NewzIntel.com

Category: Eurozone

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SFO charges global aircraft parts supplier with fraud offence

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    SFO charges global aircraft parts supplier with fraud offence

    Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala is charged with fraudulent trading as part of an SFO investigation into a company that sold parts for aircraft engines.

    The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has today charged Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala with fraudulent trading as part of its investigation into a company that sold airline parts for the passenger and cargo aircraft engines, the CF56 and CF6. 

    Zamora Yrala, the company director, is accused of operating UK-based AOG Technics for a fraudulent purpose. The company’s customers included airlines, maintenance providers and parts suppliers. 

    From 2019 to 2023 the company allegedly defrauded customers by falsifying documentation that related to the origin, status or condition of aircraft parts. 

    Planes in the UK and elsewhere around the world were grounded in 2023 after the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued safety alerts to airlines that may have bought or installed AOG’s parts. 

    Soon after, the SFO launched an investigation, later agreeing to conduct a joint investigation with Portuguese authorities into the supply of suspected fraudulent safety certification and parts. The Portuguese investigation is ongoing and last week authorities searched ten locations across Portugal and made three arrests with SFO officers in attendance.  

    Zamora Yrala will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday 2 June 2025. 

    Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), said: 

    Planes were grounded, and significant disruption was caused, today’s charges are the outcome of a focussed and fast paced investigation.

    I’m proud that we’ve acted swiftly, together with our Europeans partners, to bring this important case to charge in just 19 months.

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate bombing of Ukrainian civilians ‘crazy’? It’s more a sign of impatience

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mark Edele, Hansen Professor in History and Deputy Dean, The University of Melbourne

    United States President Donald Trump was “not happy” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, this week.

    For three consecutive nights, from Friday to Sunday, Russia launched about 900 drones and scores of missiles at Ukraine. At least 18 people were killed, including three children.

    “We’re in the middle of talking and he’s shooting rockets into Kyiv and other cities,” Trump told reporters on Sunday, after Putin ordered the largest air assault on Ukraine’s civilians in its three-year war.

    Following up on his remarks, Trump posted on social media that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!”

    Putin is not crazy. He is a tactician with a long-term goal: to make Russia a great power again and secure his place in the history books as the re-builder of Russia’s imperial might.

    Trump announced after a phone call with Putin on May 19 that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately start negotiations” towards a ceasefire.

    With his latest air campaign on Ukraine, however, Putin is threatening to destroy the goodwill he’s built up in Washington, where Trump has been consistently soft on Russia and tough on his allies.

    So, what is Putin’s strategy? Why is he launching these massive air bombardments on Ukrainian civilians now?

    Putin sees weakness in the West

    One theory is these attacks are somehow preparations for a major offensive. That makes little sense.

    Attacking military facilities, weapons depots or even frontline troops are useful preparations for an impending attack. Indiscriminate bombing of civilians, meanwhile, is a sign of either desperation or impatience.

    Britain and the US bombed German cities during the second world war because they had no alternatives until they built up enough capacity to transport land forces across the sea to invade the continent.

    The US also sent bombers to Japan in the final stages of the war because the American public became tired of seeing their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers die on Pacific islands they had never heard of. The war had dragged on forever by this point, and there seemed no end in sight.

    Is Putin desperate or impatient? Likely the latter.

    From the perspective of the Kremlin, Russia’s strategic situation is as good as it has been for years.

    The US is trying to destroy itself through trade wars and boorish diplomacy. Trump clearly dislikes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and hopes the war will somehow end if he just demands it.

    Europe is continuing to back Ukraine. However, for the time being, it still needs US support because its entire security structure is built around NATO and US strength, both economic and military.

    What Putin sees when he surveys the international scene is weakness. In his thinking, such weakness needs to be exploited – now is the time to hurt Ukraine as much as possible, and hope it will crack. Analysts call this a “cognitive warfare effort”.

    Indiscriminate air war on civilians is the only means Putin currently has to pressure Ukraine. His army has been advancing, but painfully slowly. There is no breakthrough in sight, even once the spring muds dry and the summer fighting season starts in earnest.

    Russia has gradually advanced in Ukraine throughout 2024, but with no perceivable change in the overall situation. Putin does not command precision weapons or super spies, which he could use to take out Ukraine’s leadership.

    All he can do is rain death on women, children and the elderly from relatively cheap, unsophisticated weapons, such as drones. He now has these in large supply, thanks to ramping up military production at home.

    Bombing campaigns do not end wars

    A strategic air war on civilians seldom works, however.

    Japan’s surrender in 1945 is an exception, but it is misleading in many ways. The Americans had flattened Japan’s cities for a while already, just not using their new atomic weapons. Japan had already lost the war and the real question was if there would be a bloody US invasion or surrender.

    And as the US dropped its two nuclear bombs in August of that year, the Red Army joined the fight, racing across Manchuria to help occupy Japanese territories.

    In Germany, the British-American bombings from 1942 onwards certainly had an effect on war production, as they killed workers and destroyed factories. But they did not incapacitate the German army and certainly did not break morale.

    Instead, the bombings led to embitterment and a closing of ranks around the regime. German society fought to the last moment. It did so not just despite, but because of the air war. The German army was eventually defeated by the ground troops of the Red Army, who took Berlin in an incredibly bloody fight.

    Other historical failures are even more spectacular. The US air force dropped 864,000 tons of bombs on North Vietnam during an air campaign of more than 300,000 sorties lasting from 1965 to late 1968. The North Vietnamese lost maybe 29,000 people (dead and wounded), more than half of them civilians. The Americans and their South Vietnamese allies still lost the war.

    Putin’s air war will likely follow the historical pattern: it has further embittered the Ukrainians, who know very well that what comes from the east is not liberation.

    Another summer of fighting lies ahead. Ukraine’s friends in the democratic world need to urgently redouble their efforts to support Ukraine. The misguided hopes that Putin would somehow “make a deal” lie under the rubble his drones leave behind in Ukraine’s cities.

    Mark Edele receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Is Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate bombing of Ukrainian civilians ‘crazy’? It’s more a sign of impatience – https://theconversation.com/is-vladimir-putins-indiscriminate-bombing-of-ukrainian-civilians-crazy-its-more-a-sign-of-impatience-257630

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Former President Tsai visits UK Parliament and delivers speech at LSE, deepening bilateral ties

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    May 20, 2025  

    No. 165  

    Former President Tsai Ing-wen visited Europe from May 10 to 19, traveling to Lithuania and Denmark before continuing to the United Kingdom. On May 15, the first day of her stay in the United Kingdom, she visited the UK Parliament at the invitation of British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Cochairs Sarah Champion MP and Lord Rogan. She was warmly welcomed by parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. 

     

    The former president met with House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and took part in a reception at the House of Lords, where she delivered a speech. She exchanged greetings with nearly 50 parliamentarians and staff, including former Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza, House of Lords Deputy Speaker Baroness Finlay, Trade Envoy to Taiwan Lord Faulkner, Labour Friends of Taiwan Chair Navendu Mishra MP, former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation and Technology Ben Spencer MP, and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP.

     

    In her address at the House of Lords, former President Tsai said that the growing threat of antidemocratic forces was testing democracy around the world, adding that this demonstrated the need for Taiwan and the United Kingdom to work together in defense of freedom and democracy. She commended the House of Commons for passing a motion last November clarifying that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 made no reference to Taiwan. This was important in countering reckless behavior in the Taiwan Strait, she explained. Highlighting Taiwan’s position on the front line of defending democracy, former President Tsai said that Taiwan was a critical deterrent to China’s expansionist ambitions and would continue to contribute to protecting democratic values.

     

    APPG Cochair Champion noted that Taiwan and the United Kingdom had a deep friendship and shared core values. She said that the United Kingdom should continue to pay attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which she added were essential to global security and prosperity. Cochair Champion noted that in recent years the Taiwan-UK partnership had deepened. She expressed hope that cooperation would expand in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, economic resilience, and other areas.

     

    Former President Tsai also delivered a speech titled “In an Era of Shifting World Order: Taiwan as a Stabilizing Force” at her alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The event was moderated by incoming LSE Law School Dean Andrew Murray, who represented the university and LSE President Larry Kramer. Around 100 people, including General Counsel Elizabeth Messud, attended the speech. In her remarks, former President Tsai noted that the international community was experiencing a reassignment of security responsibilities and a rebalancing of trade relations. She said that to appropriately respond to multiple challenges such as economic fragmentation, political extremism, and military conflict, the function of multilateralism was becoming even more important. The former president emphasized that Taiwan had shown a high degree of resilience in turbulent times in the past, such as during supply chain restructuring, and had proven to be a trustworthy and competitive strategic partner. She added that Taiwan was ready to play a more proactive role in the new world order by further deepening cooperation with democratic countries and contributing to the global trade system. Her remarks were enthusiastically received by the audience. 

     

    During her visit to the United Kingdom, former President Tsai also gave an address at Cambridge University, met with faculty and students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, attended a forum hosted by the Royal United Services Institute, and met with Taiwanese people working in the United Kingdom on technology startups and in the arts.

     

    Taiwan-UK relations have witnessed significant progress in recent years. In 2023, the United Kingdom signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement with Taiwan, becoming the first European country to establish a formal economic and trade framework with Taiwan. The United Kingdom is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, third-largest source of investment, and fifth-most popular destination for Taiwanese students studying abroad. The countries collaborate closely in fields such as technological innovation, renewable energy, and societal resilience. Taiwan will further work together with the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries to advance democratic resilience and prosperity. It looks forward to the United Kingdom continuing to demonstrate its commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region by deploying naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait and taking other concrete actions. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan addresses effective communication in the digital age

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

    Headline: OSCE seminar in Turkmenistan addresses effective communication in the digital age

    Participants discuss a practical task during an OSCE-organized training seminar on the use of new technologies in interaction between state institutions and media, Ashgabat, 27 May 2025, OSCE (OSCE) Photo details

    The use of new technologies in interaction between state institutions and media was in focus of an OSCE-organized training seminar that took place on 27 and 28 May 2025 in Ashgabat.
    The training seminar targeted officials of Turkmenistan’s key state institutions who are in charge of communications work and websites of their institutions as well as journalists representing print, broadcast and online media.
    The training seminar familiarized participants with best communications practices of state institutions and aimed to contribute to enhancing their contacts with media though the use of new technologies.
    Guido Keel, Senior Advisor to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and Živilė Navickaitė-Babkin, strategic communication expert from Lithuania delivered the seminar focusing on core principles of effective communication and modern instruments used by state institutions in interaction with the media.
    “The OSCE commitments on freedom of information and access to information are enshrined in a number of the Organization’s key document, including the Helsinki Final Act, the fiftieth anniversary of which we celebrate this year,” said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
    “These documents commit governments to be more transparent by providing timely and reliable information and facilitate a well-informed and responsive dialogue,” emphasized MacGregor.
    The seminar participants learnt about a corporate newsroom, its traditional organization, structure and functions, and talked about the essential role of strategic thinking in communications. The experts shared most common mistakes in interaction with the media and provided recommendations for creating user-friendly content. The event also discussed opportunities and limits of multimodal communication and how artificial intelligence changes communications.
    “Our seminar highlights the importance of providing accurate reliable information to our citizens, especially in this age of digital technologies and   artificial    intelligence,” added MacGregor.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: WSO2 Acquires Leading API Analytics and Monetization Startup Moesif

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX , May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WSO2, the leader in enterprise digital infrastructure technology, today announced it has acquired Moesif, a San Francisco-based startup specializing in advanced API analytics and monetization. The all-cash acquisition marks a strategic milestone in WSO2’s long-term plan to accelerate global growth through targeted inorganic opportunities.

    As part of the agreement, Moesif will operate as an independent subsidiary under WSO2’s API Management Business Unit. The Moesif brand and current product offering will be retained, and its leadership along with its team will continue to drive existing business and expand customer growth globally. Moesif customers will continue receiving the same level of service and support, while benefiting from WSO2’s global presence and expanded product offerings. Moesif’s advanced API analytics and monetization capabilities will also be integrated into WSO2’s product portfolio, bringing enhanced value to existing and future customers.

    “This acquisition is a first step in our strategy to establish WSO2 as a global technology leader through select inorganic opportunities,” said Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana, founder and CEO of WSO2. “Moesif brings market-leading capabilities in API analytics and monetization, areas that are increasingly critical to digital businesses today. This is just the beginning—we’re committed to exploring further opportunities that align with our long-term goal to help enterprises deliver seamless, high-impact digital experiences.”

