NewzIntel.com

Category: Germany

  • Russia and Ukraine to hold more peace talks after Kyiv hits nuclear-capable bombers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian and Ukrainian officials are due to sit down on Monday in Istanbul for their second round of direct peace talks since 2022 with no sign they are any closer to an agreement, one day after Kyiv struck some of Moscow’s nuclear-capable bombers.

    The two sides are expected to discuss their respective ideas for what a full ceasefire and a longer term path to peace should look like, amid stark disagreements and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to walk away from talks.

    Vladimir Medinsky, the head of Moscow’s delegation, said that Russia had received Ukraine’s draft memorandum for a peace accord ahead of the talks. There was no word on whether Kyiv had received Russia’s draft. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will head the Ukrainian delegation.

    Their last round of talks in Istanbul on May 16 yielded the biggest prisoner swap of the war with each side freeing 1,000 prisoners, but no sign of peace – or even a ceasefire as both sides merely stated their opening negotiating positions.

    Kyiv regards Russia’s approach to date as an attempt to force it to capitulate – something it says it will never do – and Moscow, which advanced on the battlefield in May at its fastest rate in six months, says Ukraine should submit to peace on Russian terms or face losing more territory.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, speaking in Lithuania on Monday, said ceasefire and humanitarian issues, such as returning more prisoners, from Russia would be a priority for Kyiv at the Istanbul talks.

    Kyiv has said Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin should hold direct talks when the time is right.

    Amid low expectations of a breakthrough, a Ukrainian source told Reuters ahead of Monday’s talks that Kyiv was ready to take real steps towards peace if Moscow showed flexibility and what they described as a readiness to “move forward, not just repeat the same previous ultimatums”.

    Ukrainian officials met with officials from Germany, Italy and Britain ahead of the talks to coordinate their positions.

    GRIM MOOD

    The mood in Russia before the talks was grim with influential war bloggers calling on Moscow to deliver a fearsome retaliatory blow against Kyiv after Ukraine on Sunday launched one of its most ambitious attacks of the war, targeting Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers in Siberia and elsewhere.

    Ukraine’s air force said Russia had launched 472 drones at Ukraine, the highest nightly total of the war.

    Trump envoy Keith Kellogg has indicated that the U.S. will be involved in the talks and that representatives from Britain, France and Germany will be present too, though it was not clear at what level the United States would be represented.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was due to chair the talks, which are expected to get underway at 1000 GMT.

    The idea of direct talks was first proposed by Putin after Ukraine and European powers demanded that he agree to a ceasefire which the Kremlin dismissed.

    Last June Putin set out his opening terms for an immediate end to the war: Ukraine must drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw all of its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia.

    According to a proposed roadmap that will be presented by Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, Kyiv wants no restrictions on its military strength after any peace deal, no international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscow’s forces, and wants reparations.

    The document stated that the current location of the front line will be the starting point for negotiations about territory.
    Russia currently controls just under one fifth of Ukraine, or about 113,100 square km, about the same size as the U.S. state of Ohio.

    Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The United States says over 1.2 million people have been killed and injured in the war since 2022.

    Trump has called Putin “crazy” and berated Zelenskiy in public in the Oval Office, but the U.S. president has also said that he thinks peace is achievable and that if Putin delays then he could impose tough sanctions on Russia.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Challenges that AI poses for the culture and the creative sectors in Europe and the US

    Source: European Parliament 3

    During a delegation to Los Angeles, Culture Committee MEPs discussed copyright rules, fair pay, and working conditions in a changing digital environment.

    A delegation of MEPs from the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) travelled to Los Angeles, from 26 to 29 May, to learn first-hand about the impact of AI and other digital transformative technologies and innovations on the culture and creative industries and the news media sector.

    The delegation met with representatives of film and music studios, streaming platforms, labour unions representing writers, directors, actors and other industry professionals, public media representatives and Congresswoman Laura Friedman.

    “Our constructive meetings shed light on a broad range of common concerns with our US interlocutors, such as possible incentive systems for the film making industry to produce locally,” MEPs said in a joint statement.

    Making the most of disruptive technological advancements or tackling the potential risks brought on by the use of AI – in particular deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and threats to creators’ interests – are common challenges the EU and US culture and creative industries face. MEPs also observed a willingness to put in place solutions allowing the sectors to thrive mutually on both continents.

    The interlocutors the MEPs met referred to the fact that the major film studios prefer contractual relationships on copyright, rather than privileging a regulatory approach. In addition, they learned about the new protections for creative workers brought about by the 2023 writers’ strike, the Human Artistry Campaign, and the NO FAKES Act aimed at preventing the unauthorised use of faces and voices.

    Concerning the music sector, MEPs discussed how to better support and protect artists against possible AI-generated threats, improve the exposure of their work, investment, and representation of diverse musical works across platforms. The challenges brought on by transformative digital technologies, MEPs said, need to be tackled through fit-for-purpose regulatory provisions, clarifying guidelines, and efficient enforcement tools.

    “Our meetings clearly showed that the EU provides best practices in the field and has a leading legislative role in addressing these challenges, notably with the AI Act that has been welcomed by numerous stakeholders,” MEPs said. ”In the current evolving digital landscape, we consider our visit to Los Angeles as a highly useful and enriching way to foster transatlantic collaboration based on open and constructive dialogue in the culture and creative sectors. United, we are stronger in facing the challenges AI poses for culture and the creative sectors.”

    The delegation was led by Nela Riehl (Greens, Germany), and included Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski (EPP, Poland), Manuela Ripa (EPP Germany), Hannes Heide (S&D, Austria), Marcos Ros Sempere (S&D, ES), Catherine Griset (PfE, France), Ivaylo Valchev (ECR, Bulgaria), and Laurence Farreng (Renew, France).

    Read the full statement by the CULT delegation.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Enhances Ammunition Safety Skills of Kyrgyz Defence Personnel through Study Visit to Austria

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE Enhances Ammunition Safety Skills of Kyrgyz Defence Personnel through Study Visit to Austria

    Participant involved in the study on mobile lab usage. Vienna, 20 May 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    From 19 to 23 May 2025, four technical specialists from the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic took part in a study visit to Austria, focused on the use of mobile laboratory equipment for the chemical analysis of ammunition propellants. The visit was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in co-operation with the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic and with the support of the Austrian Armed Forces.
    During the visit, participants received both theoretical and hands-on training on operating Level 1 chemical laboratories equipped with QPAK (Qualitative Propellant Analysis Kit) systems, widely used by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Defence. They also visited the Division for Explosives, Materials, Petrols, Oils, and Lubricants (POL) Technology within the Defence Technology Agency of the Austrian Armed Forces Logistics School.
    The programme included guided tours of specialized laboratories in explosives, chemicals, materials testing, and POL, where participants learned about testing procedures, safety protocols, and modern analytical tools. Daily practical exercises allowed participants to apply their knowledge and improve their technical competence in chemical testing of ammunition components.
    This initiative builds on the OSCE’s earlier support to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defence through the donation of QPAK equipment. With the newly acquired skills, Kyrgyz defence specialists are now better equipped to conduct safe and effective chemical testing of ammunition, contributing to improved stockpile management and enhanced national security.
    The study visit is part of the OSCE’s ongoing efforts to support risk reduction and promote safe and secure ammunition storage practices in line with international standards.
    **This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project “Improvement of SALW and CA Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic,” supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway, and Switzerland.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pro-Trump candidate wins Poland’s presidential election – a bad omen for the EU, Ukraine and women

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia

    Poland’s presidential election runoff will be a bitter pill for pro-European Union democrats to swallow.

    The nationalist, Trumpian, historian Karol Nawrocki has narrowly defeated the liberal, pro-EU mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, 50.89 to 49.11%.

    The Polish president has few executive powers, though the office holder is able to veto legislation. This means the consequences of a Nawrocki victory will be felt keenly, both in Poland and across Europe.

    With this power, Nawrocki, backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, will no doubt stymie the ability of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his Civic Platform-led coalition to enact democratic political reforms.

    This legislative gridlock could well see Law and Justice return to government in the 2027 general elections, which would lock in the anti-democratic changes the party made during their last term in office from 2015–2023. This included eroding Poland’s judicial independence by effectively taking control of judicial appointments and the supreme court.

    Nawrocki’s win has given pro-Donald Trump, anti-liberal, anti-EU forces across the continent a shot in the arm. It’s bad news for the EU, Ukraine and women.

    A rising Poland

    For much of the post-second world war era, Poland has had limited European influence.

    This is no longer the case. Poland’s economy has boomed since it joined the EU in 2004. It spends almost 5% of its gross domestic product on defence, almost double what it spent in 2022 at the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    Poland now has a bigger army than the United Kingdom, France and Germany. And living standards, adjusted for purchasing power, are about to eclipse Japan’s.

    Along with Brexit, these changes have resulted in the EU’s centre of gravity shifting eastwards towards Poland. As a rising military and economic power of 37 million people, what happens in Poland will help shape Europe’s future.

    Impacts on Ukraine

    Poland’s new position in Europe is most clearly demonstrated by its central role in the fight to defend Ukraine against Russia.

    This centrality was clearly demonstrated during the recent “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Kyiv, where Tusk joined the leaders of Europe’s major powers – France, Germany and the UK – to bolster support for Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky.

    However, Poland’s unqualified support for Ukraine will now be at risk because Nawrocki has demonised Ukrainian refugees in his country and opposed Ukrainian integration into European-oriented bodies, such as the EU and NATO.

    Nawrocki was also backed during his campaign by the Trump administration. Kristi Noem, the US secretary of homeland security, said at the recent Conservative Political Action Conference in Poland:

    Donald Trump is a strong leader for us, but you have an opportunity to have just as strong of a leader in Karol if you make him the leader of this country.

    Trump also hosted Nawrocki in the Oval Office when he was merely a candidate for office. This was a significant deviation from standard US diplomatic protocol to stay out of foreign elections.

    Nawrocki has not been as pro-Russia as some other global, MAGA-style politicians, but this is largely due to Poland’s geography and its difficult history with Russia. It has been repeatedly invaded across its eastern plains by Russian or Soviet troops. And along with Ukraine, Poland shares borders with the Russian client state of Belarus and Russia itself in Kaliningrad, the heavily militarised enclave on the Baltic Sea.

    I experienced the proximity of these borders during fieldwork in Poland in 2023 when I travelled by car from Warsaw to Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, via the Suwalki Gap.

    This is the strategically important, 100-kilometre-long border between Poland and Lithuania, which connects the Baltic states to the rest of NATO and the EU to the south. It’s seen as a potential flashpoint if Russia were ever to close the gap and isolate the Baltic states.

    Poland’s conservative nationalist politicians are therefore less Russia-friendly than those in Hungary or Slovakia. Nawrocki, for instance, does not support cutting off weapons to Ukraine.

    However, a Nawrocki presidency will still be more hostile to Ukraine and its interests. During the campaign, Nawrocki said Zelensky “treats Poland badly”, echoing the type of language used by Trump himself.

    Poland divided

    The high stakes in the election resulted in a record turnout of almost 73%.

    There was a stark choice in the election between Nawrocki and Trzaskowski.

    Trzaskowski supported the liberalisation of Poland’s harsh abortion laws – abortion was effectively banned in Poland under the Law and Justice government – and the introduction of civil partnerships for LGBTQ+ couples.

    Nawrocki opposed these changes and will likely veto any attempt to implement them.

    While the polls for the presidential runoff election had consistently shown a tight race, an Ipsos exit poll published during the vote count demonstrated the social divisions now facing the country.

    As in other recent global elections, women and those with higher formal education voted for the progressive candidate (Trzaskowski), while men and those with less formal education voted for the conservative (Nawrocki).

    After the surprise success of the liberal, pro-EU presidential candidate in the Romanian elections a fortnight ago, pro-EU forces were hoping for a similar result in Poland, as well.

    That, for now, is a pipe dream and liberals across the continent will now need to negotiate a difficult relationship with a right-wing, Trumpian leader in the new beating heart of Europe.

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

    – ref. Pro-Trump candidate wins Poland’s presidential election – a bad omen for the EU, Ukraine and women – https://theconversation.com/pro-trump-candidate-wins-polands-presidential-election-a-bad-omen-for-the-eu-ukraine-and-women-257617

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lavish Trips and Long-Haul Junkets: Stormont spends over £470,000 on travel outside the British Isles since the return of devolution

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:

    “For some weeks I have been collecting data on the spend of the different Executive departments on travel outside the British Isles since devolution returned. To say I am appalled at the scale and extravagance of ministerial and departmental spending on foreign travel is an understatement.

    “When collated, the responses reveal an astonishing total of £470,000 spent on international travel by Stormont departments in just over a year — and more than £52,000 of that squandered by Ministers themselves.

    “Luxury long-haul flights and costly hotel stays seem to be the norm for the Executive.

    “No department has flown further or spent more widely than the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. In total, the department spent nearly £78,000, with trips ranging from Brussels to New Zealand, Germany to New York.

    “Three individuals, including the Minister, few to New York Climate Week at a cost of £11,134 — supposedly to discuss sustainability of all things, while burning jet fuel and public money.

    “Officials also attended climate-linked events in Sweden, Spain, and Germany — clocking up thousands more in expenses — with little to no clarity on what outcomes, if any, these junkets delivered for the Northern Ireland public.

    “The Department of Finance racked up over £32,700 in international travel — including a single trip to Brussels by 16 officials from the Departmental Solicitor’s Office, costing the public £17,066. We’re told this was a “bespoke study visit” linked to the Windsor Framework.

    “Can a 16-person legal trip to Brussels be justified? Ministers must explain why such a large group needed to attend, and what real value was achieved.

    “The Minister for Education himself spent over £8,000 on overseas travel in a single year — including trips to Washington DC and Reykjavik, Iceland. Minister Givan’s personal travel and accommodation expenses account for nearly 25% of the total expenses by the Department on foreign travel.

    Among the more concerning examples in the Department of Education are:
    •     Two officials who travelled to Paris and racked up costs of over £2,100 and
    •     A trip to Tokyo which cost £3,366, with no listed outcomes.

    “With education budgets under severe strain, with SEN services stretched to breaking point people working in education will be asking questions.

    “The biggest spenders though are of course the Executive Office. Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little Pengelly’s department has managed to spend over £126,000 on international travel.

    “When people see Ministers parading on the world stage while hospital waiting lists grow at home, it’s not hard to understand the anger. Spending more on a single trip than many people earn in a year is shameful.

    “Across the Executive, this pattern of waste repeats. Ministers and officials racking up air miles while local services go without.

    “When we ask the public to tighten their belts, the very least they should expect is that Ministers do the same.

    “Climate change conferences abroad are no substitute for sound governance at home.

    “Ministerial egos should not be subsidised by people struggling to make ends meet.

    “With many already questioning the value of Stormont, these figures will do nothing to restore public confidence.”

    Note to editors

    You can read the full set of questions and answers online here.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Zheng, Sabalenka book quarterfinal meeting at Roland Garros

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

    Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women’s singles 4th round match between Liudmila Samsonova of Russia and Zheng Qinwen of China at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 1, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen has set up a quarterfinal clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka at the French Open.

    Less than a year after her historic Olympic triumph on the Paris clay, the Chinese sensation recorded her best result at Roland Garros, reaching the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 victory over Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova on Sunday.

    The Australian Open finalist battled for nearly three hours to secure the win.

    The first set stayed on serve through six games before the players exchanged breaks in the next four. Tied at 5-5 in the tiebreak, Zheng held her nerve, striking a patient inside-in forehand winner and forcing Samsonova to net a shot to close out the grueling 76-minute set.

    Samsonova responded strongly in the second, breaking Zheng twice and serving out the set. Zheng struggled with the Russian’s wide angles and squandered seven break point opportunities.

    Regrouping in the final set, Zheng broke Samsonova in the sixth game when the Russian sent a backhand down the line long.

    Serving for the match at 5-3, the 22-year-old Zheng fell behind 0-30 but reeled off four straight points, sealing victory after a forehand error from Samsonova.

    “I am super happy, honestly,” Zheng said. “There are not many words that can describe my emotions, because I’ve been trying every year, and that’s the real first time for me to be in quarterfinals in Roland Garros.”

    Sabalenka continued her consistency at the majors with a 7-5, 6-3 win over American 16th seed Amanda Anisimova to reach her third straight French Open quarterfinal.

    Sabalenka won her first six meetings with Zheng, including the 2024 Australian Open final. However, Zheng earned her first victory over the Belarusian last month – on clay – in Rome.

    “It’s always tough matches against her,” Sabalenka noted. “She’s a great player. Of course, I expect a great battle, and I’m super excited to face her in the quarterfinals, and I want to get my revenge. I want to get this win after Rome, so I’m happy to face her in the quarters.”

    Four-time winner Iga Swiatek had to dig deep to extend her 24-match winning streak in Paris, overcoming No. 12 seed Elena Rybakina 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

    “It means a lot,” said the fifth-seeded Pole. “I think I needed that kind of win to feel these feelings that I’m able to win under pressure, and even if it’s not going the right way, you know, still turn the match around to win it.”

    Swiatek will next face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, who outplayed Italian fourth seed Jasmine Paolini 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1.

    On the men’s side, reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz clinched a hard-fought 7-6 (8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory over American Ben Shelton after three hours and 19 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach his fourth straight quarterfinal in Paris.

    “Today I fought against myself, against the mind,” second seed Alcaraz said. “I just tried to calm myself. In some moments I was mad, I was angry with myself. Talking not really good things, but I am really happy to not let those thoughts play against me. I tried to calm myself down, and I tried to keep going. That is what I tried.”

    The Spaniard will next face Tommy Paul, after the 12th seed defeated Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

    Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti brushed aside Holger Rune of Denmark 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to set up a last-eight meeting with American Frances Tiafoe, who overcame Daniel Altmaier of Germany 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Swiatek digs herself out of deep hole, Alcaraz powers on at French Open

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Four-time champion Iga Swiatek clawed her way back from the brink to reach the French Open quarter-finals by defeating her claycourt nemesis Elena Rybakina while men’s title holder Carlos Alcaraz also went through after a tough workout on Sunday.

    Fifth seed Swiatek looked out of sorts as she trailed 6-1 2-0 on Court Philippe Chatrier, leaving the crowd stunned. But Swiatek found her groove and some grit to prevail 1-6 6-3 7-5.

    Her final opponent from last year, Jasmine Paolini, was on the wrong end of another last-16 clash against 13th seed Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, the Italian wasting three match points in a 4-6 7-6(6) 6-1 defeat.

    Svitolina will provide the next test for Swiatek, who continues her quest to become the first female player since tennis turned professional to claim the singles’ title four times in a row at Roland Garros.

    The only women to win the singles at Roland Garros in four straight years were Jeanne Matthey from 1909-12 and Suzanne Lenglen from 1920-23 when only French players competed.

    Since tennis turned professional in 1968, Swiatek is one of three women with Monica Seles and Justine Henin to enjoy three consecutive triumphs in Paris and on Sunday it looked like her quest for a fourth straight was going to crash to a halt.

    The 12th-seeded Rybakina made a bullet start, putting Swiatek on the back foot with some powerful baseline play and racing to a 5-0 lead, threatening to inflict on the former world number one her first bagel at a Grand Slam.

    “It was as if I was playing (men’s world number one and heavy hitter) Jannik Sinner,” Swiatek joked.

    DOUBLE FAULTS

    If there was any sign that Swiatek was rattled, it was her three double faults at 2-2 in the second set.

    The fifth seed still held though and it proved to be a turning point as she went on to break to love and move 4-2 up, bagging 10 consecutive points in the process to send the clash into a decider.

    At 4-4, with Rybakina serving at 15-40, the Kazakh appeared to have double-faulted on break point.

    Both players were walking towards their benches when chair umpire Kader Nouni’s deep voice overruled the line judge’s call.

    The reversal offered Rybakina an unexpected lifeline as the air filled with electricity.

    Swiatek later saved a game point with a blistering forehand winner, but it was Rybakina who ultimately secured the crucial hold, shifting the weight of expectation squarely onto her opponent’s shoulders.

    Swiatek cooled down and held, then broke and finished it off on the second match point before unleashing a huge scream and bumping her chest in a mix of released anger and relief.

    “In the first set, with her playing like that I felt I did not have a single chance,” said Swiatek, who had lost to Rybakina in their two previous encounters on clay.

    “Using the top spin was the plan from the beginning but I did not feel she gave me the space to do that. But I’m happy that I was patient enough to stay in the game and use any opportunity that came to me.”

    Elsewhere in the top half of the draw, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen battled on, the Chinese eighth seed overcoming Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 7-6(5) 1-6 6-3, with a potential clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka looming.

    In the men’s draw, Carlos Alcaraz etched his name deeper in clay by overcoming American Ben Shelton 7-6(8) 6-3 4-6 6-4 for his 100th tour-level win on the surface to reach the quarter-finals for a fourth successive year.

    Victory was far from simple and Alcaraz said he fought against himself in the mind.

    “I just tried to calm myself. In some moments I was mad, I was angry with myself. Talking not really good things but I am happy to not let those thoughts play against me,” he added.

    “I tried to calm myself down and I tried to keep going.”

    Up next for him is world number 12 Tommy Paul, who blitzed Alexei Popyrin 6-3 6-3 6-3 to become the first American male player to reach the French Open quarter-finals in 22 years.

    Paul matched Andre Agassi’s run from 2003 after Americans on Saturday equalled a 40-year-old record with five women and three men reaching round four of the clay court Grand Slam.

    Another American in the last eight is Frances Tiafoe, who beat Germany’s Daniel Altmaier but will find himself with a mountain to climb in the next round as he takes on Italian craftsman Lorenzo Musetti.

    World number seven Musetti beat Denmark’s Holger Rune 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-2, showing his impressive palette of claycourt game. He has reached at least the semi-finals of all three Masters events on the slow surface this season.

    Sabalenka battled past 16th-seed Amanda Anisimova 7-5 6-3 to become the first player to reach the quarter-finals in 10 straight Grand Slams since American Serena Williams between 2014-17.

    The Belarusian squandered a total of seven matchpoints before seeing off Anisimova to set up a clash with Zheng.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is populism?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Moffitt, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Monash University

    In 2017, in the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump’s first election win, populism was named the “word of the year” by Cambridge University Press.

    Almost a decade later, we might have thought the term’s popularity would have faded.

    But with Trump back in power in the United States, the Reform Party polling very well in the United Kingdom, and Argentinian president Javier Milei wielding his chainsaw at public events, populism is very much still with us.

    But what is populism? Is it a left or right phenomenon? And is it here to stay?

    What is populism?

    Put simply, populism is a political phenomenon that revolves around the central divide between “the people” and “the elite”.

    Although there is agreement on this divide, academics tend to disagree on two things when it comes to populism.

    The first is what kind of phenomenon it is. Is populism an ideology (that is, a belief system)? A strategy? Or is it a kind of performative political style?

    Secondly, experts disagree on whether populism is a threat or corrective to democracy. Some think it can be both.

    Populism: left or right?

    Much of the confusion about populism stems from the fact that it can appear across the ideological spectrum.

    This is because “the people” and “the elite” are flexible terms, and populists can characterise them in very different ways.

    Right-wing populists tend to characterise “the people” in socio-cultural terms, and often combine their populism with nativism.

    Think for instance, of how Trump’s “people” are coded as White Americans.

    Or, how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi evokes Hindu nationalism in his definition of “the people”.

    Other prominent right-wing populist leaders include the likes of Viktor Orban of Hungary, Nigel Farage of the United Kingdom, Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, and Australia’s Pauline Hanson.

    Left-wing populists, meanwhile, tend to characterise “the people” in socio-economic terms. They often combine their populism with calls for economic redistribution or shifts in power.

    Examples include Latin American populist leaders like Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who sought to bring the poor into their conception of “the people”.

    In the US, Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential primary campaigns put the working class and people in precarious work at the heart of his “people”.

    Other examples of left-wing populism include the Podemos and Syriza parties in Spain and Greece respectively.

    This also means the way populists tend to define “the elite” is quite different.

    Right-wing populist targets often include:

    • government and policy elites (think of Trump’s “drain the swamp”)
    • cultural elites (Trump’s attacks on media as “fake news”)
    • academics (attacks on the “ivory tower”) and
    • transnational bodies (such as attacks on the United Nations).

    These groups are connected in right-wing populist discourse and purported to be undermining “the people’s” livelihood by abetting increased immigration or the destruction of “traditional values”.

    Left-wing populists tend to target business and power elites, who they see as fleecing “the people” economically and keeping them from expressing their popular power (think of Occupy Wall Street’s divide between the 99% and the 1%).

    Populists also tend to have a suspicion of transnational organisations. But while right-wing populists tend to focus on the likes of the United Nations and World Health Organisation, left-wing populists are more suspicious of business transnationals such as the World Trade Organization or World Economic Forum.

    Is populism here to stay?

    After every major election where a populist leader or party succeeds, there is inevitably talk of a “populist earthquake”, “populist wave” or “populist tsunami”.

    These metaphors suggest populism has come out of nowhere, and is causing a major and unexpected shock to the system.

    But that’s simply not the case.

    If anything, the story of 21st century politics has been one in which populism has become “normalised” and “mainstreamed”.

    Populists are no longer merely “challenger” parties nor minor parties.

    They increasingly are among the top three parties in their respective countries (particularly in Europe), and have won government in places from the US to India to the Netherlands to Italy to Greece.

    This success has seen them steadily viewed as viable and “normal” political players.

    Meanwhile, mainstream parties and leaders have increasingly adopted elements of populists’ discourse, platforms and political styles, as a way to compete with populists.

    This, ironically, has had the effect of legitimising populists in many countries; it makes their policies and discourse look more “acceptable”.

    It’s important to be cynical about any pundit crowing about the “death” of populism – or, on the flipside, the idea it has come out of nowhere.

    Populism is here to stay. Acknowledging that can help us better understand its appeal, which in turn, can provide hints about how to best deal with it.

    Benjamin Moffitt receives or has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation.

    – ref. What is populism? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-populism-249369

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister Ramokgopa to attend Hamburg Sustainability Conference

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, is set to represent South Africa at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany, which takes place in Germany on 2 and 3 June 2025. 

    The Ministry in The Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation said the conference seeks to accelerate global action to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

    “Minister Ramokgopa’s participation at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference will underscore South Africa’s continued efforts to advance accelerated action to achieve domestic development goals through the National Development Plan Vision 2030 (NDP) and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), and global goals through the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. 
    “The Minister will also advance the importance of partnerships and equality to achieve to achieve sustainable development,” the Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
    Established in 2024, the two-day conference will bring together key decision-makers from governments, civil society, and the private sector.  

    Spearheaded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Michael Otto Foundation, and the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg, this initiative is designed to drive sustainable change.

    The conference offers a unique platform to forge new partnerships and demonstrates the power of collaboration in tackling global challenges and transforming lives.

    According to the Director, Germany Representation Office at the UNDP, Melanie Hauenstein, the world is at a pivotal moment and confronting extraordinary challenges – climate change, conflict, and economic instability, all while investment in development and international cooperation faces unprecedented constraints. 

    She said that these realities underscore why multilateralism is essential for addressing shared challenges and securing a more stable, sustainable future.

    “The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) is a vital platform for advancing this critical agenda. The HSC goes beyond reflection – it’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding of development and to imagine the sustainable futures we can create together,” she said.  – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three killed, dozens injured in hospital fire in Hamburg, Germany

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BERLIN, June 1 (Xinhua) — A fire broke out overnight at a hospital in the Hohenfelde district of Hamburg in northern Germany, killing three patients and injuring more than 50 others, local authorities confirmed Sunday.

    According to the Hamburg Fire Department, two victims are in life-threatening condition, another 16 people were seriously injured and 36 were slightly injured.

    The fire started in the geriatric ward on the first floor of the hospital and spread to the second floor. Firefighters received information about the fire shortly after midnight.

    Thick smoke from the fire spread through all floors of the building, prompting a massive emergency response. Firefighters carried out rescue operations through open windows and the fire was completely extinguished early Sunday morning.

    The cause of the fire is being investigated. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: GA (Int’l) Capital Management Announces Launch of Communication Hubs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GA (Int’l) Capital Management, a leader in tailored wealth management and investment services for high-net-worth individuals, is proud to announce the opening of satellite communication hubs in Germany, Belgium, the UK, and the USA. These hubs are designed to enhance the ability of GA Capital’s brokers and analysts to connect with clients globally, offering seamless communication and support, wherever they are.

    Instead of traditional walk-in offices, these hubs will function as centres for collaboration, enabling GA Capital’s team to operate more effectively while travelling and working internationally. Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, the hubs allow real-time connections for discussions on market developments, investment strategies, and personalized client support. This expansion underscores GA Capital’s commitment to improving connectivity and accessibility for clients and experts across the globe.

    Global Reach, Personalised Connections

    “As we continue to grow, our goal is to maintain personal connections at the heart of our business,” said Ho Ting Fung, CEO of GA Capital. “The new communication hubs will empower our brokers and analysts to collaborate with clients, no matter where they are. By offering our team the flexibility to work and communicate on their terms, we ensure that clients receive consistent, high-level service and insights.”

    Enabling Enhanced Communication and Service

    The hubs will support a range of services, including:

    • Discretionary Portfolio Management: Bespoke investment strategies tailored to each client’s financial goals.
    • Retirement and Succession Planning: Ensuring clients’ future security and legacy.
    • Expatriate Services: Specialised financial services for expatriates, particularly Australian and British citizens, protecting their global interests.

    These hubs streamline communication, enabling GA Capital’s experts to provide creative financial solutions and strategies to clients worldwide, maintaining a highly personalised approach to service delivery.

    About GA (Int’l) Capital Management Limited
    GA (Int’l) Capital Management Limited is a global leader in financial services, offering comprehensive solutions to clients worldwide. Focused on innovation, security, and customer service, the company is dedicated to providing reliable and cutting-edge financial strategies to meet the needs of an ever-changing market.

    For inquiries, please contact:
    Wong On Ying, COO
    GA (Int’l) Capital Management Limited
    Email: wong.on.ying@gacapitalm.com
    Phone: +852 3002 3446
    Website: https://gacapitalm.com/

    Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. GA (Int’l) Capital Management does not guarantee investment outcomes or returns. Clients should seek professional advice tailored to their needs before making financial decisions.

    This content is provided by GA (Int’l) Capital Management Limited. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

    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/667d5029-2139-4f90-9833-e0587acd2cdf

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kyiv’s allies have lifted restrictions on Ukraine attacking targets inside Russia – here’s what that means for the war

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth

    The frontlines in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict have largely been bogged down, with little significant movement on either side. It was reported recently that Russian troops had only advanced about 25 miles in the eastern sector near Donetsk in one year, at a huge cost in terms of casualties. As a result, both sides have sought different ways of trying to gain a strategic advantage over their opponent.

    Air power has long been a recognised way of restoring a degree of mobility to the battlefield. But in Ukraine, neither side has been able to achieve control of the air, thanks to the quality of their air defences. So instead, both sides are using drones for “tactical” (small-scale) effect.

    At this point, it’s worth focusing on the three levels of warfare: tactical, operational and strategic. The chart below, taken from the US Military Review, illustrates how these levels work – operating as a “distinct hierarchy with marginally overlapping areas between the strategic and the operational, and between the tactical and the operational”.

    The three levels of war: tactical, operational and strategic.
    Army University Press

    The tactical level is where small actions are planned and executed. At the operational level, major operations and campaigns are planned with a view to achieving strategic objectives. The strategic level involves longer-term ways to achieve the overarching political objectives of a conflict.

    Russia’s ability to deploy long-range missiles and longer-range drones (such as the Shahed 136) that can strike targets – both military and civilian – deep inside Ukraine, has given it a strategic advantage.

    There are two strategic aims to these strikes. The first is to reduce Ukraine’s capacity to produce military equipment through its domestic industrial base. The second is to target urban areas and civilian populations to undermine public morale – although how effective this is has long been a matter for debate.

    Advantage Russia

    The prohibition on Ukraine using weapons supplied by its allies to strike targets in Russia has put it at a considerable disadvantage – meaning that Ukraine’s military has been unable to exploit these weapons’ full potential. So, Russia has been able to build a considerable military/industrial base without threat of attack.

    But now, the decision to lift these restrictions by the UK, US and, most recently, Germany will allow Ukraine to attack a wider range of targets and create more strategic difficulties for Russian political and military leadership.

    In particular, it’s worth highlighting the recent statement by the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who announced on May 28 that Berlin would help Kyiv develop new long-range weapons that can hit targets in Russian territory.

    To what extent Ukraine will be able to exploit this greater latitude to attack targets inside Russia remains to be seen. But the prospect of long-range missiles being used against its cities – the German Taurus missiles have a range of more than 500km – could give Ukraine a degree of leverage in any fresh peace talks.

    The lifting of these restrictions is unlikely to make much difference on the ground for some time, though. While theoretically, Ukraine will be able to strike at some of Russia’s military production sites, Russia has dramatically overhauled its arms production capacity. Nato’s top US commander is reported to have recently told a Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia is “on track to build a stockpile three times greater than the United States and Europe combined”.

    No restrictions – for now

    It’s also worth noting that both the US and UK signalled their willingness to allow their long-range missiles to strike at missile launchers inside Russia late last year as a defensive measure – but on a limited scale and only using domestically produced weapons, in contrast to the attacks conducted by Russia.

    What is different in the most recent announcement is the lifting of restrictions on what can be targeted with weapons provided by western allies, rather than those domestically produced by the Ukrainian defence industry. This is an extension of an initial lifting of restrictions in late 2024
     by the US and UK, further broadening the targets that can be attacked.

    But the relaxation of these restrictions could be reversed very quickly if Ukraine launches large-scale strikes against civilian populations – which could generate highly adverse publicity for Ukraine and the countries that supplied the weapons.

    Russia’s targeting of Kyiv in recent weeks has been bitterly criticised by the US president, Donald Trump, who posted on his TruthSocial website recently: “[Vladimir Putin] has gone absolutely crazy. Needlessly killing a lot of people.”

    But Kyiv’s allies will also be wary of how Russia may react. Russia has always threatened dire consequences if Ukraine uses western-supplied weapons to launch attacks within Russia.

    Indeed, the political ramifications of the lifting of restrictions are likely to be more consequential than the military outcomes – for now, at least.

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

    – ref. Kyiv’s allies have lifted restrictions on Ukraine attacking targets inside Russia – here’s what that means for the war – https://theconversation.com/kyivs-allies-have-lifted-restrictions-on-ukraine-attacking-targets-inside-russia-heres-what-that-means-for-the-war-257841

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Land degradation neutrality- a pathway to sustainable futures for vulnerable communities 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Bernice Swarts

    As the world battles escalating environmental challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss, one crisis continues to be overshadowed – that is land degradation. Every year, over 100 million hectares of productive land are lost or degraded, affecting the lives of more than 1.3 billion people globally.

    In regions already grappling with poverty, hunger, and unemployment, this environmental degradation becomes a multiplier of vulnerability.

    The recent Global Land Degradation Neutrality – Integrated Land Use Planning (LDN–ILUP) Inception Workshop that took place in Sandton, South Africa marked a critical turning point in the global fight against Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought (DLDD). For four days, experts, government representatives, and development partners from 18 participating countries gathered to refine targets and develop strategies aimed at restoring our planet’s productive land. This meeting was not just another technical gathering – it was a platform of hope for millions whose lives and livelihoods depend on healthy land.

    At the heart of this initiative is the principle of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), a concept rooted in sustainability and inclusivity. It recognises that land restoration cannot succeed without the active participation of people at the grassroots level. These are the farmers, herders, and communities whose daily decisions directly influence land and water resources. Empowering them to implement sustainable practices remains vital.

    Bringing the issue of land degradation home to our country, it must be noted that South Africa, is currently presiding over the G20 under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.”  Our country will use its presidency of the G20 to place the issues of DLDD at the heart of G20 member states and tackle degradation in the country. Our argument is that the G20 – representing the world’s largest economies – must lead by example in addressing land degradation as an integral part of climate and development discourse.

    The G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) – which is led by our department – will focus on DLDD, along with other critical areas such as biodiversity, climate change, and ocean health. But while global policy alignment is essential, real progress lies in concrete actions on the ground—large-scale restoration projects, transboundary collaboration, and integration of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) into national development plans.

    To this end, existing initiatives such as the Changwon Initiative, African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100), the Great Green Wall, and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration must be harnessed and scaled up. These programmes provide tested frameworks for land restoration and resilience building.

    However, none of these ambitions will materialise without adequate and sustained financial support. Development and financial partners must step up their efforts. While we acknowledge the critical support provided by entities like the Global Mechanism of the UNCCD, Global Environment Facility, and development partners from Canada and Germany, there remains a significant financing gap. Innovation in resource mobilisation is urgently needed, whether through blended finance, public-private partnerships, or carbon markets. South Africa will therefore call on the developed nations under the G20 to provide more financial support to developed countries to tackle land degradation.

    It must also be noted that we cannot continue to formulate frameworks and strategies without addressing the daily realities faced by vulnerable communities. If we are serious about achieving the targets of the UNCCD, Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Paris Agreement, financial commitments must match the scale of ambition.

    I must commend all dignitaries from all over the world who attended the workshop. I want to reiterate that the workshop should not be seen as a standalone event. It must be viewed as a launchpad for action—an opportunity to demonstrate that LDN is not merely a technical term, but a vehicle for change, resilience, and hope. As global citizens, we owe it to future generations to restore the land they will inherit.

    Let this be the moment we stop talking and start restoring.
     

    *Bernice Swarts is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: MADE IN THE USA: President Trump’s Vision is Revitalizing American Industry

    Source: US Whitehouse

    President Donald J. Trump heads to Pennsylvania today, where he’ll champion the partnership he brokered between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel — a $14 billion investment that will create at least 70,000 jobs and ensure steel is made in America for decades to come.

    AMERICAN JOBS, AMERICAN STEEL.

    The landmark agreement comes alongside a host of companies from across industries that are onshoring their production and investing in American manufacturing as President Trump relentlessly pursues his America First trade policies.

    Look no further than the automotive industry:

    • Stellantis announced a $5 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing network, including re-opening its Belvidere, Illinois, plant and a $388 “megahub” in Detroit, Michigan.
    • General Motors announced an $888 million investment at its propulsion plant in Tonawanda, New York.
    • Volkswagen is planning to make a “massive” investment in its U.S. production.
    • Toyota announced it will boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia plant.
    • Mercedes-Benz announced it will add a new vehicle to its Tuscaloosa, Alabama, manufacturing plant.
    • Honda plans to shift production of the Civic from Japan to the U.S.
    • Hyundai announced a $20 billion investment to support its U.S. vehicle production.
    • Kia plans to produce hybrid vehicles at its affiliate Hyundai’s Georgia factory.

    It’s not just the auto industry; scores of others are lining up to invest in America:

    • Project Stargate, led by Japan-based Softbank and U.S.-based OpenAI and Oracle, announced a $500 billion private investment in U.S.-based artificial intelligence infrastructure.
    • Apple announced a $500 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing and training.
    • NVIDIA, a global chipmaking giant, announced it will invest $500 billion in U.S.-based AI infrastructure over the next four years amid its pledge to manufacture AI supercomputers entirely in the U.S. for the first time.
    • IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
    • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced a $100 billion investment in U.S.-based chips manufacturing.
    • Johnson & Johnson announced a $55 billion investment over the next four years in manufacturing, research and development, and technology.
    • Roche, a Swiss drug and diagnostics company, announced a $50 billion investment in U.S.-based manufacturing and research and development, which is expected to create more than 12,000 jobs.
    • Bristol Myers Squibb announced a $40 billion investment over the next five years in its research, development, technology, and U.S.-based manufacturing operations.
    • Eli Lilly and Company announced a $27 billion investment to more than double its domestic manufacturing capacity.
    • United Arab Emirates-based ADQ and U.S.-based Energy Capital Partners announced a $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and energy infrastructure.
    • Novartis, a Swiss drugmaker, announced a $23 billion investment to build or expand ten manufacturing facilities across the U.S., which will create 4,000 new jobs.
    • John Deere announced plans to invest $20 billion over the next decade in American expansion, production, and manufacturing.
    • United Arab Emirates-based DAMAC Properties announced a $20 billion investment in new U.S.-based data centers.
    • France-based CMA CGM, a global shipping giant, announced a $20 billion investment in U.S. shipping and logistics, creating 10,000 new jobs.
    • Sanofi announced it will invest at least $20 billion over the next five years in manufacturing and research and development.
    • Venture Global LNG announced an $18 billion investment at its liquefied natural gas facility in Louisiana.
    • Gilead Sciences announced an $11 billion boost to its planned U.S.-based manufacturing investment.
    • AbbVie announced a $10 billion investment over the next ten years to support volume growth and add four new manufacturing plants to its network.
    • Pratt Industries announced a $5 billion investment to create 5,000 new manufacturing jobs in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.
    • GlobalWafers, a Taiwanese silicon wafer manufacturer, announced a $4 billion investment in its U.S.-based production.
    • Thermo Fisher Scientific announced it will invest an additional $2 billion over the next four years to enhance and expand its U.S. manufacturing operations and strengthen its innovation efforts.
    • Merck & Co. announced it will invest a total of $9 billion in the U.S. over the next several years after opening a new $1 billion North Carolina manufacturing facility — including in a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs.
    • Clarios announced a $6 billion plan to expand its domestic manufacturing operations.
    • In addition to its overall investments, Amazon announced it is investing $4 billion in small towns across America, creating more than 100,000 new jobs and driving opportunities across the country.
    • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a leader in biotechnology, announced a $3 billion agreement with Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies to produce drugs at its North Carolina manufacturing facility.
    • Kraft Heinz announced a $3 billion investment to upgrade its U.S. factories — its largest investment in its plants in decades.
    • NorthMark Strategies, a multi-strategy investment firm, announced a $2.8 billion investment to build a supercomputing facility in South Carolina.
    • Kimberly-Clark announced a $2 billion investment to expand its U.S. manufacturing operations, including a new advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, Ohio, an expansion of its Beech Island, South Carolina, facility, and other upgrades to its supply chain network.
    • Chobani, a Greek yogurt giant, announced $1.7 billion to expand its U.S. operations.
      • $1.2 billion to build its third U.S. dairy processing plant in New York, which is expected to create more than 1,000 new full-time jobs.
    • Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion, adding 400 new high-paying advanced manufacturing jobs for a total of 1,500 new jobs.
    • Carrier announced an additional $1 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing, innovation, and workforce expansion, which is expected to create 4,000 new jobs.
    • GE Aerospace announced a $1 billion investment in manufacturing across 16 states — creating 5,000 new jobs.
    • Anduril Industries announced a $1 billion investment for a new autonomous weapon system facility in Ohio.
    • Williams International announced a $1 billion investment for a new high-volume aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility in Okaloosa County, Florida.
    • Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
    • Merck Animal Health announced an $895 million investment to expand their manufacturing operations in Kansas.
    • Schneider Electric announced it will invest $700 million over the next four years in U.S. energy infrastructure.
    • GE Vernova announced it will invest nearly $600 million in U.S. manufacturing over the next two years, which will create more than 1,500 new jobs.
    • Abbott Laboratories announced a $500 million investment in its Illinois and Texas facilities.
    • AIP Management, a European infrastructure investor, announced a $500 million investment to solar developer Silicon Ranch.
    • London-based Diageo announced a $415 million investment in a new Alabama manufacturing facility.
    • Lego announced a $366 million investment to build a new distribution center in Prince George County, Virginia.
    • The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
    • Dublin-based Eaton Corporation announced a $340 million investment in a new South Carolina-based manufacturing facility for its three-phase transformers.
    • Anheuser-Busch announced a $300 million investment in its manufacturing facilities across the country.
    • Germany-based Siemens announced a $285 million investment in U.S. manufacturing and AI data centers, which will create more than 900 new skilled manufacturing jobs.
    • Clasen Quality Chocolate announced a $230 million investment to build a new production facility in Virginia, which will create 250 new jobs.
    • Fiserv, Inc., a financial technology provider, announced a $175 million investment to open a new strategic fintech hub in Kansas, which is expected to create 2,000 new high-paying jobs.
    • Paris Baguette announced a $160 million investment to construct a manufacturing plant in Texas.
    • Siemens Healthineers announced a $150 million investment to expand production, including relocating manufacturing operations for its Varian company from Mexico to California. 
    • JBS USA announced a $135 million investment for a new sausage production facility in Perry, Iowa.
    • TS Conductor announced a $134 million investment to build an advanced conductor manufacturing facility in South Carolina, which will create nearly 500 new jobs.
    • Switzerland-based ABB announced a $120 million investment to expand production of its low-voltage electrification products in Tennessee and Mississippi.
    • Saica Group, a Spain-based corrugated packaging maker, announced plans to build a $110 million new manufacturing facility in Anderson, Indiana.
    • Hotpack, a Dubai-based maker of food packaging materials and related products, announced a $100 million investment to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Edison, New Jersey.
    • Charms, LLC, a subsidiary of candymaker Tootsie Roll Industries, announced a $97.7 million investment to expand its production plant and distribution center in Tennessee.
    • Toyota Motor Corporation announced an $88 million investment to boost hybrid vehicle production at its West Virginia factory, securing employment for the 2,000 workers at the factory.
    • AeroVironment, a defense contractor, announced a $42.3 million investment to build a new manufacturing facility in Utah.
    • Paris-based Saint-Gobain announced a new $40 million NorPro manufacturing facility in Wheatfield, New York.
    • India-based Sygene International announced a $36.5 million acquisition of a Baltimore biologics manufacturing facility.
    • Asahi Group Holdings, one of the largest Japanese beverage makers, announced a $35 million investment to boost production at its Wisconsin plant.
    • Valbruna Slater Stainless announced a $28 million investment in its stainless steel and nickel alloys bars manufacturing plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
    • Cyclic Materials, a Canadian advanced recycling company for rare earth elements, announced a $20 million investment in its first U.S.-based commercial facility, located in Mesa, Arizona.
    • Guardian Bikes announced a $19 million investment to build the first U.S.-based large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in Indiana.
    • Amsterdam-based AMG Critical Minerals announced a $15 million investment to build a chrome manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania.
    • NOVONIX Limited, an Australia-based battery technology company, announced a $4.6 million investment to build a synthetic graphite manufacturing facility in Tennessee.
    • LGM Pharma announced a $6 million investment to expand its manufacturing facility in Rosenberg, Texas.
    • ViDARR, a defense optical equipment manufacturer, announced a $2.69 million investment to open a new facility in Virginia.

    That doesn’t even include the U.S. investments planned by foreign countries:

    • United Arab Emirates committed to investing $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade.
    • Qatar committed to generating $1.2 trillion in an economic exchange between the two countries.
    • Japan announced a $1 trillion investment in the U.S.
    • Saudi Arabia committed investing $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening Session of the International Conference for Glaciers’ Preservation [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Your Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan,

    Your Excellency, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr.  Shehbaz Sharif,

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Government and the people of the Republic of Tajikistan for convening this High-Level International Conference and championing 2025 as the United Nations declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.  

    Mr. President, I thank you for the opportunity to visit the Glaciers in the Pamir mountain range. This was a reality check to how fragile the ecosystem is and needs preservation.

    Your commitment to glaciers – the water towers of the world, holding nearly 70% of Earth’s freshwater – stands as a beacon of hope, towards keeping global momentum, securing our planet’s vital water sources, and raising urgent climate ambition.

    A decade has passed since the world embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, setting out a bold vision for a more just, resilient, and sustainable future.

    In spite of the recent geopolitical tensions and the pushback on multilateralism, this Conference convenes at a pivotal moment—with a decisive call to turn commitments into action, and shape the trajectory of our planet, economies, and the well-being of generations to come.

    The time for ambition is an imperative now, and the stakes have never been higher.

    Allow me to recognize the invaluable contributions of the World Meteorological Organization, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank, and all other dedicated partners whose collaboration has made this conference – and this growing momentum – possible.

    Your steady dedication to glacier research and monitoring throughout the 2025-2034 Decade of Action on Cryosphere Sciences has been instrumental in raising awareness and advancing scientific knowledge to safeguard our planet’s equilibrium.

    Excellencies, Friends,

    Since 1975, over 9,000 billion tons of ice have disappeared – equivalent to a 25-meter-thick block covering all of Germany.

    In the past six years, glaciers have been retreating at an unprecedented pace, marking the fastest loss in recorded history.

    Between 2022 and 2024 alone, the world witnessed the largest three-year glacier mass loss ever observed – a staggering acceleration of ice melt.

    At current rates, many glaciers may not survive this century, reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, livelihoods and water security on a global scale.

    This is not just a mountain crisis – it is a slow-moving global catastrophe with far-reaching consequences for  planet and people.

    Glacier loss threatens water and food security, biodiversity loss, infrastructure, and the stability and health of communities worldwide.

    Billions of people depend on glaciers for drinking water, irrigation, livelihoods, and energy production, making their preservation essential for human survival and sustainable development.

    Yet those at the frontline of glacier loss – primarily in developing regions – face the greatest injustices.

    With shrinking water resources, vulnerable communities endure worsening poverty, forced migration, and harsh living conditions all while relying on glacier-fed supplies that are rapidly disappearing.

    Melting glaciers also drive sea-level rise, endangering coastal megacities and displacing millions downstream.

    Each millimeter of rising seas puts hundreds of thousands at risk of annual flooding and much more.

    In my own country Nigeria, I witness firsthand the impact of sea level rise in Lagos, which is threatened and in the Niger Delta which as seen unprecedented changes in its ecosystem. And we also see states once not affected by flooding are experiencing them at unprecedented levels.

    Beyond the physical impacts, glacier loss is also an erosion of culture, of history, and identity.

    Communities tied to mountain landscapes face the disappearance of ancestral lands, traditional knowledge, and linguistic heritage, severing connections that have existed for generations.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    With a third of mountain ice already lost due to climate change, these consequences will only intensify without immediate mitigation measures to keep global temperatures within the 1.5 degrees threshold.

    Let me note at this time 83% of these emissions for this mitigation agenda, are within the hands of 35 countries.

    Stepping up our ambition and scaling up action is imperative, before dwindling water resources destabilize ecosystems and economic disruptions become irreversible.

    Strategies for glacier preservation must enable integrated, inclusive, data-driven and locally grounded adaptation responses that meet the needs of those most vulnerable.

    Investing in adaptation should be recognized as a catalyst of sustainable growth and resilience.

    Yet, adaptation and risk reduction tools cannot succeed without sustained, predictable financing to support resilience-building at every level.

    The upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Seville is an opportunity to make the Clarion Call, for more investment in adaptation a reality.

    This year’s Global Assessment Report on disaster risk reduction informs us that “Resilience Pays”.

    Every dollar spent on resilience enhances early warning systems, safeguards infrastructure, and protects livelihoods from extreme climate events. It reinforces food and water security and strengthens economies against future shocks.

    But we must significantly scale up financing and investments – integrating risk reduction into core policy decisions.

    Failing to invest now, will result in exponentially higher costs – ranging from economic loss, development setbacks to humanitarian crisis.

    As we embark on the Decade for Glaciers’ Preservation, I have three messages:

    First, let us ensure that this conference signals an urgent call to action, uniting multilateral cooperation and strategic global partnerships.

    These partnerships should be engines for the design and delivery of ambitious, economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – as we go to Belem in Brazil later this year. These should not only as climate pledges, but as investment of roadmaps that drive SDG implementation.

    Second, ensure that your national climate plans set measurable adaptation targets across water, infrastructure, energy, and food systems to build resilience, secure financing, and protect livelihoods. These plans need to be linked to national budgets to optimize resource allocations, avert losses, and build institutional capacities to fill gaps in technical expertise but also to create an enabling environment for large scale and urgent investments.

    Third, identify pipelines of market-ready investments, backed by high-quality data and evidence-based tools that forecast returns, demonstrate co-benefits for job creation and economic growth, and unlock new financial services.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Together, we can galvanize impactful solutions to safeguard the cryosphere, polar regions, and mountain ecosystems.

    Early warning systems could be strengthened with hydro-climatic experts to reinforce datasets that help anticipate water-related risks and ensuring a constant state of preparedness to enable early action.

    Data-driven predicative analytics and AI could also complement skills, while generating baselines that help identify and anticipate fault lines, aligning with the Secretary General’s Early Warnings for All initiative.

    This year’s Fourth Financing for Development Conference presents an opportunity to ensure that development funding is not just allocated, but strategically risk-informed – across all types of shocks-strengthening resilience and safeguarding development gains.

    Let us use other global milestones including – COP30 in Brazil, the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the Second World Summit on Sustainable Development in Doha, Qatar – to elevate political will and sharpen our focus on glaciers for people, planet and prosperity.

    In conclusion, as we look forward to the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, I also wish to recognize the co-hosts of the 2023 UN Water Conference – Tajikistan and the Netherlands – for their continued political commitment to the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018–2028.

    Let us act with the urgency that SDG 6 demands by protecting water-related ecosystems.

    The UN – as always – stands ready to ensure that we meet this target. For our communities, for our economies, for our children’s future and those yet born.

    Let our children not know thirst.

    Thank you.

    ***

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: United States Secures the Extraditions of Individuals Accused of Violent and Other Serious Crimes from Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius,

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    United States Also Returned International Fugitives Wanted for Terrorism, Murder, Attempted Murder and Child Sexual Abuse to Canada, India, and Mexico

    Note: The defendants whose names are underlined hyperlink to press releases.

    WASHINGTON — Extensive coordination between the Justice Department and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in the extraditions in April and May of dozens of individuals. The defendants returned to the United States are alleged to have committed crimes — including child sexual abuse and rape, murder, hate crimes, assault, narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, alien smuggling, cybercrime, money laundering, fraud, aggravated robbery and extortion — in a number of U.S. states and federal districts, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

    The fugitives extradited to the United States include:

    • Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as Mishka, Michael, Commander Butcher, and Butcher, 21, a Georgian national and alleged leader of a white supremacist group, was extradited from Moldova to face charges in the Eastern District of New York for soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack in New York City. As the alleged leader of the white supremacist group “Maniac Murder Cult,” an international, racially motivated violent extremist group that adheres to a neo-Nazi ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups that it deems “undesirables,” Chkhikvishvili allegedly traveled to Brooklyn in 2022 and actively solicited acts of mass violence with a person who was, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, an undercover FBI employee. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly began planning a mass casualty attack to take place on New Year’s Eve, which would involve an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities. In January 2024, as alleged, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the undercover FBI employee to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn.

    • Liridon Masurica, also known as @blackdb, 33, a national of Kosovo and alleged administrator of an online criminal marketplace, was extradited from Kosovo to face charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and fraudulent use of 15 or more unauthorized access devices in the Middle District of Florida.

    • Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, also known as Andrea, 45, a national of Colombia and an alleged member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was extradited from Colombia to face charges in the Southern District of Texas of narco-terrorism and distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia.

    • Aler Baldomero Samayoa-Recinos, also known as Chicharra, 58, a national of Guatemala and alleged leader of a prolific Guatemalan drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the District of Columbia of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine for importation to the United States.

    • Daniel Flores, 49, a national of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of first-degree murder for the 1995 killing of two brothers, both U.S. Marines, ages 22 and 19, in Cook County, Illinois.

    • Manuel Alejandro Vasquez, 47, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face a charge of murder in Ventura County, California. Vasquez’s two co-defendants were convicted in 1999 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1998 murder of a man in his home over an alleged unpaid debt. Vasquez fled to Mexico before charges could be filed against him.

    • Tyler Buchanan, 23, a UK national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in the Central District of California. Among other crimes, Buchanan and his co-conspirators allegedly stole cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars following phishing attacks on over 45 companies based in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

    • Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez, 33, a Dominican citizen, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges of fentanyl trafficking in the District of New Hampshire.

    • Samuel Steven Huggler, 28, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Spain, to face charges relating to the alleged murder and attempted murders of three of his siblings in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Huggler is charged with aiding, inducing, or causing murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aiding, inducing, or causing attempted murder, and possession of an altered firearm. 

    • Michel Patrick Desalles, 54, a Mauritian national, was extradited from Mauritius to face a charge of murder in the second degree in the State of New York. Desalles allegedly choked his employer to death with zip ties and immediately fled the United States in 2017.

    • Juan Miguel Roman-Balderas, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face two charges of murder in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Roman-Balderas is alleged to have stabbed to death his 28-year-old ex-girlfriend in April 2014 in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    • Rody L. Wilcox, 50, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Georgia to face charges of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age filed in Latah County, Idaho. Wilcox allegedly sexually assaulted a six-year-old child on multiple occasions in 2023. In 2024, Wilcox fled Idaho while on bond. Through OIA’s cooperation with the FBI, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and Georgian authorities, Wilcox was arrested in Georgia on Aug. 16, 2024, while en route to the Russian Federation.

    • Miguel Angel Urbano-Vazquez, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of aggravated first-degree murder and rape in Pierce County, Washington. Urbano-Vazquez is alleged to have raped four victims between March and October 2002, one of whom he is also alleged to have murdered in the course of rape.

    • Gilberto Gutierrez, 46, a citizen of El Salvador, was extradited from El Salvador to face charges of rape, child abuse, and related sex offenses in Wicomico County, Maryland. Gutierrez allegedly repeatedly sexually abused two girls under the age of 10 years old between approximately 1999 and 2004.

    • Ramon Manriquez Castillo, 68, a dual U.S. and Mexican citizen; Edgar Rodriguez Ruano, 29, a Mexican citizen; Fernando Javier Escobar Tito, 48, an Ecuadorian citizen; and Anderson Jair Gamboa Nieto, 30, a Colombian citizen, were surrendered by Guinea-Bissau to face drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of Florida. The co-defendants are alleged members of a transnational drug trafficking organization comprised of several cartels in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, and they allegedly conspired to distribute large quantities of cocaine through Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Guinea-Bissau using a U.S.-registered airplane, with a U.S. citizen onboard, from about November 2023 to September 2024. They are also charged with distributing cocaine in these countries using an airplane with a U.S. citizen onboard.

    • Artem Aleksandrovych Stryzhak, 35, a Ukrainian national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and related activity in connection with computers in the Eastern District of New York and the Middle District of Florida. According to the charges in the Eastern District of New York, Stryzhak is one of the administrators of the Nefilim ransomware gang. The Middle District of Florida charges allege that Stryzhak used the Hive ransomware to engage in a computer hacking and extortion scheme that targeted businesses in the United States and abroad. The Hive ransomware group is estimated to have attacked approximately 1,500 victims and extorted approximately $110 million in ransom payments.

    The fugitives extradited by the United States include:

    • Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen, native of Pakistan, and convicted terrorist, was extradited to India to stand trial on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 160 people, including six Americans, and wounded hundreds more.

    • Aaron Seth Juarez, 26, a U.S. citizen, was extradited to Mexico to be prosecuted for femicide for the 2019 killing of his approximately 31-year-old stepmother, whose body he allegedly buried in the backyard of her Tijuana home. 

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), along with the U.S. Marshals Service, provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Eastern District of California litigated with OIA the successful outgoing extradition cases for Rana and Juarez, respectively. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Guatemala and Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.

    An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Secures the Extraditions of Individuals Accused of Violent and Other Serious Crimes from Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius,

    Source: United States Attorneys General 1

    United States Also Returned International Fugitives Wanted for Terrorism, Murder, Attempted Murder and Child Sexual Abuse to Canada, India, and Mexico

    Note: The defendants whose names are underlined hyperlink to press releases.

    WASHINGTON — Extensive coordination between the Justice Department and law enforcement authorities in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in the extraditions in April and May of dozens of individuals. The defendants returned to the United States are alleged to have committed crimes — including child sexual abuse and rape, murder, hate crimes, assault, narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, alien smuggling, cybercrime, money laundering, fraud, aggravated robbery and extortion — in a number of U.S. states and federal districts, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

    The fugitives extradited to the United States include:

    • Michail Chkhikvishvili, also known as Mishka, Michael, Commander Butcher, and Butcher, 21, a Georgian national and alleged leader of a white supremacist group, was extradited from Moldova to face charges in the Eastern District of New York for soliciting hate crimes and planning a mass casualty attack in New York City. As the alleged leader of the white supremacist group “Maniac Murder Cult,” an international, racially motivated violent extremist group that adheres to a neo-Nazi ideology and promotes violence against racial minorities, the Jewish community, and other groups that it deems “undesirables,” Chkhikvishvili allegedly traveled to Brooklyn in 2022 and actively solicited acts of mass violence with a person who was, unbeknownst to Chkhikvishvili, an undercover FBI employee. In November 2023, Chkhikvishvili allegedly began planning a mass casualty attack to take place on New Year’s Eve, which would involve an individual dressing up as Santa Claus and handing out candy laced with poison to racial minorities. In January 2024, as alleged, the scheme evolved and Chkhikvishvili specifically directed the undercover FBI employee to target the Jewish community, Jewish schools, and Jewish children in Brooklyn.

    • Liridon Masurica, also known as @blackdb, 33, a national of Kosovo and alleged administrator of an online criminal marketplace, was extradited from Kosovo to face charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and fraudulent use of 15 or more unauthorized access devices in the Middle District of Florida.

    • Adrian Alberto Cano Gomez, also known as Andrea, 45, a national of Colombia and an alleged member of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a designated foreign terrorist organization, was extradited from Colombia to face charges in the Southern District of Texas of narco-terrorism and distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia.

    • Aler Baldomero Samayoa-Recinos, also known as Chicharra, 58, a national of Guatemala and alleged leader of a prolific Guatemalan drug trafficking organization, was extradited from Guatemala to face charges in the District of Columbia of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine for importation to the United States.

    • Daniel Flores, 49, a national of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of first-degree murder for the 1995 killing of two brothers, both U.S. Marines, ages 22 and 19, in Cook County, Illinois.

    • Manuel Alejandro Vasquez, 47, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face a charge of murder in Ventura County, California. Vasquez’s two co-defendants were convicted in 1999 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the 1998 murder of a man in his home over an alleged unpaid debt. Vasquez fled to Mexico before charges could be filed against him.

    • Tyler Buchanan, 23, a UK national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in the Central District of California. Among other crimes, Buchanan and his co-conspirators allegedly stole cryptocurrency worth millions of dollars following phishing attacks on over 45 companies based in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

    • Felix Manuel Mejia-Gonzalez, 33, a Dominican citizen, was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face charges of fentanyl trafficking in the District of New Hampshire.

    • Samuel Steven Huggler, 28, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Spain, to face charges relating to the alleged murder and attempted murders of three of his siblings in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Huggler is charged with aiding, inducing, or causing murder, three counts of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of aiding, inducing, or causing attempted murder, and possession of an altered firearm. 

    • Michel Patrick Desalles, 54, a Mauritian national, was extradited from Mauritius to face a charge of murder in the second degree in the State of New York. Desalles allegedly choked his employer to death with zip ties and immediately fled the United States in 2017.

    • Juan Miguel Roman-Balderas, 45, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face two charges of murder in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Roman-Balderas is alleged to have stabbed to death his 28-year-old ex-girlfriend in April 2014 in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    • Rody L. Wilcox, 50, a U.S. citizen, was extradited from Georgia to face charges of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age filed in Latah County, Idaho. Wilcox allegedly sexually assaulted a six-year-old child on multiple occasions in 2023. In 2024, Wilcox fled Idaho while on bond. Through OIA’s cooperation with the FBI, U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service and Georgian authorities, Wilcox was arrested in Georgia on Aug. 16, 2024, while en route to the Russian Federation.

    • Miguel Angel Urbano-Vazquez, 48, a citizen of Mexico, was extradited from Mexico to face charges of aggravated first-degree murder and rape in Pierce County, Washington. Urbano-Vazquez is alleged to have raped four victims between March and October 2002, one of whom he is also alleged to have murdered in the course of rape.

    • Gilberto Gutierrez, 46, a citizen of El Salvador, was extradited from El Salvador to face charges of rape, child abuse, and related sex offenses in Wicomico County, Maryland. Gutierrez allegedly repeatedly sexually abused two girls under the age of 10 years old between approximately 1999 and 2004.

    • Ramon Manriquez Castillo, 68, a dual U.S. and Mexican citizen; Edgar Rodriguez Ruano, 29, a Mexican citizen; Fernando Javier Escobar Tito, 48, an Ecuadorian citizen; and Anderson Jair Gamboa Nieto, 30, a Colombian citizen, were surrendered by Guinea-Bissau to face drug trafficking charges in the Southern District of Florida. The co-defendants are alleged members of a transnational drug trafficking organization comprised of several cartels in Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela, and they allegedly conspired to distribute large quantities of cocaine through Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Guinea-Bissau using a U.S.-registered airplane, with a U.S. citizen onboard, from about November 2023 to September 2024. They are also charged with distributing cocaine in these countries using an airplane with a U.S. citizen onboard.

    • Artem Aleksandrovych Stryzhak, 35, a Ukrainian national, was extradited from Spain to face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and related activity in connection with computers in the Eastern District of New York and the Middle District of Florida. According to the charges in the Eastern District of New York, Stryzhak is one of the administrators of the Nefilim ransomware gang. The Middle District of Florida charges allege that Stryzhak used the Hive ransomware to engage in a computer hacking and extortion scheme that targeted businesses in the United States and abroad. The Hive ransomware group is estimated to have attacked approximately 1,500 victims and extorted approximately $110 million in ransom payments.

    The fugitives extradited by the United States include:

    • Tahawwur Hussain Rana, 64, a Canadian citizen, native of Pakistan, and convicted terrorist, was extradited to India to stand trial on 10 criminal charges stemming from his alleged role in the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 160 people, including six Americans, and wounded hundreds more.

    • Aaron Seth Juarez, 26, a U.S. citizen, was extradited to Mexico to be prosecuted for femicide for the 2019 killing of his approximately 31-year-old stepmother, whose body he allegedly buried in the backyard of her Tijuana home. 

    The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), along with the U.S. Marshals Service, provided significant assistance in securing the defendants’ arrests and extraditions. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Eastern District of California litigated with OIA the successful outgoing extradition cases for Rana and Juarez, respectively. OIA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions from Colombia. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) also provided assistance with the extraditions from Guatemala and Kosovo. The Justice Department thanks and acknowledges the instrumental role of its law enforcement partners in Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Guatemala, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Panama, Peru, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, Ukraine and the United Kingdom for making these extraditions possible.

    An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: One lawsuit just helped melt the fossil fuel industry’s defence against being held accountable for climate change

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benjamin Franta, Associate Professor of Climate Litigation, University of Oxford

    There was a time when oil and gas companies happily linked themselves to the idea of planet-wide environmental changes. “Each day Humble supplies enough energy to melt 7 million tons of glacier!” boasts the headline from a 1962 double-page spread in Life magazine for Humble Oil, now part of ExxonMobil.

    Fast forward 60 years and that advert takes on a prophetic quality. Millions of people have experienced first-hand the tragic consequences of how burning fossil fuels is overheating our planet beyond recognition. Not just by melting glaciers but fuelling storms, fires and floods.

    The fossil fuel industry today would never dream of linking its activities to melting glaciers. Instead, it actively denies responsibility for the consequences of extracting and selling some of the most harmful products ever known to humanity.

    For the decades we have known about climate science, this narrative has been core to how the fossil fuel industry maintains its social legitimacy: that the industry is not responsible for climate change, but everyone else is through their individual actions.

    Yet a ten-year climate lawsuit brought by a Peruvian farmer and mountain guide has challenged this narrative. In March this year, Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s case against the European coal-giant RWE was heard in a regional court in Germany.

    And while the court has now dismissed Lliuya’s specific claim – finding the flood risk to Lliuya’s particular property is not yet sufficiently great – it did confirm that private companies can in principle be held liable for their share in causing climate damages. This finding has major ramifications for the wider legal battle to make fossil fuel companies accountable.

    Farmer vs coal giant

    Lliuya lives in Huaraz, a city in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. He and the 120,000 residents of this city live in constant danger. The melting glaciers caused by climate change are causing the water levels in Lake Palcacocha above their home to rise. Peru’s disaster management agency warns that a flood could occur at any moment.

    Huaraz is one of many cities in the Andes at risk of flooding as temperatures rise and glaciers melt.
    Christian Vinces / shutterstock

    For Lliuya, it is not a matter of if but when – and how bad the flood will be.

    He therefore embarked on his lawsuit against RWE with this simple premise: as one of the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters, it should help pay for flood defences to protect Hauraz. The total cost of a new dam would have been US$4 million (£3 million), and Lliuya was demanding that RWE pay 0.47% of that total, which is US$20,000.

    This proportional amount was based on a calculation of RWE’s contribution to historical global greenhouse gas emissions – most of which have occurred since the 1990s, long after fossil fuel companies were aware their products would cause dangerous climate change.

    RWE’s revenues are measured in the tens of billions. It could have accepted Lliuya’s request and paid for not just its share of the cost, but the full cost of flood defences for Huaraz. Yet the company fought tooth and nail to prevent the case getting as far as it did.

    When asked by the court much earlier in the process if it would be willing to settle, the company’s lawyers declined, revealing exactly what was at stake: “This is a matter of precedent.”

    On May 28 2025, the court ruled that the flood risk to Lliuya’s home was not sufficiently high to uphold his specific claim. However, its confirmation of the principle that private companies can be held liable for climate damage shows that RWE was, in fact, correct to fear the precedent that Lliuya’s case has now helped set.

    Liability – across national borders

    Despite RWE’s attempts to argue otherwise, the case’s outcome has far-reaching implications that could shape similar cases in countries such as Switzerland and Belgium, and which may be relevant for other jurisdictions including the UK, Netherlands, US and Japan.

    Crucially, the case confirms that proportional liability for climate harm is legally possible, even across national borders. And this will still remain a possibility, even if a higher court overrules the German district court in favour of the fossil fuel companies.

    Why does this matter so much to RWE and other fossil fuel companies, who argue time and again in court that they should not be held responsible?

    For years, fossil fuel companies have operated as if they would not be held responsible for the emissions from their products. But as the world continues to warm, the harmful impacts of climate change and extreme weather will only intensify, resulting in mounting costs – both those we can calculate, such as damage to infrastructure, and those we cannot, like the loss of our loved ones.

    With the growing number and accuracy of climate science attribution studies, legal pressure on companies to contribute to climate costs is likely to keep growing.

    And when you consider that the legal basis for this “polluter pays” principle exists in a similar form in at least 50 nations around the world, then the scale of liability facing the industry becomes clear.

    More examples are already emerging. In 2024, a Belgian farmer filed a lawsuit against French fossil fuel major TotalEnergies, seeking compensation for damage to his farm as a result of extreme weather.

    In 2022, four residents of Pari island, Indonesia, started legal proceedings in Switzerland against the Swiss cement firm Holcim. The residents are seeking a 43% reduction in Holcim’s carbon emissions by 2030, and around US$4,000 in compensation each for damages caused by flooding.

    Since 2017, dozens of cities, counties and states across the US have sued fossil fuel producers for climate change-related damages and adaptation costs, potentially totalling trillions of dollars – pointing to the industry’s increasingly well-documented historical and ongoing deceptions about climate change.

    And policymakers across countries including the US, the Philippines and Pakistan are working to enact laws that would directly hold polluting companies financially responsible for climate damages.

    The new ruling in Germany provides a shot in the arm to all these cases, and the future suits yet to be filed. Perhaps most consequentially of all, public opinion is hardening: growing numbers of people understand that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for climate change, and lawsuits to compel big carbon to pay for climate damages enjoy widespread public support.

    When Lliuya launched his case nearly a decade ago, the idea of linking an individual corporation to the impacts of its emissions seemed implausible to some. Yet scientific research now makes it possible to link the emissions of individual companies to particular, quantifiable damages caused by climate change.

    This, coupled with the German court’s ruling, makes it increasingly clear that the fossil fuel industry’s longstanding deflection of responsibility for planetary warming is doomed to melt away.



    Read more:
    A Peruvian farmer is trying to hold energy giant RWE responsible for climate change – the inside story of his groundbreaking court case

    Benjamin Franta has served as a consulting expert for various climate-related lawsuits. His research has received funding from foundations in the environment and climate space.

    – ref. One lawsuit just helped melt the fossil fuel industry’s defence against being held accountable for climate change – https://theconversation.com/one-lawsuit-just-helped-melt-the-fossil-fuel-industrys-defence-against-being-held-accountable-for-climate-change-257840

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Khorgos checkpoint handled over 4,000 China-Europe freight train trips in January-May

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    URUMQI, May 30 (Xinhua) — Horgos Port, a major railway hub in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has handled more than 4,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains since the beginning of the year, after a train loaded with electronics and mechanical equipment departed for Duisburg, Germany, on Thursday.

    According to the Urumqi Office of China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd., the Horgos railway checkpoint has so far handled a total of more than 46,000 China-Europe/Central Asia freight train trips, bringing the total number of these trains to 87, covering 46 cities and regions in 18 countries.

    Situated on the border between China and Kazakhstan, Khorgos and Alashankou, also known as the Alatau Pass, are the two main railway border crossings in Xinjiang.

    According to previously published data, as of May 26, the Alashankou checkpoint had handled more than 3,000 China-Europe/Central Asia/ freight train trips since the beginning of the year. These trains traveled along 123 routes connecting 21 countries, including Germany and Poland.

    Over the past three years, the capacity of these two railway checkpoints has grown at double-digit rates.

    In 2024, these checkpoints handled 27.5 million tons of cargo, accounting for nearly 70 percent of XUAR’s total land import and export volume. In addition, the number of China-Europe freight trains passing through these two border crossings exceeded 50 percent of the national total.

    In 2024 alone, the two checkpoints handled 16.4 thousand China-Europe freight train trips, up 14 percent from the previous year. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: PROACTIS SA – Press Release 30.05.2025 (AFR report publication)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Postponement of publication of results and Annual Financial Report for the year ending January 31, 2025

    Paris, France – (30 May 2025) – PROACTIS SA (ISIN code: FR0004052561) announces the postponement of the publication, originally scheduled for May 30, 2025, of its results and Annual Financial Report for the year ended January 31, 2025.

    This postponement follows the delay in finalizing the audit by the statutory auditors of PROACTIS HOLDING LIMITED (parent company of PROACTIS SA) and the delay in agreeing certain matters with the auditors of PROACTIS SA, notably with regards to the impairment of goodwill and forming a conclusion on going concern. As such, PROACTIS SA has no choice but to postpone the publication of its results and Annual Financial Report for the year ending January 31, 2025.

    PROACTIS SA and PROACTIS HOLDING LIMITED have already taken the necessary steps to complete the audits as quickly as possible.

    PROACTIS SA will announce the next publication dates in a press release in the near future.

    * * * *

    About Proactis SA (https://www.proactis.com/proactis-sa), a Proactis Company

    Proactis SA connects companies by providing business spend management and collaborative business process automation solutions for both goods and services, through The Business Network. Our solutions integrate with any ERP or procurement system, providing our customers with an easy-to-use solution which drives adoption, compliance and savings.

    Proactis SA has operations in France, Germany, USA and Manila.

    Listed in Compartment C on the Euronext Paris Eurolist.

    ISIN: FR0004052561, Euronext: PROAC, Reuters: HBWO.LN, Bloomberg: HBW.FP

    Contacts
    Tel: +33 (0)1 53 25 55 00
    E-mail: investorContact@proactis.com

    * * * *

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: There is no talk of Turkish or anyone else’s mediation in the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul — Russian Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Moscow, May 30 /Xinhua/ — A Russian delegation led by Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky will arrive in Istanbul on June 2 for the second round of direct talks with Ukraine. There is no talk of Turkish or anyone else mediating in the second round of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. This was stated on Friday by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

    “We confirm that the Russian delegation, headed by the Russian presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, will be in Istanbul on June 2 to hold the second round of the aforementioned negotiations. It will arrive with a draft memorandum and other proposals for a ceasefire,” said M. Zakharova.

    Russia does not see a connection between direct negotiations with Ukraine and the presence of representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France in Istanbul, noted the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

    “Of course, we are deeply grateful to our Turkish friends for their hospitality and for creating the necessary comfortable conditions for work as hosts of the negotiating platform. However, there is no talk of Turkish or anyone else’s mediation,” M. Zakharova emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Global universities seek to lure US-bound students amid Trump crackdown

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Universities around the world are seeking to offer refuge for students impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on academic institutions, targeting top talent and a slice of the billions of dollars in academic revenue in the United States.

    Osaka University, one of the top ranked in Japan, is offering tuition fee waivers, research grants and help with travel arrangements for students and researchers at U.S. institutions who want to transfer.

    Japan’s Kyoto University and Tokyo University are also considering similar schemes, while Hong Kong has instructed its universities to attract top talent from the United States. China’s Xi’an Jiaotong University has appealed for students at Harvard, singled out in Trump’s crackdown, promising “streamlined” admissions and “comprehensive” support.

    Trump’s administration has enacted massive funding cuts for academic research, curbed visas for foreign students – especially those from China – and plans to hike taxes on elite schools.

    Trump alleges top U.S. universities are cradles of anti-American movements. In a dramatic escalation, his administration last week revoked Harvard’s ability to enrol foreign students, a move later blocked by a federal judge.

    Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, described the impact on U.S. universities as “a loss for all of humanity”.

    Japan aims to ramp up its number of foreign students to 400,000 over the next decade, from around 337,000 currently.

    Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds, a London-based analytics firm that ranks universities globally, said other leading universities around the world were trying to attract students unsure of going to the United States.

    Germany, France and Ireland are emerging as particularly attractive alternatives in Europe, she said, while in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and mainland China are rising in profile.

    SWITCHING SCHOOLS

    Chinese students have been particularly targeted in Trump’s crackdown, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday pledging to “aggressively” crack down on their visas.

    More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of U.S. colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for U.S. technology companies.

    International students – 54% of them from India and China – contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

    Trump’s crackdown comes at a critical period in the international student application process, as many young people prepare to travel to the U.S. in August to find accommodation and settle in before term starts.

    Dai, 25, a Chinese student based in Chengdu, had planned to head to the U.S. to complete her master’s but is now seriously considering taking up an offer in Britain instead.

    “The various policies (by the U.S. government) were a slap in my face,” she said, requesting to be identified only by her surname for privacy reasons. “I’m thinking about my mental health and it’s possible that I indeed change schools.”

    Students from Britain and the European Union are also now more hesitant to apply to U.S. universities, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students in their university applications.

    He said many international students currently enrolled at U.S. universities were now contacting the consultancy to discuss transfer options to Canada, the UK and Europe.

    According to a survey the consultancy ran earlier this week, 54% of its clients said they were now “less likely” to enrol at an American university than they were at the start of the year.

    There has been an uptick in applications to British universities from prospective students in the U.S., said Universities UK, an organisation that promotes British institutions. It cautioned, however, that it was too early to say whether that translates into more students enrolling.

    REPUTATIONAL EFFECTS

    Ella Ricketts, an 18-year-old first year student at Harvard from Canada, said she receives a generous aid package paid for by the school’s donors and is concerned that she won’t be able to afford other options if forced to transfer.

    “Around the time I was applying to schools, the only university across the Atlantic I considered was Oxford… However, I realised that I would not be able to afford the international tuition and there was no sufficient scholarship or financial aid available,” she said.

    If Harvard’s ability to enrol foreign students is revoked, she would most likely apply to the University of Toronto, she said.

    Analytics firm QS said overall visits to its ‘Study in America’ online guide have declined by 17.6% in the last year — with interest from India alone down over 50%.

    “Measurable impacts on enrolment typically emerge within six to 18 months. Reputational effects, however, often linger far longer, particularly where visa uncertainty and shifting work rights play into perceptions of risk versus return,” said QS’ Turner.

    That reputational risk, and the ensuing brain drain, could be even more damaging for U.S. institutions than the immediate economic hit from students leaving.

    “If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study,” said Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old U.S. student at Harvard, who lives with eight international scholars.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI Video: Ursula von der Leyen Receives 2025 Charlemagne Prize

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was honoured with the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen, Germany, calling for a return to a spirit of boldness and the building of a more independent Europe.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxG4hg3VvOI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI: SHARC Energy Announces Q1 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it has filed financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025. All figures are in Canadian Dollars and in accordance with IFRS unless otherwise stated.

    First Quarter Financial Highlights:

    • Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025 (“Q1 2025”) is $1.01 million (M), representing 47% of the full year revenue in 2024 and a 30% increase over the $0.78M of revenue reported in the three months ended March 31, 2024 (“Q1 2024”).
    • As of May 30, 2025, the Company has a Sales Pipeline1 of 16.5M and Sales Order Backlog2of $3.5M. This represents a $0.5M increase or 18% growth in Sales Order Backlog since April 29, 2025 disclosure. Sales Pipeline saw a marginal decrease of 1% since April 29, 2025 disclosure reflecting the deliberate efforts by the Company to refill the pipeline once projects convert to the order book. The combined pipeline showed an aggregate growth of 1% or $0.3M from the previous disclosure on April 29, 2025. The $3.5M Sales Order Backlog, which is estimated to be converted to revenue within an average of 12 months from disclosure, represents a 64% improvement compared to the year ended December 31, 2024 revenue of $2.17M. The Company continues to observe the maturity of its Sales Pipeline providing the Company’s revenue more consistency and with reduced volatility, providing a solid platform to scale and grow.
    • During Q1 2025, the Company also reported a loss of $0.92M and an Adjusted EBITDA3 loss of $0.61M. This compares to a loss of $0.76M and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $0.85M in the comparative quarter representing a 20% and 22% increase, respectively.
    • Gross margins for Q1 2025 were 31% compared to 38% in Q1 2024. Management remains optimistic that this margin range aligns with our expectations for the coming quarters but the margin percentage varies dependent on sales mix and stage of completion of each project.

    Michael Albertson, Chief Executive Officer and President of SHARC Energy, said, “We are off to a strong start to the 2025 fiscal year with the Company reporting revenue of just over $1 million which represents a 30% increase over Q1 2024 and 47% of the full year revenue earned in the 2024 fiscal year. More importantly, despite the delivery of revenue, Sales Order Backlog increased by 18% and represents a 64% improvement over 2024 revenue sitting at $3.5 million as of the reporting date. SHARC Energy’s revenue growth continues to gain momentum.”

    Mr. Albertson continues, “We recently disclosed key District Energy System (“DES”) projects, Lebreton Flats in Ottawa and Senakw in Vancouver, which are leveraging SHARC Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) systems as the core component to power their thermal networks harnessing wastewater as the key renewable resource. WET supported solutions continue to grow in awareness and acceptance with the Company learning of projects in planning across North America and globally. In the Greater Vancouver, British Columbia region alone, there are several municipal or utility supported DES/Thermal Energy Networks (“TENs”) ranging in size and scale in different stages of development that will increase SHARC Energy’s local footprint over the next few years. In the United States, legislation allowing or mandating utilities to develop DES/TENs demonstration projects or pilots have been passed in eight states, including the State of New York and recently added California, where the Company has installations in progress, projects in design and a growing list of leads looking to implement Wastewater Energy Transfer with DES/TENs.”

    “We are continuing to progress into new sectors for the SHARC and PIRANHA with promising opportunities developing within wastewater treatment facilities, universities, water utilities, correctional facilities and the design & build/energy sectors. These sectors are increasingly receptive to SHARC Energy’s offerings which is promising as these sectors can provide fewer regulatory hurdles, long-term customer relationships, shorter sales cycles, and the potential for larger-scale projects. The Company anticipates the closing of new business in these adjacent sectors as early as this year.”

    “Furthermore, SHARC Energy is gearing up to launch new products in its portfolio which will be introduced to the market soon. With the support of original equipment manufacturer relationships SHARC Energy has, we feel there is significant opportunity to better serve more customers and increase our revenue and margin dollars earned going forward. SHARC Energy’s tailwinds are strong and set to propel the Company to profitability in the coming years. We are very excited about our position in the thermal energy market.” stated Mr. Albertson.

    Q1 2025 Highlights and Subsequent Events

    • Fred Andriano appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors. On May 5, 2025, the Company announced significant changes to its Board of Directors, appointing Fred Andriano as Chairman of the Board and Executive Officer, replacing Lynn Mueller, who will now serve as Vice Chairman and Executive Officer. Furthermore, the Company accepted the retirement and resignation of Eleanor Chiu as Director.
    • False Creek Neighbourhood Energy Utility (“NEU”) Expansion. The Company continued work on the supply and maintenance agreement with the City of Vancouver for the provision and maintenance of five SHARC systems for the False Creek NEU Expansion. During the period, the Company completed all remaining milestones of the agreement.
    • SHARC System Featured in Ottawa’s Lebreton Flats District Energy Project. The Company announced that two SHARC 880 Wastewater Energy Transfer (“WET”) systems will be used to power a district energy system in Canada’s capital city. SHARC Energy anticipates commencing submittals for the SHARC WET Systems in 2025 with equipment build and delivery expected during 2026.

    For complete financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2025, please see the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Management Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

    About SHARC Energy

    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    Fred Andriano
    Chairman

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information because of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    1 Sales Pipeline is a non-IFRS measure. Please see discussion of Alternative Performance Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Q1 2025 MD&A.
    2 Sales Order Backlog is a non-IFRS measure. Please see discussion of Alternative Performance Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Q1 2025 MD&A.
    3 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS measure. Please see discussion of Alternative Performance Measures and Non-IFRS Measures in the Q1 2025 MD&A.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Spain: EIB finances Teknia with €30 million loan to support R&D investments for the European automotive sector

    Source: European Investment Bank

    EIB

    • The loan will support Teknia’s research and development (R&D investments) in Spain, Poland, Romania, Germany, Sweden and Czech Republic to develop more sustainable manufacturing technologies for automotive components.
    • This operation by the European Investment Bank (EIB) supports innovation and sustainability in a strategic sector for the EU economy.
    • The agreement contributes to the EIB’s strategic priorities of innovation, climate action and cohesion.
    • The operation is backed by InvestEU, an EU programme that aims to unlock over €372 billion in investment by 2027.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Teknia have signed a loan worth €30 million to finance the company’s research and development activities, and measures to apply them in manufacturing of components for the automotive sector.  Teknia is a Spanish company present in 13 countries specialised in the manufacture of metal and plastic components for mobility solutions using a wide range of technologies.

    The EIB loan will support Teknia’s investments in R&D and in its facilities located in Spain, Poland, Romania, Germany, Sweden and Czechia. The investments will focus on the application of advanced manufacturing technologies, product diversification and cutting CO2 emissions. The company, one of the leading Spanish automotive suppliers, will reinforce its manufacturing capabilities and digitalization which are important pillars of its strategic plan in course.  

    The operation contributes to the EU’s cohesion policy as a significant part of the investments (approximately 51%) will be made in cohesion regions.

    “We are very pleased to be joining forces with Teknia to foster innovation and sustainability in the European automotive sector,” said Antonio Lorenzo, head of the EIB’s Corporate Lending Division Spain and Portugal. “This new financing is a clear example of how the EIB is helping companies to become more sustainable, more innovative and more competitive while contributing to strengthening Europe’s leading position in strategic sectors”.

    “This important loan will allow us to keep growing during these challenging times in the automotive sector and focus even more in innovation to manufacture the mobility of the future in our plants in the most sustainable way, decreasing the carbon footprint of the group”, Javier Quesada de Luis, Teknia CEO, explained. “We look to the future with optimism and will keep reinforcing our operations digitalizing our plants and innovating to codevelop new products together with our clients”.

    The EIB operation will boost EU competitiveness and help to reindustrialise a sector undergoing transformation due to the impact of developments like electrification and digitalisation.

    The loan contributes to the EIB Group’s strategic priorities of innovation and climate action and cohesion. These are three of the Group’s eight priorities set out in its Strategic Roadmap for the years 2024-2027.

    The EIB loan is partially guaranteed by InvestEU, the flagship EU programme to mobilise over €372 billion of additional public and private sector investment to support EU policy goals from 2021 to 2027.

    Background information  

    EIB 

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.  

    All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

    Fostering market integration and mobilising investment, the Group supported a record of over €100 billion in new investment for Europe’s energy security in 2024 and mobilised €110 billion in growth capital for startups, scale-ups and European pioneers. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower than the EU average.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.

    InvestEU

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that invest in projects, leveraging on the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increasing their risk-bearing capacity and mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    Teknia

    Teknia is a multinational group specializing in the manufacturing of mobility components through metal and plastic components in a wide range of technologies.

    Founded in 1992 as a global supplier to the automotive industry, Teknia is present in 13 countries, with 23 plants and more than 3,500 employees. The company’s clients include the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, as well as other Tier-1 suppliers. Teknia’s revenues reached €431 million in 2024.

    Teknia – RDI and Advanced Manufacturing
    Spain: EIB finances Teknia with €30 million loan to support R&D investments for the European automotive sector
    ©EIB
    Download original
    European Commission
    Logo
    ©European Commission
    Download original

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Polytechnic University remembers: 80 years of Victory through the eyes of the SPbPU Student City

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    University youth have always played a key role in preserving historical memory and perpetuating the feat of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Students and staff of the Student City were no exception – they actively participated in university events dedicated to the anniversary of the Great Victory. In an effort to preserve the memory of the Student City’s contribution during the war, the united student council of the SPbPU dormitories initiated its own projects aimed at education and preserving the historical heritage.

    Information stands telling about the role of students during the war were placed in all the dormitories and hotels of the Student City. These stands became not only a tribute to memory, but also an opportunity for new generations of students to touch the pages of the past. Particular attention was paid to memorial sites – ceremonial flower-laying ceremonies were held at the dormitories on Lesnaya Street, as well as at the “Blockade Well” on Nepokorennykh Avenue.

    In addition, a series of videos was prepared for social networks, revealing the heroism of those who lived in dormitories during the war years. Thanks to living testimonies, archives and photographs, we can understand at what incredible cost in the conditions of war students continued to study and live.

    The beginning of the war

    From the recollections of Flight Research Institute student Zalman Reznikov-Levit: June 22, 1941. A clear, gentle, sunny day. The student campus “on Flyugov” was quiet. An examination session was underway. Everyone was sitting with their notes, preparing to take the next exam. The session was coming to an end. I was preparing “Electric Drive”, which was due tomorrow, Monday, June 23. The morning was clear and calm. Suddenly the radio announced that at 12 o’clock the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR, Comrade V. M. Molotov, would speak on the radio. I felt anxious… For the next day, a table was set up in the student campus on the street opposite the canteen near building No. 5, where the registration of volunteers for the student division of the people’s militia began. The registration of those wishing to participate lasted for several days. There were a lot of people around the registration tables, a crush, noise.

    Simultaneously with the announcement of the attack of Nazi Germany on our country, the People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the USSR V. M. Molotov read the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on the mobilization of persons born between 1905 and 1918 into the Red Army. As the director of the Student City Iraida Grigoryevna Otto recalled, military tables were organized in the premises of the factory-kitchen on a voluntary basis. The staff of the Student City delivered summonses to persons who had to appear at the recruiting stations. The administration also created self-defense groups in the Student City with the help of public organizations. They consisted mainly of women and children aged 12 to 17. The duties of the participants in these groups, in addition to regular duty, included sealing windows with paper tape, filling sandbags, and keeping watch in the attics.

    Student City Buildings

    Student canteen #6, located in the third dormitory, was transferred to the hospital. The hospital’s service personnel were housed in part of the second academic building. In the first days of the war, the V and VI buildings of the Student City were occupied by an evacuation hospital. As TVN worker P. Fomin recalls, it was there that he was treated for his wounds. 85% of the glass in the building had been replaced with plywood, the heating no longer worked, and there was no water. Due to the lack of fuel, the heat supply to the Student City buildings ceased, and the remaining students heated their rooms with temporary shelters. On December 31, 1941, due to improper use of a “potbelly stove”, the IV building caught fire. A third of the building burned down, and two fires that occurred in January completely destroyed the IV building of the Student City.

    The commander of the 7th company was a career firefighter A. Kudryavtsev, and the political instructor was a polytechnic student Valentin Vernitsky. The platoon headquarters was located in the Red Corner of the first building of the Student City on Lesnoy, 65. From September 11, the entire regiment was transferred to barracks. As student Vera Sharova recalls, the female firefighters lived in two rooms on the fifth floor of the first building of the Student City, and the guys lived with the company leadership in the basement of a building on the corner of Lesnoy Prospekt and 1st Murinsky. Every day, the platoon fighters gathered at the command post, from where they went on patrol.

    In addition, a tank regiment was located in the Student City. It stayed in the main building for only 12 days, after which it was transferred to the VII Corps of the Student City, located at 14 Pribytkovskaya Street. This street no longer exists. It is built up with houses, including the institute’s dormitories. Regular scheduled classes had effectively ceased by November 1941 due to the small number of groups. Lectures were often held in the apartments of teachers or in student dormitories.

    Before the war, flowers and seedlings were grown on the territory of the Polytechnic. So by the summer of 1941, gardeners had everything ready for growing flowers. But the war messed up their plans. It was too late to start planting vegetables; they were planted in the spring. Gardening was transformed into a subsidiary farm of the institute, and its staff increased. Already from mid-July 1942, the institute’s employees were harvesting.

    Victory Day

    Two o’clock in the morning. The dormitory was quiet, almost everyone was asleep. But as soon as the radio announced the capitulation of Nazi Germany, all the students and teachers were on their feet. The corridors began to stir, people congratulated each other, kissed each other. Songs thundered throughout the corridor, – a quote from the newspaper “Polytechnic” from May 16, 1945.

    After the announcement of Victory at 2:20 a.m. a rally was organized, after which dancing and singing began. The fun continued until six o’clock in the morning.

    By the way, the restoration of the Polytechnic buildings began in the summer of 1944. Workshop No. 1 was tasked with repairing the metal roof of the first and second academic buildings, and then the Main Building and the dormitories on Lesnoy. Special teams were created, which were joined by students arriving from evacuation.

    This page of the history of the Great Patriotic War is forever inscribed in the fate of the university and the Student City, becoming a symbol of the contribution to the education of a strong, courageous generation of defenders of the Motherland.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Joshua McLeod, Senior Lecturer in Sport Management, Deakin University

    Few sports have witnessed a transformation as dramatic as darts in recent years.

    From its origins as a pub game stereotypically played with cigarette and beer in hand, darts is now serious business.

    With surging television ratings and huge demand for live events, the growth of darts continues to leave many sports looking on in envy.

    There has been a combination of factors at play – not least one exceptionally prodigious teenager. Before discussing those factors, it’s worth taking a closer look at the numbers.

    Becoming big business

    Darts sits alongside a select few sports to have achieved significant commercial growth over the past decade.

    While not at the scale of sports such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Formula 1, the rise of darts has been prolific.

    In the United Kingdom, a record-breaking peak of 3.7 million viewers watched the 2024 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship final. It was Sky Sports’ highest-ever non-soccer broadcast.

    In addition to the PDC World Championship – the sport’s premier knockout event – viewership records were also broken across the 2024 Premier League Darts season, a league-format competition featuring weekly fixtures between top-ranked players.

    On the UK’s Sky Sports, the 15 most-watched nights in the competition’s history all occurred that year.

    The PDC World Championship and Premier League Darts sit alongside the World Matchplay as the “Triple Crown” of most important darts events.

    Outside the UK, darts viewership also continues to grow.

    The Netherlands remains a strong and expanding heartland, while in Germany, viewership for the World Championship final has increased eightfold since 2008.

    In Australia, precise viewing figures are not widely available, but the Foxtel Group’s landmark four-year deal with the PDC in 2023 suggests rising demand.

    Surging audiences are translating into significantly larger broadcast deals.

    In 2025, Sky Sports reportedly outbid Netflix to secure a new £125 million (A$260.3 million) deal for exclusive UK coverage of the PDC for 2026–30. That was double the size of the previous deal.

    In contrast, many other sports face stagnation or even sharp declines in media rights value.

    For instance, the UK Super League rugby’s rights on Sky Sports fell from £40 million (A$83.3 million) per season in 2021 to £21.5 million (A$44.5 million) in 2024.

    Similarly, in soccer, the French Ligue 1’s TV deal with DAZN collapsed due to underwhelming subscriber numbers. Meanwhile, ESPN walked away from its long-standing agreement with Major League Baseball after unsuccessfully trying to cut its US$550 million (A$848 million) annual payment down to $200 million (A$309 million).

    Prize money in darts has also exploded.

    Next year, the winner of the two-week long World Championship will bank £1 million (A$2.08 million) – doubling this year’s purse.

    The prize money was £60,000 (A$124,960) in 2005, representing a 1,567% increase over 20 years.

    Tickets are also hot property. Premier League and World Championship sessions often sell out within minutes worldwide: the UK, Bahrain, New York and even Wollongong have become key stops in darts’ international calendar.

    The recipe for success

    Like Formula 1 and the UFC, darts benefits from being privately operated.

    Without the typical bureaucracy and conflicting interests seen in many traditional sport governing bodies, the PDC can respond more quickly to audience preferences and market opportunities.

    This streamlined, commercially driven approach has been key to darts’ growth.

    The sport has been expertly tailored to modern audiences.

    One of darts’ best-known selling points is the live event experience. The entertainment-first approach is known for loud music, the showmanship of player walk-ons, fancy dress from the crowd and yes, often plenty of alcohol.

    The lines are blurred between sport and party and fans love it.

    Culturally, darts is seen by many as fun, relatable, and rooted in working-class culture. After all, its heritage is in the pub.

    Darts is ideally suited to modern sport media consumption habits: PLD matches last only 20–30 minutes and the up-close TV product works perfectly for social media highlight clips.

    It is also one of the few sports where women compete directly against men.

    This adds another layer of interest for fans and has helped elevate stars such as Fallon Sherrock, who made headlines in 2019 by becoming the first woman to win a match at the PDC World Championship, eventually reaching the final 32.

    A prodigy emerges

    The so-called “Littler Effect” has given darts’ profile a significant boost.

    The emergence of talented teenager Luke Littler has broken new ground for the sport and drawn global interest.

    The English prodigy, who has quickly risen to fame, is by far the sport’s biggest star, but it would be unfair to say darts is a one-man band.

    Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen enjoy significant profiles while Phil Taylor is regarded as the sport’s greatest player. Australia’s Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock also forged a successful career.

    There is also colourful two-time world champion Peter Wright.

    Where to from here?

    The success of darts reveals much about modern sports audiences and their preferences.

    Darts does not rely on traditional ideas of athletic excellence, nor does it fit the Olympic ideal.

    Yet, darts is thriving while many traditional sports are stagnating.

    Darts’ success stems from remaining authentic to its working-class roots while evolving into an engaging commercial product suited for television, short-form content and digital media.

    For darts to fully achieve its global potential, the next step has to be continued international growth. Although it has grown steadily in markets like Australia and throughout Asia, the UK remains darts’ dominant base.

    As the global sports marketplace becomes more fragmented and competitive, darts is well positioned to continue growing.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. From working class pubs to sold-out stadiums: how darts has become a major international sport – https://theconversation.com/from-working-class-pubs-to-sold-out-stadiums-how-darts-has-become-a-major-international-sport-254807

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Dragon Boat Festival: Racing for health and happiness

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

    ▲ What is the Dragon Boat Festival?

    The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as Duanwu Festival, is one of China’s oldest and most celebrated traditions, with a history spanning over two millennia. True to its name, the festival is best known for its lively dragon boat races, where people gather to compete and cheer the racers on.

    Traditionally, the festival falls on the fifth day of the fifth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In 2025, it will be celebrated on May 31.

    Scan QR code to launch interactive version:

    ▲ How popular are dragon boat races?

    In recent years, dragon boat racing has surged in popularity, attracting both amateur and professional teams across China and around the world.

    For instance, in 2024, the Suzhou Jinji Lake International Dragon Boat Race in Suzhou city, east China’s Jiangsu province, drew 66 teams and 1,418 participants, including seven international teams from countries such as Austria, Germany, Russia, Singapore and Switzerland.

    The sport’s growing global appeal was further highlighted last year with the launch of the Frankfurt Dragon Boat Festival in Germany and the Prague Dragon Boat Festival in the Czech Republic.

    ▲ Why do people celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?

    The origins of the Dragon Boat Festival are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, with several theories explaining its rich history. One prominent view ties the festival to ancient dragon worship, where dragon boat racing was a symbolic tribute to the powerful dragon deity.

    Another widely told folk tale associates the festival with the poet Qu Yuan (340–278 B.C.). According to legend, when Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River to mourn the fall of his state, local villagers raced out in their boats to search for him or recover his body. This urgent act of devotion is said to have evolved into today’s dragon boat races.

    In modern times, dragon boat racing has grown beyond its traditional roots, becoming a vibrant sport that merges China’s cultural heritage with a contemporary competitive spirit.

    The Dragon Boat Festival, typically observed in late May or early June, also coincides with a period when ancient Chinese communities feared natural disasters and illness. Consequently, people historically used the festival to pray for good health and safety for their families.

    Today, the festival remains a moment to seek good fortune and celebrate prosperity. Falling close to the Summer Solstice, it also provides a lively break as China enters the height of summer heat.

    ▲ What other traditions are observed during the festival?

    A rich tapestry of traditions and legends has been passed down through generations, adding depth to the Dragon Boat Festival’s cultural significance.

    ——▼ Wrapping and eating ‘Zongzi’  

    One staple of the celebration is “zongzi,” a beloved culinary treat closely tied to the festival. In ancient China, these traditional rice dumplings were originally made as offerings to honor ancestors and deities. 

    Zongzi are distinctive for their pyramid shape, made from glutinous rice wrapped in reed or bamboo leaves and tied with colorful thread. Fillings vary by region and preference, ranging from sweet options like jujube and bean paste to savory choices such as fresh meat, ham and egg yolk.

    ——▼ Drinking realgar wine

    Realgar wine, a distinctive Chinese liquor infused with realgar, played a practical role in ancient times. Realgar was valued as a pesticide to keep mosquitoes at bay during the hot summer months and was also believed to act as an antidote to various poisons. Today, drinking realgar wine has become a cherished Dragon Boat Festival tradition.

    ——▼ Hanging mugwort and calamus

    During the festival, Chinese families often hang mugwort and calamus above their doors, mainly to repel insects. In ancient times, it was also widely believed that displaying mugwort, calamus or even pomegranate flowers could ward off misfortune and drive away evil spirits.

    ——▼ Wearing colored braids and perfumed pouches

    It’s also common for parents to make perfumed pouches or colorful braids for their children during the festival. This tradition is rooted in the belief that wearing these items provides protection against evil spirits and illness.

    These small, intricately designed pouches are filled with fragrant herbs or medicinal ingredients and are typically tied to children’s clothing. The colorful braids, traditionally made from five different colors of thread, are fastened around the wrist.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Trump envoy says Russian concern over NATO enlargement is fair

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said Russia’s concern over the eastward enlargement of NATO was fair and the United States did not want to see Ukraine in the U.S.-led military alliance.

    Asked by U.S. network ABC News about a Reuters report that Russia wanted a written pledge over NATO not enlarging eastwards to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, Kellogg said: “It’s a fair concern.”

    “We’ve said that to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table, and we’re not the only country that says that – you know I could probably give you four other countries in NATO and it takes 32 of the 32 to allow you to come in to NATO,” he told ABC late on Thursday. “That’s one of the issues that Russia will bring up.”

    “They’re not just talking Ukraine, they’re talking the country of Georgia, they’re talking Moldova,” Kellogg said, adding that a decision on U.S. views of NATO enlargement was for Trump to make.

    Kellogg said the sequencing of the peace talks would include an attempt to merge the two memorandums drafted by Ukraine and Russia into one single document with talks in Turkey on Monday.

    “When we get into Istanbul next week we’ll sit down and talk,” Kellogg said, adding that the national security advisers from Germany, France and Britain would join discussions on the memorandum with the United States.

    Kellogg said Trump was “frustrated” with Russia because he had seen “a level of unreasonableness” from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He scolded Russia for striking Ukrainian cities and said he had told Ukraine to turn up to talks.

    A conservative estimate of dead and injured in the Ukraine war – from both sides combined – totals 1.2 million, Kellogg said.

    “That is a stunning number – this is war on an industrial scale,” Kellogg told ABC.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: ZETADISPLAY AB (publ) INTERIM REPORT 1 JANUARY – 31 MARCH 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Q1 Interim report JANUARY – MARCH 2025 for ZetaDisplay AB (publ) is now available at ir.zetadisplay.com

    Report summary:

    Continued Growth and Strategic Wins Position ZetaDisplay for the Future

    JANUARY – MARCH 2025

    • Adjusted recurring revenue* increased by 9.9% to 65.4 (59.5) million
    • Recurring revenue increased by 7.4% to 65.4 (60.9) million
    • Adjusted net sales* increased by 26.8% to SEK 159.6 (125.9) million
    • Net sales increased by 25.5% to SEK 159.6 (127.2) million
    • Gross margin decreased to 56.4% (59.9 %)
    • Adjusted gross margin* decreased to 56.4% (59.5%)
    • Adjusted EBITDA* increased to SEK 22.0 (11.5) million
    1.  * Recurring revenue for the first quarter of 2024 has been reduced by SEK 1.3 million to reflect the restructuring of our German operations, during which certain non-core activities were identified for discontinuation.

    CEO comment

    CONTINUED GROWTH AND STRENGTHENED MARKET POSITION

    Adjusted net sales for the quarter increased by 26.8% to SEK 159.6 (125.9) million, primarily driven by strategic acquisitions that significantly strengthened our market presence in Europe, and further supported by 7% organic growth, notably from our global accounts. Adjusted recurring revenue grew by 9.9% to SEK 65.4 (59.5) million, representing 41.0% of net sales. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter rose to SEK 22.0 (11.5) million, reflecting our ability to scale efficiently while maintaining sound cost control.

    We are honored to have been named “Outstanding Company of the Year” at the 2025 Digital Signage Awards, with Engage Suite receiving recognition for its industry innovation and impact. These honors underscore our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive customer engagement and innovation excellence. 

    During the quarter, we successfully completed our bond refinancing on favorable terms, reflecting the strong confidence our financial partners have in our strategic direction and financial health. We announced a significant new contract with Ruter, Oslo’s public transport authority. This five-year agreement involves modernizing digital signage across 370 transit locations, enhancing real-time passenger information and overall commuter experience, and increases our market position in the public sector.

    In Germany, we are making good progress in transforming our local company to embrace Zetadisplay’s Full-Service-Provider business model and are now offering our comprehensive digital signage solutions both to existing and new customers. In the UK, we have appointed a new Managing Director and are focusing on leveraging our Engage Suite platform, both by migrating key UK customers and by strengthening our value proposition to more proactively attract new customers.

    OUTLOOK

    We are encouraged by the continued evolution we see in areas such as hardware, analytics, AI, retail media and security, as well as by the positive market receptiveness to our offering. Our Full-Service-Provider business model, including our award-winning Engage Suite platform and a strong local market presence, positions us well to support our organic growth ambitions.

    The successful integration of Beyond Digital Solutions in the UK and our transformation into a Full-Service Provider across all markets, including Germany, enhance our capability to deliver comprehensive, international value-driven services.

    Looking ahead, we remain focused on driving long-term value through innovation, operational excellence, and deeper customer engagement to accelerate profitable growth. At the same time, we remain diligent in our cost and investment priorities with measures to navigate any unexpected effects from ongoing external market influences.

    I extend my sincere gratitude to all our employees for their dedication and to our customers for their continued trust in ZetaDisplay.

    Malmö, 30 May 2025

    This information is information that ZetaDisplay AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of Anders Olin, at 08:00 CET on 30 May 2025

    – Full Q1 report attached and available at https://ir.zetadisplay.com/financial-reports –

    For further questions, please contact:

    Anders Olin, President & CEO
    Mobile: +46 076-101 14 88
    E-Mail: anders.olin@zetadisplay.com

    Claes Pedersen, CFO
    Mobile: +45 23-68 86 58
    E-Mail: claes.pedersen@zetadisplay.com

    ABOUT ZETADISPLAY
    More than 20 years of leadership and innovation in digital signage.
    ZetaDisplay was founded 2003 in Sweden as one of the early pioneers of digital signage. We are one of the leading European corporations in the digital signage market and a leading force in the European digital signage industry. Our proprietary software platform, digital business development and consulting services, innovative digital signage solutions, and creative concepts regularly inspire- influence and guide millions of people every day in retail environments, in restaurants, on advertising screens, in factories, on trains, on cruise ships, in stadiums, in workplaces and in all types of public spaces indoor and outdoor. ZetaDisplay is one of the largest leading European digital signage companies with direct operations in eight European countries and the US with +125,000 active installations in over 50 countries, across all major continents where we are the business partner of choice for many of the worlds most respected blue-chip brands and companies.

    ZetaDisplay is based in Malmö-Sweden, has a turnover of SEK +600 million and employs approx. 250 co-workers. ZetaDisplay is owned by the investment company Hanover Investors. More information at www.ir.zetadisplay.com and www.hanoverinvestors.com.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –