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  • MIL-OSI Russia: China-Africa trade has grown at a rapid pace over the past 25 years /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — Data released by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Wednesday showed that economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa has shown greater vitality over the past 25 years.

    According to the department, China’s total foreign trade turnover with African countries increased from less than 100 billion yuan (about 13.9 billion US dollars) in 2000 to 2.1 trillion yuan in 2024, an average annual growth rate of 14.2 percent.

    The data was released ahead of the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which will be held from June 12 to 15 in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province.

    On Wednesday, the GTU also released the China-Africa trade index for 2024, which hit a record high of 1,056.53 points, up from a baseline of 100 points in 2000 when the index was first released.

    As of the end of 2024, China had been Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, and bilateral trade growth continued to gain momentum in 2025.

    According to data released earlier by the GTU, China’s trade volume with African countries reached a record high of 963.21 billion yuan in the first five months of 2025, up 12.4 percent year on year. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • India’s social protection coverage soars from 19% to 64.3% in a decade; PM Modi lauds progress

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India has achieved one of the fastest expansions in social protection coverage globally, with the share of its population covered by at least one welfare scheme rising to 64.3% in 2025, up from 19% in 2015, according to the latest data from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

    In a post on X, Union Labour & Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya shared: “Efforts of Modi Government recognised by ILO! Social Protection Coverage surges from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025. In terms of beneficiary count, India now ranks second in the world, providing social protection coverage to more than 94 crore citizens.”

    Responding to Dr Mandaviya’s post, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “This is a commendable rise, indicating our commitment towards welfare-driven development and ensuring our various pro-people schemes reach the maximum number of people.”

    Dr Mandaviya is currently leading the Indian delegation at the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC), being held from 10 to 12 June. Speaking in Geneva, he attributed the rise in social protection coverage to a series of labour welfare and pro-poor initiatives implemented by the Modi government over the past eleven years.

    “This marks a crucial step towards achieving the goal of Antyodaya—empowering the last mile,” the labour minister said, adding that the growth reflects India’s commitment to a rights-based, inclusive welfare system.

    According to the ILO, India’s current coverage figure stems from Phase I of a Social Protection Data Pooling Exercise, carried out by the government in collaboration with the ILO. The first phase focused on central sector and women-centric schemes in eight states. With further data integration expected in Phase II, officials estimate that social protection coverage could surpass the 100-crore mark.

    The ILO’s criteria for counting coverage include schemes that are legislatively backed, cash-based, currently active, and supported by at least three years of verified data.

    Notably, India is also the first country globally to update its 2025 social protection statistics in the ILOSTAT dashboard, positioning itself as a leader in digital governance and welfare data transparency.

    On the sidelines of the conference, ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo praised India’s focused policy approach and lauded the efforts made under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to strengthen the country’s welfare infrastructure.

  • Health ministry issues advisory as Delhi sizzles, urges people to stay indoors during peak hours

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that daytime temperatures in Delhi may soar to 45 degrees Celsius, the Health Ministry on Wednesday urged people to stay indoors during peak hours, and stay hydrated.

    The IMD has issued an orange alert for the national capital on Wednesday.

    The IMD has warned that daytime temperatures in Delhi could reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius, with night-time lows hovering around 29 degrees Celsius. The ongoing weather conditions are part of a prolonged heatwave affecting large parts of northwestern India.

    “Extreme heat can be risky. Stay indoors during peak hours, eat lower-calorie food, drink safe fluids, and never leave kids or pets in parked cars,” the Health Ministry, said in a post on social media platform X.

    “Call 108/102 if someone shows signs of heatstroke,” it added.

    In an infographic shared along with the post, the Ministry urged people to avoid getting out in the sun, especially between 12:00 noon and 03:00 pm. It also urged citizens to avoid strenuous activities when outside in the afternoon, cooking during peak summer hours, and to open doors and windows to ventilate the cooking area adequately.

    The Health Ministry advised citizens to avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated soft drinks or drinks with large amounts of sugar and importantly not to leave children or pets in parked vehicles.

    Call 108/102 immediately if you find someone with a high body temperature and is either unconscious or confused, the advisory said.

    “The heat is rising, but awareness can save lives! A heatwave isn’t just about soaring temperatures. It’s about knowing the risks, recognising the signs, and protecting each other. Let’s beat the heat together!” said the IMD on X.

    To protect from the heat, the IMD urged citizens to wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-coloured clothing. Cover your head using a hat, umbrella, towel, and drink water frequently, it said.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature of the season at 43.8 degrees Celsius, which is 3.6 degrees above the seasonal average, as per IMD data. According to the IMD, very hot weather and heat waves in Delhi will persist until at least June 12.

    Dr. Atul Kakar from the Department of Internal Medicine, at a leading city-based hospital, told IANS that several patients are presenting with heat exhaustion, heat stroke, severe dehydration, gastroenteritis, and jaundice.

    “Exposure to the sun should be the bare minimum. Wear full sleeve clothes, or take an umbrella or cover your head during that period when you are getting exposed to the sun,” Kakar said.

    Take more liquids which may include lassi, lemonade, orange juice, or fruits that contain more water like watermelon and melon,” the doctor told IANS. He also urged people to avoid eating outside.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Tourism Strategy Committee announced

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Appointments to Tourism Strategy Committee announced 
    The three newly appointed members are Mr Raymond Chow Wai-kam, Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, and Mr Tommy Tam Kwong-shun. 

    The composition of the Committee with effect from June 11 is as follows:Mr Raymond Chow Wai-kam*
    Mrs Gianna Hsu Wong Mei-lun
    Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok*
    Mr Ronald Lam Siu-por
    Mr Simon Lee Siu-po
    Mr Dominic Lee Tsz-king
    Mr Jonathan Leung Chun
    Mr Ma Ho-fai
    Mr Michael Moriarty
    Mr Wilfred Ng Sau-kei
    Dr Pang Yiu-kai
    Mr Tommy Tam Kwong-shun*
    Mr Paul Tse Wai-chun
    Mrs Annie Tse Yau On-yee
    Mr Peter Wong Chak-fung
    Mr James Wong Cheuk-on
    Mr Ivan Wong Chi-fai
    Ms Belinda Yeung Bik-yiu
    Dr Frankie Yeung Wai-shing
    Mr Yiu Pak-leung
    Dr Allan Zeman Issued at HKT 18:08

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing unveils liquid hydrogen-fueled “GR LH2 Racing Concept” at Le Mans

    Source: Toyota

    Headline: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing unveils liquid hydrogen-fueled “GR LH2 Racing Concept” at Le Mans

    TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has unveiled the GR LH2 Racing Concept, a liquid hydrogen (LH2) fueled test car to advance the development of hydrogen technology in motorsports. It made its public debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe where it is being exhibited at the H2 Village, organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, during the 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours (11-15 June).

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Child poverty figures show positive change for families in Perth and Kinross

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The estimates for the year 2023-2024 show that just under one in five children (19.2%) is living in relative poverty after housing costs, compared to 21.7% in the previous year. There has also been a reduction for those living in relative poverty before housing costs from 14.5% to 13.3%, or one in eight children. In a national comparison, child poverty is reducing in Perth and Kinross at a faster rate compared to Scotland as a whole. 

    Rising housing costs remain the biggest issue for many families and as the statistics show, progress on reducing child poverty is being impacted, with just under 2000 children experiencing poverty as a direct result of these costs. 

    The figures are linked in with details of the actions taken to tackle and mitigate the effects of poverty from early learning and childcare provision and support enabling parents to return to employment, to a range of measures to mitigate housing costs, including the building of new affordable housing together with local housing associations, energy saving advice and support, physical improvements to properties. and financial and benefits advice. 

    Perth and Kinross Council Leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “These figures show an important improvement in poverty levels in Perth and Kinross, which I very much welcome, but 5,155 children in poverty is still too many by any standards. Through the support and services the Council delivers, and partnership working overseen via the Anti-Poverty Task Force, the steps being taken are making positive changes for the children and families most in need in Perth and Kinross.  

    “As a Council our decisions to prioritise tackling poverty are a key contributor to improving our residents’ circumstances, and we remain committed to this approach. Alongside this, it should be recognised that there are also factors outwith the Council’s control that continue to impact households in and at risk of poverty.” 

    Chair of the Perth and Kinross Anti-Poverty Task Force, and Chief Executive of PKAVS, Shaheena Din commented: “It’s encouraging to see a reduction in child poverty across Perth and Kinross. This progress is a success. But we can’t be complacent. Every statistic represents a child’s life, and we know that too many families are still struggling. As a taskforce, we remain focused on listening, learning, and acting together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.” 

    Further details of the 2023-2024 data is available on our website at Elected Member Briefing – Child Poverty Estimates 2023-2024.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pair of wild giant pandas spotted in northwest China

    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

    LANZHOU, June 11 (Xinhua) — An infrared camera at the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China’s Gansu Province has captured rare footage of two wild giant pandas.

    The footage shows a female panda with a protruding mouth and round cheeks marking her territory and leaving her scent in front of the camera on February 23. A male panda with yellow spots on his shoulders later picked up her scent and soon found her. The pair then engaged in mating games in the snow.

    Wild giant pandas typically go into heat from March to May. “The fact that these wild pandas were mating in February fills a gap in our understanding of the breeding season of wild giant pandas,” said Yin Feng, head of the Liujiaping Guard Station of the Baishuijiang Division Administration of the park.

    This shows that the wild giant panda population in the Baishuijiang site is stable and healthy, he added.

    The Baishuijiang Section of the Giant Panda National Park, located in southern Gansu Province, serves as a sanctuary for wild giant pandas and coexisting species. According to the fourth national giant panda census released in 2015, there were 132 wild giant pandas in Gansu Province, 110 of which were in the Baishuijiang Section. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Former Kuomintang Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou to Visit Mainland China Soon

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — Former Kuomintang Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou will visit the Chinese mainland from June 14 to 27, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.

    Ma Ying-jeou will lead a delegation of Taiwanese youth to visit Fujian Province (Eastern China) and Gansu Province (Northwestern China), Zhu Fenglian said at a regular press conference.

    The delegation will attend the 17th Taiwan Strait Forum in Fujian Province. In Gansu Province, they will attend a commemoration ceremony for Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, and an event dedicated to promoting Chinese culture through joint efforts across the Taiwan Strait.

    “We welcome Mr. Ma Ying-jeou’s upcoming visit and are ready to take organizational measures and provide all necessary amenities,” Zhu Fenglian noted.

    The official representative drew attention to the importance of maintaining cross-shore exchanges and cooperation in the context of the complex and serious situation in the Taiwan Strait. “As always, we invite representatives of all circles of Taiwanese society and compatriots from the island to visit the mainland more often – to visit and communicate, to jointly preserve and develop the best traditional Chinese culture, and to contribute to the great revival of the Chinese nation,” she said. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lightning: There are no winners in trade wars, China does not seek conflict, but will not allow itself to be intimidated – Vice Premier of the State Council of China

    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

    Xinhua | 11.06. 2025

    Keywords: China

    Source: Xinhua

    Lightning: There are no winners in trade wars, China does not seek conflict, but will not allow itself to be intimidated – Vice Premier of the State Council of China Lightning: There are no winners in trade wars, China does not seek conflict, but will not allow itself to be intimidated – Vice Premier of the State Council of China

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lightning: Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China called on China and the United States to fulfill their commitments and act on the basis of consensus in order to preserve the results of the dialogue achieved with such difficulty

    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

    Xinhua | 11.06. 2025

    Key words: China-USA

    Source: Xinhua

    Lightning: Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China calls on China and the United States to fulfill their commitments and act on the basis of consensus to preserve the hard-won results of the dialogue Lightning: Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China calls on China and the United States to fulfill their commitments and act on the basis of consensus to preserve the hard-won results of the dialogue

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Europe Builds AI Infrastructure With NVIDIA to Fuel Region’s Next Industrial Transformation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • France, Italy and the United Kingdom Support Regional Technology and Cloud Providers Domyn, Mistral AI, Nebius and Nscale to Deploy More Than 3,000 Exaflops of NVIDIA Blackwell Systems for Sovereign AI
    • NVIDIA to Build AI Factory in Germany to Accelerate Industrial Manufacturing Applications in Europe
    • European Telcos Fastweb, Orange, Swisscom, Telefónica and Telenor Build AI Infrastructure With NVIDIA, Enabling Enterprises to Adopt and Build Agentic AI Applications
    • European Enterprises, Startups and Public Sector to Harness Regional NVIDIA Infrastructure to Develop and Deploy Agentic and Physical AI
    • NVIDIA Establishes AI Technology Centers Across Continent to Advance Research, Upskill Workforces and Accelerate Scientific Breakthroughs

    PARIS, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — —NVIDIA GTC Paris at VivaTech—NVIDIA today announced it is working with European nations, and technology and industry leaders, to build NVIDIA Blackwell AI infrastructure that will strengthen digital sovereignty, support economic growth and position the continent as a leader in the AI industrial revolution.

    France, Italy, Spain and the U.K. are among the nations building domestic AI infrastructure with an ecosystem of technology and cloud providers, including Domyn, Mistral AI, Nebius and Nscale, and telecommunications providers, including Orange, Swisscom, Telefónica and Telenor.

    These deployments will deliver more than 3,000 exaflops of NVIDIA Blackwell compute resources for sovereign AI, enabling European enterprises, startups and public sector organizations to securely develop, train and deploy agentic and physical AI applications.

    NVIDIA is establishing and expanding AI technology centers in Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and Finland. These centers build on NVIDIA’s history of collaborating with academic institutions and industry through the NVIDIA AI Technology Center program and NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute to develop the AI workforce and scientific discovery throughout the regions.

    “Every industrial revolution begins with infrastructure. AI is the essential infrastructure of our time, just as electricity and the internet once were,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “With bold leadership from Europe’s governments and industries, AI will drive transformative innovation and prosperity for generations to come.”

    “France is committed to investing in AI to strengthen our economy, benefit our citizens and uphold our values,” said Emmanuel Macron, president of the French Republic. “By working closely with our nation’s leading technology innovators and NVIDIA, we are equipping researchers, entrepreneurs and public institutions with the tools they need to explore new ideas, tackle complex challenges and help shape the future of AI for France.”

    “Just as coal and electricity once defined our past, AI is defining our future,” said U.K. Tech Secretary Peter Kyle. “NVIDIA’s expansion of its technology center here in the U.K. will be vital in helping us to deliver on our AI ambitions, and their partnership in building the capabilities that will transform our AI Growth Zones into engines of opportunity. This is our Plan for Change in action, bringing together leading innovators to build the compute infrastructure that will drive growth across every region and secure the U.K.’s place as a global AI leader in the age of AI.”

    “This agreement represents a strategic step toward strengthening Italy’s technological sovereignty and ensuring that our businesses have secure and competitive access to data management,” said Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso. “The collaboration with top-tier partners such as NVIDIA and Domyn confirms the government’s commitment in supporting high-level alliances to foster innovation and the competitiveness of the national production system.”

    Building Europe’s Foundation for AI Infrastructure and Innovation
    Building AI infrastructure requires strategic investment in advanced systems, land and facilities, sustainable energy access, skilled experts and partnerships. To accelerate the development of these national resources, NVIDIA is working with leaders across France, the U.K., Germany and Italy.

    In France, Mistral AI is working with NVIDIA to build an end-to-end cloud platform powered by 18,000 NVIDIA Grace Blackwell systems in the first phase, with plans to expand across multiple sites in 2026. This infrastructure will enable organizations across Europe to quickly develop and deploy AI using optimized Mistral AI models and validated AI factory designs, accelerating the adoption of agentic AI applications.

    In the U.K., NVIDIA is collaborating with NVIDIA Cloud Partners Nebius and Nscale to unlock advanced AI capabilities for enterprises and businesses of all sizes. At London Tech Week, the cloud providers announced the first phase of their AI infrastructure development plans to deploy 14,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to power new data centers, making scalable, secure AI infrastructure widely accessible across the U.K.

    In Germany, NVIDIA and its partners are building the world’s first industrial AI cloud for European manufacturers. This AI factory will be powered by NVIDIA DGX™ B200 systems and NVIDIA RTX PRO™ Servers featuring 10,000 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs to enable Europe’s industrial leaders to accelerate every manufacturing application, from design, engineering and simulation to factory digital twins and robotics.

    In Italy, NVIDIA is working with Domyn and the government to advance the nation’s sovereign AI capabilities. Domyn is developing its Domyn Large Colosseum reasoning model on its supercomputer, Colosseum, with NVIDIA Grace Blackwell Superchips, in alignment with its mission to support regulated industries in adopting AI.

    European Telcos Build AI Infrastructure With NVIDIA for Regional Enterprises
    NVIDIA is also working with leading European telecommunications providers — including Orange, Fastweb, Swisscom, Telefónica and Telenor — to develop secure, scalable sovereign AI infrastructure across the region.

    • Orange is accelerating the development of enterprise-grade AI, including agentic AI, large language models and personal AI assistants, using Orange Business’ Cloud Avenue, built on high-performance NVIDIA infrastructure.
    • Fastweb introduced MIIA — an Italian language model to support generative AI applications — trained and running on its NVIDIA DGX AI supercomputer.
    • Telenor is expanding its sovereign AI infrastructure in Norway with a new, renewable-powered data center, in addition to hosting a partner’s multilingual AI translation service, available in over 100 languages.
    • Swisscom is launching new AI services, including GenAI Studio and AI Workhub hosted on its sovereign AI NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD™-based infrastructure, empowering Swiss enterprises to rapidly build and scale AI applications.
    • Telefónica is piloting a distributed edge AI fabric across Spain with hundreds of NVIDIA GPUs to deliver low-latency, privacy-focused AI services.

    These collaborations enable enterprises to develop and deploy customized AI models and agentic applications at scale, tapping into telcos’ extensive networks and trusted role as critical infrastructure providers.

    NVIDIA AI Technology Centers Fuel Research, Upskilling and Scientific Progress
    NVIDIA is establishing and expanding technology centers in Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and Finland to accelerate AI skills development, research and infrastructure for the continent’s enterprises and startups.

    • The Bavarian AI center in Germany, intended to be established in collaboration with the Bayern KI consortium, will advance research in fields including digital medicine, stable diffusion AI and open-source robotics platforms to foster global collaboration.
    • The Sweden AI center will advance world-class AI research with support from NVIDIA experts and hands-on NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute training to help with upskilling.
    • The Italy AI center will expand to include new AI factory deployments with the CINECA consortium.
    • The Spain AI center will expand to include a new AI factory with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
    • The U.K. AI center will accelerate the U.K.’s most groundbreaking research in embodied AI, materials science and Earth systems modeling.
    • The Finland AI center enables researchers to accelerate AI research and applications for computer vision, machine learning and AI for science.

    These strategic initiatives across Europe build on NVIDIA investments in building AI infrastructure worldwide, including in Taiwan and the Middle East.

    Watch the NVIDIA GTC Paris keynote from Huang at VivaTech, and explore GTC Paris sessions.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Corporate Communications
    NVIDIA Corporation
    press@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: with bold leadership from Europe’s governments and industries, AI driving transformative innovation and prosperity for generations to come; technology development in European nations; the benefits, impact, performance, and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing product and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DGX, NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD and NVIDIA RTX PRO are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1aeac85d-7ea3-4ada-98c2-c199a10e8d84

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA Partners With Europe Model Builders and Cloud Providers to Accelerate Region’s Leap Into AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Model Builders Across Europe — Including France, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden — to Deliver Sovereign Models With NVIDIA Nemotron
    • AI Models Tailored to Local Languages and Culture Coming to Perplexity, Delivered as NVIDIA NIM Microservices and Hosted on Regional AI Infrastructure From NVIDIA Cloud Partners

    PARIS, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NVIDIA GTC Paris at VivaTech — NVIDIA today announced that it is teaming with model builders and cloud providers across Europe and the Middle East to optimize sovereign large language models (LLMs), providing a springboard to accelerate enterprise AI adoption for the region’s industries.

    Model builders and AI consortiums Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Bielik.AI, Dicta, H Company, Domyn, LightOn, the National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden (NAISS) together with KBLab at the National Library of Sweden, the Slovak Republic, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the University College of London, the University of Ljubljana and UTTER are teaming with NVIDIA to optimize their models with NVIDIA Nemotron™ techniques to maximize cost efficiency and accuracy for enterprise AI workloads, including agentic AI.

    Model post-training and inference will run on AI infrastructure in Europe from NVIDIA Cloud Partners (NCPs) participating in the NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton™ marketplace.

    The open, sovereign models will provide a foundation for an integrated regional AI ecosystem that reflects local languages and culture. Europe’s enterprises will be able to run the models on Perplexity, an AI-powered answer engine used to answer over 150 million questions per week. Companies will also be able to fine-tune the sovereign models on local NCP infrastructure through a new Hugging Face integration with DGX Cloud Lepton.

    “Europe’s diversity is its superpower — an engine of creativity and innovation,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Together with Europe’s model builders and cloud providers, we’re building an AI ecosystem where intelligence is developed and served locally to provide a foundation for Europe to thrive in the age of AI — transforming every industry across the region.”

    Optimizing Model Accuracy and Inference Savings With NVIDIA Nemotron
    Europe — the world’s third largest economic region — is home to industries spanning manufacturing, robotics, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, finance, energy and creative.

    To accelerate the region’s AI-driven transformation, NVIDIA partners are delivering their open LLMs with support for Europe’s 24 official languages. Several models also specialize in national language and culture, such as those from H Company and LightOn in France, Dicta in Israel, Domyn in Italy, Bielik.AI in Poland, the University of Ljubljana and the Slovak Republic models, BSC in Spain, NAISS and KBLab in Sweden, TII in the United Arab Emirates and the University College London in the U.K.

    The LLMs will be distilled with NVIDIA Nemotron model-building techniques — including neural architecture search — as well as reinforcement learning and post-training with NVIDIA-curated synthetic data. These optimizations will reduce operational costs and boost user experiences by generating tokens faster during inference. The Nemotron post-training workloads will run on DGX Cloud Lepton hosted by European NCPs including Nebius, Nscale and Fluidstack.

    Developers will be able to deploy the sovereign models as NVIDIA NIM™ microservices running on AI factories — on premises and across cloud service provider platforms — using a new NIM microservice that supports more than 100,000 public, private and domain-specialized LLMs hosted on Hugging Face.

    Adding Europe’s Sovereign AI Insights to Perplexity
    Supporting AI diversity for enterprises across the region, Perplexity will integrate the sovereign AI models into its answer engine, which is used by European enterprises, publishers and organizations, including telecommunications and media giants. Perplexity uses LLMs to improve accuracy in search queries and AI outputs. The answer engine draws from credible sources in real time to accurately answer questions with in-line citations, perform deep research and complete assistive tasks.

    “Perplexity’s goal is to provide accurate, trustworthy answers to any question from any person, wherever they are,” said Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and CEO of Perplexity. “Bringing NVIDIA-optimized sovereign AI models to Perplexity empowers innovation in Europe with AI built and running in the region.”

    Availability
    The first distilled models from Europe’s model builders are expected to be available later this year.

    Watch the NVIDIA GTC Paris keynote from Huang at VivaTech and explore GTC Paris sessions.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Allie Courtney
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-408-706-8995
    acourtney@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: together with Europe’s model builders and cloud providers, NVIDIA building an AI ecosystem where intelligence is developed and served locally to provide a foundation for Europe to thrive in the age of AI — transforming every industry across the region; the benefits, impact, performance, and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing product and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DGX Cloud Lepton, NVIDIA Nemotron and NVIDIA NIM are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5fb6261-43d3-4e35-ba55-37a8fbeca57c.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Talen Energy Expands Nuclear Energy Relationship with Amazon

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Talen Energy Corporation (“Talen,” “we,” or “our”) (NASDAQ: TLN), an independent power producer dedicated to powering the future, announced today that it has expanded its existing nuclear energy relationship with Amazon to provide carbon-free energy from Talen’s Susquehanna nuclear power plant to Amazon Web Services (“AWS”) data centers in the region.

    Under the terms of a new power purchase agreement (“PPA”), Talen will supply electricity to Amazon for operations that support AI and other cloud technologies at Amazon’s data center campus adjacent to Susquehanna, with the ability to deliver to other sites throughout Pennsylvania. Talen and Amazon will also explore building new Small Modular Reactors (“SMRs”) within Talen’s Pennsylvania footprint and pursue expanding the nuclear plant’s energy output through uprates, with the intent to add net-new energy to the PJM grid.

    Under the expanded PPA, at the full contract quantity, Talen will provide Amazon with 1,920 megawatts of carbon-free nuclear power through 2042, with options to further extend its duration. The power delivery schedule will ramp over time, expecting to achieve the full volume no later than 2032, with the potential to meaningfully accelerate. This long-term transaction will significantly decrease Talen’s market risk and minimize its reliance on the Federal nuclear production tax credit.

    “Our agreement with Amazon is designed to provide us with a long-term, steady source of revenue and greater balance sheet flexibility through contracted revenues. We remain a first mover in this space and intend to continue to execute on our data center strategy,” said Talen President and Chief Executive Officer Mac McFarland. “Talen is well-positioned to support Amazon’s energy needs as it invests further in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”

    “Amazon is proud to help Pennsylvania advance AI innovation through investments in the Commonwealth’s economic and energy future,” said AWS Vice President of Global Data Centers Kevin Miller. “That’s why we’re making the largest private sector investment in state history – $20B – to bring 1,250 high-skilled jobs and economic benefits to the state, while also collaborating with Talen Energy to help power our infrastructure with carbon-free energy.”

    The existing Susquehanna co-located load arrangement between Talen and Amazon will transition to a “front-of-the-meter” arrangement after the completion of transmission reconfigurations expected in the Spring of 2026, concurrent with Susquehanna’s refueling outage. Under the terms of the new agreement, Susquehanna will provide its carbon-free power to the PJM grid, Talen will act as the retail electric generation supplier to Amazon, and PPL Electric Utilities (“PPL”) will be responsible for transmission and delivery.

    “PPL Electric Utilities is investing in the resiliency of its transmission system so we can better serve our customers, meet growing energy demands, and ensure power is delivered reliably,” said Christine Martin, president of PPL Electric Utilities. “Connecting large load customers like data centers to our transmission system helps lower the transmission component of energy bills for all customers, as large load customers pay significant transmission charges on our network. We’re excited to be part of Amazon’s broader investment in Pennsylvania and look forward to the positive effects it can have for our customers and the local economy.”

    Strengthening Pennsylvania’s Energy Future

    The Talen and Amazon relationship will help safe, reliable nuclear energy continue to be generated at Susquehanna for years to come, maintaining its contributions to the local community and supporting Pennsylvania’s energy future while also helping to power Amazon’s AI innovation investments in the Commonwealth. Talen is a major employer and significant local taxpayer, and the agreement supports the jobs of more than 900 employees currently working at the Susquehanna facility, as well as new construction jobs.

    While Pennsylvania maintains a position as a net energy exporter, producing more power than the Commonwealth requires, Talen’s strategic partnership with Amazon will help send the necessary market signals to spur new investment in additional generation and grid modernization within the Commonwealth.

    Pennsylvania Policy and Stakeholder Support

    The following key policymakers and stakeholders expressed their support for the transaction.

    “This partnership between Talen Energy and Amazon taps into Pennsylvania’s strengths as a national energy leader and will power the largest economic development project in Commonwealth history – creating good-paying jobs, growing our economy, and ultimately adding more power to the PJM energy grid,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “I am an all-of-the-above energy governor, and as part of my economic development plan, my Administration is working to generate even more power in the Commonwealth – with more power comes more national security, more independence, and more economic freedom. My Administration is going to continue to bring people together to attract new investment to Pennsylvania, and we stand ready to work with Talen Energy and its partners to review permits for this project as efficiently as possible.” – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) 

    “Talen and Amazon’s expanded nuclear energy relationship not only strengthens the future of the Susquehanna plant and maintains its contributions to the community, but also helps to support the development of AI technology in Pennsylvania. Adding data centers that support AI strengthens American national security, provides a wide variety of economic opportunities, and positions the Commonwealth, and the U.S., as a leader in AI innovation.” – U.S. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA)

    “I’m pleased about the economic development opportunities the Commonwealth and the Ninth District will receive thanks to Talen and Amazon’s long-term arrangement. Our communities will not only benefit from the economic development that will occur, but also from the contributions that the Susquehanna plant provides as a large employer within the district. Thank you, Talen, Amazon and PPL for working together to bring these benefits to Pennsylvania.” – U.S. Representative Dan Meuser (R-PA), who represents Pennsylvania’s 9thU.S. Congressional District

    “IBEW Local 1600 strongly supports the new transaction. Our members, friends, and families all benefit from the jobs and community growth this investment in Susquehanna will bring. This sets up a great career path for young students coming out of high school or college who are looking for a career in the electrical industry.” – John “Rusty” Clausius, President, IBEW Local 1600

    Investor Call

    Talen will host an investor call at 8:00 a.m. EDT today, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. To participate in the call, please register for the webcast via the page linked here. Participants can also join by phone by registering via the form linked here prior to the start time of the call to receive a conference call dial-in number. For those unable to participate in the live event, a digital replay will be archived for approximately one year and available on the Events page of Talen’s Investor Relations website linked here.

    About Talen

    Talen Energy (NASDAQ: TLN) is a leading independent power producer and energy infrastructure company dedicated to powering the future. We own and operate approximately 10.7 gigawatts of power infrastructure in the United States, including 2.2 gigawatts of nuclear power and a significant dispatchable fossil fleet. We produce and sell electricity, capacity, and ancillary services into wholesale U.S. power markets, with our generation fleet principally located in the Mid-Atlantic and Montana. Our team is committed to generating power safely and reliably and delivering the most value per megawatt produced. Talen is also powering the digital infrastructure revolution. We are well-positioned to capture this significant growth opportunity, as data centers serving artificial intelligence increasingly demand more reliable, clean power. Talen is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit https://www.talenenergy.com/.

    Investor Relations:

    Sergio Castro
    Vice President & Treasurer
    InvestorRelations@talenenergy.com

    Media:

    Taryne Williams
    Director, Corporate Communications
    Taryne.Williams@talenenergy.com

    Forward Looking Statements

    This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this communication, or incorporated by reference into this communication, are forward-looking statements. Throughout this communication, we have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” or other forms of these words or similar words or expressions or the negative thereof, although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions concerning, among other things, capital expenditures, earnings, litigation, regulatory matters, hedging, liquidity and capital resources and accounting matters. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause our future business, financial condition, results of operations or performance to differ materially from our historical results or those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement contained in this communication. All of our forward-looking statements include assumptions underlying or relating to such statements that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, and are subject to numerous factors that present considerable risks and uncertainties.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Tyton Partners Releases 2025 Time for Class Report: Institutions Rebalance Human Connection and Digital Innovation in Higher Ed

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tyton Partners, the leading strategy consulting and investment banking firm focused on education, today released Time for Class 2025: Empowering Educators, Engaging Students. Developed with generous support from the Gates Foundation and McGraw Hill Education, with additional contributions from D2L. This year’s report explores how institutions, instructors, and students are reimagining teaching and learning amid rising adoption of generative AI, evolving student expectations, and ongoing engagement challenges. 

    Based on responses from more than 3,300 students, instructors, and administrators at over 900 U.S. colleges and universities, Time for Class 2025 offers an in-depth view of digital learning in introductory and developmental courses – critical gateways to student success and persistence. 

    “Institutions recognize that digital tools expand access to learning; now, they’re increasingly focused on how to thoughtfully integrate these tools as true enablers of student success, supporting not just learning but also the relationships and experiences that drive meaningful outcomes for students,” said Catherine Shaw, Managing Director at Tyton Partners and lead author of the report. “Our research shows students and instructors want the same thing: flexibility and support, paired with human connection in the classroom.” 

    Key findings include: 

    • 5 years post-COVID-19 pandemic, modality preferences are re-norming back to face-to-face: 64% of instructors now prefer in-person teaching, up from 55% in 2023. Student preferences are shifting similarly, with 33% preferring in-person and 29% hybrid courses. 
    • Platforms must support success, not just content: Faculty who view digital tools as enablers of student success report greater satisfaction and better access to key sentiment data like student confidence or frustration with coursework. 
    • Students need more support: 48% of instructors believe academic anxiety is a top student concern. Students report low motivation and poor study habits as persistent challenges. 
    • Data gaps persist: Instructors want more insight into student sentiment and engagement, but still rely mostly on personal observations, limiting timely interventions. 
    • AI brings both value and strain: 42% of students, 30% of instructors, and 40% of administrators use generative AI tools daily or weekly. Daily users see real benefits—36% of faculty using AI daily report reduced workloads—while less frequent users say monitoring for improper AI use increases their workload. 

    “This is a pivotal and potentially existential moment for higher education institutions,” added Hadley Dorn, Principal at Tyton Partners and co-author. “Institutions and solution providers must ensure platforms empower educators with the insights and scaffolded AI experiences needed to engage today’s students.” 

    Time for Class 2025 provides actionable recommendations for institutional leaders, instructors, and solution providers, with a focus on using generative AI responsibly, improving access to student-level data, and supporting student success through intentional platform design and training. 

    Read Time for Class 2025 here.

    Media Contact
    Zoe Wright-Neil
    Director of Marketing and Business Development
    zwrightneil@tytonpartners.com
    Tyton Partners

    About Tyton Partners 
    Tyton Partners is the leading provider of strategy consulting and investment banking services to the global knowledge and information services sector. With offices in Boston and New York City, the firm has an experienced team of bankers and consultants who deliver a unique spectrum of services from mergers and acquisitions and capital markets access to strategy development that helps companies, organizations, and investors navigate the complexities of the education, media, and information markets. Tyton Partners leverages a deep foundation of transactional and advisory experience and an unparalleled level of global relationships to make its clients’ aspirations a reality and to catalyze innovation in the sector. Learn more at tytonpartners.com. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Global Net Lease Successfully Closes Second Phase of Multi-Tenant Portfolio Sale

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    – Sale of 28 Properties Generates Approximately $400 Million in Gross Proceeds

    – Remains On Track to Close Third and Final Phase by End of Q2’25

    NEW YORK, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Net Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GNL) (“GNL” or the “Company”) announced the successful closing of the second phase of the sale of its multi-tenant portfolio to RCG Ventures, LLC on June 10, 2025, including 28 encumbered properties. The second phase generated approximately $400 million in gross proceeds upon closing1.

    GNL remains on track to complete the third and final phase of the multi-tenant portfolio sale, consisting of 12 encumbered properties, by the end of the second quarter of 2025. The incremental net proceeds from the final two phases are expected to be used to reduce leverage by paying down the outstanding balance on GNL’s Revolving Credit Facility.

    “The successful closing of the second phase of our multi-tenant portfolio sale is another important step in GNL’s transformation,” said Michael Weil, CEO of GNL. “The overall initiative reflects our commitment to executing our strategic plan, specifically lowering leverage and completing the transformation to a dedicated single-tenant portfolio, reinforcing our balance sheet, and maintaining strong liquidity. As we move toward completing the third and final phase by the end of the second quarter of 2025, we are focused on leveraging the financial flexibility we have created to support GNL’s long-term growth and further strengthen our capital structure.”

    GNL completed the first phase of the multi-tenant portfolio sale in March 2025, generating approximately $1.1 billion in gross proceeds upon closing.

    About Global Net Lease, Inc.

    Global Net Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GNL) is a publicly traded internally managed real estate investment trust that focuses on acquiring and managing a global portfolio of income producing net lease assets across the U.S., and Western and Northern Europe. Additional information about GNL can be found on its website at www.globalnetlease.com. 

    Important Notice

    The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially different. The words such as “may,” “will,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” “predicts,” “plans,” “intends,” “would,” “could,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risks that any potential future acquisition or disposition (including the proposed closing of the final encumbered properties portion of the multi-tenant portfolio) by the Company is subject to market conditions, capital availability and timing considerations and may not be identified or completed on favorable terms, or at all. Some of the risks and uncertainties, although not all risks and uncertainties, that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those presented in the Company’s forward-looking statements are set forth in the “Risk Factors” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” sections in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and all of its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as such risks, uncertainties and other important factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent reports. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time, unless required by law.

    Contacts:
    Investor Relations
    Email: investorrelations@globalnetlease.com
    Phone: (332) 265-2020

    Footnotes:
    1 Includes a $256 million mortgage that is being assumed by RCG Ventures, LLC.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Ambow Education Appoints James Bartholomew as President to Drive Growth and Strengthen Stakeholder Engagement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (NYSE American: AMBO), a leading global EdTech and AI-powered solutions provider, today announced the appointment of James Bartholomew as President, effective immediately.

    With more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning private education, manufacturing and transportation, Bartholomew brings a proven track record of driving growth, transformational change, operational excellence and long-term value creation. He currently leads Blue Moon Management, LLC, a boutique advisory firm specializing in business turnarounds, strategic planning and executive leadership, particularly in the education and edtech sectors.

    Most recently, Bartholomew served as Senior Vice President at Adtalem Global Education, where he led the $1.5 billion integration of Walden University and developed technology and product roadmaps across multiple business segments. Previously, as President and CEO of DeVry University, Bartholomew guided the organization through its sale to a private equity firm, spearheaded strategic redesigns to close the tech-driven skills gap and expanded the institution’s B2B partnerships.

    “We are thrilled to welcome James as we advance the growth of HybriU and scale its impact globally,” said Dr. Jin Huang, Chief Executive Officer of Ambow. “His deep expertise in educational innovation, organizational transformation and strategic execution will be invaluable as we reshape the future of learning and deliver powerful outcomes for our partners and learners.”

    Bartholomew is known for integrating robust processes with clear communication, building collaborative and diverse teams, and aligning organizations to achieve measurable results. He holds an MBA in international management from Wake Forest University.

    “I’m excited to work with Ambow at such a pivotal moment in its journey,” said Bartholomew. “I look forward to working with the team to expand HybriU’s reach and create more inroads for this breakthrough learning solution. HybriU’s capabilities go beyond the hybrid experiences we know today, making remote interactions feel remarkably close to in-person connections. Across classrooms, boardrooms and large-scale events, HybriU is building a new global network of engagement, poised to unlock a new wave of accessibility and opportunity for all.”

    Ambow operates HybriU, its flagship phygital (physical + digital) platform that is redefining what is possible in AI-driven education, corporate communications and event production. The suite of HybriU products delivers cutting-edge solutions that help institutions connect, engage and scale. Its suite of products currently includes HybriU Digital Education Solutions for universities and classrooms, as well as HybriU Conferencing for corporations. Designed for flexibility and innovation, HybriU’s expanding ecosystem supports a range of educational and corporate industries and use cases, including higher education, corporate learning and collaboration, large-scale events and emerging phygital experiences.

    About Ambow

    Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a U.S.-based, AI-driven technology company offering phygital (physical + digital) solutions for education, corporate conferencing and live events. Through its flagship platform, HybriU, Ambow is shaping the future of learning, collaboration and communication—delivering immersive, intelligent, real-time experiences across industries. For more information, visit Ambow’s corporate website at https://www.ambow.com/.

    Follow us on X: @Ambow_Education

    Follow us on LinkedIn: Ambow-education-group

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates” and similar statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about Ambow and the industry. All information provided in this press release is as of the date hereof, and Ambow undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although Ambow believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.

    For more information, please contact:

    Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
    E-mail: ir@ambow.com
    or
    Piacente Financial Communications
    Tel: +1 212 481 2050
    E-mail: ambow@tpg-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Xunlei Announces Investee Company Completes IPO on Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHENZHEN, China, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Xunlei Limited (“Xunlei” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: XNET), a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China, today announced that its investee company, Arashi Vision Inc. (“Arashi Vision”, also known as Insta360), has completed its initial public offering on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market under the stock ticker 688775 on June 11, 2025. As of the date of this press release, Xunlei holds approximately 7.8% the equity interest in Arashi Vision.

    About Xunlei

    Founded in 2003, Xunlei Limited (Nasdaq: XNET) is a leading technology company providing distributed cloud services in China. Xunlei provides a wide range of products and services across cloud acceleration, shared cloud computing and digital entertainment to deliver an efficient, smart and safe internet experience.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the management’s quotations, the “Outlook” and “Guidance” sections in this press release, as well as the Company’s strategic, operational and acquisition plans, contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company and the industry. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: the Company’s ability to continue to innovate and provide attractive products and services to retain and grow its user base; the Company’s ability to keep up with technological developments and users’ changing demands in the internet industry; the Company’s ability to convert its users into subscribers of its premium services; the Company’s ability to deal with existing and potential copyright infringement claims and other related claims; the risk that COVID-19 or other health risks in China or globally could adversely affect the Company’s operations or financial results; the Company’s ability to react to the governmental actions for its scrutiny of internet content in China and the Company’s ability to compete effectively. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that its expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties faced by the Company is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law.

    CONTACT:
    Investor Relations
    Xunlei Limited
    Email: ir@xunlei.com
    Tel: +86 755 8633 8443
    Website: http://ir.xunlei.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Taps Hana to Boost Social Finance With 680K HANA Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, is working with Hana Network on a new initiative aimed at expanding access to crypto through lightweight, socially-driven user experiences. The move reflects a broader industry shift toward making blockchain tools easier to use by integrating familiar mobile and social behaviors into onboarding.

    The campaign, which runs from June 11 to June 18, introduces a 680,000 HANA token reward pool for users who complete a short series of tasks, including joining community channels and making a small crypto trade through Bitget Wallet. Designed for accessibility, the effort targets new Web3 users, using entry points that feel closer to social media participation than to traditional finance.

    Hana Network offers a mobile-native platform built around the concept of “hypercasual finance,” where users interact through social features like tipping, peer-to-peer transfers, and game-like engagement loops. Account setup is simplified via logins from platforms such as Telegram and X, and users can earn by participating in community activity without navigating complex blockchain interfaces. This positions Hana as part of a growing category of apps seeking to normalize crypto interactions by embedding them in everyday digital routines.

    The campaign reflects Bitget Wallet’s continued focus on expanding the everyday use of self-custody wallets. By incorporating social and mobile-native design elements, the initiative seeks to lower entry barriers for a broader audience, particularly users who are new to crypto or more accustomed to mainstream digital platforms.

    Find out more on Bitget Wallet’s official channels.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
    For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0c6f2a5-0738-40d3-ad4a-05c3d55b5b22

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton Connects Europe’s Developers to Global NVIDIA Compute Ecosystem

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Mistral AI, Nebius, Nscale, Firebird, Fluidstack, Hydra Host, Scaleway and Together AI — Along With AWS and Microsoft Azure — Bring Compute Resources to DGX Cloud Lepton Marketplace to Meet AI Demand
    • Hugging Face Integrates DGX Cloud Lepton Into Training Cluster as a Service, Expanding AI Researcher Access to Scalable Compute for Model Training
    • NVIDIA and Leading European Venture Capitalists Offer Marketplace Credits to Portfolio Companies to Accelerate Startup Ecosystem

    PARIS, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NVIDIA GTC Paris at VivaTech — NVIDIA today announced the expansion of NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton™ — an AI platform featuring a global compute marketplace that connects developers building agentic and physical AI applications — with GPUs now available from a growing network of cloud providers.

    Mistral AI, Nebius, Nscale, Firebird, Fluidstack, Hydra Host, Scaleway and Together AI are now contributing NVIDIA Blackwell and other NVIDIA architecture GPUs to the marketplace, expanding regional access to high-performance compute. AWS and Microsoft Azure will be the first large-scale cloud providers to participate in DGX Cloud Lepton. These companies join CoreWeave, Crusoe, Firmus, Foxconn, GMI Cloud, Lambda and Yotta Data Services in the marketplace.

    To make accelerated computing more accessible to the global AI community, Hugging Face is introducing Training Cluster as a Service. This new offering integrates with DGX Cloud Lepton to seamlessly connect AI researchers and developers building foundation models with the NVIDIA compute ecosystem.

    NVIDIA is also working with leading European venture capital firms Accel, Elaia, Partech and Sofinnova Partners to offer DGX Cloud Lepton marketplace credits to portfolio companies, enabling startups to access accelerated computing resources and scale regional development.

    “DGX Cloud Lepton is connecting Europe’s developers to a global AI infrastructure,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “With partners across the region, we’re building a network of AI factories that developers, researchers and enterprises can harness to scale local breakthroughs into global innovation.”

    DGX Cloud Lepton simplifies the process of accessing reliable, high-performance GPU resources within specific regions by unifying cloud AI services and GPU capacity from across the NVIDIA compute ecosystem onto a single platform. This enables developers to keep their data local, supporting data governance and sovereign AI requirements.

    In addition, by integrating with the NVIDIA software suite — including NVIDIA NIM™ and NeMo™ microservices and NVIDIA Cloud Functions — DGX Cloud Lepton streamlines and accelerates every stage of AI application development and deployment, at any scale. The marketplace works with a new NIM microservice container, which includes support for a broad range of large language models, including the most popular open LLM architectures and more than a million models hosted publicly and privately on Hugging Face.

    For cloud providers, DGX Cloud Lepton includes management software that continuously monitors GPU health in real time and automates root-cause analysis, minimizing manual intervention and reducing downtime. This streamlines operations for providers and ensures more reliable access to high-performance computing for customers.

    NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton Speeds Training and Deployment
    Early-access DGX Cloud Lepton customers using the platform to accelerate their strategic AI initiatives include:

    • Basecamp Research, which is speeding the discovery and design of new biological solutions for pharmaceuticals, food and industrial and environmental biotechnology by harnessing its 9.8 billion-protein database to pretrain and deploy large biological foundation models.
    • EY, which is standardizing multi-cloud access across the global organization to accelerate the development of AI agents for domain- and sector-specific solutions.
    • Outerbounds, which enables customers to build differentiated, production-grade AI products powered by the proven reliability of open-source Metaflow.
    • Prima Mente, which is advancing neurodegenerative disease research at scale by pretraining large brain foundation models to uncover new disease mechanisms and tools to stratify patient outcomes in clinical settings.
    • Reflection, which is building superintelligent autonomous coding systems that handle the most complex enterprise engineering tasks.

    Hugging Face Developers Get Access to Scalable AI Training Across Clouds
    Integrating DGX Cloud Lepton with Hugging Face’s Training Cluster as a Service offering gives AI builders streamlined access to the GPU marketplace, making it easy to reserve, access and use NVIDIA compute resources in specific regions, close to their training data. Connected to a global network of cloud providers, Hugging Face customers can quickly secure the necessary GPU capacity for training runs using DGX Cloud Lepton. Mirror Physics, Project Numina and the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine will be among the first Hugging Face customers to access Training Cluster as a Service, with compute resources provided through DGX Cloud Lepton. They will use the platform to advance state-of-the-art AI models in chemistry, materials science, mathematics and disease research.

    “Access to large-scale, high-performance compute is essential for building the next generation of AI models across every domain and language,” said Clément Delangue, cofounder and CEO of Hugging Face. “The integration of DGX Cloud Lepton with Training Cluster as a Service will remove barriers for researchers and companies, unlocking the ability to train the most advanced models and push the boundaries of what’s possible in AI.”

    DGX Cloud Lepton Boosts AI Startup Ecosystem
    NVIDIA is working with Accel, Elaia, Partech and Sofinnova Partners to offer up to $100,000 in GPU capacity credits and support from NVIDIA experts to eligible portfolio companies through DGX Cloud Lepton.

    BioCorteX, Bioptimus and Latent Labs will be among the first to access DGX Cloud Lepton, where they can discover and purchase compute capacity and use NVIDIA software, services and AI expertise to build, customize and deploy applications across a global network of cloud providers.

    Availability
    Developers can sign up for early access to NVIDIA DGX Cloud Lepton.

    Watch the NVIDIA GTC Paris keynote from Huang at VivaTech, and explore GTC Paris sessions.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Natalie Hereth
    NVIDIA Corporation
    +1-360-581-1088
    nhereth@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: DGX Cloud Lepton connecting Europe’s developers to a global AI infrastructure; with partners across the region, NVIDIA building a network of AI factories that developers, researchers and enterprises can harness to scale local breakthroughs into global innovation; the benefits, impact, performance, and availability of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; expectations with respect to NVIDIA’s third party arrangements, including with its collaborators and partners; expectations with respect to technology developments; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections based on management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; NVIDIA’s reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test NVIDIA’s products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to NVIDIA’s existing product and technologies; market acceptance of NVIDIA’s products or NVIDIA’s partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of NVIDIA’s products or technologies when integrated into systems; and changes in applicable laws and regulations, as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, DGX Cloud Lepton, NVIDIA NeMo and NVIDIA NIM are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/168c2a8e-0342-4717-bde7-a9bdbe436c08

    The MIL Network –

  • 193 contracts, ₹1.27 lakh crore production: a decade of defence transformation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government completes 11 years in office, India’s defence sector marks a decade-long shift towards self-reliance, driven by focused policy interventions, enhanced budget allocations, and institutional reforms.

    The defence budget has increased from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013–14 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025–26. The sharp rise in allocations reflects a sustained push towards capacity building and indigenisation in the sector. Over the years, a strong emphasis has been placed on developing a domestic ecosystem that supports manufacturing, innovation, and exports.

    In 2023–24, India registered its highest-ever defence production, reaching ₹1.27 lakh crore. This marks a 174 percent increase over the ₹46,429 crore recorded in 2014–15. The growth is attributed to policies promoting indigenous manufacturing and procurement.

    The Ministry of Defence signed 193 contracts worth ₹2,09,050 crore in 2024–25, the highest recorded in a single financial year. Of these, 177 contracts were awarded to domestic industries, accounting for ₹1,68,922 crore. This aligns with the government’s priority for domestic procurement under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

    To support defence manufacturing infrastructure, two dedicated Defence Industrial Corridors have been established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. As of February 2025, these corridors have attracted investments worth ₹8,658 crore, with 253 Memorandums of Understanding signed. The total investment potential is estimated at ₹53,439 crore.

    The government has released five Positive Indigenisation Lists, covering over 5,500 items. As of February 2025, 3,000 of these items had been indigenised. The lists include key technologies such as artillery guns, assault rifles, radars, light combat helicopters, armoured platforms, and communication systems.

    Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), launched in April 2018, has played a central role in promoting innovation. Grants of up to ₹1.5 crore have been extended to startups, MSMEs, and research entities. As of February 2025, 549 problem statements have been published, with 430 contracts signed involving 619 participants. The armed forces have procured 43 items worth over ₹2,400 crore from iDEX-supported firms.

    For the financial year 2025–26, ₹449.62 crore has been allocated to iDEX, including its sub-scheme ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX).

    Among infrastructure initiatives, the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) aims to support the creation of eight greenfield testing and certification facilities. Seven of these have already been approved, focusing on domains such as electronic warfare, unmanned systems, and communication technologies.

    Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector was liberalised in September 2020. The policy now permits up to 74 percent FDI through the automatic route and more than 74 percent through the government route. Since April 2000, the sector has received FDI worth ₹5,516.16 crore.

    The Tata Aircraft Complex, inaugurated in October 2024 in Vadodara, is manufacturing C-295 transport aircraft. Of the 56 aircraft under the programme, 40 are being built in India.

    Manthan, an annual innovation event held during Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, has continued to provide a platform for collaboration among startups, academia, and defence stakeholders.

    For 2025–26, the Ministry of Defence has allocated 75 percent of its modernisation budget—₹1,11,544 crore—for procurement from domestic sources, reinforcing its focus on building an indigenous defence industrial base.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Events as city marks Windrush Day 2025

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Celebrated annually, Windrush Day honours the contributions which the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to British society.

    It commemorates the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948, bringing passengers from the Caribbean to the UK – an event which marked the beginning of significant migration from the Caribbean which enriched British culture and society.

    Dignitaries and members of the public will gather for a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre on Sunday 22 June at 10.30am, which will feature speeches from representatives of the Windrush community, the Mayor of Wolverhampton Craig Collingswood and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sandra Samuels OBE, who in 2022 became the first person of African-Caribbean heritage to become Mayor of Wolverhampton.

    There will then follow a special event at Wolverhampton Art Gallery introduced by Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE where a bust of Mel Chevannes, created as part of a community led project, will be unveiled.

    Mel, who will be in attendance next weekend, was elected to Graiseley Ward in 1981 and served as a local councillor for 11 years, chairing the Social Services Committee in 1982. She later became the first African-Caribbean chairperson of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

    She said: “I am humbled to be honoured by a bronze bust in the city of Wolverhampton, which has been my home for the last 50 years. I am proud to be recognised for my professional, community and educational contributions to this wonderful city.

    “It is truly amazing that this is the first such public recognition in England of a black woman who is very much alive.”

    Visitors to the gallery will also have the opportunity to view a temporary exhibition about Mel’s life, achievements and contribution to the city.

    Mayor Councillor Collingswood said: “We are delighted to play our part in highlighting an important time in our history – and to celebrate the impact that the Windrush generation, and individuals such as Mel Chevannes, have had on our city and our nation.

    “Everyone is welcome to join us for the flag raising and the unveiling, and I hope that as many residents as possible are able to come along and help us celebrate Windrush Day 2025.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Civic Identity Helps Russians Maintain Mental Health Under Sanctions

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Researchers from the National Research University Higher School of Economics have found that being aware of oneself as part of a country can be psychologically helpful during difficult times, especially if a person is inclined to rethink what is happening or turn to spiritual and cultural values. Rethinking, among other things, can somewhat reduce the level of depression.Studypublished in the Journal of Community Psychology.

    Crisis situations – economic, social or personal – inevitably affect the psyche. But why do some people adapt and cope with pressure more easily, while others lose their footing? To answer this question, HSE researchers conducted a sociological study. They found out whether respondents rethink what is happening, whether they turn to religion, rely on help from family, neighbors or social services, or simply wait until everything passes. The survey involved 384 people aged 18 to 54 from different regions of Russia.

    It turned out that people who feel more part of society cope better with psychological difficulties on average. They more often use strategies that help them adapt to change — primarily rethinking (the ability to find meaning in what is happening) and spiritual support (turning to religion, traditions, personal values).

    Interestingly, civic identity did not directly reduce depression, but it did help cope. People who perceived difficulties as a challenge and tried to rethink what was happening felt more resilient. But passively waiting for improvements, on the contrary, increased symptoms of depression. At the same time, people who felt a strong connection to their country were much less likely to choose a passive strategy.

    The study also found that in the Russian context, not only personal but also family support is important. Many people find that joint actions help – discussions with loved ones, mutual assistance, joint planning. This supports the idea that Russian culture places great importance on collective care, and that family becomes a support in difficult times.

    “Psychological resources are not only internal stability, but also a sense of connection with others, belonging to a community. Civic identity is one of these resources. In conditions of instability and threats, it helps maintain support and includes familiar coping strategies: rethinking the situation and turning to spiritual values. These observations can be useful for specialists who support people in periods of uncertainty and change,” says the director. Center for Sociocultural ResearchHSE University Alexander Tatarko.

    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 United Nations: A Historic May 20: Returning Migrants March for Unity, Dignity, and Hope

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Yaoundé, May 20, 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), alongside the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education (MINJEC), supported the participation of 81 voluntary returnees in the parade for the 53rd edition of Cameroon’s National Unity Day. This is a first in the history of this national event. The initiative is part of the “Citizen and Patriotic Migration” program, supported by IOM, in response to the call made by the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya, in response to the rise in irregular youth migration.

    The group, composed of 69 men and 12 women migrants who chose to return voluntarily, they were support by IOM to return home, and are currently being guided toward sustainable reintegration. By participating in this national parade, they sent a strong message in favour of resilience, civic-mindedness, and safe and orderly migration. Carrying posters with messages such as “No to Migration at All Costs” and “Circular Migration: A Pillar for Development,” these young Cameroonians expressed their commitment to voluntary return and successful reintegration.

    “It was more than a parade. It was a way to find myself, to show that I can still accomplish great things,” said Bernadette, one of the twelve women who participated in the parade.

    Participation in the national parade helped promote these voluntary return journeys, by facilitating social integration through dialogue with other groups and fostering a reconnection with civic values.

    According to Mr Abdel Rahmane DIOP, IOM Chief of Mission in Cameroon: “Seeing these migrants marching at the National Unity Day celebrations sends a strong signal: migration concerns us all. Their presence demonstrates the need to strengthen collective action, led by the highest authorities, so that every ministry and every stakeholder contributes to coordinate inclusive migration governance that inspires pride for the migrants themselves”. Staying, building, and succeeding here is possible.”

    This initiative showcases the potential of better-managed migration and highlights the role that young people and returning migrants can play in their communities. Since 2020, more than 10,000 Cameroonians have benefited from assisted voluntary return and reintegration support through programs implemented by IOM in Cameroon. This figure, equivalents to nearly seven departures per day, underlining the urgent need to strengthen preventive actions: information, support, and the creation of concrete alternatives to irregular migration.

    IOM reaffirms its commitment to supporting the efforts of the Cameroonian authorities, and its partners to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration. Sustainable reintegration, social cohesion, and the development of local opportunities remain at the heart of its efforts, to transform migration pathways into vectors of individual and collective development.

    ***

    For more information, please contact :

    In Dakar: Joelle FURRER, IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa, jfurrer@iom.int

    In Cameroon: Elodie NDEME BODOLO, IOM Office in Yaoundé, endeme@iom.int

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Developing Hong Kong into international education hub

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ2: Developing Hong Kong into international education hub 
    Question:
     
         The Government is now establishing the “Study in Hong Kong” brand to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for education. There are views pointing out that with the robust development of local basic education and the extensive recognition of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination qualification, primary and secondary schools are well-positioned to admit non-local students amid the continuing decline in the number of students. At present, however, entry for non-local students to study in Hong Kong’s public or aided primary and secondary schools (other than English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools) is not permitted. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the respective numbers of minor students coming to Hong Kong on student visas to study in private primary and secondary schools, ESF schools, and DSS primary and secondary schools over the past three school years, as well as the distribution of their years of study;
     
    (2) whether it will consider drawing on the practices of other countries to relax the eligibility criteria for student visas, so as to allow non-‍local minor students entry into Hong Kong to study in public or aided primary and secondary schools, as well as introducing student guardian visas for their parents to stay in Hong Kong and engage in time-limited employment; and
     
    (3) whether it will consider encouraging private enterprises or educational institutions to establish additional student hostels or overseas students’ apartments to provide accommodation and ancillary services suitable for students of different ages, as well as establishing corresponding licensing and registration regimes?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government would promote the development of an international hub for post-secondary education by establishing the “Study in Hong Kong” brand as well as pooling together and nurturing excellent global talents. The policy is built on the foundation that Hong Kong’s universities enjoy an international reputation. Among our eight public universities, five are ranked among the world’s top 100 and six within Asia’s top 50, and four are among the top ten on the list of the most international universities in the world. The internationalisation and diversity of our post-secondary education attract outstanding talents from all over the world to Hong Kong for further studies and research. Meanwhile, the National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong as a development centre in eight key areas (“eight centres”), the Education Bureau (EDB) has been proactively encouraging post-secondary education institutions to develop more related applied degree programmes to complement with the talent backing for the “eight centres”. At the same time, we are also committed to promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, developing Hong Kong into an international education hub, attracting outstanding talent from all over the world in all aspects to enrich the local talent pool.
     
         Regarding our basic education, under the “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. We have been providing 12-year free and quality primary and secondary education to all local children through public sector schools, and parents of local children are offered with diversified choices. Meanwhile, non-local children can study in non-public sector schools, including international schools, private schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, on a self-financing basis. These arrangements aim to ensure a reasonable balance between the supply and demand of school places in basic education in the relevant arrangements, while achieving prudent use of public funds. In fact, Hong Kong’s diversified and quality school education system has long been ranked among the top in international education comparative studies.
     
         Having consulted the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD), our reply to the question raised by the Hon Chu Kwok-keung is as follows:
     
    (1) In the past three years (2022 to 2024), a total of 1 686 applications for student visa/entry permit were approved by the ImmD for non-local children aged 17 or below coming to Hong Kong for education (see Annex). The ImmD and the EDB do not keep statistics on the types of schools admitting these students.
     
    (2) The Government is committed to developing a vibrant international school sector to meet the demand for education from non-local families living in Hong Kong as well as children of families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. International schools operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis and belong to the private school sector. They have been enjoying the flexibility, including the medium of instruction, curriculum arrangements, public examinations, etc, and they are not subsidised by public funds for daily operation, providing diversified choices for local parents, while offering school places to non-local children who pay school fees at their own expense under the “user pays” principle. As seen from the figures provided by the ImmD over the past three years, there have been hundreds non-local children aged from five years eight months to 17 years being approved with study visa/entry permit to come to Hong Kong for education annually. We will closely keep in view the demand for school places from non-local children, conduct dynamic assessments of the demand and supply of school places, create conditions in a timely manner, and launch policy measures to adjust the supply of school places including supporting the development of non-profit-making private schools offering non-local curriculum through the school allocation exercise. Meanwhile, we will proactively explore the feasibility of facilitating non-local students to come to Hong Kong to study in non-public sector schools on a self-financing basis.
     
         As the goal of public sector schools is to provide 12-year quality and free primary and secondary education to eligible children to meet the educational needs of local children, we adopt mother-tongue teaching. The medium of instruction, curriculum arrangements, public examination (i.e. Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination), etc in public sector schools are based on the learning needs of local children. 
     
    Therefore, for public sector schools, the Government has always been devoting substantial resources to public sector schools in providing quality education to students over the years, meeting the different learning needs of students in an all-round way, including catering for the learning diversity for students with special educational needs and non-Chinese speaking students with the provision of additional learning support and complementary measures. Public sector schools are publicly funded at full costs, offer local curriculum and serve local children. It ensures the prudent use of public funds and fair allocation of educational resources, and benefit local children.
     
         At present, the parallel development of the public sector schools and non-public sector schools not only caters for the learning needs of the children of different stakeholders, but also achieves the purpose of prudent use of public funds and an appropriate allocation of resources. Therefore, the policy meets Hong Kong’s actual circumstances.

    (3) In general, the boarding services provided by different types of schools are mainly aimed at enriching local students’ learning experiences, and cater for the residential needs of a small number of non-local students. At present, there are a total of 16 publicly-funded and private ordinary primary and secondary schools across the territory, which provide boarding services offering about 3 500 boarding places altogether. If individual schools have needs, and the premises and space allow, they can submit applications to the EDB to provide boarding facilities on a self-financing basis. We will consider the applications based on the actual needs. The facilities and management of boarding schools should comply with the relevant stipulations such as the Education Regulations (Cap. 279A). The accommodation arrangements outside schools should also comply with all relevant laws and requirements. The EDB will closely monitor the residential needs of non-local students, including the boarding facilities provided by different types of schools, and maintain communication with the education sector and relevant government departments to review the related arrangements in a timely manner.
     
         President, education is the key to a hundred-year plan. While being open to different views, the EDB will carefully consider each and every policy initiative to maintain the strengths of Hong Kong education, orderly promote the development of an international hub for post-secondary education, and strengthen the high quality development of education in Hong Kong.Issued at HKT 17:53

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ‘I can finally see a future’: On the path to universal early education

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    In my first week as Minister for Early Childhood Education, I stopped in to meet educators and children at a busy early learning centre.

    22-year-old Talitha told me with a big smile, “I can finally see a future.”

    She was talking about our 15 per cent pay rise, one of the key pillars of building universal early education in Australia.

    With a prime minister who wants to be remembered for universal childcare, and a 57 per cent majority women government, early education is not just on the agenda, it is already in motion.

    For too long, early childhood educators have loved their work – work that builds the foundations of learning and development for our youngest Australians – but love doesn’t pay the bills.

    Educators like Talitha, who once juggled multiple jobs just to get by, now have stability and a vision for a future in the sector.

    “I’m now able to significantly save,” Talitha shares, following the first installment of the pay boost.

    “It helped with my mortgage, and it means less stress at the supermarket – I can buy the brand names!”

    And the first pay installment is also a catalyst for broader change in the sector.

    Already online job advertisement rates are down 28 per cent in the past 12 months.

    With increased wages and recognition, educators like Talitha are able to stay in the sector they love.

    For too long, workforce turnover has been high.

    As Talitha explains, “people love the children, but other jobs pay better – so that’s why they leave.”

    “When staff change, it’s stressful for the workers, and it’s not good for the kids.”

    Better pay means higher retention for the profession, creating a steady environment and better outcomes for children and families.

    And creating a stable workforce paves the way for our plans to expand access to quality early education, starting with our 3 Day Guarantee.

    Today some families are locked out of early learning due to work and study requirements.

    The 3 Day Guarantee will replace this activity test to provide at least three days of subsidies for early education for families who need it.

    And our Cheaper Child Care policy is already delivering more affordable education for more than one million Australian families.

    Alongside this, the Government is investing over $1 billion in the Building Early Education Fund, to build and expand in areas of need, including in the outer suburbs and regional Australia.

    These centres will be co-located on school sites wherever possible and run by high quality non-profit providers.

    Talitha welcomes this investment, explaining “it’s important children have access to education at this stage in their life – so that when they grow up, they can have the same opportunities and same outcomes as everyone else.”

    As early education services expand, quality will be at the forefront.

    While the vast majority of services meet or exceed quality standards, a small number of operators fail to provide quality care and a safe environment.

    “This job is about caring for children, and it’s about giving children the best start in life, so when people don’t do that, it makes me feel betrayed,” Talitha says.

    There is no place for providers who put profit over children’s safety in this sector.

    That is why we will strengthen Commonwealth powers to prevent providers that persistently fail to meet minimum standards from expanding, and to restrict their access to the Child Care Subsidy when appropriate.

    We want to make sure that families can feel confident sending their children to early education knowing that providers are offering quality and safety.

    As Minister, I’m looking forward to the work ahead in building the pillars of universal early education.

    So, we can build a sector where children have universal access to high quality early learning no matter their postcode, and where dedicated educators like Talitha can flourish.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: GPTBots Drives Enterprise AI Innovation at WaytoAGI Tokyo Hackathon, Showcasing Real-World Agent Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HONG KONG, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GPTBots.ai, a leading enterprise-grade AI agent building platform, recently sponsored the “WaytoAGI Global AI Conference – Tokyo 2025” hackathon, which took place on June 7-8 at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo. The event attracted over 300 participants from Japan, China, and around the world. During the hackathon, developers utilized GPTBots’ enterprise AI agent framework to create impactful solutions addressing global business challenges, showcasing how AI agents can transform enterprise operations.

    Tokyo Hackathon Spotlight: AI Agents Redefining Enterprise Solutions
    The GPTBots hackathon featured four competition tracks—Enterprise Process Automation, AI-Driven Customer Interaction, Data Analysis & Decision Insights, and Open Innovation—challenging teams to build functional AI agents on the GPTBots platform. Three standout projects demonstrated the versatility of GPTBots’ platform across industries:

    • Campai: A Web3 marketing campaign management platform leveraging GPTBots for real-time sentiment analysis of social media trends. The solution assigns sentiment scores to Web3 projects by analyzing mention frequency and emotional tone, enabling data-driven marketing strategies.
    • AI-Driven Nail Art Design Agent: Addressing the $12 billion global nail industry’s design inefficiency, this agent generates personalized nail art concepts based on user preferences, reducing design time from hours to minutes and enabling salons to offer custom creations at scale.
    • Movie Agent: A modular solution breaking down video production into AI agents—from creative development and script generation to storyboard design—streamlining workflows and cutting production costs by 40% for independent creators.

    Other notable projects included:

    • DC Audit Agent: A Hong Kong-focused legal compliance tool that reviews employment contracts against local labor laws, generating compliance scores and optimization reports.
    • Demand Lens: An analytics agent scraping Fiverr order data to reveal service demand trends, pricing insights, and market opportunities.

    Enterprise-Grade Capabilities Showcase at Hackathon
    At the event, Alen Hu, Senior Innovation Manager at GPTBots.ai, led a practical workshop titled “Mastering GPTBots: Building AI Agents for Enterprise,” providing participants with step-by-step guidance on:

    • Core capabilities of GPTBots’ agent framework, including LLM integration, workflow orchestration, and RAG-based knowledge retrieval.
    • Hands-on development of AI agents for real-world scenarios, from customer service to data analysis.
    • Best practices for deploying scalable, secure enterprise AI solutions, highlighted by case studies of GPTBots’ global deployments.

    Global Collaboration and Technical Depth
    “The Tokyo hackathon exemplified how AI agents bridge technology and tangible business value,” said Jerry Yin, VP of GPTBots.ai. “Enterprises now seek scalable AI solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing operations. GPTBots’ platform empowers this through secure, low-code development and enterprise-grade security.”

    The event showcased cross-cultural innovation, with Japanese teams focusing on retail and hospitality applications, while participants from China led in Web3 and DeFi solutions. Developers demonstrated real-world deployments and shared best practices, highlighting the versatility and impact of enterprise AI agents across different industries.

    Advancing Scalable AI Adoption for Enterprises
    As part of the WaytoAGI conference, the hackathon highlighted tangible trends in enterprise AI adoption, with projects directly addressing real-world business needs showcased on the GPTBots platform. The diversity of solutions—from automated compliance and personalized design to advanced analytics and marketing—demonstrated how AI agents are being tailored for industry-specific challenges.

    By enabling rapid prototyping, secure deployment, and seamless integration with existing workflows, GPTBots empowers organizations to accelerate digital transformation and unlock new value streams. The event reinforced the growing demand for enterprise-ready AI solutions that are both scalable and adaptable, as businesses worldwide look to harness AI agents to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.

    About GPTBots.ai
    GPTBots.ai is an enterprise AI agent platform that empowers businesses to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. Offering end-to-end AI solutions across customer service, knowledge search, data analysis, and lead generation, GPTBots enables enterprises to harness the full potential of AI with ease. With seamless integration into various systems, and support for scalable, secure deployments, GPTBots is dedicated to reducing costs, accelerating growth, and helping businesses thrive in the AI era.

    For more information, visit www.gptbots.ai.

    Media Contact:
    Tanya
    Marketing Director
    marketing@gptbots.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Toxic trend: Another malware threat targets DeepSeek

    Source: Securelist – Kaspersky

    Headline: Toxic trend: Another malware threat targets DeepSeek

    Introduction

    DeepSeek-R1 is one of the most popular LLMs right now. Users of all experience levels look for chatbot websites on search engines, and threat actors have started abusing the popularity of LLMs. We previously reported attacks with malware being spread under the guise of DeepSeek to attract victims. The malicious domains spread through X posts and general browsing.

    But lately, threat actors have begun using malvertising to exploit the demand for chatbots. For instance, we have recently discovered a new malicious campaign distributing previously unknown malware through a fake DeepSeek-R1 LLM environment installer. The malware is delivered via a phishing site that masquerades as the official DeepSeek homepage. The website was promoted in the search results via Google Ads. The attacks ultimately aim to install BrowserVenom, an implant that reconfigures all browsing instances to force traffic through a proxy controlled by the threat actors. This enables them to manipulate the victim’s network traffic and collect data.

    Phishing lure

    The infection was launched from a phishing site, located at https[:]//deepseek-platform[.]com. It was spread via malvertising, intentionally placed as the top result when a user searched for “deepseek r1”, thus taking advantage of the model’s popularity. Once the user reaches the site, a check is performed to identify the victim’s operating system. If the user is running Windows, they will be presented with only one active button, “Try now”. We have also seen layouts for other operating systems with slight changes in wording, but all mislead the user into clicking the button.

    Malicious website mimicking DeepSeek

    Clicking this button will take the user to a CAPTCHA anti-bot screen. The code for this screen is obfuscated JavaScript, which performs a series of checks to make sure that the user is not a bot. We found other scripts on the same malicious domain signaling that this is not the first iteration of such campaigns. After successfully solving the CAPTCHA, the user is redirected to the proxy1.php URL path with a “Download now” button. Clicking that results in downloading the malicious installer named AI_Launcher_1.21.exe from the following URL: https://r1deepseek-ai[.]com/gg/cc/AI_Launcher_1.21.exe.

    We examined the source code of both the phishing and distribution websites and discovered comments in Russian related to the websites’ functionality, which suggests that they are developed by Russian-speaking threat actors.

    Malicious installer

    The malicious installer AI_Launcher_1.21.exe is the launcher for the next-stage malware. Once this binary is executed, it opens a window that mimics a Cloudflare CAPTCHA.

    The second fake CAPTCHA

    This is another fake CAPTCHA that is loaded from https[:]//casoredkff[.]pro/captcha. After the checkbox is ticked, the URL is appended with /success, and the user is presented with the following screen, offering the options to download and install Ollama and LM Studio.

    Two options to install abused LLM frameworks

    Clicking either of the “Install” buttons effectively downloads and executes the respective installer, but with a caveat: another function runs concurrently: MLInstaller.Runner.Run(). This function triggers the infectious part of the implant.

    When the MLInstaller.Runner.Run() function is executed in a separate thread on the machine, the infection develops in the following three steps:

    1. First, the malicious function tries to exclude the user’s folder from Windows Defender’s protection by decrypting a buffer using the AES encryption algorithm.

      The AES encryption information is hardcoded in the implant:

      Type AES-256-CBC
      Key 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0a 0b 0c 0d 0e 0f 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 20
      IV 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0a 0b 0c 0d 0e 0f 10

      The decrypted buffer contains a PowerShell command that performs the exclusion once executed by the malicious function.

      It should be noted that this command needs administrator privileges and will fail in case the user lacks them.

    2. After that, another PowerShell command runs, downloading an executable from a malicious domain whose name is derived with a simple domain generation algorithm (DGA). The downloaded executable is saved as %USERPROFILE%Music1.exe under the user’s profile and then executed.

      At the moment of our research, there was only one domain in existence: app-updater1[.]app. No binary can be downloaded from this domain as of now but we suspect that this might be another malicious implant, such as a backdoor for further access. So far, we have managed to obtain several malicious domain names associated with this threat; they are highlighted in the IoCs section.

    3. Then the MLInstaller.Runner.Run() function locates a hardcoded stage two payload in the class and variable ConfigFiles.load of the malicious installer’s buffer. This executable is decrypted with the same AES algorithm as before in order to be loaded into memory and run.

    Loaded implant: BrowserVenom

    We dubbed the next-stage implant BrowserVenom because it reconfigures all browsing instances to force traffic through a proxy controlled by the threat actors. This enables them to sniff sensitive data and monitor the victim’s browsing activity while decrypting their traffic.

    First, BrowserVenom checks if the current user has administrator rights – exiting if not – and installs a hardcoded certificate created by the threat actor:

    Then the malware adds a hardcoded proxy server address to all currently installed and running browsers. For Chromium-based instances (i.e., Chrome or Microsoft Edge), it adds the proxy-server argument and modifies all existent LNK files, whereas for Gecko-based browsers, such as Mozilla or Tor Browser, the implant modifies the current user’s profile preferences:

    The settings currently utilized by the malware are as follows:

    The variables Host and Port are the ones used as the proxy settings, and the ID and HWID are appended to the browser’s User-Agent, possibly as a way to keep track of the victim’s network traffic.

    Conclusion

    As we have been reporting, DeepSeek has been the perfect lure for attackers to attract new victims. Threat actors’ use of new malicious tooling, such as BrowserVenom, complicates the detection of their activities. This, combined with the use of Google Ads to reach more victims and look more plausible, makes such campaigns even more effective.

    At the time of our research, we detected multiple infections in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Egypt. The nature of the bait and the geographic distribution of attacks indicate that campaigns like this continue to pose a global threat to unsuspecting users.

    To protect against these attacks, users are advised to confirm that the results of their searches are official websites, along with their URLs and certificates, to make sure that the site is the right place to download the legitimate software from. Taking these precautions can help avoid this type of infection.

    Kaspersky products detect this threat as HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic and Trojan.Win32.SelfDel.iwcv.

    Indicators of Compromise

    Hashes

    d435a9a303a27c98d4e7afa157ab47de  AI_Launcher_1.21.exe
    dc08e0a005d64cc9e5b2fdd201f97fd6

    Domains and IPs

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Guide to Commercially Exposed Persons (“CEPs”)

    Source: Isle of Man

    The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has published a guide to enhance awareness and understanding of Commercially Exposed Persons (“CEPs”).

    A CEP is an individual associated with an industry or activity that typically has a higher exposure to bribery and corruption. This, in turn, may increase the money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risk posed to supervised entities where such individuals are affiliated to a customer.

    The Authority’s guide provides examples of higher risk industries, further background about CEPs, and a breakdown of data which helps to inform topical and sector risk assessments, as well as the Island’s National Risk Assessment.

    A visual guide is also provided to help firms to understand if a customer account or entity is associated with a Politically Exposed Person (“PEP”) or CEP.

    Firms should consider the nature and activity of a customer, and connected persons, as part of their customer risk assessment in line with requirements of the AML/CFT Code 2019.

    Commercially Exposed Persons Guide

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: British dads are going ‘on strike’ for better parental leave

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Katherine Twamley, Professor of Sociology, UCL

    Prostock-studio/Shutterstock

    UK campaign group The Dad Shift is staging a “dad strike” on June 11, to protest the poor paternity leave available to fathers in the UK. Fathers and other parents are being asked to “picket or pickup” – to leave work and join protests at government buildings, or use this time to do the school or nursery run.

    My research suggests that a poor offer of leave for fathers means they do not believe either the UK government or their employers view their participation in childcare as important.

    UK fathers can take up to two weeks’ leave at the time of the birth of their child, but it is paid well below the living wage. This leave is also only eligible to fathers who have been continuously employed by their employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before the baby is due.

    Paternity leave was introduced in 2003, when maternity leave was extended from 18 to 26 and later 52 weeks. This has resulted in a stark inequality between mothers’ and fathers’ opportunity to take time with their new baby. The UK paternity leave offer also compares poorly against leave offered for fathers in other countries, ranking 40th out of 43 OECD countries

    And despite the small amount of leave offered to fathers in the UK, only 59% actually take it. This is mostly due to the poor pay, but fathers also report facing pressure from work that inhibits their use of the leave options available to them.

    Sharing leave

    Shared parental leave, introduced in 2015 throughout the UK, allows parents to share up to 50 weeks between them. But it has failed to alter parental leave patterns: only 5% of fathers take any shared parental leave.

    The low remuneration offered – currently £187.18 a week, if taken within the first nine months, or no pay at all thereafter – again has affected how many men make use of this scheme. They may also feel they are “stealing” the mother’s leave, because a father taking shared parental leave means the mother has to go back to work sooner.



    Read more:
    Shared parental leave has failed because it doesn’t make financial or emotional sense

    But it’s really important that fathers take time with their babies. When fathers take leave, there are multiple documented benefits for the family and beyond.

    Time with an involved father benefits children.
    Anna Kraynova/Shutterstock

    Dads’ time at home with their children can help establish a bond between father and child. Research has found that a father who spends time with his young baby, and does activities with them, is more likely to be an engaged parent as his child gets older. There are also potential improved developmental outcomes for children. These benefits are increased the more time fathers are able to spend with their children.

    Wider benefits

    Mothers also benefit from having their partner off work and with them, particularly during the first weeks and months after giving birth.

    I collected diary entries and held interviews with new parents about their parental leave. The difference that fathers taking extended paternity leave at the time of birth made to mothers was palpable. All these mothers reported a smoother and happier transition to parenthood.

    On the other hand, mothers whose partners returned to work at two weeks or earlier reported significant challenges. Some even said they felt “traumatised” when the paternity leave ended. “It’s harrowing when the father goes back to work,” one mother told me. “I was, like, hysterical from lack of sleep and not being able to breastfeed.”

    As more and more births are via caesarean section – an estimated 31% in the UK – it is even more important that mothers have a partner present at this time. Mothers who have a c-section have limited mobility and will generally require greater levels of support for longer than mothers who have a vaginal birth.

    Beyond the family, fathers’ participation in leave is also good for gender equality. Fathers who take leave are more likely to share parenting tasks later and demonstrate more understanding around what parenthood involves.

    These benefits are magnified when fathers take leave alone – whether through shared parental leave taken alone in the UK or, as in some European countries, an extended “daddy’s quota” of leave taken after the mother returns to work.

    This can also have knock-on benefits for gender equality in paid work. The gender pay gap in the UK is 7% – women working full-time earn 7% less per hour than men. As documented by Nobel prize winner Claudia Goldin, the biggest factor in the gender pay gap is the transition to parenthood. A greater uptake of leave by fathers can shift the established roles of mother-as-carer and father-as-breadwinner.



    Read more:
    Mothers are more likely to work worse jobs – while fathers thrive in careers

    Besides all these documented benefits of paternity leave, perhaps one of the most potent is that fathers too are part of a family. To deny them independent and well-supported access to parental leave, at least in a comparable way to mothers, is simply unjust. They shouldn’t miss out on this valuable time with their children – and nor should children miss out on time with their fathers.

    Katherine Twamley’s research on parental leave was funded by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust.

    – ref. British dads are going ‘on strike’ for better parental leave – https://theconversation.com/british-dads-are-going-on-strike-for-better-parental-leave-257379

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank cuts sod for construction of permanent Country Office, cementing over five-decades of partnership with Zambia

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    • Permanent office strengthens Bank’s partnership with Zambia.
    • African Development Bank has financed and facilitated major projects at country and continent level to support regional integration – Finance Minister Musokotwane 

    The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) commenced construction of its permanent country office in Lusaka on Friday, marking a transformative milestone in the institution’s 54-year partnership with Zambia.

    Since establishing its temporary country office in 2007 with just four staff members, the African Development Bank’s presence in Zambia has grown to 20 permanent staff. The Bank’s cumulative investment in Zambia now stands at $2.7 billion across multiple sectors, with a current active portfolio worth nearly $1 billion.

    The groundbreaking event was attended by Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane; African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo; the Bank’s Director of Real Estate Management, Procurement and General Services, Gail Meakin, as well as other senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community, other development partners, and private sector chief executive officers.

    The new office design incorporates cutting-edge sustainability features and wellness-focused design. It will house expanded operations while contributing to Zambia’s economic growth through job creation and business stimulation during both construction and operation. The building is expected to be completed by 2027. It will be a smart building with conferencing and staff wellness facilities, with low energy consumption, a wastewater recycling system, and large green spaces.

    Dr. Musokotwane emphasized the significance of a permanent office. “This occasion is not just ceremonial – it’s a vote of confidence in our country, our government, and our people. It recognizes Zambia’s commitment to forge a better future for Africa.”

    The Minister thanked the African Development Bank for providing much-needed financial support during Zambia’s development journey and conveyed the President of Zambia’s support for the Bank’s decision to establish a permanent office building and continued development work in the country.

    “The African Development Bank’s support has produced many positive results in sectors such as transport, agriculture, water and sanitation, and energy.  This shows the Bank’s commitment to deliver on its vision for the African continent,” the Minister said. “AfDB’s support to Zambia has been instrumental in supporting the country’s development goals espoused in the national development plans, which emphasize, among others, the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation in all the sectors of the economy.”

    Musokotwane listed some of the Bank’s transformative work in Zambia, singling out the Kazungula Bridge Project (https://apo-opa.co/4jORboP), for special commendation.

     “We also wish to take this opportunity to commend the Bank for the support rendered to Africa. Through the Bank, major projects have been implemented both at country and continent level to support regional integration in Africa. Key among the projects implemented is the Kazungula bridge project, which is a major infrastructure initiative that involves constructing a road and rail bridge connecting Zambia and Botswana.”

    Other notable projects in Zambia include the Integrated Small Towns Water and Sanitation project, the Lusaka Sanitation Programme, Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project, and the Multi-Purpose Small Dams Project.

    Musokotwane urged the Bank to consider expanded support for regional drought recovery efforts, emphasizing the need for building economic resilience across the region. The Southern Africa region is still recovering from the devastating droughts of 2023-2024.

    Nwabufo thanked the Government of Zambia for providing the prime land within Lusaka for the construction of the Bank’s country office.

    “This new office demonstrates our continued commitment to strengthening our partnership with Zambia. We are here to stay – after all, the African Development Bank is your Bank,” said Bank Vice President Nwabufo.

    She reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment, announcing a $250 million commitment to the transformative Lobito Corridor Development Project (http://apo-opa.co/4kY4CU7). The Lobito Corridor is a major economic route connecting the port of Lobito in Angola to the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Copperbelt in Zambia. It encompasses the construction of the Zambia-Angola railway, the rehabilitation of the DRC segment of the railway with the establishment of a public-private partnership, and the upgrading and operationalisation of the Angolan railway.

    The African Development Bank’s investments in Zambia continue to deliver impactful results:

    • The 923-meter-long Kazungula Bridge (https://apo-opa.co/44an9XL) project – supported by the African Development Bank Group with a US$ 81.6 million investment – has revolutionized cross-border trade, reducing transit times from 2.5 days to just half a day.
    • The Chinsali-Nakonde road rehabilitation and Nacala Road Corridor projects have similarly enhanced regional connectivity.
    • National water access has increased from 69% to 72% between 2015-2022, while sanitation coverage rose from 50% to 58%, providing 1.9 million additional people with improved water access.
    • Through the Bank’s agriculture sector, over 1.5 million households have seen their average annual incomes surge from US$320 in 2017 to US$1,300 in 2022. Agricultural productivity has soared, with maize production increasing from 2.9 million tonnes to 3.9 million tonnes and aquaculture output expanding from 20,000 tonnes to 76,000 Tonnes. The Bank’s interventions in the sector have generated approximately 500,000 jobs.
    • Following the Bank’s intervention in the social sector, including the $30 million Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project, SME productivity and competitiveness have improved, leading to increased job creation. Eight industrial yards have been constructed in Chipata, Kasama, Mongu, Ndola, Solwezi, Lusaka, Mansa, and Kitwe, with the capacity to accommodate 172 SMEs across various light manufacturing sub-sectors.

    The African Development Bank’s 2024-2029 Country Strategy Paper for Zambia focuses on two key priorities: enhancing private sector development through infrastructure investments and promoting agricultural value chains to support youth and women’s employment. This will guide the Banks’ interventions in Zambia for the stated period.

    African Development Bank Country Manager for Zambia, Olaniyi Durowoju, noted that “the office would serve as a modern and efficient workspace, and a beacon of innovation and a vibrant hub for partnerships, and collaboration with the Bank’s stakeholders, enabling us better to serve our clients and the people of Zambia”.

    – on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

    Additional Photos: https://apo-opa.co/4mYbuCR

    Media contact:
    Emeka Anuforo,
    Communication and External Relations Department,
    media@afdb.org

    About the African Development Bank Group:
    The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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    MIL OSI Africa –