    The acquisition enhances WSO2’s positioning in the API management space by adding best-in-class analytics and monetization tools that help businesses optimize, measure, and generate revenue from their APIs. Moesif’s offerings will complement WSO2’s comprehensive API management platform, creating a synergy that benefits both customer bases.

    “Joining WSO2 is a natural next step in Moesif’s journey,” said Derric Gilling, founder and CEO of Moesif. “We share a deep commitment to empowering developers and businesses to build powerful digital experiences. As part of WSO2, we’ll continue to innovate rapidly, serve our customers with excellence, and now reach an even broader global audience.”

    WSO2 customers will start gaining access to Moesif’s capabilities as part of an enhanced product suite, while Moesif customers will benefit from WSO2’s global support infrastructure and expanded services.

    About WSO2
    Founded in 2005, WSO2 is the largest independent software vendor providing open-source API management, integration, and identity and access management (IAM) to thousands of enterprises in over 90 countries. WSO2’s products and platforms—including our next-gen internal developer platform, Choreo—empower organizations to leverage the full potential of artificial intelligence and APIs for securely delivering the next generation of AI-enabled digital services and applications. Our open-source, AI-driven, API-first approach frees developers and architects from vendor lock-in and enables rapid digital product creation. Recognized as leaders by industry analysts, WSO2 has more than 800 employees worldwide with offices in Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the UAE, the UK, and the US, with over USD100M in annual recurring revenue. Visit https://wso2.com to learn more. Follow WSO2 on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

    About Moesif
    Moesif is the leading AI-driven API analytics and monetization platform that helps companies build better developer experiences, monitor API usage, and drive revenue. With powerful tools for observability, governance, and product-led growth, Moesif empowers engineering and product teams to optimize APIs as a business channel. Moesif serves customers across many industries including logistics, fintech, and enterprise software including leading enterprises like UPS, Covetrus, and UK Royal Mail. Moesif was founded in 2017 and is based in San Francisco, US. Investors include Craft Ventures, Merus Capital, Heavybit, and Fresco. Visit www.moesif.com to learn more.

    Trademarks and registered trademarks are the properties of their respective owners.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aptean Expands DACH Manufacturing ERP Footprint Through Acquisition of VLEX

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KULMBACH, Germany and ALPHARETTA, Ga., May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aptean Inc., a global front-runner of AI-driven ERP solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Vlexgroup AG (“VLEX”), a leading provider of variant-manufacturing focused ERP solutions for SME customers in the DACH region headquartered in Kulmbach, Germany.

    The acquisition of VLEX further increases Aptean’s DACH footprint while also bolstering its ERP capabilities for the variant-manufacturing sector.

    For over 40 years, VLEX has provided mission-critical variant-manufacturing solutions designed to manage complex, diverse, and fast-moving challenges across the SME manufacturing sector in the DACH region. With deep industry expertise, VLEX’s talented team aligns with Aptean’s strategic focus on the SME manufacturing industry in the DACH region, further strengthening commitment to innovation and excellence.

    “VLEX has a proven track record with over four decades of experience delivering mission-critical variant-manufacturing solutions across the DACH market,” said TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean. “VLEX’s product VlexPlus delivers state of the art software solutions specifically designed to manage the complex needs of the variant manufacturing industry and is backed by a team of seasoned industry experts. VLEX will be an important driver in our strategy to scale our DACH manufacturing capabilities. Welcoming the VLEX team and customers into the Aptean family marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to innovation and success.”

    “We are delighted to join a global organization like Aptean, where together we can continue to develop and deliver innovative solutions to our customers. The combination of our businesses offers an exciting opportunity for VLEX’s future growth given our shared commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction. Being part of Aptean presents our customers and our team with exciting opportunities for growth and development and we can’t wait to get started,” said Jens Pfeil-Schneider, Chairman Managing Director of VLEX.

    About VLEX

    For over 40 years, VLEX has been a reliable partner for digital transformation and automation in medium-sized manufacturing companies and wholesale businesses. At the heart of their offer is the cloud-enabled ERP software VlexPlus, which acts as a central data and process hub, mapping all processes in the Customer’s value chain right down to the shop floor. Developed for the complex requirements of variant and order manufacturers, the ERP software is based on one of the most modern technology and process frameworks available today. It enables consistently networked work across system and company boundaries. To learn more visit: https://www.vlexplus.com/

    About Aptean
    Aptean is a global provider of industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. Aptean’s solutions and services help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for What’s Next, Now®. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com. Aptean and Ready for What’s Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other companies and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

    For Media Inquiries Please Contact
    MediaRelations@aptean.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BTCC Exchange Launches Hot Coins Trading Week Campaign Series Ahead of 14th Anniversary Celebration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    A Media Snippet available here.

    VILNIUS, Lithuania, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BTCC, the world’s longest-serving crypto exchange, is excited to announce the launch of its Hot Coins Trading Week campaign series, marking the beginning of pre-anniversary celebrations leading up to the platform’s 14th milestone in June. The first round of the campaign focuses on carefully selected spot and futures pairs that have gained significant traction among the exchange’s user base of over 7 million.

    The first round, which runs from May 26 to June 2, 2025, features a diverse selection of trending pairs including TRUMP, PI, and AI16Z. The campaign offers substantial rewards totaling 50,000 USDT across two prize pools, including exclusive benefits for new users and trading volume-based rewards for active participants:

    • New User Exclusive Prize Pool: First-time BTCC traders can earn 10 USDT by achieving 10,000 USDT in cumulative trading volume.
    • Trading Champions: High-volume traders compete for rewards ranging from 5 USDT to 800 USDT based on trading volume.

    “These selected pairs not only reflect current market trends, but also align with our users’ trading behavior observed over the past quarter,” said Alex, Head of Operations at BTCC. “After 14 years, we know what our community wants to trade. This campaign gives our traders straightforward spot trading on the assets they’re most excited about, with more rounds featuring different coins coming as we build up to our June anniversary.”

    The timing of this campaign series strategically positions BTCC as it approaches its 14th anniversary milestone in June. The exchange has built a reputation for longevity and stability in the volatile cryptocurrency market, making it one of the industry’s most established platforms.

    Users can participate in the current round through BTCC’s platform, with additional rounds to be announced in the coming weeks. The exchange encourages traders to stay updated on campaign developments and anniversary celebrations through BTCC’s official X account.

    About BTCC

    Founded in 2011, BTCC is one of the world’s longest-serving cryptocurrency exchanges, offering secure and user-friendly trading services to millions of users globally. With a commitment to security, innovation, and community building, BTCC continues to be a trusted platform in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

    Website: https://www.btcc.com/en-US

    X: https://x.com/BTCCexchange

    Contact: press@btcc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: CBSA Makes a Major Cannabis Seizure at the Montreal Marine and Rail Service

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Montreal, Quebec, May 28, 2025 – Canada Border Services Agency

    On April 30, 2025, border services officers at Montreal’s Marine and Rail Service located 641.83 kg of suspected cannabis in a container being exported to Spain. 

    During the inspection, border services officers detected the contraband concealed in pallet bags inside cardboard boxes within the container. The cannabis, valued at over CA $4.8 million, was seized by the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) and turned over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The investigation is ongoing.

    The CBSA is committed to protecting our communities from contraband and organized crime. CBSA reiterates that although cannabis has been legalized and regulated in Canada, the import or export of cannabis in any form without a permit or exception authorized by Health Canada is a serious criminal offence, punishable by arrest and prosecution. 

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Former President Tsai visits UK Parliament and delivers speech at LSE, deepening bilateral ties

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    May 20, 2025  
    No. 165  

    Former President Tsai Ing-wen visited Europe from May 10 to 19, traveling to Lithuania and Denmark before continuing to the United Kingdom. On May 15, the first day of her stay in the United Kingdom, she visited the UK Parliament at the invitation of British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Cochairs Sarah Champion MP and Lord Rogan. She was warmly welcomed by parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. 
     
    The former president met with House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and took part in a reception at the House of Lords, where she delivered a speech. She exchanged greetings with nearly 50 parliamentarians and staff, including former Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza, House of Lords Deputy Speaker Baroness Finlay, Trade Envoy to Taiwan Lord Faulkner, Labour Friends of Taiwan Chair Navendu Mishra MP, former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation and Technology Ben Spencer MP, and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Calum Miller MP.
     
    In her address at the House of Lords, former President Tsai said that the growing threat of antidemocratic forces was testing democracy around the world, adding that this demonstrated the need for Taiwan and the United Kingdom to work together in defense of freedom and democracy. She commended the House of Commons for passing a motion last November clarifying that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 made no reference to Taiwan. This was important in countering reckless behavior in the Taiwan Strait, she explained. Highlighting Taiwan’s position on the front line of defending democracy, former President Tsai said that Taiwan was a critical deterrent to China’s expansionist ambitions and would continue to contribute to protecting democratic values.
     
    APPG Cochair Champion noted that Taiwan and the United Kingdom had a deep friendship and shared core values. She said that the United Kingdom should continue to pay attention to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which she added were essential to global security and prosperity. Cochair Champion noted that in recent years the Taiwan-UK partnership had deepened. She expressed hope that cooperation would expand in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, economic resilience, and other areas.
     
    Former President Tsai also delivered a speech titled “In an Era of Shifting World Order: Taiwan as a Stabilizing Force” at her alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The event was moderated by incoming LSE Law School Dean Andrew Murray, who represented the university and LSE President Larry Kramer. Around 100 people, including General Counsel Elizabeth Messud, attended the speech. In her remarks, former President Tsai noted that the international community was experiencing a reassignment of security responsibilities and a rebalancing of trade relations. She said that to appropriately respond to multiple challenges such as economic fragmentation, political extremism, and military conflict, the function of multilateralism was becoming even more important. The former president emphasized that Taiwan had shown a high degree of resilience in turbulent times in the past, such as during supply chain restructuring, and had proven to be a trustworthy and competitive strategic partner. She added that Taiwan was ready to play a more proactive role in the new world order by further deepening cooperation with democratic countries and contributing to the global trade system. Her remarks were enthusiastically received by the audience. 
     
    During her visit to the United Kingdom, former President Tsai also gave an address at Cambridge University, met with faculty and students at the School of Oriental and African Studies, attended a forum hosted by the Royal United Services Institute, and met with Taiwanese people working in the United Kingdom on technology startups and in the arts.
     
    Taiwan-UK relations have witnessed significant progress in recent years. In 2023, the United Kingdom signed the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement with Taiwan, becoming the first European country to establish a formal economic and trade framework with Taiwan. The United Kingdom is Taiwan’s fourth-largest trading partner in Europe, third-largest source of investment, and fifth-most popular destination for Taiwanese students studying abroad. The countries collaborate closely in fields such as technological innovation, renewable energy, and societal resilience. Taiwan will further work together with the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries to advance democratic resilience and prosperity. It looks forward to the United Kingdom continuing to demonstrate its commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific region by deploying naval vessels through the Taiwan Strait and taking other concrete actions. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: STEALTHGAS INC. Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATHENS, Greece, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — STEALTHGAS INC. (NASDAQ: GASS), a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

    • Strong profitability continued for the first quarter, with Net income of $14.1 million corresponding to a basic EPS of $0.38, similar to the previous quarter’s $14.2 million but reduced compared to the $17.7 million record at the time achieved in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Time Charter equivalent revenues decreased by 4.6% compared to the same period of last year to $36.9 million for the first quarter of 2025 as a result of a more muted market.
    • Preserved the high period coverage. About 70% of fleet days for 2025 are secured on period charters, with total fleet employment days for all subsequent periods generating over $165 million (excl. JV vessels) in contracted revenues.
    • Continued reducing leverage, making $34.4 million in debt repayments during the first quarter of 2025 and a further $19.2 million in the current quarter of 2025. Currently, all the vessels in the fully owned fleet except one are unencumbered.
    • Since the last quarterly announcement the Company has spent $1.8 million in share repurchases. Overall under the current program the Company has spent over $21.2 million in share repurchases since June 2023.
    • Maintaining ample cash and cash equivalents (incl. restricted cash) of $77.1 million as of March 31, 2025 enabling the Company to further reduce debt.

