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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Energy Sector – Past Policy Choices Coming Home to Roost

    Source: Energy Resources Aotearoa

    For yet another year, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) data published today shows that estimates for New Zealand’s gas reserves are rapidly declining.
    There has been a 27 per cent year-on-year reduction in natural gas reserves, dropping to 948 petajoules from 1,300 in 2024, which was 20 per cent down on the previous year. Production is now forecast below 100 PJ by 2026, rather than 2029, as previously forecast.
    Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie says the $200 million Crown co-investment in new domestic gas projects, the removal of the 2018 exploration ban, and changes proposed through the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill are all great signs that the Government is working hard to turn the corner on the deindustrialisation of the New Zealand economy.
    “We acknowledge the Government is moving to support the strong potential of our domestic gas supply. But only time will tell if this will be enough.”
    Carnegie says the ongoing challenges with gas supply underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to secure energy stability and support New Zealand’s economic resilience.
    “We know there are still prospective fields out there – now we need to see the right conditions continue so that we can unlock the supply.
    Kiwi businesses are doing it tough as gas supply becomes further constrained. We desperately need more natural gas in the market to ensure electricity is available to keep the lights on and our export economy thriving.”
    Currently, we’re witnessing the consequences of a shrinking domestic gas supply: higher prices, the use of imported coal, and uncertainty for industrial users, Carnegie says. 
    “Natural gas plays a critical role in supporting renewables, powering industry, and keeping energy affordable and reliable.
    Gas production projects underpin everything from electricity to industrial manufacturing. If we don’t continue to work hard on securing more domestic gas for New Zealand, we risk higher prices, more imported coal use, and further instability.”
    If New Zealand can get this right, the benefits are enormous: jobs, royalties, export earnings, and the confidence of regional businesses to expand, knowing they have secure and affordable energy for the future.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate – Warm May Caps Off a Sunny Autumn for Much of New Zealand – NIWA – New Zealand Climate Summary: May 2025

    Source: NIWA

    Last month brought warmer-than-average temperatures to most of the country, marking it as New Zealand’s 10th-warmest May on record, according to NIWA’s latest climate summary for May 2025.
    Inland and southern parts of the South Island experienced particularly warm conditions, with some areas recording temperatures more than 1.5°C above average.
    Rainfall varied across New Zealand, with eastern and southern regions experiencing below-normal rainfall and sunny skies for May, and Lake Tekapo recording its sunniest May since records began in 1928. In contrast, parts of the upper South Island and central North Island were wetter than usual.
    Extreme weather events included a high of 24.2°C in Gisborne and Christchurch, a low of -5.0°C in Manapouri and Tūrangi, and a wind gust reaching 200 km/h at Cape Turnagain.
    Tauranga topped sunshine and rainfall among main centres, while Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin the driest and least sunny, and Christchurch was the coolest. The three sunniest locations in 2025 so far are Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, and Auckland.
    There is more detailed information at the full Monthly Climate Summary, available at https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/monthly

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers – Fish & Game advocacy function under review

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers says proposed changes to Fish & Game are a step in the right direction, but concerns remain about the organisation’s ability to engage in highly political advocacy.
    “Farmers have been very clear with Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager about our concerns and frustrations with Fish & Game,” says Federated Farmers hunting spokesperson Richard McIntyre.
    “There is certainly some merit in what the Minister is proposing with these reforms in terms of modernising, professionalising and centralising many of Fish & Game’s functions.
    “Some of these changes are long overdue and will go a long way in improving the performance and efficiency of the organisation – and that needs to be acknowledged.
    “We’re also welcoming a review of Fish & Game’s advocacy function, something Federated Farmers have been vocal in calling for, but we have serious concerns changes won’t go far enough.”
    The proposed reforms will mean the New Zealand Fish & Game Council will be able to set a direction that is binding on regional Fish & Game Councils regarding advocacy.
    Regional Fish and Game Councils will only be able to take court action in relation to advocacy if explicitly approved by the New Zealand Fish & Game Council or the Minister.
    “The devil is going to be in the detail when these changes are made, but Federated Farmers will be watching the Minister’s moves very closely to make sure he delivers,” McIntyre says.
    “In practice, what farmers really want to know is whether Fish & Game will still be able to block practical, common-sense actions like removing gravel from rivers when it’s needed.
    “We also want to have confidence they will no longer be able to run highly political anti-farming campaigns or waste everyone’s time with expensive and unnecessary court cases.”
    While proposed changes are definitely a step in the right direction, Federated Farmers are questioning whether it’s appropriate for Fish & Game to play any role in political advocacy.
    “Our argument is that Fish & Game are a statutory body who collect compulsory licence fees from hunters and fishers,” says Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick.
    “If you want to hunt or fish you have to pay Fish & Game their fee. You don’t get a choice, but then they take that money and use it to attack farmers or push their personal policy agendas.
    “They shouldn’t be able to charge those compulsory fees and then use them to behave like an environmental activist group, particularly when their advocacy doesn’t align with the views of most hunters and fishers.
    “I think most people would agree that far too much money has been wasted on highly political advocacy and litigious court cases that have little benefit for sports fish or game birds.
    “The Minister needs to make sure he gets these reforms right. He needs to get Fish & Game out of political advocacy and refocus them on their core business.”
    Federated Farmers will continue to engage constructively with the Government throughout the select committee process to ensure farmers concerns are adequately addressed. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – New library for Cannons Creek gets go-ahead – Porirua

    Source: Porirua City Council

    A new library to be built in Cannons Creek in Porirua in the next two years is being hailed by the Mayor and city councillors as a facility current and future generations will be proud to call their own.
    The new building, to be placed on Bedford Reserve, near Cannons Creek Pool, will cost $4 million. Funding comes from already existing budgets within Council’s 2024-34 Long-term Plan.
    A report to Council’s Te Puna Kōrero meeting on Thursday outlined safety concerns about the current library, which is located alongside other shops, including instances where staff have had to secure the building due to disorder happening outside.
    The Cannons Creek Library, established in 1985 after taking over a former draper’s shop, is “difficult to secure safely”, the report says. Despite this, it is a vibrant community space that has school visits and has become a thriving after-school spot, has a public computer hub and is a drop-in place for people to connect and relax. It also has a NZ Post box.
    The report also notes the ageing 1960s building has a leaky roof, limited natural light and heating, inadequate staff areas and not enough seating or study space. The building next door is potentially earthquake-prone and a seismic assessment of the library building is due in September this year.
    Mayor Anita Baker said a new library was critical for the suburb and will create a better environment for library staff and visitors.
    “We’ve had unsafe actions out on the street that have come into the library itself,” she said.
    “This is overdue for our community and something our people have wanted for a long time.”
    Cr Geoff Hayward said this was not just about upgrading a building, but “preparing a waka for the journey ahead”.
    “This is a gift, a vessel of learning, open to all,” he said.
    “This community that has been waiting patiently for a facility that reflects its wairua, its mana and future. A new library is saying ‘Cannons Creek matters’.”
    The library will be built with modular technology, meaning it will constructed in a factory and transported to the site, and can be added to or enlarged in the future if required. It will also have new computers for the public to use.
    Originally, $20 million was set aside for a community hub in Cannons Creek in the 2018-38 Long-term Plan, but agreeing to the $4 million proposal and bringing the project forward was supported by Mayor Baker and councillors.
    The community will be consulted during the design stage of the project.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: PSA – Petition launched to save Rauaroha – Segar House psychotherapy service

    Source: PSA

    The PSA is launching a petition today in partnership with the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists in support of continued funding for a specialist mental health facility serving patients with complex needs.
    Rauaroha – Segar House received notice in May that Te Whatu Ora is considering its disestablishment, 50 years after it was first opened in Auckland.
    Designed expressly to meet complex needs, the care at Segar House is multi-disciplinary, with a psychiatrist, psychologists, psychotherapists and an art therapist on staff.
    “We’re devastated, gutted really, that the Government is looking at cutting Segar House,” an anonymous clinician who works at the centre said.
    “The people we work with have highly complex health histories, with more than one diagnosed issue, as well as horrific early trauma. They can only come to us when they’ve already exhausted all other options – we are the last in the line for them.
    “Without us, frankly, we’d already have lost these clients to suicide.”
    The wrap-around service provided by Segar House puts an emphasis on relationships and group social interactions to build confidence and ensure graduating clients can live full, social lives in the community.
    The proposal put forward by Te Toka Tumai, the Central Auckland arm of Te Whatu Ora, argued that the service was under-utilised, and that its resources were better used elsewhere.
    Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the under-utilisation was down to overly restrictive referring rules that meant clients had to exhaust every other option for care, even if their condition otherwise met criteria.
    “The clinicians who work at Segar House are in the unusual position for New Zealand in that they’d like to care for more patients, not less.
    “After continued pressure from staff, the centre ran a trial last year where they dropped certain referral rules, and unsurprisingly, received more clients who were a good fit for their service.
    “The under-utilisation of Segar House has been entirely created by Te Toka Tumai, who have then turned around and blamed the facility for it.
    “Cutting this highly specialist, completely unique service that has helped so many people makes zero sense. Surely the answer here would be to retain the service and change the referral rules, rather than cut it altogether.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health, and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Youth Take Root: A Rocha Aotearoa environmental organisations aim to plant 1,500 trees to support World Vision 40 Hour Challenge

    Source: World Vision 

     

    AUCKLAND / CHRISTCHURCH, NZ – A Rocha Aotearoa is undertaking a massive tree planting drive in Auckland and Christchurch on Saturday, 14 June to seed more than 1,500 trees to support this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge.

     

    The Christian environmental organisation will gather Youth Groups from across the country to roll up their sleeves and plant native trees to raise funds to support the one in six children in the Pacific who face severe food insecurity due to climate change. 

     

    James Beck from A Rocha Aotearoa says, “By partnering with World Vision, we’re giving young people an opportunity to plant hope – quite literally – by restoring native bush and improving biodiversity. The climate crisis can feel overwhelming – but small, local actions really do add up. This is about more than planting trees – it’s about planting seeds of justice, hope, and resilience.”

     

    In Auckland, the teams of young people will gather to plant at Unsworth Reserve in Unsworth Heights to restore the ecological balance of the reserve, contributing to a healthier urban environment.  They will have support from World Vision, the Upper Waitematā Ecology Network, and local churches.

     

    In Christchurch, youth will gather at South Shore Spit Reserve—an internationally significant ecological site—to help regenerate native vegetation and protect habitats for migratory birds. The project will be run in collaboration with the Avon-Heathcote Estuary Ihutai Trust, Christchurch City Council, and forms part of A Rocha’s Good News Project, which equips young people to care for creation as an expression of their faith.

     

    World Vision Associate National Director TJ Grant says the organisation values partnerships with organisations like A Rocha.

     

    He says through activities, like planting native trees and raising funds for communities affected by climate change, the partnership demonstrates that local action can have a global impact. It’s a powerful example of hope, connection, and doing good—together.

     

    “These tree planting events are a powerful example of hope, connection, and doing good—together. We know that climate change isn’t just a distant issue—it’s something we can respond to in our own communities and on behalf of our neighbours across the Pacific. Whether you’re planting trees, taking on a personal 40 Hour Challenge, or donating, every action counts.”

     

    Youth groups interested in participating in either of the events can register online through A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand. To learn more about the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, visit worldvision.org.nz/40hour.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Climate – Fifth-Warmest Autumn on Record Brings Wet Weather to the South Island – Seasonal Climate Summary – NIWA

    Source: NIWA

    Autumn 2025 was New Zealand’s fifth-warmest on record, with nationwide average temperatures above the long-term seasonal average for almost all the country, according to NIWA’s latest seasonal climate summary. 
    Almost all regions experienced above-average temperatures, driven by more frequent northeasterly winds and persistently high-pressure systems. 
    It was a warm autumn, wet for eastern and northern parts of the South Island, says NIWA Climate Scientist Gregor Macara . 
    The data shows it was a wetter-than-usual autumn for eastern and northern parts of the South Island, while Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, and western Bay of Plenty also saw above normal rainfall. 
    Meanwhile, areas such as Dunedin, Whanganui, and Hawke’s Bay remained drier than usual over the three month period, March to May. 
    Two major weather events marked the autumn season: heavy flooding in Canterbury at the end of April, which prompted a state of emergency in multiple districts, and ex-tropical cyclone Tam, which impacted the North Island in mid-April. 
    Extreme conditions included a high of 33.6°C in Timaru, a low of -5.0°C in Manapouri and Tūrangi, and the highest 1-day rainfall of 290 mm, recorded at Tākaka on 3 April. 
    Among the main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga the sunniest and wettest, and Dunedin the driest and least sunny. More detailed information, including records and local data, is available at https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/seasonal 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Choose Clean Water: Changes to Fish & Game continue Coalition’s handover of power to polluters

    Source: Choose Clean Water – Tom Kay

    Changes announced to Fish & Game this morning are another move in the Coalition Government’s handover of power to intensive farming and other polluting commercial interests, and will result in the further degradation of our rivers and freshwater, say freshwater campaigners.

    Choose Clean Water spokesperson Tom Kay says the changes announced today are clearly designed to remove Fish & Game’s ability to advocate for the health of rivers.

    “Fish & Game has used its statutory purpose as a strong advocate for the health of rivers across New Zealand, and as such has helped protect numerous rivers from pollution and degradation.”

    “There are some things about the system that do need fixing, but this is not only about that—this is the Coalition Govt taking advantage of an opportunity to reduce Fish & Game’s influence over polluters.”

    “When environmental groups, local community groups, or iwi can’t afford to legally challenge a damaging activity or poorly made decision, Fish & Game is often there to ensure waterways are protected—working on behalf of their members to protect habitat for fish. But this Government is trying to stop that.”

    The Coalition has stated that Fish & Game’s advocacy functions will be “revised” so regional Fish & Game Councils will only be able to take court action in relation to advocacy if explicitly approved by the New Zealand Fish & Game Council or the Minister and within a new restricted advocacy policy.

    This morning’s press release from Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager on the changes states they will restrict the organisation’s ability to undertake court proceedings and require “Fish & Game councils to better consider the interests of other stakeholders such as farmers and the aviation sector in decision-making”.

    “It’s telling that the Government has said specifically that it wants Fish & Game to better consider farming interests. Why not public health interests? Why not the interests of future generations? Why not the myriad of other commercial interests that operate in our communities? This demonstrates that this decision is another example of the Government enabling more pollution in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources, and the handing of more power over our water to polluting commercial interests like intensive farming.”

    “We know how detrimental the influence of Ministers can be over the statutory purposes of agencies like the Department of Conservation to protect our environment, for example. This is another case of Ministers being given the power to step in and stop actions that would protect our environment.”

    Fish & Game led the processes to secure many Water Conservation Orders—similar to National Parks—for our rivers, protecting them for anglers and the public alike to enjoy. In 2002 they launched a large campaign against “Dirty Dairying” and the conversion of land into intensive agriculture, particularly in the South Island.

    More recently, Fish & Game took up a legal challenge against ongoing extreme pollution of Southland’s waterways where dairy interests were wrongly claiming “there is no evidence of diffuse discharges from farming activities, either individually or cumulatively, causing adverse effects, including significant adverse effects on aquatic life”.

    “Proponents of damaging, intensive agriculture and other major polluters are all over this Government’s decisions. This decision stinks of undue influence.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: Samsung

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

    MIL OSI Economics –

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

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Investor expectations for the new device are similarly lofty.

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

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

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

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

    (Reuters)

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

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    (IANS)

     

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow robots master more and more specialties — Sergei Sobyanin

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Moscow companies are increasing the production of robots. They are mastering more and more specialties, including loader, farmer and storekeeper, replacing people in hazardous production areas, and also relieving them of routine tasks. Sergei Sobyanin spoke about some interesting developments in his blog.

    “Moscow’s robotics industry continues to develop dynamically: the production of automated systems is demonstrating rapid and confident growth. In the first quarter of 2025, the volume of production of machinery and equipment, including robots, increased by 14.3 percent compared to the same period last year,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Industrial robots

    TechnoRed develops and manufactures ready-made box robotic systems, including automated welding complexes and robotic machine operators. In addition, the company produces palletizers (packaging machines) capable of sorting, moving and compactly stacking products. They are in demand at more than 550 Russian enterprises. Robots allow increasing labor productivity by an average of two to three times.

    In the first quarter of this year, the company increased its output by 50 percent. Today, it has more than 20 patented developments. The company is a technology partner of Innopolis University, Moscow State Technological University Stankin and Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. The company implements its own training programs in the field of robotics, introduces robotic cells into educational institutions.

    In May of this year, the company opened a production site at the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone (SEZ) for the production of domestic industrial robots.

    From sports to robotics: the number of clubs in renovated Moscow schools has increased by almost 40 percentNew machines and robotics kits delivered to engineering and IT classes in Moscow schools

    Robots in warehouses and production

    Ronavi Robotics, a company of the Rusnano Group, produces logistics robots for automating warehouses and production facilities. Some are designed for assembling and moving cargo, others for sorting parcels. There is a model that can replace the main conveyor.

    This year, the company robotized the warehouse of a capital manufacturer of workwear with an area of about 7.5 thousand square meters. To implement the project, the company supplied 48 robots, 10 charging stations and four assembly stations. The manufacturer continues to develop the system, improves the parameters every month and develops new solutions for other areas of the warehouse.

    UVL Robotics specializes in developing intelligent solutions for warehouse and transport logistics. The drone-based inventory system allows for inventory counting 10 times faster and five times more efficiently than traditional methods.

    Recognizing objects with the help of a built-in scanning module, robots read markings on containers. Their productivity is up to 1.5 thousand pallets per hour, manually such a volume can be processed in about six hours. At the same time, drones cope well with work in refrigerated warehouses with temperatures down to minus 25 degrees, reducing the workload on personnel.

    This year, an improved model was released. It is lighter, can maintain altitude, is easier to control, stores data and transmits it quickly over the network.

    Rescue robots

    The company “Special Design and Technology Bureau of Applied Robotics” manufactures multifunctional robotic systems at the site of the SEZ “Technopolis Moscow”. Among them are robotic sappers, which are used not only for mine clearance, but also in a number of explosive works, for example, in dismantling buildings.

    In addition, the company produces mobile robotic fire extinguishing units to combat fires of any level at radiation and explosive hazardous facilities. The robot is equipped with television cameras, a thermal imager, as well as chemical and radiation reconnaissance devices. It can transmit information to the control post online.

    Another original development is an amphibious robot. The model can be used underwater at a depth of up to four meters, as well as on land, and can be used for reconnaissance, emergency rescue, and explosive engineering work. The installation was created for nuclear power plants.

    Robots for agriculture

    The company “ERlab” creates robots for agriculture. The machines replace up to 15 people on a farm and process up to eight hectares in one hour. In particular, the robotic sprayer reduces the use of chemicals by 95 percent, fertilizers by 40 percent, and the robotic weeder increases crop yields by seven percent. Agrorobots independently identify weeds and signs of plant diseases.

    “Moscow developers of robotic systems are mastering more and more areas and directions. With the support of the city, they are expanding their model range and increasing production output. New developments are successfully integrated into production processes, increasing their efficiency and safety,” Sergei Sobyanin emphasized.

    Moscow supported more than three thousand innovative solutions with patent grantsMikhail Mishustin and Sergei Sobyanin inspected the work of the Lomonosov cluster

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12817050/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The capital is hosting the Unified State Exam in biology, geography and foreign languages

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The Unified State Exam (USE) in biology and geography has begun in the capital. Schoolchildren also take the written part of the USE in foreign languages. Almost 32 thousand people are taking part in the certification in these subjects on this day, the press service of the capital’s Department of Education and Science.

    “Of the foreign languages, the most graduates traditionally chose English for the Unified State Exam. Today, over 18.5 thousand people are taking this subject. 143 participants are taking the exam in French, 103 in German, and 105 in Spanish. 57 people are taking the Unified State Exam in Chinese. Over 10.6 thousand Muscovites are taking the Unified State Exam in Biology. Over two thousand people are taking the geography exam,” the department’s press service reported.

    On this day, 177 exam centers were organized in the capital. The results of the Unified State Exam in biology and geography will be known by June 20, and in foreign languages – no later than June 24. You can find them out in your personal account on the mos.ru portal or at your school.

    The Unified State Exam in foreign languages is divided into two parts – oral and written. The written part in English, French, German and Spanish lasts three hours and 10 minutes, and in Chinese – exactly three hours. The oral part in four languages is designed for 17 minutes, and in Chinese – for 14 minutes.

    The biology exam lasts three hours and 55 minutes. Students complete 28 tasks with short and detailed answers. To get a high result, graduates should demonstrate knowledge in the field of general biology, genetics, ecology, botany, anatomy and zoology.

    The Unified State Exam in Geography lasts three hours and includes 29 tasks. Participants who choose this subject must be able to work with maps, understand the terms and understand geographical processes. A non-programmable calculator can be used for calculations. Maps and atlases cannot be brought to the exam. However, it is allowed to use reference materials that will be in the classroom.

    The next exams for eleventh-graders will be held on June 10 and 11. The students will take the Unified State Exam in computer science and the oral part in foreign languages. In total, more than 90 thousand people have registered for the Unified State Exam this year, including over 71 thousand graduates of the current year.

    The main period of the Unified State Exam will end on July 4. In accordance with the message of the President of Russia to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, additional days for the exam were approved. This year, eleventh-graders will be able to retake the Unified State Exam in one of the subjects on July 3 and 4. To register, you must use the service “Re-admission of GIA participants to take exams” in the section of the service catalog “Education” on mos.ru. The additional period of the Unified State Exam will take place from September 4 to 23.

    Preparation for the Unified State Exam

    The capital is creating all the conditions for the effective preparation of young Muscovites for the Unified State Exam. Since 2022, the Moscow Department of Education and Science has been organizing training work for children in the Unified State Exam format. The Center for Pedagogical Excellence also offers high-level training. Moscow schoolchildren can take online courses developed by the best teachers in the city; they are available in the library of the Moscow Electronic School (“MESH”).

    In the electronic diary “MESh” in the service “Exams” children can also watch video analysis of the Unified State Exam assignments, complete tests with automatic checking and access interactive applications. The service contains recommendations on filling out forms, videos with recommendations on time management and advice from psychologists on stress management and memory development.

    You can find out more about the state final certification in the capital on the website Regional Information Processing Center of the City of Moscow, and also by phone: 7 499 653-94-50.

    Conducting preparatory activities for the successful passing of the final essay and state exams by schoolchildren not only helps students achieve high results in tests, but also contributes to the development of children’s talents, the formation of skills that will be useful to them in their future profession, and corresponds to the objectives of the project “All the best for children” of the national project “Youth and Children”.

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

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

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

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

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

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

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

    Anatoly Garbuzov.

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

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

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Spectacular SUP regatta to take place at Moscow on the Wave. Fish Week festival

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    At the festival “Moscow is on the wave. Fish week”, which is carried out within the framework of the project “Summer in Moscow”, June 7 will see one of the most exciting events of the summer – a costumed SUP regatta. Guests are welcome at beach No. 3 in Serebryany Bor. A record number of participants – about a thousand people – will take to the water near the city’s favorite recreation spot. The total prize fund is one million rubles.

    Residents of the capital and tourists will enjoy a colorful water procession, in which Poseidons, mermaids, witches, crocodiles, astronauts, fairies and many other fantastic characters will take part. Each participant in the costumed SUP regatta will decorate their SUP board in accordance with the chosen image, turning the board into a real art object.

    Anyone can join the event. You will need a SUP board, a life jacket and a medical certificate from a therapist. Participation is free,pre-registration. Entry of cars into the territory of Serebryany Bor is prohibited.

    The route of the costumed SUP regatta will start at beach No. 3 in Serebryany Bor. This is a long coastal area with rich infrastructure for a full-fledged rest. There are sports and children’s playgrounds, cozy gazebos for picnics and even a swimming pool, which was reconstructed and opened in June 2024. Spectators will be able to comfortably sit on benches and sun loungers.

    The total length of the costumed regatta route is about five kilometers along the Moskva River. Participants will sail on decorated SUPs past beaches No. 4 and 5, enter Lake Bezdonnoye, go around Serebryany Bor Island and return back to the starting point, where the SUP regatta will end.

    Registration for individual numbers will open at 08:00. At 10:00, participants will take to the water, and at 11:00, the SUP regatta will begin. The awards ceremony will take place at 15:00.

    The authors of the most striking and unusual costumes will receive recognition from the audience, as well as cash prizes in five nominations: for the best male, female, children’s, team costumes and the most original outfit for a pet.

    Silver Forest It is no coincidence that it became the site of a costumed SUP regatta. This is a significant historical recreation area for Muscovites and tourists, which is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of people. The entire infrastructure is being updated and equipped for the new season. This year, guests will find even more picnic spots, sports grounds and landscaped areas near the water in the most picturesque natural landscapes of the capital.

    The costumed SUP regatta in Moscow is not only a celebration of sports and creativity, but also a platform for self-expression. Last year, more than 600 people took part in the event. First place in the costume contest was taken by Mikhail Ryutov, who transformed into a fisherman from Alexander Pushkin’s fairy tale about the Golden Fish. Second place was taken by Maxim and Darya Karakulov for their spectacular images of a rescuer and a traffic police inspector, and third place went to Leonid Varlamov – he captivated the jury and spectators with the image of a large green crocodile. A special prize was given to the participants who chose an original raft – a huge pizza – as a means of transportation on the water.

    All details about the festival “Moscow – on the wave. Fish week” – onwebsite.

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

    Until June 8, the capital is hosting the ninth festival “Moscow on the Wave. Fish Week”, organized as part of the “Moscow Seasons” cycle with the support of the city. This year, it is being held as part of the “Summer in Moscow” project and covers more than 30 sites in all districts of the capital. Leading fishing and fish processing companies from all over the country have brought the freshest delicacies to Moscow, and guests can expect a rich program with entertainment, master classes and sports events.

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

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/154752073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: The facades of the new polyclinic in Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo will be decorated with vertical pilasters

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A polyclinic for 750 visits per shift will be built on Letnaya Street in the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo district. The complex is designed in accordance with the Moscow standard, and the facades with smooth and ribbed panels will be complemented by a granite base and vertical pilasters. This was reported by the chief architect of Moscow, first deputy chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Urban Development (Moskomarkhitektura) Sergey Kuznetsov.

    The institution will consist of two buildings – a four-story children’s department and a five-story adult department. The total area of the facility will be 9.4 thousand square meters.

    “The composition of the facades is based on the use of horizontal protruding elements – cornices, superimposed on large vertical pilasters made of corrugated material. The top floor is highlighted by a high parapet with openings. Gray and light beige shades of ivory were chosen as the main color scheme,” said Sergey Kuznetsov.

    The building of the adult department will be located along Sportivnaya Aviatsii Street and will be comparable in scale to the Chkalov Arena sports complex located nearby. The children’s building is planned to have its main façade facing the planned intra-block boulevard. Both buildings will be located so as to comply with insolation standards, the windows of the offices will overlook the courtyard, and the entrance will be convenient for pedestrians.

    The area around the institution will be landscaped. Lawns will be laid and flowers will be planted on an area of about 1.7 thousand square meters.

    Moskomarkhitektura issued a certificate of architectural and urban planning solution for the project. It was completed by specialists from the Moscow Architectural and Artistic Design Institute named after Academician Polyansky.

    In 2024, investors were issued 73 permits for the construction of social facilities

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital in official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

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

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

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

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

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

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

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

    Maxim Liksutov.

    How to preserve capital

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How to invest savings

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

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

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

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

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

    Useful exhibitions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU and RUDN University held events to adapt foreign students

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On June 4, 2025, the State University of Management held a series of events aimed at ensuring the socio-cultural adaptation and integration of foreign students of higher education institutions.

    The programme of events was divided into two sections.

    The participants of the first section were foreign students of the preparatory department for foreign citizens from countries of Africa, Great Britain, China, Vietnam and Syria, who took part in the interactive training “Adaptation to the environment of a Russian university.

    Speaker Kevin Fabrice Yhombi, assistant of the Department of Russian Studies, Ethno-Oriented Pedagogy and Digital Didactics of the Russian Language Institute of RUDN University, spoke about the difficulties of adaptation and learning Russian for foreign students and shared effective practices for improving the language level. A presentation of the Telegram channel “Adventures of Foreigners in Russia” was also held for students.

    The event aroused genuine interest among the students. They had many stories of personal adaptation in Russia and questions for the speaker, whose knowledge of Russian aroused general admiration.

    The target audience of the second part of the event – teachers of the preparatory department for foreign citizens, employees of the International Cooperation Department, representatives of the Department of Youth Policy and Educational Work and the Student City – were presented with a presentation of the best practices in social and cultural adaptation of foreign students in Russian higher education institutions. The speaker was Maria Vladimirovna Alimova, Director of the Center for Assistance to Social and Cultural Adaptation and Intercultural Communication at RUDN. The main issues were: the importance of social and cultural adaptation for Russian universities, the impact of cultural differences on the educational process, information support and orientation events, and foreign student support centers.

    A round table on “Issues of social and cultural adaptation of foreign students” was also held for the staff of the State University of Management.

    In conclusion, those present thanked the speakers for their work and useful information, and wished the project further success.

    The event was organized by the State University of Management and the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman García’s Statement on Federal Agents Activity in Pilsen

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04)  issued the following statement about federal agents activity in his district: 

    “I have been in contact with Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez and local stakeholders to offer assistance and get more information about what happened yesterday in Pilsen, when federal agents took two Mexican nationals into custody. Local grassroots organizations responded to provide support, and they are trying to get more information about the two individuals. While we do not know if the agents  presented any warrants before detaining them, any apprehension without due process, including no warrants, is unfair and illegal. Chicago is a sanctuary city, and in Illinois, the Trust Act prohibits State or local law enforcement’s participation in federal immigration enforcement. My staff and I will continue in communication with advocacy organizations and local elected officials as this case develops.”

    # # #
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: First women’s health satellite to open

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The first of three Women Wellness Satellites (WWSs), located in Chai Wan, will begin operating on June 12, providing eligible women with prevention-based and more personalised primary healthcare services.

    The Government announced earlier this year that women’s health services under the Department of Health would be integrated into the Primary Health Care Commission, with three WWSs being established.

    The WWS (Hong Kong) is the first of the three satellites to start operating, and is located on 2/F, Chai Wan Health Centre, at 1 Hong Man Street.

    It will open six days a week, with a minimum eight-hour service most days. The satellite will operate until 8pm two days a week.

    Equipped with a health promotion and education room, doctor and nurse consultation rooms, and health assessment rooms, it spans a total floor area of about 380 sq m.

    The WWS (Kowloon), in Lam Tin, and the WWS (New Territories), in Tuen Mun, are both expected to begin operating in September.

    In the interim, the operator, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, will establish two transitional service points, in Yau Ma Tei and North Point, to facilitate delivery of women’s health services.

    The WWSs will provide health assessments, individual consultations, cervical and breast cancer screenings, and dedicated nurse clinic services to eligible women. When necessary, cases will be referred to family doctors for follow up.

    Eligible women will receive a partial subsidy from the Government, and will have to pay a designated co-payment fee.

    Women aged 64 or below who wish to use the services must first register as members of a District Health Centre (DHC) or District Health Centre Express (DHCE). As of June 1, over 680 women have received preliminary assessments through DHCs/DHCEs, with more than 600 arranging to receive services at the WWSs.

    Furthermore, DHCs/DHCEs will arrange for women who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients or are subject to full or partial medical fee waivers by the Hospital Authority, to receive preventive care and health promotion services at seven selected public clinics.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Intern Recruitment for Global Environmental Education Partnership — Asia-Pacific Regional Center (GEEPAPRC)

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    The Ministry of Environment, R.O.C. (Taiwan) will provide young people in the Asia-Pacific region with opportunities to serve as interns in the environmental education field, participate in environmental education promotion, and observe business management practices.
    This program aims at cultivating the capabilities of young people in the Asia-Pacific region to connect with international trends, getting to know the diverse cultures of various countries, understanding the responses to environmental issues of various countries, and establishing partnerships in the environmental education fields of various Asia-Pacific countries.
    Internship sites:
    1. Tzu Chi’s Environmental Education Site (Hualien County, Taipei City)
    2. Oceanic Hakka Leisure Agriculture Development Association (Taoyuan City)
    For more details : https://geepaprc.org/en

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

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

    Municipality Finance issues NOK 2 billion notes under its MTN programme

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

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

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

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

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

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

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

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

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

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

    Important Information

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, dear colleagues,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Underwriting Auction for sale of Government Securities for ₹32,000 crore on June 06, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Government of India has announced the sale (re-issue) of Government Securities, as detailed below, through auctions to be held on June 06, 2025 (Friday).

    As per the extant scheme of underwriting commitment notified on November 14, 2007, the amounts of Minimum Underwriting Commitment (MUC) and the minimum bidding commitment under Additional Competitive Underwriting (ACU) auction, applicable to each Primary Dealer (PD), are as under:

    (₹ crore)
    Security Notified Amount MUC amount per PD Minimum bidding commitment per PD under ACU auction
    6.92% GS 2039 16,000 381 381
    6.90% GS 2065 16,000 381 381

    The underwriting auction will be conducted through multiple price-based method on June 06, 2025 (Friday). PDs may submit their bids for ACU auction electronically through Core Banking Solution (E-Kuber) System between 10:30 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. on the day of underwriting auction.

    The underwriting commission will be credited to the current account of the respective PDs with RBI on the day of issue of securities.

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/481

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Ageas Re partners with Slovenian insurer Triglav Group in connection with the Motor insurance business distributed by Italian Insurtech Prima

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Ageas Re partners with Slovenian insurer Triglav Group in connection with the Motor insurance business distributed by Italian Insurtech Prima

    Today, Ageas Re, the reinsurance arm of Ageas Group, concluded a reinsurance agreement with Slovenian insurer Triglav Group in connection with the partnership entered into by Triglav Group with leading Italian direct Motor insurance distributor, Prima Assicurazioni S.p.A. (Prima), with the objective to expand its business portfolio and to contribute to the Ageas’s Elevate27 profitable growth ambitions.

    Under to the agreement, Ageas Re takes an 80% Quota Share on the Prima business underwritten by Triglav Group in 2025, commencing in the coming weeks.

    Prima is a rapidly growing, profitable insurance distributor that began distributing personal lines policies, mainly Motor, in 2015. Since then, it has become the number 1 in the Italian Direct Motor business. In 2024, the company generated EUR 1.3 billion gross written premiums, servicing over 4 million customers, and EUR 104 million Group EBITDA.

    This agreement is in perfect alignment with Ageas’s Elevate27 strategy to achieve profitable growth in an attractive European Non-Life market. The Italian Motor insurance market generates premiums in excess of EUR 15 billion, with consistent profitability. Through this partnership, Ageas Re teams up with a tech-driven, local champion, with proven track record, providing immediate market entry with considerable scale.

    Ageas Re anticipates inflows from this transaction in excess of EUR 500 million in 2025 and a Net Operating Result of around EUR 15 million, spread over 2025 and 2026. The impact on Group Solvency is estimated to be no more than -4 points in 2025.

    Hans De Cuyper, CEO of Ageas stated: The agreement with Triglav Group aligns well with many aspects of our newly launched strategy, Elevate27. This collaboration enables us to enter a promising European growth market in Non-Life insurance and achieve profitable growth through a partner with a strong market position.”

    Joachim Racz, CEO of Ageas Re continued: “I am pleased to announce this partnership. Along with the entire Ageas Re team, I look forward to establishing a successful collaboration, offering high-quality insurance products to the Italian customer distributed by Prima. We would also like to thank Howden Re for the excellent management of the process and transaction.”

    George Ottathycal, CEO of Prima said: “Prima Assicurazioni has experienced remarkable growth in the Italian motor insurance market, surpassing 4 million active customers in just ten years. This success is the result of our sophisticated and rigorous pricing and underwriting, outstanding user experience, and, most importantly, our carefully selected strategic partners who fully align with our cutting-edge, technology- and data-driven business model. Not only will the solidity and trust of the new partners Triglav Group and Ageas Re further expand our growth, but will also deliver significant value to our entire network of agents and brokers—and, above all, to our customers.”

    Andrej Slapar, President of the Management Board of Zavarovalnica Triglav, commented: “Our strategic ambition is to grow beyond existing markets and enhance Triglav Group’s international recognition. The Italian motor insurance market presents a strong opportunity to support this goal, and we are pleased to be working with well-established partners Prima and Ageas Re. The Triglav Group will continue to explore opportunities for further growth and for delivering on the other objectives set out in our strategy.”

    Ageas is a Belgian rooted listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.

    Prima Assicurazioni is an insurtech company operating as a specialized insurance agency in the automotive, home, and family sectors, serving over 4 million clients. It has revolutionized the Italian insurance market through innovation, technology, and a data-driven strategy. Thanks to unprecedented growth over its 10-year history, Prima’s evolving business model has enhanced the user experience, offering competitive pricing and fostering greater market competition. A leader in Italy’s online motor insurance sector, Prima also operates a nationwide network of agents. Since 2022, the company has expanded into the United Kingdom and Spain.

    For 125 years, the Triglav Group has earned the trust of clients and other stakeholders through its expertise, experience, and financial strength. It is the largest insurance-financial group in the Adria region and one of the leading groups in Southeast Europe. The Group operates in six countries, with broader international presence through insurance and reinsurance activities. Insurance and asset management are the two main pillars of its operations. The Group employs more than 5,000 people. Its mission is to create a safer future. The core values of the Group are responsiveness, simplicity, and reliability. Its vision is focused on strengthening its identity and recognition as an international insurance-financial group. Through sustainable operations, it provides a development-oriented environment for employees, maintains strong partnerships, and represents a stable, secure, and profitable investment for shareholders. The parent company of the Triglav Group is Zavarovalnica Triglav, a Prime Market issuer on the Ljubljana Stock Exchange.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    5 JUNE 2025 

    RICHEMONT PUBLISHES FY25 ANNUAL REPORT 
    AND NON-FINANCIAL REPORT

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

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

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

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

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

    About Richemont

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

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

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

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

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

    The MIL Network –

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

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • Indian delegation meets EU representatives in Belgium, conveys firm resolve against terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, held a series of high-level engagements in Brussels on Wednesday with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), emphasising India’s resolute stance against cross-border terrorism.

    The Indian MPs visited the European Parliament and engaged with MEPs, including from the Delegation for Relations with India, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), and the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE).

    The delegation briefed MEPs about the cross-border terrorism targeting India, including terror attack in Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor and India’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism.

    The discussions focused on enhancing India-EU strategic cooperation, particularly in the area of counter-terrorism, broader India-EU ties, high-level engagements and the deepening Parliamentary exchanges.

    The MEPs condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack, and supported India’s right to defend itself and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    The Indian Embassy Belgium & Luxembourg said, “Taking India’s strong message against terrorism to the world, members of All-Party Delegation met with Members of European Parliament (MEPs) and discussed combating terrorism, including cross-border terrorism, global peace, and deepening of India-EU ties.”

    “The EU side was briefed about the heinous Pahalgam terrorist attack and the calibrated and targeted response of India through Operation Sindoor, giving the message of zero tolerance to terrorism. MEPs expressed their solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack,” the embassy added.

    Earlier in the day, the delegation was briefed by Ambassador of India to EU, Belgium & Luxembourg Saurabh Kumar. The delegation also paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the Indian Embassy.

    Furthermore, the delegation interacted with members of the Indian diaspora, which expressed its deep solidarity with India’s strong and principled stance and zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.

    The delegation underscored the vital role of the diaspora in amplifying India’s voice on the global stage.

    The delegation also had a productive exchange of views with some of Brussels’ leading think-tanks and members of the strategic community.

    Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a post on X, “During our visit to Brussels, my colleagues from the all-party delegation and I engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the scourge of terrorism, particularly cross-border terrorism targeting India. We deliberated on India’s counter-terrorism initiatives, notably including Operation Sindoor, with prominent think tanks in the region. Our interaction underscored a unified and unambiguous stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism.”

    After concluding visits to France, Italy, Denmark, and the UK, the delegation is on a 3-day visit to Belgium.

    Apart from Prasad, the delegation includes BJP MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, Samik Bhattacharya, and Ghulam Ali Khatana; Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi; AIADMK MP M. Thambidurai; Congress MP Amar Singh; former Union Minister M.J. Akbar; and former Ambassador Pankaj Saran.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US vetoes UN Security Council draft resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

    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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 5 (Xinhua) — The United States on Wednesday vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the lifting of all restrictions on humanitarian aid.

    The draft resolution, submitted by the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council, received the support of 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council. The United States, which has veto power, voted against.

    The draft resolution called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups, as well as the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and its safe and unhindered distribution on a large scale. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –