Economics at Lomonosov Moscow State University, will help you with this.

    How to turn a hobby into source of income, Director of Electronic Commerce Dmitry Milyushin will tell young businessmen. The guys will learn what steps they need to take to start making money on their hobby, and what platforms and tools will help with this.

    By solving thematic problems and competing in intellectual tournaments, young guests will understand issues of telephone and internet fraudand find out how to protect yourself from investing in dubious financial organizations.

    Useful exhibitions

    At the Northern and Southern River Terminals, participants in the financial literacy days will be able to visit the Bank of Russia exhibition “Journey to Childhood”. The stands will display photographs of coins dedicated to heroes of folk tales, characters of Russian cartoons, children’s writers and artists. The exhibition will help young guests learn more about finances using familiar stories.

    At the Southern River Terminal, young visitors will be treated to an exhibition called “Financial Security”. The exhibition will introduce children to common types of fraud – from calls from unknown numbers to financial pyramids and fictitious job offers.

    On both days, VR simulators developed jointly with experts from the Moscow Government’s Personnel Services Department will be available. With their help, teenagers aged 14 and over will be able to practice their financial management skills. A financial checkup will help them assess their own knowledge. After answering several questions in the express test, participants will find out their level of financial literacy and receive personal advice and links to useful training materials.

    Summer concerts of the “Music in the Metro” project begin at the Northern River Terminal

    More news about financial literacy, as well as event announcements, can be found in the telegram channel “Open Budget of Moscow” and on portal of the same name.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154853073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues NOK 2 billion notes under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    5 June 2025 at 10:00 am (EEST)

    Municipality Finance issues NOK 2 billion notes under its MTN programme

    Municipality Finance Plc issues NOK 2 billion notes on 6 June 2025. The maturity date of the notes is 6 January 2031. The notes bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.125% per annum.

    The notes are issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and the final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the notes to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 6 June 2025.

    DNB Bank ASA acts as the dealer for the issue of the notes.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland. The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. MuniFin’s customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, corporate entities under their control, and non-profit organisations nominated by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Jorgovanka Tabaković: By joining SEPA, Serbia reaffirms its strategic direction

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, dear colleagues,

    It is a particular pleasure for me that my neighbour, Mr Holti (Senior Financial Sector Specialist with the Payments Team in the Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice at the World Bank) from Albania, is with us. As a good host, at the beginning, I greeted him in the way my neighbours in my home town would do. That is indeed a sign of good hospitality, but there is also a bit of bitterness because we, as the best, are the 41st in the SEPA system. However, there is a good Serbian saying: Luck is never late. And whenever something happens, it happens on time.

    I am speaking to you at a moment when a significant chapter has already been opened: the Republic of Serbia has become part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA).

    With this step, Serbia has entered a new phase of economic integration with the EU. We are now the first country in the region with an advanced instant payment system, ready to participate equally in a space where payments are executed without borders – quickly, securely, and reliably.

    “Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity,” said Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the EU. Our path to SEPA embodies these concrete achievements – the collective effort of experts, institutions and partners from the country and abroad.

    SEPA is not merely a technical framework for connecting payment systems. It is a civilizational framework of trust – a common language for European markets and the foundation of the digital economy. If the Tower of Babel, like in Bruegel’s painting, remained unfinished in its construction because the people of the world could not agree to speak one language, through the SEPA instrument we are trying to realise that eternal human dream – to speak the same language in order to understand each other best.

    By joining SEPA, Serbia not only establishes the basis for more efficient cross-border payment transactions but also clearly reaffirms its strategic direction, which is European, modern and inclusive.

    Our path to SEPA was a carefully guided process of reforms, involving thorough alignment with the highest EU standards. From adopting a modern legal framework for payment services and implementing the provisions of the PSD2 directive to enacting secondary legislation – every step was grounded in a clear vision and institutional responsibility. During this process, we enhanced supervisory capacities, strengthened collaboration with the banking and fintech sectors, and created a regulatory environment that now enables a stable, transparent, and competitive system. Over this time, Serbia has taken a significant leap – not only in terms of aligning with the highest EU standards but also in terms of developing its own solutions that today serve as benchmarks both regionally and globally. When I say our own solutions, I mean solutions developed primarily relying on our own efforts, for our greatest strength is the people who created that software. Our instant payment system, the NBS IPS system, which operates in real time and processes over five million transactions a month, has become a symbol of innovation and reliability. We have achieved what until recently seemed a distant goal – that the size of a country depends not on its territory but on the knowledge it possesses and the trust it inspires. Today, Serbia does not merely follow European trends but actively shapes them – through vision, infrastructure, and the trust it has built among partners and users.

    I extend special gratitude to the European Payments Council, the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the World Bank for their continuous support. Your confidence in our institutional capacity has been the driving force behind our resolve.

    As Governor, I am proud of the National Bank of Serbia’s team, which has worked tirelessly toward this goal. We witness how expertise has translated into reform, how plans have become reality, and how vision has opened the door to the European financial system.

    “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how“, or He who has a why to live can bear almost any burden. And he who does not, does not embark on any project. These are not only the words of Friedrich Nietzsche, but a philosophy we affirm every day in our business decisions. These words – that if you know why you live, you can endure any burden – shape human resilience and the meaning of existence. Our why has always been clear: to ensure that citizens and the economy reap the benefits they deserve – lower costs, greater trust and simpler processes.

    Today, we can proudly say that Serbia is part of the European payments area. Our application has been officially accepted. Serbia has become a full-fledged member of the SEPA geographical scope.

    On behalf of the National Bank of Serbia, the institution entrusted with the stability and development of the domestic financial system, it is my honour to announce this news with a sense of deep pride and responsibility. With this achievement, Serbia takes its place in the Single European Payments Area with systems that speak the same language of standards, regulations that protect users, and a vision that integrates economies into a single payments market.

    This is a space where interoperability is not just a technical term but a daily practice of trust. It is a network where every signal, every transfer of funds, every digital confirmation – testifies to a single European idea: that stability, transparency, and efficiency are not a matter of luxury but expectations. Today, Serbia does not translate the lexicon of payment standards – it is the one writing it. Now, all payment service providers in Serbia stand before a new chapter of responsibility but also of opportunity. Joining SEPA does not mark the end of our work – our work now begins at a higher level. Now is the moment to once again demonstrate our leadership: through knowledge, efficiency and dedication, and to prove that the trust placed in us was not accidental but earned.

    May this day be remembered as the moment Serbia did not take a step forward – but a natural step. For we did not wait to become part of SEPA; we have long been ready for it. Today, Europe has recognised what we already knew – that Serbia belongs to a community that values knowledge, reliability and vision, and that Serbia is part of the area where standards mean trust and collaboration yields results.

    I thank everyone who has supported us on this journey, above all our colleagues, then the banking sector, which has always understood that we are working together on this task. I wish everyone a successful and inspiring continuation not only of today’s workshop but also of our future cooperation.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Richemont publishes FY25 Annual Report and Non-Financial Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    5 JUNE 2025 

    RICHEMONT PUBLISHES FY25 ANNUAL REPORT 
    AND NON-FINANCIAL REPORT

    Richemont has today published its combined Annual Report and Accounts with the Business review, the Compensation Report and the Corporate Governance Report, along with its Non-Financial Report, for the year ended 31 March 2025.

    The Annual Report and Accounts, which includes the Chairman’s review to shareholders, the annual consolidated and statutory financial statements, and the corresponding audit reports was already published on 16 May 2025.

    The Non-Financial Report 2025, prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards (2021), provides Richemont’s disclosures on non-financial matters. The report complies with the reporting disclosure required by Articles 964a-c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, including the Swiss Ordinance on Climate Disclosures. Selected disclosures and indicators have been independently assured (limited assurance) by PricewaterhouseCoopers SA (PwC).

    Both reports are available for download on the Company’s website at https://www.richemont.com/media/ue1bjrjv/richemont-fy25-annual-report-en.pdf and https://www.richemont.com/media/3vwfatyf/richemont-non-financial-report-2025.pdf. Hard copies will be mailed to parties who have requested it and may also be obtained from the Company’s registered office at the address below or by contacting the Company via the website at www.richemont.com/about-us/contact-us.

    In South Africa, the Annual Report and Non-Financial Report may be obtained directly from the Depository Agent at the following address: Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited, Rosebank Towers, 15 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa.

    About Richemont

    At Richemont, we craft the future. Our unique portfolio includes prestigious Maisons distinguished by their craftsmanship and creativity. Richemont’s ambition is to nurture its Maisons and businesses and enable them to grow and prosper in a responsible, sustainable manner over the long term.

    Richemont operates in three business areas: Jewellery Maisons with Buccellati, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Vhernier; Specialist Watchmakers with A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Panerai, Piaget, Roger Dubuis and Vacheron Constantin; and Other, primarily Fashion & Accessories Maisons with Alaïa, Chloé, Delvaux, dunhill, G/FORE, Gianvito Rossi, Montblanc, Peter Millar, Purdey, Serapian as well as Watchfinder & Co. Find out more at https://www.richemont.com/.

    Richemont A shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, Richemont’s primary listing, and are included in the Swiss Market Index (‘SMI’) of leading stocks. Richemont A shares are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Richemont’s secondary listing.

    Investor/analyst and media enquiries
    +41 22 721 3003 (investor relations)
    Investor.relations@cfrinfo.net
    +41 22 721 3507 (media)
    pressoffice@cfrinfo.net
    richemont@teneo.com

    Click here for a printer-friendly version in English (PDF)

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: What is the Savings and Investments Union?

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    Discover the primary objectives of the Savings and Investments Union and how it will reshape Europe’s financial landscape.

    Europeans save around €1.4 trillion each year in low-interest rate bank deposits, while European businesses, especially start-ups and small enterprises, struggle to secure investment funding for their projects. The need for a strategic investment approach is evident.

    To address this, the Savings and Investments Union aims to streamline investment processes and expand opportunities, driving EU economic growth and boosting household wealth.

    This initiative will empower a variety of stakeholders, including investment firms and individual citizens, to participate in investments across the EU, facilitating access to capital for critical sectors such as green and digital transitions.

    The Savings and Investments Union also focuses on equipping people with the knowledge and skills they need so that, if they decide to invest, they can make informed decisions.

    Ultimately, the objectives of the Savings and Investments Union are to amplify investment choices, support EU enterprises, and strengthen the regional economy, leading to improved living standards for all Europeans.

    Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-271253
    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI-gnz9di3E

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: New Castle Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and fluorofentanyl, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

    Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Kailin Stewart, 38, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl between May 2021 and October 2022.

    According to information presented to the Court, Stewart was on state parole in 2022 following his release from an 11- to 40-year Pennsylvania state prison sentence for a conviction for conspiracy to commit homicide. The Court also was informed that Stewart was responsible for the trafficking of between 70 and 100 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and fluorofentanyl while on state parole.

    Judge Schwab ordered that Stewart’s federal prison sentence be served consecutive to any Pennsylvania state parole revocation sentence Stewart may receive. Judge Schwab also ordered that Stewart serve four years of supervised release following his federal prison sentence.

    Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

    Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lawrence County Drug Task Force, Mercer County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Sharon Police Department, and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Stewart.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Planisware expands into Belgium to support the sustained growth of its business in the Benelux region

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Planisware expands into Belgium to support the sustained growth of its business in the Benelux region

    Paris, France, June 5, 2025 – Planisware, a leading B2B provider of SaaS in the rapidly growing Project Economy market, continues its international expansion with the opening of a new office in Belgium.

    Planisware has been present in the Benelux region for several years, through projects carried out for leading clients such as Galapagos, KLM, Philips, and Engie, and is now consolidating its position in this strategic, fast-growing market. In particular, the Group has seen a sharp increase in its business in this market, with revenue doubling over the last four years, testifying to the relevance of its expertise and the confidence of its customers.

    This new location is primarily intended to strengthen proximity to Planisware’s customers and other economic players in the Benelux region (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), a dynamic market that is home to around 1,200 target companies, nearly half of which having annual revenue in excess of one billion euros, particularly in high-growth sectors such as manufacturing (chemicals, food processing and industrial equipment), retail and financial services.

    With this new location, Planisware strengthens its proximity to customers and its expertise in local challenges. With its enhanced visibility, Planisware will be able to accelerate new signatures and sustainably support the Group’s growth in the region.

    Loïc Sautour, CEO of Planisware, commented: “We are proud to announce Planisware’s arrival in Belgium, which marks a key milestone in our continued expansion in Europe. It will strengthen our existing customer base while supporting our growth in the region. Over the years, we have built up a solid network of partners and customers in the Benelux, and this subsidiary is a natural fit with this dynamic. It will also create local jobs and strengthen our ties with all market players.”

    “International expansion has been at the heart of our growth strategy since Planisware’s launch,” says co-founder Yves Humblot. “Today, Benelux is emerging as a key region in our roadmap: it’s an ecosystem recognized for its culture of innovation and operational excellence.”

    Planisware’s new subsidiary in Belgium will be headed by Benoît Soulier (46). With over seven years’ experience in project management at Planisware, he brings solid expertise in the management of complex portfolios and projects, particularly in the pharmaceutical, industrial and public sectors. He has worked with companies such as UCB, Eurocontrol and the Walloon Public Service (SPW) in Belgium, as well as BDR Thermea in the Netherlands. Before joining Planisware, he spent four years at Sopra Group, where he contributed to the deployment of numerous complex projects. Benoît Soulier holds a degree in computer engineering from Telecom Nancy.

    Contact

    Investor Relations: Benoit d’Amécourt

    benoit.damecourt@planisware.com
    +33 6 75 51 41 47

    Media: Brunswick Group
    Hugues Boëton / Tristan Roquet Montégon
    planisware@brunswickgroup.com
    +33 6 79 99 27 15 / +33 6 37 00 52 57

    About Planisware

    Planisware is a leading business-to-business (“B2B”) provider of Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) in the rapidly growing Project Economy. Planisware’s mission is to provide solutions that help organizations transform how they strategize, plan and deliver their projects, project portfolios, programs and products.

    With circa 750 employees across 18 offices, Planisware operates at significant scale serving around 600 organizational clients in a wide range of verticals and functions across more than 30 countries worldwide. Planisware’s clients include large international companies, medium-sized businesses and public sector entities.

    Planisware is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (Compartment A, ISIN code FR001400PFU4, ticker symbol “PLNW”).

    For more information, visit planisware.com and connect with Planisware on LinkedIn.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Point and Funds Managed by Blue Owl Capital Close Oversubscribed $248 Million Home Equity Investment Rated Securitization

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Palo Alto, California, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Point, the leading home equity investment platform making homeownership more valuable and accessible, and funds managed by Blue Owl Capital (“Blue Owl”) announced today that they have completed a rated securitization of Point’s Home Equity Investment (“HEI”) assets, issuing $248.6 million of rated asset-backed securities (the “Transaction”). The Transaction is Point’s fourth rated securitization and fifth overall.

    The Transaction closed on May 23, 2025. The issuer, Point Securitization Trust 2025-1, issued $162.2 million of senior class A-1 securities rated A (low) (sf), $35 million of mezzanine class A-2 securities rated BBB (low) (sf), $28.3 million of subordinate class B-1 securities rated BB (low) (sf), and $23.1 million of subordinate class B-2 securities rated B (high) (sf) (retained), all rated by Morningstar DBRS. A portion of the notes were acquired by accounts managed by an affiliate of Blue Owl. The Transaction drew significant interest from both new and repeat institutional investors, resulting in the Transaction being more than 8x oversubscribed. Co-sponsoring the Transaction with a subsidiary of Blue Owl, Point was the originator of all the HEIs in the securitization and will continue to service the assets.

    “This past year has been transformative—for Point and for the entire HEI space,” said Eddie Lim, co-founder and CEO of Point. “Investor demand has never been stronger, and the performance of our deals continues to outperform expectations. Our latest securitization was met with overwhelming enthusiasm, reinforcing that HEIs aren’t just gaining traction—they’re reshaping how homeowners access equity. We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible.”

    Over the past 18 months, the rated securitization space for HEIs has entered a new phase of maturation. With multiple HEI-backed deals successfully rated, the asset class is seeing increased institutional recognition and investor confidence, with issuance volume doubling and the number of transactions tripling in 2024 alone[1]. According to Finsight[2], HEI-backed deals totaled $936 million across five transactions last year—up significantly from prior years. These transactions have helped set important benchmarks for credit quality, structure, and performance, signaling a shift from emerging to established within the alternative housing finance landscape.

    “The Blue Owl Alternative Credit team and Point have a longstanding relationship dating back to 2018, and we are excited to continue our partnership with the Point team,” said Ivan Zinn, Head of Alternative Credit at Blue Owl. “This marks the second Point transaction that Blue Owl has co-sponsored, and we look forward to doing many more together. The success of this transaction is a testament to the Point platform and validates the thesis that HEIs will continue to be a growing asset class.” 

    Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) was the sole-structuring agent for the issuance. Barclays, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., and Nomura Securities International Inc. were joint bookrunners on the Transaction, and East West Markets, LLC and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. were co-managers on the Transaction.

    About Point

    Point is the leading home equity platform making homeownership more valuable and accessible. Point’s flagship product, the Home Equity Investment (HEI), empowers homeowners to unlock their equity to eliminate debt, get through periods of financial hardship, and diversify their wealth – without adding to their monthly expenses. Point has worked with more than 15,000 homeowners, unlocking more than $1.5 billion in home equity. Point’s HEI enables investors to access a previously untapped asset class – owner-occupied residential real estate. Founded in 2015 by Eddie Lim, Eoin Matthews, and Alex Rampell, Point is backed by top investors, including Westcap, Andreessen Horowitz, Ribbit Capital, Greylock Partners, Bloomberg Beta, Blue Owl Capital, Alpaca VC, and Prudential. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA. For more information, please visit www.point.com

     Blue Owl Capital
    About Blue Owl: Blue Owl (NYSE: OWL) is a leading asset manager that is redefining alternatives®. With $273 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025, we invest across three multi-strategy platforms: Credit, GP Strategic Capital, and Real Assets. Anchored by a strong permanent capital base, we provide businesses with private capital solutions to drive long-term growth and offer institutional investors, individual investors, and insurance companies differentiated alternative investment opportunities that aim to deliver strong performance, risk-adjusted returns, and capital preservation. 

    Together with over 1,200 experienced professionals globally, Blue Owl brings the vision and discipline to create the exceptional. To learn more, visit www.blueowl.com.

    [1] Source: https://www.hel.news/articles/mbs/q4-issuance-010225

    [2] Source:

    https://www.globalcapital.com/securitization/article/2egjdeyqx5732y19mm8sg/securitization/rmbs-us/hei-nears-tipping-point-as-investors-warm-on-sector?

    The MIL Network –

  • Indian stock market opens in green amid mixed global cues

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The domestic benchmark indices opened higher on Thursday amid mixed global cues, with buying seen in the pharmaceutical, automotive and IT sectors in early trading.

    At approximately 9:29 am, the Sensex was trading 268.8 points, or 0.33 per cent, higher at 81,267.09, while the Nifty added 82.75 points (0.34 per cent) to reach 24,702.95.

    The Nifty Bank was down 29.70 points, or 0.05 per cent, at 55,647.15. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 58,188, having risen 263.35 points (0.45 per cent). The Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 18,398.75 after climbing 141.65 points (0.78 per cent).

    According to analysts, the Nifty ended higher on Wednesday and the India VIX fell by nearly 5 per cent, a development that bulls would have liked to see.

    “For the Nifty, 24,462 remains intact and that’s keeping optimism alive. Should this level break, the market will most likely drop to its key support at 23,800. Short-term resistance sits between 24,760 and 24,882. Globally, stock bulls have tailwinds,” said Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities.

    Meanwhile, in the Sensex pack, Eternal, PowerGrid, M&M, HDFC Bank, HCL Tech, TCS, IndusInd Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank were the top gainers. Conversely, Nestle India, Titan, Bajaj Finance, Tata Motors and Tech Mahindra were the top losers.

    According to analysts, both geopolitical and economic news are likely to weigh on markets in the near term.

    “The major economic news is the sharp dip in the US ISM PMI data. This indicates that the US economy is slowing down sharply. The US 10-year bond yield has declined to 4.36 per cent and, given the slowing US economy, is likely to trend lower,” according to Dr V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Ltd.

    “This will turn out to be good for emerging markets (EMs) like India in the medium term. ‘Buy on dips’ continues to be the ideal strategy for now. Rate-sensitive stocks will be preferred in view of the expected rate cut by the RBI MPC,” said experts.

    In the Asian markets, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, China and Jakarta were trading in the green, whereas only Japan was trading in the red.

    In the last trading session in the US, the Dow Jones closed at 42,427.74, down 91.90 points (0.22 per cent). The S&P 500 ended with a gain of 0.44 points (0.01 per cent) at 5,970.81, and the Nasdaq closed at 19,460.49, up 61.53 points (0.32 per cent).

    On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers, purchasing equities worth ₹1,076.18 crore on 4 June, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased equities worth ₹2,566.82 crore.

    (IANS) 

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: A game-changer for Colin Maiden Park

    Source: Auckland Council

    Proposed development at Auckland’s Colin Maiden Park in St Johns will see a new home for domestic cricket and improved facilities for community sport.

    Ōrākei Local Board has agreed on the terms of a proposal from Auckland Cricket that will see significant upgrades at the park to support the relocation of its domestic cricket operations.

    The work includes a full upgrade of the main oval, the construction of a Cravo – a high-performance, all-weather grass training facility, the refurbishment and fit-out of the vacant office building, construction of supporting infrastructure for the hosting of domestic cricket, and upgrades to existing club and changing rooms. 

    Longer-term plans also include new multi-sport change rooms and shared club rooms for the Auckland University Cricket Club.

    “It’s taken some time to agree on an arrangement that balances the needs of high-performance and community sport,” says Ōrākei Local Board chair Scott Milne.

    “But, it’s been worth the wait and we believe this deal is a win-win situation. Auckland Cricket’s investment will deliver high performance and also allow Ōrākei Local Board to upgrade other sports fields in the area earlier than would have otherwise been possible.

    “The proposed upgrades will allow Auckland to benefit from a purpose-built venue for cricket, the likes of which Christchurch has enjoyed for many generations at Hagley Park.”

    Works are expected to begin on the main oval later this year for Auckland Cricket to be operational at Colin Maiden for the 2026/2027 season.

    This arrangement aligns with the Ōrākei Local Board Plan 2023 and its aspirations to establish multi-use sport facilities in this area.

    Auckland Cricket will be required to meet all conditions set out by the local board before works commence, including provision for the loss of hours of community sports field use

    “This is an important step towards securing a bright future for cricket in Auckland,” says Auckland Cricket Association chief executive Ian Francis.

    “There is a lot more work to do – however it is fantastic to have the support of the Local Board for what is an extremely detailed, well-considered plan to transform the existing sporting precinct at Colin Maiden Park into a modern, future-proofed community asset capable of supporting high-performance cricket.”

    In addition to providing a fit-for-purpose venue for domestic cricket and enhanced community facilities, the relocation supports a more strategic use of regional assets. It will allow Eden Park to focus on hosting international cricket and major events – a move consistent with Auckland Council’s Stadium Investment Objectives, which aim to optimise infrastructure use, support a network of complementary, multi-use venues, and improve long-term financial sustainability.

    Colin Maiden Park is a key regional sports facility, providing essential infrastructure for both grassroots and high-performance sport.  The wider precinct is currently home to Auckland Hockey, Auckland Netball, Oceania Football Confederation and Auckland Tennis.  The proposed development would further reinforce Colin Maiden Park’s role as a regionally significant sporting precinct.

    Auckland Cricket’s proposal is for the use of the park for domestic cricket only, all international cricket formats will remain at Eden Park.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai confers decoration on President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands, hosts state banquet  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai and President Hilda C. Heine of Marshall Islands hold bilateral talks and witness signing of agreements
    On the morning of June 3, President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao, held bilateral talks with President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Presidential Office following a welcome ceremony with military honors for her and her husband. The leaders also jointly witnessed the signing of a letter of intent for sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft. In remarks, President Lai thanked the government and the Nitijela (parliament) of the Marshall Islands for their longstanding support for Taiwan’s international participation and for voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. President Lai said that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to deepen its diplomatic partnership with the Marshall Islands and build an even closer cooperative relationship across a range of fields, engaging in mutual assistance for mutual benefits and helping each other achieve joint and prosperous development to yield even greater well-being for our peoples. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I once again warmly welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and our guests to Taiwan. During my visit to the Marshall Islands last year, I said that Taiwan and the Marshall Islands are truly a family. When Vice President Hsiao and I took office last year, President Heine led a delegation to Taiwan. It is now one year since our inauguration, and I am delighted to see President Heine once again, just as if I were seeing family arrive from afar. Through my visit to the Marshall Islands, I gained a profound sense of the friendship between the peoples of our two nations, well-demonstrated by bilateral exchanges in such areas as healthcare, agriculture, and education. And it is thanks to President Heine’s longstanding support for Taiwan that our countries have been able to further advance collaboration on even more issues, including women’s empowerment and climate change. In recent years, the geopolitical and economic landscape has changed rapidly. We look forward to Taiwan and the Marshall Islands continuing to deepen our partnership and build an even closer cooperative relationship. In just a few moments, President Heine and I will witness the signing of several documents, including a memorandum of understanding and a letter of intent, to expand bilateral cooperation in such fields as sports, education, and transportation. Taiwan will take concrete action to work with the Marshall Islands and advance mutual prosperity and development, writing a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. I would also like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to the government and Nitijela of the Marshall Islands. In recent years, the Nitijela has passed annual resolutions backing Taiwan’s international participation, and President Heine and Marshallese cabinet members have been some of the strongest advocates for Taiwan’s international participation, voicing staunch support for Taiwan at numerous international venues. Building on the pillars of democracy, peace, and prosperity, Taiwan will continue to work with the Marshall Islands and other like-minded countries to deepen our partnerships, engage in mutual assistance for mutual benefits, and help one another achieve joint and prosperous development. I have every confidence that the combined efforts of our two nations will yield even greater well-being for our peoples and see us make even more contributions to the world. President Heine then delivered remarks, and began by conveying warm greetings of iokwe from the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan). She said she was deeply honored to be in Taiwan for an official visit, and extended appreciation to President Lai and his government for their gracious invitation and warm welcome. President Heine stated that this year marks 27 years of diplomatic ties between our two nations, and that they are proud of this enduring friendship. This special and enduring relationship, she said, is grounded in our shared Austronesian heritage, and strengthened by mutual respect for each other’s democratic systems and our steadfast commitment to the core values of freedom, justice, and the rule of law. President Heine stated that Taiwan’s continued support has been invaluable to the people and national development of the Marshall Islands, particularly in the areas of health, education, agriculture, and climate change. She also expressed deep appreciation to Taiwan for providing Marshallese students with opportunities to study in Taiwan, and for the care extended to Marshallese who travel here for medical treatment. President Heine also announced that she would be presenting a copy of a resolution by the people and government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands reiterating their appreciation for the support provided by the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and calling on the United Nations to take immediate action to resolve the inappropriate exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people from the UN system. She added that she looked forward to the bilateral discussions later that day, and to continuing the important work that both countries carry out together. After the bilateral talks, President Lai and President Heine witnessed the signing of a letter of intent regarding sports exchanges and a memorandum of understanding regarding the Presidents’ Scholarship Fund by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani R. Kaneko. President Lai then presided over a launch ceremony for a loan program to purchase aircraft, marking the formal beginning of Taiwan-Marshall Islands air transport cooperation. The visiting delegation also included Council of Iroij Chairman Lanny Kabua, Minister of Finance David Paul, and Nitijela Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Chair Joe Bejang. They were accompanied to the Presidential Office by Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

    Details
    2025-06-03
    President Lai welcomes President Hilda C. Heine of Republic of the Marshall Islands with military honors  
    President Lai Ching-te welcomed President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and her husband on the morning of June 3 with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai thanked President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. The president said that over our 27 years of diplomatic relations, our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. And moving ahead, he said, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. The welcome ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office. President Lai and President Heine each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), it is a great pleasure to welcome President Heine, First Gentleman Thomas Kijiner, Jr., and their delegation with full military honors as they make this state visit to Taiwan. When I traveled to the Marshall Islands on a state visit last December, I was received with great warmth and courtesy. I once again thank President Heine and the people and government of the Marshall Islands for demonstrating such high regard for our nations’ diplomatic ties. Taiwan and the Marshall Islands share Austronesian cultural traditions, and we are like-minded friends. Throughout our 27 years of diplomatic relations, we have always engaged with each other in a spirit of reciprocal trust and mutual assistance. Our cooperation in healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education and training, and climate change has yielded many positive results. This is President Heine’s first state visit to Taiwan since taking office for a second time. We look forward to engaging our esteemed guests in in-depth discussions on issues of common concern. And moving ahead, Taiwan will continue to deepen collaboration with the Marshall Islands across all domains for mutual prosperity and growth. In closing, I thank President Heine, First Gentleman Kijiner, and their entire delegation for visiting Taiwan. I wish you all a pleasant and successful trip.  A transcript of President Heine’s remarks follows: Your Excellency President Lai Ching-te, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao, honorable members of the cabinet, ambassadors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen: It is my pleasure to extend warm greetings of iokwe on behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. I wish to also convey my appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, for the hospitality and very warm welcome – kommol tata. This visit marks my seventh official state visit to this beautiful country. It’s a testament to my strong commitment to further deepening ties between the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of China (Taiwan). During this visit, I look forward to engaging in meaningful discussions with Your Excellency President Lai to further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two nations and our peoples.  For over a quarter-century, Taiwan has been a strong ally and friend to the Marshall Islands. Our partnership has thrived across many sectors, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. Through Taiwan’s generous support and collaboration, we have made significant progress in improving the lives of our people, empowering our communities, and fostering sustainable growth. The Marshall Islands deeply values our partnership with Taiwan and appreciates Taiwan’s support over the years. Despite our small size and limited voice on the global stage, the Marshall Islands deeply cherishes our friendship with Taiwan, and to that end, I wish to reaffirm my government’s commitment to Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system. Taiwan has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. In light of current constraints in global affairs, it is now more urgent than ever that the international community of nations recognize the fundamental rights of the 23 million Taiwanese people and recognize Taiwan’s aspiration to engage fully in global affairs. It is with this in mind that I wish to reiterate to Your Excellency President Lai, the Taiwanese people, and the world that under my government, Marshall Islands will continue to acknowledge Taiwan’s contribution on the global stage and urge like-minded countries to advocate for Taiwan’s meaningful engagement in the international arena. In closing, may I once again extend our sincere appreciation to Your Excellency President Lai, the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), for your warm welcome.  Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Charge d’Affaires a.i. Anjanette Davis-Anjel of the Embassy of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, 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
    2025-05-29
    President Lai attends 2025 Europe Day Dinner
    On the evening of May 29, President Lai Ching-te attended the 2025 Europe Day Dinner. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan looks forward to further establishing institutionalized mechanisms with Europe for our trade and investment ties and hopes to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. The president said that Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains, and noted that Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it is in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. He expressed hope to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: Chairman [Henry] Chang (張瀚書), thank you for the invitation, and congratulations on your second term. I’m confident that under your leadership, the ECCT [European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan] will build even more bridges for cooperation between Taiwan and Europe. I would also like to thank EETO [European Economic and Trade Office] Head [Lutz] Güllner and all the European country representatives stationed in Taiwan. Your hard work over the years has helped deepen Taiwan-Europe relations and brought about such fruitful cooperation. Thank you. This year we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. In 1950, then-French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed to create a European federation dedicated to preserving peace. The declaration symbolized a new flowering in the post-war era of democracy, unity, and cooperation. As we face the geopolitical challenges and drastic economic changes of today’s world, the Schuman Declaration still speaks to us profoundly. This year is also the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to advance cooperation with our democratic partners, and will join hands with Europe to build a partnership of even greater resilience and mutual trust. Europe is Taiwan’s third largest trading partner. It is also Taiwan’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Last year, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Europe totaled US$84.7 billion. This demonstrates our vibrant economic and trade ties and reflects the high levels of confidence our businesses have in each other’s markets and systems. We look forward to Taiwan and Europe further establishing institutionalized mechanisms for our trade and investment ties. And we hope to take an innovative and diverse approach to sign an economic partnership agreement with the EU, to provide a more transparent, stable, and predictable business environment for our enterprises. Today’s Taiwan has an internationally recognized democracy and a semiconductor industry vital to global security and prosperity. This enables us to play a key role in restructuring global democratic supply chains and the economic order. In particular, we see supply chains dominated by a new authoritarian bloc expanding their influence through non-market mechanisms, price subsidies, and monopolies on resources, as they seek global control of critical technologies and manufacturing capabilities. Their actions not only distort principles of market fairness, but also threaten the international community’s basic expectations for democracy, the rule of law, and corporate responsibility. In response, Taiwan will actively work alongside other democracies, including those in Europe, to jointly build resilient, promising non-red supply chains. We will also introduce an initiative on semiconductor supply chain partnerships for global democracies. This is more than a proposal for economic cooperation; it is an alliance of shared values and advanced technology. Security in the Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability have always been issues of mutual interest for Taiwan and Europe. So here today, on behalf of all the people of Taiwan, I would like to thank the EU and European nations for continuing to take concrete actions in public support of peace and stability across the strait. Such actions are vital to regional security and prosperity. Taiwan will continue to bolster itself to achieve real peace through strength, and will work with democratic partners to safeguard freedom and democracy, thereby showing our determination for regional peace. At this critical time, Taiwan and Europe have endless potential for collaboration, whether it’s in safeguarding freedom and democracy or advancing our economic and trade relationship. I look forward to our joining hands at this strategic juncture to further strengthen our partnership and work together toward global peace, stability, and prosperity. Also in attendance at the event was British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.

    Details
    2025-05-28
    President Lai meets US delegation led by Senator Tammy Duckworth
    On the afternoon of May 28, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by United States Senator Tammy Duckworth. In remarks, President Lai thanked the US Congress and government for their longstanding and bipartisan support for Taiwan. The president stated that Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the US and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. He pointed out that the Taiwan government has already proposed a roadmap for deepening Taiwan-US trade ties and will encourage mutual investment between Taiwanese and US businesses. He then expressed hope of deepening Taiwan-US ties and creating more niches for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome this delegation led by Senator Duckworth, a dear friend of Taiwan. Senator Duckworth previously visited in May last year to convey congratulations after the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. Your bipartisan delegation was the first group from the US Senate that I met with as president. Today, you are visiting just after the first anniversary of my taking office, demonstrating the staunch support of the US and our deep friendship. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincere appreciation and greetings. And I invite you to come back and visit next year, the year after that, and every year. Taiwan and the US share the values of democracy and the rule of law and believe in free and open markets. Both sides embrace a common goal of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. I thank the US Congress and government for their longstanding, bipartisan, and steadfast support for Taiwan. In 2021, to help Taiwan overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Duckworth made a special trip here to announce that the US government would be donating vaccines to Taiwan. In recent years, Senator Duckworth has also promoted the TAIWAN Security Act, STAND with Taiwan Act, and Taiwan and America Space Assistance Act in the US Congress, all of which have further deepened Taiwan-US cooperation and steadily advanced our ties. For this, I express my deepest appreciation. I want to emphasize that the people of Taiwan have an unyielding determination to protect their homeland and free and democratic way of life. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience. The government is committed to reforming national defense, and it has proposed prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP. This will continue to bolster Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. Moving forward, Taiwan will continue to strengthen cooperation with the US. In addition to jointly safeguarding regional peace and stability, we also aspire to deepen bilateral trade and economic ties. At the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, earlier this month, Taiwan’s delegation was once again the biggest delegation attending the event – proof positive of our close economic and trade cooperation. We have already proposed a roadmap for deepening Taiwan-US trade ties. We will narrow the trade imbalance through the procurement of energy and agricultural and other industrial products from the US. We will encourage mutual investment between Taiwanese and US businesses to stimulate industrial development on both sides, especially in such industries as national defense and shipbuilding. We therefore look forward to Congress passing the US-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act as soon as possible, as this would deepen Taiwan-US trade ties and create more niches for business. In closing, I once again thank Senator Duckworth for making the trip to Taiwan. Let us continue to work together to elevate Taiwan-US ties. I wish you a pleasant and successful visit. Senator Duckworth then delivered remarks, saying that she is happy to be back in Taiwan and that she wanted to make sure to come back just after President Lai’s one-year anniversary of taking office to show the dedication and the outstanding friendship that we have. She noted that because no matter who is in the White House, no matter which political party is in power in Washington, DC, she has always believed that if America wants to remain a leader on the global stage, it has to show up for friends like Taiwan.  Senator Duckworth mentioned that in the years that she has been coming to Taiwan since pre-COVID times, she has seen a remarkable increase in participation in its defense and the support of the Taiwanese people for defending the homeland. She then thanked Taiwan for making the commitment to its self-defense, and also for being a partner with other nations around the world.  The STAND with Taiwan Act, the senator noted, is so named because the US wants to stand side by side with Taiwan. Pointing out that Taiwan is an important leader in the Indo-Pacific and on the global stage, she reiterated that there is support on both sides of the aisle in Washington for Taiwanese democracy, and added that the people of Taiwan are showing that they are willing to shore up their own readiness. Senator Duckworth said that whether it is delivering vaccines to Taiwan or making sure that the US National Guard works with Taiwan’s reserve forces or even with its civilian emergency response teams, these are all important components to the ongoing partnership between our nations.  Senator Duckworth indicated that there are many great opportunities moving forward beyond our military cooperation with one another. Whether it is in chip manufacturing, agricultural investments, shipbuilding, or in the healthcare field, those investments in both nations will facilitate stability and development in both our nations. She said that is why she wants to continue the Taiwan-US relationship, underlining that they are in it for the long haul. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

    Details
    2025-05-27
    President Lai meets delegation led by US House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman
    On the afternoon of May 27, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Chair of the Natural Resources Committee of the United States House of Representatives Bruce Westerman. In remarks, President Lai stated that Taiwan and the US enjoy close industrial exchanges and continue to explore new opportunities for investment and collaboration. The president said that Taiwan will continue to increase purchases from and together build non-red supply chains with the US, expressing hope that economic and trade relations grow even closer and that both work together to jointly safeguard peace and stability throughout the region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet and exchange views with members of the US House Committee on Natural Resources today. Chair Westerman, the leader of this delegation, is an old friend of Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a very warm welcome to the delegation. I also want to thank you all for your long-term close attention to Taiwan-related affairs and your strong support for Taiwan. Taiwan and the US enjoy close ties and share ideals and values. There is an excellent foundation for cooperation between us, particularly in such areas as energy, the economy and trade, agriculture and fisheries, environmental protection, and sustainable development. In recent years, Taiwan-US ties have grown closer and closer. The US has become Taiwan’s largest destination for overseas investment, accounting for over 40 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment. Taiwan is also the seventh largest trading partner of the US and its seventh largest export market for agricultural products. The SelectUSA Investment Summit held in Washington, DC earlier this month was the largest in its history. Taiwan’s delegation, representing 138 enterprises, was once again the biggest delegation attending the event. This shows that Taiwan and the US enjoy close industrial exchanges and continue to explore new opportunities for investment and collaboration. Looking ahead, with the global landscape changing rapidly, Taiwan will continue to increase purchases from the US, including energy resources such as natural gas and petroleum, as well as agricultural products, industrial products, and even military procurement. This will not only help balance our bilateral trade, but also strengthen development for Taiwan in energy autonomy, resilience, the economy, and trade. Taiwan and the US are also well-matched in such areas as high tech and manufacturing. As the US pursues reindustrialization and aims to become a global hub for AI, Taiwan is willing to take part and play an even more important role. We will strengthen Taiwan-US industrial cooperation and together build non-red supply chains. In addition to bringing our economic and trade relations even closer, this will also allow Taiwanese industries to remain rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global presence, helping bolster the US, and marketing worldwide. As for military exchanges, we are grateful to the US government for continuing its military sales to Taiwan and backing our efforts to upgrade our self-defense capabilities. Taiwan will continue to work with the US to jointly safeguard peace and stability throughout the region. In closing, I thank our guests once again for making the long journey here, not only offering warm friendship, but also demonstrating the staunch bipartisan support for Taiwan in the US Congress. Chair Westerman then delivered remarks, saying that it is an honor for him and his colleagues to be in Taiwan to talk about the strong relationship between the US and Taiwan and how that relationship can continue to grow in the future. The chair pointed out that natural resources are foundational to any kind of economic development, whether it is energy, which is key to manufacturing, or whether it is mining, which provides rare earth elements and all the minerals and metals needed for manufacturing. He said that as for natural resources including fish, wildlife, or timber, all are foundational to any society, but this is especially so for agriculture, noting that the US produces a lot of food and fodder and is always looking for more friends to share that with. Chair Westerman indicated that they are excited about opportunities to work with Taiwan, adding that Taiwan’s investments in the US have been greatly appreciated. He said they also are excited about the talks with the Trump administration and the future going forward on how we can have a stronger trade relationship, a stronger bilateral relationship, and how we can work with each other to help both economies grow and prosper. Chair Westerman concluded his remarks by expressing thanks for the opportunity to visit, saying that they treasure Taiwan’s friendship and our long-term relationship, and are very excited to be able to discuss in more detail how our two countries can work together. The delegation also included US House Natural Resources Committee Representatives Sarah Elfreth, Harriet Hageman, Celeste Maloy, and Nick Begich. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.  

    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 –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Schools, kindergartens, clinics: what else will appear in the new microdistrict in Krasnopakhorsky district

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A modern residential cluster with schools, kindergartens, a clinic and commercial real estate will appear in the Troitsky administrative district. The construction will be carried out by an investor determined by the results of the auction, reported Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of City Property.

    “Investors are actively involved in the urban development of the Troitsky and Novomoskovsky administrative districts. Following an open auction, an agreement was signed with the developer that will allow the company, together with the city, to build a modern residential cluster with the necessary social and commercial infrastructure on the territory of 736 hectares in the Krasnopakhorsky district. It is planned to build 825 thousand square meters of housing, public and business real estate with a total area of more than 41 thousand square meters, as well as a clinic, schools and kindergartens for two thousand students and 1.3 thousand pupils,” said Ekaterina Solovyova.

    The project envisages the construction of housing for approximately 15 thousand people. They plan to build more than seven thousand private cottages, as well as townhouses and apartment buildings with almost two thousand apartments. The plots for development are located next to the Central Ring Road, between the settlements of Shchapovo, Pesye and Ovechkino.

    The investor of the project will be the Samolet Group of Companies. According to the Investment Director Alexey Romantsov, the partnership of investors and the city allows for the application of the best urban development practices. It is expected that the central core of the project’s audience will be families who will appreciate the unique combination of advantages of country life with urban comfort. The family concept is reflected in the infrastructure, landscaping and apartment layout of the project. Thus, the average area of apartments in low-rise buildings is more than 20 percent larger than the area in city blocks.

    Work on the project is planned to begin in 2026–2027.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154846073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Boston Man Indicted for Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

    Source: US FBI

    BOSTON – A Boston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

    Cess Frazier, 32, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Frazier was arrested and charged by complaint on April 29, 2025. The defendant was subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.

    According to the charging documents, on or about Feb. 20, 2025 through April 29, 2025, Frazier knowingly received and possessed files that depicted CSAM from unknown users on Telegram. It is alleged that the CSAM files depicted the sexual abuse of minor victims who appeared to be between approximately three and 10 years old.

    The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

    United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

    The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
     

    MIL Security OSI –