    First Quarter 2025 Results1:

    • Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $42.0 million compared to revenues of $41.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, based on an average of 28.0 vessels and 27.0 vessels owned by the Company, respectively, as the vessels remaining in the fleet earned higher revenues due to better market conditions.
    • Voyage expenses and vessels’ operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $5.1 million and $13.5 million, respectively, compared to $2.9 million and $11.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The $2.2 million increase in voyage expenses was mainly due to an increase in port expenses and in bunkers costs as a result of the increase in spot market days for the fleet. The $2.0 million increase in vessels’ operating expenses was mainly due to increase in crew costs and maintenance expenses.
    • Drydocking costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 were $0.4 million and nil, respectively. Drydocking expenses during the first quarter of 2025 mainly relate to the commenced drydocking of one vessel, compared to no drydocking of vessels in the same period of last year.
    • General and administrative expenses remained stable at $2.2 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
    • Depreciation for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $6.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively, a $0.2 million increase is mainly related to the increase in average number of vessels owned by the Company and to the partial replacement of some of the older vessels with newer and larger ones which have a higher cost.
    • Impairment loss for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was $0.5 million and nil, respectively. As a result of the agreed sale terms for the vessel Gas Cerberus, with delivery expected in the second quarter of 2025, a non-cash impairment loss of $0.5 million was recognized in the first quarter of 2025.
    • Interest and finance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, were $1.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively. The $1.8 million decrease from the same period of last year is primarily due to continued debt prepayments.
    • Interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, remained unchanged at $0.8 million.
    • Equity earnings in joint ventures for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was a gain of $2.2 million and $2.6 million, respectively. The $0.4 million decrease was primarily due to decrease in number of vessels in joint ventures.
    • As a result of the above, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company reported net income of $14.1 million, compared to net income of $17.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 was 35.7 million and 35.1 million, respectively.
    • Earnings per share, basic, for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $0.38 compared to earnings per share, basic, of $0.49 for the same period of last year.
    • Adjusted net income was $16.1 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.44 for the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to Adjusted net income of $19.1 million corresponding to an Adjusted EPS of $0.53 for the same period of last year.
    • EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2025 amounted to $21.4 million. Reconciliations of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income are set forth below.
    • An average of 28.0 vessels were owned by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2025 compared to 27.04 vessels for the same period of 2024.

    1 EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release.

    Fleet Update Since Previous Announcement

    The Company announced the conclusion of the following chartering arrangements (of three or more months duration):

    • A twelve months time charter for its 2016 built LPG carrier Eco Dominator, until Mar 2026.
    • A twelve months time charter extension for its 2016 built LPG carrier Eco Nical, until May 2026.
    • A six months time charter extension for the 2012 built LPG carrier Gas Esco, until Sep 2025.

    As of June 2025, the Company has total contracted revenues of approximately $165 million.

    As of June 2025, for the remainder of the year, the Company has circa 70% of fleet days secured under period contracts and contracted revenues of approximately $72 million.

    In April 2025, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the vessel Gas Cerberus to a third party, with delivery expected in the second quarter of 2025. The vessel is debt-free, and the full proceeds from the sale will contribute to the Company’s liquidity position.

    The Company has agreed in principle to purchase back from one of its joint venture partners the remaining share (49.9%) which it does not already own in the two vessels Eco Lucidity and Gas Haralambos. The transaction is subject to entry into definitive documentation and customary conditions and is expected to take place within June 2025. Following this transaction, these two vessels will be consolidated within the fully owned fleet of the Company and only one vessel will remain in a JV.

    Board Chairman Michael Jolliffe Commented

    The results that were announced today point to a strong start to the year and underpin our confidence in sustaining the momentum we have built over the last years, throughout 2025. It is no doubt a period of uncertainty and in such periods, among other things, there is reluctance by charterers to commit longer term. With the latest developments, we expect trade flows to normalize and sentiment to improve as the fundamentals of LPG shipping continue to be positive. In this volatile environment StealthGas remains steadfast in its strategy and has all but eliminated its financial risk, being net debt free after having made over $50 million in debt repayments during this year and having 27 out of 28 vessels unencumbered. At the same time in order to return value to our shareholders, we have begun buying back shares, spending $1.8 million in share repurchases since March. Overall under the current program the Company has spent over $21.2 million in share repurchases since June 2023.

    Conference Call details:

    On May 28, 2025 at 10:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.

    Conference call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.

    https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI2ab472844539410f8650314c8df8fdaf

    Slides and audio webcast:
    There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the STEALTHGAS INC. website (www.stealthgas.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.

    About STEALTHGAS INC.

    StealthGas Inc. is a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry. StealthGas Inc. has a fleet of 31 LPG carriers, including three Joint Venture vessels in the water. These LPG vessels have a total capacity of 349,170 cubic meters (cbm). StealthGas Inc.’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol “GASS.”
    Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although STEALTHGAS INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, STEALTHGAS INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, geopolitical conditions, including any trade disruptions resulting from tariffs and other protectionist measures imposed by the United States or other countries, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydockings, shipyard performance, changes in STEALTHGAS INC’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, the conflict in Israel and Gaza, potential disruption of shipping routes due to ongoing attacks by Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden or accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.

    Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by STEALTHGAS INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Fleet List
    For information on our fleet and further information:
    Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com

    Fleet Data:
    The following key indicators highlight the Company’s operating performance during the periods ended March 31, 2024 and 2025.

    FLEET DATA Q1 2024   Q1 2025  
    Average number of vessels (1) 27.04   28.00  
    Period end number of owned vessels in fleet 27   28  
    Total calendar days for fleet (2) 2,461   2,520  
    Total voyage days for fleet (3) 2,439   2,500  
    Fleet utilization (4) 99.1%   99.2%  
    Total charter days for fleet (5) 2,232   2,118  
    Total spot market days for fleet (6) 207   382  
    Fleet operational utilization (7) 97.7%   94.0%  
             

    1) Average number of vessels is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
    2) Total calendar days for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
    3) Total voyage days for fleet reflect the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
    4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
    5) Total charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.
    6) Total spot market charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.
    7) Fleet operational utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue and is determined by dividing voyage days excluding commercially idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.

    Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:

    Adjusted net income represents net income before loss/gain on derivatives excluding swap interest paid/received, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels and share based compensation. EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income, depreciation, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels, share based compensation and loss/gain on derivatives.

    Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of shares.

    EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis, upon which we and our investors assess our financial performance. They allow us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provide investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance.

    EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation.

    (Expressed in United States Dollars,
    except number of shares)    		 Three Months Period Ended March 31st,
      2024  2025 
    Net Income – Adjusted Net Income    
    Net income 17,729,716   14,107,680  
    Less gain on derivatives (99,286 ) —  
    Plus swap interest received 208,127   —  
    Less gain on sale of vessels, net (46,384 ) —  
    Plus impairment loss —   488,400  
    Plus share based compensation 1,345,409   1,540,402  
    Adjusted Net Income 19,137,582   16,136,482  
         
    Net income – EBITDA    
    Net income 17,729,716   14,107,680  
    Plus interest and finance costs 3,169,061   1,415,605  
    Less interest income (753,396 ) (752,471 )
    Plus depreciation 6,492,376   6,653,460  
    EBITDA 26,637,757   21,424,274  
         

    Net income – Adjusted EBITDA

    		    
    Net income 17,729,716   14,107,680  
    Less gain on derivatives (99,286 ) —  
    Less gain on sale of vessels, net (46,384 ) —  
    Plus impairment loss —   488,400  
    Plus share based compensation 1,345,409   1,540,402  
    Plus interest and finance costs 3,169,061   1,415,605  
    Less interest income (753,396 ) (752,471 )
    Plus depreciation 6,492,376   6,653,460  
    Adjusted EBITDA 27,837,496   23,453,076  
         
    EPS – Adjusted EPS    
    Net income 17,729,716   14,107,680  
    Adjusted net income 19,137,582   16,136,482  
    Weighted average number of shares, basic 35,119,500   35,725,720  
    EPS – Basic 0.49   0.38  
    Adjusted EPS – Basic 0.53   0.44  
             

    StealthGas Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
    (Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares)

        Three Months Period Ended March 31,
        2024  2025 
         
    Revenues    
      Revenues 41,563,908     42,025,987  
           
    Expenses    
      Voyage expenses 2,345,200     4,573,956  
      Voyage expenses – related party 513,247     518,440  
      Vessels’ operating expenses 11,235,359     13,282,235  
      Vessels’ operating expenses – related party 241,500     228,200  
      Drydocking costs –     412,620  
      Management fees – related party 1,053,719     1,080,001  
      General and administrative expenses 2,213,853     2,165,709  
      Depreciation 6,492,376     6,653,460  
      Impairment loss –     488,400  
      Net gain on sale of vessels (46,384 )   –  
    Total expenses 24,048,870     29,403,021  
           
    Income from operations 17,515,038     12,622,966  
           
    Other (expenses)/income    
      Interest and finance costs (3,169,061 )   (1,415,605 )
      (Loss)/gain on derivatives 99,286     –  
      Interest income 753,396     752,471  
      Foreign exchange (loss)/gain (49,044 )   (26,484 )
    Other expenses, net (2,365,423 )   (689,618 )
           
    Income before equity in earnings of investees 15,149,615     11,933,348  
    Equity earnings in joint ventures 2,580,101     2,174,332  
    Net Income 17,729,716     14,107,680  
           
    Earnings per share    
    – Basic 0.49     0.38  
    – Diluted 0.49     0.39  
           
    Weighted average number of shares    
    – Basic 35,119,500     35,725,720  
    – Diluted 35,247,529     35,764,990  
               

    StealthGas Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)

        December 31, March 31,
        2024 2025 
           
    Assets    
    Current assets    
      Cash and cash equivalents 80,653,398 74,392,306  
      Trade and other receivables 6,156,300 7,253,738  
      Other current assets 193,265 422,168  
      Claims receivable 55,475 55,475  
      Inventories 3,891,147 3,198,028  
      Advances and prepayments 733,212 549,263  
      Fair value of derivatives 387,608 280,577  
    Total current assets 92,070,405 86,151,555  
           
    Non current assets    
      Operating lease right-of-use assets — 202,362  
      Vessels, net 608,214,416 601,072,556  
      Other receivables 370,053 237,561  
      Restricted cash 3,867,752 2,734,442  
      Investments in joint ventures 27,717,238 27,257,570  
    Total non current assets 640,169,459 631,504,491  
    Total assets 732,239,864 717,656,046  
           
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity    
    Current liabilities    
      Payable to related parties 388,130 3,039,119  
      Trade accounts payable 10,994,434 10,485,931  
      Accrued liabilities 4,922,587 5,119,206  
      Operating lease liabilities — 120,938  
      Deferred income 4,304,667 5,882,276  
      Current portion of long-term debt 23,333,814 20,722,094  
    Total current liabilities 43,943,632 45,369,564  
           
    Non current liabilities    
      Operating lease liabilities — 81,424  
      Deferred income 213,563 586,577  
      Long-term debt 61,555,855 30,251,709  
    Total non current liabilities 61,769,418 30,919,710  
    Total liabilities 105,713,050 76,289,274  
           
    Commitments and contingencies    
           
    Stockholders’ equity    
      Capital stock 370,414 371,664  
      Treasury stock — (1,057,343 )
      Additional paid-in capital 409,912,934 411,808,336  
      Retained earnings 215,855,858 229,963,538  
      Accumulated other comprehensive income 387,608 280,577  
    Total stockholders’ equity 626,526,814 641,366,772  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity 732,239,864 717,656,046  


    StealthGas Inc.
    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Expressed in United States Dollars)

        Three Months Period Ended March 31,
        2024   2025  
         
    Cash flows from operating activities    
      Net income for the period 17,729,716   14,107,680  
           
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash    
    provided by operating activities:    
      Depreciation 6,492,376   6,653,460  
      Amortization of deferred finance charges 258,295   508,464  
      Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets 24,745   29,194  
      Share based compensation 1,345,409   1,540,402  
      Change in fair value of derivatives 108,840   —  
      Proceeds from disposal of interest rate swaps 1,018,000   —  
      Equity earnings in joint ventures (2,580,101 ) (2,174,332 )
      Dividends received from joint ventures –   2,634,000  
      Impairment loss –   488,400  
      Gain on sale of vessels (46,384 ) —  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
      (Increase)/decrease in    
      Trade and other receivables (35,143 ) (964,946 )
      Other current assets 129,193   (228,903 )
      Inventories 353,756   693,119  
      Changes in operating lease liabilities (24,745 ) (29,194 )
      Advances and prepayments (159,743 ) 183,949  
      Increase/(decrease) in    
      Balances with related parties (1,390,625 ) 2,650,989  
      Trade accounts payable (475,368 ) (508,503 )
      Accrued liabilities 240,202   196,619  
      Deferred income 688,600   1,950,623  
    Net cash provided by operating activities 23,677,023   27,731,021  
           
    Cash flows from investing activities    
      Proceeds from sale of vessels, net 34,679,584   —  
      Acquisition and improvements of vessels (96,413,470 ) —  
      Advances to joint ventures (1,705 ) —  
    Net cash used in investing activities (61,735,591 ) —  
           
    Cash flows from financing activities    
      Proceeds from exercise of stock options 356,250   356,250  
      Stock repurchase (338,176 ) (1,057,343 )
      Deferred finance charges paid (22,167 ) —  
      Advances to joint ventures (11,848 ) —  
      Loan repayments (32,045,235 ) (34,424,330 )
      Proceeds from long-term debt 70,000,000   —  
    Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities 37,938,824   (35,125,423 )
           
    Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (119,744 ) (7,394,402 )
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 83,755,701   84,521,150  
    Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 83,635,957   77,126,748  
    Cash breakdown    
      Cash and cash equivalents 77,085,417   74,392,306  
      Restricted cash, current —   —  
      Restricted cash, non current 6,550,540   2,734,442  
    Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows 83,635,957   77,126,748  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: NFB animator Co Hoedeman dies at age 84

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 27, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is mourning the passing of distinguished animator and director Co Hoedeman, who died on May 26 in Montreal at the age of 84.

    Born in Amsterdam on August 1, 1940, Co was a master of stop-motion animation whose 1977 NFB production The Sand Castle received the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

    “Co Hoedeman was a master animator, whose long career at the NFB was distinguished by innovative filmmaking and powerful humanitarian themes. He cared deeply for the well-being of children and was also a fierce defender of the importance of public filmmaking. The NFB and the Canadian animation community have lost a dear friend and colleague. Fortunately for us, we have his legacy of beloved works, which embody so much of his unique spirit,” said Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and NFB Chairperson.

    Select biography

    Shortly after directing his early films with the NFB, including his award-winning Oddball (1969), Co travelled to Czechoslovakia in 1970 to study puppet animation and then returned to the NFB to begin a series of stop-motion gems.

    Tchou-tchou (1972), created with wooden blocks, received the British Academy award (BAFTA) for Best Animated Film.

    During the 1970s, Co created a series of acclaimed animated films based on Inuit traditional stories, collaborating closely with artists from Nunavut and Nunavik.

    Following his Oscar win for The Sand Castle, he continued to experiment with a range of techniques and themes.

    In 1992, he worked with Indigenous inmates at La Macaza Institution to create The Sniffing Bear, a cautionary tale about substance abuse. In 1998, he began work on a beloved children’s series about Ludovic, a young teddy bear, available in the NFB collection Four Seasons in the Life of Ludovic.

    After completing his final film with the NFB, Marianne’s Theatre (2004), Co began a busy independent animation career. He collaborated with the NFB on the co-production 55 Socks (2011), a deeply personal project drawing on his childhood memories during a dark period of Dutch history, the Hunger Winter of 1944–45. He would also adapt his Ludovic character into a popular children’s TV series.

    In 2003, the Cinémathèque québécoise and the NFB paid tribute to Co and his importance to Quebec cinema with an exhibition entitled “Exposition Co Hoedeman – Les Jardins de l’enfance.” The exhibition was presented the following year at the Musée-Château d’Annecy in France.

    Co was interviewed in 2013 for the NFB online anthology Making Movie History and was the subject of the 1980 NFB documentary Co Hoedeman, Animator. All of his NFB films are available online free of charge at nfb.ca.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hockey night in Belfast? How Canada’s sport could be bridging longtime sectarian divides

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Eric Lepp, Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Waterloo

    The Belfast Giants celebrate a goal. (Belfast Giants)

    In its simplest form, the protracted tensions in Northern Ireland have at their foundation two separate sectarian identities deeply divided over how, and by whom, they are governed — Protestant/Unionist populations wishing to maintain British rule and Catholic/Nationalists desiring a united Ireland.

    The 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement brought an end to armed hostilities that devastated cities and towns through years of urban guerilla conflict. Yet divisions remain sewn into the everyday lives and patterns of the Northern Irish people — 90 per cent of students attend segregated schools and there are few friendships spanning the sectarian divide.

    One setting sits identifiably apart from these entrenched divisions: the ice hockey arena. Now in their 25th season, the Belfast Giants, Ireland’s only professional hockey team, impressively draws an average of 6,480 spectators to their games. They’ve also built a large and enthusiastic fan base known as the “Teal Army.”

    As a spectator sport with limited opportunity to play the game competitively and no significant history on either side of the conflict, the hockey arena has emerged as something of a neutral ground where fans from different backgrounds come together side-by-side.

    The arena is a place where symbols of division, so common across Northern Ireland via flags, murals and graffiti, are not allowed.

    The lack of a historical association with one side of the conflict, the fact that the sport is played predominantly by men from outside Northern Ireland — mostly from North America and Scandinavia — and a name and logo rooted in the shared regional lore of mythical giant Finn McCool has allowed the team to forge its own path post-peace agreement.

    The Belfast Giants Mascot, Finn McCool, at a recent game.
    (Belfast Giants)

    The Friendship Four

    In 2015, after years of planning, the Belfast Giants hosted the inaugural Friendship Four hockey tournament.

    Held over the American Thanksgiving weekend, the tournament has since become an annual event that sees four Division I hockey teams from American universities come to Belfast for a two-day experience that includes intercultural exchange, educational visits to local schools and a hockey tournament.

    The Friendship Four promotional poster.
    (Notre Dame Hockey X account)

    Since the tournament began, it has hosted teams from the New England and Boston areas as a means of fostering stronger ties between the sister cities of Belfast and Boston.

    In 2024, the Friendship Four tournament notably included a school with a long association with Ireland, the University of Notre Dame. As a prominent American Catholic university with a team name — the Fighting Irish — that is directly connected to the island’s divisive history, the team’s inclusion in the Friendship Four had the potential to tarnish the neutrality of the event.

    Controversial social media post

    As a researcher who has engaged significantly with supporters of the Belfast Giants, and as an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, this tournament drew me to Belfast.

    The ‘Know Before You Go’ post from Notre Dame Hockey on X on Nov. 19, 2024 that was subsequently deleted.
    (Notre Dame Hockey X account)

    Before the 2024 tournament in November, the Notre Dame Hockey account posted guidelines on X for their supporters in Belfast, including an image of what to wear, and what not to wear, around the city. It noted: “Just a reminder to avoid our Irish symbolism, that may be deemed offensive to some, while out around town.”

    The post was deleted a few hours later, and an apology was issued acknowledging the tournament was meant to build bridges, not stoke division. Nonetheless, the original post drew significant attention and criticism.

    Belfast media and British news outlets picked up the story about the Notre Dame post. Many of the comments on social media about the story were situated in ethno-sectarian views or pointed fingers of blame.

    The outrage that greeted the Notre Dame X post demonstrates the tension and complexity of identity and symbols in Northern Ireland. But it thankfully wasn’t replicated in the Belfast hockey arena because the groundwork of social capital among hockey fans in the city has been built over the last 25 years.

    ‘Game on!’ and getting on with it

    On Nov. 29, 2024, the Notre Dame team took to the ice to play against Harvard without any extra fanfare.

    The afternoon game was filled with school groups carrying homemade signs and cheering for the teams whose players had visited their schools earlier in the week with overt hopes of seeing themselves on the jumbotrons. The game could have been in Saskatoon given the lack of any sectarian tensions.

    Action at the Friendship Four Championship Hockey Game on Nov. 30, 2024, in Belfast.
    (Notre Dame Hockey Facebook)

    In an age of rising polarization and lack of human connection, the hockey arena in Belfast is worthy of attention.

    Hallmarks of post-conflict reconstruction include the development of a shared understanding of the truth about past events and directly engaging with contested acts and issues. Neither effort has been particularly well-executed in Northern Ireland.

    Nonetheless, as people wait for a more fulsome peace in the region, they have managed to live peacefully side by side in places like the Belfast hockey arena.

    As peace and conflict research continues its attempts to understand how those in conflict-affected communities navigate their everyday lives, the importance of non-traditional, non-partisan activities that can bridge divides should not be overlooked.

    Eric Lepp 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. Hockey night in Belfast? How Canada’s sport could be bridging longtime sectarian divides – https://theconversation.com/hockey-night-in-belfast-how-canadas-sport-could-be-bridging-longtime-sectarian-divides-257094

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: When Elvis and Ella were pressed onto X-rays – the subversive legacy of Soviet ‘bone music’

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Richard Gunderman, Chancellor’s Professor of Medicine, Liberal Arts, and Philanthropy, Indiana University

    In the Soviet Union, some clever people realized that X-ray film was just soft enough to be etched by a sound recording device. Michelle Mengsu Chang/Toronto Star via Getty Images

    When Western Electric invented electrical sound recording 100 years ago, it completely transformed the public’s relationship to music.

    Before then, recording was done mechanically, scratching sound waves onto rolled paper or a cylinder. Such recordings suffered from low fidelity and captured only a small segment of the audible sound spectrum.

    By using electrical microphones, amplifiers and electromechanical recorders, record companies could capture a far wider range of sound frequencies, with much higher fidelity. For the first time, recorded sound closely resembled what a live listener would hear. Over the ensuing years, sales of vinyl records and record players boomed.

    The technology also allowed some enterprising music fans to make recordings in surprising and innovative ways. As a physician and scholar in the medical humanities, I am fascinated by the use of X-ray film to make recordings – what was known as “bone music,” or “ribs.”

    This rather bizarre, homemade technology became a way to skirt censors in the Soviet Union – and even played an indirect role in its dissolution.

    Skirting the Soviet censorship regime

    At the end of World War II, Soviet censorship shifted into high gear in an effort to suppress a Western culture deemed threatening or decadent.

    Many books and poems could circulate only through “samizdat,” a portmanteau of “self” and “publishing” that involved the use of copy machines to reproduce forbidden texts. Punishments inflicted on Soviet artists and citizens for producing or disseminating censored materials included loss of employment, imprisonment in gulags and even execution.

    The phonographic analog of samizdat was often referred to as “roentgenizdat,” which was derived from the name of Wilhelm Roentgen, the German scientist who received the first Nobel Prize in physics in 1901 for his discovery of X-rays.

    Roentgen’s work revolutionized medicine, making it possible to peer inside the living human body without cutting it open and enabling physicians to more easily and accurately diagnose skeletal fractures and diseases such as pneumonia.

    Today, X-rays are produced and stored digitally. But for most of the 20th century they were created on photographic film and stored in large film libraries, which took up a great deal of space.

    Because exposed X-ray films cannot be reused, hospitals often recycled them to recoup the silver they contained.

    Making music from medicine

    In the Soviet Union in the 1940s, some clever people realized that X-ray film was just soft enough to be etched by an electromechanical lathe, or sound recording device.

    To make a “rib,” or “bone record,” they would use a compass to trace out a circle on an exposed X-ray film that might bear the image of a patient’s skull, spine or hands. They then used scissors to cut out the circle, before cutting a small hole in the middle so it would fit on a conventional record player.

    Then they would use a recording device to cut either live sound or, more commonly, a bootleg record onto the X-ray film. Sound consists of vibrations that the lathe’s stylus etches into grooves on the disc. Such devices were not widely available, meaning that only a relatively small number of people could produce such recordings.

    A disc-cutting lathe demonstrates the production of an X-ray record at a 2021 exhibition in Berlin, Germany.
    Adam Berry/Getty Images

    The censors kept a close eye on record companies. But anyone who could obtain a recording device could record music on pieces of X-ray film, and these old films could be obtained after hospitals threw them out or purchased at a relatively low price from hospital employees.

    Compared with professionally produced vinyl records, the sound quality was poor, with recordings marred by extraneous noises such as hisses and crackles. The records could be played only a limited number of times before the grooves would wear out.

    Nonetheless, these resourceful recordings were shared, bought and sold entirely outside of official channels into the 1960s and 1970s.

    A window into another life

    Popular artists “on the bone” included Ella Fitzgerald and Elvis Presley, whose jazz and rock ’n’ roll recordings, to the ears of many Soviet citizens, represented freedom and self-expression.

    In his book “Bone Music,” cultural historian Stephen Coates describes how Soviet authorities viewed performers such as The Beatles as toxic because they appeared to promote a brand of amoral hedonism and distracted citizens from Communist party priorities.

    One Soviet critic of bone music recalled of its purveyors:

    “It is true that from time to time they are caught, their equipment confiscated, and they may even be brought to court. But then they may be released and be free to go wherever they like. The judges decide that they are, of course, parasites, but they are not dangerous. They are getting suspended sentences! But these record producers are not just engaged in illegal operations. They corrupt young people diligently and methodically with a squeaky cacophony and spread explicit obscenities.”

    Bone music was inherently subversive.

    For one thing, it was against the law. Moreover, the music itself suggested that a different sort of life is possible, beyond the strictures of Communist officials. How could a political system that prohibited beautiful music, many asked, possibly merit the allegiance of its citizens?

    The ability of citizens to get around the censors and spread Western thought, whether through books or bone music, helped chip away at the government’s legitimacy.

    One Soviet-era listener Coates interviewed long after the USSR’s collapse described the joy of listening to these illicit recordings:

    “I was lifted up off the ground, I started flying. Rock’n’roll showed me a new world, a world of music, words, and feelings, of life, of a different lifestyle. That’s why, when I got my first records, I became a happy man. I felt like a changed person, it was as if I was born again.”

    The playing of a bootleg record from the Soviet Union, recorded on an X-ray negative.

    Richard Gunderman 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. When Elvis and Ella were pressed onto X-rays – the subversive legacy of Soviet ‘bone music’ – https://theconversation.com/when-elvis-and-ella-were-pressed-onto-x-rays-the-subversive-legacy-of-soviet-bone-music-251885

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The hidden power of cultural exchanges in countering propaganda and fostering international goodwill

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nicholas J. Cull, Professor of Communication, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

    The bluegrass group Della Mae plays at an orphanage in Kyrgyzstan on its State Department-sponsored American Music Abroad tour in 2012. Photo: Paul Rockower

    At a time when China is believed to spend about US$8 billion annually sending its ideas and culture around the world, President Donald Trump has proposed to cut by 93% the part of the State Department that does the same thing for the United States.

    The division is called the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Among its other activities, the bureau brings foreign leaders to the U.S. for visits, funds much of the Fulbright international student, scholar and teacher exchange program and works to get American culture to places all across the globe.

    Does this matter?

    As a historian specializing in the role of communication in foreign policy, I think it does. Reputation is part of national security, and the U.S. has historically enhanced its reputation by building relationships through cultural tools.

    Previous U.S. administrations have realized this, including during President Donald Trump’s first term, when his team, led by Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce, raised the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs budget to an all-time high.

    Modern Jazz Quartet traveled to Germany in 1960 as jazz ambassadors on a State Department-sponsored tour.

    Giving politics a human dimension

    Government-funded cultural diplomacy is an old practice. In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison’s government hosted a delegation of leaders from Latin America on a 5,000-mile rail tour around the American heartland as a curtain raiser for the first Pan-American conference. The visitors met a variety of American icons, from wordsmith Mark Twain to gunsmiths Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson.

    President Teddy Roosevelt initiated the first longer-term cultural exchange program by spending money raised from an indemnity imposed on the Chinese government for its mishandling of the Boxer Rebellion, during which Western diplomats had been held hostage. The program, for the education of Chinese people, included study in the U.S. In contrast, European powers did nothing special with their share of the money.

    During World II, Nelson Rockefeller, who led a special federal agency created to build links to Latin America, brought South American writers to the U.S. to experience the country firsthand. In so doing, he invented the short-term leader visit as a type of exchange.

    This work went into high gear during the 1950s. The U.S. sought to stitch postwar Germany back into the community of nations, so that nation became a particular focus. Programs linked emerging global leaders to Americans with similar interests: doctor to doctor; pastor to pastor; politician to politician.

    I found that by 1963, one-third of the German federal parliament and two-thirds of the German Cabinet had been cultivated this way.

    Visits gave a human dimension to political alignment, and returnees had the ability to speak to their countrymen and women with the authority of personal experience.

    From jazz to promoting peace

    The globally focused International Visitor Leadership Program built early-career relationships between U.S. citizens and young foreign leaders who later played a central role in aligning their nations with American policy.

    Nearly 250,000 participants have traveled to the U.S. since 1940, including about 500 who went on to lead their own governments.

    Future Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Britain visited as a young member of Parliament; F.W. De Klerk came from South Africa and saw the post-Jim Crow South before he helped lead his country to dismantling apartheid; and Egypt’s Anwar Sadat visited the U.S. and began to build trust with Americans a decade before he became leader of his country and partnered with President Jimmy Carter to advance peace with Israel.

    British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s note from 10 Downing Street about her 1967 exchange visit to the US – ‘Forevermore I shall be a true friend to the United States.’
    U.S. Department of State

    Cultural work more broadly has included helping export U.S. music to places where it would not normally be heard. The Cold War tours of American jazz musicians are justly famous. Work bringing together the world’s sometimes persecuted writers for creative sanctuary at the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa is less well known.

    The Reagan administration arranged citizen-to-citizen meetings with the Soviet Union to thaw the Cold War. Reagan’s theory was that ordinary citizens could connect: He imagined a typical Ivan and Anya meeting a typical Jim and Sally and understanding each other.

    Current programs include bringing emerging highfliers in tech, music and sports to the U.S. to connect to and be mentored by Americans in the same field and then go home to be part of a living network of enhanced understanding. Such programs are in danger of being cut under Trump.

    Five U.S. hip-hop artists traveled to Harare, Zimbabwe, in 2024 to perform for audiences and collaborate with local artists as part of the State Department’s Next Level program.
    U.S. Department of State

    Personal experience conquers stereotypes

    How exactly does this work advance U.S. security?

    I see these exchanges as the national equivalent to the advice given to a diplomat in kidnap training: Try to establish a rapport with your hostage-taker so that they will see the person and be inclined to mercy.

    The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is the part of the Department of State that cultivates empathy and implicitly counters the claims of America’s detractors with personal experience. Quite simply, it is harder to hate people you really know. More than this, exchanged people frequently become the core of each embassy’s local network.

    Of course, an exchange program is just one part of a nation’s reputational security.

    Reputation flows from reality, and reality is demonstrated over time. Historically, America’s reputation has rested on the health of the country’s core institutions, including its legal system and higher education as well as its standard of living.

    U.S. reputational security has also required reform.

    In the 1950s, when President Dwight Eisenhower faced an onslaught of Soviet propaganda emphasizing racism and racial disparities within the U.S., he understood that an effective response required that the U.S. not only showcase Black achievement but also be less racist. Civil rights became a Cold War priority.

    Today, when the U.S. has no shortage of international detractors, observers at home and abroad question whether the country remains a good example of democracy.

    As lawmakers in Washington debate federal spending priorities, building relationships through cultural tools may not survive budget cuts. Historically, both sides of the political aisle have failed to appreciate the significance of investing in cultural relations.

    In 2013, when still a general heading Central Command, Jim Mattis, later Trump’s secretary of defense, was blunt about what such lack of regard would mean. In 2013 he told Congress: ‘If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition, ultimately.“

    Nicholas J. Cull 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. The hidden power of cultural exchanges in countering propaganda and fostering international goodwill – https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-power-of-cultural-exchanges-in-countering-propaganda-and-fostering-international-goodwill-256316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Logic Pro amplifies beat making on Mac and iPad with advanced new capabilities

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Logic Pro amplifies beat making on Mac and iPad with advanced new capabilities

    May 28, 2025

    UPDATE

    Logic Pro amplifies beat making on Mac and iPad with advanced new capabilities

    An enhanced Stem Splitter and new features like Flashback Capture elevate hip-hop and electronic music production to a new level

    Apple today introduced new Logic Pro updates for Mac and iPad, supercharging beat making and producing. The innovative Stem Splitter feature now offers even greater audio fidelity, and can separate guitar and piano into stems. With Flashback Capture, users can retrieve and restore inspiring performances they may have forgotten to record. And with energetic new sound packs like Dancefloor Rush, beat makers have fresh loops and kits to fuel their next track.

    Stem Splitter Delivers Enhanced Audio Fidelity and New Stems

    The updated Stem Splitter extracts greater detail from old recordings and demos, and now offers added support for guitar and piano stems.1 Producers can easily select common stem variations, such as acapella, instrumental, or instrumental with vocals using presets. Additionally, a new submix feature makes it easy for users to export just the parts of audio they want — for example, removing vocals to create an instrumental track, or pulling out the drums and bass for a custom remix.

    Recall Every Moment with Flashback Capture

    Flashback Capture allows artists to recover unforgettable performances, even if they forgot to hit record.2 Users can quickly restore MIDI and audio performances using a key command or a custom control bar button. By enabling Cycle mode, musicians can improvise multiple takes, and Flashback Capture will automatically organize each pass into a take folder.

    New Sound Packs to Amplify Music Production

    Logic Pro adds new sound packs to amplify music production. Dancefloor Rush — the latest sound pack for Mac and iPad — features a world of expertly crafted drum-and-bass sounds with over 400 dynamic loops, punchy drum kits, and a custom Live Loops grid. Today’s update also introduces two new sound packs to Logic Pro for Mac: Magnetic Imperfections and Tosin Abasi. Magnetic Imperfections brings an original texture that captures the raw, unpolished essence of analog tape, while the Tosin Abasi sound pack showcases progressive metal guitar with boutique amps, unique effects, distinctive picking techniques, and the artist’s signature riffs.

    Learn MIDI Comes to iPad for Seamless Logic Pro Integration

    Learn MIDI is now available on iPad, allowing users to get hands-on control by easily assigning their favorite knobs, faders, and buttons on MIDI devices to control plug-ins, instruments, and other automatable parameters within Logic Pro.3 With Learn MIDI’s intuitive interface and real-time visual feedback, users can quickly create custom assignments, view available controls, and stay in their creative flow.

    Additional features to enhance creativity on Mac:

    • Notepad now features integrated support for Writing Tools, powered by Apple Intelligence, giving users more flexibility and control when they’d like to make their writing more expressive, get help with a rewrite, or even collaborate on song lyrics and more right inline.4
    • Users can manage large projects with the new search and select feature, which makes it easy to find and choose tracks by their name or track number.

    Pricing and Availability

    • Logic Pro for Mac 11.2 is available May 28 as a free update for existing users and for $199.99 (U.S.) for new users on the Mac App Store. It is also available as part of the Pro Apps Bundle for Education, which includes Final Cut Pro, MainStage, Motion, and Compressor for $199.99 (U.S.). Logic Pro for Mac requires macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later. For more information, visit apple.com/logic-pro.
    • Logic Pro for iPad 2.2 is available May 28 as a free update for existing users, and available on the App Store for $4.99 (U.S.) per month or $49 (U.S.) per year, with a one-month free trial for new users. Logic Pro for iPad requires iPadOS 18.4 or later. For more information, visit apple.com/logic-pro-for-ipad.
    1. Stem Splitter requires iPad or Mac with M1 chip or later.
    2. Audio support for Flashback Capture requires Logic Pro to be in active play mode.
    3. Connecting third‑party external microphones, musical instruments, or MIDI controllers with Logic Pro for iPad requires devices compatible with iOS and iPadOS.
    4. Apple Intelligence is available in beta on iPad mini (A17 Pro), and all iPad and Mac models with M1 and later, with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), English (Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, UK, or U.S.), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), or Spanish, as part of an iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia software update, with more languages coming over the course of the year, including Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. For more details, visit apple.com/apple-intelligence.

    Press Contacts

    Zachary Kizer

    Apple

    z_kizer@apple.com

    Emily Ewing

    Apple

    e_ewing@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mikhail Mishustin visits the Metalloobrabotka 2025 exhibition at the Expocentre Fairgrounds

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    This year marks the 25th anniversary of the international exhibition.

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalworking – 2025”. With the Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov

    May 28, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025”. The stand of LASSARD LLC. General Director of LASSARD LLC Oleg Nefedov gives explanations

    May 28, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025”. The stand of LASSARD LLC. General Director of LASSARD LLC Oleg Nefedov gives explanations

    May 28, 2025

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025”. The stand of LASSARD LLC. General Director of LASSARD LLC Oleg Nefedov gives explanations

    May 28, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Mikhail Mishustin visited the exhibition “Metalworking – 2025”. With the Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov and the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov

    The International Specialized Exhibition “Equipment, Devices and Tools for the Metalworking Industry” – “Metalloobrabotka” has been held since 1984 and is one of the largest international industry expositions in the machine tool industry. This year is the 25th anniversary international exhibition. The event will be attended by more than 1.2 thousand companies, including about 840 from 50 regions of Russia, as well as exhibitors from Belarus, China, India, Korea, Italy, Turkey and South Korea.

    The exhibition’s business program is focused on applied tasks and strategic issues of development of basic industries.

    The key focus of the business part is on the implementation of the national project “Production and Automation Tools” – its goals and key indicators, government support measures, as well as issues of technological leadership as a priority area of industrial policy, including issues of import independence, development of scientific and technical potential and training of highly qualified personnel.

    The event serves as a key platform for presenting advanced developments in the machine tool industry, and also contributes to the formation of sustainable production and technological chains. The exhibition is aimed at promoting industrial cooperation, strengthening ties between manufacturers, suppliers and consumers, implementing domestic solutions and expanding import-independent supplies of equipment and components.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang’s Alashankou port handles over 3,000 China-Europe freight trains in Jan-May

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

    Xinjiang’s Alashankou port handles over 3,000 China-Europe freight trains in Jan-May

    URUMQI, May 28 — As of Monday, the Alashankou Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region had handled over 3,000 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train trips this year, providing a significant boost to the stability and smooth operation of global industrial and supply chains, according to railway authorities.

    Alashankou is a crucial hub connecting China with Central Asia and Europe. Currently, 123 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train routes operate via the Alashankou Port, connecting 21 countries, including Germany and Poland.

    These trains transport more than 200 categories of goods, ranging from new energy vehicles and mechanical parts to electronics and daily consumer goods.

    “We operate a 24/7 ‘green channel’ to ensure the smooth operation of China-Europe freight trains,” said Yang Peng, a staff member of the Alashankou railway station.

    “This year, the station has handled an average of over 21 China-Europe freight train trips daily, with a peak of 30 trips in a single day,” Yang added.

    In recent years, Xinjiang’s railway authorities have consistently enhanced port logistics capacity, with the region now handling over 50 percent of China’s total China-Europe freight train volume.

    In 2024 alone, the region’s Horgos and Alashankou ports processed 16,400 China-Europe freight train trips, up 14 percent year on year.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Appointment of bishop of Ouesso

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Wednesday, 28 May 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Brice Armand Ibombo, of the clergy of Gamboma, until now vice rector of the Emile Card. Biayenda National Theological Major Seminary in Brazzaville, as bishop of the diocese of Ouesso, Republic of the Congo.Msgr. Brice Armand Ibombo was born on 23 November 1973 in Abala, in the diocese of Gamboma. After studying philosophy at the Msgr. Georges-Firmin Singha Philosophical Major Seminary of Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, and theology at the major seminary of Concordia-Pordenone, Italy, he was awarded a doctorate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.He was ordained a priest on 28 August 2004.He has held the following offices: parish vicar of the Cathedral of Santo Stefano Protomartire of Concordia Sagittaria (2004-2010), parish administrator of Santa Maria degli Angelii in Caraffa del Bianco (2010-2013), secretary of the Episcopal Conference of the Congo (2013-2023), parish cooperator in Notre-Dame des Victoires of Ouenzé (2014-2015), lecturer in the Department of History of Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville (since 2014), member of the College of Consultors of the diocese of Gamboma (since 2019), and vice rector of the Emile Card. Biayenda National Theological Major Seminary in Brazzaville (since 2024). (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 28/5/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: A common parasite can decapitate human sperm − with implications for male fertility

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bill Sullivan, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University

    _Toxoplasma_ can infiltrate the reproductive system. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Male fertility rates have been plummeting over the past half-century. An analysis from 1992 noted a steady decrease in sperm counts and quality since the 1940s. A more recent study found that male infertility rates increased nearly 80% from 1990 to 2019. The reasons driving this trend remain a mystery, but frequently cited culprits include obesity, poor diet and environmental toxins.

    Infectious diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia are often overlooked factors that affect fertility in men. Accumulating evidence suggests that a common single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii may also be a contributor: An April 2025 study showed for the first time that “human sperm lose their heads upon direct contact” with the parasite.

    I am a microbiologist, and my lab studies Toxoplasma. This new study bolsters emerging findings that underscore the importance of preventing this parasitic infection.

    The many ways you can get toxoplasmosis

    Infected cats defecate Toxoplasma eggs into the litter box, garden or other places in the environment where they can be picked up by humans or other animals. Water, shellfish and unwashed fruits and vegetables can also harbor infectious parasite eggs.

    In addition to eggs, tissue cysts present in the meat of warm-blooded animals can spread toxoplasmosis as well if they are not destroyed by cooking to proper temperature.

    While most hosts of the parasite can control the initial infection with few if any symptoms, Toxoplasma remains in the body for life as dormant cysts in brain, heart and muscle tissue. These cysts can reactivate and cause additional episodes of severe illness that damage critical organ systems.

    Between 30% and 50% of the world’s population is permanently infected with Toxoplasma due to the many ways the parasite can spread.

    Toxoplasma can target male reproductive organs

    Upon infection, Toxoplasma spreads to virtually every organ and skeletal muscle. Evidence that Toxoplasma can also target human male reproductive organs first surfaced during the height of the AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, when some patients presented with the parasitic infection in their testes.

    While immunocompromised patients are most at risk for testicular toxoplasmosis, it can also occur in otherwise healthy individuals. Imaging studies of infected mice confirm that Toxoplasma parasites quickly travel to the testes in addition to the brain and eyes within days of infection.

    Toxoplasma cysts floating in cat feces.
    DPDx Image Library/CDC

    In 2017, my colleagues and I found that Toxoplasma can also form cysts in mouse prostates. Researchers have also observed these parasites in the ejaculate of many animals, including human semen, raising the possibility of sexual transmission.

    Knowing that Toxoplasma can reside in male reproductive organs has prompted analyses of fertility in infected men. A small 2021 study in Prague of 163 men infected with Toxoplasma found that over 86% had semen anomalies.

    A 2002 study in China found that infertile couples are more likely to have a Toxoplasma infection than fertile couples, 34.83% versus 12.11%. A 2005 study in China also found that sterile men are more likely to test positive for Toxoplasma than fertile men.

    Not all studies, however, produce a link between toxoplasmosis and sperm quality.

    Toxoplasma can directly damage human sperm

    Toxoplasmosis in animals mirrors infection in humans, which allows researchers to address questions that are not easy to examine in people.

    Testicular function and sperm production are sharply diminished in Toxoplasma-infected mice, rats and rams. Infected mice have significantly lower sperm counts and a higher proportion of abnormally shaped sperm.

    In that April 2025 study, researchers from Germany, Uruguay and Chile observed that Toxoplasma can reach the testes and epididymis, the tube where sperm mature and are stored, two days after infection in mice. This finding prompted the team to test what happens when the parasite comes into direct contact with human sperm in a test tube.

    After only five minutes of exposure to the parasite, 22.4% of sperm cells were beheaded. The number of decapitated sperm increased the longer they interacted with the parasites. Sperm cells that maintained their head were often twisted and misshapen. Some sperm cells had holes in their head, suggesting the parasites were trying to invade them as it would any other type of cell in the organs it infiltrates.

    In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation. Inflammatory conditions in the male reproductive tract are harmful to sperm production and function.

    The researchers speculate that the harmful effects Toxoplasma may have on sperm could be contributing to large global declines in male fertility over the past decades.

    Sperm exposed to Toxoplasma. Arrows point to holes and other damage to the sperm; asterisks indicate where the parasite has burrowed. The two nonconfronted controls at the bottom show normal sperm.
    Rojas-Barón et al/The FEBS Journal, CC BY-SA

    Preventing toxoplasmosis

    The evidence that Toxoplasma can infiltrate male reproductive organs in animals is compelling, but whether this produces health issues in people remains unclear. Testicular toxoplasmosis shows that parasites can invade human testes, but symptomatic disease is very rare. Studies to date that show defects in the sperm of infected men are too small to draw firm conclusions at this time.

    Additionally, some reports suggest that rates of toxoplasmosis in high-income countries have not been increasing over the past few decades while male infertility was rising, so it’s likely to only be one part of the puzzle.

    Regardless of this parasite’s potential effect on fertility, it is wise to avoid Toxoplasma. An infection can cause miscarriage or birth defects if someone acquires it for the first time during pregnancy, and it can be life-threatening for immunocompromised people. Toxoplasma is also the leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the United States.

    Taking proper care of your cat, promptly cleaning the litter box and thoroughly washing your hands after can help reduce your exposure to Toxoplasma. You can also protect yourself from this parasite by washing fruits and vegetables, cooking meat to proper temperatures before consuming and avoiding raw shellfish, raw water and raw milk.

    Bill Sullivan receives funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. A common parasite can decapitate human sperm − with implications for male fertility – https://theconversation.com/a-common-parasite-can-decapitate-human-sperm-with-implications-for-male-fertility-256892

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: All resolutions approved at the 2025 STMicroelectronics’ Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    All resolutions approved at the 2025 STMicroelectronics’ Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

    Amsterdam, May 28, 2025 – STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, announced the results related to the voting items of its 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “2025 AGM”), which was held today in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

    All the resolutions were approved by the Shareholders:

    • The adoption of the Company’s statutory annual accounts for the year ended December 31, 2024, prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The 2024 statutory annual accounts1 were filed with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) on March 27, 2025 and are posted on the Company’s website (www.st.com) and the AFM’s website (www.afm.nl);
    • The distribution of a cash dividend of US$ 0.36 per outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, to be distributed in quarterly installments of US$ 0.09 in each of the second, third and fourth quarters of 2025 and first quarter of 2026 to shareholders of record in the month of each quarterly payment as per the table below;
    • The adoption of the remuneration for the members of the Supervisory Board;
    • The appointment of Werner Lieberherr, as member of the Supervisory Board, for a three-year term expiring at the end of the 2028 AGM, in replacement of Ms. Janet Davidson whose mandate has expired at the end of the 2025 AGM;
    • The appointment of Ms. Simonetta Acri, as member of the Supervisory Board, for a three-year term expiring at the end of the 2028 AGM in replacement of Ms. Donatella Sciuto whose mandate has expired at the end of the 2025 AGM;
    • The reappointment of Ms. Anna de Pro Gonzalo, as member of the Supervisory Board, for a three-year term to expire at the end of the 2028 AGM;
    • The reappointment of Ms. Hélène Vletter-van Dort, as member of the Supervisory Board, for a three-year term to expire at the end of the 2028 AGM;
    • The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. as the Company’s external auditor for the financial years 2026-2029;
    • The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. to audit the Company’s sustainability reporting for the financial years 2026-2027, to the extent required by law;
    • The approval of the stock-based portion of the compensation of the President and CEO;
    • The approval of the stock-based portion of the compensation of the Chief Financial Officer;
    • The authorization to the Managing Board, until the conclusion of the 2026 AGM, to repurchase shares, subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board;
    • The delegation to the Supervisory Board of the authority to issue new common shares, to grant rights to subscribe for such shares, and to limit and/or exclude existing shareholders’ pre-emptive rights on common shares, until the end of the 2026 AGM;
    • The discharge of the members of the Managing Board; and
    • The discharge of the members of the Supervisory Board.

    The complete agenda and all relevant detailed information concerning the 2025 AGM, as well as all related AGM materials, are available on the Company’s website (www.st.com) and made available to shareholders in compliance with legal requirements.

    The draft minutes of the AGM will be posted on the General Meeting of Shareholders page of the Company’s website (www.st.com) within 30 days following the 2025 AGM.

    As for rule amendments from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and conforming FINRA rule changes, on US market the standard for settlement is the next business day after a trade or t+1. European settlement rule remains at t+2 for the time being.

    The table below summarizes the full schedule for the quarterly dividends:

                  Transfer between New York and Dutch registered shares restricted:
      In Europe in NYSE      
    Quarter Ex-dividend Date Record Date Payment Date Ex-dividend and Record Date Payment Date: on or after   From End of Business in NY on: Until Open of Business in NY on:
    Q2 2025 23-Jun-25 24-Jun-25 25-Jun-25 24-Jun-25 1-Jul-25   20-Jun-25 25-Jun-25
    Q3 2025 22-Sep-25 23-Sep-25 24-Sep-25 23-Sep-25 30-Sep-25   19-Sep-25 24-Sep-25
    Q4 2025 15-Dec-25 16-Dec-25 17-Dec-25 16-Dec-25 23-Dec-25   12-Dec-25 17-Dec-25
    Q1 2026 23-Mar-26 24-Mar-26 25-Mar-26 24-Mar-26 31-Mar-26   20-Mar-26 25-Mar-26

    About STMicroelectronics
    At ST, we are 50,000 creators and makers of semiconductor technologies mastering the semiconductor supply chain with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. An integrated device manufacturer, we work with more than 200,000 customers and thousands of partners to design and build products, solutions, and ecosystems that address their challenges and opportunities, and the need to support a more sustainable world. Our technologies enable smarter mobility, more efficient power and energy management, and the wide-scale deployment of cloud-connected autonomous things. We are on track to be carbon neutral in all direct and indirect emissions (scopes 1 and 2), product transportation, business travel, and employee commuting emissions (our scope 3 focus), and to achieve our 100% renewable electricity sourcing goal by the end of 2027.

    Further information can be found at www.st.com.

    INVESTOR RELATIONS
    Jérôme Ramel
    EVP Corporate Development & Integrated External Communication
    Tel: +41.22.929.59.20
    jerome.ramel@st.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS
    Alexis Breton
    Corporate External Communications
    Tel: +33.6.59.16.79.08
    alexis.breton@st.com

    1    The Annual Report includes the sustainability statement which is prepared based on the general principles of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Element Demonstrates Progress on Climate Strategy and Enhanced Transparency in Latest Sustainability Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Element Fleet Management Corp. (TSX:EFN) (“Element” or the “Company”), the largest publicly traded, pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world, today released its 2025 Sustainability Report, underscoring the company’s commitment to driving sustainable practices that support long-term resilience and stakeholder value.

    “Motivated by our Purpose to Move the world through intelligent mobility, our sustainability report demonstrates how we are advancing sustainability with accountability, transparency, and meaningful action,” said Claire M. Murphy, EVP Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer at Element. “Sustainability is core to how we operate, and we are proud of the progress we’ve made to deepen our governance practices and foster positive environmental and social outcomes, while delivering tailored solutions that enable our clients to meet their own sustainability goals.”

     Key highlights from this year’s report include:

    • Climate ambition and action: In 2024, Element’s near-term science-based targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning the company’s decarbonization initiatives with global best practices. The Company also achieved, and surpassed, its Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets ahead of schedule, reinforcing its disciplined approach to climate action. Progress continued on reducing Scope 3 emissions intensity, with focused efforts on the most material areas of the Company’s value chain including use of sold products (Category 11) and downstream leased assets (Category 13).
    • Governance and transparency: Element continued to strengthen its sustainability governance and disclosure practices, maintaining a CDP Climate score of B for the second consecutive year. The Company also enhanced alignment with leading sustainability reporting frameworks, establishing the foundation for future regulatory readiness and reinforcing a commitment to transparent reporting practices. 
    • Inclusion and belonging: Element continued to foster inclusion and belonging through team member-led Business Resource Groups and enterprise-wide engagement initiatives.

    “Element is committed to making tangible and measurable differences in everything we do,” said Sheri McGrath, Vice President, Sustainability. “By embedding sustainability into our strategy and partnering closely with our clients, we are making significant strides toward a more sustainable future. This report is a reflection of these achievements, as well as our dedication to continuous improvement.”

    The 2025 Sustainability Report underscores Element’s commitment to act with integrity, innovation, and purpose to address global challenges. By fostering strong partnerships and implementing forward-thinking solutions, the Company is building a foundation for long-term resilience and shared prosperity.

    To explore Element’s sustainability initiatives and achievements in more detail, access the full report here.

    About Element Fleet Management:

    Element Fleet Management (TSX: EFN) is the largest publicly traded pure-play automotive fleet manager in the world. As a Purpose-driven and client-centric company, we deliver value through scalable, sustainable, and technology-enabled fleet and mobility solutions. With operations across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and a growing global footprint through our technology platform Autofleet, we provide our clients with end-to-end fleet management services — from vehicle acquisition, maintenance, and risk management to route optimization, electric vehicle integration, and remarketing. At Element, we combine our fleet management expertise with advanced digital capabilities in order to unlock real-time data insights, dynamic planning tools, and advanced optimization that maximize the cost efficiency and vehicle productivity of our clients’ fleets. For more information, please visit: https://www.elementfleet.com.

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information regarding Element and its business, which are based upon Element’s current expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions, and beliefs. In some cases, words such as “plan,” “expect”, “intend”, “believe”, “will”, “potential”, “target”, and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur are intended to identify forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information herein may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to, among other things, the Company’s sustainability targets and objectives, including science-based targets, Element’s and our clients’ greenhouse gas emissions, fleet electrification, decarbonization strategies, future climate reporting, and other sustainability related expectations. By their nature, these statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific, which give rise to the possibility that our expectations will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct and that our sustainability priorities, targets, commitments and goals will not be achieved. As we work to advance our sustainability strategy, external factors outside of Element’s reasonable control may impact our performance and ability to achieve our goals, including government policies, legislation and regulatory actions, our ability to implement various sustainability-related initiatives internally and with our clients under expected timeframes, the availability of comprehensive and high-quality GHG emissions data, and standardization of sustainability-related measurement methodologies. These and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements and may require Element to adapt its initiatives and activities or adjust its commitments, metrics, targets, and goals. The forward-looking statements herein speak only as of the date hereof and we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. In addition, a discussion of some of the material risks affecting Element and its business appears under the heading “Risk Management” in Element’s Management Discussion and Analysis for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2024, and under the heading “Risk Factors” in Element’s Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, which have been filed on SEDAR+ and can be accessed on Element’s profile on www.sedarplus.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: xSuite North America to Host 2025 User Conference in Boston

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Showcasing Future-Driven SAP Finance and AI Solutions for Digital Transformation Leaders

    Boston, MA – May 28, 2025 – xSuite North America is pleased to announce its annual User Conference, taking place on June 17–18, 2025, at the Battery Wharf Hotel in Boston. Tailored for finance and IT decision-makers, this one-and-a-half-day event will spotlight next-generation technologies shaping the future of finance, including artificial intelligence (AI), e-invoicing, SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) solutions, intelligent archiving, and customer success enablement.

    Attendees can look forward to expert-led sessions, hands-on insights, and real-world use cases illustrating how xSuite empowers organizations to transform finance operations with intelligent automation and SAP-integrated workflows.

    Exploring Innovation: AI, Cloud, and Digital Finance Solutions

    As cloud computing and AI continue to redefine the finance function, xSuite will use this platform to unveil product innovations and outline its strategic roadmap. The conference will feature insights into emerging technology trends and customer-centric enhancements across its solution portfolio.

    A highlight of the event will be two customer presentations by Altenloh and Century Aluminum, detailing their journey with xSuite for automated invoice processing. The case study will walk attendees through project initiation, key challenges, implemented solutions, and the tangible results achieved.

    Conference Highlights – Day One: Strategy, Solutions, and Insights

    1. AI-Driven Invoice Processing in SAP
    This session will spotlight xSuite’s AI Solutions including Prediction Server, an AI-powered tool that analyzes invoice data to automate decisions across postings and workflows. Leveraging machine learning, it generates smart suggestions for account assignments, cost centers, approval routing, company codes, and more.

    2. E-Invoicing Roadmap and Strategy
    Attendees will gain a comprehensive view of xSuite’s strategic roadmap for e-invoicing, with a focus on upcoming features, performance enhancements, and initiatives designed to optimize digital finance operations.

    3. End-to-End P2P Solutions for SAP and SAP BTP
    xSuite will present a holistic approach to purchase-to-pay processes, order management, a supplier portal, and archiving—demonstrating seamless integration with SAP S/4HANA and SAP BTP environments.

    Networking and Collaboration Opportunities
    The first day will close with dedicated networking sessions, allowing attendees to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and explore xSuite’s role as a strategic partner in digital transformation initiatives.

    Day Two: Hands-On Training for xSuite Administrators

    The second day of the conference will feature technical training sessions tailored for on-site administrators of xSuite solutions. These workshops will equip participants with the practical knowledge needed to manage and optimize their xSuite environments effectively.

    Event Details:
    xSuite User Conference North America
    June 17-18, 2025
    Battery Wharf Hotel, Boston Waterfront
    Three Battery Wharf
    Boston, MA 02109, US

    June17: 10:00 AM – 04:00 PM
    June 18: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

    More information and registration:
    https://news.xsuite.com/en/user-conference-2025-north-america#Anmeldung

    About xSuite Group

    xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including
    e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients. This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving – all delivered from a single source, including both software components and services. xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios. We take pride in the high-quality solutions we offer, as evidenced by the regular certifications we receive for our SAP solutions and deployment environments.” With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.

    Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite has around 300 staff across nine locations worldwide – in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.

    Press Contact Headquarters:
    Barbara Wirtz
    xSuite Group GmbH
    Tel. +49 4102 883836
    barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com
    www.xsuite.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ECB Consumer Expectations Survey results – April 2025

    Source: European Central Bank

    28 May 2025

    Compared with March 2025:

    • median consumer perceptions of inflation over the previous 12 months remained unchanged, as did median expectations for inflation three and five years ahead, while median inflation expectations for the next 12 months increased further;
    • expectations for nominal income growth over the next 12 months decreased, while expectations for spending growth over the next 12 months increased;
    • expectations for economic growth over the next 12 months became more negative, while the expected unemployment rate in 12 months’ time increased;
    • expectations for growth in the price of homes over the next 12 months increased, as did expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead.

    Inflation

    In April, the median rate of perceived inflation over the previous 12 months remained unchanged for the third consecutive month at 3.1%. This is its lowest level since September 2021. Median expectations for inflation over the next 12 months increased further by 0.2 percentage points to 3.1%, the highest level since February 2024. Expectations for three years ahead remained unchanged at 2.5%. Expectations for inflation five years ahead were unchanged for the fifth consecutive month at 2.1%. For the first time since July 2021, median inflation expectations over the next 12 months did not stay below the level of inflation perceptions over the previous 12 months (both at 3.1%). Uncertainty about inflation expectations over the next 12 months also increased in April, reaching the same level as in June 2024. While the broad evolution of inflation perceptions and expectations remained relatively closely aligned across income groups, over the previous year and a half inflation perceptions and short-horizon expectations for lower income quintiles were, on average, slightly above those for higher income quintiles. Younger respondents (aged 18-34) continued to report lower inflation perceptions and expectations than older respondents (those aged 35-54 and 55-70), albeit to a lesser degree than in previous years. (Inflation results)

    Income and consumption

    Consumers’ nominal income growth expectations over the next 12 months decreased to 0.9%, from 1.0% in March. Perceived nominal spending growth over the previous 12 months decreased to 4.9%, from 5.0% in March. Conversely, expected nominal spending growth over the next 12 months increased to 3.7% in April, from 3.4% in March. This increase was observed across all income groups. (Income and consumption results)

    Economic growth and labour market

    Economic growth expectations for the next 12 months became more negative, falling to -1.9% in April from -1.2% in March. Expectations for the unemployment rate 12 months ahead increased to 10.5%, from 10.4% in March. Consumers continued to expect the future unemployment rate to be only slightly higher than the perceived current unemployment rate (9.8%), implying a broadly stable labour market. Quarterly data showed that unemployed respondents reported a lower expected probability of finding a job over the next three months, falling from 25.1% in January to 21.9% in April. Employed respondents reported that their expected probability of job loss over the next three months decreased to 8.4% in April, from 8.6% in January. (Economic growth and labour market results)

    Housing and credit access

    Consumers expected the price of their home to increase by 3.2% over the next 12 months, up from 3.1% in March. Households in the lowest income quintile continued to expect higher growth in house prices than those in the highest income quintile (3.6% and 3.0% respectively), while the difference between the two groups was smaller than on average in 2024. Expectations for mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead increased to 4.5%, from 4.4% in March. As in previous months, the lowest income households expected the highest mortgage interest rates 12 months ahead (5.1%), while the highest income households expected the lowest rates (4.0%). The net percentage of households reporting a tightening (relative to those reporting an easing) in access to credit over the previous 12 months increased slightly (from 20.2% in March to 21.7% in April), while the net percentage of those expecting a tightening over the next 12 months increased more substantially (from 15.5% in March to 20.8% in April). The share of consumers who reported having applied for credit during the past three months, which is measured on a quarterly basis, increased to 15.6% in April from 15.0% in January. (Housing and credit access results)

    The release of the Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) results for May is scheduled for 1 July 2025.

    For media queries, please contact: William Lelieveldt, tel.: +49 170 2279090.

    Notes

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Attorney General celebrates UK-Irish relations during visit

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    Attorney General celebrates UK-Irish relations during visit

    The Attorney General Lord Hermer KC visited Dublin where he engaged with the Irish legal community and government ministers to strengthen UK-Irish relations.

    Attorney General Lord Hermer KC and Attorney General Rossa Fanning

    The Attorney General Lord Hermer KC travelled to Dublin where he met with his counterpart, Attorney General Rossa Fanning.

    The two Attorneys General spoke about the UK and Ireland’s close geography, shared culture, and joint commitment to the rule of law.

    Over the two-day trip, between 22 and 23 May 2025, the Attorney also met with the Irish Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan.

