Category: Middle East

MIL-OSI Security: Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended: International Conference on Emergency Preparedness and Response

Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

“This conference provides a unique platform to bring together stakeholders from across the EPR community to discuss best practices, future trends and new technologies to enhance emergency preparedness,” said Carlos Torres Vidal, Director of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre, which is organizing the event. “By fostering international cooperation and sharing insights, we aim to help countries bolster their emergency response capabilities in a rapidly changing world.”

“Saudi Arabia is privileged to host this significant conference, organized by the IAEA, as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness nationally, regionally, and globally. Over the years, we have worked closely with the IAEA to advance capabilities and foster international cooperation in this vital field,” said Khalid Aleissa, Chief Executive Officer of the NRRC.

“Through this conference, we aim to provide a platform for experts and decision-makers from all organizations involved in emergency response to collaborate, exchange insights, and shape the future of nuclear emergency preparedness and response, ensuring readiness for the challenges of an evolving world,” he added.

MIL Security OSI –

May 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) Egypt and the United Kingdom (UK) strengthen collaboration to support Palestinian patients in Egypt

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

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WHO Egypt has signed a new £1 million funding agreement with the UK Government to help provide high-quality medical care for patients who have been evacuated from Gaza to receive treatment in Egypt. The project aims to support around 4000 individuals, including trauma patients and those with chronic conditions.

The new funding complements an initial £1 million grant provided a few months ago, bringing the total UK contribution to £2 million.

Earlier this year, a high-level delegation from WHO Egypt and the British Embassy in Cairo visited El Arish General Hospital, a key referral hospital receiving patients from Gaza. During the visit, the delegation spoke with Palestinian patients receiving treatment, met with hospital staff and representatives from Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population, and assessed the hospital’s medical needs.

WHO Representative in Egypt Dr Nima Abid said: “Egypt has received the highest number of medical evacuees from Gaza and continues to provide them with specialized health care on par with Egyptian citizens across 170 hospitals in 24 governorates. We deeply value our longstanding partnership with the United Kingdom and welcome this additional £1 million in funding which will help us continue supporting the Ministry of Health and Population to ensure patients and the injured from Gaza receive the lifesaving care they need. Ultimately, peace is the best medicine. WHO reiterates its call for the protection of health in Gaza, the lifting of the aid blockade, and –above all – an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”

British Ambassador to Egypt Gareth Bayley said: “Egypt has played a crucial role in helping those most in need from Gaza, and the UK is proud to stand alongside our Egyptian partners and WHO in this lifesaving work. Whether it’s funding medical care in Egypt or supporting treatment for patients who have now arrived in the UK, our shared commitment is clear: to ensure the wounded and vulnerable get the care they urgently need.”

Since November 2023 Egypt has received and treated thousands of patients and wounded people from Gaza. Since the beginning of the crisis, WHO has worked closely with Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population and other partners to strengthen the country’s preparedness and response capacity. This support has included over US$ 8 million worth of medical supplies delivered to Egyptian hospitals and the training of nearly 3000 health workers across multiple governorates in emergency care and mental health and psychosocial support.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

MIL OSI Africa –

May 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Philly’s forgotten history as a hub of anarchism with a thriving radical Yiddish press

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Geoffrey Baym, Professor of Media Studies and Production, Temple University

The first edition of Bread and Freedom came out on Nov. 11, 1906. From the collection of the National Library of Israel, courtesy of Broyt un Frayheyt (Bread and Freedom)

On a late summer day in 1906, a small group of newly arrived Jewish immigrants in Philadelphia took a streetcar across town to Fairmount Park. Several miles from the cramped row houses and oppressive sweatshops of the immigrant quarter of South Philly, the neighborhood now known as Queen Village, they enjoyed a sunny picnic.

They weren’t there to make small talk, though.

Instead, they wanted to write “revolutionary articles” that would spark the “struggle against all that degrades and oppresses humanity,” as one of the leaders of the group, Joseph Cohen, later wrote in his 1945 memoir.

More specifically, the picnicgoers wanted to start a newspaper. It would be titled Broyt un Frayheyt – Yiddish for Bread and Freedom – the anarchist reminder that to live the good life, one needs both.

I’m a professor of media and politics at Temple University in Philadelphia. For the past year I’ve been tracking the life and times of my great-grandfather Max, a radical Yiddish journalist in the early years of the 20th century.

To my surprise, I found he had lived here in Philadelphia, and his story is part of a largely forgotten moment in U.S. history: when Philly was an epicenter of the national anarchist movement, heartily supported by the city’s burgeoning Jewish immigrant community.

Beyond the Russian pale

By 1906, thousands of people like Max had made their way to Philadelphia from the Russian “pale” – the only part of the Russian Empire where they could legally reside. They fled economic isolation and state-sanctioned persecution in search of a more stable life.

South Philly was better than where they had come from, but immigrant life then, as now, was by no means easy. They had escaped a legal regime of oppression and the perpetual threat of antisemitic mob violence. But in turn they found a world of dark alleys and dead ends. Their labor was exploited, their living conditions meager.

For some, the American promise of freedom and prosperity seemed to ring hollow.

They did, however, find one freedom they had not experienced before. They were able to speak, write and publish their ideas no matter how outlandish or against the grain.

And they could do so in Yiddish, the vernacular of daily life but a language of exile – one that in the old world had often been outlawed in print.

The Yiddish press in the United States was experiencing extraordinary growth at the time. In New York, Philadelphia and other cities, newspapers quickly emerged – and often disappeared – month over month.

Jewish anarchists in America

Max moved to Philadelphia in 1906 to work with another immigrant named Joseph Cohen. Cohen had arrived in Philadelphia three years earlier. He earned a scant living making cigars, but his real work was advocating anarchism.

At the dawn of the 20th century, anarchism was not the nihilistic chaos the term may bring to mind today. It was a heartfelt dream of a free and egalitarian society.

The anarchists believed that man-made hierarchies – political, economic and religious – were illegitimate and limited the full expression of humanity. They rejected the authority of the state. That particularly appealed to many Jewish immigrants, for whom laws in the old country had long served as vehicles of oppression.

Cohen had studied this philosophy of local autonomy and communal life with the Philadelphia activist Voltairine de Cleyre.

History may remember Emma Goldman, a Lithuanian-born New Yorker and perhaps the leading voice of American anarchism from that era. But de Cleyre was the heart and soul of Philadelphia’s anarchist scene.

Goldman once described de Cleyre as a “poet-rebel,” a “liberty-loving artist” and “the greatest woman anarchist of America.”

Voltairine de Cleyre in Philadelphia circa 1901.
Wikimedia Commons

A tireless critic of the inequities of the industrial age, de Cleyre had taught herself Yiddish to better serve as “the apostle of anarchism” in the Jewish ghetto.

While de Cleyre could often be found speaking in front of city hall, Max, Cohen and their colleagues were more likely to gather at the corner of Fifth and South streets, the hub of Philadelphia’s Yiddish press and its culture of rambunctious street debate.

By 1906, Cohen had co-founded the anarchist Radical Library in the upstairs rooms at 229 Pine St. This provided the Philadelphia anarchists a meeting space and reading room.

But “the Jewish newspaper men, the radicals and the tireless talkers,” as the Philadelphia historian Harry Boonin wrote, still congregated in the ramshackle cafes lining the 600 block of South Fifth, where they would argue over anarchism and atheism deep into the night.

Competition with NYC comrades

Cohen’s goal was to publish a nationally influential anarchist paper that would give voice to the “comrades from Philadelphia.”

That meant direct competition with the New York Yiddish press and the influential weekly newspaper Freie Arbeiter Stimme, or The Free Voice of Labor. Edited by Saul Yanovksy on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, FAS was the center of the Jewish anarchist movement and of the Yiddish intelligentsia more broadly.

“To be able to say ‘I have written for Yanovsky,’” wrote the sociologist Robert Park in 1922, “is a literary passport for a Yiddish writer.”

Freie Arbeiter Stimme (The Free Voice of Labor) was the intellectual center of the Jewish anarchist movement at the turn of the 20th century.
From the collection of the National Library of Israel, courtesy of Freie Arbeiter Stimme (The Free Voice of Labor)

Although the FAS masthead said the paper was located in New York and Philadelphia, Yanovksy controlled the operation from New York, much to Cohen’s dismay.

The Philadelphia anarchists were also routinely disappointed in Yanovsky’s politics. He was too moderate for their tastes. Yanovsky favored organizing labor and voting in elections, while the Bread and Freedom group, according to Cohen, wanted to cultivate “the militancy and fighting spirit which our young comrades brought with them from cold Russia.” They advocated for more aggressive measures to counter “the submissive indifference of the bourgeoisie and the slavish patience of the workers.”

Cohen had partnered with Yanovsky earlier in 1906 to publish a daily anarchist newspaper. He maintained a small office in the back of Finkler’s cigar store at Fifth and Bainbridge streets. But the paper was printed in New York and delivered back to Philadelphia each morning by courier train.

Cohen wrote in his memoir that he suspected Yanovsky intentionally sabotaged the effort by insisting that he personally write the daily editorial, but then turning in his copy too late for the paper to make the train. After two months the partnership, and the paper, fell apart.

For Cohen, the lesson was that to be the genuine voice of the anarchist movement, he had to print the paper locally in Philadelphia.

A digest of anarchist argument

Editions of the Bread and Freedom anarchist weekly list the Radical Library at 229 Pine St. as its headquarters.
From the collection of the National Library of Israel, courtesy of Bread and Freedom

Bread and Freedom published its first issue on Nov. 11, 1906. The date was symbolic. It was the anniversary of the execution of the “Chicago martyrs” – the four men wrongly sentenced to death for the 1886 bombing at a labor rally at Chicago’s Haymarket Square. The Haymarket affair galvanized the anarchist movement among immigrants, even as it accelerated the wider fear of foreign-born radicalism.

Over the next three months, the newspaper offered a weekly digest of anarchist arguments. It translated into Yiddish Voltairine de Cleyre’s critique of capitalism and what she called its “moral bankruptcy” – its hunger for wealth, power and material possessions. It attacked what de Cleyre called the “dominant idea” of the times – “the shameless, merciless” exploitation of the worker, “only to produce heaps and heaps of things – things ugly, things harmful, things useless, and at the best largely unnecessary.”

In the strongest of terms – “bombastic,” in the words of one local historian – the paper echoed de Cleyre’s call for the “restless, active, rebel souls” of immigrant Philadelphia to rise up to oppose the “great and lamentable error” of industrial capitalism.

Almost as soon as it began, however, Bread and Freedom ran out of money. Its rhetoric was exciting but ineffective. The paper offered no real solutions beyond an impossible demand to dismantle the capitalist state.

Although two members of the group were briefly detained by the police in Baltimore for selling a radical newspaper, their fiery propaganda lit no revolutionary spark.

Instead, it disappeared quietly, folding in January 1907.

Shifting tactics

Even then, a different kind of immigrant was arriving in the U.S. from Russia. Their radical politics were coupled with organizational acumen.

Many of the older anarchists would join forces with these newcomers, and the effort morphed into something more pragmatic. They helped build the foundations of the 20th-century labor movement, which successfully fought for once-radical ideals such as the eight-hour workday and paid sick leave.

Cohen moved to New York and took over as editor of FAS in 1923. That was a tense period for the Jewish left, following the Russian revolution of 1917 and the Communist rise to power. In response, the U.S. government suppressed domestic radicalism, arresting and at times deporting foreign-born leftists, and anarchism fell out of favor.

A few years earlier, though, the streets of South Philly had been home to a vibrant space of free speech and boundless political imagination. It would not last long, but it is a moment I believe is worth remembering.

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

– ref. Philly’s forgotten history as a hub of anarchism with a thriving radical Yiddish press – https://theconversation.com/phillys-forgotten-history-as-a-hub-of-anarchism-with-a-thriving-radical-yiddish-press-252869

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Teachers and librarians are among those least likely to die by suicide − public health researchers offer insights on what this means for other professions

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jordan Batchelor, Research Analyst at the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety, Arizona State University

One reason teachers have a low suicide rate may be that they find meaning in their jobs. Digital Vision/Getty Images

Where you work affects your risk of dying by suicide. For example, loggers, musicians and workers in the oil and gas industries have much higher rates of suicide than the rest of the population.

But on the flip side, some professions have very low rates of suicide. One of them is education. National and state data shows that educators in the U.S., including teachers, professors and librarians, are among the least likely to die by suicide.

We’re a team of researchers at the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety at Arizona State University. We manage Arizona’s Violent Death Reporting System, part of a surveillance system sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with counterparts in all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. We collect data on violent deaths, including suicide, thanks to agreements with local medical examiners and law enforcement.

When public health researchers like us look at suicide data, we often focus on high-risk populations to learn where intervention and prevention are most needed. But we can learn from low-risk populations such as educators too.

Why some professions have higher suicide rates

Over the past 25 years, the suicide rate in the U.S. has increased significantly.

The age-adjusted rate in 2022 was 14.2 suicides per 100,000 people, up from 10.9 a little over two decades earlier, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Epidemiologists often adjust data for age to allow for a fairer comparison of incidence rates across populations with different age distributions.

But not all populations are affected equally. For example, military veterans die by suicide at higher rates than civilians, as do men, older adults and American Indian and Alaska Natives, to name a few demographics. In 2022 the suicide rate for men, for instance, was 23 suicides per 100,000, versus 5.9 for women.

The rate of suicide among the working-age population is also growing. Over the past two decades it has increased by 33%, reaching a rate of 32 suicides per 100,000 for men and eight for women in 2021. And workers in certain occupations are at higher risk of dying by suicide than others.

The reasons why are complex and diverse. Workers in construction, an industry with some of the highest suicide rates, may face greater stigma getting help for mental health issues, while people in other fields such as law enforcement may be more exposed to traumatic experiences, which can harm their mental health.

In short, some explanations are directly tied to one’s work, such as having low job security, little autonomy or agency, and an imbalance of work efforts and rewards. Other factors are more indirect, such as an occupation’s demographic makeup or the type of personality that chooses a profession. Together, factors like these help explain the rate of suicide across occupations.

Teachers, professors and librarians

Educators, on the other hand, have relatively little suicide risk.

By educators, we mean workers classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as “educational instruction and library,” which includes teachers, tutors, professors, librarians and similar occupations.

Nationally, about 11 in 100,000 male educators died by suicide in 2021, with the figure for women being about half that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By contrast, the rate for male workers in arts, design, entertainment, sports and media was 44.5 suicides per 100,000, and the rate for male workers in construction and extraction was 65.6.

Data from our state of Arizona follows the same pattern. From 2016 through 2023, a total of 117 educators died by suicide, mostly primary and secondary school teachers. This works out to be an incidence rate of 7.3 suicides per 100,000 educators − one-third the rate for all Arizona workers and the lowest among all occupations in the state.

Why educators have a low suicide rate

So why are educators at such a low risk of suicide? After all, educational professions certainly present their own challenges. For example, many teachers experience high amounts of burnout, which can cause physical and mental health problems such as headaches, fatigue, anxiety and depression.

A good place to begin is the profession’s demographic composition. A disproportionately high share of educators are women or are married − traits associated with lower suicide rates. Educators also tend to have high educational attainment, which may indirectly protect against suicide by increasing socioeconomic status and employability.

Another factor is workplace environment. Workplaces that offer increased access to lethal means such as firearms and medications are associated with higher suicide rates. This helps explain why workers in law enforcement, medical professions and the military tend to show high rates. The comparatively low availability of lethal means in schools may help keep educators’ rates low.

In addition, educators’ workplaces, typically schools and campuses, offer rich opportunities to form strong social relationships, which improve one’s overall health and help workers cope with job stress. The unique, meaningful bonds many educators form with their students, administrators and fellow educators may offer support that enhances their mental health.

Finally, based on more contextual information in our Arizona database, we found that a lower proportion of educators who died by suicide had an alcohol or drug abuse problem. Alcohol or substance abuse problems can increase suicidal ideation and other work-related risk factors such as job insecurity and work-related injury. In short, educators may live a healthier lifestyle compared with some other workers.

Improving worker health

So, what can workers and employers in other professions learn from this, and how can we improve worker health?

One lesson is to develop skills to cope with job stress. All professions are capable of producing stress, which can negatively affect a person’s mental and physical health. Identifying the root cause of job stress and applying coping skills, such as positive thinking, meditation and goal-setting, can have beneficial effects.

Developing a social network at the workplace is also key. High-quality social relationships can improve health to a degree on par with quitting smoking. Social relationships provide tangible and intangible support and help establish one’s sense of purpose and identity. This applies outside the workplace, too. So promoting work-life balance is one way organizations can help their employees.

Organizations can also strive to foster a positive workplace culture. One aspect of such a culture is establishing a sense of meaning or purpose in the work. For educators, this feature may help offset some of the profession’s challenges. Other aspects include appreciating employees for their hard work, identifying and magnifying employee strengths, and not creating a toxic workplace.

It is worth noting that continued research on occupational health is important. In the context of educators, more research is needed to understand how risk differs between and within specific groups. Despite their overall low risk, no person or demographic is immune to suicide, and every suicide is preventable.

If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of crisis, the free and confidential 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available to call, text or chat.

This research was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention, who sponsor the Arizona Violent Death Reporting System data. The findings and conclusions of this research are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the CDC.

Charles Max Katz is affiliated with Arizona State University.This research was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention, who sponsor the Arizona Violent Death Reporting System data. The findings and conclusions of this research are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the CDC.

– ref. Teachers and librarians are among those least likely to die by suicide − public health researchers offer insights on what this means for other professions – https://theconversation.com/teachers-and-librarians-are-among-those-least-likely-to-die-by-suicide-public-health-researchers-offer-insights-on-what-this-means-for-other-professions-252795

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Press Release: Zion Oil & Gas Announces Gas to Surface Onshore in Israel During Initial Flowback

Source: Zion Oil and Gas

Headline: Press Release: Zion Oil & Gas Announces Gas to Surface Onshore in Israel During Initial Flowback

Press Release: Zion Oil & Gas Announces Gas to Surface Onshore in Israel During Initial Flowback

Targeted perforation zone and stimulation operations are successful.

DALLAS, Texas, and CAESAREA, Israel, May 5, 2025

Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (OTC: ZNOG) announces that initial flowback operations from its Megiddo-Jezreel #1 (MJ-01) well re-entry have resulted in gas reaching the surface onshore in Israel.

Perforation and stimulation operations were successfully completed, with gas observed at surface during early flowback.

The well is currently in the stimulation fluid recovery and cleaning phase. Zion is sourcing additional equipment for that to continue flowback testing and conduct volumetric analysis to evaluate reservoir characteristics.

These efforts are part of Zion’s ongoing plan to assess the well’s production potential.

About Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

Zion Oil & Gas, a U.S. public company traded on OTCQB: ZNOG, is dedicated to exploring for oil and gas onshore in Israel under its Megiddo Valleys License 434 which covers approximately 75,000 acres.

For more information, visit www.zionoil.com.

“But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever,
your renown endures through all generations.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.
The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.
Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD”

Psalm 102:12-18

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this communication that are not historical fact, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Zion’s operations or any disruptions thereto and the results therefrom, including timely testing and completion; timely availability, shipment, and receipt of necessary equipment and rig crews; Zion’s ability to discover and produce oil and/or gas in commercial quantities; Zion’s ability to continue as a going concern; operational risks in ongoing exploration efforts including timely resolution of supply and operational disruptions; regulatory approvals, including necessary and timely work visas for crews, needed for exploration within our license and the rig’s operation; the effect of the uncertainties and potential delays associated with wars and skirmishes between Israel, Hamas, and other organizations and/or countries, and liquidity for shareholders on the OTC market are forward-looking statements as defined in the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that are subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unpredictable factors, many of which are described in Zion’s periodic reports filed with the SEC and are beyond Zion’s control. These risks could cause Zion’s actual performance to differ materially from the results predicted by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A in Zion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in Zion’s filings with the SEC. Zion can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in these statements will prove to be correct and assumes no responsibility to update these statements.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: South Africa card payments to exceed $158 billion in 2025 amid digital surge and inclusion push, forecasts GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

South Africa card payments to exceed $158 billion in 2025 amid digital surge and inclusion push, forecasts GlobalData

Posted in Banking

The South African card payments market is on a solid growth trajectory, projected to reach ZAR2.9 trillion ($158.8 billion) in 2025. This momentum is driven by a growing shift toward digital payments, bolstered by enhanced financial inclusion, expanding payment infrastructure, and rising consumer preference for speed, safety, and convenience in everyday transactions, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s Payment Cards Analytics reveals that card payment value in South Africa registered a growth of 10.3% in 2024 to reach ZAR2.7 trillion ($149.4 billion). This growth is primarily fuelled by the rise in the consumer spending and wider acceptance of card payments among merchants.

Yasaswini Pujitha, Banking and Payments Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The South African payment landscape is evolving rapidly, supported by growing banking population, rising contactless payment adoption and developing payment infrastructure. The average frequency of payments per card stands at 118.1 times in 2024, which is higher compared to its peers such as Nigeria (51), Egypt (24.2), Morocco (10.9), and Kenya (5.3).”

Debit card payments held a significant share of the total card payments market in South Africa, accounting for 74% in total payment value in 2024. This is primarily driven by the expanding banking population and increasing use of debit cards for low-value, day-to-day payments. Meanwhile, digital banks and fintech companies such as Discovery Bank, TymeBank, and Bank Zero are offering innovative banking services, further increasing competition in the debit card space.

Credit and charge cards, on the other hand, held the remaining 26% share of card payments by value in 2024. The adoption and usage of these cards is driven by the associated value-added benefits offered by banks, such as cashback, reward points, discounts, and installment payment facilities. This growth is also supported by the rising middle class and a young, working population.

The rise of contactless payments is contributing to the overall card payments growth with banks and scheme providers increasingly promoting this technology. Both consumers and merchants are embracing the contactless technology in the country.

According to GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey*, 68.4% of the respondents in South Africa indicated having access to a contactless card and used it for payments.

Growing adoption of contactless card payments for transport services is also contributing to the expansion of card payment market. South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) is implementing the nationwide rollout of contactless payment systems at toll plazas.

Effective from 1 December 2024, magstripe card payments were phased out at certain toll gates, with a complete transition to contactless payments expected by 31 May 2025. This initiative is backed up by the financial institutions, along with payment scheme providers such as Visa and Mastercard.

Pujitha concludes: “South Africa’s payment card landscape is set for steady growth over the next five years, marked by increased adoption of payment cards amid a boarder digital transformation. The proliferation of digital banks, an increasing preference for contactless technology, and improving payment infrastructure are the key drivers for this growth. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% between 2025 and 2029 to reach ZAR3.8 trillion ($206.2 billion) in 2029.”

*GlobalData’s 2024 Financial Services Consumer Survey was carried out in Q2 2024. Approximately 67,292 respondents aged 18+ were surveyed across 41 countries.

MIL OSI Economics –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: US Monastir, Petro de Luanda and Kriol Star Advance to the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Playoffs in South Africa

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

DAKAR, Senegal, May 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

Anderson Correia got 16 points and five rebounds, Ivan Almeida added 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.BAL.NBA.com) debutant Kriol Star (Cape Verde) defeated the defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) 71-69 in overtime, booking their spot to the 2025 BAL Playoffs which will take place at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa from 6-14 June. NBA Academy Africa prospect Lewis Uvwo played 40 minutes and finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. The Star outrebounded Petro 52-43, but also finished with 28 turnovers.

Glofate Buiamba led Petro with 16 points, with Aboubacar Gakou adding 15 points and seven rebounds. With 3 wins and 3 losses, both teams qualified to the BAL Playoffs in Pretoria – Petro finished second and the Star finished third in the Sahara Conference.

In the second game this evening, Osiris Eldridge (22 points and four assists) and former NBA Academy Africa prospect Babacar Sane (13 points and 12 rebounds) led the 2022 BAL champion US Monastir (Tunisia) to a 77-68 win over ASC Ville de Dakar (Senegal). The win gave Monastir (4-2) the top place in the Sahara Conference and an automatic qualification to the playoffs. Monastir shot 43 percent from the floor and outrebounded Dakar 45-39. Will Perry led Dakar with 20 points and seven assists and Makhtar Gueye added 18 points as the host team concluded their 2025 BAL campaign.

More than 47,000 fans attended the Sahara Conference games at Dakar Arena in Senegal.

The 2025 BAL season will continue with the Nile Conference group phase which will be held from 17-25 May at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The Nile Conference will feature four teams: Made By Basketball (MBB, South Africa), Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya), Nairobi City Thunder (Kenya) and Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Basketball (APR, Rwanda). The top two teams from the Nile Conference and a team with a better record between FUS Rabat (Morocco, Kalahari Conference) and the team which will finish third in the Nile Conference will join Al Ittihad (Egypt), Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria), US Monastir, Petro de Luanda and Kriol Star in the 2025 BAL Playoffs in South Africa.

Postgame media availability:

Standings:

MIL OSI Africa –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Yemen’s Houthis Announce ‘Total Air Blockade’ of Israel

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

SANAA/JERUSALEM, May 5 (Xinhua) — Yemen’s Houthi group said Sunday it would continue to launch missile strikes on Israeli airports, especially Ben Gurion Airport, as part of its “total air blockade” of the country.

“We are declaring a comprehensive air blockade against the Israeli enemy in response to its decision to expand its aggression against Gaza,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari’a said in a statement broadcast by rebel-controlled al-Masirah TV.

“We will work to impose a blockade, repeatedly targeting airports, in particular Ben Gurion Airport,” he said, calling on international airlines to cancel all their flights scheduled to any Israeli airport.

Earlier on Sunday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for a rocket attack that hit an access road leading to the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel in the morning, leaving four people lightly injured.

The Israeli army said its air defense systems had attempted to intercept the missile but failed. It later issued a separate statement saying the likely cause of the air defense malfunction was a “technical problem” with the interceptor missile.

Following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a video warning to the Houthis, threatening to strike the group. He then wrote on the social media site X that Israel would take revenge on the Houthis in Yemen and their ally Iran. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Iran vows to retaliate if attacked, says ready to launch missiles

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

TEHRAN, May 5 (Xinhua) — Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh has warned that Iran will strike the interests, bases and troops of the United States and Israel “wherever they are and whenever it deems necessary” if either country starts a war against the Islamic Republic.

He made the remarks in an interview with Iran’s IRIB news agency published on Sunday, in response to a recent threat from US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who warned that Iran would “pay a price” for its “support for the Houthis.”

The Iranian minister noted that Iran has a large arsenal of missiles at its bases and will not hesitate to use them against regional targets if a war is forced on the country.

“If such a war is unleashed by the United States or Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran will strike their interests, bases and troops wherever they are and whenever it deems it necessary,” said A. Nasirzadeh.

He went on to criticize the “contradictory” behavior of the United States, which declares its openness to negotiations while at the same time threatening Iran through various channels.

A. Nasirzadeh said that Yemen is an independent country and makes its own decisions, advising the US to refrain from creating crises in the West Asian region. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: 60 years of international education: Polytechnic celebrated the anniversary of the preparatory faculty

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University celebrated the 60th anniversary of the preparatory faculty for foreign students. This event was not just an anniversary date, but a vivid demonstration of many years of successful experience and achievements in the field of international education.

The history of the faculty began in 1965, when the first 200 students from Cuba, Arab countries and Africa crossed the threshold of the classrooms at 21 Politekhnicheskaya Street. Under the leadership of Dean A. N. Nosov, a unique educational structure was created with three departments: Russian language, natural sciences and humanities. In 1988, the faculty found a new home – a modern building at 28 Grazhdansky Prospekt, which today remains a center of attraction for foreign students.

The special value of the preparatory faculty is its ability to adapt to the challenges of the time, while maintaining the best traditions. Today we see how graduates of the preparatory faculty become successful specialists all over the world, and many remain in Russia, contributing to the development of our economy and science. This is the best assessment of our work, – noted the Vice-Rector for International Affairs of SPbPU Dmitry Arsenyev.

Over six decades, the preparatory faculty has achieved impressive results in educational activities.

When I came to Russia, I knew only a few Russian words. But thanks to the unique teaching method, after a month and a half I could understand speech and participate in dialogues, recalls 2016 graduate Hanaa Itri from Morocco. Today, she successfully works at a large Russian university, continuing the traditions of intercultural communication.

The anniversary celebrations lasted two days. On the first day, an all-Russian scientific and methodological seminar was held, where representatives of leading Russian universities – Moscow State University, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Kazan Federal University, Tomsk and Volgograd Polytechnics – discussed current issues of teaching taking into account the ethnic factor.

On the second day, a festival of Russian language and culture was held, where students enthusiastically competed in linguistic contests, participated in master classes on folk crafts, and mastered the secrets of traditional Russian cuisine.

The culmination of the celebration was the gala concert in the White Hall “Day of the Russian Language”, in which more than 60 students from 30 countries participated. The staff and veterans of the Higher School received gratitude from the Committee for Science and Higher School of St. Petersburg and honorary certificates from SPbPU.

Preparatory faculty graduates shared their memories of their student years. One of them is the senior teacher of additional education at the Higher School of MOP Mukbil Mansur Hassan Muhammad from Yemen. After studying at the preparatory faculty, he graduated from the physics and metallurgy faculty and defended his PhD thesis at the Polytechnic University.

The Polytechnic Institute has become my home. I love my job and my students. My students are my friends. I know from my own experience how difficult it is to adapt to life in another country where everything is new: the climate, the cuisine, the language, the people. Creative events help students get to know the country and get to know each other better, – shared Mukbil Mansur Hassan Muhammad.

Foreign students performed Russian songs and dances at the concert. The numbers dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War were presented: the compositions “Katyusha”, “Wait for me”, “Yablochko” and “Siniy kerchief”.

The event was attended by students from Turkmenistan, China, Latin America and Africa, as well as from other parts of the world. Many students of the preparatory faculty have talents: they dance, sing, recite poems. Concerts and similar events help foreign children adapt to our culture. Creativity plays an important role in this process, – said Lyubov Stepanova, senior teacher of additional education at the Higher School of MOP and the organizer of the event.

Last year’s preparatory faculty graduates and current first-year students of the Institute of Historical and Cultural Studies Anzhi and Roz from Haiti also took part in the concert: Russia is a large, beautiful country with a rich culture and history. When we were choosing a university for study on the Internet, we really liked the Polytechnic, and were impressed by the opportunities for students. And our friends study here, and they told us a lot of good things. We like it here, the teachers are very helpful, for which we are very grateful to them.

60 years is not just a number. It is thousands of graduates, dozens of countries, hundreds of educational programs. But the main thing is the traditions of quality and innovation that we carefully preserve and develop, – summed up the director of the Higher School of International Educational Programs Viktor Krasnoshchyokov.

Today, the preparatory faculty of SPbPU is a modern educational center, where time-tested methods and innovative approaches are harmoniously combined. As a graduate from Indonesia, Desmarnov Tirto Pamangin, said: Here they not only give knowledge of the language, but also open the door to a new life. This is precisely the mission of the Higher School – to be a bridge between cultures and peoples.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: At least 20 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza – Civil Defense

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

GAZA, May 5 (Xinhua) — Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 20 Palestinians, including women and children, on Sunday, local authorities said, amid intensified ground and air operations, continued shelling and drone attacks on residential areas.

At least 11 people, including seven women and three children, were killed in an airstrike on a tent housing displaced families in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Yunis, Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza, told Xinhua. Four more people from the same family were killed earlier in the day in the same area.

In another area of Khan Yunis, a woman was killed and others were wounded as a result of shelling of a residential building in the Al-Amal area. Another strike on a tent near Abasan al-Kabira killed a young man and wounded several others, Basal said.

In central Gaza, one woman was killed and several people were wounded when a drone struck the home of the Abu Huwaishel family in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Northern Gaza was also hit, with one man killed, his wife and others wounded in a drone strike on Al-Nakheel Street in the At-Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City.

According to M. Basal, rescuers have recovered the body of another victim of the attack on the school in Beit Hanoun.

Eyewitnesses reported continued Israeli bombing and helicopter gunship attacks on residential buildings in both the northern and southern parts of the enclave. Artillery and air strikes also hit homes in the Shujaiya and At-Tuffah neighborhoods. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Solargik launches SOMA Pro, the next generation of its AI-powered platform for intelligent solar tracking, diagnostics, and control at Intersolar 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
- SOMA Pro is a fully integrated software and hardware system that delivers real-time visibility and full remote control.
- AI-driven optimization: Proprietary algorithms increase yield and proactively prevent losses.
- Ground-truth loss attribution: In-house model recovers up to 6% in lost energy by pinpointing exact performance gaps.
- End-to-end SCADA visibility: SOMA Pro unifies tracker behavior, site production, and inverter-level diagnostics.
Munich, May 5, 2025 (8:30 AM CET) – Solargik, a global pioneer in photovoltaic energy solutions headquartered in Jerusalem, today announced the launch of SOMA Pro, the next generation of its intelligent monitoring and control platform, at Intersolar 2025. SOMA Pro is the first tracker-native software system that fully integrates monitoring, diagnostics, and performance control – enabling operators to increase yield, reduce downtime, and unlock deeper insights into plant operations.

SOMA Pro, Solargik’s AI-powered platform, is built into the core of the company’s own tracker hardware, drawing on live-data from motion control, site-wide sensors, power meters, and inverter systems. Its integrated design breaks down silos common to third-party SCADA systems or bolt-on controls and provides operators with real-time visibility and full remote control over tracker positioning, energy flow, and site-wide performance. Optimized for complex terrains and light conditions, SOMA Pro allows precise management of energy production – whether remotely stowing the site or fine-tuning behavior at the single tracker level.

“With SOMA Pro, we’ve redefined how solar installations can be managed – especially in environments where traditional systems fall short,” said Gil Kroyzer, Solargik’s CEO. “By combining our lightweight tracker technology with an intelligent control system designed in-house, we offer a level of adaptability, insight, and flexibility that helps operators extract more value from every site.”

Integrated architecture for unmatched reliability

SOMA Pro is Solargik’s own proprietary SCADA platform that seamlessly integrates production monitoring, tracker configuration, and component diagnostics. This unified architecture reduces operational complexity, improves site stability, and eliminates the data blind spots that plague third-party monitoring tools.

AI-driven optimization: Proprietary loss attribution with actionable results

At the heart of SOMA Pro is Solargik’s in-house AI performance model, capable of identifying and quantifying energy loss down to specific rows or components. Leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, the platform achieves detection accuracy exceeding 95%, enabling operators to recover up to 6% in lost energy. Its predictive analytics support targeted maintenance and strengthen EPC contractor collaboration – protecting long-term asset value.

Real-time operational intelligence, not just monitoring

Learning from real site conditions, SOMA Pro continuously optimizes tracker positioning based on dynamic elements of the solar plant, such as irradiance, cloudiness, wind speed and topography. Through a cloud-based interface, operators gain full command of tracker tilt, stow modes (manual or automatic), and production status – from the entire site down to an individual tracker or inverter – enabling faster response to changing conditions and improved energy yield.

Intersolar launch and media availability

Solargik will officially debut SOMA Pro at Intersolar 2025. Journalists and analysts can schedule executive briefings and live demonstrations by contacting the Solargik media relations team or requesting a meeting here.

About Solargik

Solargik is a global leader in photovoltaic tracking and energy management, specializing in intelligent, terrain-adaptive solar systems that deliver strong performance in complex and constrained environments. Its lightweight, single-axis trackers are engineered for maximum efficiency on slopes up to 30% and in agrivoltaic applications. Powered by the proprietary SOMA Pro SCADA platform, Solargik provides integrated control, real-time diagnostics, predictive automation, and performance optimization. Field-proven across more than 100 projects globally, Solargik helps operators maximize output, reduce costs, and unlock the full potential of every site. Founded by solar industry veterans, Solargik is committed to advancing smarter, more adaptable solutions for the future of renewable energy.

www.solargik.com

HEAD OFFICES
48 Emek Refaim St.
Jerusalem 9314205
Israel

MEDIA RELATIONS — GLOBAL
Eliav Rodman
Solargik
eliavr@solargik.com

MEDIA RELATIONS — EUROPE
Giovanni Ca’ Zorzi
Cohesion Bureau
giovanni.cazorzi@cohesionbureau.com
+33 7 84 67 07 27

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The MIL Network –
May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Syrian asylum applications drop significantly, reflecting broader decreasing trend in the EU+

Source: European Asylum Support Office

In February 2025, Syrians lodged one of the smallest numbers of monthly applications in over a decade. As a result, having been the main recipient country for Syrian asylum-seekers, Germany was no longer the main destination for asylum seekers in the EU+. France and Spain each received more applications than Germany. In France, Haitians and Ukrainians together represented one fifth of all applicants, while Venezuelans dominated the asylum landscape in Spain.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) has just published the first monthly dataset for 2025, on asylum applications in the EU+. In February, EU+ countries received around 69 000 asylum applications, following a decreasing trend that has been ongoing since October 2024. The fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria has led to a significant change in the asylum landscape in the EU+. In February, Syrians lodged the fewest applications in over a decade (5 000), with their number decreasing by 70 %, compared to October 2024.

With Syrians, historically, having almost always been the nationality with the most applicants for international protection in the EU+, this change is notable for many reasons, among them the fact that Germany was not the main receiving EU+ country in February 2025. The sharp decrease in Syrian applications has also impacted several of the EUAA’s first instance asylum indicators.

The latest asylum figures show how important stability in other regions is for Europe. This is strongly reflected in the declining trend in asylum applications from Syrian nationals in the EU in the first quarter. With the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the new returns regulation, we are bringing our European House in order. Together with Member States, we need to step up our cooperation with partner countries to address migration well beyond our borders.

Magnus Brunner European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

These figures show a changing asylum landscape in Europe, with several months of fewer applicants seeking protection, and also shifts in their profiles, nationalities and destination countries. At the same time, both the EU Institutions and the Agency are working on making Europe’s asylum systems more streamlined and effective, ensuring that protection is provided in a timely manner to those in genuine need.

Nina Gregori Executive Director

Changing trends in citizenships and key receiving EU+ countries

For more than a decade, Germany (12 780) has almost always been the largest recipient of asylum applications in the EU+. However, in February 2025, that was no longer the case, and the country received 40% fewer applications compared to February 2024. France (13 081) and Spain (12 976) both received more applications than Germany, with figures that were relatively stable in the past 12 months. Italy (11 405) also received a significant number of applications, despite a declining trend. Taken together, applications in these four receiving countries represented almost three quarters of all applications lodged in the EU+.

In February 2025, Venezuelans (8 500) were the largest applicant group. Though Venezuelans have long been among the 5 biggest applicant groups in the EU+, mostly applying in Spain due to a well-established diaspora, the recent increase in applications since October 2024 may be linked to the ongoing economic and political crisis in the country, as well as increasingly restrictive asylum policies in the United States of America.

Recognition rate at the lowest level since COVID-19

Over the past two years, the EU+ recognition rate, which reflects the percentage of asylum applicants that receive decisions granting either refugee status or subsidiary protection, has fluctuated around 40% at first instance. In January and February 2025, the monthly EU+ recognition rate fell to 25 %, the lowest level since the first months of COVID-19 in 2020.

A significant contributor to this change was the number of asylum decisions issued to Syrians in January and February 2025, which dropped to around 1 600 in both months. In addition, the EU+ recognition rate for Syrians stood at just 14 %, down from around 90 % in previous months. The reasons for these significant changes are two-fold. Firstly, many EU+ countries have temporarily paused the processing of Syrian asylum claims, pending greater clarity on the security and political situation in Syria. Secondly, many Syrians have begun to withdraw their asylum applications. In some EU+ countries, a withdrawn application results in a negative decision, thus reducing the overall EU+ recognition rate.

More generally, the Agency’s data show that there were around 964 000 asylum applications pending at first instance at the end of February 2025. Together with Syrians (113 000), Venezuelans (100 000) and Colombians (89 000) were awaiting the most first instance decisions. In February, some 52 % of applications were lodged by citizenships for whom the EU+ recognition rates stood at 20 % or less, in 2024. Citizenships in this group included Bangladeshis (4 %), Columbians (5 %), Egyptians (4 %), and Moroccans (4 %).

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Iran Revises Port Blast Death toll to 57

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

TEHRAN, May 5 (Xinhua) — Iran on Sunday revised down the death toll from a powerful blast at its main commercial port late last month, dropping the death toll to 57 from 70. Two suspects have been detained.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing Hormozgan provincial chief judge Mojtaba Karemani, reported that the updated toll from the April 26 blast at Shahid Rajaee port included 46 bodies found and identified and 11 people still missing.

M. Kareman explained that the number of victims decreased after forensic examination established that some body parts collected separately belonged to the same people. A special task force was created to search for the missing, he added.

State television reported on Sunday that two people, including a government official, had been detained.

The explosion and subsequent fire left more than 1,200 people injured, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. Search and rescue operations at the scene ended on Sunday.

Authorities have pointed to safety violations that led to the incident. A statement from the provincial crisis management office cited a failure to comply with safety and passive defense measures, while Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni last Monday cited “a certain amount of negligence.”

The Shahid Rajaee Port, located in the southern province of Hormozgan, is Iran’s largest maritime hub, handling the vast majority of container traffic and more than half of the country’s trade. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Israel begins mass call-up of reservists to expand Gaza offensive – IDF Chief of Staff

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

Xinhua | 05. 05. 2025

Keywords: offensive expansion,reservists call-up,chief of general staff,idf,urgent,begins,israel,gaza,offensive expansion,reservists call-up notices,eyal zamir,gaza strip,tens of thousands,chief,of israel,declared

JERUSALEM, May 4 (Xinhua) — Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir said Sunday that “tens of thousands” of draft notices have been issued to reservists to expand the offensive in the Gaza Strip. –0–

Source: Xinhua

Breaking: Israel begins mass call-up of reservists to expand Gaza offensive – IDF Chief of Staff Breaking: Israel begins mass call-up of reservists to expand Gaza offensive – IDF Chief of Staff

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Israeli army calls up tens of thousands of reservists to expand Gaza offensive

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

JERUSALEM, May 4 (Xinhua) — Israel’s military has begun issuing “tens of thousands” of draft notices to reservists to expand its offensive in the Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Sunday during a visit to a naval base, vowing to step up pressure on the Palestinian Hamas movement to free hostages.

“This week we are issuing tens of thousands of draft notices to our reservists to strengthen and expand operations in Gaza,” said E. Zamir. “We are increasing the pressure to bring our hostages home and defeat Hamas.”

He added that as part of the expanded offensive, the army would operate in “additional territories” of the enclave and destroy “all military infrastructure.”

E. Zamir said that reservists will also be sent to other areas, including the northern border with Lebanon and Syria, as well as the occupied West Bank.

Earlier over the weekend, Israeli forces struck more than 100 targets in the Gaza Strip, including militant cells, underground infrastructure and military camps, the IDF said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partners have vowed to continue the war until Hamas is completely defeated, despite growing pressure from the Israeli public for a ceasefire to free the 59 hostages Israel says are still being held in the Gaza Strip.

In March, Israel ended a two-month truce with Hamas and resumed air and ground fighting. More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive began in October 2023, according to Gaza health authorities. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Wang Liqin has big shoes to fill as Chinese table tennis chief

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

Wang Liqin has stepped into one of the most challenging roles in sports as the new head of Chinese table tennis – just three days after Brazil’s Hugo Calderano stunned the world by winning the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Cup in Macao – a rare feat in a sport long dominated by China. His appointment also comes less than a month before the World Championships begin in Qatar.

Wang replaces 49-year-old Liu Guoliang, who resigned on April 23 after a legendary career as a player, coach and administrator. Wang, 46, faces the task of maintaining China’s dominance in a sport where international challengers are gaining ground.

“It is a tremendous responsibility to take over as president of the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA),” said Wang, a two-time Olympic gold medalist whose second gold came under Liu’s coaching. “I feel both excited and anxious.”

Since retiring from competition in 2014, Wang has risen steadily through the ranks as a sports official in Shanghai. He credits much of his success to Liu.

“It was coach Liu who guided me to fulfill my dreams as an athlete,” Wang said. “Since becoming a sports official, I’ve always sought his advice. He holds the key to Chinese dominance in this game.”

Acknowledging that Liu is irreplaceable, Wang said his top priority is preparation.

“The immediate task is the World Championships in Doha, and the long-term goal is the Los Angeles Olympics,” he said.

Calderano, who became the first Brazilian and Pan-American player to win the World Cup last month, now leads the global challenge to China. China, meanwhile, is sending a young team to Doha – one without reigning Olympic champions Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, and Chen Meng.

Wang has been overseeing a 15-day closed-door training camp for the team at the Chengdu Table Tennis School – the same training ground where China began its gold-medal sweep at the Paris Olympics.

Lin Shidong and Wang Chuqin, China’s top two men’s players, both fell to Calderano in the World Cup and are now looking for redemption. On the women’s side, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu continue to lead a squad considered stronger than the rest of the field.

“The Doha worlds will be Wang Liqin’s first test,” said CCTV commentator Li Wujun. “Any missteps or near misses will be blamed on poor timing of the leadership transition.”

Liu cited a desire for a smooth transition and more time with family as reasons for stepping down. “I resigned at the right time to give the new CTTA leadership a full cycle to prepare for the LA Games,” he said.

However, Chinese social media has questioned whether Liu’s international responsibilities – as vice president of the ITTF and chair of the World Table Tennis board – conflicted with his role as CTTA president. Others pointed to increasing “toxic fandom” under his tenure.

One of the most controversial moments came during the all-Chinese women’s final at the Paris Olympics, when Chen Meng was booed and attacked online while Sun Yingsha was vocally supported both in the arena and on social media.

Chinese table tennis received a boost on April 9, when the International Olympic Committee added a mixed team event to the 2028 Olympics. The IOC also replaced the men’s and women’s team events with men’s and women’s doubles, bringing the total number of events at LA28 to six.

“It’s great news for the table tennis world,” said Wang. “But the reshuffling of the LA table tennis program means we’ll need new strategies for six events.”

On the day of Wang’s election, Liu patted him on the arm and said half-jokingly, “We swept the board in Paris. Now it’s your turn.”

MIL OSI China News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport, Israel vows strong response

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

Yemen’s Houthi group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel in the morning.

“We targeted Ben Gurion Airport, using a hypersonic ballistic missile that successfully hit its target,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired live on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

“American and Israeli defense systems failed to intercept the missile,” he said.

Sarea warned international airlines against sending flights to the Israeli airport, declaring it “no longer safe for air navigation.”

In the statement, Sarea noted the group also launched a drone attack Saturday night aimed at a “vital target” in the city of Ashkelon, southern Israel.

He stressed that the Houthi group would launch more attacks against Israel until “the war against the Gaza Strip stops, and the humanitarian aid is allowed back into the Palestinian enclave.”

On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said on the social media platform X that sirens sounded across central Israel after a projectile was fired from Yemen. The attack prompted millions of residents to flee to shelters and safe rooms in the morning hours.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported that a man sustained moderate-to-light injuries in his limbs during the incident, while two women and another man suffered light injuries.

According to a video released by the Israeli police, the explosion caused by the Houthi missile left a crater measuring several meters in depth and width in the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport. Israel’s Airports Authority said takeoffs and landings were suspended for about an hour before operations resumed.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to retaliate strongly shortly after the attack, warning in a statement, “Whoever strikes us will be struck sevenfold,” without elaborating.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene a security assessment meeting to discuss the attack, his office said.

Senior security officials told Israel’s state-owned Kan TV News that following the Houthi strike near Tel Aviv, Israel intends to respond with force, adding that Israel had refrained from attacking the Houthis at the request of its ally, the United States, which has been leading intense airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-March. “After the strike on Ben Gurion Airport, we no longer consider ourselves under any limitations,” an unnamed Israeli official said.

Yemen has conducted a series of missile and drone launches toward Israel over the weekend, most of them intercepted. However, Israeli and American missile defense systems failed to intercept the missile fired at Ben Gurion, the busiest airport in the country.

Several international airlines canceled or diverted flights following the incident. Air Europa, SWISS, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, and Brussels Airlines have canceled all inbound and outbound flights to and from Israel.

The Houthis have intensified missile and drone launches toward Israel in recent weeks, amid renewed U.S. airstrikes on their positions in Yemen.

The Houthi forces, who control much of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israel since November 2023 in what they describe as an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the war in Gaza. The group has repeatedly said it would halt its attacks if the U.S. hostilities cease and Israel ends its military campaign and blockade against Gaza.

MIL OSI China News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Xi Jinping: A visionary architect of world peace and development

Source: China State Council Information Office

Chinese President Xi Jinping watches the military parade during the commemoration activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

In the stately Conference Building at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, a 65-inch-tall resplendent bronze vessel gleams under soft light, its cloisonne enamel blazing in vibrant Chinese red.

The “Zun of Peace,” presented by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2015 as a special gift for the United Nations’ 70th anniversary, is not merely a delicate artifact. It embodies the aspiration and conviction of the Chinese people to seek peace, development, cooperation and win-win outcomes, Xi said at its unveiling.

A decade later, as the top Chinese leader travels to Moscow to celebrate the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War, his presence both carries the weight of history and reaffirms a vision of the future.

Leading a nation always aspiring for peace and harmony in its long history and further strengthened by its battles against militarism, imperialism and fascism in its recent past, Xi commands a unique insight into the value of peace, and has steadfastly championed the building of a peaceful world, a cause of great urgency given the tensions and conflicts on the global landscape today.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) attends a presentation ceremony on which the Chinese government gives the “Zun of Peace” to the United Nations as a gift in New York, the United States, Sept. 27, 2015. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

ASPIRATION FOR PEACE

Xi sees history as a mirror from which humanity should draw lessons to avoid repeating past calamities.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in what is commonly known in China as the World Anti-Fascist War or, more globally, as World War II. Almost every part of the world was involved, and more than 100 million were killed or wounded in what was described as the most destructive conflict in human history.

The bravery and tremendous sacrifice of the Chinese people played a decisive role in defeating Fascist Japan and offered strategic support to the Allies on the European and Pacific battlefields.

“History has told us to stay on high alert against war, which, like a demon and nightmare, would bring disaster and pain to the people,” Xi once said. “History has also told us to preserve peace with great care, as peace, like air and sunshine, is hardly noticed when people are benefiting from it, but none of us can live without it.”

This historical observation features prominently in Xi’s unrelenting pursuit of peace. He has repeatedly reiterated China’s commitment to peaceful development, pledging that China will never seek hegemony, expansion or any sphere of influence, no matter how strong it may grow.

During a 2014 visit to France, Xi reshaped Napoleon’s metaphor of China as a “sleeping lion” that would shake the world upon awakening. “Now China the lion has awakened. But it is a peaceful, amicable and civilized lion,” Xi said when illustrating the peaceful dimension of the Chinese Dream.

Xi’s philosophy stems from the millennia-old Chinese culture. An avid reader of traditional Chinese classics, he once expounded how ancient Chinese wisdom views war and peace by quoting “The Art of War,” a Chinese classic written more than 2,000 years ago.

The book’s key message “is that every effort should be made to prevent a war and great caution must be exercised when it comes to fighting a war,” Xi said when delivering a keynote speech in the UN Office at Geneva in 2017.

Xi’s view on prudence in warfare is also reflected in his exchanges with foreign leaders and officials.

“It has long been known that the real experts on military affairs do not want to employ military means to solve issues,” he quoted a Chinese aphorism when meeting with then U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Beijing in 2018.

Chinese President Xi Jinping straightens the ribbon on a flower basket during a ceremony to present flower baskets to fallen heroes at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

A clear manifestation of Xi’s reflection is to cherish history and honor heroes. “A nation of hope cannot be without heroes,” Xi once said. Every year since 2014, Xi has paid tribute to China’s fallen heroes on Martyrs’ Day, which falls on Sept. 30, a day ahead of the country’s National Day.

In 2015, when China celebrated the 70th anniversary of its victory in World War II, Xi presented medals to Chinese veterans and representatives from Russia and other countries who assisted Chinese soldiers on the battlefields.

Nikolai Chuikov, the grandson of Soviet General Marshal Vasily Chuikov, was among those who received a peace medal from Xi. “Of all the honors I have won, I hold the highest regard for the peace medal,” he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, front) shakes hands with a Russian veteran in Moscow, Russia, on May 8, 2015. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

TORCH OF MULTILATERALISM

Under Xi’s leadership, China has adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, played an active role in UN peacekeeping missions, and solidified its friendships and partnerships with countries worldwide.

As hegemonism and protectionism once again rear their ugly heads, the world is gripped by an increasingly intricate array of challenges and uncertainties. In Xi’s eyes, the only way out is to practice true multilateralism. He once compared multilateralism to a torch that can light up humanity’s way forward.

The Chinese president has consistently urged the international community to safeguard the UN-centered international system forged in the aftermath of World War II and anchored by international law.

“We must promote multilateralism, the core essence of which is that international affairs should be decided through consultation among all countries, rather than by one country or a few countries,” he said.

This photo taken on Jan. 2, 2025 shows the 46th fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy during a counter-terrorism and anti-piracy exercise.The fleet traveled over 160,000 nautical miles during its 339-day voyage, escorting ships during missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. (Xinhua/Zhang Dayu)

Xi, a staunch champion of true multilateralism, has guided China over the years in taking a proactive and constructive role in addressing regional and global hot-button issues.

To end the Ukraine crisis at an early date, Xi has put forward a four-point proposal, emphasizing that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected; the purposes and principles of the UN Charter observed; the legitimate security concerns of all countries given due regard; and all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis supported.

Under Xi’s leadership, China has conducted shuttle diplomacy and mediation efforts to promote peace talks and initiated the “Friends of Peace” group with Brazil and other Global South countries on the Ukraine crisis at the United Nations.

Regarding the Middle East, the Chinese president has promoted peace and stability in the volatile region. With China’s mediation, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed in March 2023 to restore diplomatic relations after a seven-year hiatus. In the lead-up to the negotiations, Xi talked separately with the leaders of both countries.

During a phone call with Xi soon after the breakthrough was achieved, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud applauded China’s increasingly important and constructive role in regional and international affairs.

In face of the gathering gloom of conflict on the horizon, Xi has championed a transformative approach to collective security. In May 2014, he articulated a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security for Asia. Eight years later, he presented the Global Security Initiative to the world.

“We, as humanity, are living in an indivisible security community,” he said, advocating dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win outcomes over zero-sum approaches.

“GOLDEN KEY” OF DEVELOPMENT

Lasting world peace remains one of humanity’s greatest aspirations. For Xi, peace and development are inseparable. He once observed that the tree of peace does not grow on barren land, and the fruit of development is not produced amid flames of war.

In view of the interlocked relations, Xi insists that the “golden key” to a secure and stable future is to advance sustainable development.

Since assuming China’s presidency, Xi has positioned development as a pillar of his vision of building a better future for humankind. The initiatives he has proposed in this regard, notably the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, serve as bridges to foster common development through broader collaboration.

China has provided development aid to over 160 countries, and Belt and Road cooperation has involved more than 150 countries. Under the Global Development Initiative, China has mobilized nearly 20 billion U.S. dollars of development funds and launched more than 1,100 projects, fueling growth and modernization drives in many countries, particularly developing ones.

An aerial drone photo taken on March 4, 2024 shows trains running on the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line in Lagos, Nigeria. Undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in July 2010 and completed in Dec. 2022, the first phase of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit Blue Line corridor spans 13 km and covers five stations. (Xinhua/Han Xu)

“China is sharing its development experience with other countries through its development initiatives, which have helped to promote common development,” said Straton Habyarimana, a Rwandan economic analyst.

“Since these initiatives are people-centered, they address key challenges such as food insecurity and poverty” and have helped ease tensions among countries, he added.

UPDATE OF WORLD ORDER

Nestled by the Huangpu River in Shanghai, the New Development Bank was founded by five BRICS countries in 2014 to provide financing support for member countries to bolster transport infrastructure, clean energy and digital infrastructure.

When Xi visited the bank a few days ago, he saw more than a mere financial institution. He described it as a “pioneering initiative for the unity and self-improvement of the Global South,” underscoring an enduring commitment to building a more just and equitable international order.

This aerial photo taken on June 17, 2022 shows the headquarters building of the New Development Bank in east China’s Shanghai. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

BRICS countries stand at the forefront of the Global South. Xi has personally pushed for the BRICS’ historic expansion in 2023 to create stronger unity among the Global South. The expansion, he said, would further strengthen the forces for world peace and development.

Developing countries remain underrepresented in the global governance system, which the West has long dominated. China maintains that only when the rise of emerging markets and developing countries is reflected in the global governance system will global development be more balanced and global peace more firmly based.

During the 2022 Group of 20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia, Xi vocally supported the African Union in joining the leading multilateral mechanism, making China the earliest and most vocal champion for amplifying Africa’s voice in global governance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping walks to the venue of the 17th summit of the Group of 20 in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

In recent years, Xi has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative as key global public goods to create a more just and equitable global governance system.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who received the “Zun of Peace” from the Chinese president on behalf of the United Nations 10 years ago, said China’s initiatives to promote global peace and development are inseparable from Xi’s foresight.

“China is playing an increasingly important role on the world stage, and Xi has demonstrated proactive and crucial leadership,” Ban said. “He always believes that China can only do well when the world is doing well, and when China does well, the world will get even better.”

In Xi’s own words, “every increase of China’s strength is an increase of the prospects of world peace.”

MIL OSI China News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 5, 2025

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 5, 2025.

Trump’s push on deep sea mining leaves Nauru’s commercial ambitions ‘out in cold’
By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Nauru’s ambition to commercially mine the seabed is likely at risk following President Donald Trump’s executive order last month aimed at fast-tracking ocean mining, anti-deep sea mining advocates warn. The order also increases instability in the Pacific region because it effectively circumvents long-standing international sea laws and processes

A ‘Trump slump’ has lifted the left in Canada and now Australia – what are the lessons for NZ?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Teaching Fellow in Politics and International Relations, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Trying to capitalise on the electoral success of US President Donald Trump, now that his policies are having real-world effects, is proving to be a big mistake for conservative leaders. Australian voters

What is a ‘smart city’ and why should we care? It’s not just a buzzword
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne guitar photographer/Shutterstock More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities and this share is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050. It’s no wonder “smart cities” have

We talk a lot about being ‘resilient’. But what does it actually mean?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter McEvoy, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Curtin University Kinga Howard/Unsplash In a world with political polarisation, war, extreme weather events and increasing costs of living, we need to be able to cope as individuals and communities. Our capacity to cope with very real stressors in our lives

Newly discovered tropical oyster reefs are thriving across northern Australia – they deserve protection
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Richardson, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University Marina Richardson Oysters are so much more than a seafood delicacy. They’re ecosystem engineers, capable of building remarkably complex reefs. These structures act as the kidneys of the sea, cleaning the water and keeping the coast healthy, while

New deal for journalism – RSF’s 11 steps to ‘reconstruct’ global media
Australia (ranked 29th) and New Zealand (ranked 16th) are cited as positive examples by Reporters Without Borders in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index of commitment to public media development aid, showing support through regional media development such as in the Pacific Islands. Reporters Without Borders The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without

Blaming Donald Trump for conservative losses in both Canada and Australia is being too kind to Peter Dutton
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Smith, Associate Professor in American Politics and Foreign Policy, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney Australia’s federal election, held less than a week after Canada’s, has produced a shockingly similar outcome. Commentators all over the world have pointed out the parallels. In both countries, centre-left governments

In its soul-searching, the Coalition should examine its relationship with the media
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Ricketson, Professor of Communication, Deakin University Among the many lessons to be learnt by the Liberal-National Coalition parties from the election is that they should stop getting into bed with News Corporation Australia. Why would a political party outsource its policy platform and strategy to people

Second-term Albanese will face policy pressure, devastated Liberals have only bad options
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra On February 1, on The Conversation’s podcast, Anthony Albanese not only declared that Labor would retain majority government, but held out the prospect it could win the Victorian Liberal seats of Menzies and Deakin. This was when the polls were

Election flops – a night to forget for minor parties on the left and the right
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maxine Newlands, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow, Cairns Institute, James Cook University Minor parties were all the rage at the last election when, along with independent candidates, they secured almost a third of votes. But they have

‘Dead weight comes to mind’ when thinking about Gazan parents and genocide
World Media Freedom Day reflections of a protester Yesterday, World Media Freedom Day, we marched to Television New Zealand in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to deliver a letter asking them to do better. Their coverage [of Palestine] has been biased at its best, silent at its worst. I truly believe that if our media outlets reported

Independents will not help form government – but they will be vital in holding it to account
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Visitor, School of History, Australian National University When the newspapers delivered their standard election-eve editorials, there were few surprises. Former Fairfax papers and smaller outlets offered qualified support for Labor, while the News Corp papers unashamedly championed the Coalition. In Adelaide, The Advertiser ran a

State of the states: 6 experts on how the election unfolded across the country
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Clune, Honorary Associate, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney While counting continues nationally, the federal election result is definitive: a pro-Labor landslide and an opposition leader voted out. But beyond the headline results, how did Australians in the key seats in each state vote, and

ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for May 4, 2025
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on May 4, 2025.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Amplifies Global Leadership and Community Impact with Strong Presence at TOKEN2049 Dubai

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has wrapped up an impactful and illuminating week at TOKEN2049. As a Gold Sponsor, Bitget marked its presence through headline participation, strategic dialogue, and community-focused activations, engaging with key industry leaders, partners, and thousands of attendees from around the world.

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, delivered a keynote address on Day One of the conference, highlighting how the exchange has continued to scale in a challenging economic environment. She pointed to the strong performance of Bitget’s native token, BGB, which has seen significant growth in both market cap and user adoption in 2025. Her remarks focused on how Bitget continues to operate with agility in volatile conditions, translating uncertainty into momentum and using market shifts as a springboard for innovation. The session offered attendees practical insight into Bitget’s approach to sustained scaling in a fast-evolving space.

At the Bitget booth, multiple KOLs, affiliates and partners of Bitget showed up to provide support, along with UCLA Professor Alex Nascimento’s Book on Blockchain and STOs mentioning Bitget’s growth being featured for exclusive signing.

Bitget also hosted Cryptoverse Dream Night on April 30, an invite-only side event presented in collaboration with 1inch and backed by Morph. The event brought together over 400 attendees from across the ecosystem for an evening of curated experiences, live entertainment, and high-value networking.

Following the conclusion of TOKEN2049, Bitget CEO Gracy Chen participated in the Hack Seasons Conference 2025 in Dubai. During the Exchanges Panel, she joined industry leaders to discuss the evolving landscape of digital asset trading platforms. Gracy shared insights into Bitget’s strategic initiatives, emphasizing the integration of centralized and decentralized finance, and the company’s commitment to advancing Web3 infrastructure. Her contributions highlighted Bitget’s role in shaping the future of the crypto industry and fostering innovation in the digital economy.

“Our involvement in Token2049 was not just about visibility,” said Gracy. “It was about being where the real conversations are happening — with builders, users, and investors who are shaping the direction of the crypto ecosystem. Events like this are essential to turning ideas into action.”

Bitget’s TOKEN2049 presence follows a series of milestones in 2025, including a 20% increase in total user base to over 120 million users, a spot trading volume surge of 159% QoQ to $387 billion and its inclusion in Forbes’ Top Trusted Crypto Exchange list. As Bitget continues to expand its global footprint and advance its vision for the future of crypto, it remains focused on delivering accessible, secure, and user-driven solutions that meet the evolving needs of traders and the broader Web3 community.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49fedce9-c33a-47e3-8fb5-69e28f4b2374
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/128b25bd-5b17-4d2c-ab16-4f2c77a4337b
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d653aaa6-3e4d-4f91-aa27-fa92648999ed
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea0a19bd-7a95-459f-bf1a-bdc20fcfd4a2
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/18a37dc7-ef60-4a73-acf2-a111f121562a
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2093e01c-1a83-4334-8f2b-8b8ca58333bf

The MIL Network –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese peacekeepers to Lebanon help South Korean counterparts neutralize expired high explosive ammunition
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
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MIL OSI China News –
May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: Journalists in Gaza Suffer Tragic Consequences of War | United Nations

Source: United Nations (Video News)

Our UN News correspondent in Gaza spoke with Palestinian journalists, documenting the risks and personal traumas they face reporting from the war-torn enclave.

Since the war began following the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel an increasing number of journalists have been killed or injured in Gaza as a humanitarian crisis has engulfed the enclave.

Marked annually on 3 May, World Press Freedom Day focuses on the role of media to highlight accountability, justice, equality, and human rights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uLip6pcmmA

MIL OSI Video –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Rise of India’s Indigenous Sports to the Global Stage” — A Call to Celebrate and Globalize India’s Sporting Heritage, at WAVES 2025

Source: Government of India

“Rise of India’s Indigenous Sports to the Global Stage” — A Call to Celebrate and Globalize India’s Sporting Heritage, at WAVES 2025

Indigenous games are not just physical contests, but an integral part of our communities, traditions and identity: Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi

Khelo India initiative is a transformative force in nurturing grassroots talent and shaping the future of Indian sports: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

Posted On: 04 MAY 2025 2:50PM by PIB Mumbai

Mumbai | 4 May 2025

In a spirited and insightful panel discussion held yesterday at WAVES, Mumbai, the spotlight was turned on the rich heritage of Indigenous Sports and their growing journey from Indian heartlands to global arenas. The session, titled “Indigenous Sports: From India to the Global Stage”, witnessed the convergence of influential policymakers, celebrated athletes, sports entrepreneurs, and thought leaders united in a shared vision: to catapult India’s native games to international recognition and success.

Delivering the keynote address, Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, passionately highlighted the deep cultural roots of indigenous sports in India. “These games are not just physical contests; they are an integral part of our communities, our traditions, and our identity,” he said, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership towards making India a global sports powerhouse. Shri Majhi further highlighted that Odisha, home to vibrant tribal communities has preserved these ancient games and is emerging as a sports hub. “We are committed to nurturing rural talents and ensuring every gifted athlete finds a platform to shine”, he stated.

Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the WAVES platform for fostering a meaningful dialogue around this significant movement. “India has already emerged as a global ambassador of Yoga. Now, we are proudly showcasing our traditional games like Kho-Kho and Kabaddi on the international stage. The Khelo India initiative is proving to be a transformative force in nurturing grassroots talent and shaping the future of Indian sports,” she remarked. She further emphasized that sports not only promote physical well-being but also strengthen relationships and foster unity—reflecting the very essence of India’s rich cultural heritage.

Anupam Goswami, League Commissioner, Pro Kabaddi League, emphasized India’s vast potential as a sports market. “We must harness this opportunity by promoting indigenous sports, which hold immense emotional and cultural value”, he added.

Fazel Atrachali, iconic PKL athlete from Iran, shared how Kabaddi has transformed lives. “Thanks to PKL, Kabaddi has become a professional sport, giving players fame and financial security”, flagged an elated Fazel.

Nic Coward, Regulatory Chairperson, English Cricket Board, stressed the importance of globalization and modern distribution channels. “To popularize traditional sports worldwide, we must embrace digital platforms, including e-sports”, he flagged.

Sudhanshu Mittal, President of the Kho-Kho Federation, revealed that Kho-Kho is now played in 55 countries, with a target to reach over 90 nations by year’s end. “Our indigenous games are unique—requiring more strategy, stamina, and spirit. They hold immense global appeal. But they need government backing, branding, and diplomatic support”, he asserted.

Yannick Colaco, Founder of Fancode, pointed to technology as a game-changer. “Access and engagement are key. With the right tech, we can create deeper fan connections and take Indian sports global”, he added.

The session was moderated by Mantra Mugdh, who masterfully navigated the discussion, weaving together diverse insights and forward-looking strategies.

PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith | Lekshmipriya | Swadhin | CShekhar |175

(Release ID: 2126741) Visitor Counter : 60

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: President Trump Highlights Victories for Americans, Sets Path For Next 100 Days

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
President Donald J. Trump, in an exclusive interview on Meet the Press, outlined the historic successes of his first 100 days — and charted the course for many more victories to come. President Trump sent a clear message: he will not relent in his mandate to secure our borders, rid our country of dangerous criminals, lower prices, end the globalist trade policies that have ripped off American workers and businesses for decades, and Make America Great Again.
Here are the top moments you missed:
On prices: “Prices are down on groceries. Prices are down for oil. Prices are down for all energy. Prices are down at tremendous numbers for gasoline.”
On securing the border: “It’s really secure. When you say that, doesn’t it just sound good after being abused for years by an incompetent President?”
On protecting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security: “We’re not cutting Medicaid, we’re not cutting Medicare, and we’re not cutting Social Security.”
On deporting violent criminal illegal immigrants: “We have thousands of people … some of the worst, most dangerous on earth — and I was elected to get them the hell out of here, and the courts are holding me from doing it.”
On tariffs: “Remember — there are no tariffs if you build your product here. It’s very easy. It’s very simple.”
On the auto industry: “What about the car business? They’re going to make a fortune because of the tariffs. The head of the union, who was no fan of mine … He’s saying, ‘Wow, what Trump’s done for the automobile, I can’t believe it … We’ve been waiting 40 years for somebody to do what Trump is doing.’”
On Iran: “I want Iran to be really successful, really great, really fantastic. The only thing they can’t have is a nuclear weapon … The Iranian people are incredible, I just don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon because the world will be destroyed.”
On DOGE: “They found $160 billion worth of fraud, waste, and abuse. I think he’s done an amazing job. I think his people have done an incredible job … We’re not finished yet … He’s leaving behind some very brilliant people.”
On the border emergency: “The big emergency right now is that we have thousands of people that we want to take out — and we have some judges that want everybody to go to court … We have millions of people. We’re going to have millions of court cases?”
On trade: “We’re making a lot of money. We’re doing great. Again, we were losing more than $5 billion a day … We’re going to be at a point soon where we’re making money every day.”
On peace in Ukraine: “I do believe we’re closer with one party and maybe not as close with the other … We’re talking tremendous hatred between these two men.”
On China tariffs: “At some point I’m going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them — and they want to do business very much. Their economy is really doing badly. Their economy is collapsing.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister’s open letter to veterans ahead of VE Day
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Prime Minister’s open letter to veterans ahead of VE Day

An open letter from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to veterans ahead of VE Day celebrations.

In an open letter to veterans, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

To our veterans,

As we approach the VE Day anniversary, I want to salute your ongoing dedication to keeping our country safe.

This week, we celebrate the greatest victory our armed forces ever secured. And like so many families across the country, my relatives served and fought in the Second World War. Therefore, it is the highest honour of my role to meet veterans of that conflict. I think of people like Stanley Fisher and Mervyn Kersch, two Jewish veterans of the Normandy landings, who went on to become eyewitnesses to the horrors of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp in the early days of its liberation by British forces. Their stories – and countless others we will hear this week – are a reminder that our victory was not just for Britain. It was also a victory for good against the assembled forces of hatred, tyranny and evil. VE Day is a chance to acknowledge, again, that our debt to those who achieved it can never fully be repaid.

Yet as the nation falls silent on Thursday, I know that my mind will also turn to those who carry the torch of their legacy in our armed forces today – people like you. As time marches on, we all have a responsibility to renew the bonds of our history so that future generations inherit our national story as their own. But alongside our history and our values, service is the other great force that binds a nation together. So this week, I want you to know: the whole nation is inspired by the selfless dedication of your example. It is not just that you keep us all safe. It is also that you represent the best of who we are. A living link of service that unites the values we must stand for in the present, with the stories we must pass down from our past.

Furthermore, I know that this is not without sacrifice. I will always remember the conversation I had with a sub-mariner in Faslane, who brought home exactly what over 200 days a year underwater means for the simple things most families take for granted. Missing birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. Not being there in the photographs. From the Carrier Strike Group at sea, to our postings in Estonia, Cyprus and here in the UK, every service man and woman I have met has had a version of this story. And I recognise that this too is a debt that can never fully be repaid. But this week, the country will show you just how thankful we all are. Because we know, that without your service, the freedom, peace and joy that these celebrations embody, would not be possible.

So, wherever you are, wherever you serve, have a wonderful VE Day. And on behalf of a proud and grateful nation: thank you for your service.

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Published 4 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 5, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Newly discovered tropical oyster reefs are thriving across northern Australia – they deserve protection

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Richardson, Research Fellow in Marine Science, Griffith University

Marina Richardson

Oysters are so much more than a seafood delicacy. They’re ecosystem engineers, capable of building remarkably complex reefs. These structures act as the kidneys of the sea, cleaning the water and keeping the coast healthy, while providing homes for millions of other animals.

Oyster reefs were once thought to be restricted to southern, cooler coastal waters where they’re the temperate equivalent of tropical coral reefs. But now, oyster reefs are being found right across Australia’s tropical north as well.

These tropical oyster reefs are bigger and more widespread than anyone expected. In fact, they are some of the largest known intertidal oyster reefs (exposed at low tide) left in Australia. And they’re everywhere – from the southern limit of the Queensland tropics across to the northern coast of Western Australia – yet we know almost nothing about them.

In our recent research, my colleagues and I completed the first detailed study of Australian tropical oyster reefs. These reefs are so new to science that until now, the species responsible for building them remained a mystery.

Using DNA, we identified the main reef-building oyster species in tropical Australia as “Saccostrea Lineage B”, making it a new addition to our national list of known reef-builders.

Lineage B is a close relative of the commercially important Sydney rock oyster (Saccostrea glomerata), but so little is known about this tropical reef-building species that it is yet to be assigned a scientific name.

The Saccostrea Lineage B oysters we found in Australia’s tropical north are related to Sydney rock oysters.
Marina Richardson

Hiding in plain sight

So why are we only learning about tropical oyster reefs now?

Across the globe, oyster reefs have been decimated by human activity. These reefs declined in most tropical regions long ago, even as far back as 1,000 years ago. Most oyster reefs disappeared without a trace before scientists even knew they were there.

However, Australia’s tropical oyster reefs haven’t just survived, in some cases they have thrived.

Despite being delicious to many, the species we now know as Lineage B was not very attractive to the aquaculture industry, due to its small size. And while oyster reefs near Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne were dredged and burned to produce lime for mortar, used in the early construction of roads and buildings, this practice was not widespread in tropical regions. This lack of commercial interest is probably the reason why tropical oyster reefs have persisted unnoticed for so long in northern Australia.

Here the tropical oyster reefs were found growing on a combination of both rock and muddy sediment.
Marina Richardson

What we did and what we found

We assessed three tropical oyster reefs in Queensland, Australia. At Wilson Beach, near Proserpine and Turkey Beach, near Gladstone, reefs were surveyed in late winter 2022. The reef at Mapoon in the Gulf of Carpentaria was surveyed in early spring 2023.

Using drone footage, we measured reef area and structure. We then collected oysters for genetic analysis.

Oysters are notoriously difficult to identify, because their shape, size and colour varies so much. Oysters from the same species can look completely different, while oysters from different species can look identical. That’s why it’s necessary to extract DNA.

We found almost all reef-building oysters across the three locations were Saccostrea Lineage B.

At Gladstone reefs, several other reef-building species were also present, including leaf oysters, pearl oysters and hairy mussels.

We compared three tropical oyster reefs in Queensland.
Richardson, M., et al (2025) Marine Environmental Research

An ecosystem worthy of protection

In southern Australia, oyster reefs are critically endangered. But we don’t really know how threatened their tropical counterparts are, although there is some evidence of decline. Further research is underway.

A new project has begun to map oyster reefs across tropical Australia. Since the project launched in June 2024, more than 60 new reefs have been found across Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia – including some as large as 5 hectares.

These unexpected discoveries provide a beacon of hope in a world currently overwhelmed by habitat decline and ecological collapse. But tropical oyster reefs are not yet protected. It’s crucial we include them in assessments of threatened ecosystems, to understand how much trouble they’re in and what we can do to protect them into the future.

By locating and understanding these overlooked ecosystems, we can ensure they’re not left behind in the global oyster reef restoration movement.

Scientists and others involved in reef restoration are now inviting everyday people across Australia to get involved as citizen scientists in The Great Shellfish Hunt. Anyone can upload tropical oyster reef sightings to this mapping project. It’s more important than ever to work together and ensure tropical oyster reefs receive the protection they deserve, so they continue to thrive for generations to come.

Marina Richardson currently receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) and the Queensland Government Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

– ref. Newly discovered tropical oyster reefs are thriving across northern Australia – they deserve protection – https://theconversation.com/newly-discovered-tropical-oyster-reefs-are-thriving-across-northern-australia-they-deserve-protection-254612

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SCHNEIDER STATEMENT ON NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)

WASHINGTON – Rep. Brad Schneider, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim National Security Advisor, in addition to his existing duties:

“Americans depend on our Commander in Chief to ensure that our national security – and the safety of our troops and citizens around the world – is a top priority. It is astounding that the President appears to not take our national security seriously by diminishing the roles of the National Security Advisor and the Secretary of State into part-time positions.

“The President was right to fire Mike Waltz as National Security Advisor, but adding his responsibilities to Marco Rubio’s already heavy load as Secretary of State demonstrates a blatant disregard for the scale and seriousness of the global crises we face. There is a war in Ukraine, a genocide in Darfur, and a brewing conflict in Kashmir. American Edan Alexander is one of 59 hostages still held by Hamas, a year and a half after Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

“The job of the National Security Advisor is more than a full-time job. The same is true for the Secretary of State. No serious leader would believe one person can manage both – let alone amid multiple international emergencies.

“I wish we had a President that took his role as Commander in Chief seriously and chose people for their expertise rather than blind loyalty.”

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MIL OSI USA News –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Yale scholars’ move to Canada can prompt us to reflect on the rule of law

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jeffrey B. Meyers, Instructor, Legal Studies and Criminology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

In the most non-controversial and basic sense, the rule of law means formal legality. The law binds citizens and governments. When it comes to nation states, law is enacted by democratically elected legislatures; legal statutes are openly available and sufficiently clear to follow. State actions can be judicially reviewed for compliance with a constitution.

In its more ambitious conceptualization, the rule of law can also be understood to include substantive human rights and equity. In Canada, The Constitution Act of 1982 references the rule of law in its preamble.

The modern Canadian iteration of the rule of law — which includes substantive ideas about human rights as well as Indigenous treaty rights — is based on liberal ideas shared by many countries, including, historically, the United States. What distinguishes a rule-of-law state from an authoritarian one to a large extent is whether state actions can be judicially reviewed for compliance with a constitution.

Although rule of law scholars debate the parameters of the concept of the rule of law, few would debate that what is happening during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term presents anything other than a wholesale attack on the rule of law both domestically in the U.S and internationally.

I am a rule of law researcher, educator and lawyer. Since Trump was elected to his first term in 2016, I’ve relied on American scholars, from a variety of disciplines, to understand what is happening.

These include two prominent Yale professors, philosopher Jason Stanley and historian Timothy Snynder, both of whom have recently announced they’re moving to the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.

Authoritarian impulse

In their scholarship, Stanley and Snyder have sought to explain the authoritarian impulses of the first Trump administration and how to resist it.

Stanley’s father, a German Jew who fled Germany for America in 1939, carries the remembrance of fascism.

Both Stanley and Snyder explore the similarities between what is occurring in Trump’s America, Viktor Orban’s Hungary, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Xi Jinping’s China and, equally chillingly, between Trump’s America and Adolf Hitler’s Germany. Even prior to the first Trump presidency, Stanley already asked in his 2015 book, How Propoganda Works, whether the U.S., “the world’s oldest liberal democracy,” might already have become a liberal democracy “in name only?”

Read more:
Why the radical right has turned to the teachings of an Italian Marxist thinker

Examination of propaganda, rhetoric

In his 2018 book, The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America, Snyder described Trump as a “sado-populist, whose policies were designed to hurt the most vulnerable people of his own electorate.”

Stanley’s focus on propaganda and rhetoric were especially useful for framing the politics of Trump.

Similarly, Snyder’s focus on the similarities between Trump and other authoritarian leaders, through their attachment to extreme illiberal ideologies, helped frame public discourse in the U.S. during the first Trump presidency. “Illiberal” does not imply conservative in opposition to “being liberal” (with the resonance of “leftist”); rather, it denotes a repudiation of liberal democracy, in the words of political scientist Thomas J. Main.

Both Stanley and Snyder are on the public record explaining their decision to immigrate to Canada, on the basis that they can no longer continue their scholarly activities in an American university, even a premier one like Yale.

Jason Stanley speaks with Amanpour and Company.

Improper interference

This is an admission by important thinkers that civil society, intellectuals and critical scholars, in particular, are under assault.

It comes as no surprise given other developments. Trump’s executive orders, threats to some university funding and crackdowns on activists and academics — as well as the attempted deportations of those without U.S. citizenship — have used the idea of combatting campus antisemitism as cover for an attack on free expression, academic independence and student activism.

From my perspective as a Jewish person, a post-secondary teacher and as someone with a legal education, all of these developments have hit hard, especially alongside accounts of some of America’s most prestigious law firms caving to improper interference by the Trump administration.

What ‘fascism’ means

In the introduction to his bestselling 2020 book, How Fascism Works, Stanley wrote: “In recent years, multiple countries across the world have been overtaken by a certain kind of far-right nationalism; the list includes Russia, Hungary, Poland, India, Turkey and the United States.”

He explains the choice of the word “fascism” to speak about each of these countries, despite their differences of degree and context:

“I have chosen the label ‘fascism’ for ultra nationalism of some variety (ethnic, religious, cultural), with the nation represented in the person of an authoritarian leader who speaks on its behalf. As Donald Trump declared in his Republican National Convention speech in July 2016, ‘I am your voice.’”

In his similarly bestselling book, On Tyranny, published in 2017, Snyder wrote: “To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is not basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.”

Now that Trump is back in office, Stanley and Snyder, as well as Snyder’s Yale colleague and spouse, Marie Shore, the celebrated author of The Ukrainian Night, are leaving Yale for Canada with good reason.

Author Timothy Snyder speaks about Democracy and the Risk of Tyranny with Public Policy Forum.

Shared mutual concern

While the departure of a handful of prominent academics is hardly a trend, it raises questions about whether there will be an accelerated academic “brain drain”, or more American students in Canada.

As a Canadian, I would like to say America’s loss is our gain, and I wish these scholars well. I am also aware that narratives of flight to Canada as refuge have historically bolstered national myths while obscuring Canadian inequities. My hope is that Canadians will not observe the arrival of U.S. scholars with smugness, but instead with shared concern.

We should not be blind to this unique moment in which Canada is called to revisit why we care about Canada and keep watch on the rule of law. Yet, we must also recognize our own profound historical blind spots.

For example, while an overt threat to sovereignty is new for some Canadians, it is nothing new for Canada’s Indigenous Peoples. Today it’s important to understand the distinctively Canadian importance of Indigenous law to any reaffirmation of the rule of law tradition in Canada in the 21st century.

Read more:
Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief is ‘prisoner of conscience’ after failure of Delgamuukw ruling 25 years ago

Too much cynicism might prevent us from acknowledging the importance of these three scholars’ decisions to leave their country and come to ours at this particular time in history. However, my hope is also that we are also inspired by their considerable truth-telling skills to demand Canada also do better.

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

– ref. Yale scholars’ move to Canada can prompt us to reflect on the rule of law – https://theconversation.com/yale-scholars-move-to-canada-can-prompt-us-to-reflect-on-the-rule-of-law-254434

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 5, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: CBB Organizes Workshop on “Legal Professionals Account Opening Guidance”

Source: Central Bank of Bahrain

CBB Organizes Workshop on “Legal Professionals Account Opening Guidance”

Published on 4 May 2025

Manama, Bahrain – 04 May 2025 – In line with the newly introduced requirements by the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) hosted a workshop to discuss the “Legal Professionals Account Opening Guidance” paper issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The session focused on showcasing the process retail banks are expected to follow when opening accounts for lawyers or law firms.

Under the updated requirements, legal professionals must have dedicated bank accounts for client payments, which may only be opened upon receiving a no-objection certificate from the Ministry. The letter must also include relevant Know Your Client (KYC) information, aligning the process with established compliance and transparency standards.

The workshop was attended by nearly 60 representatives from the CBB, the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, and various retail banks. The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Nawaf Ahmed Bubshait, Director of the Compliance Directorate at CBB, followed by Mr. Salman Al-Ameri, General Registrar at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf. The CBB’s Compliance team followed with a detailed presentation and opened the floor to questions posed by the participants.

On the occasion, Mr. Nawaf Ahmed Bubshait said: “The CBB remains committed to strengthening its cooperation with the relevant entities and maintaining open channels of communication with public and private sector organizations. We aim to support our licensees as they navigate evolving developments in money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing. The publication of our guidance paper for legal professionals stems from our proactive approach to ensuring financial institutions are aligned with the relevant international compliance standards.”

For his part, Mr. Salman Al-Ameri remarked: “Through this joint workshop, the Ministry is pleased to collaborate with the CBB to support the implementation of the new regulatory framework. These guidelines represent a significant milestone towards enhancing oversight and accountability in the banking sector, and we commend the Bank’s efforts in ensuring the implementation of these standards.”

The CBB continues to issue guidance papers and hosts workshops, seminars, and roundtable discussions on an annual basis to keep licensees informed about ongoing regulatory developments and supervisory expectations.

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MIL OSI Global Banks –

May 4, 2025