    Lord Hermer KC held meetings with leading Irish legal figures, including the President of High Court David Barniville and representatives from the Irish Supreme Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Director General of Law Society of Ireland, and Chairperson of Bar Council of Ireland’s Public Affairs Committee.

    Attorney General Lord Hermer KC and Deputy Head of Mission, Dublin, Elin Burns.

    The Attorney also engaged with the Irish legal professions with a reception at the King’s Inns – Ireland’s oldest law school – and a visit to Four Courts, home to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, High Court, and the Dublin Circuit Court.

    Attorney General Lord Hermer KC said:

    The UK and Ireland share the strongest of ties, with a close geography, shared culture, and joint commitment to the rule of law. 

    On the back of the historic UK-Ireland Summit in March, I made clear the opportunities available to strengthen the partnership between UK and Irish legal sectors – a chance to deliver growth and prosperity in both our countries.” 

    Updates to this page

    Published 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic at Metalloobrabotka 2025: exhibition activity and negotiation process

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The key event of the international exhibition “Metalloobrabotka – 2025” took place in the Moscow-City Expo Center – a plenary session dedicated to the implementation of the national project “Means of Production and Automation”. The event was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

    Opening the meeting, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia Anton Alikhanov presented the main parameters of the discussed project “Means of Production and Automation” and spoke about the key support measures. Thus, compensation of 50% of the cost of domestic robots makes them profitable in just one year.

    According to the results of last year, the level is 29 robots per 10 thousand people. A year ago, this figure was 19. That is, we have grown quite well. But I repeat once again, our task is to reach the level, approximately, taking into account the growth of the entire parallel world, of 145 robots per 10 thousand people. This, in fact, is within our power, – the minister said.

    In 2025, more than 1,200 companies from seven countries will participate in Metalloobrabotka: Russia, Belarus, India, Italy, China, the Republic of Korea and Turkey. More than 800 Russian companies will take part in the exhibition. Belarus and China will present national expositions.

    The key topics of this year’s exhibition are: “Innovations in Machine Tool and Tool Building”; “Automated Lines and Robotic Systems”; “Software for Smart Factory Management”; “Artificial Intelligence Technologies and Digital Twins”; “New Materials and Additive Technologies”.

    Visitors can see the equipment “in action” – from heavy metal-cutting machines to robotic complexes and artificial intelligence systems that manage production. The Polytechnic University stand is of particular interest to visitors. The University presents not just scientific developments, but ready-to-implement technological solutions – from 3D metal printing to robotic welding and the creation of intelligent materials. The Polytechnic University demonstrates the unique potential of laser and additive technologies, which today are becoming not just tools, but key drivers of the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation. We are confident that these innovations are the future.

    On Tuesday, a series of business negotiations and meetings with potential partners took place at the Polytechnic stand. The official delegation of SPbPU was headed by the Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Anatoly Popovich. Polytechnicians met with representatives of the leading IT company of the Russian Federation — Softline Group. At the negotiations, SPbPU was also represented by the Director of the Scientific and Educational Center “Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials” Pavel Novikov and the Scientific Secretary of the Polytechnic Dmitry Karpov.

    The partners discussed the horizons of possible cooperation. Following the meeting, it is planned to create an inter-industry center for additive technologies. The meeting participants also considered the prospects for creating new-generation laser equipment.

    The Director of the IMMI, Chief Designer of the KNU NEW Materials, Technologies, Production, as part of the Strategic Technological Leadership project, Anatoly Popovich shared his impressions of SPBPU in the exhibition: at the Metal processing-2025 exhibition, Polytechnic University of Peter the Great, a leader in the field of laser and additive technologies. The main task of SPBPU, as a scientific center with world -class competencies, is to ensure the country’s technological leadership. Our competitive advantage is the ability to create and introduce breakthrough technologies in various scientific areas. At the exhibition, employees of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of St. Petersburg State University demonstrate the unique potential of laser and additive technologies, which today become not just tools, but key drivers of technological sovereignty of Russia. We are sure that it is the future for these innovations.
    The use of laser technologies allows us to significantly improve the quality of products, reaching an inaccessible level of accuracy and reliability. Additive methods, in turn, open new horizons to create materials that can be adapted to the specific needs of industry. This is especially relevant in the conditions of a rapidly changing market, where flexibility and adaptability become decisive success factors. The future belongs to those who are ready not only to follow the trends, but also to create them themselves. Polytechnic University of Peter the Great is a reliable partner and platform for the implementation of the most daring ideas. Time to act is time to introduce innovations.

    The Laboratory of Light Materials and Constructions surprises everyone with electric arc printing right at the exhibition. Students of IMMiT, under the guidance of Oleg Panchenko, assembled a welding cell in the shortest possible time so that everyone at the event could get acquainted with the process and see how a new metal part is born. Also on display at the exhibition are previously printed parts, such as a wheel rim, impeller, burner and other samples made by friction stir welding.

    The new technology of direct printing of plastic on metal interested visitors and gave rise to ideas for further cooperation. A cone gear is printed at the exhibition. It is used in heavy industry, can be used in the automotive industry, aircraft manufacturing and other industrial areas.

    The exhibition guests are shown the process of high-temperature (1200 degrees) selective laser melting in real time. Unique developments of bimetallic samples of promising materials obtained by additive technologies are presented. Works in the field of composite materials are also demonstrated – a polymer compressor wheel reinforced with carbon fiber.

    The staff of the research laboratory “Laser and Additive Technologies” brought to the exhibition samples manufactured by the method of direct laser growth and repaired by the method of laser cladding. Also presented are exhibits formed by laser and hybrid laser-arc welding methods.

    The exhibits created by laser welding of 316L steel with a thickness of 100 µm to 10 mm are of the greatest interest to the guests. The employees demonstrated a sealed miniature flat sample of a hydrogen energy source fuel cell with a wall thickness of 100 µm, welded with an overlap. Samples of armor steel grades with a thickness of 7 mm to 20 mm, welded in one pass in the lower position, are presented.

    Mikhail Kuznetsov, head of the laboratory, noted: In the era of rapid innovation, laser welding is becoming not just a technology, but a necessity. This process ensures high precision and speed of obtaining a permanent connection of the required quality, which is critically important in modern production conditions.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UN Ocean Conference: “Curtain Raiser” Briefing | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Secretary-General of the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) Li Junhua said, “The future of the ocean is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the decisions and the actions we are making now.”

    Today (27 May), Li Junhua, together with High-level representatives from France and Costa Rica briefed the press about the upcoming UN Ocean Conference.

    He said, “The ocean—our planet’s life-support system—is in a state of emergency. The evidence is overwhelming: rising temperatures, acidifying waters, plastic choking marine life, disappearing habitats, and the relentless overexploitation of resources.”

    He continued, “The health of the ocean is declining, and with it, the well-being of the human being. We actually depend on our ocean supply lines. However, there is still time to change our course—if we act collectively.”

    He said, “From 9 to 13 June 2025, the global community will gather in Nice, France, for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, or UNOC3. This will not be just another routine gathering. We hope that it is a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action and mobilize all stakeholders across sectors and borders.”

    He also said, “UNOC3 will culminate in the adoption of the “Nice Ocean Action Plan” – a concise, action-oriented declaration, along with new and expanded voluntary commitments. This plan will be our collective blueprint to advance SDG 14: to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas, and marine resources.”

    He concluded, “The future of the ocean is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the decisions and the actions we are making now. Let us choose a healthy, resilient ocean—for our generation, and also for generations to come.”

    French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont stated, “The goal for this conference in Nice, for France, is a Nice Agreement that would be for the oceans what the Paris Agreement was for the climate ten years ago.”

    Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, said, “Accelerating action means cutting decision-making time from years to months, mobilizing all actors, engaging 195 governments, more than 1,000 cities, more 500 corporations and billions of citizens simultaneously. This is an opportunity for the United Nations to be together and to show that we can deliver as one.”

    She concluded, “The third United Nations Ocean Conference will either reverse ocean decline by 2030 or document humanity’s failure to act. Five days, one ocean, a unique opportunity.”

    The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025.

    The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.

    The Conference will involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14.

    The Conference will build on the previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted by Sweden and Fiji in 2017 in New York and by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon.

    The Nice Ocean Action Plan, made up of a political declaration and a list of voluntary commitments from stakeholders, will be adopted following international discussions during the Conference.

    Website: https://sdgs.un.org/conferences/ocean2025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2Rj3skYyiw

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – 5G National Recovery and Resilience Plan investments in Abruzzo and possible state aid set-up – E-002067/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002067/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Ignazio Roberto Marino (Verts/ALE), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)

    Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) allocates public resources to cover ‘market failures’ in areas with no 5G coverage. In the Abruzzo region, 5G networks are already up and running, NRRP contributions have been paid to Infratel Italy and proposals have been made by INWIT for new infrastructure. Under Articles 107 and 108 TFEU, to prevent competition distortion, the Commission must be notified of any state aid and declare it compatible.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to initiate the formal procedure provided for in Article 108 TFEU to assess the legality of the 5G NRRP investments in Abruzzo, checking whether the contributions to Infratel Italia and INWIT measures constitute unjustified state aid in areas that already have 5G coverage?
    • 2.What measures does it intend to take to recover the sums paid out if those contributions turn out not to be compatible?
    • 3.With a view to ensuring that resources are allocated correctly and transparently, providing coverage for areas without a network, and protecting and safeguarding the principles of free market and competition, does it consider it appropriate to issue specific guidelines for the identification of 5G ‘market failure areas’?

    Submitted: 22.5.2025

    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Growing concerns over Morocco’s plans to cull three million stray dogs – E-002037/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002037/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Fulvio Martusciello (PPE)

    There have been recent reports by many international news outlets of the Moroccan Government’s plans to cull around three million stray dogs as part of its preparations for the 2030 World Cup, raising serious concerns about compliance with international animal welfare standards.

    Recognising that animals are sentient beings, the Lisbon Treaty places an ethical obligation on the Union and its Member States to prevent abuse, pain and suffering. In its external relations too, the EU should be guided by this principle when cooperating with third countries. What is more, Morocco is co-hosting the World Cup alongside two EU Member States: Portugal and Spain.

    In view of this:

    • 1.Does the Commission believe it ought to raise the matter with the Moroccan authorities?
    • 2.Does it deem such practices compatible with EU values, particularly in light of the strategic partnership with Morocco?
    • 3.Does it intend to take steps to ensure that the EU’s animal welfare values are respected at events co-hosted with third countries?

    Submitted: 21.5.2025

    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Protecting consumers when they are automatically connected to non-European telephone networks – E-002062/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002062/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Maria Grapini (S&D)

    Consumer protection should be a major focus for the Commission and the Member States.

    Although citizens benefit from roaming within the EU area, there are frequent situations where, even though they are in EU states, their telephones automatically connect to a non-EU country and they are charged extra for mobile data use. For example, in France, telephones are automatically connected to a network in Monaco, in Romania there are connections to a network in Serbia, and the examples go on and on.

    • 1.European legislation places an obligation on mobile telephone operators to notify users by text message when they are connected to a non-European network. Does the Commission not find this measure inadequate to protect users, given that they might read the warning text messages later and thus be charged hundreds of euros extra?
    • 2.What measures could be imposed on mobile telephone operators to increase protection for consumers when they are automatically connected to non-European networks?

    Submitted: 22.5.2025

    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Strengthening Europe’s chemical industry: EU Critical Chemicals Act initiative – E-002039/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002039/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Krzysztof Brejza (PPE)

    The European chemicals industry is facing severe challenges, exacerbated by high energy costs and fierce competition from non-EU countries benefiting from cheaper energy, including Russian resources. This has led to a widening trade deficit, especially in the production of critical molecules such as sodium carbonates, essential for industries such as glass production, detergents, agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. To address this, the EU Critical Chemicals Act, supported by Member States including France, Spain, Hungary and others, is a crucial step in ensuring the long-term resilience of Europe’s chemical sector. This initiative must focus on modernising chemical plants, reducing emissions and recognising strategic EU molecules, such as sodium carbonates, which are pivotal to Europe’s industrial base.

    • 1.Is the Commission considering proposing an EU Critical Chemicals Act to address challenges facing the European chemicals industry, which will recognise the EU’s strategic molecules – including, among others, sodium carbonates?
    • 2.How does the Commission plan to ensure the modernisation and long-term sustainability of Europe’s chemical industry, particularly by providing flexible funding options for investments aimed at reducing process emissions?
    • 3.What steps will the Commission take to protect EU production of strategic molecules and improve trade defence mechanisms against unfair practices?

    Submitted: 21.5.2025

    Last updated: 28 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –